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News from Grace Episcopal Church ~ Martinez, California
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Scripture of the Week
"
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;to comfort all who mourn."
Isaiah 61:1-2
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Get in the pink!
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This coming Sunday you may notice that the Advent Candle we light is pink. That's because this week we celebrate "Rose" or "Gaudete Sunday." According to the Ministry Matters website,
"Today in the West, Advent roughly corresponds to the secular Christmas [shopping] season. But once upon a time, Advent was a forty-day fast similar to Lent. (In the Eastern church it still is.) The third Sunday was a Rose Sunday, or Refreshment Sunday. 'Rose' refers to the pink color of the vestments and paraments [that can be used on] that Sunday, a departure from the usual Advent purple. 'Refreshment' refers to a break from the Advent fast. Refreshment Sunday was a one-day reprieve from the season of penance and solemn preparation.
Though we no longer observe a forty-day fast, we [can] still carry on Rose Sunday traditions. Many Advent wreaths include a single pink (or rose-colored) candle, along with three purple ones. We light the pink candle on the third Sunday of Advent, which some Christians refer to as Gaudete Sunday.
Gaudete is the Latin word for 'rejoice.'" Thus, the meaning of the pink candle is "Joy."
So for those of you fashion-conscious folks who like to match the liturgical calendar, this is the week to bring out the pink!
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Advent at Grace
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We welcome you to join us each Sunday in Advent to hear and respond to the story of the coming Christ in word, song, and action. Our time of preparation includes both contemplative and celebratory activities, including:
Healing prayer at Sunday services each week;
"Advent in Narnia," a seasonal Bible study
using the writings of C.S. Lewis, following our weekly Wednesday, 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist service;
Opportunities to help those in need during the holidays.
We will conclude our Advent season
on Sunday, December 24 with a combined morning service at 10 a.m., Choral Eucharist and
The Decorating of the Christmas Tree. (There will be no 8:00 a.m. service on December 24.)
Following the 10 a.m. service, children will be asked to help put ornaments on the Grace Christmas Tree while the Altar Guild decorates the sanctuary. In order to gently encourage parishioners to stay in the sanctuary and help with the rapid change in seasons, there will be no Coffee Hour. Instead, we'll have hot chocolate and treats for the workers! Invite friends!
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Spiritual Resources
Advent is a wonderful time to begin a new spiritual practice. Here are a few recommendations:
Daily Devotionals:
"Forward Day by Day" is a booklet of daily scriptural reflections available in our Narthex for free; "Watch for the Light," a collection of spiritual readings for the season can be purchased at
this link
.
Worship:
Come to Wednesday Holy Eucharist at Grace at 10 a.m. or worship at home with t
he Daily Office web app from the brotherhood of St. Gregory, which has the full lectionary and text of the Episcopal Daily Office, found Here. Music: The Great "O Antiphons" are an ancient Christian series of prayers that are often chanted. Watch this meditation based on The Great O Antiphons. Activities: Create a family Advent wreath or, for something different, make an Advent paper chain. Giving to others: Donate to your favorite charity, to the Grace Church Rector's Discretionary Fund, or make a Reverse Advent Calendar.r e
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An opportunity to add to the beauty of the church
The beautiful flowers we see each week in the sanctuary are donated by parishioners. This week we will post our 2018 Flower Chart. If you would like to give money for the flowers on a given Sunday, please sign up for that date on the flower chart. You can dedicate the flowers on that day in memory or in honor of someone or to celebrate a special day or event. The recommended donation is 35 dollars to cover the cost of the flowers. Thank you in advance!
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At Grace, Christian education for children (
Sunday
School) is called "Godly Play" and is held during the first part of the
10 a.m.
service after which children join their families for Holy Communion.
On the 3rd Sunday of the month we have Family Sunday and the children participate in the entire 10 a.m. service.
