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News from Grace Episcopal Church ~ Martinez, California
August 29, 2019
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Scripture of the Week
"The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord;
the heart has withdrawn from its Maker.
For the beginning of pride is sin,
and the one who clings to it pours out abominations.
"
Sirach 10:12-13a
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"Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs."
Jesus
At Grace, we have Godly Play (Sunday School) during the school year. During the summer we continue to offer Nursery Care. School age children are invited to join their families in the Sanctuary. We provide coloring and drawing materials, books, and soft toys, as well as a children's area for children who prefer not to sit in the pews with their families.
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Historical Liturgy Gratitude
Many thanks to everyone who helped make last Sunday's 1789 historical liturgy a success. Special thanks to John Lee for his dedicated work on adapting the liturgy; Arthur Omura for the historically accurate music; Jennifer Sabroe for her work on the bulletins; the Altar Guild for rolling with the set-up changes, and everyone who participated in the service!
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Outreach Committee Meeting
"Outreach" is a traditional church word for opportunities to work with the larger community to provide to those in need of assistance. There will be an Outreach Committee meeting THIS Sunday, September 1 following the 10 a.m. service. Please grab your coffee and treats and join us in the conference area outside of Rev. Deb's office in the Education building. All are welcome.
Please note the time change from previous Outreach meetings.
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Introducing the Amazing Grace Youth Choir!
Young people ages 7-17 are invited to join in learning to read, appreciate and perform music in a low-stress environment.
Rehearsals will be on Sundays at noon (following our 10 a.m. service and coffee hour). To enroll, see or contact Music Director
Arthur Omura.
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(Whole and Healthy Church)
Sometimes it feels like summer will go on forever, but our new program year begins in
less than two weeks. 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 Whole and Healthy 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, either online or at one of the Diocese of California in-person trainings (see below).
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.
Whole and Healthy Church in-person trainings
Saturday, Sept. 7, 9:30-11:30 am at St. Paul's, San Rafael
Sunday, Sept. 8, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm at St. Anne's, Fremont
Friday, Sept. 13, 2:00 - 4:00 pm at Good Shepherd, Berkeley
Saturday, Sept. 21, 12:45-2:45 pm at St. Paul's, Oakland
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Fancy Ferriage Retirement
Final Square Dance
at Tom and Connie Hodgson's Hill Top Horse-ienda
THIS Saturday, August 31
5pm Finger Food & Happy Hour
7pm Square Dancing with instructions
RSVP (925) 228-7766
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Letters for our young Marine, José Dyer
Grace Church has a long tradition of supporting our youth and young adults. Recently, three of our youth graduated from high school and left to pursue new futures in other states. One life-long parishioner, José Dyer, enlisted in the Marines. On Sunday September 1, his parents Lynda and Don Dyer will be collecting letters or cards of encouragement from the church family that they can send to José in a large envelope. (This is the only time they can send one big package to José.)
The collection of letters/cards will be marked for reading in the nights leading up to "The Crucible," which is his last test before earning the title "Marine." You are also welcome to include letters or cards to be read after he passes the test, congratulating him on his accomplishment. (Please mark the
envelopes "read before" or "read after").
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Opening Weekend at Grace!
September 7-8
Sunday, September 8 marks the beginning of our formal program year with the start of Godly Play and the return of the Choir from summer hiatus.
At Grace we spread out our "Opening Day" festivities over
two days. On
Saturday, September 7, we will welcome young and old to
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT on our quadrangle.
Starting at 7 p.m., there will be a bouncy house to entertain the young ones as we wait for the sun to set, followed by a G-rated film on the lawn. Popcorn will be provided. Bring your own blankets and lawn chairs (or pull your car up close to the walk).
At our 10 a.m. service on
Sunday, September 8, we will
bless our Godly Play teachers and students. Following the service, we will have a *
barbecue lunch - and the bouncy house will remain up so the children can play in it. Please be sure to join us. This is an EXCELLENT opportunity to bring friends to church!
*Hamburger patties, hot dogs, buns, and condiments will be provided. Please bring a side dish to share, if you are able. Marj Leeds is organizing the BBQ. Helpers needed for set-up and clean-up. Email Marj.
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We are invited to a Renewal of Ministry
at St. Paul's Walnut Creek!
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Congratulations and Good-bye!
We are delighted to announce that our
Assisting Priest The Rev. Molly Haws has been called to serve as the Long-term Supply Priest at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Berkeley. She will begin working there in October.
