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.
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Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Holy Eucharist
August 8
10:00 AM
All Sunday services in August
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. Tina Rathbone
Welcome Team... Rick and Sue Gore
Lector.................. Pennie Curry
Intercessor.......... Robert Forman
Altar Guild.......... M.Kirchoff/Layton
Coffee Hour........ Booton/Grammer
Counters............. S. Gore/I. Booton
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ZOOM INVITATIONS
FOR GRACE CHURCH
Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost
Holy Eucharist
August 8
10:00 AM
in person and on ZOOM
For Zoom
or call 646 558 8656 US
(New York)
(Meeting ID): 177 160 858
(Password): 917937
Centering Prayer
Thursdays 5:00 PM
This is a recurring meeting.
To join this Zoom meeting,
(Meeting ID): 203 314 800
(Password): 578877
646 558 8656 US (New York)
Third Sunday Supper
(Every Third Sunday)
On break until September 19.
at 6:00 PM
This is a recurring meeting.
To join this Zoom meeting
(Meeting ID): 778 608 743
(Password): 729107
646 558 8656 US (New York)
Books and Bread,
Wednesday, at 6 pm
On break until September 8 at 6pm when we meet in person.
Movie Nite
On break until September 2.
To join this Zoom meeting,
(Meeting ID): 370 191 823
(Password): 385337
or call 646 558 8656 US
(New York)
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Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost |
John 6:35, 41-51
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
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Lord, Enthroned with Heavenly Splendor
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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.
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WELCOME TO OUR NEW RECTOR |
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On Sunday, August 1 we welcomed the Rev. Tina Rathbone, Grace’s third rector. As she said in her sermon it has seemed like a long wait and well worth all the anticipation. It was also a Sunday where we saw even more members returning to Crissey Farm after this strange Covid time. Each week it seems we see more returning, familiar faces. Even Tom and Paula Doyle popped in as they are visiting the Berkshires briefly this summer.
The celebratory fellowship time included an ice cream cake, which you see Tina cutting in this photo. Tina got to meet her new family and we all got to begin the next chapter of Grace’s work being church in this time and place.
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A Message From Tina
I woke up very early yesterday, my first Sunday with you all, and after praying and waiting for the sun to rise, I stepped out of my new home in Ashley Falls and walked down the lane through a world both shrouded and revealed by mist. So much looked different this way: the corn in the fields was almost entirely obscured, the edges of high up tree leaves heightened, and the folds and drops and rises of the hills looked almost mythical as they rose, stately and still, from the cloud.
So much about moving here and beginning a new work in a new place with you all is like this too, I realized as I walked. Simple truths – we are all one in the Body of Christ, we are born to love and be loved – are revealed afresh with stunning clarity, even as detail and nuance are obscured, for a time, by the cloudiness brought on by wrap around newness. I have much to learn and discover as I enter the community of Grace more fully as your rector – and I hope that you will all help me do just that in the days and weeks to come.
It is certainly true that yesterday was a great way to start: We shared a wonderful service at Chrissy Farm yesterday, full of celebration and joy and people returning for the first time since the pandemic began. Thank you to all of you who did so much to make the day such an easy and gentle beginning. Strengthened by your prayers, I’m now looking forward to settling in and beginning to get to know you all a little better. I’m hoping to meet individually with as many of you as will welcome the opportunity over the next weeks and months - for coffee, or tea, or a meal, or a walk. I love to listen and learn, and who better to teach me than you who have created and sustained the community of Grace? This process will of course take some time – and if something urgent comes up your end before we have had a chance to connect, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I can easily be reached over email at [email protected]. In the meantime, here are some of the words I am praying each morning through the mist. Will you consider joining me?
Almighty God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills that we may become wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray, as you desire, always to your glory and for the welfare of your people through the love of your son, Jesus Christ….Amen
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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
(413) 528-2766
BLAKELY, Rosemarie
21 Crossway, #108
Lee MA 01238
413-243-0485
BOWENS, Marina
c/o Maryella Satinover
11908 Windward Ave.
Mar Vista, CA 90066
310-398-2484
(310) 749-9424 (cell)
BREASTED, John
Fairview Commons
151 Christian Hill Road
Great Barrington MA 01230
413-429-8123
Cell (413) 854-3977
BROOKS, Jane
165 George Street
Lee MA 01230
413-243-3367
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FRYE, Vonnie
PineHill Assisted Living
at Kimball Farms
235 Walker St. Apt #32
Lenox, Ma. 01240
413-637-7432
GORE, Barbara
50 Stockbridge Road
Lee MA 01238
413-243-4261
HAIDER, Meredith
5 Fox Hollow Road
#409
Lenox, MA 01240
413-551-7319
(814)308-4865
KEENE, Sara
The Egremont Village Inn
17 Main Street
P. O. Box 275
South Egremont, MA 01258
413-528-4152
McCURDY, Deborah
Skilled Nursing Center
Loomis Lakeside at Reed's Landing
807 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
413-507-2832
TURNER, Barbara
Fairview Commons
151 Christian Hill Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230
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WE ARE RESUMING FLOWER DEDICATIONS !
