Grace Episcopal Church
Serving the community of Martinez
and Contra Costa County since 1868
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

Please join us for our first ever "Family and Friends Movie Night" at 7:00pm on Saturday, February 20 in the Grace Church Parish Hall.  There will be no charge for this Family Fellowship Event,  which will include showing the animated movie "Up" as our first feature. We will be serving punch, ice cream sundaes and popcorn to enjoy along with the movie.  For those who wish to stay, the second feature will be Walt Disney's "Lady and the Tramp".
INTERIM MINISTRY AND SEARCH PROCESS

We had an excellent meeting of the Vestry on February 17 and can share the following plans with the congregation regarding our Interim/Search process for Grace Church:

Our process of Discernment will continue with -

A Vestry Retreat on Saturday, March 5.  On the Sunday following there will be a 10 Minute Update to the parish at the end of each service.

A Mutual Ministry Review of the Parish and Planning Event (based on the results of our church health survey) will take place on Saturday, April 9.  Again, on the Sunday following there will be a 10 Minute Update to the parish at each service.

Three Discernment Gatherings, to take place between the 8am and 10am services, will be held in the Parish Hall on April 17, May 1, and May 22.  Each meeting will have different focus questions for discerning our future as a congregation. 

Your participation is welcomed and needed at all of these discernment activities.

Over the next several months your Vestry will be busy reviewing the materials for an effective clergy search process, with the goal of confirming our Search Committee at the June 8 Vestry meeting.

Your Vestry, and many other leaders in the congregation are working extra hard during this time of transition.  Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated and needed.

Any questions or concerns can be addressed to:

Susan Bremmer, Senior Warden ( email)

Rev. Jeff Frost, Interim Rector ( email)

EUCHARISTIC VISITORS- MEETING THIS SUNDAY

Our next gathering will be on Sunday, February 21 at 9:00am in the Parish Hall. We will be focusing on practical training in preparation for launching this ministry on Sunday, March 6. For questions or more information you can also contact Fr. Jeff via email.
MINISTRY PRIORITIES SET BY VESTRY

At our February 17 Vestry meeting the following ministry priorities* were affirmed:

1) To continue to stabilize the finances of the parish and aim for at least a balanced budget (where our income matches our expenses and we will not have to draw from reserves) in 2016.

2) To continue the transition in centralizing all of the activities in parish administration at the church office.

3) To use the resources from our Mutual Ministry Review and church health survey for short-term congregational development as we continue to prepare to call our next Rector for Grace Church.

* in addition to the regular work of ministry in the parish.
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC SERVICE THIS SUNDAY

Our monthly experience of contemporary music in worship continues this Sunday, February 21, at our 10:00am as we use the Renew! Songbook for our liturgical setting and congregational hymns.
NEXT DATE FOR BAPTISMS

The next traditional date for baptisms will be on Saturday, March 26, as part of our first celebration of Easter following the Vigil.  If you are interested in scheduling a pre-baptismal visit please email Fr. Jeff.

WORSHIP DURING LENT . . . AND PANCAKES!

As is our tradition, we will be serving pancakes on Sunday mornings from 8:30am to 9:30am during Lent! 

We will also be making some changes to our liturgy to mark the season, including:  withholding our "Alleluia's", saying/singing the Kyrie instead of the Gloria; and, new for this year, beginning with the penitential order for the service.

 Lots of good things are happening at Grace! Come join us worship, and stay for the food and fellowship!
NEXT YOUTH GROUP MEETING - FEBRUARY 28

Join us on Sunday, February 28, at Grace Church  from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Come join the fun! We welcome all youth in grades 8 through 12. For more information contact Luke Hodgson youthgroup@gracechurchmtz.org
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