Dear friends,
This Sunday Jesus flips the script. He has been under a series of public tests by different parties - the priests, the scriptural fundamentalists, the royalists, and he has emerged unassailable...
But he knows they still do not recognize who he is. Otherwise, instead of testing him in a way designed to trip him up, they would have been asking him the real questions on their hearts.
So he asks them, "whose son is the Messiah?" But none are able to answer. (Matt 23:40-46)
The answer that the church gives to this question is of course God the Father (BCP p 849). But individual members of the church are often not so sure.
This raises an important observation. Many individual members of every religion often have understandings that diverge from the normative position of the faith. Which is a relief. So I don't have to associate Timothy McVeigh's most famous act with Christianity, even though Timothy McVeigh was a Christian trying to serve the will of God.
The normative position of Christianity is that God is Love (BCP page 849). Accordingly, all of God's commandments are fulfilled when we love God with all that we are, our neighbors as ourselves, and one another as Christ loved us (p 851 BCP). Of course we all fail to love rightly, persistently and consistently. And our failures result in a lot of brokenness and misery. But sin and failure at love is not the end. It is the beginning of our opportunity to turn and accept love's greatest gift - the forgiveness, grace, mercy revealed for the world through the Messiah, the Son of the Father, Lord and savior of the world.
With Gratitude,
Tuck Bowerfind (he/him/his)
Worship Services | Proper 25 | Sunday, October 29
Holy Eucharist | 8 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m.
Parish Hall & Zoom | Pilgrimage to Israel
C&C Schedule
October 29: Now that our Grace pilgrims have recovered from their recent pilgrimage to Israel, we are excited to have them share their experiences and inspirational moments with us.
Holy Eucharist | 10:30 a.m.
In-Person and Youtube
Canterbury Announcement from Michael McLaughlin
This Sunday, we as a club will be honored to receive a presentation by parishioner Heidi Schweizer on the church's labyrinth. Most of you are probably aware of the space behind the church, but, if you are like me, do not know what it is used for or how to use it. Heidi is an expert on this tool of prayer and has attended numerous conferences on its usage. The labyrinth is an important part of her spiritual life and she is excited to share it with all of us. We will be meeting in the basement of the parish hall instead of the College Room following coffee hour right after the 10:30 service.
Bible Study, 4 pm – The ladies’ discussion group will meet in the Welles Room (Library). Please join us!
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Prayers for Peace in the Holy Land
A Note from Tuck:
I am writing to ask for your prayers for a de-escalation of violence between Israeli and Palestinian people and for return to the challenging work of building a sustainable and lasting peace.
I have reached out to the current student director of Hillel House, the Chaplain at VMI, and the director of Student Services at W&L to express our support of Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish and Muslim students.
I encourage you to reach out to your Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish and Muslim friends in recognition that this crisis creates the conditions for increased anti-semitic and anti-muslim behavior, as well the strong likelihood that they or someone close to them has been impacted by this crisis.
Finally, please read the following statement by the Episcopal Church and the accompanying statement by Churches for Middle East Peace.
Pray for peace.
All Saints Day Necrology and Remembrances
Below are listed the names of people who have been in our prayers for the departed since All Saints Day passed. If you would like to add the name of a departed loved one to be remembered in the bulletin for the feast day of All Saints, Sunday, November 5, please email Lisa with your request.
Deborah Arnn
Al Gordon
Judith Hopkins
Farris Hotchkiss
George Kostel
Patrick Mayerchak
Richard Rathmell
William Stearns
Alleane Taebel
Ruth Terhune
Join us on November 02 at 5:30 p.m. for an All Souls Day Labyrinth Walk of Remembrance to honor our departed loved ones. The walk to be led by Anne Grizzle. You are invited to bring photographs, flowers, cards or mementos to be placed on the stone wall. Blank cards and candles will be provided.
Paws to Connect
Join us this Tuesday and Wednesday for Halloween Paws to Connect! We will be on the courtyard in front of Grace from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.!
Upcoming Music Events
Tomorrow, Saturday, October 28 at 7 p.m. the Chamber Music Society of Lexington and Grace Church present a concert of Music of the Southern Hemisphere. Guest and local musicians will offer music by composers of Uruguay, Brazil, Cuba and other countries.
Wednesday, November 1st at 12 noon at Lexington Presbyterian Church Music at Noon: A Concert on All Saints Day featuring William McCorkle, keyboard, with Christine Fairfield and Dasha Billias, sopranos. Music by Fauré, L. Boulanger, Lloyd Webber, R. Strauss.
Wednesday, November 1 at 7:30 p.m.: Join the members of the W&L choral program in welcoming the Allegri Ladies Choir from Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in a performance at Grace. Conducted by Maurice Kelly, Allegri is on their 10th Anniversary Tour of the United States. The group has hosted the University Singers during their performances in Derry in 2016 and 2022 and will be making their Lexington debut. The concert will feature Allegri, the University Singers, conducted by Shane M. Lynch, and Cantatrici, conducted by Lacey R. Lynch, in a joint performance with combined pieces such as “Irish Blessing” by Philip Stopford and “Shenandoah” by James Erb. Join us for what will be a great evening of music and fellowship!
Saturday, November 4, 7 p.m. The Chamber Music Society of Lexington presents a program by The Deutsch-Amerikanisches Klarinettentrio.
Boys Home of Virginia Wish List
Please help us support the Boys Home of Virginia by supplying any of items on their wishlist.
2025 Convention
The Vestry is looking for Delegates and Alternates to Convention 2025. If you are a Grace Church Member and are interested in being a Delegate or Alternate, please contact Kathy Hill for more information.
