Step into Grace
Where strangers become friends
We are an Open and Affirming church. Every one of every age, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental ability, or economic status is invited to join us as together we live out the Gospel message of love, forgiveness, service, and justice. No matter where you are in your spiritual journey- you are welcome here.
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The Second Sunday in Lent
Sunday, February 28, 2021
10:00 AM
Morning Prayer
Officiant and Preacher:
The Rev. Betsy Fisher
Lector...............Tom Doyle
Intercessor.......Sarah Sieber
Responder.......Pennie Curry
Counter........... Sue Gore
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ZOOM INVITATIONS
FOR GRACE CHURCH
The Second Sunday in Lent
February 28, 2021
10:00 PM
Morning Prayer
For Zoom
or call 646 558 8656 US
(New York)
(Meeting ID): 177 160 858
(Password): 917937
Grace Sunday School
11:15 AM - 12:00 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
Will resume on March 2.
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
(March 21)
at 6:00 PM to 7PM
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,
at 7:00 PM
Wednesday
March 10, 2021
To join this Zoom meeting,
(Meeting ID): 370 191 823
(Password): 385337
or call 646 558 8656 US (New York)
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The Second Sunday in Lent |
Mark 8:31-38
Jesus began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
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I CAN HEAR MY SAVIOR CALLING |
A Prayer for Our Nation
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (from the Book of Common Prayer 1979)
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We are welcoming the following priests in our worship until Libby returns:
For the month of February, The Rev. Dr. Steve White will be on call for pastoral care needs. He can be contacted by phone (413-884-4758) or e-mail ([email protected]).
Sunday Supply Priests:
The Rev. Betsy Fisher, February 28
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Bonnie Katusich is Senior Warden at St. Philip's, Easthampton. She talks about how her encounter with Scripture opened the way for a deeper faith.
Sponsored by the Diocesan Vitality Committee, supporting the vitality of congregations across our Diocese, Voices of Faith features lay people from congregations from across Western Massachusetts.
The Vitality Committee hopes the videos can lift us out of silos of congregational life, help us deal with social-isolation, and open us to the diversity of our Diocese, and the diversity of experiences with God.
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A Message from Libby
I'm grateful this week for the good news in the pathology report that my lymph nodes were clear, showing no signs of cancer spread. However, that same report showed some remaining cancer in my breast. Therefore, a second, less involved, surgery is scheduled for Monday, February 22 at BMC. In March, decisions will be made about further treatment. I miss working with you and hold the Grace congregation in my prayers each day.
As we begin Lent, I offer part of a poem by Maren C. Tirabissi from Gifts of Many Cultures.
Lent comes.
We draw a holy comma
in rushed and busy lives.
We follow down
old scripture words
the journey to Jerusalem.
We stumble into prayer again
and whisper soft
the dearest, fearest
of our thoughts.
Last year's palms
crumble into ashes....
Lent comes,
but also Ramadan's fast,
Passover's freedom memory,
Easter's crazy contradiction....
This encounter with cancer has placed commas in my busy life this year, but Lent does that every year -- placing commas that invite us to reflection and stillness, repentance and forgiveness. May it be so this year for all of us.
Blessings!
Libby+
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The Rev. Libby Wade, our Interim Rector, is away for the month
for her surgery and recovery. You may send her cards at:
1110 Fairview Street
Lee, MA 01238
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COVID VACCINE CALL CENTER OPENING
Since opening COVID vaccinations to those 75 and older, the state has been inundated with complaints from those who have found booking an appointment online difficult to figure out. Gov. Baker today announced the launch of a COVID vaccine call center.
It is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those 75 and older who now qualify for the vaccine can reach it by just dialing 211 and pressing "2" to schedule an appointment. It's available in English and Spanish with translators available for other languages. You may face wait times.
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Grace Clergy Transition: Preparing Our Profile |
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After five months of steady work, the Profile Committee is constructing the online Grace Profile before our search for our New Rector goes "live" in early March and the Search Committee takes over.
We ask you for your gracious help by offering these two prayers each day.
Prayer for the Profile Committee
O God, be with our Profile Committee that they may faithfully complete their work, that your Kingdom may come into this time and place through this congregation.
Prayer for the Priest
O God, be with the priest who will recognize your call to walk with
this particular congregation in this particular year.
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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.
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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
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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
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What do you long for most?
What is most precious to you?
