Grace: It's Our Way of Life
As Episcopal Christians we
  Worship at home daily and together weekly; Study the scriptures, our tradition, and what it means to be a disciple today; Serve our families, our parish, and our world in the name of  Christ. Everything we do is done with an ethic of Welcome because we are only here by Grace.
  Where have you welcomed,  worshiped, studied or served?

THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGING
Voice of the Vestry
by Jeff Wescott

As a "change-averse," person, I am unnerved to think about the changes of the past few years.  Catherine recently had a mercifully brief encounter with cancer, which taught me what fear really meant.  Our youngest daughter has emerged from a cocoon of fear and self-loathing to educate others about the dangers of anorexia.  Our eldest daughter identifies as queer, has graduated from college, and eagerly embraces changes that will soon take her to live and work in France. I thank God, the example of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit that none of these changes has weakened us or diminished our love.  In fact, just the opposite is true: each has led us to new understandings about ourselves, individually and as a family, and we are stronger for the experience. 
 
Of course, none of these changes were easy and all demanded of us more patience and faith than we knew we had: there is nothing you can do to save a daughter who chooses to starve herself; lab results don't come any faster for your worry; and no shield exists to protect your child from the homophobia that seeks to deny her being.  The temptation click here to read more...

150th Anniversary Celebration
Grace reaps and sows
  by the 150th Anniversary Celebration Committee
 
At the turn of the twentieth century, Grace found itself able to share in the missionary zeal that was instrumental in its genesis decades earlier. The seeds planted by Episcopalian forebears had sprouted and matured, and Grace was ready to return the blessings, to share in God's unfolding work.
 
Warden Elvin Sprague
Photo courtesy of Traverse Area District Library
The Rev. Charles T. Stout, who came to serve in 1898, built upon the missionary work started by his predecessors. In addition to his call at Grace, Fr. Stout was placed in charge of new plants in East Jordan, Central Lake, Charlevoix, and others. The Board of Missions reported at the diocesan convention in 1901: "Grace Church . . . is, yet in a very real and vital sense, a part of the Missionary work of the Diocese. It is one of the most important centers of Church work in the Northern part of the Diocese."   After several years of faithful  click here to read more...

For more historical bits, check out our #FlashbackFriday posts on Facebook.


Cards for Rev. Carlton

Adult Christian Formation opportunity
Deadline for registration Aug. 20
Trinity School for Transformation, a local Christian education organization, is offering a year-long program, Another Kind of Life, based on the writings of Christian writer and educator Dallas Willard.  Flyers are available on the bulletin board in the parish hall.  Contact Linda Schubert for more information at l.schubert@att.net or 231-463-7397.


TOTAL SILENT RETREAT FOR WOMEN SEPT. 15-17
Just God, Silence & You
for $120 per person
The Augustine Center in Conway, MI (just north of Petoskey) is offering a new silent retreat experience for women who are yearning to grow closer to God through silence.  There are no required activities, just time for you and God.  The Center is located on several acres near Round Lake, and includes an outdoor labyrinth, Stations of the Cross and a hiking trail through the woods.

More information and a registration form are available on the bulletin board in the parish hall (under STUDY) or by  following this link...







Pizza Party & High School Orientation 
Aug. 21 at 6:30 pm
They're new, they're nervous, and they need advice.  The Freshman class of 2017 is invited to a pizza party followed by an informal discussion about what kids really need to know about entering high school. Our panel of seasoned high school students will be on hand to answer questions about: Athletics, STEM, Career Tech Center, being the new kid at school, how to handle lunch, and much more. RSVP to Donna at youth@gracetc.org  by Friday,  August 18.


Old Fashioned Church Picnic Sept. 9

gather at 5:30 pm
meal at 6:00 pm


Where: Grace Church parking lot, in a tent
rain or shine

Entre provided: potluck of appetizers, side dishes and dessert

Sign up in the commons - Please RSVP by Sept. 1



Women's Book Club Resumes Monthly Schedule September 11
Start reading now, then join us Sept. 11 at 6 pm for discussion of Jody Picoult's   Small Great Things.   This novel is a New York Times bestseller and   Booklist writes "offers a thought-provoking examination of racism in America today, both overt and subtle.  Picoult's many readers will find much to discuss in the pages of this topical, moving book."  We will meet at Jubilee House.  Please plan to join us for what is sure to be a great discussion and discover what else we will be reading this year!  If you have questions or need a ride, please call or contact Kate Wood 941-5785 or katew40@charter.net.




