A Message from The Rev. Tina Rathbone

Gideon's Garden Interns Fall Retreat - Camp Hi Rock

I must have looked at this photo 100 times since it was taken, this past Saturday night.  The Gideon’s Garden interns, Annalise, Joel, Laura and I were all crammed into a cabin at Camp Hi Rock after an evening together spent hiking, cooking on the fire, star gazing and eating s’mores.  Now we were playing a game together that the young man in the photo had been wanting to play for months and he was so happy about it – so deeply joyous – that the rest of us couldn’t help but catch his mood. As I took the photo, I half remembered a quote from Mary Oliver about what I felt certain was just exactly this kind of moment, and when I got home, I looked it up and found it.  Here it is – a gentle reminder about the sometimes tiny but always powerful truth of joy.  We need it now more than ever of course – so let’s keep awake to it as often as we can, in as many places as we can.  It will feed us like good food if we do. And it will help us feed others too. 

                                                Don’t Hesitate -- Mary Oliver

If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,

don't hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty

of lives and whole towns destroyed or about

to be. We are not wise, and not very often

kind. And much can never be redeemed.

Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this

is its way of fighting back, that sometimes

something happens better than all the riches

or power in the world. It could be anything,

but very likely you notice it in the instant

when love begins. Anyway, that's often the

case. Anyway, whatever it is, don't be afraid

of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.

Please come join us for this six week

Bible Study

on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM on Zoom. 

Led by The Revs. Bob Pohl and Tina Rathbone.

All are welcome!

What's new at the Garden? While we have less and less to harvest everyday, we have plenty to get done before winter. This last week we finally finished clearing the field of plastic, stakes, and plant debris (soon to be compost) so while we don't have anything in the field, that doesn't mean we're finished with pantry deliveries! Through Berkshire Bounty, Taft, and other farms, we're able to continue delivering gleaned produce to all of our pantries.

We also have also renovated our chicken house into a state-of-the-art coop that frees up some much needed storage space and that will make the chickens more comfortable during the winter months.

Last but most exciting, we have our new propagation house funded by a grant Annalise 

Monday 9-12 PM

Wednesdays 9-12 PM and 3-5 PM 

Come on over and volunteer or visit! (J. Jorgensen)

The People's Pantry

If anyone wants to volunteer at the People’s Pantry, there are shifts on Mondays from 3:30PM to 5:30PM, Thursdays from 8:30AM to 10:30AM and Thursdays 10:30AM to 12:30PM. Here’s the link:

https://www.thepeoplespantrygb.org/volunteer

It costs about $1,500 to support a baby over the time needed for the child to grow old enough to return to their home. Many years ago we at Grace decided to support babies at the Mampong Babies Home in Ghana

at the rate of $1,500 per year. Your donations help us reach that goal each year. You can bring money or checks to church on Sundays and place in the jar near the Welcome Table or send a check to:

Grace Church,

PO Box 114,

Great Barrington, MA 01230.

Imprinted: Illustrating Race     Through October 30

Norman Rockwell Museum       Stockbridge,MA

This powerful exhibit examines the role of published images in shaping attitudes toward race and culture. Over 300 artworks and objects on view of widely circulated illustrated imagery will be on view, produced from the late eighteenth century to today, which have an impact on public perception about race in the United States. The exhibition will explore stereotypical racial representations that have been imprinted upon us through the mass publication of images. It culminates with the creative accomplishments of contemporary artists and publishers who have shifted the cultural narrative through the creation of positive, inclusive imagery emphasizing full agency and equity for all.

Click here for more information

Over last week and next, EfM is reading The Church Cracked Open by Stephanie Spellers. Written during the Covid-19 pandemic, the book is grounded in, first, the long slide and decline of the institutional church before the pandemic, second, the closing of church, during the pandemic, and third the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis in May 2020. The book faces the reality of white supremacy of the Church of Empire before turning, in the second half to how we get to beloved community. Here is a link to the work being done in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts:  Beloved Community Commission and here is our collect for the week:

Dear God of all people

You created us all in your image

We thank you for the vision of the beloved community.

We pray that we each do our part

So that we get there soon enough.

AMEN

Bishop Doug Fisher established a Compline community in 2020 that continues in faithfulness five nights a week. In addition to the Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith and the Very Rev. Jim Munroe, Licensed Lay Worship Leaders will be added for Thursday and Friday evenings. Zoom info is available HERE.

Introductory Meeting for

the Daughters of the King

Oct 26, 6:30pm

Online

Members of The Order of the Daughters of the King are women and girls between the ages of seven and one hundred and seven who desire a closer walk with the Lord. We are ordinary women who are strengthened through the discipline of a Rule of Life and supported through the companionship of our sisters. We are all at different stages of our Christian journey – some have just begun and some have been on this path for a long time. No special spiritual attributes are needed to become a Daughter – only a sincere desire to draw nearer to God and to help others do the same.

We are offering an Introduction to our Order via Zoom on October 26, 2022 at 6:30pm. Any woman who is interested, is invited to email Mariana Bauman at [email protected] to request an invitation with the Zoom link.

You also may check out our national website https://www.doknational.org. for more information.

BOOKS AND BREAD

Wednesday, November 9

at 7:00 PM

in person and on Zoom

The Reader

by Bernhard Schlink

Our hosts will be Monique & Peter Kirchoff.

Carol Way will lead our discussion.

Our gathering ends at promptly at 9:00 PM.

Questions? Please contact Peter Kirchoff.

For Zoom:

Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Password: 917937

or call 646 558 8656 US (New York)

All are welcome!

Our Prayer Basket

We welcome you to use our prayer basket.

On Sundays you will find a basket near the Welcome Table with slips of paper available for you to write down prayer requests. Please ask for any prayers that are important to you and those you love. You may identify yourself and those for whom prayers are needed, but names are not necessary or required. These prayers will be offered by our healing ministers both during the service and during the week for a period of one month. Keep an eye out for the basket!!

To listen to Sarah Sieber explaining the operation of the Prayer Basket CLICK HERE

(K. Clausen)

This week we listened to and participated in the Godly Play story of Noah’s Ark. 

We decided that all of the parts of the story were important. We asked, what about Noah’s wife Namah? 

We will learn about her next Sunday!

FLOWER DEDICATIONS!

Please place your dedications in an envelope and include the name of the person you wish to honor.

Please note that your $35.00 contribution toward the flower purchase can be sent to the Grace Office or placed in the Offertory Collection.