Parish News For the week of October 3, 2021

No Christianity and Culture October 3

First Sunday Lunch—October 3

First Sunday Lunch is Back! A chili lunch will be served on the patio after the 10:30 service. Please contact Susan Lawrence bighilllex@gmail.com if you’d like to help!

Usher Training—CPR, October 3

CPR training class is being offered by Donnie McBrayer, on October 3 at 1 pm in the Parish Hall. This is not a certification class, it is an information class on how to use the AED machine and how to perform CPR. You are welcome to come learn even if you are not an usher.

Taizé Eucharist, Sunday, October 10, 5 pm

Music in the meditative Taizé tradition with prayers, readings from Scripture and Holy Eucharist.

Choral Evensong, Sunday, October 24

Christianity and Culture offerings this fall

October 10 - The Haiti Collaborative

with The Rev. Roger Bowen and Michelle Edwards

October 17 - November 7 - The Relevance of the Old Testament Prophets 

This four-part series will explore the Old Testament prophets and their messages within an historical context and examine their significance for today’s world. Abraham Heschel’s seminal work, The Prophets will serve as the primary reference for our discussion. John Thomas, Lexington resident and a former student of Heschel, will introduce the study. Doug Ayres, former instructor of International Studies at VMI will present the historical background. Next, Emily Filler, assistant professor of Religion at Washington and Lee will present the lives and messages of the prophets. In the final session, our Priest, Tuck Bowerfind will discuss the influence of the prophets on Jesus’s ministry and message.     

November 14 & 21 - The Psalms with Joanne Robblee

Coming in December The Magnificat with Martha Burford

Music Notes

Our first concerts in the newly renovated space will take place at 7:30 Friday, October 1 and 7:30 Monday, October 4. We are collaborating with The Origin Initiative, an initiative that  prepares pre-professional vocal artists for contemporary careers through diverse performance, personalized mentorship,and skill development. Additionally, The Origin Initiative provides performance and mentorship opportunities for nationally-sourced professional vocal artists providing world-class concertizing and education to Rockbridge County.

The concert on Friday will feature: Music from the British Isles marking the Origin Initiative’s first concert appearance in Rockbridge County, taking the listener on a journey through the British choral tradition celebrating in part the musical heritage and renovation of Grace Episcopal Church. The concert will include music by Howells, Byrd, Holst, Parry, and others. Contact Martha for details: martha@graceepiscopallexington.org

SVU Camerata

The SVU Camerata will give a concert at Grace, Thursday, October 14, 7:30 pm. Chamber Ensemble Music *INCLUDING* Casavant 3941!

Stewardship Campaign

The Every Perfect Gift Stewardship Campaign is off to a strong start. Thirty-one parishioners, including all staff, have pledged $150,820 in the first five days of the campaign towards a goal of $550,000.

We will share each week a few responses received to the WOW Card question: If Christ visits Grace Church today, what would wow him most?

-our open and welcoming congregation

-people congregating happily despite the pandemic

-the good work of the Outreach Committee and how the members of the parish embrace the needs of others and help by volunteering their time and talents

-the love we have for him and for each other

-the presence of students from VMI, W&L, SVU

Please keep your responses coming!

God has blessed us. Our blessings inspire us to give back. Be attentive to the many ways our gifts impact our parish community, our neighbors, and our world.

With gratitude,

Members of the Stewardship Committee

Vestry Nominations Sought

The Nominating Committee of the Vestry are seeking names of members interested in serving on the Vestry. According to the Canons of our Diocese of Southwestern Virginia,

“Only persons who are confirmed adult communicants of the parish in good standing, as defined in Canon 1.1 of the Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, for at least one year preceding the election shall be eligible for election as Vestry members.” Vestry members are elected to serve a 3-year term.. A weekend vestry retreat will be held February 11-12, 2022, and most vestry members attend at least 3 meetings per month (2 meetings related to the work of the vestry and 1 committee meeting).

Please contact a member of the Nominating Committee (Liz Moss, Cecile West-Settle, Judy Schram, Punky Dod, or contact the church office to submit names for consideration.

Afghan Refugee Relief Efforts

Team Rubicon and the Red Cross are organizing Afghan refugee relief efforts at Fort Pickett. Team Rubicon | Afghan Resettlement (teamrubiconusa.org)

Team Rubicon has a list on Amazon of specific items you can purchase for direct delivery to Fort Pickett. It may be easier for some people to shop this way to support the refugee relief effort. Amazon.com

The picnic enabled us to discover and explore interests in common and build the foundation for future contact. Words are important...but a smile, shrug, eye roll...bond in a way that creates a memory of caring. 

Kathy Hill

This time with our Boys Home young men gave us a unique opportunity to get to know them better and for them to have unstructured fun in a different place. They are such kind and good young men.

David and Bonnie Gates 

Having barely gotten to meet let alone get to know our boys (Bereket and Mulu) before the pandemic set in, the picnic gave us a long overdue opportunity to connect with the boys in a very relaxed setting. Gail is looking forward to a rematch game of checkers with Mulu. Tossing the football with Bereket and Mulu while discussing our favorite college teams was fun for John and Hal. Though Lexington was experiencing a shower, we remained dry at the Gates estate.

Gail and John Dickerson

Boys Home Cottage Sponsorship

The Grace Church Christian Outreach Committee supports Boys Home financially with funds for both scholarships and a Cottage Sponsorship . The Cottage Sponsorship also includes a hands-on component in which parishioners have selected one or two boys in the cottage to sponsor in a variety of personalized ways. During the Covid hiatus on in-person gatherings, sponsors communicated with their boys via email and snail mail. The recent picnic at the Gates home marked a long-awaited turning point that allowed the boys and sponsors to gather in person.  We are currently looking for a Cottage Sponsorship coordinator to assist in planning events at Boys Home and in Lexington, and  communicating with sponsors and Cottage house parent. If you are interested in serving as a sponsor or sponsor coordinator please contact Anna Crockett at crockett@vmi.edu or 460-3254 for details.  

Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity

Annual Chili Cook Off

Sunday, October 17, 1:00 PM

@ Spencer Home Center Inc

The Annual Chili Cookoff is Habitat's signature event. Come sample homemade chili and vote for your favorite! Grace Episcopal Church is entering the

Merce Brooke’s award-winning chili!

(Merce won Grace’s Chili Cook Off in February 2020!) 

 Live music and an open bar add to the festive atmosphere.

Happy Birthday

Donnie McBrayer (10/2), Mary Katherine Lawrence (10/4), Anne Hansen (10/4), Marguerite Old (10/5), Rob Minor (10/8), Jerry Nay (10/9), Susan Denson (10/9), Libby Cumming (10/11), Heather McBrayer (10/11), Al Gordon (10/12), Scott Rodi (10/14), Charlies Smith (10/15), Eloise Adams (10/20), Drusie Milford (10/20), Claudia Ellis (10/23), Lily Youngman (10/25), Melissa Cox (10/26), Connie Loughhead (10/27), Tracey Riley (10/29), Steve Shultis (10/30), Peggy Hays (10/31)