Dear Friends,

For a variety of reasons this week, I am considering Jesus' commandment to forgive. In my work, people often come to me with so much anger and desperately want to lose it. Whenever we explore the role of forgiveness in their relationships, and they are able to open their hearts in this way, they become aware of the peace they can then claim.

Forgiveness doesn't necessarily require an apology, but if forgiveness is begged for sincerely, how grievous it is for it to be withheld? How can the relationship be repaired? How can we be followers of Jesus and yet not follow the one thing he called us to do?

So I have been thinking about where, in my relationships, I need to consider forgiveness. In this way, maybe I'll get closer to God's heart.

In the Way of Love,

Debbie

This Sunday

Parish Prayer List

Please keep the following in your prayers:

For the Diocese of Massachusetts as we search for our next Bishop Diocesan, for those battling cancer, especially Faith’s friend and the Princess of Wales, Heather and Prescott,, Ariana, Sheridan, Faith Aroko and Family, Jesse Hurst and Family, Angela Williams, Neal and Maureen Joyce, Arthur, Jane Thompson, Deb Young, Cindy Rhodes, Ron, Gerald Tucker, Allison Mascolo, Melissa Glassman, Max Joyce, Inga, Henry, and Lucas, Mel, Corey MacNeil, Dianne, Michael Towey, Jenny, Loretta and Kris, Deb Papps, Derek Fuller and Family, the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and their ministries, Palestinian Families, for Ukraine and Haiti; the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem, the Salem Public Schools and for an end to racism, war, anti-Semitism, gun violence and oppression. In thanksgiving for the baptism of Jack Thomas Duffy and the Social Committee at Grace Church. If you have prayer requests, please email prayerlist@gracechurchsalem.org by Tuesday at noon for publication in that week's e-news.

Social Committee Meeting

Next week, at 3:00 pm in the Common Room, there will be a meeting of our Social Committee. This group was formed to offer monthly opportunities for anyone who wishes to join with others in a purely social endeavor. We are aware of the need for connection and belonging and this is but one way we offer this opportunity to the community at large.

At the meeting, we will discuss who might offer to take a leadership role in one of the community events between now and the end of summer.

These include:

Karaoke- rescheduled time still to be determined

Red food potlucks - after each service Pentecost (mostly sign up sheets and table set up and break down)

Anti-racism craft June (tbd)

Church picnic - all day July 21

Ice Cream Social - Aug



If you would like to lead, or help coordinate any of these events and cannot make this meeting please reach out to Laura Beasley-Topliffe at either

Arakani@gmail.com or 717-712-7447.

Thanks everyone for your support for these events in any capacity.

Peace,

Laura

Peabody Essex Museum Exhibit

There will be a presentation on April 25th at 1:00 pm led by Maureen Bingham at the Peabody Essex Museum on the history of School desegregation in the Salem Public Schools in the 1830s that has modern day ramifications. The exhibit entitled "Let None Be Excluded: The Origin of Equal School Rights in Salem" provides original source materials for the history of school desegregation in the US and the role that such prominent families of Salem such as the Remonds played in this fascinating story.

Salem residents and PEM members are free with ID and Maureen can take 6 guests who do not fall into those categories. 

Bishop Candidates’ Meet and Greets

The Transition Committee, of which our own Kourtni Patten is a member, has announced the scheduling of a series of open meetings around the diocese May 7-11, giving the people of the diocese an opportunity to meet and learn more about the nominees for election as the diocese's 17th bishop diocesan. All in the diocesan community are invited to attend, particularly those who are voting members of the Special Electing Convention to be held on Saturday, May 18 at Trinity Church in Boston.

The meet-and-greet gatherings will be held on:

Tuesday, May 7 at All Saints' Parish, Ashmont in Dorchester, 7-8:30 p.m. 

Wednesday, May 8 at St. Mary's Church in Barnstable, 10-11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, May 8 at St. Thomas's Church in Taunton, 7-8:30 p.m. 

Thursday, May 9 at Christ Church in Needham, 2-3:30 p.m.

Friday, May 10 at Christ Church in Andover, 7-8:30 p.m. (with childcare)

Saturday, May 11 on Zoom, 10:30 a.m.-noon (with special Zoom rooms for youth and young adults, as well as for all others).

Additionally, there will be a "Coffee & Conversations with Clergy, Postulants and Candidates" session on Thursday, May 9, 10:30 a.m. to noon, at St. Paul's Church in Dedham.

Information about Zoom access and other details will be posted at www.diomass.org/bishop-search/meet-greets as they become available.

 A Prayer for the Bishop Election

Loving and Living God, as we seek a bishop for the Diocese of Massachusetts, we also seek you. Help us to listen deeply as you speak through the people of our diocese; through our parishes, missions, ministries and institutions; through our neighborhoods, towns and cities; through our past and our present; through word and sacrament.

When we are distracted by other voices, other tasks, other pressures, call us back to you. Give us courage, vision and an ability to see past the surface of things. May we be patient and compassionate, trusting always in your mercy and goodness to us and to all that you have made.

We pray this in the name of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, one God. Amen.

Welcome spring

Our Annual Plant Sale will be on Saturday May 11th this year. This is always a fun event and the fundraising committee is counting on you all to help make it happen. Please let us know how you plan to participate by returning a form or emailing us at fundraising@gracechurchsalem.org . We would like to have all donations by Saturday May 4th to allow us time to sort, repot and buy supplemental plants as needed for the sale. We would also like to have volunteers to help with set up, break down and sales on May 11th.  Please contact one of us or send an email and we will sign you up. Thank you for your support. - Peggy, Melissa, Joanne, and Kourtni