Life With Grace | April 3
- Grace Episcopal Church
- 14 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Dear Friends,
There are many voices warning us about all the threats we face, convincing us to overpower, and if necessary destroy our enemies. The threats are real. But the greatest threat is that our fear of the enemy, and our fear of losing, will drive us to destroy them before we recognize that our destiny is bound up with theirs. The only rational way to provide a future for our children that they will want to live in is to learn the way of Christ.
The message of God in Christ is very different from what we too often hear. Christ teaches us to patiently persevere in loving one another, and even our enemy, to the end. Provoke one another to good deeds. Forgive. And when others betray, deny, or abandon you, forgive them anyway, even if you have to come back from the tomb to do it!
Love not in order to increase your chances at getting more than your neighbor, but because the love of God is the source and the purpose of life, the truth and the way that leads to life.
Love in humble, incarnate ways - house the unhoused, feed the hungry, teach children to sing and hope and pray and serve, tend to the needs of the sick and the wounded and the dying, comfort the grieving, offer hospitality and rest to the stranger, vote for policies and representatives that further the humanitarian mission.
Give to Good Friday offering to support the work of the Diocese of JErusalem and the Middle East. Give to the Easter Offering that supports the Lanford Mission Emergency Fund. Give of yourself to follow the example of God in Christ.
And do not let your hearts be troubled.
Rejoice (always). Give thanks (in all times and places). Sing the praises of the Lord, the king of creation, in whom we live, who is always laying down his life for us, and always picking up his life again for us.
With Gratitude,
Tuck Bowerfind (he/him)
Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Worship Services | Easter Sunday | Sunday, April 5th
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
SUNDAY, APRIL 5th - Easter - No C&C
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Session
SUNDAY, APRIL 12th - Freedom of Religion Clause in the Constitution - Ann Massie
SUNDAY, APRIL 19th - April 22nd Earth Day - Earth Day “Our Power, Our Planet” - Sustainable Agriculture - Glenn Szarzynski
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. The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, April 6.
Holy Week Services
Friday, April 3 - Noon & 6:30 p.m. Good Friday Liturgy
Saturday, April 4 - 6:30 p.m. Easter Vigil followed by Lamb Supper
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.
Renewing Grace Phase 1
Renewing Grace Phase 1 construction (new accessible entrance to parish hall and replacement of 48 leaded glass windows with new double paned windows) begins April 7 with the erection of fencing around the front yard of the Parish House.
There will be no interruption of regular programming but parking will be strictly limited to church staff and construction vehicles from April 6 to June 16. We have applied to the city of Lexington for permission to use five or six spaces in front of the main Church on Washington Street westbound.
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.
We are currently working with architect, builder, and engineers to make decisions about the timing of Phase 2 (Removal of the boiler, radiators, and existing mini split and window unit air conditioners with new forced air HVAC for two floors of the Parish House, new accessible toilets on the ground floor and first floor, renovation of the Parish Hall, and some additional renovations on the first floor.) It would be best to accomplish this work over a "shoulder" season - either fall or spring when heating or cooling needs are less constant and extreme.
During this process we are blessed to have Don Robey as our clerk of the works. Don is working with the architect, builder, and engineers on every aspect of Phase 1 and Phase 2. If you have any pressing questions please don't hesitate to ask Tuck and if he can't provide the answer he will get you in touch with Don.
Love Lives On Community Gathering
We invite all community members, their families, and friends to join us on this anniversary on Saturday, April 4th, at Richardson’s Park in Lexington not to mourn, but to celebrate the triumph of love over hate.
The event will feature CARE representatives, community guests, activities for kids, as well as music by The Norms beginning at 4:00 p.m.. Please plan to arrive early to receive an MLK sticker, participate in a thoughtful written reflection, set up your seat or blanket, and engage with others dedicated to advancing our common humanity. The program is expected to conclude around 6:01 p.m.. We look forward to seeing you all there to spread MLK’s love and carry on his dream! The back-up location in case of weather disruption is the Randolph Street United Methodist Church.
