Holy Week, that inspiring, tiring, and exhilarating week of walking towards death only to find ourselves in new life begins this Sunday with Palm Sunday. Please note that, while most of our services remain at their accustomed times, the times for Stations of the Cross and the Good Friday liturgy have been changed this year. The later times will allow those who like to attend the big noon service at St. Paul’s to come to Grace as well should they choose; they also put the services closer to the time of day that scriptures tell us Christ died.  

Sunday, April 9 – Palm Sunday – 8:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. (Liturgy of the Palms      and dramatic reading of the Passion Gospel)

Thursday, April 13 – Maundy Thursday – 7:00 p.m. (Holy Eucharist and foot-washing)

Friday, April 14 – Stations of the Cross, 2:00 p.m.
                            Good Friday liturgy,     3:00 p.m.       

Saturday, April 15 – Easter Vigil, 8 p.m., with reception for Fr. Ken following

Sunday, April 16 – Easter services, 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

GET READY FOR FUN !

Grace’s annual Easter frolic for the young ‘uns has been scheduled for Saturday, April 15, at 1 p.m. Please note that it is at 1 p.m. instead of in the morning!  We’ll meet in the Pavilion to do some simple crafts and games while the eggs are hidden. Then split up into age groups for some egg-hunting fun! As we’ve done before, the smallest ones will hunt eggs on the playground where they are fenced in! Please let me know if you want to help.  

Ways to help:

• Drop off stuffed eggs the week before
• Bring stuffed eggs that day
• Help stuff eggs during the week
• Donate items for stuffing!!
  
  
  Maria Hurt
  [email protected]

Reception for Father Ken – Saturday, April 15, after the Easter Vigil (which begins at 8 p.m. and should be over around 9:30 p.m. All are invited to bring their favorite goodies to share and come thank and honor Father Ken for his service as Interim Rector at Grace. His last Sunday with us will be Easter Sunday.  

Bishop’s Annual Visit – Sunday, April 23 (a week after Easter) – Bishop George will make his last visit to Grace before his retirement in August. At his request, we will all worship together at one service at 10:00 a.m. that day. A reception in honor of the Bishop and those who have been confirmed, baptized and received that morning will be held after the service in the Undercroft.

April 19, 26, and May 3  

David Stanislawski will lead a book study on Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond.

In his book, Desmond points out that even in the most desolate areas of American cities, evictions used to be rare. But today, most poor renting families are spending more than half of their income on housing, and evictions have become ordinary, especially for single mothers. Desmond takes us into the poorest neighborhoods of Milwaukee to tell the story of eight families on the edge whose fates are in the hands of two landlords. Desmond not only strives to transform our understanding of extreme poverty and economic exploitation but also provides fresh ideas for solving a devastating, uniquely American problem. Please join us on these Wednesday evenings to discuss this important book  which Jennifer Senior describes in the New York Times as “an exhaustively researched, vividly realized, and above all, unignorable book. After Evicted, it will no longer be possible to have a serious discussion about poverty without having a serious discussion about housing.”  

We will begin with a potluck supper at 6:00 p.m. and start the book discussion at 6:45 p.m.

The Bookstore will have copies of the book available for purchase.

The months have flown by and now I have to say goodbye. I have thoroughly enjoyed the time that Ken and I got to spend with Grace Episcopal Church. Grace is truly a gem. What stands out most is the strong nonjudgmental love that you have for each other. This is very evident as my daughter said to me during her first visit to Grace. 
And it is very rare!  

Thank you for so much for the warm welcome Ken and I received. I truly enjoyed getting to know you all. Thanks for praying with me, letting me vent to you and best of all, making me laugh and have so much fun. As I told Edith, Grace is a unique place full of brilliant, amazing people.  

I am sad to say goodbye but will always treasure my “Grace experience”. If you find yourselves in southern Louisiana or Mississippi please look us up! I know that Grace will have a wonderful future. Please pray for Ken and me as we take the next step in our journey. We will keep you Gracies in our prayers.  

FONDLY,

Julie Ritter