Dear Saints of Grace
Have you ridden a roller coaster? I have not yet had the chance to experience it, but we all are familiar with the saying, "Life is like a roller coaster."
If you're like me and have never ridden a roller coaster, I am sure you have experienced life's ups and downs. Life is a journey full of twists and turns, where we experience both the sweet moments of joy and the bitter times of adversity.
During this season of Lent, the phrase "Life is a roller coaster" brought to mind Howard Thurman's meditation on "The Moments of High Resolve" From the book “For the Inward Journey.” Thurman highlights the significance of holding onto the moments when we feel moved by the divine and are self-assured about our identity.
In celebrating Black History Month, I believe sharing Howard Thurman's meditation would be appropriate. It is an impactful and inspiring piece that captures the essence of Lent and reminds us of our identity as children of God.
Thank You
Rev. Samson Mamour
Assistant Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
The Moments of High Resolve
Keep fresh before me the moments of my high resolve.
Despite the dullness and barrenness of the days that pass, if I search with due diligence, I can always find a deposit left by some former radiance. But I had forgotten. At the time it was full-orbed, glorious, and resplendent. I was sure that I would never forget. In the moment of its fullness, I was sure that it would illumine my path for all the rest of my journey. I had forgotten how easy it is to forget.
There was no intent to betray what seemed so sure at the time. My response was whole, clean, authentic. But little by little, there crept into my life the dust and grit of the journey. Details, lower-level demands, all kinds of cross currents — nothing momentous, nothing overwhelming, nothing flagrant — just wear and tear. If there had been some direct challenge –a clear-cut issue — I would have fought it to the end, and beyond.
In the quietness of this place, surrounded by the all-pervading Presence of God, my heart whispers: Keep fresh before me the moments of my High Resolve, that in fair weather or in foul, in good times or in tempests, in the days when the darkness and the foe are nameless or familiar, I may not forget that to which my life is committed.
Keep fresh before me the moments of my high resolve.
from For The Inward Journey
by Howard Thurman
Worship Services | Second Sunday in Lent | Sunday, February 25
Holy Eucharist | 8 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m.
In Person | Parish Hall
On February 25 Cecile West-Settle and Heidi Schweizer will offer the second of three sessions on the Camino de Santiago or as it is known in English the Way of St. James. Since the 8th century pilgrims have crossed from France into Spain, descending the Pyrenees, then turning west and traveling 500 miles to reach Santiago de Compostela, the site of St. James’ alleged tomb.
In the second session, we will discuss how to prepare for walking the Way (itinerary the necessary equipment, etc.). In the third session several “pilgrims” of our community will share their personal experiences of walking The Way of St. James.
The third session will be on May 12.
March 3 - Part 3 of the El Camino de Santiago presentation
Last summer, Ramona and Chip Bouzard walked the pilgrimage trail called El Camino de Santiago from St. Jean Pied de Port, France, to Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. Their journey took forty-four days and covered over five hundred miles. They will be sharing stories and photographs of their journey as "peregrinos" (pilgrims) on the Way to Santiago.
Holy Eucharist | 10:30 a.m.
In-Person and Youtube
Women’s Bible Study | 4 p.m.
Welles Room | A study of the Gospel of Luke.
Choral Evensong | 5 p.m.
Sunday evening's Evensong, February 25, 5pm, falls on the Feast of Emily Malbone Morgan, 1862-1937, lay leader and contemplative in the Episcopal Church.
In 1883, Morgan's childhood friend, Adelyn Howard, fell ill with a hip disease, which made her a lonely invalid in a town in which she had no friends or family. The following year, Morgan, with Howard and Harriet Hastings of Wellesley, Massachusetts founded the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross, to allow the shut-in Adelyn—and other religious women who valued thanksgiving, intercessory prayer, and simplicity of life—to pray and work for social justice. Morgan had a talent for providing hospitality, and considered her "greatest desire...has always been to make tired people rested and happy." The group ministered to women working in the nearby textile mills, in part by establishing houses throughout the northeastern United States where such working-class women and their children could vacation.
In 1889, two years after moving to New Haven, Morgan began her writing career, publishing A Little White Shadow, the proceeds of which she used to fund vacation homes. That same year she established the first of many, Heartsease in Saybrook, Connecticut for "tired women, girls and children." As such, Morgan can be considered part of the Deaconess movement in which over 5000 Protestant women participated circa 1890. In 1901, Morgan purchased what became their headquarters and retreat center, in Byfield, Massachusetts, which was named Adelynrood upon its renovation in 1915 (remembering both Howard, who had died in 1898, and an old word for "cross"). Another home with daily religious services attended by Protestants, Jews and Catholics, was called Beulahland. In 1906, Morgan bought the Putnam Elms, the Windham County, Connecticut home of Morgan's maternal great grandfather Colonel Daniel Putnam from 1791 until his death in 1831. She also helped found the Colonel Daniel Putnam Association in 1910. In her later years, Morgan led a Sunday School class at Trinity Church, Boston. ~Wikipedia
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Backyard Compost Challenge with Boxerwood
Our Big Question: How much food waste could we keep out of the landfill if more of us used backyard composters instead? To answer that question we are enrolling 80 local households in a 10-week “citizen science” project, March 9 – May 18, 2024.
