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News from Grace Episcopal Church ~ Martinez, California
August 22, 2019
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Scripture of the Week
"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (KJV)
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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 THIS Sunday
For those of you who pay strict attention to our "Scripture of the Week" (above), you will notice that we have used the King James Version of the Bible rather than our usual New Revised Standard Version. That's because, as part of our historical liturgy, the scripture readings this coming Sunday will be from the King James Version.
The Episcopal Church, a descendant of the Church of England, has beautiful liturgies. Like its people and the country we live in, Episcopal liturgy has evolved over the years. Our current prayer book (1979) is the fourth formalized prayer book of the Episcopal Church. The Worship and Liturgy Committee thought it might be fun and enlightening go back to one of our older prayer books and see how things used to be done, what's changed, and what has stayed the same. THIS SUNDAY, at both our 8 and 10 a.m. services, we will be conducting a Historic Liturgy using the 1789 Prayer Book. For those of you who are accustomed to our current service, it will be a bit confusing. You will need to follow the bulletin closely! With your participation, we hope it will be interesting and entertaining. It's also a great opportunity to wear hats!
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Healing Day National Bell Ringing
We will be participating in a national day of healing this Sunday. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia Bishop James B. Magness have invited Episcopal churches to take part in a national action to remember and honor the first enslaved Africans who landed in English North America in 1619 by tolling their bells for one minute beginning at 12 p.m. You can listen to Bishop Curry's message about this
here.
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Many thanks for the special music
Last Sunday, 10 a.m. service attendees were treated to a trio of guest musicians. Paul Janoff and Patrick O'Kane accompanied vocalist Amy Eudy, who sang a song written by Paul, entitled "Down the Road that Only Love Can Go." We offer our gratitude to these wonderful musicians for providing such beautiful music. Many folks asked us to reprint the words of this beautiful piece, so you will find them below.
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Down the Road that only Love Can Go
by Paul Janoff (2018)
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I've said the words
That won't come back.
You feel betrayed,
Under attack.
I see the hurt
Deep in your eyes.
For I've spread dirt,
I've told lies.
More than apologies,
Further than amends,
Dear Jesus I am on my knees;
How I miss my friend.
Just yesterday
We stood as one.
For you I'd pray
His will be done.
Now silence screams.
We've built a wall.
I never dreamed
How far I'd fall.
Just because I'm louder
Or ready for a fight,
Doesn't make me wiser.
Doesn't make me right.
We're on a journey that's more than miles.
To reconcile Lord I'll walk with you like I did so long ago.
Lord I'll heed You.
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You will need to,
Take me down the road that only love can go.
Take me down the road that only love can go.
The pain that stays,
That makes us cry,
I just replay,
Then magnify.
When we lose what matters,
We're often unaware
There's nothing on God's good earth
That he cannot repair.
We're on a journey that's more than miles.
To reconcile Lord I'll walk with you like I did so long ago.
Lord I'll heed You.
You will will need to,
Take me down the road that only love can go.
Take me down the road that only love can go.
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Support our military members and veterans
You are invited to take part in the Veteran Alcatraz Swim Challenge (VII) THIS SATURDAY 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.
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There will be a gathering of avid scrapbookers this
Saturday, August 24 at 9 a.m. in the Education Building. For safety reasons, children under the age of 10 cannot be included. For more information, contact Karen Lowe
lowe-family@sbcglobal.net (707) 373-3927.
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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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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 on 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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New Vestry Member
Vestry member Ron Luttringer recently resigned from the Vestry. He wishes to express his regret and to let everyone know that, "It has been an honor and a privilege for me to serve on this and other vestries dating back more than 40 years. This has been a very difficult decision for me. God Bless you all and I pray always for all of you and Grace Church."
Rev. Deb and the Vestry are very pleased to announce that Betty Case has agreed to step in and complete Ron's term, which ends this year in January. Betty is a faithful 8 o'clock parishioner who brings many gifts to the work of the Vestry. Please thank her for her willingness to serve.
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Eulogy from Ken Roan's service
Several people who attended Ken Roan's Burial Service indicated that they could not hear the speakers and asked if we could print the text of the eulogy. Click here to download the eulogy given by Dick Evans.
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(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.
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How to Pray
NEW DATE AND TIME
Wednesday, August 28, at 2 p.m.
in the Parish Hall
All are welcome to a showing of a ChurchNext online group course, How to Pray, with Christopher Martin. "... In this class Christopher will not only tell us why people who pray are happier, less anxious, and generally more content with their lives, but how we might get there."
Topics covered: What is Prayer? Varieties of Prayer; What Does Prayer Do? Benefits of Prayer.
This is a relaxed, small group setting. We will watch four 5-minute video lectures and spend a few minutes in between in each for discussion.
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Fancy Ferriage Retirement
Final Square Dance
at Tom and Connie Hodgson's Hill Top Horse-ienda
Saturday, August 31
5pm Finger Food & Happy Hour
7pm Square Dancing with instructions
RSVP (925) 228-7766
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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, 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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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
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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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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
The annual Grace Church Backpacks/School Supplies Drive is underway! For many years, we have been filling backpacks with school supplies for students at Martinez Jr. High. Over the summer we collect supplies. In early September we spend a Sunday afternoon filling the backpacks. 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.
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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 using Kevin A. Wilson's book, "Conversations with Scripture: the Law." "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 Sheet
A sign-up sheet for Coffee Hour is now available for the months of September through December! It is located on the table under the bulletin board in the Parish Hall. There are a number of open dates - please consider taking one. 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 on the sign-up clipboard. 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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