Dear friends,
This Sunday we celebrate the mystery of the Baptism of our Lord and we renew our own baptismal covenant. Each gospel writer presents the Baptism of Jesus in a unique way. One of the unique elements of Luke's presentation is that he tells us John had been arrested before the baptism of Jesus. This raises the question, if not John, who baptized Jesus?
Luke adds the detail that as Jesus was praying, the heaven was opened. It seems that for Luke, it is Jesus' prayer, not the water baptism, that calls or invites the baptism of the Holy Spirit who descends upon Jesus in bodily form like a dove while a voice comes from heaven: You are my son, the beloved, with you I am well pleased.
What Luke seems to be showing us is two separate baptisms. One with water performed according to John's method but apart from his personal application. And a second baptism of the Holy Spirit initiated by the prayer of Jesus conveying the blessing of the voice from heaven - I love you. You are precious to me.
Likewise, our experience of divine love is often separate from the experience of baptism. Often we have the experience without recognizing its source. We locate it in the experience of music, literature, art, romance, family, nature. A sense, often fleeting, that all is well and good and that there is after all nothing to fear.
We hope and trust that God will fulfill the promise of divine love in every person. We pray that every child knows in real and tangible ways that they are loved. And we pray that by God's grace every person fulfills their own unique promise as the beloved child of the one triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
With Gratitude, Tuck Bowerfind (he/him)
Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Worship Services | First Sunday After the Epiphany | Sunday, January 12
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | In-Person and on Zoom
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | In-Person and Zoom
Anne Hansen will review lectio divina as a means of meditation on scripture. As a group, we'll apply it to the gospel passage.
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Sessions
Jan 19 - St. John's Bible, Brad Neary and Liz Moss presenting
Jan 26 - One holy, catholic, apostolic, David Cox presenting
Holy Eucharist Rt II | 10:30 a.m. | In-Person and on YouTube
Women's Bible Study | Welles Room/Library | 3:30 p.m.
Taizé Eucharist | 5 p.m. | In-Person
A Celebration of Holy Eucharist in the Taizé tradition of Contemplative Song and Prayer
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebrations
Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Worship Service
Sunday, January 19, 4:00 p.m. at The First Baptist Church, 103 N. Main Street, Lexington.
9th Annual CARE Rockbridge Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Parade
10:30 a.m., January 20. Parade starts at the Randolph Street United Methodist Church.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday January 20 - Parish Office Closed
Educational Exchange Program
The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) is sponsoring a presentation by local high school exchange students at the Lexington Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, January 14th at 6:30 pm in the Westfel Room (use Randolph Street entrance and follow signs) and Thursday, January 16th at 6:30 also in the Westfel Room.
The students will give a presentation about their home country, including an overview of the daily life, culture, food, traditions, history and some general information about the country. Questions from the audience members are welcome.
The students presenting on Tuesday, January 14th are Gulbadanbegim (Mia—from Uzbekistan), Theo (from Germany) and Emma (from Germany). Presenting on Thursday, January 16th will be Zana from Bosnia, Peeranut (Peyton—from Thailand). and Nikita (from Kyrgyzstan).
All the students will prepare a traditional dish or dessert to share with the community. Everyone is welcome and there is no charge.
For more information about the presentations or to host a student for 2025-2024, call local coordinator, Cindy Miller, at 464-3110 (home)/817-8851 (cell).
The Saint John's Bible
If you are interested in finding out more about The Saint John's Bible, there are books you can check out in our Welles Room/Library.
Saint John’s Bible Welcome Event
Saturday, January 18, 2025
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Grace Episcopal Church
123 W. Washington St, Lexington, Virginia
Please join us as we welcome Volume 7 (Gospels & Acts) of the Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible. The Saint John’s Bible is the first illuminated, handwritten Bible to be commissioned by a Benedictine Abbey in more than 500 years.
Saint John’s Abbey & University (Collegeville, MN), in 1998 commissioned this unique work of Scripture and sacred art as a gift to the world for the new Millennium. The 1,150-page manuscript was created by Donald Jackson, former Senior Scribe to Her Royal Majesty The Late Queen Elizabeth II Crown Office, along with a small collaborative team of scribes and artists. Traditional materials were used, including vellum, ancient inks, precious metals and quill pens fashioned from goose, turkey and swan feathers.