What do you want more than anything else?
When: Saturday, March 6, 2021 from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM EST
Where: This is an online event.
You will receive a reminder email with information about how to join the conference online prior to the event.
Contact: Martha Gardner Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts 617-482-5800 [email protected]
Lent and the Longing for God
Lent calls us back to our deepest longing, our desire for union with the Love that created us.
This morning's online retreat will invite us to explore our desires, as well as the desires of the One “to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid.” We will explore with presentations, guided meditation, with options for solitary reflection or for small group conversation. If you can, bring a candle and matches. At free time, you may wish to have a Bible, Prayer Book, journal and/or art supplies nearby, or a warm coat so that you can head outside.
About the Retreat Leader
The Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas (pictured above) serves as Creation Care Advisor in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, and as Missioner for Creation Care in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and in Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ. Her latest book (co-edited) is Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis. Her Website: RevivingCreation.org.
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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
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CHANGE IN PRAYER LIST ON MARCH 15
Praying for each other and for the needs of the world is a vital part of any faith community, and Grace Church is particularly skilled at this aspect of our communal life. During this time of transition, it’s become apparent that we need to make a few changes in our lengthy prayer list to create a more intentional system of maintaining it. On March 15, the list of “Members of the Parish Family” and “Others We Love” for whom we pray will reset to zero and we’ll begin a fresh new list. We don’t want anyone to fall through the cracks and always want to be generous in our prayers for others.
You can help by sending an e-mail to ([email protected]) if you want a person whose name is currently on the list to stay on the list beyond March 1 or if you want to add someone who isn’t currently on the list. Libby will then keep a record of the date the name was added along with who added it and either she or a member of the Healing Team will periodically call you to check on how that person is doing and if their situation has improved enough to come off the list. We can then give thanks. In this way our prayers can be both generous and more focused
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GRACE
CHURCH
Please include
in your daily prayers this week:
Members of the Parish Family:
The Rev. Libby Wade, Anne Andrews, 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, Mary Ellen Murray, Paula Doyle, Maureen Terry, Gino Furio, Meredith Haider, Debbie Holmes, Mary Booton, and Vonnie Frye.
Others we Love:
Anne Andrews; Joanne, Gretchen Fairfield's mother-in-law; 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:Emily Trespas, friend of Jainee McCarroll and John Ericson; 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.
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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; St Mark's, East Longmeadow; Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross; Episcopal Conference of the Deaf.
The Church's wider mission:
2nd Sunday of Lent
Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America
And we offer thanks: for all those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries this week: Virginia Vogel-Polizzi, 2/23; Kathy Clausen, 2/29.
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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)
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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.
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BERKSHIRE BOUNTY MOBILE FOOD DRIVE
TUESDAY, MARCH 2nd
Berkshire Bounty, the non-profit food rescue operation that provides fresh produce and other food to pantries, is holding its eighth monthly Mobile Food Drive on Tuesday, March 2nd. We will collect canned and/or packaged goods (no perishables, please) that will be delivered to People’s Pantry in Great Barrington or the South Congregational Church in Pittsfield, to help the growing population of food-insecure people in South County.
Foods in most demand are canned and/packaged food such as pasta, tomato pasta sauce, boxes of cereal, tuna, canned soup, vegetables, etc. If donating from your pantry, please check expiration dates.
If you would like to donate food in this worthwhile effort please email Berkshire Bounty at [email protected], and include your name, address, and phone number.
We will respond to your email, with instructions to place your donation outside your door before 9:00 am on March 2nd. A Berkshire Bounty volunteer will come by to pick up your donation on that morning, and will call you if there is any issue. You can
reach us at 917-273-7039.
Thank you in advance for your generosity during this difficult time.
Jay Weintraub & Mark Lefenfeld Co-Presidents,
Berkshire Bounty
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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.
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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.
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Becoming Beloved Community |
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A 4 hour series about one of America's most important institutions, produced by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., for PBS. Watch both 2-hour segments for free on YouTube. Part 1 is linked here. Both episodes and special interviews can be found here.
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It's Official, Du Bois Day is February 23 |
GREAT BARRINGTON — In what was a historic vote for the town's Select Board, all five members Monday unanimously proclaimed Feb. 23 as W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Day. Link
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EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY (EfM)
When his brothers came to Egypt, they did not recognize Joseph. Years before, they had taken his coat of many colors and thrown him in the pit and sold him into slavery. And yet he extended them the hand of welcome and forgiveness in this passage from Genesis 45:4-7.
