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Grace Episcopal Church

123 W Washington Street, Lexington, VA

Seeking, Serving Loving Together

Parish News For the week of Sunday, September 11, 2022

Proper 19 Readings

Dear Friends,

This Sunday we remember September 11, 2001, a day of terrible destruction and unforgettable heroism. We will continue to pray for all our first responders and for the faith and courage to respond to violence and loss in the Spirit of Christ with compassion and grace, to live the way of the cross and to find in it the way of life and peace.


On Sunday we will be blessed by the presence of the Odemchuk family recently relocated to Lexington from Ukraine. 


May God strengthen the Church to show the world that things cast down are being raised up, things grown old are being made new, and all things are being brought to their perfection by the one through whom all things are made.


Tuck

In the case of rain all services will be indoors.

No Parking

We have been asked by the Lexington Fire Department not to park in front of the fire hydrant located on W. Washington Street on the W&L campus green next to our church. On Sunday mornings, if you are parking on the street in front of church, please be aware of the red curb that marks the fire lane for the hydrant . Thank you!

Welcome to Grace Episcopal Church! Please click the link if you are new to our church and would like to have more information about our Parish life!

Welcome Card


Worship Services

14th Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, September 11

Holy Eucharist

8 am

In-Person & ZOOM 


Holy Eucharist 

10:30 am

In-Person & YouTube


Taize Eucharist

5 pm

In-person

Morning Prayer

Monday - Friday

8:30 am, Chancel

In-Person and ZOOM

Mark your Calendars

Tuesday, September 13, 7 am - Men's Breakfast resumes

Friday, September 16, 6:30 - 8 pm

Coffeehouse of Rockbridge Parish Hall

Friday, September 23, 5:30 pm - Haiti In Crisis Lecture with Robert Fatton

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On Sunday, September 18, at 3:00 p.m., William McCorkle will present a W&L faculty organ recital at Lexington Presbyterian Church. The program, entitled “To Bach and Beyond,” will explore examples from four centuries of German and North European organ music. You are invited to attend in person or to livestream on the Lexington Presbyterian website: https://www.lexpres.org.


Campus Ministry Updates:

Grace Church is on the move with Campus Ministry! We're greeting W&L students at Get Downton and The Picnic by the Office of Inclusion and Engagement. Annie Thomas W&L'23 and Josh Lewis W&L'22 represented us at the W&L Religious Life Fare. Paws to Connect is already launching! SVU students are "all in" on our Stewardship Cabaret! The Adopt a Rat program kicked off on Sunday, September 4th. Seven local families have agreed to host 10 VMI Rats, with other families willing to step in as needed, which helps build strong bonds between the cadets and our parish families.

Tuesday Men's Breakfast Group

7 am Tuesdays, starting September 16, members of Grace and neighbors from throughout the local community. Fantastic breakfast, great discussion of Oswald Chambers "My Utmost for His Highest."

Hymn Sing on the Courtyard 5pm Sept. 18, followed by Spoken Order of Evening Prayer. Bring---- Your voices! ---Your instruments!--- Something to drink to keep your voices hydrated and snacks! We'll sing until we're done, and then pray An Order of Worship for the Evening from our Book of Common Prayer. 

Chrysalis: Storytelling for Growing Faith Community

When was a time you were struck by beauty? Think of someone at Grace whom you know well. Do you wonder about a time they were struck by beauty? When have you felt that God is with you? Think of someone you know well. Do you wonder about their story of a time when they felt God with them? The Rev. Anne Grizzle led us in deep, joyful, even tearful (in a good way) sharing this past Wednesday evening. We all left knowing more of each other. Profoundly more. Anne will lead another session in this vein on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 7pm, in the College Room. 

Hope House Fundraising Event

On Sunday, September 11, from 12 noon to 4 p.m., community members of all ages are invited to “Creating Connections for Hope,” an afternoon of peace-related crafting fun to benefit Hope House International, a residence of 40 South Sudanese youth attending schools in Kenya. This fundraising event, co-sponsored by The Community Connections Dream Team and Diversity Serves, will be hosted by Grace Episcopal Church in the church courtyard at 123 W. Washington Street in Lexington (or in the parish hall, in case of inclement weather). The suggested donation of $20 for adults, and $10 for youth under 18 (must be accompanied by an adult) will provide access to all craft activities, including crocheting peace signs, wrapping dove ornaments with yarn, stamping and coloring goody bags, making welcome cards for our local Ukranian families, and more. Every participant will also go home with edible goodies and a bracelet made by a local crafter. Information will be available about international and local peace projects, including a sneak preview of the Peace Wave art installation planned for the fence at Brewbaker Fields later in September. Organizer Susan Mead says “Since 2001, September 11 has been a really tough day for all of us in the United States, and it always will be. But this year, we want to bring a little 'Hope' to the day. We believe that through connecting diverse communities, we can cultivate peace and prosperity around the world. Like the song says, ‘Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me!” 