There will be a sign up form at Sunday service.
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Grace Church Choir Director, Dr. Chris Clark,
has accepted a position as Director of Choirs and Lecturer at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. Chris has been with Grace Church for eight years.
His last Sunday with us will be on August 8.
We wish him the best!
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If you would like to receive healing prayers please contact:
The Rev. Ted Cobden 413-528-2247
Pennie Curry 413-429-7093
Sue Gore 413-243-2273
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PRAYERS REQUESTED
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
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GRACE
CHURCH
Please include
in your daily prayers this week:
Members of the Parish Family:
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.
Others we love:
Karen LaRocque friend of Sue Gore; Rosalind Haywood, Sue Gore's mother; Deborah McCurdy.
Those who have died:
Thomas J. Fisher, father of The Rt. Rev. Douglas Fisher; Alan Sparks, brother of Debbie Holmes; Ruth Crawford; Emily Trespas, friend of Jainee McCarroll and John Ericson; John Grammer, husband of Mary Anne; Elinor Hamill; Neil Brandt, brother of Linda White; John Turner, husband of Barbara Turner; Leslie Albert, friend of Margaret Layton and Sarah Sieber; Kathy Happ, sister of Doug and Gary Happ; Locke Larkin, brother-in-law of Maureen Terry; Charles Olegar.
Our world: For all victims of violence; for those who suffer from the COVID-19 virus; for those who have died from this virus and those who mourn; for those who provide care and comfort in this pandemic; for all who suffer from the loss of jobs and income in this time; for all who are anxious about their future and our world; for all who offer time and treasure to support those who need to know love; for all who are alone and all who reach out to care.
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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; Trinity Church, Shrewsbury; Congregations in the Berkshires Region; Episcopal Young Adults; Anglican Society.
The Church's wider mission: The Church of South India (United).
And we offer thanks: for all those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries this week: Deborah Holmes, 8/6; Pam Drumm, 8/7.
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Join us for
Centering Prayer ONLINE
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 this 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)
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Announcement from the Communications Office |
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NEW Compline link for Summer 2021
MONDAY @ 8 PM EST: The Very Rev. Jim Munroe
TUESDAY @ 8 PM EST: The Rt. Rev. Mark M. Beckwith
WEDNESDAY @ 8 PM EST: The Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher
Diocesan Compline service will continue in June, July and August with new access information. Same days, same time, same people - NEW link beginning May 31st. Please share this with your congregations, but please do not post the meeting ID or passcode on social media.
Join Zoom Compline
Meeting ID: 889 8799 4498
Passcode: Bishop
Dial by your location
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 889 8799 4498
Passcode: 795560
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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.
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This week we gleaned sweet corn from Taft Farms' fields. Danny Taczynski invited us into his field to pick as much corn as possible over two days. We gleaned for only about 3 hours total and ended up filling the back of the delivery van twice. We will be continuing our gleaning efforts over the next few weeks as successions of corn mature. Also know as food recovery, gleaning is a historical practice written about in the Bible.
We are grateful to have such a close relationship with Taft's farmers and crew, it takes trust to invite people into your fields, that they will be respectful. We continue to harvest a bounty out of the garden as August greets us with some sunshine and rain. We have picked 14 different crops so far this year, and will continue to add to the list.
Open volunteer days: Monday, Thursday and Friday 9am - 12pm
Or text 413-644-6572
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We are collecting gift cards to distribute to our local schools for children in need of
back to school clothing and supplies.
Please give your gift cards to Pennie Curry or Sue Gore by August 15.
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TODAY! Tuesday, August 3 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM
Berkshire Bounty Mobile Food Drive
We hope to repeat or exceed last month's results of 1,100 lbs of needed canned and packaged goods for the schools. They were so appreciative, we decided to help them again in August!
We will again focus on collecting food for the families with children attending the Southern Berkshire Regional School District, Farmington River Regional School District and Berkshire Hills Regional School District. Each district continues to work closely with community organizations to help provide food to families in need this summer. This is in addition to South Congregational Church.
Berkshire Bounty volunteer Drivers go to Donors’ homes to pick up canned and/or packaged goods left by Donors on their doorstep. Food Donors may also drop their food donation at Hevreh of Southern Berkshire or at People’s Pantry.
We ask you to consider:
a) donating canned and/or packaged food;
b) driving to pick up donations at food donors’ homes; and/or,
c) helping unload food from drivers' cars as they deliver food on the day of the Mobile Food Drive
d) help sort and organize food for each district at People's Pantry.
If you are interested in participating, please email Berkshire Bounty at [email protected] to tell us what you would like to do. Please also include your street address, email address and best contact telephone number.
