Grace Episcopal Church
Parish News
November 22, 2020
The Parish Office will be closed on Thursday and Friday this week
in observance of Thanksgiving.
Worship Services
Because of the increase in COVID cases locally and throughout our region of the Commonwealth, we are suspending in-person worship at Grace through December 6.

Sunday, November 22
Christ The King
Morning Prayer
8 am

Join us on ZOOM at 9:45 for The History of the Labyrinth, part 2
with Joanne Robblee
               
View The History of the Labyrinth,
part 1 HERE

Holy Eucharist II
10:30 am

The Feast of St. Cecilia
premiers on our YouTube channel at
5 pm

Thanksgiving Day
Morning Prayer
10 am ZOOM
On the Calendar

Christian Education for Youth and Students
Sunday, 1 - 2 pm, (ZOOM)

Morning Prayer
Monday - Friday, 8:30 am 
 
Compline
Monday - Thursday, 8:30 pm 
ZOOM   

Exploring a Prayer Discipline Mondays, 10:00   
The Monday morning Exploring a Prayer Discipline group invites you to join them in reading Compassion in Practice by Frank Rogers, Jr.

This group meets for an hour on Monday's at 10 AM by ZOOM 
Bulbs Planted
The YMCA children and Boxerwood Program Educator, Hannah West planted crocus bulbs recently outside the church and Parish Hall. They wanted to show their appreciation and give something back to the church. A great time was had by all and we can look forward to some cheerful flowers in early Spring.

On Saturday, November 7th, five members of Grace planted over 150 bulbs of different kinds of daffodils in the Memorial Garden and along the driveway. Those helping were Claudia Ellis, Catherine Harcus, Chris Howison, Laurent and Elizabeth Boetsch. They should add colorful cheer this coming Spring giving us all omething to look forward to!
Community Pre-Thanksgiving
Worship Service
Tuesday, November 24. 2020 6 pm
First Baptist Church
103 North Main Street

The Rev. Tuck Bowerfind will deliver the Thanksgiving message.
Sunday, December 6
Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of Grace Episcopal Church will take place on Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 9:15 am. he meeting will take place by ZOOM.

The primary business of the meeting will be to elect four Vestry members (Class of 2023) to replace the four retiring Vestry members of the Class of 2020: Gail Dickerson; Don Ellis; Tom Gosse; and Steve Shultis. The Vestry Nominee Slate is comprised of the following parishioners: Carole Elmore, Elizabeth Grist, Kathy Hill, and Rob Minor. 
Music Ministry 
Celebration of The Feast of St. Cecilia, "premieres" 5pm, Sunday, November 22. The program celebrates the patron saint of music and the organ with readings and music by our choir and music scholars. Readings from Dryden, Auden, Pope, Keillor, and more. This program celebrates many years of musical service to the glory of God at Grace. It is a re-presentation with adapted music, of a program offered here in 1993 and imagined by then music director, the beloved George Roth. With love for all of the music offered, and in gratitude for the existing organ before we bid it farewell in January. The celebration is virtual and will remain on our YouTube channel.

Choir will not meet on Thursday, Nov. 26.

Advent Lessons and Carols will be presented as a virtual daily devotional beginning December 13 and continuing through December 23. Details to come.

Faithfully, Martha

"If in your heart you make a manger for his birth, then God will once again become a child on earth." ~Angelus Silesius
Wanted: Volunteers with rakes, leaf blowers, brooms for Grace’s Annual November Clean Up! 
We will meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 21st, to clear away leaves from the church, parish hall, and labyrinth. This outdoor activity can be done safely distanced, and your Property Committee would love your participation. 
 
We hope to see you there!
Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and
call upon his Name. Psalm 100:3
Lanford Mission Emergency Fund
The Lanford Mission Emergency Fund (MEF) has been a Grace ministry for 36 years assisting residents of Rockbridge County who seek emergency financial support to meet rent, utility, food, medical, or temporary housing expenses. Partial funding for the MEF comes from Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas offerings; designated pledges; and individual gifts.

