Tuesday's Child for January 5, 2021

or call 646 558 8656 US

(New York)

(Meeting ID): 177 160 858

(Password): 917937

Grace Sunday School 11:00am - 11:45 AM

This a recurring meeting

To join this Zoom meeting

(Meeting ID): 859 9461 5863

(Password): 508436

Tuesday Bible Study

7:00 to 8:30 PM

(resumes January 12)

This is a recurring meeting

or call 646-558-8656

(Meeting ID):

826 0996 0553

(Password): 446609

See article in this edition of Tuesday's Child for more info.

Centering Prayer

Thursdays 5:00 PM

This is a recurring meeting

To join this Zoom meeting,

(Meeting ID): 203 314 800

(Password): 578877

646 558 8656 US (New York)

Third Sunday Supper

Every third Sunday

at 6:00 PM

This is a recurring meeting

To join this Zoom meeting

(Meeting ID): 778 608 743

(Password): 729107

646 558 8656 US (New York)

Books and Bread,

January 13, 2021

at 7:00 PM

To join this Zoom meeting,

(Meeting ID): 370 191 823

(Password): 385337

or call 646 558 8656 US (New York)

As we will be having our Annual Meeting on Zoom this year, we would like to send out the booklets prior to the meeting. To allow time for the booklets to be put together, printed and mailed, we must have your reports by January 4th at the very latest. Please email your report to Gretchen at [email protected].

Thank you to those who have already sent in their reports!

All Annual Reports are due NOW to Sr. Warden,

Kathy Clausen.

The First Sunday After the Epiphany

Mark 1:4-11

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Songs of Thankfulness and Praise

Announcement from the Communications Office

THE EPIPHANY

January 6, 2021

Sermon offered by The Rt. Rev. Mark M. Beckwith, Missioner for Spirituality and Leadership.

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24

FOLLOWING

10:00 AM MORNING PRAYER

St. Stephen's, Pittsfield,

has called the Rev. Nina Pooley as their new rector. Congratulations to both the congregation and their new priest!

A Message from Libby

Blessing for a Home

Twelfth Night (January 5), the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6), or another day during the following week, can be an occasion for family to gather for a blessing of their home for the coming year. Since we're all spending a lot more time at home during the pandemic, I thought you might enjoy this eastern European tradition described in the Episcopal Book of Occasional Services 2003.

With chalk, inscribe above the main door of your house: 20 + CMB + 21. The three letters stand for either the ancient Latin blessing 'Christe mansionem benedicat,' which means 'Christ, bless this house,' or the legendary names of the magi (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar). The numbers designate the year 2021.

A prayer is then said: "Visit, O Blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live here with the gifts of your love, and grant that they may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives they touch. May they grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you. Guide, comfort, and strengthen them, and preserve them in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and for ever. Amen."

Peace be to your home and to all who dwell in it.

Blessings, Libby+

Grace Clergy Transition: Preparing Our Profile

By now you should have received a letter with some "good news" about Grace Church from the analysis with Canon Simpson of the results of surveys submitted by 47 Grace parishioners during September and October. Click here to read the letter.

A rough draft of The Profile will be presented at the Annual Meeting January 24, 2021. Finalizing and uploading to the (newly renovated) Grace website will take place in February in time for Canon Simpson to present to potential applicants at the March Transition Officers conference.

The letter also describes the Profile Committee's next step--gathering photos, videos, and stories from you! What have been some of your meaningful memories of the past 5 years with Grace? What are your hopes for Grace for the next 5 years? What about Grace has brought you closer to God?

Have you heard from us yet? Give one of us a call. Our phone numbers are in the letter.

Thank you to all parishioners who submitted surveys!

Pray with Us Daily:

God of abundance and wisdom, you have blessed Grace Church with love and respect for one another and with joy in our community. Help us to discern your will and to be open to your guidance as we seek a new rector for our parish. Grant us the ability to hear your voice as we listen to one another. Give us wisdom and patience, mutual respect,and clarity of vision, that we may choose and receive a priest who serves with warmth and humor, inspiration and faithfulness, and who will lead us where you are calling Grace Church to serve the mission of Jesus in this time and place. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

PRAYERS AND CARES

We supply this list so you may contact members of our congregation who are at home or in a nursing facility. Please hold in your prayers and reach out as you can.

