WORSHIP SECTION
Step into Grace 
Where strangers become friends 

We are an Open and Affirming church. Every one of every age, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental ability, or economic status is invited to join us as together we live out the Gospel message of love, forgiveness, service, and justice. No matter where you are in your spiritual journey- you are welcome here.
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Holy Eucharist
August 22
10:00 AM

All Sunday services in August
will be at Crissey Farm, both
in-person and live-streamed.
Please visit our website: 
for up-to-date information and a link to the digital service booklet.

Celebrant and Officiant:
The Rev. Tina Rathbone

Welcome Team... S. Brooke/S. Sieber
Lector...............R. Forman
Intercessor...... Ellis & John Ericson,
Jainee McCarroll
Altar Guild...... Layton/Haywood
Coffee Hour.....A.White/M. Doelman
Counters......... I. Booton/M. Layton


ZOOM INVITATIONS 
FOR GRACE CHURCH


Thirteenth Sunday
After Pentecost
Holy Eucharist
August 22
10:00 AM
in person and on ZOOM
For Zoom
or call 646 558 8656 US
(New York)
(Meeting ID): 177 160 858
(Password): 917937


Centering Prayer
Thursdays 5:00 PM
This is a recurring meeting.
To join this Zoom meeting,
(Meeting ID): 203 314 800
(Password): 578877
646 558 8656 US (New York)


Third Sunday Supper 
(Every Third Sunday)
On break until September 19.
at 6:00 PM
This is a recurring meeting.
To join this Zoom meeting
(Meeting ID): 778 608 743
(Password): 729107
646 558 8656 US (New York)


Books and Bread,
Wednesday, at 6 pm
On break until September 8, at 6pm.


Movie Nite
On break until September 2.
To join this Zoom meeting,
(Meeting ID): 370 191 823
(Password): 385337
or call 646 558 8656 US
(New York)
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
John 6:56-69

Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”

Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above
arr. Samuel Metzger

For the most up to date
information:
please visit the
Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative website, 
They will post notice of appointment openings 6-12 hours in advance. You can find answers to your vaccination questions including information about the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine on their FAQ page.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW RECTOR
On Sunday, August 1 we welcomed the Rev. Tina Rathbone, Grace’s third rector. As she said in her sermon it has seemed like a long wait and well worth all the anticipation. It was also a Sunday where we saw even more members returning to Crissey Farm after this strange Covid time. Each week it seems we see more returning, familiar faces. Even Tom and Paula Doyle popped in as they are visiting the Berkshires briefly this summer. 

The celebratory fellowship time included an ice cream cake, which you see Tina cutting in this photo. Tina got to meet her new family and we all got to begin the next chapter of Grace’s work being church in this time and place. 
A Message From Tina

We’ve been hearing a lot about the Bread of Life in our Gospel readings this month. Four readings in a row come from the same chapter of John (Chapter 6) through which Jesus tries to explain what he means by this phrase, ‘Bread of Life.” Perhaps his followers were so interested because he had just multiplied the two small loaves and five fishes by enough order of magnitude to feed 5,000 people, but whatever the case, Jesus spends a huge amount of time trying to get across the idea that the bread he offers is not regular food ‘that perishes’, but nutrition ‘that endures for eternal life…and gives life to the world.’

We gather each Sunday to bless and break and share this Bread of Life with each other, and the Eucharist nourishes many of us in ways too deep for words. But the Eucharist is not the only way I either find, or feed on, the truth of God’s love, week to week. Walking in the green of the Berkshire hills, and swimming in the soft, gold-green water of the ponds both feed me in ways that feel eternal. Also being with others in honesty and love; laughter; (sometimes) tears; certain books, music, and silence.

Last week, a member of our Centering Prayer group said that the silence we share together there was “nutritious” and the rest of us nodded in shared acknowledgement. For some of us, silence is food, as essential as breath, or space, or light, or even the Holy Eucharist week after week. For others, though, it may be something quite different. God expresses God’s self in an infinite variety of ways both within, and outside of, the church. Where do you most reliably encounter the peace and joy and life of God in your own day-to-day life? And how can you find a way to do more of whatever that is?
In this photo Chris conducts the Grace choir for the last time.

At the end of the August 8th service, Chris joined the congregation for a special coffee hour in his honor.
PRAYERS AND CARES
We supply this list so you may contact members of our congregation who are at home or in a nursing facility. Please hold in your prayers and reach out as you can.

