A MESSAGE FROM REVEREND TINA |
|
The baby is born. The wise men are almost here. Already a new year has begun. How will you enter it?
A small group of us shared two poems with very different approaches to setting out into newness when we gathered for Centering Prayer last week. I offer them to you again here so you can be comforted, or strengthened, or encouraged, or accompanied, or propelled on your way.
God bless you and keep you in 2022.
Tina xoxo
|
|
Companion of the Way,
you know the place where I have come from,
those I have loved and left.
You know those things
I have longed to bid farewell to.
Accompany my quivering hands
as they grapple with unfamiliar things.
Accompany my memory as I absorb new information.
Accompany my wandering legs
when I get lost and disorientated.
Accompany my heart
that I may be open to new possibilities of friendship.
Accompany me
when I tarnish the new place with my old mistakes.
Take my brave face in your hands
and my fears in your love.
Take the strain of being a beginner
and not yet competent.
Take the exhausting alertness of being unknown
And not yet loved.
Until I can return to those who love me
and tell them my story this day.
Accompany me as I enter this chapter on my own,
dear Companion of my way.
--- Tess Ward.
From Pocket Prayers for Pilgrims
|
|
Away O Soul, hoist instantly the anchor!
Cut the hawsers – haul out – shake out every sail!
Sail forth – steer for the deep waters only;
Reckless O Soul, exploring,
I with thee and thou with me,
for we are bound where mariner
has not yet dared to go,
and we will risk the ship, ourselves and all.
O my brave Soul.
O farther, father sail!
O daring joy, but safe!
Are they not all the seas of God?
O farther, farther sail!
--- Walt Whitman.
From Pocket Prayers for Pilgrims
|
|
Blessings to all and a Happy New Year! I am so excited to start a field planting plan and seeding schedule, meet with new community partners and build the program for our interns. With Love and Gratitude, Annalise |
|
Tuesday with the Word, led by The Rev. Tina Rathbone
January 18, 7:00 PM
To join the Zoom meeting
|
|
Oppose Christian Nationalism
and Mark the Anniversary of Last Year’s
Raid on the Capitol on January 6th
|
|
The following is a quote from a position statement written by Christians Against Christian Nationalism:
“As Christians, our faith teaches us everyone is created in God’s image and commands us to love one another. As Americans, we value our system of government and the good that can be accomplished in our constitutional democracy. Today, we are concerned about a persistent threat to both our religious communities and our democracy — Christian nationalism.
Christian nationalism seeks to merge Christian and American identities, distorting both the Christian faith and America’s constitutional democracy. Christian nationalism demands Christianity be privileged by the State and implies that to be a good American, one must be Christian. It often overlaps with and provides cover for white supremacy and racial subjugation. We reject this damaging political ideology and invite our Christian brothers and sisters to join us in opposing this threat to our faith and to our nation. “
On Thursday, January 6th, the First Congregational Church in Williamstown and St. John’s Episcopal Church will both mark the anniversary of the political disturbance that happened in our nation’s capital in 2021. There will be a public protest gathering at 12:00 noon in Williamstown and a service at St. John’s at 1:00 p.m. You are invited to participate in either or both of these.
If you are not able to attend, you may want to take a moment between noon and 1:00 p.m. on Thursday to pray in communion with the groups gathered in Williamstown, and around the country.
For more information, please contact Sarah Sieber.
|
|
 |
Berkshire South Regional Community Center is hosting suppers on Mondays from 5-6pm. |
|
|
|
All suppers will be a “to go” option.
Welcome back! Attached is the October 11, 2021 “List of Food Pantries & Meal Sites in Berkshire County”. Please note the following additions to my October 4th list:
We welcome the Berkshire Humane Society Pet Food Pantry in Pittsfield! They are open
Mondays – Sundays from 10am – 4pm to provide food for pets.
For list of Food Pantries and Meal Sites Click Here
|
|
|
|
Mission Matters
News from the
Episcopal Diocese
of Western Massachusetts
|
|
Support the Resettlement of Refugees
Episcopal Migration Ministries, the refugee resettlement and migration ministry of The Episcopal Church, is currently working in partnership with the U.S. government to assist Afghan SIVs and other arrivals with resettlement and direct services through a network of 12 affiliates across the U.S.
