Scripture of the Week

The Survey Results are in

Many thanks to everyone who completed the Grace Parishioner survey. The survey is now closed. 

 

62 people responded to the survey. That is about two-thirds of the congregation. Both 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. parishioners were represented. Parish Leadership has reviewed the data in aggregate, which gives us a good sense of what the majority of parishioners feel about different worship options, music, and communications at Grace. There are several strong trends present and many helpful comments.  Here is a brief synopsis of the results of each of the ten questions we asked everyone to answer: 

 

How do you feel about Family Sunday? The majority of Grace parishioners like Family Sunday and would like it to continue as it is.

Are you happy with the worship opportunities at Grace?  Most folks are happy with the current worship offerings at Grace. There was a trend toward introducing an Evensong service, which the Worship and Liturgy Committee has discussed and decided to try in the fall.

Preaching at Grace: Most people are very happy with the preaching at Grace.

How do you like the music at Grace?: This question generated the most comments, as well as the most varied responses. While some people requested more "traditional" music, others asked for the introduction of some "contemporary" music. There was some confusion about what folks meant by "traditional," as music that is traditional in one congregation is not the same as in another. Rev. Deb and Arthur Omura, our Music Director, are in conversation about how to best respond to these music concerns.  Overall, there was positive response to the idea of beginning a Children's Choir at Grace. As a result, Arthur (with Amelia Brooks assisting) will be starting a Children's Choir in the fall.

Would you like more educational opportunities at Grace? There was a great deal of interest in having an online study experience. Rev. Deb is currently working on a weekly podcast. Please share your ideas with her.

Yoga at Grace: It appears that not many people are interested in Yoga at Grace. Leadership will be discussing whether it is worth continuing this program as a community outreach effort.

Communications at Grace: Most people felt that they receive adequate information from Grace. More than half of respondents indicated that they know most of the parish leadership and the primary decision-making criteria at Grace. 

Here is some general information, in response to several questions we received:

• You can receive Grace notes by contacting The Parish Office. (Past "issues" of Grace Notes are posted on the church website.)
    
• The Mission statement of Grace is framed in the Narthex of the Church and printed on the bulletin each Sunday. The Vision statement is posted in the Parish Hall next to the light switch. 
• Important Vestry policy and/or financial decisions are always part of the Vestry minutes. If you have questions about a specific policy or decision, you are welcome to speak to any Vestry member or Rev. Deb. The Vestry members' photos and email addresses can be found in the bulletin each Sunday. Vestry members also introduce themselves during services. You are also welcome to attend Vestry meetings, which are on the second Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m.
• The minutes of Vestry meetings and current financial information are posted physically on the clipboard on the bulletin board near the door of the Parish Hall and online on The Grace Church Martinez website 
• Information about the SWWEePS acronymn, the difference between a Family and Pastoral-sized parish, and our relationship to The Episcopal Church, has been presented at several successive Annual Parish Meetings and can also be found in Vestry minutes. Rev. Deb also recently posted an article regarding Grace's relationship to the larger Episcopal Church. For more information about how decisions are made at Grace, please ask a Vestry member or Rev. Deb. They will be happy to talk to you.

Safe Church  

(Whole and Healthy Church) 

Sometimes it feels like summer will go on forever, but at Grace we are already gearing up for our program year, which begins in September.  In order to provide Godly Play (Sunday School), Nursery, and Youth programming for our young people, we need quite a few volunteers - and the diocese requires our volunteers to complete the Whole and Healthy Church online safety training. If you are a regular volunteer who works with or is interested in helping children or senior citizens at Grace, you must complete this program. Unfortunately, if you do not complete Safe Church training prior to the end of the summer, Rev. Deb will have to remove your name as a volunteer for these programs.  This would be a devas tating blow to our child and youth programming, so please take a couple of hours to complete the training.

In addition to Godly Play, Nursery, and Youth Group, other ministries that require certain levels of Safe Church training are: Eucharistic Visitors, Altar Guild, Vestry members, and anyone who has a key to Grace.

News Flash ... As an alternative to taking the courses online, there will be an in-person training on August 9 at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley from 2-4 pm. If you'd like to sign up for this option, contact Jennifer Sabroe no later than August 7.

If you have any questions about these requirements or don't know if you need to take the training, please contact  Jennifer Sabroe in the Parish Office.  Many thanks!

The church in the world

Jesus "said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" Mark 16:15

I was raised with the firm conviction that religion and politics do not mix, a notion which was consistent with what I learned in (Episcopal) church. In that time and place, it seemed possible to discuss national and world events without bringing God into it. This is no longer true. People representing themselves as Christians are not only mixing politics and religion, but they are, in some cases, putting love of country above love of God ( see article here). This is wrong. 

Under these circumstances, The Episcopal Church has adopted a view which compels us to speak to issues that bear directly on our convictions as Christians. Some have referred to this as the church's "social welfare agenda." The truth is that it is Jesus's agenda. It is Jesus who told us to love the poor, the disenfranchised, the homeless, the hungry, and the stranger. It is Jesus who warned us against the love of power and money. It is Jesus who, when asked who our neighbor is, replied by telling a story about someone the disciples thought of as a despicable, foreign, apostate who nonetheless demonstrated the way that Jesus asks us to follow. And it is Jesus who commanded that we share his message.

For these reasons, the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, The Most Rev. Michael Curry, and the Bishop of California, The Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus, sometimes issue statements on national events, as both did recently. These statements are based in holy scripture and specifically on the words and actions of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You can find them here:

Presiding Bishop's statement on immigration

Bishop Marc's statement on xenophobic tweets

Deacon's Pantry items needed

We are running down on food and other items in our Deacon's Pantry. The Deacon's Pantry is a cabinet in the kitchen (accessible from the Parish Hall) that contains food and other practical items that are available to anyone in need of them. Please ask Rev. Walter what is needed and then drop it off in the new box in the Parish Hall labeled, "Deacon's Pantry supplies." Many thanks!

IMPORTANT Traffic Notice

 

To access the church you need to approach from the east end of Muir Station Road (Center Ave). If you are coming from the west end of Muir Station Road, you will be detoured via the freeway to the east end (off of Center). At the barricade, the flag person will allow you to pass if you tell them you are going to the church. When you leave the church you must turn right to go back up to Center Ave.

Here is a link to the map and detour plan. Thank you for your patience.

Ken Roan Memorial

 

A Burial Service will be held next  Friday, August 2 at 1 p.m.  at Grace. Please save the date.

If you are willing to contribute to or help with the reception after the service, please let Susan Bremmer know. Please see the notice in regard to traffic restrictions that will be in place on that day.

 

You are invited to take part in the Veteran Alcatraz Swim Challenge (VII) on Wednesday, August 24 .The event is free for Veterans, Active Duty Military, and Immediate Family members. We offer training for the one mile swim. We are also in need of folks to ride in kayaks as safety monitors.

 

Click here to download the flyer.  

 

For specific information about how you can get involved, contact   Shannon Kleinschmit.  

If you have a parish-related announcement for the bulletin or Grace Notes - meeting reminders, upcoming events, special requests, etc. - please email the text of your announcement to the Parish Office by end of day on Tuesday. Thank you!