Coffeehouse of Rockbridge

Grace is proud to host events for Coffeehouse of Rockbridge, a networking, social and entertainment experience for individuals with physical, mental or cognitive disabilities. Coffeehouse is a 501c3 organization that puts on these events 9 times per year on a Friday night. Coffeehouse is in need of additional board members as well as volunteers to assist with set up, clean up, serving food and socializing with our guests. Willy Nelson will make some brief remarks about what Coffeehouse means to him and other guests at the 10:30 service on September 11.  To learn more about Coffeehouse, speak with Mark or Elaine Nelson or contact them via e-mail at coffeehouserockbridge@gmail.com. The next Coffeehouse is scheduled for Friday, September 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the parish hall if anyone would like to come and observe the event and meet our guests and volunteers. 

In September, we are hosting a series called the Singer Science Series. Wednesdays, 7pm, Sept. 14, 21, and 28. This series is especially for singers, but really, anyone would benefit. The presenters are new Grace member, Mark Gallagher, Certified Alexander Technique Practitioner. His workshop will focus on body alignment and relaxation. The next two, led by vocal pedagogues Christopher Vasquez and Emma Vasquez, will focus on energy and stamina for singers. The workshops, which will take place in the Undercroft of Grace are open to all and free to the public. Please invite friends! For information, contact Martha Burford at martha@graceepiscopallexington.org or 540-463-4981. 

ATTENTION ALL DOG OWNERS! A new initiative, Paws to Connect, is beginning to connect our parish with the students, faculty, and staff of our surrounding campuses and to celebrate the love of God through all of creation.

Paws to Connect also acknowledges that students often miss their pets while at school and love to interact with local dogs. We seek and welcome all parishioners with dogs to participate as they can. The more parishioners and dogs we have involved the better.

We will gather with our dogs with treats to offer in the St. Francis Courtyard 11:30 am-1:30 pm on the following Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the fall semester – Sept.20,21,27,28; Oct. 4,5,11,12,18,19,25,26; Nov.1,2,8,9,15,16,29,30; Dec.6,7,13,14. Please let Dennis Cross dcross@wlu.edu Lisa McGuire lisa@graceepiscopallexington.org, or Nellie the parish dog frtuck@graceepiscopallexington.org know if you want to participate occasionally or most of the time based on your availability. We are building our roster. The more the merrier.

Education for Ministry Starts September 20

Every baptized person is called to ministry. The Education for Ministry (EfM) program of the School of Theology at the University of the South (Sewanee) provides people with the education to carry out that ministry. Through study, prayer and reflection, EfM groups discover how to respond to the call to Christian service.

If you are interested in participating in EfM this fall please contact James Keane (jrklexva@msn.com) EfM will begin on Tuesday, September 20. EfM meets weekly from 1 to 3 pm, taking breaks for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.

Please join us September 23 at 5:30 pm at Grace Episcopal, Lexington 123 W. Washington Street for this special lecture Haiti in Crisis by Professor Robert Fatton in support of the Virginia Haiti Collaborative and St. Marc's Cerca La Source https://virginiahaiticollaborative.weebly.com/. St. Marc's school serves nearly 300 students k-12. The Virginia Haiti Collaborative pays the salaries for teachers each year. About $200 pays for tuition, lunch, and school supplies for a single student for the year. Please consider supporting a student for the year. Make your checks payable to Grace Episcopal Church, Memo: Virginia Haiti Collaborative.

Save the Date!!!!

The Cabaret Party

October 1, 2022 - 6 pm Parish Hall

Kick Off the 2023 Stewardship Campaign at a New York Night Club theme party with BYOB cocktails, Hors d‘oeuvres and entertainment. Lots of fun and fellowship. You won’t want to miss this!

(Photo by BRUNO EMMANUELLE on Unsplash)

SAVE THE DATE


Best-selling author and fellow Episcopalian, Sally Hurme, will be the special guest at the October 16 Rector’s Forum. Sally is the author of Checklist for My Family: A Guide to My History, Financial Plans, and Final Wishes, published in association with AARP, from which Sally retired, and the American Bar Association. Sally will offer helpful and step-by-step guidance on issues to consider in getting your life in order and ensuring your family or representative knows your plans and wishes as you desire to take care of family, loved ones, favored institutions, and a personal legacy meaningful to you. It is never too early to plan. The latest edition is available for purchase through Amazon ahead of Sally’s visit, click this link- Sally Hume books on Amazon

Vestry Minutes

Vestry Minutes are available on our website under the vestry tab.

Happy Birthday

9/2- Harrison Branner 9/3 - Buster Lewis, Ella Sayre, Estella Crocker 9/4 - Gail Dick, 9/5 - Ned Henneman 9/7 - Susan Cross 9/8 - Delea Bowerfind 9/9 - Marlys Craun 9/10 - Rick Kurtz 9/11 - MaryEtta Randolph 9/16 - Tucker Bowerfind 9/18 - Judy Hotchkiss, Carolyn Kuper 9/19 - Julia Littlefield, Peter Fyfe, Nanalou Sauder, Frank Settle 9/20 - Keith Gibson, Spencer Tucker 9/21 - Chris Howison, Barbara Luton 9/22 - Ann Nay, Elizabeth Oliver 9/25 - Darlene Keane 9/26 -Heidi Schweizer 9/28 - Winifred Hart, Tim Harrison 9/30 - Mo Littlefield, Lynda Bassett-Demaria. 

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