Life With Grace | December 12

Grace Episcopal Church
4 hours ago
6 min read

A stone baptismal font decorated with fresh greenery sits in the foreground of a church sanctuary. The font is octagonal with carved reliefs, including a descending dove symbol. Behind it, the wooden pews, poinsettias, and a softly glowing altar with stained-glass windows are out of focus, giving the scene a warm Advent/Christmas atmosphere. — Join us this weekend for worship and our annual Light in the Darkness Service.

Dear friends,

The third Sunday of Advent John the Baptist cries out from prison instead of as a free man in the wilderness. John gives voice to all who are oppressed and grieving at this time of year – is the good news of God in Christ for us too? And if so, why am I in prison? Why am I in grief?

Or are we waiting for God to do something more, send someone else?

Jesus does not promise John release from prison. But he does assure John that he is the One. He is the long anticipated One. He bears in himself the transformational power that will liberate us from our sins and fears.

But transformation and liberation will not look the way John imagined. God will not make everything right. But in Christ God will give us the Spirit to join in the work of transformation. God sets us free to give of ourselves in the same Spirit of Christ.

Keep choosing the liberating and healing work of God in Christ. Regardless of the circumstances, keep trusting God, keep choosing love. That choice is the hope and the joy of the world.

With Gratitude,

Tuck Bowerfind

Worship Services | Third Sunday of Advent | Sunday, December 14

Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | In-Person and on Zoom

Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | In-Person and on Zoom

December 14 - Christmas – Messiah - Tim Gaylard - Tim is back to share more about the selected pieces of music and meaning of Handel’s glorious Messiah as we prepare during Advent for the coming of Christ

Upcoming Christianity and Culture Sessions

December 21 - Kairos Palestine - A Moment of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide - Presented by Tuck Bowerfind

Holy Eucharist Rt II | 10:30 a.m. | In-Person and on YouTube

The nursery is available during our services.

Light in the Darkness Service | 5 p.m. | In-Person

Christmas Services

Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, 5:00 PM Holy Eucharist

Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, 10:00 PM Christmas Carols, 10:30 PM Holy Eucharist

Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, 10:30 AM Holy Eucharist

Bright red poinsettias in green foil-wrapped pots line the stone floor at the front of a church. The flowers sit near the decorated altar, with warm light and stained glass softly blurred in the background, creating a festive Christmas atmosphere.

Poinsettias for Christmas

In celebration of the nativity of our Lord, we make our church festive with poinsettias and greenery. To purchase a poinsettia ($12.00), make your check payable to Grace Episcopal Church, memo “Flower Fund,” and drop it in the offering plate or mail it to the Parish Office. To list a memorial or thanksgiving in the Christmas bulletins, call the Parish Office or email lisa@gracelexva.org by Thursday, December 18.

Please review the introductions of the four candidates for Bishop of Southwestern Virginia and to plan to meet them in person at Grace at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

Six smiling adults pose inside a church with arched stained glass windows; one person holds a tablet displaying a group video call with additional participants.

Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.

In-Person & Zoom

Advent Meditation Series

This Advent season, you are invited to join our Diocesan Advent Meditations, a three week online series offered live on Zoom Monday nights in Advent, beginning on Dec. 1 at 7:00p.m. Join us for this series to slow down, take time for silence and contemplation as we experience this special season.

We will center ourselves and prepare for the coming of the Christ child with quiet meditations using music, prayer, scripture, and brief reflections. We hope you will find this time to be meaningful and restorative.

Lanford Mission Emergency Fund: Christmas Appeal

In the words of Teresa of Avila, we are “the hands, feet, eyes, and body of Christ in our world.” As we approach Christmas and reflect on those words, the Christian Outreach Committee asks you to consider a Christmas donation to the Lanford Mission Emergency Fund.

Begun in this parish in 1984, the LMEF assists residents of Rockbridge County who request emergency financial help with rent, utilities, and temporary emergency housing. Most requests come to Grace through RARA (Rockbridge Area Relief Association) which does the vetting to verify need. Grace continues to partner with RARA, Lexington Presbyterian, and St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church to share in payments.

