I am so glad Easter is an entire season, rather than just one day. We get to hear some of the stories of the post-resurrected Christ. It gives us time to consider just how turned around everything was after such an amazing event.
We all have moments in our lives when amazing things happen that change everything: we move to a new town, we get married, have a child, change vocations, find love, acceptance or God. Each of us can relate to this time in the life of the followers of Christ.
We can choose how we let this change our lives. We can look for truth, as Thomas does. We can go back to our lives as if nothing happened. We can gether together and share this new life with each other. We can go outside our comfort zones and become agents of change. We can choose how we let this impact us, this revelation that death has no more power over love.
I am glad that Easter is a season so we can do the deep dive into this choice. This is a joyful time, a time of new life.
In the Way of Love,
Debbie
This Sunday
The Sunday after Easter tells the story of "Doubting Thomas."
At 10:00 am, the Morning Prayer service will be livestreamed from our homes. Assisting in the service are Eric Wagner and Jason Stonehouse and one of the hymns will be "We walk by faith." Please join us on Zoom or Facebook.
At 4:00 pm, the Celtic Evensong will will livestreamed from the church. Assisting Ryan Patten will be the Reverend Manny Faria and Paul Massari. Please join us on Facebok for this service.
Please join us wherever you are
in your search for meaning.
Everyone is welcome at any and all services at
Grace Episcopal Church
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who made Lent and Easter so special. Each service, whether in person or live-streamed needs many hands and gifts for us to make it a worshipful experience. Much of it is done behind the scenes. Thank you to everyone who did their part to provide us with an opportunity to praise and give thank to God for the astounding event of Easter.
Parish Prayer List
Please keep the following in your prayers:
Barbara Strom, recovering from surgery,
for the peaceful repose of the soul of Roberta and of Helen King, Kristin Gourley, on her cancer diagnosis, that she made find healing and find the inner peace she seeks,
John and Emily, as they welcome their new baby into their lives, Family of Bill Morgan as they grieve,
Linda Whalen, Bob Peterson, Karen Kelly, Brian Peterson,
Robert Squillaro, Jenny, Loretta and Kris, Deb Papps,
Derek Fuller and Family, Kathy Southern, Becky,
Mary Knutsen and her continued recovery from COVID-19,
and the Salem Public Schools.
Thanksgiving for Jon Papps and Helen Watson-Felt, in whose memory the flowers at the Easter Altar are given.
If you have prayer requests, please email regathering@gracechurchsalem.org by Tuesday at noon for publication in that week's e-news. Your request will remain on the list until Easter unless you ask to have it removed.
The Rev. Debbie Phillips to Be Panelist
for Evangelism Matters:
An audio-conference of the Episcopal Church
The last few weeks, we have been exploring hope. We heard from members who told us stories of encounters they have had with hope; where God showed up in unexpected places and ways. Through these stories and others, we have heard how God is always present and that God’s love always prevails.
The Evangelism Office of the Episcopal Church is offering an audio conference on “The Disciple of Hope.” It includes a series of podcasts and some “coffee hour” panel discussion. Debbie is honored to have been asked to be one of the presenters and panelist, talking about “hope on the ground” as a way to seek, name, and celebrate Jesus’ loving presence in our lives. She has used our stories of hope as an inspiration for her podcast.
evangelism-matters/, the free audioconference intentionally flips the conference format inside-out with an innovative approach to sharing, learning, and growing the ministry of evangelism among Episcopalians.
During our monthly meeting, we will receive reports from the Finance Committee, the Property Committee, and the School Partnership Program. We continue to pay attention to re-gathering guidelines and the needs of parishioners and neighbors during this time. The meeting will take place via Zoom Monday at 5:15 pm.
The Return of the Prayer Rocks!
The Prayer Rocks have returned to the front steps of the Church! Please consider writing your prayer on one of the rocks provided and leaving it on the stoop. It's a great witness to the power of prayer on our lives.
