This Sunday’s Gospel • Matthew 16:21-28 Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised....[continue reading]. Lectionary scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible. Virtual worship continues this Sunday, August 30.

Worship Services on YouTube How are you accessing the weekly worship services? Have you subscribed to the GHTC YouTube channel or are you watching on your smartphone or tablet? To stay up-to-date, be sure to like and follow the church on Facebook.

Zoom Coffee Hour This Sunday Zoom Coffee Hour is being scheduled for every other week, with the next one to be held this Sunday, August 30, starting at 10:00 a.m. Click this Zoom link for access. The first 15 minutes will be for for fellowship, followed by 45 minutes of discussion of our Music Exploration Series - see below.

New Music Exploration Series Starts This Sunday As part of our every-other week Zoom Coffee Hour we will have the opportunity to discuss the wide variety of music styles available through our several Episcopal hymnals. Each week a handout will be available in advance for you to listen to examples online, before our discussion. Access this week's handout here. Please take time to listen to its online recordings before Sunday, as we will not have the time to listen to them together in our virtual gathering. You may also want to have your Hymnal 1982 handy as a reference.  8/30/20 - Pre-19th Century: Classical Anglican music predating the Victorian era. 9/13/20 - African-American: Black Christians’ distinctive styles, including spirituals and Gospel songs. 9/27/20 - 20th Century: a style often complex both musically and theologically. 10/11/20 - Taizé, Celtic, & Native American: different styles from around the world which share elements of simplicity and repetition. 10/25/20 - Renewal: a worship music style that draws upon folk and popular music traditions and instruments.

The Faithful Departed - Frank White May the Faithful Departed, through the Mercies of God, Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory. Your prayers are requested for Frank White as he enters the nearer presence of our Lord. Frank was Barbara Hobson-Simpson's Dear Significant Other.

Digital Children's Chapel & Sunday School Begin Sept. 13 Based on input shared with the Children, Youth, and Family Ministries Steering Committee we will be launching both Children's Chapel and Sunday School in digital formats on September 13. Children's Chapel and Sunday School will be offered live on alternating weeks via Zoom this fall. Details about getting involved both offerings will come to parish parents tomorrow and be shared with the rest of the parish in next week's eNews, so be sure to check back for more.

Update from the Discernment Committee As the Discernment Committee completes the first round of Zoom interviews with applicants for the position of rector, we are grateful for the opportunity to have engaged in conversation with a broad array of well-qualified priests from a variety of backgrounds. We are now in the process of selecting from that group those with whom we will have second, more extensive interviews. Our guiding star in the consideration of applications has been your feedback during the fall interim activities and the responses to the survey conducted in February. The parish said that our next rector should embody the following gifts: · Capacity to inspire and connect people to God's word through teaching and preaching · Ability to lead change when necessary · Strategic leadership · Internal and external community building · Decision making ability and flexibility · Accessible, personable, outgoing As we move closer to mutually identifying our next shepherd, we ask that you continue to hold GHTC in prayer. If you should have any questions, please contact the Committee at Discernment@GHTC.org.

Regarding Regathering Church services, even when masks and distancing are used, are still proving to be one of the largest vectors for the spread of Covid-19. Following our diocesan guidelines, which aim to protect the most vulnerable among us, Richmond has not yet met the required safety metrics of a sustained two-week reduction in both infections and deaths. Only when our community has experienced those declines will we be able to set a date for regathering for worship or other activities. Our action plan has been submitted to the diocese for approval. Once we have a date for returning to in-person worship we will provide a video introduction to all of the new policies and procedures meant to keep you safe. Staff continue to work remotely and we will keep you updated through the church website.

Reading More? Join the Club! A dedicated group of readers is reconvening in September via Zoom on the third Monday of each month. Growing out of GHTC's Spirited Sisters, this small group is open to any reader and welcoming new members, whether directly affiliated with GHTC or not. If you would like to participate, contact Mary Ann Blankenship (mablankenship625@gmail.com or 804-334-8922). The September book is The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. We're all reading more these days so why not take an hour to talk about a common book with friends? If you are interested in joining (either in September or in the future) let Mary Ann know so she can contact you.

GHTC Saturday Virtual Summer Music Camp - Cymbals and Finger Clicks! By Saturday morning, you can tune in to YouTube here and join in as Julia Terhune leads little ones in making cymbals and finger clicks. This week's lesson primer: In this verse we read about King David planning for the Ark of the Covenant to be brought to the city of Jerusalem. The Ark of the Covenant was very important and represented the presence of God among the people, so this was a big, big deal! One way King David wanted to show God how much he and the rest of the people in the city were grateful to and loved God was making loud, joyous music for God! We still do this today and, even though we don’t have an Ark of the Covenant to bring into our houses, every time we make joyful music for God we can think of it as welcoming God into our homes and lives like the people of Jerusalem did too.

Parish Youth Organizing Canned Food Drive GHTC youth, through the leadership of Luke Thomas, are organizing a canned food drive in support of FeedMore. Donations can be dropped off at any of the locations listed below. Thanks for your help! Dykshorn Family: 125 North 25th Street, Richmond, VA. Turn into alley beside the house. Located inside the back gate.  Alexander Family: 9008 Rio Grande Road, Henrico, VA. Located next to the mailbox. Smithson Family: 3706 Lenox Forest Drive, Midlothian, VA. Located on the front porch. John H. Thomas PC: 536 Granite Avenue, Richmond, VA. Located on the front porch.

Forward Day-By-Day Do you read this devotional? If so, you can request a copy be mailed to you or access it online. The latest edition begins with readings for August.

Red Door Roadside Continues Every Friday we continue to feed hungry people with nutritious brown bag lunches. Although our volunteer needs have changed, we still need YOU to help us! Contact Kim Reinholz to assist in this ministry.