ANDREWS, Anne
659 South Egremont Road 
P.O. Box 714 
Great Barrington, MA 01230 
(413) 528-2766

BLAKELY, Rosemarie           
21 Crossway, #108
Lee MA 01238
413-243-0485

BOWENS, Marina             
c/o Maryella Satinover    
11908 Windward Ave.
Mar Vista, CA 90066
310-398-2484
(310) 749-9424 (cell)
 
BREASTED, John        
Fairview Commons       
151 Christian Hill Road
Great Barrington MA 01230
johnbreasted@gmail.com
 413-429-8123
Cell (413) 854-3977

BROOKS, Jane        
165 George Street
Lee MA 01230
413-243-3367

FRYE, Vonnie          
PineHill Assisted Living
at Kimball Farms
235 Walker St. Apt #32
Lenox, Ma. 01240
413-637-7432

GORE, Barbara        
50 Stockbridge Road
Lee MA 01238
413-243-4261

HAIDER, Meredith       
5 Fox Hollow Road
#409            
Lenox, MA 01240                                 
merbraver@aol.com
413-551-7319
(814)308-4865    

KEENE, Sara           
The Egremont Village Inn
17 Main Street
P. O. Box 275
South Egremont, MA 01258
sararkeene@gmail.com
413-528-4152

McCURDY, Deborah
Skilled Nursing Center
Loomis Lakeside at Reed's Landing
807 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01109
413-507-2832

TURNER, Barbara     
Fairview Commons
151 Christian Hill Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230 
WE ARE RESUMING FLOWER DEDICATIONS !
There will be a sign up form at Sunday service.
Grace parishioners, Tom and Paula Doyle,
recently relocated to South Carolina. While they occasionally plan to rejoin us here in the Berkshires, they invite us to stay in touch. Their new address, 40 minutes from Savannah, GA airport, is:
21 Newberry Court
Bluffton, SC 29910
Goodbye to Gretchen Fairfield, Office Administrator
Last week we said goodbye to our amazing Office Administrator, Gretchen Fairfield. Gretchen has taken a job with The United Way. Gretchen began at Grace just a couple of months before the onset of the pandemic in the winter of 2020. Immediately we recognized her talent and creativity. As we had to quickly adjust to the reality of how Covid was changing our worship and communications, Gretchen adapted and innovated. She produced all those wonderful slide shows which provided our Morning Worship service scripts including music. No matter what we asked of Gretchen she was able to figure out how to do and then get it done. She has been a kind and friendly member of the team and we shall miss her so much. We wish her the very best in her new position.
If you would like to receive healing prayers please contact:

The Rev. Ted Cobden 413-528-2247
Pennie Curry        413-429-7093
Sue Gore           413-243-2273
PRAYERS REQUESTED

Praying for each other and for the needs of the world is a vital mission of Grace Church. To add a prayer request to this list, please contact the Church Office 
office@graceberkshires.org or by phone 413-644-0022.
GRACE
CHURCH 

Please include
in your daily prayers this week:
 
Members of the Parish Family:
Doreen Hutchinson, Anne Andrews, Pennie Curry, Mark Anderson, Stacey, Claire and Mark Thomas, Meredith Haider, Linda White, Rosemarie Blakely, Marina Bowens, John Breasted, Jane Brooks, Vonnie Frye, Barbara Gore, Sara Keene, Barbara Turner.

Others we love:
Karen LaRocque friend of Sue Gore; Rosalind Haywood, Sue Gore's mother; Deborah McCurdy.

Those who have died:
Thomas J. Fisher, father of The Rt. Rev. Douglas Fisher; Alan Sparks, brother of Debbie Holmes; Ruth Crawford; Emily Trespas, friend of Jainee McCarroll and John Ericson; John Grammer, husband of Mary Anne; Elinor Hamill; Neil Brandt, brother of Linda White; John Turner, husband of Barbara Turner; Leslie Albert, friend of Margaret Layton and Sarah Sieber; Kathy Happ, sister of Doug and Gary Happ; Locke Larkin, brother-in-law of Maureen Terry; Charles Olegar.

Our world: For all victims of violence; for those who suffer from the COVID-19 virus; for those who have died from this virus and those who mourn; for those who provide care and comfort in this pandemic; for all who suffer from the loss of jobs and income in this time; for all who are anxious about their future and our world; for all who offer time and treasure to support those who need to know love; for all who are alone and all who reach out to care.
 