In an effort to fully realize the mission of The Saint John’s Bible – to ignite the spiritual imagination of people around the world on all faith journeys – a full-sized, fine art printed Heritage Edition was produced using cutting-edge 21st-century technology. This limited Edition is bound in Italian leather and features the exquisite calligraphy, vibrant imagery and stunning embossed illuminations inspired by the original; only 299 of these 7-volume sets were crafted.
The volume will be hosted by Grace Episcopal Church during February, March, and April and during that time it will be inspiring us in our worship and study of scripture. We also desire to share it within our community. Please contact the church office ( 540-463-4981) or Liz Moss (540-233-1048) if you would like to engage with the Bible.
Check out this recent video from Saint Patricks in New York about the Saint John’s Bible.
Youth at Convention
Get ready for our biggest event of the year with youth from across Southwestern Virginia. Registration is open for Youth@Convention 2025! All middle and high school youth are invited to join us for a weekend of live music, small groups, and youth centered worship. We are excited to announce that our service project will be making beds with Sleep in Heavenly Peace. January 24–26, 2025 | St. John's Roanoke. Registration deadline is Wednesday, Jan. 15. We can't wait to see you!
ACTS Call for Members
What is Grace Actively Caring Through Sharing (ACTS)?
How can I be a part of it?
Grace ACTS is an important ministry to the parishioners and the community of our church. Our four teams consist of over 20 people or family units that volunteer for the Grace ACTS ministry. Each team has about 6 members and is on duty every 4 weeks. Grace ACTS members select two or more needs from the list when their team is on duty. Team members pray for, call, visit or send a card to those on the list that are ill, have had a death in their family or are celebrating a new baby or a birthday. Please continue to pray for this vital ministry to our parish. If you have a pastoral concern or know of someone who does please contact Fr. Tuck, Melissa Cox or the Parish Office. If you would like to serve on a team, please contact Melissa.
Clothes Closet at Christ Episcopal
The Clothes Closet at Christ Church, Buena Vista, continues toneed children’s winter jackets. They also need teenaged girls’ clothing of all types in sizes 14, 16, and 18. They also need queen-sized sheets. 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.
Walk in Love Stewardship Campaign
This Sunday we are handing out pledge cards. Monday we will mail cards to parishioners who were not at church. Thank you to everyone who has already pledged to the Walk in Love pledge campaign to fund the 2025 operating budget of Grace Episcopal Church. Every pledge helps us with our planning for the year to come. We will list the names of those who have made a pledge every week, as well as the total pledged to date in the Parish News Life with Grace. Our goal is between 120-130 pledges totaling $540,000. To date we have received pledges from 125 households totaling $546,584.00.
Thanks to our contributing households thus far!
Pam & Jim Adams
Lori Apgar
John & Cecilia Arpin
Doug Ayer
Anne Blanken
Laurent & Elizabeth Boetsch
Peter Bowerfind
Tucker & Delea Bowerfind
Jane Brooke
Alexandra Brown
Jim & Toni Brown
Madison & Katharine Brown
Ruth Brunner
Martha Ann Burford
Catharine Burns
Bettie Cadden
Betsy & Buddy Carter
David & Marjorie Connolly
Virginia Cooke
R. David & Melissa Cox
Ed & Marlys Craun
Jay & Joan Crawford
Roger & Anna Crockett
Dennis & Susan Cross
Susan Denson
Lynn & Carol Dent
Barton & Gail Dick
John & Gail Dickerson
Punky Dod
Langston & Page Donkle
Ed & Lu Dooley
Jonathan Eastwood & Maria Nava
Will & Cary Edgar
Don & Claudia Ellis
Carole Elmore
Matthew Fogo & Kevin Manning
Patrick France
James & Katharine Farrar
Tim & Catharine Gaylard
Keith & Pat Gibson
Rene' Glidden
Rose Gordon
Tom & Carol Gosse
Melanie Griffis
Julianne Grimes
David & Anne F Grizzle
Peter & Julia Grover
Margaret Haberman
Woody & Becky Hall
David & Anne Hansen