Each selected household will weigh and share data about its total food diversion weekly. Boxerwood will post this data anonymously on its project webpage. We will use this information to better understand the impact of diverting food waste with backyard composting. Your new compost kit (and our weekly tips) will also give you a way to start protecting the Earth right here at home.
Our Lenten Journey
We hope you will join the Diocesan Becoming Beloved Community Guiding Team as we talk about the mission and ministry of Becoming Beloved Community. What does that look like for individuals, for a church and for our communities? We will learn about this important ministry through history, education and resources, action and worship.
Resources and Notes from this week's presentation:
Thanks to all those who joined us Tuesday night. Below you will find some of the resources and notes from the presentation. I hope you will all join us next Tuesday, Feb 27 for our session on BBC and History with the Rev Nina Salmon talking about history in our Diocese, Rev Preston Mitchell talking about history in our Diocese focusing on Black in Appalachia and other Guiding Team Members talk about getting to know our own history, parish history and why that is important in our BBC work and ministry.
Gathering Prayer from A Disciple’s Prayer Book from The Episcopal Church’s Office of Indigenous Ministries:
Creator, we give you thanks for all you are and all you bring to us for our visit within your creation. In Jesus, you place the Gospel in the center of this sacred circle through which all of creation is related. You show us the way to live a generous and compassionate life. Give us your strength to live together with respect and commitment as we grow in your spirit, for you are God, now and forever. Amen.
Diocesan BBC Guiding Team Members
Nina Salmon Lynchburg Convocation
Brian Hutcherson Augusta Convocation
Anne Grizzle Augusta Convocation
Tuck Bowerfind Augusta Convocation
Sally Mueller Augusta Convocation
Jennifer Berenson Roanoke Convocation
Virginia Sweet Roanoke Convocation
Boyd Evans Abingdon Convocation
Preston Mitchell Abingdon Convocation
Seeking a member(s) from the New River Convocation, lay or clergy
Prayer for Social Justice found in our Book of Common Prayer on page 823
Confirmation and Reception
If you would like to try to understand the Episcopal Church better and consider Confirmation or Reception when the Bishop comes later this year, please meet with Tuck and Samson from noon to 1 p.m. on Sundays of Lent: February 18, 25, March 3, 10, 17, and 24. We will provide a light lunch and try to answer your questions about the Episcopal Church, the scriptures, the creeds, the sacraments, and the historic episcopate. Attendance at all six meetings is aspirational but not required.
Boys Home in the News
Dinner Groups
If you did not sign up for a dining group or are new to Grace Church and would like to be a part of a dinning group, (lunch, dine in or dine out) do let Ruth know and we’ll find you a group. Give Ruth a call at 910-409-9325 or send Ruth Smith an email. This is a fun way to get to know other Grace members. If you are in a group that eats in homes, you will be responsible for one meal, planning the date, creating the main course, and assigning other items to those in your group. If you dine out, you are responsible for setting the date and planing where to eat making reservations for the group.
March Music Events
For a full list, of W&L March music events, click here.
Music Scholar Eliza Stucki will give her senior recital Saturday, March 2 at 3:30 at SVU. All are invited.
Wednesday Nights in Lent
Anne Sauder will serve supper at 6 p.m. on the five Wednesday nights of Lent - February 21, 28, March 6, 13, 20. Starting about 6:30 p.m. we will exercise our rights as citizens of the Kingdom and Caucus for our favorite candidates for the Golden Halo. Please register for Lent Madness and vote daily during Lent.
On Sunday, March 3, Lexington’s First Baptist Church invites us to take part in its Heritage Day celebration, which will feature (1) a service at 11 a.m. led by Rev. Dr. Boykin Sanders, who succeeded Martin Luther King Jr. in 1960 as senior minister at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery Al.; a complementary soul food meal to which everyone is invited; and (3) the premiere of an exhibition of paintings by Beverly Tucker, “The Music of Black Heritage,” highlighting African American musicians, including “Quintet,” shown here.
Update on the Trex Challenge
Grace Episcopal Church is enrolled in the Trex Challenge to collect 1,000 lbs. of plastic film for recycling over a one-year period. If we meet this goal, we will receive a free Trex bench.
The Creation Care Committee, with the help of the Lexington Garden Club, is pleased to announce that we have collected a total of 199 lbs. of plastic film over the past 3 months toward our goal. This is the equivalent @ 10,000 plastic bags that did not end up in our roads, fields, waters, or landfill. Thank you so much for your efforts in this challenge.