DFMS-Protestant Episcopal Church US
P.O. Box 958983
St. Louis, MO 63195-8983
(Include Episcopal Migration Ministries and Afghan SIV’s in the memo line.)
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Becoming Beloved Community
|
|
Registration for Our Annual Gathering
Join us for our third annual gathering to pray and discern the work of justice in this place, at this time. Sponsored by the Social Justice Commission of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts, this online gathering is open to all who work for justice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
|
|
Keynote
The Rev. Dr. Mark Francisco Bozzuti-Jones is an Episcopal priest at Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City. He serves as the Priest and Director of Spiritual Formation of Trinity’s Retreat Center in West Cornwall, CT.
|
|
Schedule
9:00 AM -- Brief Service of Prayer
9:15 AM-9:45 first breakout session – Affinity Groups
9:45-10:20 second breakout session – Affinity Groups
10:20 AM -- BREAK
10:30 AM -- Session led by The Rev. Dr. Mark Bozzuti-Jones award-winning author, retreat leader
12:00 PM -- A Blessing for the Road Ahead
|
|
Affinity Groups
Building Creation Care Justice
Facilitators: The Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas and the Rev. Lise Hildebrandt, Creation Care Justice Network, Diocese of Massachusetts
Episcopalians Against Gun Violence
Facilitators: Bishop Fisher, Bishop Mark Beckwith and a partner from BPeace 4 Jorgé (Diocese of Massachusetts)
Neighbor to Neighbor Refugee Program
Facilitators: The Rev. Tina Rathbone and a partner from Jewish Family Services
Race, Power and Reconciliation in Marvel's "Falcon and the Winter Soldier"
Facilitators: Chris Leung and Will Harron, Young Adult Ministry Network
Making Reparations
Facilitators: The Rev. Tim Crellin, Reparations Community of Practice and The Rev. Nina Pooley, Beloved Community Commission
The Poor People's Campaign
Facilitators: Cynthia Pease and partner from Diocese of Massachusetts
_____________________________________
Grace Church worships and gardens on the traditional land of the Mohican people.
|
|
The last EFM
Readout for 2021
EfM held its final meeting for the year. We discussed our readings: an essay on women in wisdom literature, a second essay providing an overview of the Old Testament, “From Tradition to Canon,” and the New Testament Book of Revelation. We reviewed the year of study and wrote the following collect:
We are searching, curious, and grateful.
We come together in awe and wonder at the spread of the loving message of your son and pray that we can embody it in our daily lives.
AMEN
|
|
THIRD SUNDAY SUPPER
Join us for lively conversation
and fellowship on
January 16th, 2022
Next location to be decided
Separate checks/All are welcome
For more information contact
George Raymond. His contact information is in the Grace directory.
|
|
|
MOVIE NITE
Join us for a discussion of
BREAKING AWAY
An Indiana teen (Dennis Christopher) acts Italian as he and his townie buddies (Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern) compete with college snobs.
Watch at your leisure then join us on Zoom
Thursday, January 6,
at 6:30 PM on Zoom.
(Meeting ID): 370 191 823 (Password): 385337
|
|
MOVIE NITE attendees met on Zoom in December for a rousing discussion of
About Schmidt, a movie starring Jack Nickelson. All are welcome to our next conversation!
|
|
BOOKS AND BREAD
Book Nominations
in person on January 12
at the Grace Church office
at 7:00 pm
Bring an appetizer or dessert to share.
All are welcome!
Write a paragraph about the book or two you would like to nominate. The books should be less than 400 pages. Forward your nominations to Peter Kirchoff no later than January 5th. His contact information is in the Grace Directory.
|
|
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.
|
First Sunday after
the Epiphany
Holy Eucharist
January 9, 10:00 AM
Sunday services
will be at Crissey Farm, both
in-person and live-streamed.
Please visit our website:
for up-to-date information and a link to the digital service booklet.