To Food Donors:
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Foods in most demand are: pasta, tomato sauce, canned fruit, granola bars, peanut butter and jelly.
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If donating from your own pantry, please check out dates.
Thank you for your generosity. Please pass this request on to friends and neighbors.
Mark Lefenfeld & Jay Weintraub
Co-Presidents, Berkshire Bounty
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Welcome to the Bloomin' 4 Good Program!
A Brand New Program to Benefit Lee Food Pantry
Let's Fight Hunger Together. One Bouquet at a Time.
We are thrilled to announce the Bloomin' 4 Good Program, a brand new program from Stop & Shop that works to fight hunger in our local communities. In this program, every $9.99 Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquet sold sends a $1 donation to a hunger organization local to the store in which it was purchased.
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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.
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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.
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Becoming Beloved Community
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"As followers of Jesus, we must pursue truth and reconciliation in every corner of our lives, embracing God’s call to recognition of wrongdoing, genuine lamentation, authentic apology, true repentance, amendment of life and the nurture of right relationships. This is the Gospel path to becoming beloved community." |
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Statement on Indigenous boarding schools by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and President of the House of Deputies Gay Clark Jennings
July 12, 2021 Office of Public Affairs
In Genesis, God conferred dignity on all people by creating them in God’s own image–a belief that is shared by all Abrahamic faiths. We are grieved by recent discoveries of mass graves of Indigenous children on the grounds of former boarding schools, where Indigenous children experienced forced removal from their homes, assimilation and abuse. These acts of cultural genocide sought to erase these children’s identities as God’s beloved children.
To continue reading this important statement please click here
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Prepare To Care
A book from Fairview Hospital
This book highlights Fairview Hospital and the experiences of the hospital staff during the pandemic. The staff members reflect on their experiences during that challenging time.
Some noteworthy facts:
- Only 11 staff tested positive for Covid and it was community acquired.
- We never had a transmission from patient to staff or staff to staff/patients.
- We never furloughed or had a reduction in force. We redeployed staff to other needed roles: Greeters, testing, vaccine administration, making face shields.
Click on the link below to read:
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Refuge and Resilience: An LGBTQ+ Retreat
with the Rev. Matt Welsch, Trinity Church Wall Street
Friday, August 6–Sunday, August 8
LGBTQ+ individuals and communities have a long history of carving out spaces of joyous, radical inclusion in the face of oppression. In this retreat, we’ll reflect on the idea of refuge and how we might draw on places of sanctuary to find strength and resilience in our unique, God-given identities.
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MOVIE NITE
Join us for a discussion of
Departures
on September 2, at 6:30 PM
Watch at your leisure then join us on Zoom
To join, or to find out more
To join this Zoom meeting,
(Meeting ID): 370 191 823
(Password): 385337
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THIRD SUNDAY SUPPER
Join us for lively conversation
and fellowship.
On break until Sunday, September 19
when we will meet at 6 PM at Koi Restaurant in
Great Barrington.
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BOOKS AND BREAD
On September 8th, at 6pm
Join us for dinner, fellowship, and a lively discussion. All are welcome!
The book is The Slave by Isaac Bashevis Singer (translated from the Yiddish by the author and Cecil Hemley), published in paperback by Farrar Strauss & Giroux.
Rev. Tina Rathbone will lead our discussion
Our hosts will be the Kirchoffs.
- Participants should contact the Host if they plan to attend but have not signed up at Grace Church (Crissey Farm Welcome Desk)
- If you are a "regular" and are not planning to attend, please let the Host know.
- Discussion begins at 7:45 pm regardless of whether it's a Dinner gathering or an A&D gathering.
- Dinner-Appetizers, wine, soft drinks, main dish, side dishes, dessert, decaf and tea. One main dish serves 8 people.
- The Host is responsible for planning the meal. Participants are encouraged to make offerings in consultation with the Host.
- Please sign up to bring appetizers or dessert items.
Meeting is over promptly at 9:00 pm. For more information email Peter at [email protected]
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GRACE CHURCH
An Episcopal Community in the Southern Berkshires
Mailing:
P.O. Box 114
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Gretchen Fairfield
Office Assistant
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Ms. Annalise Clausen, Director of Farming for Gideon's Garden
413-644-6572
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You can reach the church office by email:
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VESTRY CONTACT INFORMATION |
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Kathy Clausen 413-329-1724
Rick Gore, Jr. 413-441-7036
Sue Gore 413-243-2273
Mary Anne Grammer 413-258-4212
John Cheek 413-446-8863
Dindy Anderson 413-274-3854
Anne Andrews 413-528-2766
Dutch Pinkston 413-274-6565
Cathy Haywood 413-464-6664
Holly Murray 860-977-9198
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Tuesday's Child Editor Monique Kirchoff
Associate Editor Kathy Clausen
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