Life With Grace | April 17
- Grace Episcopal Church
- Apr 17
- 6 min read
Dear Friends,
We live in a post-resurrection world. When we look for the evidence of the effect of the resurrection I believe we see it in an increasing awareness of the innocence of victims of violence, and an increasing appreciation of human dignity and rights.
In the 24th chapter of his gospel, Luke tells a story meant to open our eyes to Christ's presence in the midst of our daily lives. On Easter Day two disciples are leaving Jerusalem in grief and despair over the death of Jesus. An ignorant stranger joins them and asks why they are so sad. As they explain they add, We had hoped he was the one. It is terribly sad, except we are laughing because we know the ignorant stranger is not ignorant or a stranger.
This is Jesus. But their eyes are kept from recognizing him.
Why would Jesus want them to encounter his as an ignorant stranger and go through this experience of discovery and recognition?
Perhaps faith cannot come to light and mature apart from this experience of discovering that we didn't actually know what we though we knew about the world, about God. We have to have an experience that forces us to reevaluate. The cross and the resurrection certainly do that.
The gospel reveals truth through irony, through getting us to see that we are not the know-it-alls that we assumed ourselves to be when we condemned the world as beyond hope, beyond salvation, beyond God, because it had rejected Jesus.
The gospel, like Jesus, invites, challenges, embarrasses us into reexamining our assumptions, and opens us up to the possibility, the joy, that God might actually still be present and at work saving the world, saving us. Discovering our own ignorance is especially powerful when it happens in the context of this loving relationship represented when Jesus again breaks the bread that he shared on the night before he suffered.
The power of this experience, discovering the living and still forgiving Christ in the person of a stranger, especially a stranger whom we had judged ignorant, or perhaps unworthy, for whatever reason, creates a sense of expectancy and hope. In the post resurrection world Christ might be anyone, anywhere. He might be a Samaritan, a Muslim, an atheist, an illegal. And the only way to proceed is to share our witness, our hopes, our doubts and to listen to theirs as we go along. Always in the back of our minds asking, what might Christ be giving me/us through this person, or this group of persons? What might Christ be wanting me to see?
Eventually the disciples accept this mission to seek Christ in all persons with expectancy that some will believe and join in the work of building the beloved community.
Of course, not everyone will identify as a Christian. They don't need to identify as Christian for us to identify them with Christ. They might not yet see, we probably don't yet see. Seeing can take a long time. What turns out to be critical is that we trust God and operate from the place of love, and keep examining our own assumptions at least as much as we ask others to examine theirs. As Christ accepted rejection and misunderstanding, so can we. We can break bread with people anyway, share the good news anyway, love anyway, work with them to build beloved community anyway. It's life in a post resurrection world where Jesus is everywhere,
With Gratitude,
Tuck Bowerfind (he/him)
Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Worship Services | Third Sunday of Easter | Sunday, April 19th
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
SUNDAY, APRIL 19th - April 22nd Earth Day - Earth Day “Our Power, Our Planet” - Sustainable Agriculture - Glenn Szarzynski
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Session
Christianity & Culture, April 26 - Discussion with Robert White, one of the returning citizens, and information on the S.T.E.P.S. Program.
Holy Eucharist Rt II | 10:30 a.m. | YouTube and In-Person
The nursery is available during our services.
Adults and older Youth trained in Safe Church are needed to assist in the nursery from 9 a.m.–noon. We can pay $15/hour. Volunteers also welcome. Please contact James Keane for more information and to offer assistance.
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Paws to Connect
Paws to Connect is back! Join us on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. on the steps of Grace. We'll see you soon!
Women’s Bible Study
Our Women's Bible Study on the Book of James meets on Tuesdays from 9:30 - 11 a.m. in the College Room. Contact Michelle Mackie for more info.