Celebrant and Officiant:
The Rev. Valerie Bailey Fisher
Welcome Team..... S.Brooke/D. Hutchinson
Acolyte...................Peter Kirchoff
Lector.................. ..Laura Jordahl
Intercessor.............John Cheek
Healing Team.........T. Cobden/P. Curry
Tech....................... Abe Streeter
Flowers.................. D. Holmes
Altar Guild............. D. Holmes/M. Layton
Coffee Hour........... (Cancelled)
Counters.................R. Gore/S. Sieber
|
ZOOM INVITATIONS
FOR GRACE CHURCH
First Sunday after
the Epiphany
Holy Eucharist
January 9, at 10:00 AM
Now in person and on Zoom.
For Zoom
or call 646 558 8656
US (New York)
(Meeting ID): 177 160 858
(Password): 917937
Tuesday with the Word
January 18
7:00 to 8:00 PM
To join the Zoom meeting
Centering Prayer
Thursdays, at 5:00 PM
Now in person and on ZOOM
To join the Zoom meeting,
(Meeting ID): 203 314 800
(Password): 578877
646 558 8656 US (New York)
Grace Church Men's Group
Future dates to be announced here.
Movie Nite
Thursday, at 6:30
January 6, 2022
More information in the
article below.
To join this Zoom meeting,
(Meeting ID): 370 191 823
(Password): 385337
or call 646 558 8656 US
(New York)
Books and Bread,
Book Nominations
Wednesday, January 12
In person at 7:00 PM
at the Church office
All are welcome.
Email your nominations to Peter Kirchoff by January 5th.
Third Sunday Supper
(Every Third Sunday)
January 16,
Location TBD
|
|
First Sunday after
the Epiphany
|
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
|
The Sinless One to Jordan Came
(Arr. A. Hutchings for Choir & Organ)
|
For the most up to date information:
please visit the
Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative website,
They will post notice of appointment openings 6-12 hours in advance. You can find answers to your vaccination questions including information about the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine on their FAQ page.
|
Covid-19 vaccination
booster shots
are now available for those with certain big-risk medical conditions at Walgreens and Fairview Hospital on a walk-in basis. If you think you might have a qualifying condition, we urge you to go to one of these locations for a booster shot.
|
|
|
Praying for each other and for the needs of the world is a vital mission of Grace Church. To add a prayer request to this list, please contact the Church Office
|
|
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.
ANDREWS, Anne
659 South Egremont Road
P.O. Box 714
Great Barrington, MA 01230
BLAKELY, Rosemarie
21 Crossway, #108
Lee MA 01238
BOWENS, Marina
c/o Maryella Satinover
11908 Windward Ave.
Mar Vista, CA 90066
BREASTED, John
Fairview Commons
151 Christian Hill Road
Great Barrington MA 01230
BROOKS, Jane
165 George Street
Lee MA 01230
|
|
FRYE, Vonnie
PineHill Assisted Living
at Kimball Farms
235 Walker St. Apt #32
Lenox, Ma. 01240
GORE, Barbara
50 Stockbridge Road
Lee MA 01238
HAIDER, Meredith
5 Fox Hollow Road
#409
Lenox, MA 01240
McCURDY, Deborah
Skilled Nursing Center
Loomis Lakeside at Reed's Landing
807 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
TURNER, Barbara
Fairview Commons
151 Christian Hill Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230
|
|
|
Announcement from the Communications Office |
|
The Bishop's Christmas Message 2021
Bishop Doug Fisher reminds us that like the shepherds, "we are surrounded by angels, We are surrounded by grace."
|
|
Our New Prayer Basket
We welcome you to use our new prayer basket.
