A Message from The Rev. Tina Rathbone | |
As we enter the last week of Lent and approach the drama and depth of Holy Week, I’m wondering how many of us feel ready for the bright, fresh newness of Easter. It is often something I sit with at this time of year: I trust that new life will come, but have no idea what it will it actually look like this year…
What do I hope for?
What do I long for?
What is my deepest heart’s desire?
These are rich questions I think – especially during the days leading up to Easter. If you have any time at all, I invite you to spend some time with them too.
| |
Holy Week Services 2023
Palm Sunday, April 2 @ 10:00 am
Crissey Farm & on Zoom
426 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington
Maundy Thursday, April 6 @ 7:00 pm
St. Paul’s Church
29 Main Street, Stockbridge
Good Friday, April 7 @ 7:00 pm
Grace Church Chapel & on Zoom
67 State Road, Great Barrington
Holy Vigil of Easter, April 8 @ 7:00 pm
Christ Trinity Church
180 Main Street, Sheffield
Celebration of Easter, April 9 @ 10:00 am
Crissey Farm & on Zoom
426 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington
| |
PSALM WORKSHOP
Tuesday, March 28
7:00 – 8:00 PM over Zoom
Discover again how
Joy, Gratitude, Grief, Rage, Lament,
Peace, Fear, and New Life
are all
aspects of a faithful life lived
in partnership with God.
For Zoom link:
Click Here
Meeting ID: 177 160 858
Passcode: 917937
| |
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! We have a couple of promised donations still on their way and, knowing this, and that we would soon have all we needed, Andrea contacted the co-founder of the Pirogov First Mobile Hospital and bought the icon above! All proceeds from this beautiful work of art, written in the Ukraine on the lid of an ammunition box, will go to support the mobile hospital which brings medics to the front lines of eastern Ukraine. Since the Icons from Ammo Boxes project began, the mobile hospital has served 50,000 patients.
We have been told it will take anywhere from one to three months for the icon to arrive and when it does, we will celebrate! May God’s peace prevail before then, and may bloodshed and death cease…
The Rev. Tina Rathbone
| |
Spring Garden Volunteers! | |
Spring is upon us here at the Garden which means new volunteer opportunities!
If you are interested in helping seed and help prepare for the coming season for the spring, please email Joel at gideonsgarden@graceberkshires.org so he can request and coordinate weekly volunteers for projects.
Come by this Wednesday (3/29) and Thursday (3/30) from 1-4 PM to help put on the plastic and help move supplies into our new greenhouse!
Our open volunteer hours will begin in April on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am-12pm. We will be seeding and doing light preparation work for the coming season.
| |
The People's Pantry
If anyone wants to volunteer at the People’s Pantry, there are shifts on Mondays from 3:30PM to 5:30PM, Thursdays from 8:30AM to 10:30AM and Thursdays 10:30AM to 12:30PM. Here’s the link:
https://www.thepeoplespantrygb.org/volunteer
| |
Announcement from the Communications Office | |
Donate to Episcopal Relief & Development
MAKE AN URGENT GIFT-DONATE NOW Your immediate support will help Episcopal Relief & Development and other Anglican partners provide humanitarian assistance to people fleeing the violence in Ukraine. By contributing today you will join our online...
support.episcopalrelief.org
| |
|
Welcome Mats Made by Refugees | Thistle Farms Global
Handwoven and handmade by refugees in Greece, these welcome mats serve as a symbol of welcome and acceptance for refugees. Perfect to use in your home as a wall hanging or floor mat. Feel good about the products you buy at Thistle Farms and support refugees. Order yours today!
Love Welcomes.
thistlefarms.org
| | |
Babies are placed in the Mampong Home when their mother has died and they cannot be cared for at home. | |
It costs about $1,500 to support a baby over the time needed for the child to grow old enough to return to their home. Many years ago we at Grace decided to support babies at the Mampong Babies Home in Ghana at the rate of $1,500 per year. Your donations help us reach that goal each year. You can bring money or checks to church on Sundays and place in the jar near the Welcome Table or send a check to:
Grace Church,
P.O. Box 114,
Great Barrington, MA 01230.
| |
Becoming Beloved Community | |
Over the last 3 years the Reparations Community of Practice of the Diocese of Massachusetts has hosted 17 presentations, including 8 involving histories of parishes affiliated with the Episcopal Church in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Each of them represents hours of research, reflection and reckoning regarding the impact of slave holding, slave trading and the slave economy on the Episcopal Church in New England. Each of them addresses the wealth derived from these criminal practices, both in terms of money accumulated and status achieved.