BLAKELY, Rosemarie

21 Crossway, #108

Lee MA 01238

413-243-0485

BOWENS, Marina

c/o Maryella Satinover

11908 Windward Ave.

Mar Vista, CA 90066

310-398-2484

(310) 749-9424 (cell)

BREASTED, John

Fairview Commons

151 Christian Hill Road

Great Barrington MA 01230

413-429-8123

Cell (413) 854-3977

BROOKS, Jane

165 George Street

Lee MA 01230

413-243-3367

CRAWFORD, Ruth

125 Woodland Road

Lee MA 01238

413-243-2575

FRYE, Vonnie

PineHill Assisted Living at Kimball Farms

235 Walker St. Apt #32

Lenox, Ma. 01240

413-637-7432

GORE, Barbara

50 Stockbridge Road

Lee MA 01238

413-243-4261

HAIDER, Meredith

5 Fox Hollow Road #409

Lenox, MA 01240

413-551-7319

(814)308-4865

KEENE, Sara

The Egremont Village Inn

17 Main Street

P. O. Box 275

South Egremont, MA 01258

413-528-4152

McCURDY, Deborah

Lees Landing Nursing Center

9807 Wilbraham Road

Springfield, MA 01109

413-507-2832

TURNER, Barbara

Fairview Commons

151 Christian Hill Road

Great Barrington, MA 01230

In this time of quarantine and physical separation

you are still being prayed for.

If you would like to receive specific

healing prayers please contact:

The Rev. Ted Cobden 413-528-2247

Pennie Curry 413-429-7093

Sue Gore 413-243-2273

GRACE CHURCH

Please include

in your daily prayers this week:

Members of the Parish Family:

The Rev. Libby Wade, The Rev. Ted Cobden, Linda White, John Breasted, Edna Leavenworth, George Raymond, Ed Hutchinson; Mimi and Dick Alford, Doreen Hutchinson, Barbara Turner, Pennie Curry,

Frank Vogel - Polizzi, Mark Anderson, Elizabeth Holland,

Janet Zimmerman, Stacey, Claire

and Mark Thomas, Richard Edelstein, Connie Garber, Ruth Crawford, Marcia Doelman, Tom Murray, Paula Doyle, Maureen Terry, Gino Furio, Meredith Haider,

Debbie Holmes, Mary Booton, and Vonnie Frye.

Others we Love:

Virginia Fletcher; Emily Trespas, friend of Jainee McCarroll; Tanner, friend of Sue and Rick Gore; Ed and Fran, brother-in-law and sister of Anne Andrews; Kristen Mary, cousin of Jainee McCarroll; Evie De Melker, daughter of Rev. Ted Cobden; Karen La Rocque, friend of Sue Gore; Donovan Buck, nephew of Pennie Curry; Susan and Dan Gray, Beth Grady, niece of Deborah Holmes; Alice Fitch, Rose Blakely's sister; Fred Bunce, father of Mary Booton; Khali Zabian; Matt Alford, son of Mimi and Dick Alford; Wendy Reeve, sister of Cathy Haywood; Keiron Lee, daughter of Doone Marshall; Anne Peters, Debbie Losaw, daughter of Rosemarie Blakely, Ashley Gangell, Zeke Hills, brother of The Rev. Francie Hills, Jane Williams, John Belizzi, Carole Chapple, Christy Yeo, Cooper O'Brien, Rosalind Haywood, Colonel John Tryon, nephew of Anne Andrews and all who serve our country.

Those who have died:

John Grammer, husband of Mary Anne; Rollie Tillman, father of the Rev. Jane Tillman; Bill Alford, brother of Dick Alford; Elinor Hamill; Neil Brandt, brother of Linda White; John Turner, husband of Barbara Turner; Leslie Albert, friend of Margaret Layton and Sarah Sieber; Andrew S. Artz, brother-in-law of the Rev. Janet Zimmerman; Kathy Happ, sister of Doug and Gary Happ; Fred Bunce, father of Mary Booton; Marion Chapin Andrews; Chuck De Melker, husband of Evie Cobden De Melker; Locke Larkin, brother-in-law of Maureen Terry; Charles Olegar; Marianne Felch, friend of Janet Zimmerman; Pat Edelstein; Anthony Aiuvalasit, friend of Janet Zimmerman.