On Sundays you will find a basket near the welcome table, with slips of paper available for you to write down prayer requests. You can ask for prayers for those who are ill, or in need of healing or encouragement of any kind, prayers for intentions, journeys, or projects, the birth or adoption of children, and prayers of thanksgiving for anything that needs celebrating. In other words, please ask for any prayers that are important to you and those you love. You may identify yourself and those for whom prayers are needed, but names are not necessary or required. These requests will be prayed for by our healing ministers both during the service and during the week for a period of one month. Keep an eye out for the basket!!
|
|
Healing Prayers
If you would like to receive healing prayers from
The Rev. Ted Cobden, Pennie Curry, or Sue Gore,
please refer to your directory for their contact
information, or contact the Grace office.
|
|
GRACE
CHURCH
Please include
in your daily prayers this week:
Members of the Parish Family:
Sue Gore, George Raymond; Doreen Hutchinson, Anne Andrews, Pennie Curry, Mark Anderson, Stacey, Claire and Mark Thomas, Meredith Haider, Linda White, Rosemarie Blakely, Marina Bowens, John Breasted, Jane Brooks, Vonnie Frye, Barbara Gore, Sara Keene, Barbara Turner and Annalise Clausen.
Others we love: Rino Aldrighetti, dear friend of Steve White; Wyatt Hicks; Larry Cheek, John's brother; Karen La Rocque friend of Sue Gore; Rosalind Haywood, Sue Gore's mother; Deborah McCurdy; Joy Milani, dear friend of Dindy Anderson.
Those who have died:
Sam Raymond, brother of George; Vanessa Neves, daughter of Patti Poulos, friend of many in the congregation; Sara Bowers;
Sara Keene; Jim Santolin dear friend of Rick and Sue Gore; Robert Bruce Martin, and Alexandra Pratt, friends of Monique; Bernadette McCarroll, beloved family member of Jainee, John & Ellis; Thomas J. Fisher, father of The Rt. Rev. Douglas Fisher; Alan Sparks, brother of Debbie Holmes; Ruth Crawford; John Grammer, husband of Mary Anne; Neil Brandt, brother of Linda White; John Turner, husband of Barbara Turner; Leslie Albert, friend of Margaret Layton and Sarah Sieber.
Our world: For all those whose lives have been affected by extreme weather- especially for those who were in the path of tornadoes this past week. For the people of Afghanistan, and of Haiti, who have struggled for so long under burdens seemingly too great to bear.
For all victims of violence, and for those who inflict violence on others. For people who suffer from the COVID-19 virus, those who have died and those who mourn; caregivers and those who have been affected through loss of work, income, and housing.
For all who are alone or afraid or despairing. For prisoners, unhoused people, newly arrived immigrants and all our neighbors, near and far.
|
|
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; Parishes of the Boston Harbor Deanery
Christ Church (Old North), Boston
Church of the Advent, Boston;
Ecclesia Ministries and common cathedral, Boston;The Diocesan Staff;
The Massachusetts Council of Churches.
The Church's wider mission:
Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo
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.
|
Join us for
Centering Prayer
now in person and on ZOOM
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 the 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:
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
SHINE YOUR LIGHT
Thank you for giving generously to support the ministry of Grace. You may continue to mail your contributions to Grace Church, P.O. Box 114, Great Barrington, MA 01230. As we begin to gather in person, you may bring your contribution to our services on Sunday, once again.
|
|
|
|
Kids of all ages:
Please join us for Sunday school. We will meet during the first part of the service and then
re-join the service at the Peace.
|
|
|
|
|
So much coloring, cutting, pasting, exploring, learning,
and playing to be done at Sunday School !
|
|
|
Thank you all
for signing up for this year’s
Flower Dedications.
It is a beautiful way to honor our family and friends both living and deceased, and is shared by all.
Please note that $35.00 contributions toward the flower purchases can be sent to the Grace Office or placed in the Offertory Collection.
|
|
An Episcopal Community in the Southern Berkshires
67 State Road/P.O. Box 114, Great Barrington, MA 01230
GRACE Parish Administrator: Ms. Jean Chapin
and by phone 413-644-0022.
|
|
The Rev. Tina Rathbone
Rector
413-644-0022
|
|
Ms. Annalise Clausen, Director of Farming for Gideon's Garden
413-644-0022
gideonsgarden at graceberkshires.org
|
|
Mr. Ryan LaBoy,
Grace Church Music Director
413-644-0022
RLaboy at graceberkshires.org
|
|
Tuesday's Child Editor Monique Kirchoff
Associate Editor Kathy Clausen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
