Seeking and Serving Christ in all Persons

Parish News For the week of July 17, 2022

Our parish was saddened by the death of David Burford on Sunday,

July 3. David is the beloved husband of Martha Burford, our Minister of Music. Please keep Martha and their family in your prayers.

Community Hymn Sing

Thursday, July 21, 6:30 pm 

On the Courtyard at Grace

Contact martha@graceepiscopallexington.org with ideas!

Save the Date!

Low Country Boil, 50/50 Raffle & Silent Auction Fundraiser

Saturday, August 20th

5:30 - 8 pm

More info coming soon!

Buy your tickets here!

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.

DIOSWVA Middle School Mission Trip

The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia welcomed Sarah Edgar and Leisl Neibur on their Middle School Youth Mission Trip to Grace House on the Mountain, June 19-25. As part of a 13-member diocesan middle school mission team, Sarah and Leisl were hard workers, good teammates, and willing worship leaders. During our week at Grace House, the group completed three projects: two porches and one handicapped ramp. We very much appreciated Sarah and Leisl's talents and can-do attitudes, whether it be toward learning to use a power tool or reading scripture on the fly. We are grateful to Grace Episcopal Church for sending your middle school youth with us and look forward to more opportunities to share in youth ministry across the diocese.

More Summer Mission Opportunities

Thursday, July 21 from 4-6 pm - Campus Kitchens -Join student interns from the Campus Kitchen at Washington and Lee as they cook and prepare food for delivery to a variety of community organizations! Volunteers will assist in the preparation of hot meals for delivery to the Community Table, Lexington City Office on Youth, and others. Volunteers should plan to bring close-toed shoes, a shirt that covers your shoulders, a water bottle, and a hat if you would prefer to not wear a hairnet! Volunteers can meet at Campus Kitchen, in the basement of 106 Lee Ave which is accessible via the alley to the left of the building. school.

Sunday, July 24 - 2 pm - RARA Food Pantry - restock pantry shelves

Contact sharon@graceepiscopallexington.org if you can help.

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.

The How to Tell a Story Book study is canceled for July. It will be rescheduled in the near future.

Faces of Grace

Meet Peggy and Steve Riethmiller

Peggy - I grew up in Vicksburg, Mississippi. My dad was an Episcopal priest and was from Virginia, We came back to Virginia after I graduated from high school.

Steve - I grew up in Richmond, VA. I was raised in the Lutheran Church. I went to VMI (’63), joined the Air Force, and later got my Master’s and PhD from The University of South Carolina. I taught chemistry at VMI for 41 years.

We met on a blind date, got married 6 months later and have been married for almost 55 years. We have 2 children and 4 grandchildren. We have lived in South Carolina, New Zealand, and England.

Peggy – I am inspired by old hymns. They can make me cry or make me happy and full of joy. We both participated in Cursillo in the 80s. It was an eye-opener, and we are still active in prayer groups with other Cursillo participants from  Grace.

Steve – I am inspired that everyone is welcomed at the Episcopal Church table.

Peggy – I have felt God’s love all of my life. We both feel the love in this faith community and want to share the love that we feel with others.

Steve - I am involved in the STEPS ministry here at Grace. I both have enjoyed welcoming and mentoring Richard Jones.

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, July 22  Caravan of Fools

Friday, August 12  Honest Labor

Friday, August 26  The Ruckus Bluegrass Band

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. At its June 14, 2022, meeting, the Gadsden Committee approved the following grants: $4,031.85 to Community Table of Buena Vista for a commercial reach-in refrigerator; $8,407.21 to Jackson-Feild Homes, Inc. for the purchase of assessment materials, updated teaching materials, and GED fees to meet licensing renewal requirements; $1,502.25 to the Spotlighting Black Rockbridge Committee for a revised set of activities for the 2022 Juneteenth Celebration; $5,000 to Grace’s Christian Outreach Committee for the pilot GATES program; and $13,222 to Grace’s Vestry for the support of Deacon Samson Mamour.

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 third quarter 2022 Gadsden meeting is scheduled for September 13.  The Gadsden Trust grant request application can be found on the Grace website www.graceepiscopallexington.org under the “More” and “Parish Ministries” tabs.

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

Vestry Minutes

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

Happy Birthday

Tom Vinson (7/5), Elise Brooke (7/5), Adam Webster (7/5), Doug Cumming (7/5), Harold Hill (7/5) Jay Crawford (7/6), David Wade (7/6), Ben Holston (7/7), Sue Shultis (7/8), Joe Simcoe (7/10), Elizabeth Grist (7/11), Mary Wilson (7/11), Otis Mead (7/12), Caroline Webster (7/13), Carla Henson (7/18), Jeff Mason (7/19), Lisa Tracy (7/20), Catharine Gaylard (7/21), Miss D Penick (7/23), Trey Lewis (7/26), Paul Robblee (7/28), Susan Minor (7/28), John Brooke (7/29), Margaret Haberman (7/31)