Parish News For the week of November 21, 2021

November 21 Vestry Forum

Parish Hall, 9:15

Why do we have Vestry? How is our Vestry organized? What does a Vestry do? Come Sunday at 9:15 and learn about all things Vestry and meet Matt Fogo, Pat Gibson, Rissie Murphy and Joanne Robblee, candidates for the Vestry Class of 2025. Candidate biographies are below.

Organ Recital - Sunday, November 21  4 pm

William McCorkle will open our recital series on Casavant Opus 3941 this Sunday at 4 pm. McCorkle has chosen a program to showcase the varied stops and sound colors of the new Casavant instrument. He will perform works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Louis Marchand, César Franck, Charles Villiers Stanford, and others, including several compositions based on the familiar hymn Nun danket alle Gott (Now thank we all our God). 

Community Thanksgiving Service, Sunday, November 21, 6 pm

Trinity United Methodist will be hosting a Community Thanksgiving Worship at Trinity UMC (147 South Main Street, Lexington) on Sunday, November 21  at 6:00 pm.

Fall 2021 UTO Ingathering

Sunday, November 21

Grace is holding their ingathering for the UTO this Sunday, November 21. Before the ingathering count your offerings, deposit them, and write a check payable to Grace Episcopal Church with “UTO” on the memo line. Use a UTO envelope provided at church for the offering, either check or, if yours is in cash, provide your name, send a check to Grace Episcopal Church, 123 Washington St., Lexington, VA 24450, with UTO on the memo line OR you may donate online on our website. 

Congregants at Grace have been celebrating their blessings with UTO since 1938! Please consider continuing the tradition of the “little blue box”. Drop a coin in the box each day to give thanks to God for your blessings and to show your gratitude. What a wonderful activity to do personally and as a family. It is never too late to start! (If you need a blue box, there will be some out in the parish hall or please contact Lisa.)

UTO distributes 100% of the intake to support missions and ministries in the Episcopal Church and Provinces of the Anglican Communion. (Our own Grace church has been a beneficiary of grants from the UTO.)

Acolytes, Chalice Ministers, Greeters, Readers, and Ushers Needed!

Please contact Lisa (lisa@graceepiscopallexington.org) or Sharon (sharon@graceepiscopallexington.org) if you are able to acolyte, chalice, greet, read or usher once or twice a month. The pay is low but the benefits are everlasting!

Lanford Mission Emergency Fund

Thanksgiving 2021

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 (LMEF) to assist those who have been affected disproportionately during this pandemic. Through mid-November, the LMEF has assisted 121 families/individuals in Rockbridge County who seek emergency financial support to meet rent, utility, food, medical, or temporary housing expenses. The pandemic continues to impact the most vulnerable of our citizens: 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 Grace through RARA (Rockbridge Area Relief Association) which does the vetting to verify need; Grace continues to share costs with RARA, Lexington Presbyterian, and St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church.

Partial funding for the LMEF comes from Grace’s Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas offerings; and individual gifts. A donation to the LMEF can be made through your Thanksgiving offering in the form of a check made out to Grace Episcopal Church with “Lanford MEF” noted on the memo line as well as on Grace Episcopal Church’s website (www.graceepiscopallexington.org). The Christian Outreach Committee sincerely thanks each of you for your continued, generous support of this long-time Grace Episcopal ministry!

101 parish households have pledged $428,114 to the Every Perfect Gift Stewardship Campaign towards a goal of $550,000

The amount pledged increased $10,400 this week. Last year, 132 households supported the Stewardship Campaign by the beginning of the new calendar year. Since the parish normally receives pledges through December, the Stewardship Committee will begin following up with parishioners who have not yet pledged. We appreciate your prayerful consideration.

We are thankful to parishioners for their unwavering commitment and support of Grace Episcopal Church

Members of the Stewardship Committee – Dennis Cross, Susan Cross, Carol Dent, Carole Elmore, Dave Hansen, Rob Minor, John Milford

Grace Choir Music Scholars

Grace Episcopal is blessed by the presence of our Southern Virginia University and Washington and Lee Musicians. Pictured here are SVU students: Jonathan Clawson, Eliza Stucki, Emma Vasquez, Christopher Vasquez and W&L students: Demmanuel Gonzalez, Annie Thomas, Michael McLaughlin, Adele Roulston, Josh Lewis, and Dolph Maxwell.

Come, let us sing to the LORD;

    let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Psalm 95:1

Angel Tree is Virtual this Year!

Grace Episcopal Church has chosen to sponsor 50 children. Will you help connect children with their incarcerated parents and show them the love of Christ? It starts with a simple Christmas gift.

• Simply go to our Grace Angel Tree site Go to https://vat.angeltreetool.org/36a442c0-5bf0-4a89-8377-88f9557356e1 enter the Code LTJO0 and select the child/children you would like to sponsor.
• A Wal-Mart gift card in the amount of $25.00 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.
• Questions? Contact Jeanne Passmore at 828-387-6520 (text or call), Melissa Cox at 540-319-1986 (text or call) or MJ Mayerchak.

Thank you for sharing in this important and loving ministry.

Candidates for the Vestry Class of 2024

This year's Vestry Nominating Committee Punky Dod, Liz Moss, Judy Schram and Cecile West-Settle is pleased to present this slate of candidates for the

2020 election of new Vestry members.

