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Grace Episcopal Church
Walking in the Way of Love
Parish News
For the Week of September 27, 2020
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Sunday, September 27
17th Sunday After Pentecost
With the rising number of cases of COVID 19 in both Rockbridge County and Lexington we have exceeded the threshold for safe in-person worshiping for Sunday, September 27. Sunday September 27 Morning and Evening Prayer services will be held by ZOOM.
Family Morning Prayer 9:15 (ZOOM)
Morning Prayer, Monday - Friday, 8:30 am
Compline, Monday - Thursday, 8:30 pm
If you are interested in leading a night of Compline please let Sharon or Martha know.
Exploring a Prayer Discipline, Mondays, 10:00
Stewardship Campaign Begins
Sunday, September 20 was the beginning of the 2021 Stewardship Campaign consistent with the parish theme for the months ahead "Walking the Way of Love." Every parishioner should have received a stewardship letter and pledge card in the mail. If you did not please contact Lisa McGuire. The three goals of the campaign are 100 percent participation; sufficient income through pledging to maintain current payroll and obligations without relying on endowment income ($550,000); and increase giving beyond Grace through the Diocesan pledge and Outreach. The campaign formally ends on November 1 on All Saints' Day.
We are pleased that 34 households have already pledged a total of $177,165 as of September 23. The members of the Stewardship Committee appreciate everyone's prayerful consideration of a pledge to support the parish and its important missions through our relationship with God and Jesus Christ.
Your Stewardship Committee: Dennis Cross (Chair), Susan Cross, Carol Dent, Gail Dickerson, David Hansen, John Milford, Rob Minor
The Impact of Stewardship
Did You Know?
Did you know that the Christian Outreach Committee awarded $50,000 in grants to local agencies this year, with two thirds of that amount to support local urgent needs (complete list on the Grace Church website Outreach page)? This was possible thanks to the generous parishioners pledges and the Vestry's commitment to commit 10% of the pledged total to outreach.
Did you know that the COC's mission balances its priorities between financial support and hands-on ("skin-in-the-game") outreach among committee members, parish, and the broader community? The Hands-On Outreach Subcommittee maintains contact with community services for updated information about needs to shared with the parish.
Did you know that the COC is sponsoring a Boys Home Cottage, pairing parishioners with boys in SAMS cottage to develop personal relationships? This is in addition to the COC grant to Boys Home for scholarships.
Did you know that the committee's initiatives this year include forming a Prison Ministries Subcommittee that includes COC and non-COC parishioners, and a Racial Equity Subcommittee, that includes an equal number of representatives from the COC and leaders of color in the community? These and the Boys Home Cottage Sponsorship reflect our commitment to the Episcopal Church vision of Becoming Beloved Community.
Faith@Home Devotions for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost
These devotions for all ages invite you to engage in the discipleship practice of Reading, Reflecting, and Responding to Scripture in the context of community.
Each devotion is written for a particular age group pairing, so you can have conversations with everyone, no matter where they're at in life. The Adult and Small Child pairing is designed for preschool students and younger; the Adult and Elementary pairing is for children in elementary (or grade) school; the Adult and Youth pairing is for youth in middle and high school; and the Adult and Adults pairing is for use with young adults and adults.
Christian Education for Youth and Students
September 27 - What does it mean that God is Love?
(Megan Hess and Sharon Massie)
Godly Play, Tuesday, 4 pm (ZOOM)
Godly Play helps children to explore their faith through story, to gain religious language and enhance their spiritual experience though wonder and play. For children ages 3 to 7. Contact Sharon Massie for more information.
Sacred Ground began September 23
Our Sacred Ground series began on September 23 with 49 people registered. Tuck Bowerfind, Anne Grizzle, Anna Crockett, Patrick Rhamey, David Cox, Cecile West-Settle and Laurent Boetsch are our facilitators. Please pray for us as we journey through this powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories.
Sacred Ground is a Becoming Beloved Community initiative of The Episcopal Church, a long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society.
For more information about Sacred Ground please see
https://episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground
Music Ministry
Choir Rehearsals: They're not just for singers! How do we Walk in the Way of Love in our language, liturgy, music, and community? Join us for a rich array of topics and discussions. (Stay for singing if you like, but feel free to leave after the initial segments.)
Want to learn about American Sign Language and ministry to the Deaf in the Episcopal Church? Want to learn to sign the Lord's Prayer, Gloria, and Sanctus? Join us at choir rehearsal Thursday, Oct. 1 (virtual) when the Rev. Laurence Wainwright-Maks, Chaplain to Episcopal Conference of the Deaf join us. David Cox will explore the history and riches of the Anglican Tradition of Evensong on Oct. 22. Want to hear Ed Craun on "What's a Word?": A Christian Ethic of Speech--join us on Nov. 12.
Join us to consider how musical styles and language in hymns help us embody a Spirit of Welcome and Hospitality: Paul Vasile of Eden Seminary and Executive Director of Music That Makes Community will lead that discussion on Nov. 5.
There's more to come! A calendar will post next week, but this fall promises rich reflection on Walking in the Way of Love. Additionally, our music scholars are leading segments on music theory, music history, and vocal techniques. Demannuel Gonzalez WOWED us last night with an exploration of acoustics and physics. More to come!
