This Sunday’s Gospel • Matthew 2:1-12 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem...[continue reading]. Lectionary scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Farewell to Our Interim Rector The Rev. Bill Queen will celebrate his last Sunday with us on January 3. Tune into coffee hour via Zoom at 10:00 a.m. this Sunday for a special recognition and to thank Bill for his work over the last 16 months. Looking Ahead to 2021 We’re excited about our new Rector, the Rev. Duane Nettles, who begins his work on Monday, January 4. Be on the lookout for more information about Duane and drop a note to him at the church by postal mail or find him on Facebook.

Psalms Bible Study begins Wed. Jan. 6 via Zoom There can will be a six week Bible study via Zoom on Wednesdays from 7:00-8:00 p.m. starting next Wed., Jan. 6 and ending Feb. 10. The group will be studying one psalm each week. If you are interested in joining please contact either Beth McClelland at 804-404-8823 or Mary Ann Blankenship for the Zoom log-in.

Year-End Gifts If you would like to make a year-end financial gift to Grace and Holy Trinity please contact Judy Bowman at 804.359.5628 ext. 14 or give by credit card through this online giving link. Because of your generosity, we have continued worship every single week of 2020. Thank you for keeping us connected even while we are apart!

Children’s Homily on Jan. 3 Be sure to check out the story of the wise men and our need to listen to what God is doing in this place as our new Rector joins Grace and Holy Trinity. This Sunday’s video will be live on the church YouTube channel at 11:15 a.m. so watch for it! In case you missed the annual Christmas pageant you can now watch it on the church’s YouTube page at this link. Fun Fact: We published more than 100 videos this year on the church YouTube channel! You can see all of the videos we have online. If you subscribe to the GHTC YouTube channel (by clicking the red SUBSCRIBE button at the top right of the page) you will automatically be notified when new videos are posted.

Pledge Campaign at 85% Our annual generosity campaign to support the operating budget of the church is at 85% of our goal of $660,000.00 for 2021. Have you completed your pledge? It takes less than two minutes online—your gifts allow us to continue serving others in our local community and our parish. Thank you for your commitment to Grace and Holy Trinity Church!

Winter Wellness In the cold days of January why not provide a little self-care? Thanks to Estelle Brodeur, Caroline Speirs Coffill and Kim Reinholz, you can access a weekly resource to improve your body, mind and spirit. This week's reflection from Caroline Speirs Coffill focuses on self-compassion.

Racial Equity If you’re looking to improve your understanding about racial equity, check out the materials (books, videos and podcasts) on the church’s Race at Grace webpage. We continue to endeavor to respect the dignity of every human being and love one other as Christ loves us, with God’s help. If you would like to add to the conversation or have questions, contact Mother Kim Reinholz. Additionally, the Vestry seeks parishioners to join a committee exploring the next steps for GHTC as a parish to respond to these issues. If you would like to know more, contact Barbara Derry or Thomas Ewers.

Congratulations to CirclesRVA Recently, CirclesRVA received some excellent media coverage...check out the Richmond Magazine story and the Times Dispatch mention. Thanks to your support of CirclesRVA (through the church's annual operating budget) we are helping to change the lives of others in our local community.

Personal Calls Instead of Poinsettias Usually, we distribute 25 or so poinsettias for Christmas to people who are ill or homebound. Due to COVID precautions, we will not be able to do this. If you usually deliver poinsettias, please consider having a phone visit with one of our members during the 12 days of Christmas. You can contact Mother Kim to get a name and phone number of a parishioner who would normally receive a blooming poinsettia.

Lend a Hand on Prayer Blankets  Our own Molly Howle has graciously donated fleece to be made into scarves and blankets for Red Door guests with the intention of them being made into “Tie Blankets.” If you or someone you know would like to work on this project please contact Mo. Kim and she will make sure that you get the fabric that you need through a contactless drop off. No sewing, knitting, or skill other than cutting and being able to tie shoes required.

Have You Changed Your Phone Number? Throughout the year, we want to stay in touch with you...and encourage you to connect with other parishioners. Please be sure your phone number, email and correct contact information is on file at the church. You can log into the secure online member center and see photos or update your records, or contact Judy Bowman in the church office.