The many ministries of our local community and the Diocese of Western Massachusetts:
especially for our partners at St. Paul's, Stockbridge and the Rev. Sam Smith and the Rev. Jane Tillman; Christ Trinity, Sheffield and the Rev. Erik Karas; our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher; and the Mampong Babies' Home in Ghana; Holy Trinity, Southbridge; Bishop's Executive Assistant, Lainey Hurlbut; Ministry of the Armed Forces Chaplains; Episcopal Disability Network.

The Church's wider mission: The Anglican Church of South America.

And we offer thanks: for all those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries this week: John Cheek, 8/17; Hugh and Pat Pecon, 8/22.
Join us for
Centering Prayer ONLINE
every Thursday
5:00 - 6:00

Encouraging a practice of silence and stillness we focus on practices of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina using scripture, art and music. All are welcome.

To join this Zoom meeting
Meeting ID: 203 314 800
Password: 578877
Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
 
To find your local number: Click here  
Announcement from the Communications Office
NEW Compline link for Summer 2021

MONDAY @ 8 PM EST: The Very Rev. Jim Munroe
TUESDAY @ 8 PM EST: The Rt. Rev. Mark M. Beckwith
WEDNESDAY @ 8 PM EST: The Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher

Diocesan Compline service will continue in June, July and August with new access information. Same days, same time, same people - NEW link beginning May 31st. Please share this with your congregations, but please do not post the meeting ID or passcode on social media.

Join Zoom Compline
Meeting ID: 889 8799 4498
Passcode: Bishop
Dial by your location
 +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 889 8799 4498
Passcode: 795560
Applications Open for Loving the Questions

God has planted within each of our hearts a way of being and seeing the world that only we can bring. When we offer the fullness of who we are, we give this world an irreplaceable and priceless gift: our very selves. How do I offer the fullness of who I am? How do I live my best life? What form does this take? These are the questions, we seek to wrestle out in Loving the Questions

Loving the Questions is a discernment space that honors the Spirit’s call to both lay and ordained individuals, and aims to enable you to:
• Know and understand your unique giftedness
• Understand what God is calling you to do
• Identify the tools you will need for your ministry; and
• Develop a plan of formation for ministry

Loving the Questions will be held online via Zoom from 6:30-9:00 pm.
Sept 17-18th Opening Retreat (Friday-Saturday overnight.

Applications due no later than September 1, 2021.
Click Here for more information and for the program application.
Program Fee: $250
We encourage participants to split the cost of the program with their parish. 

If you have questions, please contact: The Rev. Jennifer Gregg revjgregg@gmail.com or Craig Hammond seedee8ch@gmail.com 

WHAT ARE YOU
GRATEFUL FOR?
In this time of fear and anxiety, it can be easy to miss the daily blessings that are right in front of us. Being grateful is not just for good times. Being grateful is even more important when fear sets a place at your table and heartbreak seems to be in your every breath. Because by being grateful we become aware of all the ways God is working in us. Being grateful is a part of our healing and our deliverance. Being grateful is where our best selves reside.
I WANT TO HELP
GIDEON'S GARDEN
This week has been very busy over at Gideon's Garden. The field is still producing broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, lettuce, squash, romanesco cauliflower, kale and swiss chard. Our sweet peppers and hot peppers are starting to come in strong and we are delivering almost every day to different pantries.

Thank you so much for your support right now. Jim Wade, Jainee and Ellis Carol and Fisher Riiska have stepped up to help out this week, and we are so grateful.

Annalise did break a bone in her ankle on Monday, July 9th during work. She is not in pain and will be in the garden as much as possible through the rest of the season. We are taking this day by day, and again thank you for your prayers.

Open volunteer days: Monday, Thursday and Friday 9am - 12pm
Or text 413-644-6572

SAVE THE DATE !
Friday, August 20th
from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
the children from Multicultural Bridge will be planting, then eating ice cream at Gideon's Garden. Join in, all are welcome!