BOYS HOME VIRTUAL CONCERT airs October 10 on YouTube and ZOOM. There are two events: 1. The Concert will air at a time TBA, and will remain "live" for 2 weeks. A rich array of offerings from Brazil; Tim Gaylard; St. Andrew's Cathedral, Jackson, Mississippi; William McCorkle; Wednesday Morning Music Jam Folk; Daniel Brinson and St. Paul's, Ivy musicians; Bolivian musician Julio Cuellar; Widely published composer Bob Moore, Ana Hernández; organists Christopher Reynolds, Jason Abel, and Mark Thallander, and more. 2. A live Community Singing Celebration at 3pm on Zoom, led by Music That Makes Community. Registration for the concert is 15.00. Registration for the Singing Celebration is 15.00. Bundle (both events) 25.00. Sponsorships are also available. Formal promotion will begin next week. Stay tuned!
Ukulele Group meets virtually 4:30-5:15 on Wednesdays. For people ages 3rd grade through 4,007th grade. Contact Martha at [email protected]
If you want to be one of the voices on the recorded hymns for Sundays, email Martha at [email protected]
To better understand "Walking the Way of Love", God's presence in our parish and community, please help us to recognize those whose lives have taught us this message. They may be living or deceased, and of any, or no, faith community. We are not only depending on your understanding, but asking you to talk to neighbors, friends, and acquaintances. Invite them to share who they see in this community expressing the ideals of love, justice, healing, and mercy.
Please use this form or give the office a call. Send us individuals' names before October 25, so we can celebrate them on All Saints Day November 1. Please include a few sentences, if you will, on why you identified this person and, also, include your name and email address, so we can learn more about them. We will of course contact these individuals prior to identifying them publicly.
Time and Talent Survey
Whether you are active or not on a ministry team or formation group at Grace, please let us know whether you might consider participating with one of the following teams or groups. No previous knowledge is required. All necessary training will be provided at your convenience.
Vestry Nominations
The retiring 2020 Class of Vestry members (Gail Dickerson, Don Ellis, Tom Gosse, and Steve Shultis) has begun work on nominations for the Vestry Class of 2023. In compliance with Canon 11 of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, the date of this year's and future Annual Meetings at Grace Episcopal will be the second Sunday of Advent; this year that date falls on December 6. Vestry members for the Class of 2023 will be elected and regular Annual Meeting business will be conducted at that time.
We invite parishioners to nominate people over the age of 18 who display some or all of the following: active participation in the life of Grace Church, love of God and their neighbors, love of the church, active listening and critical thinking skills, strong leadership and managerial skills. The nominating committee will discern whether each nominated person meets the qualification requirements as stated in Grace Episcopal Church's By-Laws (Article IV, Section 3):
-an adult (18 years of age or older) confirmed communicant;
-one who has made a current pledge to the church; and
-a regular worshipper in the Parish for at least twelve (12) months.
Nominees for Vestry should be aware that Vestry members must be able to make a significant time commitment. The regular monthly business meeting is held the fourth Monday of each month. On the third Monday of each month, members gather for wHoly Conversation: a time for discussion and sharing of ideas as we envision what God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit would have us do as we address the needs of the parish and build Beloved Community with all of our neighbors. Each Vestry member also serves as a liaison to one of our Standing Committees (Christian Education, Christian Outreach, Gadsden, Finance and Investment, Memorials, Property, Stewardship, Strategic Financial Planning, and Worship) whose talented chairpersons carry on the vital work-within and beyond--the Parish. Yes, the time commitment is significant; however, the benefits of building new relationships, achieving goals, and carrying out God's work are immeasurable.
Please submit the names of potential Vestry candidates (self-nomination or nomination of another with his/her permission) to Gail Dickerson, Sr. Warden, ( [email protected]; 540.817.3466) by September 30, 2020.
Meals for Shut-In Needs Drivers
"Meals for Shut-Ins" is a program that was created in the early 1970's when several ministers and church members in the Lexington community, including Grace, gathered together to address the local need for an agency that would address the question of delivering meals to those persons with limited physical or financial capacity. "Meals for Shut-Ins" is essentially the same thing as "Meals on Wheels" except for the fact that it is confined to delivering to recipients who only reside within the city limits of Lexington. Currently, there are five routes, with each route serving four to eight recipients for total of thirty-six. Five drivers meet each Monday at noon at Rockbridge Community Hospital to pick up meals prepared by the hospital kitchen staff. Each recipient is receives five meals at one time, which means there is not a daily delivery, which was the protocol before COVID-19 appeared on the scene. Delivery time to recipients on any route takes less than 30 minutes. Due to attrition since Covid hit, "Meals for Shut-Ins" is facing a critical need for more drivers.
For more information or to volunteer as a driver,
contact: Tom Jones, Coordinator, Meals for Shut-Ins, 460-0443
Habitat for Humanity is in need of Volunteers
The Rockbridge Habitat for Humanity needs volunteers to finish several important construction projects. If you or someone you know is able to dedicate a few hours a week to work with Habitat, please contact Leo Decanini, the person in charge of construction, at (571) 259-3145 (call or text).
For more information about Living the Way of Love click here
Grab your sneakers, chart your own course, and pound the pavement anytime the weekend of October 16-19, 2020 to compete in the first annual Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity Virtual 5k! All participants will receive a t-shirt and the opportunity to support local home building efforts right here in Rockbridge County. There will also be a raffle for some exciting local prizes! Print your digital race bib directly from your profile page and feel free to run, walk, hike, or bike to complete the race! Register here!
Early In-person Voting began September 18
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