Our world: For those who suffer from the COVID-19 virus; for those who have died from this virus and those who mourn; for those who provide care and comfort in this pandemic; for all who suffer from the loss of jobs and income in this time; for all who are anxious about their future and our world; for all who offer time and treasure to support those who need to know love; for all who are alone and all who reach out to care.

The many ministries of our local community and the Diocese of Western Massachusetts:

especially for our partners at St. Paul's, Stockbridge and the Rev. Sam Smith and the Rev. Jane Tillman; Christ Trinity, Sheffield and the Rev. Erik Karas; our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher; and the Mampong Babies' Home in Ghana; Grace Episcopal, Amherst; Building Bridges Veterans Initiative;The House of Bishops

The Church's wider mission:

The Baptism of Christ; The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.

And we offer thanks: for all those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries this week:

Richard Gore, 1/5; John Breasted, 1/7; Jainee C. McCarroll,1/8; Richard and Debbie Holmes, 1/8.

Join us for

Centering Prayer ONLINE

every Thursday

5:00 - 6:00

Encouraging a practice of silence and stillness we focus on practices of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina using scripture, art and music. All are welcome.

To join this Zoom meeting

Meeting ID: 203 314 800

Password: 578877

Dial by your location

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

To find your local number: Click here

The Rev. Jen Bloesch

arrived safely in Wisconsin in time

for Christmas. Her new address is

2628 Hupmobile Dr., Cottage Grove, WI 53527. On January 15, she will start her new ministry as Interim at Middleton Community Church (UCC) near Madison, WI.

Libby+

A Thank You From Jen

Happy New Year everyone! I have arrived back in Madison safe and sound. It has been a quiet week here-- a week of relaxation and family time. I was able to enjoy Christmas Day with my parents and brother, and midweek I had the chance to take a walk with my grandmother on a nice day. We've had plenty of snow since I've come home, and I thank God that we were blessed with good weather during our travels because it has been nothing but sweeping national storm systems since!

I send you all my deepest gratitude for the parting gift Grace Church offered on my final Sunday and for all the gifts you have given me in the past two years. Grace Church is truly a congregation of generosity and courage, the kind that comes straight from the heart.

I will be inspired by your creativity and focus on the community as I enter into my new ministry, starting this week. I will be the interim pastor at Middleton Community Church (UCC) in Middleton, WI. The church is excited for me to lead their youth group as well as build a garden ministry on a plot of land across from the church building! (Sounds like things I learned how to do at Gideon's Garden!) I am a bit nervous to begin this new leg of my journey, just as I imagine you all are a bit nervous to start yours, but thankfully our faith tells us that God is with us every step of the way!

Many blessings to you and all your loved ones. May 2021 bring renewed hopefulness for a safe world and one that is filled with the kind of love that comes from God.

Diocesan Compline

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday @ 8:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting

FOR MORE INFO AND REGISTRATION CLICK HERE: https://bendingtowardjustice2021.eventbrite.com

Meeting ID: 824 5008 6637

Passcode: 501604

Dial by phone

+1 929 205 6099

WHAT ARE YOU

GRATEFUL FOR?

In this time of fear and anxiety, it can be easy to miss the daily blessings that are right in front of us. Being grateful is not just for good times. Being grateful is even more important when fear sets a place at your table and heartbreak seems to be in your every breath. Because by being grateful we become aware of all the ways God is working in us. Being grateful is a part of our healing and our deliverance. Being grateful is where our best selves reside.

I WANT TO HELP

‌

Church Growing Hope:

A Conversation

with Jen Bloesch

The Food & Faith Podcast is hosted by two pastors and writers Anna Woofenden and Derrick Weston. They interview pastors, academics, and religious leaders whose work sits at the intersection of food and faith. In October, they interviewed Jen Bloesch about her work at Gideon's Garden.

To listen to Jen's interview about the work that Grace Church does through Gideon's Garden

CLICK HERE

The passing of the tools of Gideon's Garden took place informally December 19th in the greenhouse of Taft Farms. The Rev. Jen Bloesch, retiring Gideon's Garden Program Director, passes her hoe to Ms. Annalise Clausen, incoming Director of Farming. Retiring Youth Supervisor Fisher Riiska, back left, passes his shovel to incoming Youth Supervisor Matt Bilotta.

Seed ordering

begins

soon!

