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Grace Episcopal Church
Walking in the Way of Love
Parish News
For the Week of September 20, 2020
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Sunday, September 20
16th Sunday After Pentecost
Holy Eucharist Rite ll 9:15 (This service will be held outside on the Patio)
(Please register if you are attending at 10:30 in person here)
Family Holy Eucharist 5 pm (This service will be held on the labyrinth)
In-person attendance is limited to 41 households or individuals. Masks and social distancing are required for all services. Communion will be distributed in bread only.
Our services will also be offered online on Facebook Live at 8 & 10:30
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
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 20 - What is God's Nature? (Megan Hess and Sharon Massie)
In this session, we will explore some of the attributes of God's nature as revealed in the Bible: His holiness, His sovereignty, His transcendence, His omnipotence, His faithfulness, and His goodness. Understanding these aspects of God will set us up to talk about the really big question, which we will tackle on Sept. 27 - What does it mean that God is Love?
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 begins September 23
Sacred Ground is a race dialogue series developed by the Episcopal Church and is framed as a spiritual journey, grounded in the Christian faith - in the example of Jesus Christ and the power of scripture, prayer, God's grace, and the Holy Spirit to help us step closer to the dream of beloved community. The focus of the materials is the history of race and racism in the US.
The 10 part series is built around a 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. This is a race dialogue series designed for these times. It is an attempt to be responsive to the profound challenges that currently exist in our society. It is focused on the challenges that swirl around issues of race and racism, as well as the difficult but respectful and transformative dialogue we need to have with each other about them. It invites participants to walk back through history in order to peel away the layers that brought us to today, and to do so in a personal way, reflecting on family histories and stories, as well as important narratives that shape the collective American story.
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.
Grace Episcopal will offer this series starting September 23. If you are interested in joining this class please see the registration form above.
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!
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 (Second Asking)
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, ( gdickerson447@gmail.com; 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
Early In-person Voting begins September 18
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