Dear friends,
This week Bishop Bourlakas announced he will accept an invitation to serve as Assistant to the Bishop of Virginia and resign his position as Diocesan Bishop of Southwestern Virginia in June when he will move to Alexandria where he and Martha already have an apartment near his daughter Hannah.
We have been blessed by Bishop Mark's and Martha's leadership, and we pray for their happiness as they move into new ministry. We also pray for our Diocese as we actively participate in the calling of the seventh Bishop of Southwestern Virginia.
The Standing Committee has already begun preparations for electing the seventh bishop of Southwestern Virginia. We will receive details about the transition over the next several weeks. As we go through this transition together, it would be good for each of us to review the Diocesan Mission Action Plan created in 2012 and revised in 2020 and most recently in 2024.
Finally, Bishop Mark's announcement heightens the importance of the opportunity to meet and celebrate with him at Grace on Sunday, March 9. Please join in conversation with Bishop Mark starting at 9:15 am and in celebration of Confirmation at 10:30 am.
With Gratitude, Tuck Bowerfind (he/him)
Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Worship Services | Seventh Sunday After the Epiphany | Sunday, February 23
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | In-Person and on Zoom
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | In-Person and Zoom
February 23: Saint John's Bible Art Joanne Robblee
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Sessions
Sunday March 2 TBD
Sunday March 9 Bishop Mark Bourlakas
March 16 Rethinking Equal Opportunity Harlan Beckley
March 23 Rethinking Equal Opportunity Harlan Beckley
March 30 Saint John's Bible Joanne Robblee
Holy Eucharist Rt II | 10:30 a.m. | In-Person and on YouTube
Women's Bible Study | Welles Room/Library | 3:30 p.m.
There will be no 5pm Grace Episcopal Evensong on Sunday, Feb. 23. There will be an Evensong led by Jonathan Clawson, SVU, and officiated by the Rev. Dr. David Cox at 7pm, Sunday Feb. 23.
Featured will be Herbert Howells' Gloucester Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis.
SVU Chamber Singers Evensong
Southern Virginia University's Chamber Singers will offer a concert and Choral Evensong, all on the theme of the "Liturgy of the Hours," at Grace Episcopal Church, 7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23. Led by one very familiar to Grace Church, Jonathan Clawson, now interim director of choral activities at SVU,it will involve several of our current scholars and include the premiere of a work by Julia Evans. Evensong in a very traditional format will observe the eve of the Feast of Saint Matthias the Apostle, with the Rev. David Cox (who also teaches at SVU) as officiant and Michael McLaughlin as precentor. At the organ will be Patrick Ritsch of Kentucky Wesleyan College.
This latest presentation in a now-annual series called "Expressions of Faith" will feature the work of composers of the 20th and 21st century, many in conjunction with the Anglican services for morning and evening. William Walton's Jubilate Deo was written for Mattins, and the evening canticles will be Herbert Howells' "Gloucester Service." The congregation will join in some of the most familiar evening hymns of our tradition.
The Chamber Singers, SVU's premier vocal ensemble, has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Virginia Music Education Association, and regularly at the LDS Temple's visitor's center in Washington, DC. Most if not all of our choral scholars from SVU have been part of this choir.
The entire community is welcome to attend.
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
The Saint John's Bible
If you have photos you would like to share of the St. John's Bible in our community and beyond, please send them to Lisa.
As the visiting volume of The Saint John’s Bible makes its home with us for three months, we also turn to other volumes to share with the congregation and visitors.
This week, we’re sharing from The Wisdom of Solomon. The Saint John's Bible groups texts including Job, Ecclesiastes, and Proverbs among the Wisdom books. The Wisdom of Solomon takes part in the telling and retelling of essential stories that proclaim how Wisdom is God's "holy spirit " walking among us.
Artistic Director Donald Jackson designed a series of four panels to illuminate important themes in the retelling: Creation, the Flood, the Exodus, and the Promised Land. Each is one moment in history that expresses the abiding presence of God's Wisdom on Earth, or Shekinah. Key leitmoifs include birds, images of chaos, and the abundance of land and water. More detail may be found in Suan Sink's The Art of The Saint John's Bible.
As The Saint John’s Bible resides with us, it is also traveling around our county and beyond; on Thursdays from 1 to 6 p.m., it will be in the Grace nave, where individuals and groups can come spend time with the volume – read, contemplate, share, or simply sit and meditate. A docent or docents will be available to assist visitors if needed.
Beer and Hymns | Sky Bar | Thursday, February 27, 6 p.m.
Join us for an evening of music, fellowship, and fun at Sky Bar on Thursday, February 27th, at 6 PM. Hosted by Grace Episcopal Church, this event will feature lively hymns led by emcees Martha Burford, David Mayersky, and Michael McLaughlin. Bring your friends and your singing voice as we come together to share in community and song. Stay tuned for more details soon! Save the date, and we hope to see you there!
Opera at Grace
Friday, Feb. 28–Saturday, March 1: Opera at Grace! Directed by Dr. Mackenzie Romriell (who was a co-director for The Winter Star Christmas Pageant) and Dr. Jakob Hofer (who has played violin at Grace many times), the Puccini Opera will be presented Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Tickets are required and can be purchased below.
Southern Virginia University presents the opera, Suor Angelica, on Friday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, March 1 at 1:00 p.m. Doors open half hour before show time.
Mardi Gras Spaghetti and Bingo Night
Sign up now for an evening of good food and good fun on March 4 to support our ministries to children in Haiti and South Sudan! The evening features drinks and hors d'oeuvres, a spaghetti dinner, bingo and fun together as we raise funds for St. Marc's School in Haiti and Kelly Academy of Hope in South Sudan. The cost is $50 per person and the sign up sheet will displayed during church coffee hours and located in the church vestibule during the week.