There is no Godly Play on Family Sundays (Dec. 17, Jan. 21)
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We have moved into the foundational stories of the Hebrew Scriptures. These are known as the stories of the "People of God", which is a term we often use to refer to the Jews of the Hebrew Scriptures. We will tell the stories of Creation and the Great Flood. After that the stories will be set in a box of sand known as the desert box which signifies that the People of God are wandering, nomadic, and often in a foreign land. These stories are The Great Family (beginning with Abraham and Sarah), Exodus, the Ten Best Ways (Ten Commandments), The Ark and the Tent, and the Ark and the Temple. You might ask yourself what happened to the Garden of Eden, or Moses in a reed basket, or Jonah and the whale, or a dozen other stories. The reality is that there are more stories to be told than Sundays in which to tell them. But, there is always next year.
This Sunday:
It's Family Sunday! All children are invited to remain in the sanctuary for the entire service for the Children's Homily and to assist in the Eucharist!
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Christmas at Grace
Our Christmas services will be as follows
:
Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24, at 5 p.m.:
This is a traditional Christmas pageant with music. Walk-ins welcome! ALL children are invited to participate in the pageant. Simply get to the church by 4:30 p.m. and you will get a part!
Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24, at 10 p.m.:
Concert featuring both vocal and instrumental Christmas music.
Christmas Eve "Midnight Mass" beginning at 10:30 p.m.:
The Celebration of the first Christmas Eucharist with Choir and instrumentalists (otherwise known as the "leaving at Midnight Mass")
Christmas Day, Monday, December 25, at 10 a.m.:
Eucharist with traditional Christmas carols.
Christmas Lessons and Carols, Sunday, December 31, 10 a.m.
Please join us and BRING FRIENDS!
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If you would like to dedicate a Christmas Poinsettia, please email or call the church office (925.228.6574), indicating: "In loving memory of ___; In thanksgiving for ___; or, In celebration of ___." Suggested donation $10.
Or you may fill out a slip (located on the table in the Narthex) and put it in the offering plate by this Sunday, December 17.
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Baptism at Grace
Holy Baptism is one of the primary sacraments of The Episcopal Church. Through full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit we become members of Christ's Body, the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble.
Holy Baptism is a gift given by the grace of God, and not merited by one's acceptance or understanding of it. Infant Baptism is a sign of the faith of the community into which a child is baptized. Infants are baptized so that they can share citizenship in the Covenant, membership in Christ, and redemption by God.
The Episcopal Church has stated that Holy Baptism is appropriately administered in the context of one's own congregation. Although membership at Grace is not required, an important part of Holy Baptism is when the members of the congregation who witness the baptismal vows agree to do everything within their power "to support these persons in their life in Christ." Baptism is, therefore, a community event.
Grace follows the Episcopal Church practice of administering Holy Baptism on or near the Great Vigil of Easter, the Feast of Pentecost, All Saint's Day and the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the First Sunday after the Epiphany).
Upcoming dates for Baptism at Grace are:
- Sunday, January 7, 2018, The Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ
- Sunday, April 8, 2018, (Easter Vigil transferred)
- Sunday, May 20, 2018, Pentecost Day
There is no fee for Holy Baptism.
If you are interested in being baptized or having your child baptized, please contact
Rev. Deb.
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Faith-full Forums
Once a month since June we have opened our doors to a variety of fascinating speakers and invited anyone who is interested to come and see. Through them, we have had the opportunity to learn about everything from the Dead Sea Scrolls to teenage cell phone use! Please come and invite friends to any and all of these presentations.
Upcoming Forums
On Sunday, January 21, 2018, we will welcome Gloria Bertolozzi, Volunteer and Outreach Manager of Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, which provides permanent, affordable housing and vital support services to homeless and at-risk families and individuals in Contra Costa County. We participated in the CCIH Spirit of Giving program recently and look forward to getting to know them better.
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Invitation to be part of the counsels of the church
The Episcopal Church considers all of its members to be equal partners in making decisions in our parishes. One of the primary venues for discussion and planning is
The Annual Parish Meeting. We will hold our annual meeting on
January 28, 2018. At the gathering we will set our annual budget and elect new members to the Vestry. Vestry members serve for three (3) year terms. We will also elect Deanery delegates who attend quarterly meetings of our regional church council. If you are interested in serving, please contact one of the members of the Nominating Committee: Stan Applegate, Les Marks, or Sally Hanson. To be eligible to serve on vestry you must be a baptized, pledging member of the parish.
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