The COVID-19 crisis has significantly impacted MEF funds. There were an average of 10 monthly requests from  March through October. In the first week of November, we received 9 requests alone for rental assistance. The requests are coming from individuals/couples who have had work hours cut or total job loses; families who cannot afford child care and one parent must stay home with children; older individuals who have lost a spouse and have had unexpected funeral expenses. The requests continue to come to us through RARA (Rockbridge Area Relief Association) which does the vetting to verify need; we continue to share costs with RARA, Lexington Presbyterian, and St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday and reflect on all of the blessings and gifts in our lives, please consider a donation to the Lanford Mission Emergency Fund to assist those who have been affected disproportionately during this pandemic. A donation to the MEF can be made on Grace Episcopal Church’s website (www.graceepiscopallexington.org) or in the form of a check made out to Grace Episcopal Church with “Lanford MEF” noted on the memo line. The Christian Outreach Committee sincerely thanks you for your continued, generous support of this long-time Grace Episcopal ministry!
Angel Tree Ministry is Virtual this Year!
Children in our community are counting on us to make Angel Tree® possible! Will you help connect children with their incarcerated parents and show them the love of Christ? It starts with a simple Christmas gift. Go to https://bit.ly/VATLexVA enter the Code US54C and get started!
 
Angel Tree is virtual this year! Grace Episcopal Church chose to sponsor 50 local children! Simply go to our Grace Angel Tree site https://bit.ly/VATLexVA enter the Code US54C and select the child/children you would like to sponsor. A Wal-Mart gift card in the
amount of $42.00 will be sent to each individual child. You may choose
one child or multiple children.
      
Once you select a child, if they have siblings, you will be asked if you would like to sponsor their siblings. This is not required. If you choose to do so, all siblings will be in your “check out cart.”
You can reduce the number of children once you proceed to your check out cart.
       
You will also be given the option to sponsor the caregiver and have a gift card sent to them. This is not required. You may pay by credit, debit and ACH.
       
Note: In addition to showing the love of Jesus, your gift is tax deductible this year! You will receive a donation receipt upon virtual checkout.       

If you do not want to participate online, contact MJ Mayerchak at 540-463-9457 or mjpmmchak@gmail.com and she will coordinate with you.
      
Deadline ? Sponsor your child(ren) by December 10!
       
Questions ? Contact Melissa Cox at coxm@wlu.edu or 540.319.1986 or
Tammi Hellwig at 336.601.8901 (text or call).

Thank you Grace Episcopal parishioners for your participation in this loving and important ministry!
The Community Closet Needs Volunteers!
The Community Closet at Christ Episcopal Church in Buena Vista has reopened and is in need of volunteers. The Closet provides clothing and household items, at no charge, to families in need.  
 
Volunteers are needed in two capacities. On days when the Closet is open, the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, volunteers help greet customers and assist them in finding items. At other times, to be arranged, volunteers are needed to help put away donations and assure that the Closet is ready for the public.  If you are able to volunteer, please contact Susie Trimble at susietrimble@rockbridge.net.  
Stewardship Campaign Progress Report
As of November 19, the 2021 Stewardship Campaign has received pledges from 120 households who have pledged a total of $475,409. Last year’s campaign benefited from the support of 134 households. Parishioners continue to support Grace and the Campaign. We are grateful for the support of members of our parish and for everything their financial support means to Grace’s spiritual life, missions, and impact on the community – nearby and across the world. The Stewardship Committee will continue its work through December. We are now less than $29,000 away from last year’s stewardship total.

Gratefully,
Your Stewardship Committee: Dennis Cross (Chair), Susan Cross, Carol Dent,
Gail Dickerson, David Hansen, John Milford, Rob Minor
November Birthdays
Bettie Cadden (11/1)
Margaret Branner (11/1)
Peggy Riethmiller (11/4)
Pam Adams (11/7)
Owen Gertz (11/7)
Evan Atkins (11/8)
Grace Simcoe (11/8)
Doug Ayer (11/13)
Julie Grover (11/13)
Jim Farrar ( 11/13)
Tim Price (11/15)
René Glidden (11/15)
Amy Holston (11/15)
France Harcus (11/18)
Steven Lawrence (11/19)


Hank Humphreys (11/19)
Tim Gaylard (11/21)
Ryan Holston (11/21)
Liam Murphy (11/21)
Kristi Finnell (11/23)
Bill Kozak (11/23)
Becca Russell (11/24)
Jack Hershbell (11/27)
Anne Blanken (11/27)
Avery Hess (11/27)
Robert Glidden (11/29)
Harry Warner (11/30)
Brant Hellwig (11/30)
Visit Grace's Google Calendar for events and ZOOM link information!
Grace Episcopal Church
Walking the Way of Love www.graceepiscopallexington.org