Tuesday's Child for April 11, 2023

A Message from The Rev. Tina Rathbone

Today, for us all, this old favorite about ‘leaping greenly’ newness by ee cummings.

May the ears of your ears be awake and the eyes of your eyes be open, today, tomorrow and always in Love. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Tina xox

i thank You God for most this amazing

day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees

and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything

which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,

and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth

day of life and of love and wings:and of the gay

great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing

breathing any—lifted from the no

of all nothing—human merely being

doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and

now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! We have a couple of promised donations still on their way and, knowing this, and that we would soon have all we needed, Andrea contacted the co-founder of the Pirogov First Mobile Hospital and bought the icon above! All proceeds from this beautiful work of art, written in the Ukraine on the lid of an ammunition box, will go to support the mobile hospital which brings medics to the front lines of eastern Ukraine. Since the Icons from Ammo Boxes project began, the mobile hospital has served 50,000 patients.

We have been told it will take anywhere from one to three months for the icon to arrive and when it does, we will celebrate! May God’s peace prevail before then, and may bloodshed and death cease…

The Rev. Tina Rathbone

GIDEON'S GARDEN

Spring Garden Volunteers!

Pictured above is our completed greenhouse made possible by Taft's generosity and a grant that Gideon's received last May. Thank you all who came out last week to help finalize and move into Gideon's new propagation house! Thank you Jim, Dutch, Laura, Alex, and Louise for all of your help.

With a space free for propagation, our Spring open volunteer hours will begin this week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am-12pm. We will be seeding and doing light preparation work for the coming season. Even if you don't have a green thumb, everyone is welcome!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

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

Announcement from the Communications Office

Donate to Episcopal Relief & Development

MAKE AN URGENT GIFT-DONATE NOW Your immediate support will help Episcopal Relief & Development and other Anglican partners provide humanitarian assistance to people fleeing the violence in Ukraine. By contributing today you will join our online...

support.episcopalrelief.org

Welcome Mats Made by Refugees | Thistle Farms Globa l

Handwoven and handmade by refugees in Greece, these welcome mats serve as a symbol of welcome and acceptance for refugees. Perfect to use in your home as a wall hanging or floor mat. Feel good about the products you buy at Thistle Farms and support refugees. Order yours today!

Love Welcomes.

thistlefarms.org

Babies are placed in the Mampong Home when their mother has died and they cannot be cared for at home.

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,

P.O. Box 114,

Great Barrington, MA 01230.

LEARNING AND DISCOVERY

Becoming Beloved Community

Over the last 3 years the Reparations Community of Practice of the Diocese of Massachusetts has hosted 17 presentations, including 8 involving histories of parishes affiliated with the Episcopal Church in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Each of them represents hours of research, reflection and reckoning regarding the impact of slave holding, slave trading and the slave economy on the Episcopal Church in New England. Each of them addresses the wealth derived from these criminal practices, both in terms of money accumulated and status achieved.

These scholarly presentations are assembled here : www.churchreparations.org

Episcopal churches and communities across the Northeast confronting their historical involvement in the slave economy

Presentations of parish histories are assembled here: https://www.churchreparations.org/parish-histories

Daylong DISMANTLING RACISM Trainings by Zoom 2023

offered by the Diocese of Atlanta

Click here for more information

Search for Identity: how do we know God?

Our reading this week concerned the issue of epistemology, a branch of philosophy that addresses how we know and what we know. For us, as Christian seekers, the matter comes down to how we know God. Our reflection jumped off of the attached picture, titled Tree of Knowledge.

Reconciling God, who alone has truth and who invites us on a journey,

we confess we stumble and get lost.

Forgive us our doubts.

We place our hope in the everlasting Jesus.

Through your love we persevere and find strength

In your Holy Spirit, let us step out.

AMEN

Announcement from the Communications Office

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.

Province 1: The Episcopal Church in New England

Conversations

with Noted Speakers

The Province 1 Christian Formation Network is hosting a series of online conversations. On the third Thursday of each month, participants will have the opportunity to hear from people at the forefront of Christian Formation. Registration required.

2023 Schedule

Apr 20 - "Interactive Family Church: an introduction to liturgy" - Dean Kristi Maulden and Becky Moseman
May 18 - "Confirmation: The Lost Sacrament Finds Fresh Purpose" - The Rev. Josh Hosler
Jun 15 - "Atrium for Everyone: Incorporating practices from Catechesis of the Good Shepherd or Godly Play into any program" - The Rev. Joyce Scherer-Hoock

I WANT SOME FRIENDS

BOOKS AND BREAD

Will meet on

Wednesday, April 12

at 6:00 PM to discuss

DESTINY

of the REPUBLIC

By Candice Millard

Join us. All are welcome!

Questions?

Please contact Peter Kirchoff.

For Zoom:

Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Password: 917937

or call 646 558 8656 US (New York)

THIRD SUNDAY SUPPER

Join us for lively conversation

and fellowship on

April 16, 6:00 PM at the

Fiesta Bar and Grill

in Great Barrington--near the Triplex.

ALL are welcome!

Separate checks

For more information contact

George Raymond.

MOVIE NITE

Watch at home at home then,

Join us for a discussion of

SCENT OF A WOMAN

(Our discussion leader will be Mark Anderson.)

This is an American drama film produced and directed by Martin Brest that tells the story of a preparatory school student who takes a job as an assistant to an irritable, blind, medically retired Army lieutenant colonel.

on May 4, at 7:00 PM

on Zoom.

To join this Zoom meeting

Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Password: 917937

PRAYERS AND CARES

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.