Sunday, September 15 will be Rev. Molly's last Sunday with us. She will be preaching and enjoying Family Sunday with our wonderful children and there will be a special coffee hour following the 10 a.m. service. Please join us in thanking her for her good work at Grace!
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Get prepared!
No one can predict when the next big disaster will occur but
Martinez
CERT
(Community Emergency Response Team) wants you to be ready to meet that challenge.
CERT is offering free classes on emergency preparedness and disaster response starting in September. There is a Saturday morning session (four Saturdays) from 8 am - 1 pm or a Tuesday evening session (six Tuesdays) from 6 pm - 9:30 pm.
Classes cover Personal and family Emergency Preparedness for Disasters, Fire Safety, Search and Rescue, Emergency Medical Care , Medical Triage, Disaster Psychology,
CERT Organizational Response, Communications and Terrorism. The FEMA Curriculum is approximately 20 hours and students receive a certificate of completion if they finish all the classes.
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SAVE THE DATE!
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The Diocese of California will hold a
Beloved Community Training Day in the East Bay this fall at St. Paul's, Oakland on Saturday, September 21.
The day will include required training sessions for Eucharistic Visitors, Eucharistic Ministers, and Whole & Healthy Church Training, along with an array of workshops for lay leaders in all areas of ministry.
https://diocal.org/beloved-community-training-day
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
When: Saturday, September 21
Where: St. Paul's, Oakland, 114 Montecito Avenue
Cost: $10 (to cover lunch)
Contact: Amy Cook, Working Group Head for Faith Formation, amyc@diocal.org |
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Faithful Forums
Grace offers monthly educational forums on broad-ranging topics like The Dead Sea Scrolls, Episcopal Polity, Recycling, and Emergency Preparedness for congregations. These take place in the Parish Hall following our 10 a.m. service (approximately 11:30).
Coming up:
September 15, What is a Justice Ministry? with members of the Social Justice Committee of the Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin, San Francisco
October 20, Open Forum with The Rev. Canon Abbott Bailey, Canon to the Ordinary of the Diocese of California
November 17, Sustaining Earth, Our Island Home conversation with the Environmental Ministry of the Diocese of California
December 15, SWEEPS Ministry Fair
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Annual Bocce Tournament and BBQ
Sunday, October 6, 12-4 pm
Rodgers-Smith Park, Pleasant Hill
Stay tuned for more info.
Contact: Sandy Taylor (925) 458-5040
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Date: Saturday, October 5
Venue: Christ Episcopal Church, Alameda
Times: Check-in and registration begin at 8:00 am (snacks provided!)
Workshop 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Stephen Ministry is the one-to-one lay caring ministry that takes place in congregations that use the Stephen Series system.
Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower lay caregivers-called Stephen Ministers-to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting.
The workshop is designed for churches in our general area who have shown an interest in Stephen Ministry. This is a great opportunity to get a feel for the ministry, so please consider joining the workshop. If interested, please contact Dru Grissom.
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The Second Annual Grace Martinez Thanksgiving Dinner
Last year Rev. Deb and her family decided they would like to have Thanksgiving Dinner at Grace. By the grace of God and lots of volunteers, we were able to share dinner with about 40 people! This year we'd like to do a bit more advanced planning and are looking for folks to help with this. If you are interested, please let
Rev. Deb know. Thanks in advance!
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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!
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Discovery Builders has begun construction on the development that is being built on the lot above our upper lot (formerly the trailer park). Continuing through August, Muir Station Road will be closed daily in both travel directions between the hours of 9 am and 5:30 pm, Monday through Saturday. If you spend time at Grace during the week, please take this into account prior to visiting.
Here is a link to the map and detour plan. Thank you for your patience.
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Backpack / School Supplies Drive
We're heading into the final week of the annual Grace Church Backpacks/School Supplies Drive! For many years, we have been filling backpacks with school supplies for students at Martinez Jr. High. Over the summer we collect supplies. On September 8, we will fill the bags. The backpacks are then delivered to the school where counselors distribute to the students most in need.
How you can help:
3) Bring your donations to church and leave in the bin in the Narthex.
4) Mark the Tracking Chart (new this year). As you bring in donations, mark the tracking chart (located in the Narthex) indicating the quantity for the item(s). By doing this, everyone can see what items (and how many) are still needed to meet our goal.
We are also looking for someone with a truck or other large vehicle to transport the backpacks to the school. If you can help, let Beth Ilog know.
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Energetic folks needed!
