Seeking and Serving Christ in all Persons

Parish News For the week of June 12, 2022

Mission and Outreach Committee of the Gadsden Trust

The mission of the Gadsden Committee “is to disburse funds (from the Gadsden Trust) to enable the spread of the Christian Gospel and to alleviate human suffering”—Gadsden guidelines. The Gadsden Committee meets four times a year (March, June, September, and December) to review grant requests and distribute available funds in the following areas: local needs and concerns; seminarians and continuing education of Diocesan clergy and ministers of our parish; third world needs; and Diocesan projects or programs.

The second quarter 2022 Gadsden Trust Committee meeting will be held Tuesday, June 14, at 4 pm in the Parish Hall.  The Committee will be reviewing three community and two Grace/diocesan grant requests.

The seven members of the Gadsden Committee are appointed by the Vestry and Trustees. Currently serving members are: Gail Dickerson, Woody Sadler, Roger Crockett, Jane Brooke, Carol Gosse, Bill McCorkle, and Mary Wilson.

Prayer Vigil for Buffalo

C.A.R.E. (Rockbridge Community Anti-Racism Effort) is holding a prayer vigil for victims in Buffalo 6pm, Tuesday, June 14 at Richardson's Park. Please join in the vigil and with some of Grace's musicians who will help lead the singing and music.

Compassion and Community: Supporting People with Opioid Use Disorder to Recover Part 2

Wednesday, June 15, 6:00 – 7:30 pm

Panel Discussion with Q&A

Registration: https://bit.ly/38tERuU

Link to Part 1 - Wednesday, May 18

Click here for description of training.

This training is appropriate for all members of our faith community and is offered free by C4 Innovations and the Opioid Response Network, a training center sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

At the 2022 DIOSWVA Annual Convention a resolution was presented concerning a faithful response to substance abuse disorder in our communities. You may read the resolution below.

2022-R.2 A Resolution Calling for a Faithful Response to Substance Use Disorder

The resolution calls on all parishes of the diocese to acknowledge this crisis and offer educational opportunities to learn about substance use disorder, so that parishes might offer caring, practical responses to this critical crisis.

Mission Mondays

Join us on two more Mondays and one Sunday this Summer for service in our community. Next up - The Community Closet - Monday, June 21 at 6 pm. Sort donations, clean, and paint at the Christ Episcopal Community Clothes Closet. at Christ Church Buena Vista. Contact sharon@graceepiscopallexington.org if you can help.

Other mission opportunities this Summer

July 11 - Campus Kitchens - pack lunches

July 24 - RARA Food Pantry - restock shelves

How to Tell a Story

That great storyteller, Jesus, knew the power of stories. Stories connect us and inspire us. When we share our stories, we learn of each other’s hopes, values, tribulations, and jubilations. We all have stories to share. Will you join me in some reading and later workshopping to share our stories?

The Moth Radio Hour has just published a book How to Tell a Story. Will you join me 6:30-8:00 on three Thursday evenings in July: 13th, 20th, and 27th to read excerpts and engage in playful practice? Email me at martha@graceepiscopallexington.org or marthooo@gmail.com or call or text me at 804-514-8839. I also encourage you to order the book!

Music in the Garden

Grace Episcopal Church has joined in the 2022 sponsorship of Music in the Garden at Boxerwood. The first MITG was canceled because of rain. Join your Grace family  

Friday, June 10, from 6:30 – 8 pm for the Shester, Datz, Newhall Trio. Gates open at 5:30. Pack a picnic, bring a chair and we’ll see you there!

Upcoming Events for MITG

Friday, June 24   Fatty Lumpkin and the Love Hogs

Friday, July 8   Beverly Street

Friday, July 22   Caravan of Fools

Friday, August 12   Honest Labor

Friday, August 26   The Ruckus Bluegrass Band

Summer Camp at Phoebe Needles

BY THE GRACE OF GOD

AND WITH THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE

THE RIGHT REVEREND MARK A. BOURLAKAS

BISHOP OF SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA

WILL ORDAIN

SAMSON JAMES MAMOUR

CARA ELLEN MODISETT

WILLIAM WESTWOOD YAGEL

TO THE SACRED ORDER OF DEACONS

IN CHRIST’S ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH

SATURDAY, THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF JUNE, 2022

AT 11:00 A.M.

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

123 W. WASHINGTON STREET

LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA 24450

YOUR PRAYERS AND PRESENCE ARE REQUESTED

Hosting Ukrainians 

A local group has begun planning to host families from war-torn Ukraine.

A first meeting has taken place, with all attendees expressing an overwhelming wish to help. The community-based group, “Hosting Ukrainian Families,” welcomes others to participate, to be a partner in helping ease the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in front of us.

If you would like to answer a call to join us, please let us know at JerryNay@jerrynay.us .You will be sent progress reports with information on how to take part.

Faces of Grace - Elizabeth Grist

My name is Elizabeth Grist and I have lived in Lexington my entire life. I was born, baptized, and raised in this church and when I decided to go to Washington and Lee University, I’m thankful that this church was literally right next door. I attended church pretty regularly all of college and found such community in the parish here. I was shocked but honored when Gail Dickerson asked me to serve on the Vestry. I have found such fulfillment and community through that tight-knit community, and I will miss it greatly as I move to Australia after college.

One of my favorite hymns that we sing at Grace that inspires me is “Lift High the Cross.” That is one of the earliest hymns I can remember singing in church, and my siblings and I would leap for joy when we saw that hymn listed in the bulletin for the day. The hymn is such a beautiful reminder to lift our cross high and shine our light for Jesus.

I grew up in a strong Christian household and many of my childhood memories are tied to Grace’s Godly Plays, VBS, St. Francis Choirs, and potluck dinners. In high school, I was lucky to have a strong chapter of Young Life, where my friends and I learned to grow in community together in Christ. Since our YoungLife leaders were W&L students, when I started at W&L, I immediately entered a strong Christian community through Reformed University Fellowship (RUF). Although RUF was very transformative during my time at W&L, nothing surmounts the community at Grace Episcopal that allowed me to continue learning and growing in a mature, faith-driven parish. These lessons will shape me beyond my time here in Lexington. As I head abroad next year to do research in Australia, something that I have learned the importance of, and lean heavily into, is that of a mentor. Being able to be shepherded by a fellow sister in Christ draws me closer to God and shows me a fuller picture of His love.

Vestry Minutes

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

Happy Birthday

Michael Wirtz (6/13), Penny Henneman (6/14), Michelle Mackie (6/15), Judy Schram (6/16), John Thomas Loughhead (6/17), Matt Fogo, Alden Mastin (6/18)