Second Sunday of Easter

April 16, 2023

at 10:00 AM

In person & live-streamed

on ZOOM

Please visit our website:

https://graceberkshires.org/visitor/

for up-to-date information and a link to the digital service booklet.

Celebrant and Officiant:

The Rev. Tina Rathbone

Click here for WEB site ROTA

HOLY WEEK SERVICES and ZOOM INVITATIONS

FOR GRACE CHURCH

Second Sunday of Easter

April 16, 2023

at 10:00 AM

For Zoom

Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Passcode: 917937

Or call:646 558 8656,

(New York)

Contemplative Eucharist

Wednesday at 10:00 AM

In person at Grace Chapel

and to join on Zoom:

Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Passcode: 917937

Or call:646 558 8656,

(New York)

Bible Study

Tuesday (Resumes soon. Stay tuned for updates)

at 7:00 - 8:00 PM

To join on Zoom:

Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Passcode: 917937

Or call:646 558 8656,

(New York)

Centering Prayer

Thursdays at 5:00 PM

In person and on Zoom

To join on Zoom:

Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Passcode: 917937

Or call:646 558 8656,

(New York)

Movie Nite

Thursday, May 4

at 7:00 PM on Zoom

To join on Zoom:

Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Passcode: 917937

Or call:646 558 8656,

(New York)

Books and Bread,

Wednesday,

April 12, 2023

at 6:00 PM

In person and on Zoom

To join on Zoom:

Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Passcode: 917937

Or call:646 558 8656,

(New York)

Third Sunday Supper

(Every Third Sunday)

April 16, at 6:00 PM

In person

More information in the

article found above.

Second Sunday

of Easter

John 20:19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Welcome Happy Morning

Welcome Happy Morning · Richard Webster · Thomas Smith · Brandon Almagro · Kevin Businsky · The Choir of Christ Church, Georgetown, Washington, D. C.

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)

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.

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.

BLAKELY, Rosemarie

BOWENS, Marina

BREASTED, John

BROOKS, Jane

FRYE, Vonnie

GORE, Barbara

HAIDER, Meredith

McCURDY, Deborah

TURNER, Barbara

GRACE

CHURCH

Please include

in your daily prayers this week:

Members of the Parish Family:

Cathy Haywood, Margaret O’Clair, Mark Anderson, Dindy Anderson, Doreen Hutchinson, Anne Andrews, , Meredith Haider, Rosemarie Blakely, Marina Bowens, Charles Folger, Barbara Gore, and Barbara Turner.

Others we love: Justine Harari, beloved friend of Tina Rathbone; Vincent Pelletier, beloved family member of Kevin and Desside; Michael Holmes, Debbie Holmes’ grandson; Kelly & Elijah; Denise Chandler; James Driscoll; Livia Driscoll; All those grieving the death of Ellen Elizabeth Hilpl, Jack Stedman, Wendy Reeve and Ed Hunt; Cynthia Griesing, Holly Murray’s mother; Karen LaRocque friend of Sue Gore; Rosalind Haywood, Sue Gore's mother; Deborah McCurdy; the Hardenberg family, friends of Lynn Walker; Sophia, grieving the sudden death of her son.

Those who have died: Claire White, Steve White’s mother; Jeanne Litterio, Steve White’s aunt; Ellen Elizabeth Hilpl; Joe Merola; Jim Driscoll, father of Gideon’s Garden intern, James Driscoll; Michael Rywkin, Monique Kirchoff’s father; Wendy Reeve, Cathy Haywood’s sister; Jack Stedman; Ed Hunt, brother-in-law of Anne Andrews; Richard Edelstein, husband of Pat and beloved friend of our congregation; Sam Raymond; Alan Sparks, brother of Debbie Holmes

Our world: For all those who have died, who have been wounded, or have lost someone they love in the earthquake in Syria and Turkey. For the people of the Ukraine and of all places of violence and war, that peace may prevail and human fear and suffering diminish. For Tyre Nichols and his mother RowVaughn Wells and for all who love him. For all victims of gun violence and institutionalized racism in this country. We pray also for those who inflict gun violence on others. For people who are suffering from COVID, those who have died and those who mourn. For all who are alone, or afraid, or despairing. For prisoners, unhoused people, newly arrived immigrants and all our neighbors, near and far.

The many ministries of our local community and the Diocese of Western Massachusetts: For our partners at St. Paul's and the Revs. Libby Wade, Jane Tillman; the Rev. Sam Smith as he begins his ministry at All Saints, Worcester; Christ Trinity and the Rev. Erik Karas; our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Doug Fisher; and the Mampong Babies' Home in Ghana; St. Helena’s, Lenox;

Creation Care; Mampong Babies Home, Ghana; Episcopal Media Services;

Archives of The Episcopal Church

The Church's wider mission:

The Anglican Church of Tanzania

And we offer thanks: for all those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries this week: Andrea White, 4/14

Join us for

Centering Prayer

now in person and on ZOOM

Every Thursday

5:00 - 6:00 PM

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.

Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Passcode: 917937

Or call:646 558 8656,

(New York)

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.

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.

WELCOME

TO CHURCH SCHOOL!

Church School Sunday

We listened to the Bible story about Jesus Raising Lazarus from the Episcopal Lesson Plans that Work. We wondered about this miracle.

We talked about the Holy days leading up to Easter. We have been wondering about Heaven, so this week, we listened to a story by Sandy Sasso, For Heaven’s Sake. The story follows a child’s journey to find Heaven because of the phrase he often hears, “For Heaven’s sake.” He is also wondering where his grandfather went when he died. Isaiah and his grandmother travel in the community visiting people and places his grandfather enjoyed. In the end, we learn that Heaven is in us.

“Heaven is home.”

“Heaven is love.”

“Heaven is in the stars.”