Easter 2026 Lanford Mission Emergency Fund (LMEF)
The Lanford Mission Emergency Fund (LMEF) expresses its grateful appreciation for parishioners’ and guests’ generous offerings over the Easter weekend! Your gifts enable the LMEF to lend a helping hand along with RARA, Lexington Presbyterian, and St. Patrick’s to individuals and families in Rockbridge County when they are faced with emergency situations that result in an inability to pay for rent and/or utilities.
Through the first quarter of 2026, the LMEF has responded to 39 requests for assistance in the amount of $5,100.00.
Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas offerings are a major funding source for the work of the Lanford MEF. Thank you again for your generosity and continued support of this vital Grace outreach ministry!
Gail Dickerson, Lanford MEF Administrator, on behalf of the Christian Outreach Committee
Renewing Grace - Phase 1
As leaded glass windows are replaced over the next several weeks they will be stored behind the parish hall. They are available for you to take for a donation of any amount. If you would like one, please let us know. You will be responsible for collecting your window and making your donation. If you made a donation to Renewing Grace we accept that as your donation for one window.
Any windows remaining after Memorial Day will be discarded by the contractor. There will be no interruption of regular programming but parking will be strictly limited to church staff and construction vehicles from now until June 16. We have four permit parking spaces in front of the main Church on Washington Street westbound Monday through Saturday and as already permitted on Sundays. For access to the Parish House please use only the side door under the bridge and the elevator until construction is complete. The rear doors may be used by staff and construction workers.
The Nature Nook at Shrine Mont
The Nature Nook, located in the lobby of the Virginia House at Shrine Mont, is a library of field guides, worship and creation care resources for all ages. The Creation Care Committee of the Diocese of Virginia created this lending library for your enjoyment during your stay at Shrine Mont. Please stop by to look through the books and send any comments and recommendations you might have to creationcare@episcopalvirginia.org.
Also, while you are there, take a moment to visit our nuno “Creation,” given to the Creation Care Committee by fiber artist Karen Allen (St. James’, Warrenton). The colors move from the blue of the ocean to the green land, all abundant with life, glorifying God. A suggested meditation hangs with the piece on the north-east wall of the Virginia House dining room.
Grace's Children's Choir
Back By Popular Demand! Grace's Children's Choir will sing on Pentecost, May 24th! Stay tuned for details next week! If you have questions, contact Melanie Griffis or Martha Burford via martha@gracelexva.org
Prayer List
Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: Pray for Presiding Bishop The Most Rev. Sean Rowe. Pray for the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia and our Bishop-Elect The Rev. Karin MacPhail. Pray today for the people of Stras Memorial, Tazewell and their rector, the Rev. John Church. Pray for God’s blessing on the peacemaking labor of Anthony Poggo, former bishop of the South Sudanese diocese of Kajo-Kejil and now serving as Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, and Ezekiel Kondo, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, and Justin Badi Arama, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan. Pray for Brendon, Timmy, Laura Stearns, Lynda deMaria, Betty Cadden, Jeff Mason, Joe Irby, Kent Wilson, Jerry & Ann Nay, Paula Cooper, Sharon Humphreys, Elizabeth Klein, Dot Fogo, Buddy Atkins, Dennis Coughlin, Rob Fleming, Patty Irving Sensabaugh, Richard Partlett, Gerry Locher, Doug Ayer, Mo Littlefield, Tena Clark, Tom Capito (brother of Kitty Farrar), Shay Peters, Meg Moss, Jessica Clawson, Steve Lawrence, Patricia Williams, Peggy Matheson, and those we name aloud or in our hearts. Pray for the people living in war, pray for cessation of violence, and for reconciliation, and peace.
Pray for those who have died, The Rev. Roger Baroody, Dick Weede.
In Thanksgiving for April Birthdays
4/18 Dennis Cross, Kevin Manning
4/19 Lisa McGuire, Beverly Wirtz
4/20 Erika Brooke
4/22 Buddy Atkins
4/25 Genelle Gertz
4/26 Chuck Smith
4/27 Clara Pickett
4/28 Sharon Humphreys, Clark Simcoe, Abby Moles, Madison Brown, Jeanne Glenn
4/29 David Hansen
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