SHINE YOUR LIGHT

In this unpredictable time, your church continues to give thanks for and need your support. If you are capable of sending in your pledge, thank you. If you are unable to give at this time, we understand. If you are capable of giving a bit more so we can respond to the needs of our community, we are very grateful. If you are in need, please contact a member of the Vestry listed at the top of the newsletter. Since we are not gathering in person in community, we ask that you send your gifts via mail to Grace Church, P.O. Box 114, Great Barrington, MA 01230. We are truly all in this life together. We pray, trusting that God will see us through this season and beyond.

Thank you for giving generously to support the ministry of Grace.

CHANGE THE BABIES

It costs about $1500 a year to support a baby. The Diocese's goal is for one congregation

to support one child for a year.

To donate to support babies at the Mampong Babies Home in Ghana please send a check to Grace Church, PO Box 114, Great Barrington, MA 01230.

LEARNING AND DISCOVERY

Becoming Beloved Community

Saturday January 23

9:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Keynote Speaker:

The Reverend Stephanie Spellers

About Our Speaker: Stephanie has served as Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Evangelism, Reconciliation and Stewardship of Creation since 2015. She is the author of several books, articles and resources focused on embracing emerging cultures and Episcopal traditions, including Radical Welcome and The Episcopal Way (with Eric Law), and her newest work, The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline, and New Hope for Beloved Community. Canon Spellers is also the co-creator of the 10 Session Film-Based Race Dialogue Series, Sacred Ground.

Cost: There is no cost for this online event; however, we invite you to make a $10 donation to Human To Human (more info at Registration)

This fall, The Rev. Libby Wade led a group of South County Episcopalians in the Episcopal Church Film-Based Race Dialogue Series Sacred Ground. Pennie Curry, Jim Wade, and Lee Cheek completed the course and they encourage all to take advantage of the next opportunity in 2021,TBA.

Watch this brief description of the course from priest Cindy Vorhees of St. James, Newport Beach, CA. Click here:

Intro to Sacred Ground

The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers

Children and Teens Please Join Us!

GRACE SUNDAY SCHOOL

Sundays, at 11:00 AM.

Please contact Andrea White at [email protected] or 413-884-4836 for assistance.

Grace Sunday School

This is a recurring meeting

To join this Zoom meeting

(Meeting ID): 859 9461 5863 (Passcode): 508436

Tuesday Bible Study

in Collaboration with St. Paul’s

and Christ Trinity

Epiphany Bible Study Series

“Into the Light: Finding Hope through Prayers of Lament”

January 12 – February 16, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

In a sermon called “Learning to Lament,” Duke Divinity School professor Ellen Davis says “lament is a cry of human powerlessness, but it is…at the same time an appeal to God’s power and mercy. Strange though it may sound, lament is something we need to learn how to do. As with other kinds of prayer, we need to learn how to appeal to God in good faith, how to speak to God without deceiving ourselves and dishonoring God. Scripture is altogether our best guide to prayer, but you have to ask: How can it guide us in this situation?” (Preaching the Luminous Word, 2016, p. 216) The situation behind Davis’ call to lament was the Gulf Oil Spill of 2010. Now a decade later, in the midst of a pandemic that has taken an incredible toll on the world and affected so many of us personally, the call to a practice of lament is even more pressing.

To that end, the South Berkshire Episcopal/Lutheran Churches will offer a six-week Epiphany Bible Study Series on Tuesdays beginning January 12. The Revs. Sam Smith, Erik Karas, and Libby Wade will be our guides as we engage Biblical laments to help us acknowledge the depths of suffering and lead us to find hope in the midst of that suffering. Contact Libby ([email protected]) to register for this series or to ask questions. We hope you will join us as part of our Zoom Community!

Zoom link click here

or call in: 646-558-8656

Meeting ID: 826 0996 0553

Passcode: 446609

Questions? E-mail Libby at [email protected].

I WANT SOME FRIENDS

THIRD SUNDAY SUPPER

Join us online for an evening of laughter and conversation every third Sunday. The ZOOM invite is at the top of the newsletter. For more information contact George Raymond

413.854.1222 cell

You can prepare your own supper,

but Take Out from our local restaurants is suggested.

BOOKS and BREAD

JOIN the NEXT DISCUSSION

Wednesday, on Zoom

January 13, 2021

at 7 PM

Dindy Anderson will lead our discussion

Meeting will end at about 9:00 PM

To join this Zoom meeting,