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Grace Episcopal Church
Parish News
For the Week of April 19, 2020
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Sunday, April 19, Easter 2
Holy Eucharist 8 & 10:30
All services will be live streamed
Family Evening Prayer, 5 pm
Zoom Cafe
We will have two Zoom Cafe's between services Sunday and a Family Zoom Check in after Evening Prayer.
Grab a cup of coffee and check in with your pew buddies!
Zoom Cafe at 9 am
Zoom Cafe at 10 am
Family Zoom Check in at 5:30 pm
Flowers
We are suspending flower donations until we are allowed to worship in person. At that time we will send out an announcement with a new sign up chart for the rest of the year.
Thank You
Thank you to everyone who is participating in our Front Porch Ministry! If you would like to be a part of the Front Porch Ministry contact Sharon.
Godly Play resumes Wednesday, April 22, 3:30 pm
Study of Acts begins Wednesday, April 22, 6:30
We will begin a study of Acts starting this Wednesday, April 22 at 6:30 pm. Our first reading is the first chapter of Acts,
Introduction to the Church as an act of God in History through the power of the Holy Spirit: Baptized into One Household.
https://zoom.us/j/92913952901
From Our Minister of Music, Martha Burford
Ukulele Choir is ongoing. We are mostly keeping to our Wednesday, 4-4:40pm sessions and doing it via Zoom and sharing charts online and videos. Our timing is somewhat flexible.
Martha, who taught English at St. Catherine's, Richmond and Orchard House, Richmond, is also offering Reading-Writing workshop sessions. These are modeled on the academic work of Lucy Calkins and Nancie Atwell. She is grouping these for grades 3-5; 6-8. These will be done via some videos, live streaming, and
zooming. Writing will be shared via google docs. Our first venture will be for grades 3-5 and will focus on a story of faith and hope through hardship: Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle. We will start with some pre-reading conversation and writing warmups; read the story; and a follow up interactive writing experience. I'm imagining each story and writing venture will be a two week, low key and fun way to write for fun, explore genres, and pay attention to the fun of language. Feel free to let others know about this, and give them my email:
martha@graceepiscopallexington.org
. I also imagine some of the work will be "scheduled," but the video parts can be viewed anytime and will be on my youtube station which is "Martha Burford."
We are getting a unique take on what it means to sing New Songs and sing the Lord's song in foreign lands, aren't we? You may have noticed the music for worship services includes live elements and recorded elements. Martha is also posting videos on youtube. If you'd like to record a psalm or prayer or poem, or send pictures, or pictures of your artwork, or send a piece of your writing if you want to share that--you could read it or someone else could. There are creative ways we can connect, worship, share our lives of faith. Jonathan, Levi, and Demmanuel have been creatively recording instrumental parts as I call on them. Several choir members have been contributing to singing, and other church members have been sending photos or recording something they'd like to have shared with music and video. Email me if you have ideas or questions or contributions.
Choir and Threshold Singers continue to meet weekly via Zoom. We are exploring ways to interact. All are welcome!!!!!!!
Check out Grace's You Tube Channel!
United Thank Offering Spring 2020 In-gathering
Until the current COVID-19 crisis is deemed to be under control for the health and safety of us all, we at Grace Episcopal Church are doing our part by following the guidelines for mitigating the spread of the virus. As a result, instead of our usual Sunday UTO in-gatherings every spring and fall, we shall continue our support of this cherished tradition that has become a vital arm of mission, domestic and foreign, in the Episcopal Church.
A simple solution is to respond with thanksgiving to God for daily blessings in our lives, first by offering prayers in the comfort of your home and marking each one with a coin for your Blue Box. This is an excellent opportunity to follow the example of spiritual discipline just as the women's auxiliary to the Missionary Society did 131 years ago.
Those humble offerings built a church in Alaska and sent a missionary to Japan. Since 1979, records show that the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia has been awarded 29 UTO grants, including those local for the Yellow Brick Road Child Care Center in 2002, the Rockbridge Area Health Center in 2014, and most recently our parish's Jonathan Daniels Community Room in 2019.
We who are thankful for blessings can stay at home and support this ministry by depositing the contents in our Blue Box and sending a check to Grace Episcopal Church, 123 Washington St., Lexington, VA 24450, with UTO on the memo line. Remember your Blue Box! Not only do our blessings expressed in "thanks" and "giving" widen the circle of thankful people worldwide, but sometimes they come back home.
Thankfully submitted,
Julia Littlefield, UTO Parish Coordinator
Stitching our community together
Do you like to sew and have some unscheduled time? The Blue Ridge Maskateers can use your skills to provide masks to local workers who interact with the public. Led by Kay Lera, volunteers are stitching to keep our community safer. Kay asks that you reach her at 463-3568 or
klera@rockbridge.netso she can get you instructions on the process.
Those being served are public service and first responders - grocery stores, 5 rescue squads, hospice, mobile phlebotomy group, Maury River Senior Center, Rockbridge Area Community Services Board and nursing homes. They are not sewing for individuals.
There are multiple online pattern options, including one from the New York Times, that works well and uses either elastic or ties.
https://www.nytimes.com/article/how-to-make-face-mask-coronavirus.html. Supplies needed are elastic or material for ties, tight-woven cotton fabric, thread and a sewing machine. There may be an available machine if you'd like to participate but don't have one.
Completed masks should be packaged in sealed bags of 5 or 10 items, marked accordingly, and may be given to Melissa Cox, 107 Lee Avenue. Contact
Melissa or call 540-319-1986 if you have a contribution to drop off.
If you need a mask for yourself but don't sew, check out this YouTube video.
Mask Pattern
In this time of alone, together, we can work as one to create a healthier environment for all our citizens.
Kendal at Lexington Needs Gowns for their Nursing Staff
Kendal is putting a plea out for button front,collared men's shirts that are clean (Kendal will also wash them) and if possible, but not mandatory, no iron. Any color is acceptable in men's large or extra large. The nurses can then use them when they are treating residents in the skilled care facility.
There are no cases of Covid-19 at Kendal at this time and they are taking extraordinary precautions. No one can go past the guard house at the entrance to Kendal unless a resident or staff but you can drive up to the guard house with your bag and the guard will take it and get it to the right place
Extraordinary times can lead to some innovation!
Call or email Kathy Hill, 804-247-1967
A Message from RARA
In this difficult time, many more people are needing access to community food resources. Please visit RARA's website to learn more about their response to COVID-19 and the resources available throughout the community. No ID or proof of income are required to access these resources.
The Episcopal Church BLESS Annual Appeal
The COVID-19 virus pandemic is challenging all of us - whether through illness, death, job loss, or the disruption of physical distancing. The ministry and programs of The Episcopal Church are likewise affected at a time when these resources continue to be needed. If you are able, we invite you to support the BLESS Annual Appeal.
We encourage you to continue to support your local parish and diocese first. If you are able to make a gift to The Episcopal Church, please consider giving online, or by telephone, or by mail to our dedicated bank lockbox. Our staff, like you possibly, are working remotely.
Thank you for your support and understanding. Together, with faith in God and each other, we will weather our common challenge.
Census Workers Needed in Lexington City and Rockbridge County
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