Visit carerockbridge.org to learn more
Easter Memorials
In Loving memory of:
Robert Glidden, Burr & Lora Glidden, Grace Glidden, Virginia & Arnold Siefken by René Glidden & family
Marion McNair and Arthur Chauncy Drewry, Sarah Orr & James Arthur Smith Jr, Waller Garland Wills III, Donna Hladik Smith, Allison Elizabeth Smith by Ruth & Jimbo Smith
Glen and Lorraine Lemmer, Jack Lemmer, Homer and Themma Stout by Greg &Janet Lemmer
Jackson Paul Hershbell by Anne Snyder Hershbell
Sarah G. Lanford by Sally Myers and Mary Price
David W. Coffey by Dan & Macy Coffey
Barton Dick and Melissa Polakiewicz by Gail Dick
In memory of all those I love who are no longer with us by Margaret Haberman
Jocelyn Ross by Linda Merrick & David O’Connor
Joanne Wade, Dick Wade and Joan Wade by David Wade
Rebecca Sandberg by Stephanie Sandberg
Thomas P., Marvin E., and Bruce L. Robey (we band of brothers); love you guys by Don & Martha Robey
Thomas & Ethel Gibson, Preston & Ida Fitzberger, William Gibson by Pat & Keith Gibson
The Rev. Lynne B. Mead & Virginia Blizzard Mead, James B. Mead & Margaret Murray “Peggy” Mead, Mary Anne Mead Schmidt & John C. Schmidt, G. Otis Mead, III & Sue Anne Brown Mead by Susan Mead
Charles Ernest Edgar, III by Will, Cary, Sarah & Harrison Edgar
Nancy Rausch Epley by Anne Lounsbury Ekstrom & Robert Lounsbury
Margaret & Robert Sayre, Nannie & James Downey by Melissa & Bill Sayre
Lobo, Archie, Mehitabel, Boodles & Speedy by Anne, Bo, & Luther
Marc Silvia, Francis Silvia, Michelle McGuire, James R. McGuire by Patrick & Lisa McGuire
Pete & Maria Bowerfind by Tuck & Delea Bowerfind and Peter Bowerfind
Joe Free by Delea & Tuck Bowerfind
Veva Free by Delea & Tuck Bowerfind
James David Burford, Rev. Dr. William Isaac Jones and Elizabeth Jones by Martha Jones Burford
In Thanksgiving for:
My family by Judy Hotchkiss
Kaleb, Grey, and Remi Gibson, Fitz and Waverly
Fiorella by Pat & Keith Gibson
Archer, Dorothy, Elizabeth, George, Matt and Tiffany by Delea and Tuck Bowerfind
Jean Gadsby and Jean McGuire by Lisa & Patrick McGuire
Megan, Devin, Rheya, Aiden, Erin, Caleb, Connor, Kate, Caitlin, Kayleigh, Declan & Teague by Lisa & Patrick McGuire
Sam, Anna, and Baby James Burford by Martha Burford
David Warne by Martha Burford
All who sing and shine Christ’s Light at Grace by Martha Burford
The Glory of the Lord! by Jules Grimes
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 Emmanuel, Staunton.
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, Ned Henneman, Sharon Humphreys, Elizabeth Klein, Dot Fogo, Buddy Atkins, Dennis Coughlin, Rob Fleming, Patty Irving Sensabaugh, Richard Partlett, Gerry Locher, Doug Ayer, Mo Littlefield, Becky Merchant, Betsy Carter, Tena Clark, Tom Capito (brother of Kitty Farrar), Shay Peters, Meg Moss, Jessica Clawson, 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. Pray for the people of Israel, Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, Ukraine, and pray for cessation of violence, and for reconciliation, and peace.
In Thanksgiving for April Birthdays
4/3 Dot Fogo, Punky Dod
4/5 Gail Dickerson
4/8 Anne Sauder, Emily McClung, William Mackie
4/9 Lori Sadler, Aurelia Sorber
4/10 William McCorkle, Suzanne Keen, John Arpin
4/13 David Passmore
4/14 Gini Jardim
4/16 Don Ellis
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
4/28 Abby Moles, Madison Brown, Jeanne Glenn
4/29 David Hansen
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