We continue to work on organizing our various ministries at Grace. There are several areas where we are in need of help:
We are working on a standing Fundraising Committee. Traditionally, the Vestry has spearheaded fundraising events,
but are now busy with administrative and liaison duties. If you have a passion for or experience with organizing events which raise funds, please consider heading up a Grace Fundraising Committee. If you are interested, please contact
Rev Deb.
The Hospitality Committee is off to a great start and would love more members. Specifically, we are looking for parishioners willing to serve as Mentors to new folks to help them get oriented to Grace. If you are interested, please talk to Christina Reich.
We continue to need more folks to help in liturgical roles, including Eucharistic Ministers who assist the priest during the Holy Eucharist; Eucharistic Visitors, who bring Eucharist to folks unable to attend services; members of the Altar Guild, who help prepare the church for worship; Choir members, who sing during the 10 a.m. service; and Acolytes, young people between the ages of 10 and 18 who assist with the liturgy. Please consider thoughtfully and prayerfully what you can do for the good of the church. Contact Rev. Deb (revdeb@gracechurchmtz.org) and she will direct you to the right person!
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Be part of the online directory
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Bible Study for Everyone!
Each Wednesday at 10 a.m. we offer Holy Eucharist followed by Bible Study in our Chapel.
During the first half of the Season after Pentecost, we are have been using Kevin A. Wilson's book, "Conversations with Scripture: the Law." We will conclude this study on Wednesday September 4. "Scripture contains many laws about which Christians are perplexed. If the Bible contains laws, shouldn't those laws be followed? What does the law that prohibits reaping a harvest to the very edges of your field mean in modern times? Kevin Wilson offers fresh insights into the meaning of the Law for today." The book is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
However, as always,
you do not need to purchase the book to take part.
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at Grace Church!
Save the Date
Saturday, October 19, 2019
5pm Social Hour ~ 6pm Dinner
German food, music, entertainment, and raffle. Contact
Stephanie Zichichi
if you would like to help. More information to follow!
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Flower and Candle Dedications
We are blessed by having fresh flowers on our altar each week. These are paid for by parishioners who wish to dedicate flowers (or candles) in thanksgiving or memory of loved ones. There are many open dates available on the flower and candle dedication calendar, located in the Narthex. When signing up for a date on the chart, please be sure to also write your name on the corresponding date in the flower dedication notebook (located on the little table below the chart). Suggested donation $35. The candle dedication notebook on the table under the bulletin board. Suggested donation $5.
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Coffee Hour Sign-Up
An updated Coffee Hour schedule will be posted on Sunday for the months of September through December on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall. Please be sure to take a look at it for your assigned Sunday. This is a great opportunity to team up with someone and host during this fellowship time following the 10:00 service! Questions: Email Coffee Hour Coordinator Tina Reich or leave a note in her box if you have any questions. Please remember that if you can't do your assigned date, you are asked to make arrangements for a substitute.
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C.O.R.E. Homeless Outreach donations
C.O.R.E stands for Coordinated Outreach Referral and Engagement. It is a program of the Housing and Homeless Services Division of Contra Costa County Health Services. Grace provides the C.O.R.E. team with needed items to distribute to individuals suffering from homelessness. This is an ongoing project, so we are requesting:
- Hygiene items including (but not limited to) soap, shampoo, oral care, shower wipes, shaving supplies, feminine hygiene items
- Incontinence products (e.g. "Depend") (men's and women's) all sizes
- Sleeping bags
- Blankets (moving blankets are inexpensive and durable)
- Backpacks - ideally large capacity, durability is less important as they are frequently lost or stolen after a few weeks/months
- Healthy food - preferable non-perishable items that don't require cooking, a can opener, or good teeth. Pull-top cans are good.
- Bottles of water
- Socks
- Sunscreen
- Pet food (in particular, wet food in pull-top cans). Other pet goodies would be appreciated too!
We also encourage parishioners to consider developing the habit of thinking of our homeless neighbors when shopping (i.e. picking up an extra item or two) and traveling (bringing home the hotel soaps/shampoo). Please leave donations in the Narthex.
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Yoga at Grace!
We welcome certified Yoga Instructor Noah Yuzna every
Tuesday evening at 6:15 p.m. to conduct a 60-minute yoga class. All levels are welcome and modifications are available for folks with limited mobility.
Classes are open to the community and there is no set cost. Participants are invited to contribute what they can for each class.
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Grace Episcopal Church Martinez is on Amazon Smile. If you are shopping at Amazon, simply go to the Grace Martinez Amazon Smile link and we will receive a portion of their sale to you. Spread the word! |
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Do you have an announcement?
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!
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