Welcome to the Bloomin' 4 Good Program!
A Brand New Program to Benefit Lee Food Pantry
Let's Fight Hunger Together. One Bouquet at a Time.
We are thrilled to announce the Bloomin' 4 Good Program, a brand new program from Stop & Shop that works to fight hunger in our local communities. In this program, every $9.99 Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquet sold sends a $1 donation to a hunger organization local to the store in which it was purchased. 
SHINE YOUR LIGHT
 
Thank you for giving generously to support the ministry of Grace.  You may continue to mail your contributions to Grace Church, P.O. Box 114, Great Barrington, MA 01230. As we begin to gather in person, you may bring your contribution to our services on Sunday, once again.
CHANGE THE BABIES
It costs about $1500 a year to support a baby. The Diocese's goal is for one congregation 
to support one child for a year.  
To donate to support babies at the Mampong Babies Home in Ghana please send a check to Grace Church, PO Box 114, Great Barrington, MA 01230.

LEARNING AND DISCOVERY
Becoming Beloved Community
Muh-he-con-ne-ok: The People of the Waters
That Are Never Still,”
curated by Heather Bruegl, director of cultural affairs for the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians, is on display through Jan. 9, 2022.
Click here for article in Berkshire Eagle.
Grace Church worships on the traditional land
of the Mohican people.
[Episcopal News Service] As the song known as the “Black national anthem” achieves wider recognition in the United States, its significance is also being celebrated in The Episcopal Church. “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” sung by generations of African Americans as a tribute to their struggles and triumphs, was introduced to white American Christians by Episcopalians and Lutherans 40 years ago, and a congressional bill endorsed by The Episcopal Church now proposes designating it as the U.S. national hymn.
James Weldon Johnson, author, lived and wrote in his Alford, MA, home during the late 1920's and 1930's

Prepare To Care
A book from Fairview Hospital


This book highlights Fairview Hospital and the experiences of the hospital staff during the pandemic. The staff members reflect on their experiences during that challenging time.

Some noteworthy facts:
  • Only 11 staff tested positive for Covid and it was community acquired.
  • We never had a transmission from patient to staff or staff to staff/patients.
  • We never furloughed or had a reduction in force. We redeployed staff to other needed roles: Greeters, testing, vaccine administration, making face shields.

Click on the link below to read:
I WANT SOME FRIENDS
MOVIE NITE
Join us for a discussion of
Departures

on September 2, at 6:30 PM
Watch at your leisure then join us on Zoom
To join, or to find out more
To join this Zoom meeting,
(Meeting ID): 370 191 823
(Password): 385337
THIRD SUNDAY SUPPER
Join us for lively conversation
and fellowship.
On break until Sunday, September 19
when we will meet at 6 PM at Koi Restaurant in
Great Barrington.
Separate checks/All are welcome

BOOKS AND BREAD
On September 8th, at 6pm
Join us for dinner, fellowship, and a lively discussion. All are welcome!

The book is The Slave by Isaac Bashevis Singer (translated from the Yiddish by the author and Cecil Hemley), published in paperback by Farrar Strauss & Giroux.

Rev. Tina Rathbone will lead our discussion
Our hosts will be the Kirchoffs.


  • Participants should contact the Host if they plan to attend but have not signed up at Grace Church (Crissey Farm Welcome Desk)
  • If you are a "regular" and are not planning to attend, please let the Host know.
  • Discussion begins at 7:45 pm regardless of whether it's a Dinner gathering or an A&D gathering.    
  • Dinner-Appetizers, wine, soft drinks, main dish, side dishes, dessert, decaf and tea. One main dish serves 8 people.
  • The Host is responsible for planning the meal. Participants are encouraged to make offerings in consultation with the Host. 
  • Please sign up to bring appetizers or dessert items. 

Meeting is over promptly at 9:00 pm. For more information email Peter at PetetheK@yahoo.com
The Rev. Tina Rathbone



GRACE CHURCH
An Episcopal Community in the Southern Berkshires
Mailing:
P.O. Box 114  
Great Barrington, MA 01230
 

Ms. Annalise Clausen, Director of Farming for Gideon's Garden
413-644-6572
You can reach the church office by email: 
office@graceberkshires.org and by phone 413-644-0022.
VESTRY CONTACT INFORMATION
Kathy Clausen 413-329-1724
Rick Gore, Jr. 413-441-7036
Sue Gore 413-243-2273
Mary Anne Grammer 413-258-4212
John Cheek 413-446-8863
Dindy Anderson 413-274-3854
Anne Andrews 413-528-2766
Dutch Pinkston 413-274-6565
Cathy Haywood 413-464-6664
Holly Murray 860-977-9198





Tuesday's Child Editor Monique Kirchoff 
Associate Editor Kathy Clausen
Please send comments by emailing tuesdayschild@graceberkshires.org