Dear Friends,
"Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God." 1 Peter 1:21
…
Through Holy Week and Easter we see how in giving all of himself for us, Jesus didn't lose himself, he fulfilled his true identity as our redeemer. We begin to finally see who he is.
And this is true for us as well when we give all that we are and all that we have for him. We do not lose anything. We find our true life. And we begin to become who we are truly meant to be. People who set our faith and hope on God, and not on whatever else.
So often we ask God to change the world, or we ask God to provide for us, to assure us that we will get everything we want in the end. And of course we have the right to ask God for these things. But God also has the right to say No, not out of indifference or meanness, but because so often to give us what we want would actually do us no real good.
Instead God points us toward the cross and to the gift of new life that flows from the cross, so that we can realize it is not the world that needs changing. It is we who need changing. When we learn to love one another, and love God, as much as God loves us, then we will not ask God to change the world. We will ask God to renew a right Spirit within us. And that will change the world.
With Gratitude,
Tuck Bowerfind, Rector, Grace Episcopal Lexington
Worship Services | Third Sunday of Easter | Sunday, April 23
Holy Eucharist | 8 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m.
Parish Hall & Zoom | The Three Personal God from Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis
Holy Eucharist | 10:30 a.m.
In-Person & YouTube
Building Use Proposals Presentation | 11:45 am
In-Person
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Join Us for Paws to Connect
Paws to Connect is back and better than ever! Join us this week on Grace's steps from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday!
We're on Twitter!
To stay in the loop with all things Grace Episcopal, give us a follow on our new Twitter! While you're at it, check out our other socials too.
Graceful Play
Graceful Play, an after school program for early childhood and early elementary children, began last month and we need volunteers to assist. Graceful Play blends curriculum elements from Godly Play and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and hopefully, a Vacation Bible School meets Mr. Roger's Neighborhood atmosphere.
As a volunteer you will not be expected to be present each week. There will be no meetings or training, except Safeguarding. As our parish continues the work of Becoming the Beloved Community, I ask you to prayerfully consider participating in Graceful Play.
If you would like to know more about Graceful Play, please contact Marjorie Connolly at connolly804@gmail.com (713-206-1756).
Confirmation Preparation
Anyone interested in Confirmation, Reception, or Reaffirmation of Faith please contact Tuck or Samson. Meetings are held in the library after the 10:30 a.m. service.
Building Use Proposals
The Vestry requests your feedback on Building Use Proposals prepared by FGMArchitects to address these priorities for improving our Parish House:
Create modern, accessible restrooms on each floor
Create dedicated, modernized, attractive space for young children infant to 6 years old
Modernized office suite sufficient for two clergy, Parish Administrator, and Bookkeeper (note - Music Director's Office in Undercroft)
Improve building accessibility
Update and potentially resize classrooms and conference rooms
Several presentations of the FGMA proposals are scheduled in the Parish Hall:
1. 9:15 Sunday April 16
2. 11:45 am Sunday, April 23
3. 4pm May 1 at the COC meeting,
Please contact Tuck or one of the wardens, Joanne Robblee and Rob Minor to schedule a presentation at a time convenient for you.
Please plan to join a Town Hall Meeting 11 am Sunday, June 11, 2023 in the Parish Hall for a report on feedback received during these presentations.
Upcoming Music Events
Prayer List
Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Mark Bourlakas. Pray today for the Non-Canonically Resident Clergy serving in the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. Pray for Brendon (friend of the Brooke family), Michael Murphy, John Thomas, Timmy, Rick Alexander, Bradley Fairchild and Karen Junkin (friends of the Gibsons), Gloria June Perry (mother of Michael Perry), Glen Jones (friend of the Riethmillers), Darlene Travis (sister of Don Ellis), Patricia Brown Boyer (sister of Madison Brown), Dolly Shumate & Betty Gale Anderson (friends of the Lewis’), Carolyn Glenn (friend of Judy Schram), Jack Hershbell, Helen & George Kostel, Laura & Bill Stearns, Carl & Rachel Pattison, Diana Kenney, Tom Strickland, Worth & Katie Burnes (friends of the Smiths), Amelia Dull, Barb, Stephen DeMaria, Farris Hotchkiss, Annie Campbell and those we name aloud or in our hearts. Pray for those who have died.
Drusie Milford is taking over the Grace Prayer email chain. Each Tuesday an email will go out with the week's information. If you would like to become a member of this group, please email Drusie Milford (drusmilford@gmail.com). Likewise, if you would like to request anyone be added to the prayer email chain, please email Drusie.