These scholarly presentations are assembled here : www.churchreparations.org
Episcopal churches and communities across the Northeast confronting their historical involvement in the slave economy
Presentations of parish histories are assembled here: https://www.churchreparations.org/parish-histories
| |
Our discussion this week focused on salvation. We started the reflection from the final 16 stanzas of Hilda Doolittle's poem "The Walls Do Not Fall," https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-walls-do-not-fall-by-hd and used this stanza to dig deeper into salvation.
'there is zrr-hiss,
Lightening in a not-known'
When our discussion concluded we wrote the following collect:
God, our haven,
We are wandering in darkness, surrounded by danger, seeking salvation.
We tremble, huddling at the power of zrr-hiss.
We pray for clarity and enlightenment, surrounded by universal love,
In the name of Christ the Savior of the world.
AMEN
| |
Announcement from the Communications Office | |
Bishop Doug Fisher established a Compline community in 2020 that continues in faithfulness five nights a week. In addition to the Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith and the Very Rev. Jim Munroe, Licensed Lay Worship Leaders will be added for Thursday and Friday evenings. Zoom info is available HERE. | |
Province 1: The Episcopal Church in New England | |
Conversations
with Noted Speakers
The Province 1 Christian Formation Network is hosting a series of online conversations. On the third Thursday of each month, participants will have the opportunity to hear from people at the forefront of Christian Formation. Registration required.
2023 Schedule
-
Apr 20 - "Interactive Family Church: an introduction to liturgy" - Dean Kristi Maulden and Becky Moseman
-
May 18 - "Confirmation: The Lost Sacrament Finds Fresh Purpose" - The Rev. Josh Hosler
-
Jun 15 - "Atrium for Everyone: Incorporating practices from Catechesis of the Good Shepherd or Godly Play into any program" - The Rev. Joyce Scherer-Hoock
Register here
| |
BOOKS AND BREAD
Will meet on
Wednesday, April 12
at 6:00 PM to discuss
DESTINY
of the REPUBLIC
By Candice Millard
Join us. All are welcome!
Questions?
Please contact Peter Kirchoff.
For Zoom:
Click Here
Meeting ID: 177 160 858
Password: 917937
or call 646 558 8656 US (New York)
| |
MEN'S GROUP
Wednesday, April 5 at 6:00 pm
at Andrea and Steve White's home.
The evening will end promptly at 9:00 pm
Dinner will be followed by our guest speaker, Dr. Prescott Winter, former Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer at the National Security Agency. He retired from the NSA in 2008 and became Chief Technology Officer, Public Sector, Enterprise Security Products for Pentagon contractor Hewlett-Packard the following year. He will speak about his career in the intelligence community and help us gain a greater understanding of the importance of intelligence gathering and cybersecurity for the maintenance of our democracy.
If you are coming please tell Steve White what you are bringing. His number is in the directory.
| |
THIRD SUNDAY SUPPER
Join us for lively conversation
and fellowship on
April 16, 6:00 PM at
TBD
ALL are welcome!
Separate checks
For more information contact
George Raymond.
| |
MOVIE NITE
Watch at home at home then,
Join us for a discussion of
SCENT OF A WOMAN
(Our discussion leader will be Mark Anderson.)
This is an American drama film produced and directed by Martin Brest that tells the story of a preparatory school student who takes a job as an assistant to an irritable, blind, medically retired Army lieutenant colonel.
on May 4, at 7:00 PM
on Zoom.