Matt Fogo

I am honored to be under consideration to serve as a member of the vestry for Grace Episcopal. My family have been parishioners of Grace for nearly forty-five years. While I was away from Lexington for many years (college, career, etc.), I always considered Grace “my church”. I also feel I have a special relationship with Grace as I and my husband, Kevin, were the first same-sex couple to be married within Grace, and for that we are forever grateful. Kevin and I live a mile out of town with our two dogs, Conrad, and Frederick. We enjoy time with family, friends, time at our home on Cape Cod, travel, and supporting charities we are passionate about. Kevin has worked at the Veterans Administration for nearly 30 years and has a doctorate in Physical Therapy. I work in the technology industry where I run Sales and Marketing for a Private Equity firm headquartered in Chicago and Northern Virginia and have a master’s degree from The George Washington University in Federal Government Contracting. I would be thrilled and honored to be member of the vestry at Grace Episcopal church. 

Pat Gibson

I am so pleased to be asked to serve on the Vestry of Grace Episcopal Church. From the moment Keith and I walked through the great front doors we knew immediately we had found someplace special. That was almost 30 years ago and it was one of the best decisions we have made. At that time we were both divorced and had three children ages 6-12 between us. All five of us were welcomed, and there were classes and activities for all. Our marriage was celebrated and supported; we had found our church home.

Keith and I have made it a point to always serve Grace Church in any way we can to support the various missions vital to the parish. I feel my serving on the vestry at this time is the best way I can support our church at this time.

A little about me - I was born in Baltimore, spent most of my time on a horse, and when I wasn't riding, I was sailing at Wrightsville Beach NC. I came to Southern Sem at the recommendation of my riding coach and loved every minute of it. I didn't meet Keith at that time. I married and had two children, continued my education, and moved often. My music education at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore gave me many opportunities, but my children came first. I returned to the finest place I had ever lived to raise my children and I met Keith when we both worked at VMI and the time was right. Thanks be to God.

Rissie Murphy

I grew up in a small town in southern West Virginia. I moved to Lexington in 2005, where I met my husband, Nick Murphy. We will be celebrating 14 years of marriage this coming year. We have three handsome boys, Colin (12), Jasper (7), and Liam (3), whom we are very proud of. The boys keep us running most days with their various activities – most recently soccer for Colin. In our spare time, our family enjoys exploring the outdoors and cooking and trying new foods together. 

After attending other area churches, our family began calling Grace Episcopal Church “home” in 2015. All three of our sons were baptized at Grace. Colin, our oldest son enjoys learning ukulele with Martha and Judy, and Jasper, our middle son enjoys Godly Play with Sharon. 

Without God leading me through many troubled times in my youth, I know I would not be where I am today. I have a calling to help others and I am eager to give back as I am able.

I work at Washington and Lee University as an executive assistant to the Dean of the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics. Prior to working at Washington and Lee, I worked for Wayne Heslep as a paralegal and Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. and its real estate subsidiary, Fifth Point Properties, LLC, as Operations Coordinator.

Joanne Hicks Robblee

Paul and I moved to Lexington six years ago from Marietta, Georgia. During our twenty-five years living in Georgia, we were members of St. James Episcopal Church.

Since arriving in Lexington and joining Grace Church, I served as Clerk on the Vestry and am currently chair of the Worship Committee, serve on the Christian Education Committee, the Altar Guild, the ACTS ministry. I also volunteer as a lay reader, usher, and help with receptions following funeral services of church members.

I have also taught classes on the Parables, Prayer, the Jesus Seminar, the Sistine Chapel, Seven Last words of Christ, and Labyrinths for the Christianity and Culture series. I recently completed the 4-year program of Education for Ministry and participated in the on-line class on Pastoral Care.

My career was spent in education beginning as a third grade teacher at Enderly Heights in Buena Vista, while Paul, my husband, attended Washington and Lee Law School. Later, I earned my Master’s and Educational Specialist degrees in counseling and administration and worked as a school counselor and elementary school principal prior to retiring in 2012.

After six years at Grace, I realize that this is a strong, caring community with a rich history of outreach in the community. With the arrival of our new Rector, I am excited and hopeful about taking a leadership role during this critical and dynamic time. 

Ky's Kitchen Pop-Up at Grace

Hello, my name is Kyler Hill and I joined the Walked Program to start my own business. I’m opening a Soul Food food truck called Ky’s Kitchen. Currently there is no truck and this is all still in the works, however, I am doing pop ups in the Grace Episcopal Church via preorders only to make it easier on myself and family members. Dates of when the pop ups are and what’s on the menu can be found on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kylerskitchen Please come and enjoy the wonderful food!!

Celebration of the Life of Mary Craighill

Saturday, November 27 2 pm

St. Columba's Episcopal Church

Washington, DC

Join virtually https://bit.ly/mrcmemorial

Happy Birthday

Margaret Branner (11/1), Bettie Cadden (11/1), Peggy Riethmiller (11/4), Pam Adams (11/7), Owen Gertz (11/7), Melanie Griffis-Hooper (11/7), Evan Atkins (11/8), Grace Simcoe (11/8), Richard Jones (11/10), Brooks McCabe (11/11), Doug Ayer (11/13), Julie Grover (11/13), Jim Farrar (11/14), Tim Price (11/15), René Glidden (11/15), Amy Holston (11/15), Samson Mamour (11/15), Sis Harcus (11/18), Hank Humphries (11/19), Steve Lawrence (11/19), Tim Gaylard (11/21) Ryan Holston (11/21), Liam Murphy (11/21), Will McClung (11/22), Jeanette McKeever (11/22), Bill Kozak (11/23), Kristi Finnell (11/23), Michael McCabe (11/26), Jack Hershbell (11/27), Anne Blanken (11/27), Avery Hess (11/27), Bob Glidden (11/29), Henry Warner (11/30), Brant Hellwig (11/30)