This Sunday’s Gospel • Matthew 15:10-28 Jesus called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles...[continue reading]. Lectionary scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible. Virtual worship continues this Sunday, August 16.

Worship Services on YouTube How are you accessing the weekly worship services? Have you subscribed to the GHTC YouTube channel or are you watching on your smartphone or tablet? To stay up-to-date, be sure to like and follow the church on Facebook.

Zoom Coffee Hour this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Be sure to join your GHTC friends through Zoom this Sunday, August 16, for coffee hour at 10:00 a.m. Just click the link below and set a reminder on your calendar…you can worship online before or after, whichever is most convenient for you!

Welcome to Mark Koontz, Our New Assistant Organist! Mark will begin his ministry as Assistant Organist at Grace & Holy Trinity in September. He has spent many years as a church musician, most recently serving as interim music director for Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and Emmanuel Episcopal Church. He has a B.A. and M.A. in Theatre, and majored in church music at Azusa Pacific University in California. He has also maintained an IT career, currently writing software for a major plumbing supply company. Mark and his wife Joyce live in Henrico County, and have three grown sons and a new granddaughter. We look forward to having Mark and Joyce in our church family and to Mark’s musical gifts which will enrich our music ministry!

Regarding Regathering Church services, even when masks and distancing are used, are still proving to be one of the largest vectors for the spread of Covid-19. Following our diocesan guidelines, which aim to protect the most vulnerable among us, Richmond has not yet met the required safety metrics of a sustained two-week reduction in both infections and deaths. Only when our community has experienced those declines will we be able to set a date for regathering for worship or other activities. When it will be possible to regather, strict safety restrictions will require no distribution of Communion and no congregational singing. Your Vestry has reviewed our action plan and it will be submitted to the diocese for approval. Staff continue to work remotely and we will keep you updated through the church website.

Children, Youth, and Family Ministries Update is Live Each month parish families get an update on goings on in Children, Youth, and Family Ministries and you can view August’s here. Check it out for details about the canned food drive being run by parish youth, a forthcoming resource for faith at home in the fall, and more. If you do not receive this update and would like to please let Aaron Davis know.

GHTC Saturday Virtual Summer Music Camp - Guitars and Banjos!! By Saturday morning, you can tune in to YouTube here and join in as Julia Terhune leads little ones in making guitars and banjos. This week's lesson primer: Have you ever heard of a lyre? It is kind of like a harp, but small. It is also one of the instruments that influenced our modern guitars. We can use instruments like this to make lovely music, but sometimes people get carried away and forget some things. Sometimes people forget that everything good (including music!) comes from God and just use it to distract themselves from God’s mission for us to share that good with others. One way we can avoid making this mistake is to use our music to remember God’s love for all people, God’s desire for us to serve others, and to praise God!

Blessing of the Backpacks in August, Details Pending Each year GHTC has a Blessing of the Backpacks as parish kids are sent back to school and we will be having this year’s Blessing before the end of August. This year’s Blessing will happen live and apart from weekly worship to give families and kids the opportunity to see and interact with each other as we ask God’s grace to move in us this educational year. Details are pending as the date and liturgy are being finalized, so be on the lookout for info on when you can participate in this virtual event.

Parish Youth Organizing Canned Food Drive GHTC youth, through the leadership of Luke Thomas, are organizing a canned food drive in support of FeedMore. Donations can be dropped off at any of the locations listed below. Thanks for your help! Dykshorn Family: 125 North 25th Street, Richmond, VA. Turn into alley beside the house. Located inside the back gate.  Alexander Family: 9008 Rio Grande Road, Henrico, VA. Located next to the mailbox. Smithson Family: 3706 Lenox Forest Drive, Midlothian, VA. Located on the front porch. John H. Thomas PC: 536 Granite Avenue, Richmond, VA. Located on the front porch.

Free Bible Library Did you know we have a great new place to give away Bibles? Check it out on Facebook and see the photo of Peter Knecht, the builder (and our Facilities Manager)!

Episcopal Campus Ministry Pivots This year ECM at VCU will look different thanks to COVID-19. If you know a VCU student, encourage them to join the virtual activities; learn more by connecting through social media (Instagram and Facebook) or on our website. VCU classes begin on August 17.

Forward Day-By-Day Do you read this devotional? If so, you can request a copy be mailed to you or access it online. The latest edition begins with readings for August.

Meal Train Grace and Holy Trinity Church member and former ECM leader Gabe Arrington’s partner had surgery. The recovery has been harder than anticipated. If you are able to help they are in need of some additional meals. If you can sign up to bring a meal, donate a gift card, or have a meal delivered sign up here. There are some specific dietary restrictions in this household so be sure to read all the notes etc on the signup. Your love and generosity are greatly appreciated.

Red Door Roadside Continues Every Friday we continue to feed hungry people with nutritious brown bag lunches. Although our volunteer needs have changed, we still need YOU to help us! Can you make masks to donate? Provide hygiene or other needed supplies for our Bishop Bags? Make a plastic mat so someone has a nice dry layer instead of sleeping on damp ground? Contact Kim Reinholz to assist in this ministry.