Seeking and Serving Christ in all Persons

Parish News For the week of July 31, 2022

Fr. Bob was our college chaplain from

2008 - 2011

The Rev. Dr. Robert Henry Crewdson

The Reverend Dr. Robert Henry Crewdson passed away at Sunnyside Retirement Community on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. He had two sons, Mark Allen and his spouse, Judy, and Robert Lee and his spouse, Jennifer. Together they had six grandchildren. 

"Father Bob" or "Dr. Bob" as he was known, graduated from V.P.I. with a degree in Chemical Engineering and worked a short time for DuPont in Parlin, N.J.. He volunteered for the military draft, trained as a hospital corpsman, then served aboard the U.S.S. Orion. While in the Navy, he married Lois Ellen Perkins, an author, and award-winning artist and poet, who predeceased him in 2018. Following service in the Navy, Fr. Bob received his M. Div at Virginia Theological Seminary while working as a Capitol Police Officer. He later received an additional Master's degree and a DMin from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA. He served four parishes in Virginia, including Chaplain and also as celebrant of the Taize service at Grace Church in Lexington. While in the Diocese of Virginia, he served as Chair of the Evangelism Commission and with others, he conducted healing and preaching missions. While in the Carolinas, he served as the Ecumenical Officer and was instrumental in bringing the Episcopal Church into full communion with the Moravian Church. While in Rockingham County in the 1960's he was involved in civil rights, serving as Vice President of the Rockingham County Citizens on Human Relations, trying to achieve peaceful integration. Fr. Bob helped establish the Diocesan Appalachian Trail Camps for senior high youth in some of the dioceses he served and through the Virginia Council of Churches as well as most of his parishes. His lifelong hobby was hiking the Appalachian Trail with youth in his churches, his sons, spouse, and grandchildren. He was a founder of the Cornerstone Coffee House in Manassas to reach Youth on drugs and also worked with the youth leaders of the J.C. Power and Light Company, which was part of the Jesus Movement.

He loved the valley of Virginia and was glad to retire to Sunnyside, only 15 minutes from the first parish he served, consisting of St. Stephen and Good Shepherd at Rocky Bar and Grace at Lynwood, both of which he enjoyed attending.

His memorial service will be held at St. Stephen and Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Rocky Bar 1 pm. Sunday, July 31, 2022. The burial will be private at Oak Grove Cemetery in Lexington, Va. 

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be given to St. Stephen and Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 584, Elkton, VA 22827 or Grace Memorial Episcopal Church, 7120 Ore Bank Road, Port Republic, VA 24471

Hosting Ukrainian Families

Announcing the Next Meeting 

Wednesday, August 10, 2022 @ 5:30 PM 

Grace Episcopal Church, Parish Hall

123 W. Washington Street

Agenda: We’ll present an update on our progress to date, including the formation of Sponsor Circles, and will look at our committee structure

(with another opportunity for you to sign up to share your talents.)

Ukrainian Fund

Donations may be made to the Ukrainian Fund by writing a check to Grace Episcopal Church, with the MEMO line showing Ukrainian Fund.

Music in the Garden

Grace Episcopal Church has joined in the 2022 sponsorship of Music in the Garden at Boxerwood. Gates open at 5:30. Pack a picnic, bring a chair and we’ll see you there!

Friday, August 12  Honest Labor

Friday, August 26  The Ruckus Bluegrass Band

50/50 Raffle fundraiser ticket - $50.00 per ticket

This ticket is in addition to the meal ticket. If you purchase a 50/50 raffle ticket you will be put in a drawing to win cash! Drawing will be held at the Low Country Boil, August 5, 2022. You do not have to be present to win!

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.

Faces of Grace

Joe, Abby, Rowan and Willow Moles

Joe and Abby grew the family in the suburbs of Chicago. When in Chicago area we were active in the Lutheran church Joe grew up in. We all moved and lived in a small town in the mountains of Colorado for 7 years. We have moved to Lexington for the changes of seasons and to build a small farm for ourselves. 

The welcoming feeling of Grace drew our family in. Since Chicago we have been searching for another church family. Joe has become a men's breakfast regular. As a firefighter/AEMT, Abby looks for support in faith for herself and work. Rowan likes volunteering and reading. She is an upcoming senior at RCHS. Willow is becoming familiar with the behind-the-scenes social media part of church service.

As a family we are enjoying serving the community in different ways through the church. 

Vestry Minutes

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

Happy Birthday

Margaret Haberman (7/31), Alexandra Brown (8/1), David Cox (8/1), Henry Porter (8/1), Joshua Henson (8/3), Rissie Murphy (8/5), Michele Hentz (8/6) Greg Lemmer (8/8), Carol Dent (8/8), Mimi Knight (8/11), Patrick Mayerchak (8/12), Susan Williams (8/14), Nick Murphy (8/14), Kathy Kozak (8/14), Kent Wilson (8/17), Luke Camp (8/18), Marjorie Connolly (8/20), Mary Webster (8/27), David Howison (8/28), Barton Dick (8/30), Pat Gibson (8/31)