To join this Zoom meeting
Click Here
Meeting ID: 177 160 858
Password: 917937
| |
|
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.
|
Palm Sunday
April 2, 2023
at 10:00 AM
In person & live-streamed
on ZOOM
Please visit our website:
https://graceberkshires.org/visitor/
for up-to-date information and a link to the digital service booklet.
Celebrant and Officiant:
The Rev. Tina Rathbone
Click here for WEB site ROTA
|
HOLY WEEK SERVICES and ZOOM INVITATIONS
FOR GRACE CHURCH
Palm Sunday
April 2, 2023
at 10:00 AM
For Zoom
Click Here
Meeting ID: 177 160 858
Passcode: 917937
Or call:646 558 8656,
(New York)
Maundy Thursday
April 6 at 7:00 PM
St. Paul’s Church
29 Main Street, Stockbridge
Good Friday
April 7 at 7:00 PM
Grace Church Chapel
and on Zoom
67 State Road, Great Barrington
Holy Vigil of Easter
April 8 at 7:00 PM
Christ Trinity Church
180 Main Street, Sheffield
Celebration of Easter
April 9 at 10:00 AM
Crissey Farm & on Zoom
426 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington
Contemplative Eucharist
Wednesday at 10:00 AM
In person at Grace Chapel
and to join on Zoom:
Click Here
Meeting ID: 177 160 858
Passcode: 917937
Or call:646 558 8656,
(New York)
Psalm Workshop
Tuesday, March 28
at 7:00 - 8:00 PM
To join on Zoom:
Click Here
Meeting ID: 177 160 858
Passcode: 917937
Or call:646 558 8656,
(New York)
Centering Prayer
Thursdays at 5:00 PM
In person and on Zoom
To join on Zoom:
Click Here
Meeting ID: 177 160 858
Passcode: 917937
Or call:646 558 8656,
(New York)
Movie Nite
Thursday, May 4
at 7:00 PM on Zoom
To join on Zoom:
Click Here
Meeting ID: 177 160 858
Passcode: 917937
Or call:646 558 8656,
(New York)
Books and Bread,
Wednesday,
April 12, 2023
at 6:00 PM
In person and on Zoom
To join on Zoom:
Click Here
Meeting ID: 177 160 858
Passcode: 917937
Or call:646 558 8656,
(New York)
Third Sunday Supper
(Every Third Sunday)
April 16, at 6:00 PM
In person
More information in the
article found above.
|
Our Prayer Basket
We welcome you to use our 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. 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 prayers will be offered 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!!
To listen to Sarah Sieber explaining the operation of the Prayer Basket CLICK HERE
(K. Clausen)
| | |
Sunday of the Passion
Palm Sunday
| |
Matthew 27:11-54
Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.”
Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.
From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”
| |
My song is love unknown” was written by Samuel Crossman in 1664. The tune is “Love unknown”, written by John Ireland in 1918.
My song is love unknown,
My Saviour’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake,
My Lord should take frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But man made strange, and none
The longed-for Christ would know.
But oh, my Friend, my Friend indeed, Who at my need His life did spend!
Sometimes they strew His way
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the way
Hosannas to their King.
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
They rise, and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they save,
The Prince of Life they slay.
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,
That He His foes from thence might free.
Here might I stay and sing,
No story so divine;
Never was love, dear King,
Never was grief like Thine.
This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend.
| | | | |
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.
BLAKELY, Rosemarie
BOWENS, Marina
BREASTED, John
BROOKS, Jane
| | |
FRYE, Vonnie
GORE, Barbara
HAIDER, Meredith
McCURDY, Deborah
TURNER, Barbara
| |
GRACE
CHURCH
Please include
in your daily prayers this week:
Members of the Parish Family:
Cathy Haywood, Margaret O’Clair, Mark Anderson, Dindy Anderson, Doreen Hutchinson, Anne Andrews, , Meredith Haider, Rosemarie Blakely, Marina Bowens, Charles Folger, Barbara Gore, and Barbara Turner.