The Emotional Intelligence of Jesus:
An in-depth seminar with Roy Oswald
Sept. 28, 2017
9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Walk with author, trainer, and EQ (emotional quotient, or emotional intelligence) guru Roy Oswald on an exploration of the emotional intelligence of Jesus and how it can transform the work of faith leaders and churches at the St. Francis Retreat Center in Dewitt, MI.  Roy will guide participants to:
 
  • Notice what Jesus taught about EQ
  • Identify EQ skills faith leaders need to sustain excellence in ministry
  • Consider EQ skills clergy need to teach their people along with what Jesus advocated
  • Discuss the importance of EQ for church leaders-without it their ministry will rarely fly
  • Learn how to select people with high EQ skills for church and ministry leadership
  • Develop strategies to impart EQ skills to faith leaders and impact the system with EQ
  • Unpack Jesus' teaching of the Kingdom of Heaven and how we move in and out of Kingdom of Heaven space. To arrive in this space and be conscious of it requires EQ. This is central to our growth as Christians.
  • Explore the Johari window as a way to develop the capacity to broaden the open space between us, the space where Jesus meets us.



National Acolyte Festival at National Cathedral Washington, DC
Oct. 5-8, 2017
Join acolytes and their chaperones from St. Andrew's, Grand Rapids and from around the country for this special festival.   Click here for more information...


Formation Leaders Training and Retreat October 27-28, 2017
Formation leaders are Sunday School teachers, youth group leaders, and adult education facilitators in their parishes or dioceses. M ature high school leaders are also invited to participate and attend with their adult mentor.
 
This is a hands-on retreat led by Jalisa Danhof, award-winning camp director at Camp Newaygo. 


  
  
Regular Weekly Worship Schedule
Monday
Women's Prayer Circle 8:30 am
Tuesday
Morning Prayer 8:15 am
Wednesday
Men's Prayer Group 7:30 am
Simple Eucharist, 10 am
Centering Prayer, 11 am
Saturday
Holy Eucharist, 5 pm
Sunday
Holy Eucharist, 8 am & 10 am


Lectionary Readings
& Daily Prayer


       This Weekend's Readings
The Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost
Genesis 45:1-15
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Matthew 15:21-28
Psalm 133

open bible 

       Next Weekend's Readings
The Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost
Exodus 1:8-2:10
Romans 12:1-8
Matthew 16:13-20
Psalm 124

  The Lectionary Readings

The Daily Office

Birthdays
John Walters
Carl Benner
Penny Campo-Pierce
Lance Factor
Becky Goldkuhle
Linda Schubert
Elliot Mittelstaedt
Dick Woods
Eunice Taylor
Barb Dancer
Brian Joynt

Happy Anniversary

Lee & Donna Hornberger
Joe & Marilyn Dressel
Jerry Beasley & Fleda Brown
Michael & Laura Mittelstaedt
Bill & Joyce Rouse

 
Prayer Lists
Did you know Grace has 2 prayer lists?  
* To be added to the prayer list found in the bulletin contact

** If you would like to be added to the Daughters of the King (DOK) prayer list and be prayed for daily,contact Penny Campo-Pierce at 231-946-1224 or pcampopierce@charter.net

                   Contact Us 
341 Washington St.,
Traverse City, MI 49684
Phone 947-2330;  Fax 947-3011
Website www.gracetc.org

For Pastoral Emergencies
Call the church office 231-947-2330

   Staff Contact Information

Clergy:
Interim Rector: 

Office:
Parish Administrator: 

Administrative Assistant & Outreach Coordinator:

Music:
Music & Worship Director: 

Children's Ministry:
Director of Children and Youth Formation: 


What's Happening at Grace?



What's Happening in our Diocese?



Turn in your Oleson's receipts to benefit the Grace Food Pantry!



Oleson's Community Share Program

Here's how it works:
  1. You shop at Oleson's for groceries (liquor sales do not qualify for points)
  2. Turn in your receipts to the church.  Look for the envelope on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall, and place your receipts inside it.
  3. We submit receipts back to Oleson's
  4. We are granted cash rewards for the food pantry ($1 spent on groceries = 1 cent in Community Share points)

For every $5000 in receipts we submit, we receive $50 in cash for our food pantry.  Every little bit helps!

 

Thank you for participating!

 

Click here to learn more... 

 



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Help Grace Church!

Did you know Grace Church is part of the Amazon Smile program? We ask you to consider supporting Grace Church through this program. It doesn't take more than a minute to register, then eligible purchases will benefit Grace Church.  Follow this link to learn more...