Habitat Build
The mission of Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity is “to partner with the community to create safe, affordable housing solutions for individuals and families of limited means and work toward the elimination of substandard housing in Rockbridge County. Putting faith into action, RAHfH brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.” To date, RAHfH has completed 85 houses and an additional 6 are currently under construction.
With the intent to deepen our individual Lenten journeys, strengthen our collective community, and serve this important outreach mission, the Tuesday Morning Men’s Prayer Breakfast Group invites you (ALL of you - men and women, young and old, experienced and weekend- warriors) to participate in our Habitat Build during the upcoming Lenten Season. Our build starts on March 11th and will last for six Tuesdays (March 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8, and 15). The concept is to muster each Tuesday afternoon at 1:20pm in Greenhouse Village up behind RCHS, and work from 1:30 until 5:00.
We recommend you bring a pair of work gloves and perhaps some “dirty boots” to change into should the weather be wet. No experience or tools are required; only a willing heart! We would love for you to join us. Please contact Steve Shultis, shultis@rockbridge.net or 540 460-3177 for more information.
2025 Backyard Compost Challenge
Join Boxerwood in this year's Backyard Composting Challenge!
Bakers Wanted for the Community Table
Please contact Virginia Cooke at 348-5367 if interested!
Finance Committee Seeking New Members
The Finance Committee is looking for members of the Parish to join us in monitoring the finances of the church. Time involved: about 1 ½ hours per month. We meet on the third Tuesday of the month at 4:00 p.m. somewhere in the Parish Hall. Be willing to serve your church to the best of your ability. Benefits: Joy and Gladness in helping the church spend pledges and donations wisely.
If interested, please contact Margaret Haberman on her cell phone at 703-608-8695, or her home phone at 540-463-0950.
Clothes Closet at Christ Episcopal
The Clothes Closet at Christ Church, Buena Vista, continues to need girls' clothing sizes 10-18, queen-size sheets, silverware, and brand new socks and underwear for everybody, young and old. The Clothes Closet is open every first and third Saturday of the month from 9 am until noon. You may drop your items off then. Alternately, you can bring your items to the Grace 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.
Greeter Team and Usher Team at Grace
Greeters take turns welcoming worshipers as they enter the churchyard to attend the service. They identify visiting guests, visitors, new members and extend a warm greeting. Greeter schedules are flexible to work with your availability. A great way to meet others at Grace. Contact Cecile West-Settle at West-SettleC@wlu.edu, 540-570-3256.
Ushers help the service run smoothly by welcoming worshipers to the service and assisting them as needed. They distribute the service bulletin and help with the offering collection, communion and more. Schedules are flexible to work with your availability. Email or call Lisa McGuire at 540-463-4981.
Training provided, many benefits! Join TODAY
Province 3 Youth Event
Dates: Apr. 25-27, 2025
Where: Claggett Center 3035 Buckeystown Pike, Adamstown, MD 21710
Who: 6th-12th graders
Cost: $175 (includes dinner on Friday, 3 meals on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday).
Transportation: Will be provided from Evans House for those in and around the New River Valley.
• Arrangements will be made for the pick up of youth from the northern portion of our diocese on our way to Maryland.
• A late afternoon departure from Roanoke is expected with additional details to follow.
If you have multiple children attending or have questions, email us at youth@dioswva.org.
Paws to Connect
Paws to Connect will be back soon!
Prayer List
Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: Pray for Presiding Bishop The Most Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe. Pray for the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Mark Bourlakas. Pray for the people of St. Paul’s, Saltville. Pray for Brendon, Timmy, John Perry, Glen Jones, Laura Stearns, Lynda deMaria, Polly Lawrence, Betty Cadden, Jeff Mason, Joe Irby, Kent Wilson, Diana Kenney, Jerry & Ann Nay, Paula Cooper, Ned Henneman, Barbara Bova, Sharon Humphreys, Nancy Mastin, Elizabeth Klein,Cullen Bahr (friend of Drusie Milford), Mary Etta Randolph, Carl & Rachel Pattison, Grace, Palmer Stickley and his family, Mercedes Aravena-Echaurren, Patricia Williams, Justin, Rodrigo, Wes O’Dell and family, Peggy DePasquale, Danny Anson friend of Pat & Keith Gibson), Bill Cannon, Tom Strickland, Virginia Poston (sister of Betsy Carter), Dot Fogo, Roger Baroody, Michelle & John Evola (cousins of Darlene Keane), Kelly Strickland (brother of Paul), For the family of Doug, Shelley and Jennifer in their loss of their gifted son, Tyler (friends of the Passmores), David Austin (friend of the Keanes), Ellen Fure, Buddy Atkins, 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, especially Mildred Huffman.
In Thanksgiving for February and March Birthdays
2/21 Steve Riethmiller
2/23 Beverly Tucker, Graham Hess, Becky Hall
2/24 Holt Merchant
2/25 Jeanne Passmore
2/27 Joseph Henson
2/28 Caitie Carrington, Erin Carrington
3/2 Katherine Greene
3/3 Scott Centorino
3/6 Connor Rothermel
3/7 Woody Sadler
3/8 James Brown, Emma Brooke, Carole Elmore, Charles Moore
3/9 Anne F Grizzle, Susan Mead
3/10 Mary Price
3/11 Daniel Mastin
3/14 Cindy Mullen
3/15 John Milford
3/16 Shay Peters, Catherine Harcus
3/17 Ed Craun, Bill Sayre, Pat McGuire
3/18 Elizabeth Knapp
3/19 Wade Branner, Cecile West-Settle
3/23 Polly Lawrence, Laura Stearns
3/24 Rose Gordon
3/26 AP Smith
3/27 Kathryn Hill
3/31 Will Edgar
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.
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