Others we love: Vincent Pelletier, beloved family member of Kevin and Desside; Michael Holmes, Debbie Holmes’ grandson; Kelly & Elijah; Denise Chandler; James Driscoll; Livia Driscoll; All those grieving the death of Ellen Elizabeth Hilpl, Jack Stedman, Wendy Reeve and Ed Hunt; Cynthia Griesing, Holly Murray’s mother; Karen LaRocque friend of Sue Gore; Rosalind Haywood, Sue Gore's mother; Deborah McCurdy; the Hardenberg family, friends of Lynn Walker; Sophia, grieving the sudden death of her son.
Those who have died: Claire White, Steve White’s mother; Jeanne Litterio, Steve White’s aunt; Ellen Elizabeth Hilpl; Joe Merola; Jim Driscoll, father of Gideon’s Garden intern, James Driscoll; Michael Rywkin, Monique Kirchoff’s father; Wendy Reeve, Cathy Haywood’s sister; Jack Stedman; Ed Hunt, brother-in-law of Anne Andrews; Richard Edelstein, husband of Pat and beloved friend of our congregation; Sam Raymond; Alan Sparks, brother of Debbie Holmes
Our world: For all those who have died, who have been wounded, or have lost someone they love in the earthquake in Syria and Turkey. For the people of the Ukraine and of all places of violence and war, that peace may prevail and human fear and suffering diminish. For Tyre Nichols and his mother RowVaughn Wells and for all who love him. For all victims of gun violence and institutionalized racism in this country. We pray also for those who inflict gun violence on others. For people who are suffering from COVID, those who have died and those who mourn. 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: For our partners at St. Paul's and the Revs. Libby Wade, Jane Tillman; the Rev. Sam Smith as he begins his ministry at All Saints, Worcester; Christ Trinity and the Rev. Erik Karas; our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Doug Fisher; and the Mampong Babies' Home in Ghana; St. Paul’s, Holyoke;
Laundry Love; Clergy in Fresh Start
Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations; Church Scholarship Society.
The Church's wider mission:
Province of the Episcopal Church
of South Sudan.
And we offer thanks: for all those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries this week:
Jane Brooks, 3/28.
|
Join us for
Centering Prayer
now in person and on ZOOM
Every Thursday
5:00 - 6:00 PM
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.
Click Here
Meeting ID: 177 160 858
Passcode: 917937
Or call:646 558 8656,
(New York)
| |
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.
| |
|
WELCOME
TO CHURCH SCHOOL!
| | |
Church School Sunday
We listened to the Bible story about Jesus Raising Lazarus from the Episcopal Lesson Plans that Work. We wondered about this miracle.
We talked about the Holy days leading up to Easter. We have been wondering about Heaven, so this week, we listened to a story by Sandy Sasso, For Heaven’s Sake. The story follows a child’s journey to find Heaven because of the phrase he often hears, “For Heaven’s sake.” He is also wondering where his grandfather went when he died. Isaiah and his grandmother travel in the community visiting people and places his grandfather enjoyed. In the end, we learn that Heaven is in us.
“Heaven is home.”
“Heaven is love.”
“Heaven is in the stars.”
| |
Dear God, Thank you that you love us and always will. Amen. | |
FLOWER DEDICATIONS!
Please place your dedications in an envelope and include the name of the person you wish to honor.
Please note that your $35.00 contribution toward the flower purchase 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 Church Parish Administrator: Ms. Andrea White
You can reach the church office by email: office@graceberkshires.org and by phone 413-644-0022.
| |
The Rev. Tina Rathbone
Rector
413-644-0022
| |
Ms. Andrea White
Grace Church Administrator
office@graceberkshires.org
| |
Mr. Joel Jorgensen
Director of Programs for Gideon’s Garden
413-644-0022
gideonsgarden at graceberkshires.org
| |
OFFICERS
Senior Warden ........Pennie Curry
Junior Warden ........Laura Jordahl
Treasurer ..................Sue Gore
Clerk ...........................Mary Anne Grammer
VESTRY - AT LARGE
Class of 2024..........Anne Andrews, Dutch Pinkston
Class of 2025..........Cathy Haywood
Class of 2026..........Mary Booton, Gino Furio, Meredith Haider
| |
Tuesday's Child Editor Monique Kirchoff
Associate Editor Kathy Clausen
| | | | | |