A Plea for Haiti
Our neighbors in Haiti are struggling through a period of political violence and chaos. With the government disabled, many Haitians rely on church schools to educate their children. Grace, as part of the Virginia Haiti Collaborative, supports one such school in Haiti, St. Marc’s in Cerca-la-Source. Every month the Collaborative sends $5000 to Haiti to pay the salaries of the 30-some teachers at St. Marc’s who teach the 350 students in grades K-12. That $5000/month pays the full salaries of 30 adults and provides education for 350 students. The Collaborative is the school’s only source of funding.
This season, we are also raising money so that the students can have computers at school. They will need some degree of computer literacy to take their graduation exams and to serve them as they seek jobs after graduation. If you can help provide schooling for these children, please put Virginia Haiti Collaborative on the memo line and send your check to Trinity Episcopal Church, 214 W. Beverley St, Staunton, VA 24401. Trinity provides bookkeeping for the collaborative. For more information, please contact Anne Hansen or Tuck.
Grace Dining Groups Update
The dining groups have been formed and information sent out. However, it is never too late to still join a group. We have weekday luncheon, Sunday brunch and weekday dinner groups. Some dine in homes and some prefer to dine out. If you are still interested, please email Drusie or Ruth.
Plastic Bag and Film Recycling through the Trex Challenge
Around the world over 400 million tons of plastic are produced each year and the quantity is growing exponentially. Sadly, only a very small percentage of the plastic waste is being recycled, while the majority ends up in landfills and the oceans. The Creation Care Committee at Grace Episcopal believes we need to do our part to reduce plastic film waste, and we have joined the Trex Challenge to recycle plastic bags and films.
You may be aware of Trex, a company in Winchester, VA who produces composite materials for decking and other uses. Trex uses the plastic bags and film collected in the production of their products. The challenge is to collect 500 lbs. of plastic film over a 6-month period. If we meet this goal, we will receive a free bench made from Trex material. This program has been tremendously successful at Kendall where they have received 5 or 6 benches because of their collection efforts.
Our program kicks off on October 1st. For Grace to receive credit, all plastic bags and film should be deposited in the blue container under the bridge. We will collect and weigh the contents before taking the bags and film to be recycled. A listing of acceptable plastics is attached for your reference.
We ask for your steadfast support in this effort. Together we can make a difference in our environment if we all join in this program.
Wanted - Sunday School Teachers
Grace is looking for youth, college students and adults willing to help provide Sunday School for a few children each Sunday from about 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. We are willing to pay a stipend. Please contact Tuck to find out more.
Prayer List
Prayer for the election of the next Presiding Bishop: Almighty God, source of all wisdom and understanding: Look graciously on your church, and so guide the hearts and minds of those who will choose our next presiding bishop, that we may receive a faithful pastor who will care for all of your people, equip us for our ministries, and proclaim your word to us and to the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: Pray for the continued healing of The Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Mark Bourlakas. Pray for the people of St. John’s, Waynesboro and their curate-in-charge, the Rev. Thomas DuMontier. Pray for Brendon, Michael Murphy, Timmy, Rick Alexander, Bradley Fairchild and Karen Junkin, Gloria June Perry, Glen Jones, Patricia Brown Boyer, Dolly Shumate, Carolyn Glenn, Jack Hershbell, Laura Stearns, Worth & Katie Burnes, Amelia Dull, Barb Ostrander, Stephen deMaria, Annie Campbell, Polly Lawrence, Betty Cadden, Jeff Mason, Joe Irby, Kent Wilson, Rosemary Phillips, Joan Wade, Don Ellis, Diana Kenney, Patrick Bowes, Ann Nay, Paula Cooper, Lucy Moise, Penny & Ned Henneman, Steve Riethmiller, David Wade, Barbara Bova, Daniel Diener, Carrie Strickland, Shelby, Anne Stenhouse, Clay Sadler, Lynn Butler, Sharon Humphreys, Eloise Adams, Nancy Mastin, Judy (Carole Elmore’s sister), Elizabeth Klein (daughter of Deb & Bill Klein), Linda Lanford and Erik Figueroa (family of Tim & Mary Price), Marc Silvia (brother of Lisa McGuire), and those we name aloud or in our hearts. Pray for those who have died. Pray for the people of Lewiston, ME, Israel, Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, Ukraine, and pray for cessation of violence, reconciliation, and peace.
In Thanksgiving for October and November Birthdays
10/27 Connie Loughhead
10/29 Jimbo Smith
10/30 Steve Shultis
10/31 Peggy Hays
11/1 Margaret Branner, Bettie Cadden
11/4 Peggy Riethmiller
11/7 Pam Adams, Owen Gertz, Melanie Griffis
11/8 Evan Atkins, Grace Simcoe, Donna Noyes
11/10 Richard Jones
11/11 Brooks McCabe
11/13 Doug Ayer
11/13 Julie Grover
11/14 Jim Farrar
11/15 Tim Price, Rene' Glidden, Samson Mamour
11/18 Sis Harcus, Diana Harris
11/19 Steven Lawrence, Hank Humphreys
11/21 Tim Gaylard, Liam Murphy
11/22 Will McClung
11/23 Bill Kozak, Kristi Finnell
11/26 Michael McCabe
11/27 Jack Hershbell, Anne Blanken, Avery Hess
11/29 Robert Glidden
11/30 Harry Warner
We're so glad you're here! If you or someone you know is new to Grace and would like more information about Parish life, follow the link below.
Donations for Lisa's House – Project Horizon
Items we currently need: · High efficiency laundry detergent · Toilet paper, paper towels · Lysol disinfectant spray · Dish soap · Coffee · $10 gas cards At this time, we are only able to accept items on this list. Thank you for thinking of us!