While this is very commendable, we will need to average 267 lbs. each quarter over the next 3 quarters to reach the 1,000 lb. target. This means we need to increase our collections by 34% to meet the goal. Please keep up your collection efforts, and for those yet to participate, we need your help.
Please note that the plastic film collected is not only plastic bags but includes other plastic films that stretch; bread bags, bubble wrap, drycleaning bags, plastic shipping envelopes, Ziploc food storage bags, shrink wrap, salt bags, wood pellet bags, produce bags, etc... everything just must be clean before going into recycling. There is a blue collection bin for plastic film under the bridge between the Church and Parish Hall for your deposit of plastic films. Thanks again for your participation in this challenge.
Prayers for Peace in the Holy Land
A Note from Tuck:
I am writing to ask for your prayers for a de-escalation of violence between Israeli and Palestinian people and for return to the challenging work of building a sustainable and lasting peace.
I have reached out to the current student director of Hillel House, the Chaplain at VMI, and the director of Student Services at W&L to express our support of Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish and Muslim students.
I encourage you to reach out to your Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish and Muslim friends in recognition that this crisis creates the conditions for increased anti-semitic and anti-muslim behavior, as well the strong likelihood that they or someone close to them has been impacted by this crisis.
Finally, please read the following statement by the Episcopal Church and the accompanying statement by Churches for Middle East Peace.
Pray for peace.
Boys Home of Virginia Wish List
Please help us support the Boys Home of Virginia by supplying any of items on their wishlist. There is a basket on the stair landing to the Parish Office for the Boys Home donations. Please drop off at church. Thank you!
A Plea for Haiti
Our neighbors in Haiti are struggling through a period of political violence and chaos. With the government disabled, many Haitians rely on church schools to educate their children. Grace, as part of the Virginia Haiti Collaborative, supports one such school in Haiti, St. Marc’s in Cerca-la-Source. Every month the Collaborative sends $5000 to Haiti to pay the salaries of the 30-some teachers at St. Marc’s who teach the 350 students in grades K-12. That $5000/month pays the full salaries of 30 adults and provides education for 350 students. The Collaborative is the school’s only source of funding.
This season, we are also raising money so that the students can have computers at school. They will need some degree of computer literacy to take their graduation exams and to serve them as they seek jobs after graduation. If you can help provide schooling for these children, please put Virginia Haiti Collaborative on the memo line and send your check to Trinity Episcopal Church, 214 W. Beverley St, Staunton, VA 24401. Trinity provides bookkeeping for the collaborative. For more information, please contact Anne Hansen or Tuck.
Wanted: Sunday School Teachers
Grace is looking for youth, college students and adults willing to help provide Sunday School for a few children each Sunday from about 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. We are willing to pay a stipend. Please contact Tuck to find out more.
African American Heritage Celebrations
Prayer List
Prayer for the election of the next Presiding Bishop: Almighty God, source of all wisdom and understanding: Look graciously on your church, and so guide the hearts and minds of those who will choose our next presiding bishop, that we may receive a faithful pastor who will care for all of your people, equip us for our ministries, and proclaim your word to us and to the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: Pray for the Presiding Bishop Curry who is recovering from Jan. 18 surgery. The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Mark Bourlakas. Pray for the people of St. Elizabeth’s, Roanoke and their Rector, The Rev. Karin MacPhail. Pray for Brendon, Michael Murphy, Timmy, Rick Alexander, Bradley Fairchild and Karen Junkin, John & Gloria June Perry, Glen Jones, Patricia Brown Boyer, Carolyn Glenn, Jack Hershbell, Laura Stearns, Worth & Katie Burnes & Family, Amelia Dull, Stephen deMaria, Polly Lawrence, Betty Cadden, Jeff Mason, Joe Irby, Kent Wilson, Don Ellis, Diana Kenney, Patrick Bowes, Ann Nay, Paula Cooper, Penny & Ned Henneman, Barbara Bova, Daniel Diener, Shelby, Clay Sadler, Lynn Butler, Sharon Humphreys, Eloise Adams, Nancy Mastin, Elizabeth Klein, Patrick Keeley, Cullen Bahr (friend of Drusie Milford), Mary Etta Randolph, Amaree Cluff, Jeff Patnaude, Blake, Liz & Cameron (friends of Chris Young), Carl & Rachel Pattison, Steve Robbins and those we name aloud or in our hearts. Pray for those who have died, Rob Minor. Pray for the people of Israel, Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, Ukraine, and pray for the cessation of violence, and for reconciliation, and peace.
In Thanksgiving for February and March Birthdays
2/23 Beverly Tucker, Graham Hess
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, Jonathan Webster, Carole Elmore
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
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