COLLECT: God, we affirm that you work in mysterious ways. We know that we must let go of our resentments. We wonder what You have sent us here to do. And we doubt that we can discern this on our own. Our longing is for clear vision and strong hands. And we pray for the possibility of completing your plan and living into your Kingdom. Amen.
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To read an article in
The Artful Mind artzine
about parishioner John Cheek published
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In this compelling and readable new book, local writer and pastor Anna Woofenden, a prophetic voice in the faith and food movement, writes about her experience founding and nurturing the Garden Church in San Pedro, California. As churches across the Western world wither, what would it take to find a raw, honest, gritty way of doing church – one rooted in place, nurtured by grace, and grounded in God’s expansive love? What if we were to discover that in feeding others, we are fed? This is God’s table. Come and eat.”
Our last conversation will take place on Zoom on Thursday evening from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Feb. 25. You are welcome to attend. This final meeting will include a Q and A session with the author. Click here to register for this event. We will send out the zoom link the day before our gatherings. For more information, please email one of the facilitators: Maggie Sweeney ([email protected]) or Harvey Hill ([email protected]).
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Children and Teens Please Join Us! |
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GRACE SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sundays, at 11:15 AM to 12:00 AM
The Beatitudes
Grace Sunday School
This is a recurring meeting
To join this Zoom meeting
(Meeting ID): 859 9461 5863 (Passcode): 508436
On the left, the Valentine done by Grace Sunday School students.
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Tuesday Bible Study for Lent
in Collaboration with
St. Paul’s, Christ Trinity, and Hevreh
Six Week Series at 7 PM beginning Tuesday, March 2
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Using the books “Sabbath as Resistance” by Walter Brueggemann as our primary study guide and “The Sabbath” by Abraham Joshua Heschel as a supplement, we hope to explore Sabbath beyond the ideas of simple legal prohibitions and discover together Sabbath’s potential to change the culture in which we live. How do we break our culture’s addiction with consumption and busyness? The Sabbath may just be the answer we’ve been looking for! How will this work? First purchase the book “Sabbath as Resistance” from your favorite independent book seller and read the first chapter. Then join us beginning March 2, 2021 at 7 p.m. for six weeks on Zoom. Rev. Erik Karas along with Rabbi Jodie Gordon and Rabbi Neil Hirsch will facilitate the discussion with congregants from Hevreh, Christ Trinity, Grace, and St. Paul’s. We are excited to have the chance to be with one another before Passover and Easter!
or call in: 646-558-8656
Meeting ID: 826 0996 0553
Passcode: 446609
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THIRD SUNDAY SUPPER
March 21, at 6:00 PM to 7:00PM
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.
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JOIN the DISCUSSION
Wednesday, on Zoom
in March 10,2021
at 7 PM
Written by Quaker author, educator and activist Parker J. Palmer, it's described as a "book for all who want to age reflectively, seeking new insights and life-giving ways to engage in the world."
Rev. Libby Wade will lead our discussion.
Meeting will end at about
8:00 PM
To join this Zoom meeting,
(Meeting ID): 370 191 823
(Password): 385337
or call 646 558 8656 US (New York)
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Rev. Libby Wade,
Interim Rector
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GRACE CHURCH
An Episcopal Community in the Southern Berkshires
Mailing:
P.O. Box 114
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Gretchen Fairfield
Office Assistant
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Ms. Annalise Clausen, Director of Farming for Gideon's Garden |
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In an effort to care for each other, our church office will be closed until further notice. You can reach the church office by email:
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VESTRY CONTACT INFORMATION |
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Kathy Clausen 413-329-1724
Rick Gore, Jr. 413-441-7036
Sue Gore 413-243-2273
Mary Anne Grammer 413-258-4212
John Cheek 413-446-8863
Dindy Anderson 413-274-3854
Anne Andrews 413-528-2766
Dutch Pinkston 413-274-6566
Cathy Haywood 413-464-6664
Holly Murray 860-977-9198
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For the month of February, the Rev. Steve White will take Libby's place in responding to pastoral emergencies. Steve can be contacted at 413-884-4758 or via e-mail ([email protected]).
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Tuesday's Child Editor Monique Kirchoff
Associate Editor Kathy Clausen
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