Many of you know that I taught math for 10 years before going to seminary. I started pre-school at 3 years old and so for 35 years, September was like New Year's for me; it represented a fresh start.
I am sure that it's not how it feel to students and teachers this week. I am sure that there is nothing fresh about this school year. I have been thinking a lot about schools, and about ways we can chaplain them through this time. In particular, I have reached out to the Bentley School to see if there are ways we can just be present to them as part of our partnership.
From teachers I have talked to, I have heard that they have been going through much of the same "reflecting" that the Church has gone through. The pandemic calls us to consider the meaning of education, especially in our culture. What defines something as school? What are the goals of education anyways? How do we make learning equitable? These are issues that are constantly present, and considering them today is unavoidable.
I ask that we all pray deeply and often for public schools in America: for their survival, their accessibility for resources, their commitment to raising up not just leaders, but honest citizens who know how to think critically and seek the facts.
Pray that our schools become models of loving, liberating and life giving institutions. Pray especially for our teachers, who not only commit to their students, but have made sacrifices on behalf of our future as well.
In the Way of Love,
Debbie
This Sunday
This Sunday, we have another of Jesus' parables. We hear of a owner of a vineyard who hires laborers to work in his field and how he pays them their wages.
At 10:00 am, Debbie is preaching and Steve Allen and Caroline Watson-Felt are assisting.Please join us via Zoom or on Facebook Live. Following the service will be some announcements.
At 4:00 pm, Paul Massari is sharing a reflection during Celtic Evensong. Ryan Patten, Eric Wagner, and Debbie Phillips will be playing music from the Celtic and Episcopal traditions. This service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live.
If you would like to offer a 2-3 minute reflection for upcoming services, please email gcis1@verizon.net.
Please join us wherever you are
in your search for meaning.
Everyone is welcome at any and all services at Grace Episcopal Church
Upcoming Service Leaders
September 27:
Tom Gaither, lessons Cynthia Duda, prayers
TBD, Celtic Evensong
October 4:
Brian Fizer, lessons Katie LaBonte, prayers
Paige Nalipinski, Celtic Evensong
October 11:
Andrew Bishop, lessons Luke Tanguay, prayers
Emily Motherwell, Celtic Evensong
Conversations: Systemic Racism
The leadership of Grace Church is committed to facilitating conversation that enables us to consider how racism impedes our growth as individuals,
as a faith community, and as a country. The Vestry will be attending a retreat Monda evening as they prepare to host small, safe, virtual “cottage meetings” that will help us begin to examine this spiritual subject.
You will receive information and invitation to these conversations next week. This is one of the roles of a community of faith, to walk with one another as we strive to fulfill God’s dream. Please step out in faith and join
us as we consider how we can live in a liberated and loving world.
Healthy Initiative
We have 25 members of Grace Church who have committed to our September Fitness Challenge. If you would like to get a list of people to sponsor,
or have questions about this, please email fundraising@gracechurchsalem.org.
Every bit of the money received goes to support the administrative costs
of our partnership with the Bentley School, an elementary school of the Salem Public Schools. We've already bought books for the scholars involved in our summer book clubs and we are getting ready to start a pen pal program. The monies we receive will defray the cost of stationary,
postage and management of the program. The Dean of Student Success is already excited about the success of our partnership and is working with me to plan other fun endeavors.
Many of you have already committed to sponsoring these fitness friends. If you’d like to make a donation to this cause, please send your checks to Grace Church or use our “Donate Now” button on our website. Please make a notation that it is for the fitness challenge
New Bentley Endeavor
What to be a penpal to a fifth grader at the Bentley School? We are organizing
a 6 week program where letters are exchanged weekly. Let Debbie
know by emailing gcis1@verizon.net.
Choir Rehearsal: Join Us!!
Every other Wednesday, the choir is gathering virtually from 7:30 pm to 8:15 pm. During this time, we warm up our voices, do a little vocal training, and then work on an anthem to be recorded and produced by our music
director, Larry Kamp. As we are each muted for the singing, it is a chance to really hear and work on your own voice and part in the music. If you would like to try it out, let Larry know by emailing him a lkamp11030@gmail.com
and he’ll send you the Zoom link. The next rehearsal is Wednesday, 23 September
Blessing of Animals
As part of our service on October 4th, we will have a special prayer and blessing for those animals that bring us such joy. Those of you on Zoom will have a chance to introduce your animals and then Debbie will say a blessing for them and all the creatures that God has put in the world that
bring us much joy and love. We hope you’ll join us at 10:00 on October 4th on Zoom for this service of blessing.
New Weekday Service Schedule
Need a quick pick me up? Why not log into our Facebook page on Monday, and Tuesday mornings at 8:30 am for morning prayers? Evensing services are offered each Wednesday at 5:30 pm and Thursday at 8:00 pm
