Grace Episcopal Church
Parish News

For the Weeks of August 16 and 23, 2020 

Sunday, August 16
11th Sunday After Pentecost
             
Morning Prayer Rite I  8 am (Bulletin)  (ZOOM only)
Morning Prayer Rite II 10:30 am (Bulletin) (ZOOM only) 
 
Cases of Covid-19 in our local area have been increasing above the rate of one case per day for fourteen days. 
We know that the number of cases we have on record is an under representation. Not everyone who is infected sees a doctor for COVID-19. Up to 80% of cases may be mild or moderate. Many people never develop symptoms. If someone gets infected and recovers on their own, then public health may never find out about the case. But these people may still be infectious.
 
For these reasons we are limiting in-person worship attendance to those producing the service over three Sundays, August 9, 16, 23.  We invite you to participate in Sunday 8 am and  10:30 am services through ZOOM.  Zoom allows direct face to face communication and remote participation. We will record the Zoom sessions and post them on the the Grace Church Facebook page.
 
Nevertheless, we will continue home communion. If you would like to receive communion at home once a month please let us know at the office. Distribution of home communion will continue to be available once per month even after regathering if you so desire. In most cases we will try to distribute communion on Sunday following one of the two regular Sunday morning services using bread consecrated at the Table. Social distancing and personal hygiene practices have to be observed during home communions. Home communions include passing the peace, the Lord's prayer, reception of the Bread, and a prayer of thanksgiving. In some cases the gospel of the day may be shared and discussed.
 
These devotions invite you to engage in the discipleship practice of Reading, Reflecting, and Responding to Scripture in the context of community.

Each devotion is written for a particular age group pairing, so you can have conversations with everyone, no matter where they're at in life. The Adult and Small Child pairing is designed for preschool students and younger; the Adult and Elementary pairing is for children in elementary (or grade) school; the Adult and Youth pairing is for youth in middle and high school; and the Adult and Adults pairing is for use with young adults and adults.
 
Morning Prayer, Monday -  Friday, 8:30 am 
 
Compline, Monday - Thursday, 8:30 pm  
ZOOM   
If you are interested in leading a night of Compline please let Sharon or Martha know. 
 
Did You Know? 
Did you know that you can pay your pledge or make a donation to Grace Episcopal Church online? Go to www.graceepiscopallexington.org From the list on the top right hand side click on GIVE.   
 
Yard Sale continues on Facebook Marketplace Friday and Saturday to support scholarships for South Sudanese Students!
Check out our Yard Sale on Facebook Marketplace today and tomorrow.
To access the sale go to Marketplace on Facebook, make sure that your settings are set to Lexington, VA and search 'Grace Episcopal Church.' Our listing should appear with that search! Items can be picked up today from 4 to 7 pm and Saturday, 9 to Noon.
Shop early, shop often! Tell your friends! 
 
We are fundraising so that John, Mary and William from Tonj, South Sudan can pursue secondary education in the 2021 academic year (January-December). The goal is $3,500. The Christian Outreach Committee has already given $1,500 to this effort. If you would like to make a cash donation to help complete the goal, you can send a check to Grace Episcopal Church with "South Sudan Students" in the memo line, or make an online donation by selecting "Community Outreach" from the drop down menu on the church website at www.graceepiscopallexington.org/give 
 
In spite of the global pandemic brought on by Covid-19, the students are making excellent progress under the care of their bishop, the Rt. Rev. Peter Yuol Gur. Your donation will give them the opportunity to continue their education for another year. Thank you very much!
 
Questions? Contact MJ Mayerchak by phone (540-460-3138) or email (mjpmmchak@gmail.com).
 
Habitat for Humanity is in need of Volunteers
The Rockbridge Habitat for Humanity needs volunteers to finish several important construction projects.  If you or someone you know is able to dedicate a few hours a week to work with Habitat, please contact Leo Decanini, the person in charge of construction, at  (571) 259-3145 (call or text).     
Fundraiser for The Community Table, Monday, August 17@6  
 
 
 
 
Writers needed for the Rockbridge Memoir Project
Have you been wishing to record your personal or family history? The VMI English Department is extending an invitation to Rockbridge community residents to participate in their annual Rockbridge Memoir Project, offered as a free, 6 week course on Tuesdays, 9:30-10:45AM starting Sept 15.  No experience writing your memoirs required!  Participants will partner with cadet students in live, online classroom setting on Zoom to learn and share memoir craft, culminating in a live podcast of memoir readings. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Stephanie Hodde, Assistant Professor of English at hoddesl@vmi.edu or by phone, 540-460-4225 (cell). 

Masks for Public School Children
Grace Episcopal is joining with the Blue Ridge Masketeers to provide face coverings for the public school children in Lexington City and Rockbridge County Schools.
We are seeking volunteers to help us meet this critical need.
Seamstresses are most welcome however we also need volunteers to:
 -Help prepare mask kits
 -Deliver kits 
- Collect completed masks and        
    deliver them to central collection 
- Offer monetary support to      
    purchase supplies 
We welcome you to join with us in our effort to protect our children when they return to the classroom.
If you are interested in helping please contact Kay Lera.
540-463-3568 
Klera@rockbridge.net  
 
A Message from Rockbridge Christmas Baskets  
With temperatures in the 90's, Christmas may seem far off, but the folks at
Rockbridge Christmas Baskets are already hard at work. This year poses an enormous challenge for this wonderful, community-based organization that has been delivering food and toys to families in need every Christmas for 75 years. They are getting early - but strong - indications that demand for the food and toys they deliver will be UP while the donations they so greatly rely on will be DOWN.

If you are able to give to this worthy organization, you are almost certain to land on Santa's Good List. So click on the link below and help RCB fulfill its mission to ensure that no one in our community goes without during this holiday season.  
http://www.rockbridgechristmasbaskets.org/  
 
Birthdays for the weeks of August 16 and August 23 
Kent Wilson (8/17), Marjorie Connolly (8/20)
Mary Webster (8/27) David Howison (8/30)
 
 
 
 

 Grace Episcopal Church
123 W. Washington Street  Lexington, VA 24450
540.463.4981 office@graceepiscopallexington.org
 
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