Sandy & Catherine Harcus
Elizabeth Harralson
Diana Harris
Winifred Hart
Helen Head
Jack & Anne Hershbell
Drew & Megan Hess
Harold & Kathryn Hill
Kay Horner
Judy Hotchkiss
David & Chris Howison
Benjamin & Laurie Huger
Patrick & Phyllis Hugg
Gini Jardim
James & Darlene Keane
Suzanne Keen
Diana Kenney
Deborah & Bill Klein
John & Beth Knapp
Helen Kostel
Bill & Kathy Kozak
Sharon & Frederick Kurtz
Steve & Susan Lawrence
Greg & Janet Lemmer
Buster & Signe Lewis
Mo & Julia Littlefield
Jeff & Meg Mason
M.J. Mayerchak
William McCorkle
Pat & Lisa McGuire
Jo McMurtry
Susan Mead
John & Drusie Milford
Su Minor
Joseph & Abby Moles
Helen Moore
Liz Moss
Grigg & Cindy Mullen
Ann & Jerry Nay
Elaine Nelson
Mark Nelson
David O'Connor & Linda Merrick
Elizabeth Oliver
David & Nan Partlett
David & Jeanne Passmore
George & Eleanor Penn
Michael Perry
Shay Peters
Henry Porter
Tim & Mary Price
MaryEtta Randolph
Colin Reid
Steve & Peggy Riethmiller
Joanne & Paul Robblee
Cynthia Robertson
Martha & Don Robey
Woody & Lori Sadler
Nanalou Sauder
Bill Sayre & Melissa Gladwell-Sayre
Judy Schram
Frank Settle, Jr. & Cecile West-Settle
Sue & Steve Shultis
Clark & Raeanna Simcoe
Ham & AP Smith
Jimbo & Ruth Smith
Sarah Stockton
Paul Strickland
Lisa Tracy
Spencer & Beverly Tucker
David Wade
Harry & Marnie Wheeler
Kent & Mary Wilson
Michael & Beverly Wirtz
Connor Wolfe
Christina Young
Pledge something. You are a valuable member of the body of Christ. Most of your contribution to Christ's work is through the works of love you do for others every day in your work and personal life. You also share in the responsibility for maintaining and operating our facilities and ministries. Some members give $1/week, some give $400/week. Some give nothing. Whatever you commit and fulfill will be gratefully received and faithfully used for God's mission through Grace. Whether you give something or not, you are a beloved member of the parish and the body of Christ.
Consider pledging proportionally. As your income or net worth change, continue to give proportionally. For example - you can base your giving on a proportion of your gross annual income. Or if you have a positive net worth, you might consider basing your giving on a proportion of your net worth.
Consider tithing your income or net worth. Traditionally, tithing is ten percent of gross household income. Muslims have a different standard that you might consider. They give 2.4% of their gross positive net worth. If they have zero or negative net worth, they are not expected to give anything except time and talent.
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
Paws to Connect
Paws to Connect is back! Students, we know you’re already missing your dogs from home. Our dogs miss you! Come see us on Tuesday and Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the steps of Grace!
Check out the below article from the Fall 2024 edition of “In General”
Prayer List
Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: Pray for Presiding Bishop The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe. Pray for Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Mark Bourlakas. Pray for the people of Good Shepherd, Galax. 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, Nick Penn, Danny Anson (friend of Pat & Keith Gibson), Bill Cannon, Rebecca Robblee (daughter-in-law of Joanne & Paul Robblee), Tom Strickland, Virginia Poston (sister of Betsy Carter), Dot Fogo, Roger Baroody, Henry Porter, Buster Lewis, Joe Moles, Mo Littlefield, Michelle & John Evola (cousins of Darlene Keane), 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 - remembering Peter Fyfe, and The Rev. Dr. Jackson Hershbell.
In Thanksgiving for January Birthdays
1/10 Janet Lemmer, Peter Grover
1/ 11 Signe Lewis, Marnie Wheeler
1/14 Liz Moss
1/16 Gabrielle Frascati
1/18 Lee Sayre, Laurie Huger
1/19 Elizabeth Boetsch
1/20 Paul Strickland
1/21 Sarah Edgar
1/23 Virginia Cooke
1/26 Maille Carrington
1/27 Sean Carrington, Joseph Moles
1/29 Jane Brooke, Nan Partlett
1/30 Melissa Gladwell-Sayre, Cary Edgar
1/31 Tom Gosse
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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