In Thanksgiving for April Birthdays
4/25 Genelle Gertz
4/26 Chuck Smith
4/27 Nancy Walker
4/28 Sharon Humphreys, Abby Moles, Madison Brown
4/29 David Hansen
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.
Enduring Wisdom From a Rockbridge Educator...
...FOR THE AGES: CELEBRATING CHARLIE JONES, INSPIRATION FOR SOUNDER & SOUR LAND THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 2023 Gathering at 5:00 p.m & Program at 5:30 p.m. ANDERSON COLISEUM MEZZANINE THE VIRGINIA HORSE CENTER 487 Maury River Road in Lexington, Virginia Dr. Kip Armstrong, son of Collierstown native and Newbery Award winning author William Howard Armstrong, will illuminate the influence the Rockbridge area had on his father’s work. He will pay special homage to local educator Charlie Jones (1869-1950), whose deep impact on Armstrong inspired his classic young adult novel Sounder, and its sequel, Sour Land. The evening will include a special preview of a remarkable collection of ten original works by James Barkley, paintings that became the illustrations for Sounder. To learn more about this inaugural program of The Sounder Circle, contact Susan Virginia Mead, svm@diversityserves.org or 540-267-5678
Celebrate RARA’s 50th Anniversary!
Join us for local food: Hors d’oeuvres catered by Ladles & Linens, with desserts provide by Pronto, Beer from Devils Backbone and wine from Sassaia. We will have live music from Datz Us Ramblers, Kid-Friendly Bounce House & Snow Cones, plus view our online auction items, tour the building, and learn about RARA’s programs. Join us! Saturday, April 29, 4–7 p.m. RARA Building, 350 Spotswood Dr., Lexington, VA. Visit raralex.org to purchase tickets, volunteer and check out the on-line auction!
RARA Food Drive Volunteer Opportunity
Stamp Out Hunger, the nation's largest food drive, is back on May 13th! Postal workers from ten post offices throughout Rockbridge County will collect donated canned and dry food items from residents and deliver them to RARA, as well as food pantries in Buena Vista and Glasgow. Last year's drive brought in almost 4,000 pounds of non-perishable food to Rockbridge County. RARA needs your help on May 13th between 12-6pm to process thousands of pounds of Stamp Out Hunger donations. Shifts are two hours long and are a great opportunity for community groups, coworkers, teams, and families to volunteer together!
If you cannot volunteer, please consider participating by leaving your donations by your mailbox on the morning of Saturday, May 13th. We greatly appreciate any and all donations, however this year we are really looking for Breakfast cereal, Dried fruits and nuts, Canned meat or fish, Condiments, marinades, and sauces (preferably no glass), Juice, Cleaning products, Hygiene products, Baby food and diapers
RCS Spring Concert
The Rockbridge Choral Society presents William McCorkle and The Rockbridge Chorus Spring Concert 2023. John Rutter: Gloria and works by Vaughan Williams, Paul Halley with brass, timpani and organ. Sunday April 23, 2023 at 7:00 pm, Lexington Presbyterian Church. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Tickets at www.rcs.org. $12.50 per person, $35 per family (at the door $15.00 per person, $40 per family).
William McCorkle will also present an organ recital at Lexington Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, April 26, at 7:00 pm. The concert will offer one of the masterworks of the 17th century, Francois Couperin’s “Messe Pour Les Couvents,” an adaptation of the mass in which organ movements alternate with sung portions of the mass text. Joining in the performance will be baritone Michael McLaughlin. The public is cordially invited.
Rockbridge Area Cleanup
Grace Crew! We are moving our Rockbridge Area Cleanup date to Saturday May 6. Stay tuned for details or contact Martha Burford or John Milford. The Creation Care Committee will have jackets and bags ready AND provide lunch after!
Hosting Ukrainian Families
A humanitarian outreach effort organized by citizens of Lexington, Buena Visa, and Rockbridge County, we aim to pave the way for sponsoring temporary re-settlement of families who qualify for entry according to the laws of the United States.
The mission of Hosting Ukrainian Families is based upon love, compassion, and humanitarian concerns for families seeking to live in peace. Accordingly, a call is issued to each person joining in this effort to set aside all political, culturally divisive viewpoints, and all differences which may hinder or defeat these goals. To donate, click the link below.
Comments