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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New Year's Eve Vigil
and Centering Prayer
Thursday, December 31
5:00 PM
The Second Sunday After Christmas Day
Sunday, January 3, 2021
10:00 AM
Lector................Pennie Curry
Intercessor........Tom Doyle
Responder........ Andrea White
Counter.............Anne Andrews
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ZOOM INVITATIONS
FOR GRACE CHURCH
New Year's Eve Vigil
and Centering Prayer
Thursday, December 31
5:00 PM
For Zoom
or call 646 558 8656 US
(New York)
(Meeting ID): 177 160 858
(Password): 917937
The Second Sunday
After Christmas Day
January 3, 2021
at 10:00 AM
This is a recurring meeting
For Zoom
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
New Year's Eve Vigil
and Centering Prayer
Thursday, December 31
5:00 PM
For Zoom
or call 646 558 8656 US
(New York)
(Meeting ID): 177 160 858
(Password): 917937
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)
Be safe. Be well. Hope to see you soon.
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The Second Sunday After Christmas Day |
Matthew 2:13-15,19-23
After the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."
When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."
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The First Nowell – Pentatonix
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The Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher tells us that we must "choose Christmas" this year and reflects on The Letter to Titus.
FaceBook Watch:The Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher tells us that we must "choose Christmas" this year and reflects on The Letter to Titus.
Download from Vimeo:
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ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
SUNDAY, JANUARY 24
FOLLOWING
10:00 AM MORNING PRAYER
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All Annual Reports are due NOW to Sr. Warden,
Kathy Clausen.
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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 office@graceberkshires.org.
Thank you to those who have already sent in their reports!
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A Message from Libby
Thank you to all the musicians, actors, readers, editors, coordinators, and technical people who made our Christmas Eve Pageant and Eucharist, as well as our Lessons and Carols Service possible. The Pageant included a wide range of people who used their imagination to put together delightful costumes and then delivered their lines with panache. It’s a wonderful story made even more memorable in this modern virtual retelling. Andrea White coordinated the whole pageant, keeping us calm and on track through it all, while Annalise Clausen put all the recorded scenes together in a cohesive video story, and Ellis Ericson assisted with technical details. Gretchen Fairfield, our office assistant, provided wise counsel and expert computer skills to produce the scripts and slides for both services and to choose images to enhance the scripture readings of Lessons and Carols. Our musicians put in many extra hours choose such lovely preludes and postludes and to record and edit lots of carols. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with the talented, creative, and supportive people of Grace Church. Who knows what 2021 will bring, but whatever comes, I’m confident you’ll continue to be the resilient, adaptable, creative, generous, and courageous people of God!
Blessings, Libby+
Thursday, December 31, 5 p.m. – Centering Prayer and New Year’s Eve Vigil
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Grace Clergy Transition: Preparing Our Profile |
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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!
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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
johnbreasted@gmail.com
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
merbraver@aol.com
413-551-7319
(814)308-4865
KEENE, Sara
The Egremont Village Inn
17 Main Street
P. O. Box 275
South Egremont, MA 01258
sararkeene@gmail.com
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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With sadness, we announce the death of John Grammer.
A faithful member of the Grace Church Choir, John's voice is now part of the heavenly chorus. May angels surround John and saints welcome him into the peace of perfect rest. May God's love and the compassionate care of this Grace Church family surround Mary Anne and all their family in this time of grief and mourning.
There will be a memorial service after Covid but no date has been set yet.
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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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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
The Church's wider mission:
We pray for the Province of Sudan and the Most Rev. Ezekiel Kondo, Archbishop; and for the Province of South Sudan and The Rt. Rev. Justin Arama, Archbishop, and his wife, Joyce; The Episcopal / Anglican Province of Alexandria
And we offer thanks: for all those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries this week:
Sally Brooke, 12/29; George Raymond, 1/2; Connie Garber, 1/3.
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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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Announcement from the Safe Church Officer |
REMINDER:
Safe Church Workshops for Volunteers
via ZOOM
*Note: Before you register please consider your commitment
to participation, as registration for each workshop is limited to 20.
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Tuesday, January 5, 2021, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Registration deadline: Wednesday, December 30th
The Rev. Tanya Wallace, Safe Church Officer for our diocese, will be presenting three-hour workshops for volunteers via ZOOM on the above dates. Materials will be provided electronically.
These workshops are open to all volunteers who work with children and youth. They are also open to Eucharistic Visitors. It is recommended that you update your training every three years.
Registration must include your name, home mailing address, preferred email, parish name/location, and date of workshop. You will be sent a ZOOM link to confirm your registration!
COST: The cost of a volunteer workshop is $15.00 per person and will be billed to your parish.
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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+
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Diocesan Compline
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday @ 8:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 824 5008 6637
Passcode: 501604
Dial by phone
+1 929 205 6099
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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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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
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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. |
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Seed ordering
begins
soon!
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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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The symbol of Christmas—what is it? It is the rainbow arched over the roof of the sky when the clouds are heavy with foreboding. It is the cry of life in the newborn babe when, forced from its mother’s nest, it claims its right to live. It is the brooding Presence of the Eternal Spirit making crooked paths straight, rough places smooth, tired hearts refreshed, dead hopes stir with newness of life. It is the promise of tomorrow at the close of every day, the movement of life in defiance of death, and the assurance that love is sturdier than hate, that right is more confident than wrong, that good is more permanent than evil.
Howard Thurman, The Mood of Christmas Other Celebrations
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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:
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More information: Contact Lee Cheek, co-chair Bishop's Commission for
Beloved Community at
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Children and Teens Please Join Us! |
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GRACE SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sundays, at 11:00 AM.
Grace Sunday School
This is a recurring meeting
To join this Zoom meeting
(Meeting ID): 859 9461 5863 (Passcode): 508436
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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 (libby_wade@yahoo.com) to register for this series or to ask questions. We hope you will join us as part of our Zoom Community!
or call in: 646-558-8656
Meeting ID: 826 0996 0553
Passcode: 446609
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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
graymond747@gmail.com
You can prepare your own supper,
but Take Out from our local restaurants is suggested.
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JOIN the NEXT DISCUSSION
Wednesday, on Zoom
January 13, 2021
at 7PM
Dindy Anderson will lead our discussion
Meeting will end at about 9:00 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
photo and info coming soon
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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
The Rev. Libby Wade is available for pastoral emergencies. 270-519-6934.
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Tuesday's Child Editor Monique Kirchoff
Associate Editor Kathy Clausen
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![[Official Video] The First Noel - Pentatonix](https://web-extract.constantcontact.com/v1/thumbnail?url=https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0u5UvnKlCTA/hqdefault.jpg)