Partial funding for the LMEF comes from Grace’s Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving loose plate offerings. A donation to the LMEF can be made through your Christmas offering in the form of a check made out to Grace Episcopal Church with “Lanford MEF” noted on the memo line as well as at https://onrealm.org/graceepiscopalVA/-/form/give/now and selecting "Christmas Offering" under the "Fund" dropdown menu.

Your continued, generous support for this long-time Grace Episcopal ministry is greatly appreciated!

St. Nicholas Day Appeal 2025

The 2025 St. Nicholas Day Appeal is underway. We invite and encourage our parishes to engage the promotional materials included below to promote this appeal in your bulletins and digital communications during the seasons of Advent and Epiphany.

The St. Nicholas collection will support Boys Home of Virginia’s growing extracurricular club program. The student-driven clubs give the young men the opportunity to extend learning beyond the classroom and explore their personal interests in a structured, supportive environment. Each club was started by the students themselves, reflecting their creativity, initiative, and desire to build community.

They range from skateboard and bike clubs, which teach balance and perseverance, to the Lego and robotics clubs, where creativity meets problem-solving, each activity helps students develop confidence and leadership. The archaeology club connects them to history through hands-on discovery, while the drama club encourages self-expression, teamwork, and confidence on stage. The weightlifting, equine, and outdoor clubs provide healthy outlets for physical activity, teamwork, and personal growth. E-sports offers an opportunity for strategic thinking, digital collaboration, and friendly competition, while the cooking club teaches valuable life skills and the joy of preparing and sharing food together.

Funds from the St. Nicholas collection will directly enhance these programs by providing essential equipment and experiences—including skateboards, helmets, wrist and elbow pads, paintball gear, Lego kits, video game equipment, groceries, and more—as well as helping fund off-campus outings for each club.

These experiences not only enrich the students’ daily lives, but also strengthen their sense of purpose and belonging. By supporting our clubs, you help Boys Home engage the students in meaningful, growth-oriented activities that fulfill Boys Home’s mission: to help each young man reach his full potential.

Boys Home is deeply grateful for the continued generosity of the people of the Diocese and the enduring partnership that makes their mission possible.

Please consider faithfully how you might support this effort, either by donating online at www.dioswva.org or by mailing a check payable to the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia with “St. Nicholas Day Appeal” marked in the memo to PO Box 2279, Roanoke, VA 24009.

Donate Online

Paws to Connect

Paws to Connect will pause while W&L and VMI are out of session. We'll see you in the new year!

Clothes Closet at Christ Episcopal

The Clothes Closet at Christ Church, Buena Vista, continues to need girls winter clothing sizes 10-12, and silverware forks and spoons.. They are not accepting any other items at this time as they are chock full! The Clothes Closet is open every first and third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. until noon. You may drop your items off then. Alternately, you can bring your items to the Grace Episcopal Church office and Lisa will ensure your items are conveyed to the Clothes Closet. Thank you for your support of this valuable asset to our community.

Prayer List

Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: Pray today for the people of Christ Church, Martinsville and their rector, the Rev. John Adams. 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, Nancy Mastin, Elizabeth Klein, Carl Pattison, Virginia Poston (sister of Betsy Carter), Dot Fogo, David Austin (friend of the Keanes), Buddy Atkins, Stan Driver, Chris Clayton Syrrist (cousin of David Sorrells), Glen Jones, Charlotte & Mike Murphy, Jean & Mike Walsh, Cullen Bahr, Lane Hewett, Susan Martin, Carolyn, Bill Gibson (brother of Keith Gibson), Nancy Hellwig, Dennis Coughlin, Mike Haire, Chuck & Biddy Watson, Rob Fleming, Patricia Williams, Patty Irving Sensabaugh, Richard Partlett, and those we name aloud or in our hearts. Pray for the people of Israel, Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, Ukraine, and pray for cessation of violence, and for reconciliation, and peace. Pray for those who have died.