Life With Grace | July 10
- Grace Episcopal Church
- Jul 10
- 8 min read
Dear Friends,
The parable of the sower is often interpreted allegorically as a description of four types of response to the gospel. Matthew himself offers this allegorical reading which might conclude with the question, What kind of soil are you?
But the original parable, like a work of art, literature, or music, is also a singular depiction of the way God works in the world. The parable presents a non-coercive God, a God who gives the kingdom freely and for all. Despite rejection and failure, ultimately the kingdom of divine love produces a bountiful harvest.
As we know, Jesus' example for us is equally non-coercive. He gives himself freely for all. The way of the cross which reveals that love is in no way attractive. But the love of God that is concealed within the crucifixion begins to show forth in the resurrection.
Though his own people reject him, Jesus death and resurrection reveals God's non-coercive, gratuitous love for the world and confirms the way of love as the way of eternal life. And through history the proclamation of that death and resurrection has and will continue to bear fruit, transforming souls from within all the kingdoms of the world from the pursuit of self to the giving of themselves in the spirit of Christ.
The question of the parable in this interpretation is not only what kind of soil are you? It is also, Will you follow the Sower who gives himself in the spirit of God's love for the world? Will you persevere in proclaiming the good news, not only with your lips, but in your life, giving up yourself to God's service? And will you do this within the communion and fellowship of other disciples, practicing the disciplines of communion and fellowship, striving for justice and peace and respecting the dignity of all people?
The answer to these questions, and the way they impact specific choices we make in specific situations define the difference between a life that continues in the crowd from one one that is lived in the community of disciples.
Either way, the love of God will continue to transform lives and history. And God will bring all creation to fulfill the glorious revelation of the mystery of the love of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit until all flesh see it together.
Will you follow?
With Gratitude,
Tuck Bowerfind (he/him)
Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Worship Services | Seventh Sunday after Pentecost | July 12
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
July 12 | When in Romans Chapter 1 | Anne Hansen
“When in Romans:” Christianity and Culture, Four Sessions and a Film!
All Sundays in July at 9:15 am.
We are currently working through Paul’s Letter to the Romans in the lectionary. This “magisterial” letter (as it is sometimes called) is associated with the conversions of both Saint Augustine in the 5th c and Martin Luther in the 16th. Key themes in it (e.g., justification by faith) are fundamental to the development of and controversies within the church, East and West, Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox.
Romans is written from Corinth to a congregation or congregations that Paul did not found in Rome, a city he anticipates visiting for the first time. He is introducing himself and setting out for a new audience what he takes to be the radical heart of the gospel. It is for him a matter of profound urgency for the future of the church that the good news he offers here be heard in its fullness. That message is sometimes missed in our atomized lectionary readings of the letter. And if we miss the through-lines of his argument, we may also miss the provocative and liberating news he delivers.
In her accessible and short (!) book When in Romans Beverly Roberts Gaventa (Emerita Distinguished Professsor of New Testament, Baylor University and Emerita Professor of New Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary) offers to a wide, nonspecialist, Christian audience what she calls “an invitation to linger with the Gospel according to Paul.” Attentive to the throughlines of his argument and to features of Paul’s style and vocabulary, she guides us through the letter, allowing us to see the whole and with it the radical heart of Paul’s gospel. Her vivid prose, her sensitivity not only to Paul’s culture, but to ours, and her exegetical clarity bring Paul’s revolutionary rethinking of the relation of God to the world to us afresh.
For four Sundays in July, you are invited to join Christianity and Culture in reading and discussion of Gaventa’s book. We’ll set the scene as she does in the book, with a viewing of the Terrence Malick film, The Tree of Life on Sunday, June 28 at 5 pm. (Pizza provided!). And don’t be surprised to find Gaventa referring to Bob Dylan (“Gotta Serve Somebody”) or Bruce Springsteen (“Land of Hopes and Dreams”) as present day interpreters of the letter. Fr. Tuck, Anne Hanson, Cecile West-Settle and Alexandra Brown will be facilitators of discussion. You are encouraged to get the book and read along for maximum enjoyment!
Beverly Roberts Gaventa, When in Romans: An invitation to linger with the Gospel according to Paul (Baylor University Press, 2016).
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.
Celtic Contemplative Service with Healing Prayers | 5 p.m.
Celebration of New Entrance
Please join us at 4 p.m. today, July 10 for a celebratory opening of the new entrance with Renewing Grace Campaign Chairs Mo and Julia Littlefield and Jerry and Ann Nay followed by a wine and cheese reception in the Parish Hall.
Parking in front of Grace Church
Please be aware that due to W&L construction, there will be no parking in front of Grace Church for the next two years.
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
Zoom and In-Person
The Mission and Outreach Committee of the Gadsden Trust
Third quarter grant requests must be received by noon on September 1, 2026. The online Gadsden Trust Grant Application can be completed by going to the Grace Episcopal Church website at www.gracelexva.org. Once on the Grace website, click on the “Grants” tab and then the Gadsden Grants tab. The completed application will automatically be sent to the Gadsden Committee.
Gadsden Committee meetings are open to members of the parish.
Library Update
The books from the Welles Room (Library) have been culled in anticipation of the construction work to be done in the Parish House. The books to be given away are on a metal rack in room 210 on the top floor of the Parish House. You may take as many as you wish. What is not taken will be donated to the public library.
The Marriage of Richard Jones and Roslyn Odrick
On Tuesday, July 7 at Noon, our "Preacherman" Richard Jones married Roslyn Odrick in a lovely ceremony officiated by Fr. Tuck and attended by family members, and friends and mentors from the S.T.E.P.S. program. Richard and Roslyn will be living in Lynchburg. If you would like to send them a note contact Lisa (lisa@gracelexva.org).
Music in the Garden at Boxerwood
Join us in the Boxerwood field on select Fridays May - September for this family-friendly concert series. For more than ten years, neighbors have gathered at Boxerwood on warm summer evenings to enjoy great local music in a relaxing atmosphere. The concerts are kid and pet-friendly, affordable, easily accessible, and welcoming to all.
The gate opens at 5:30 p.m. so that early arrivers can meet up with friends to picnic, socialize, or get a bite to eat. Musicians take the stage at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at 8:00 p.m. as the sun goes down. A food truck is on site at each show. Admission to Music in the Garden is free for kids and current Boxerwood members and $5 per adult for non-members. There's no charge for parking. We have handicapped parking and the terrain is suitable for wheelchairs.
To view the bands and plan your visit, check out our Calendar.
Music at Noon
Wednesday, July 15 at 12 noon at Lexington Presbyterian
Scott Williamson, tenor; William McCorkle, piano. Music by French composer Maurice Ravel, and American composers Leonard Bernstein, Gerald Cohen, and Stephen Richards. You are cordially invited.
Wednesday, July 22 at 12 noon at Lexington Presbyterian
Charles Blueweiss, baritone, William McCorkle, piano. "A Garland of Roses," a song cycle by English composer, Gerard Finzi, on texts by William Shakespeare. You are cordially invited.
Wednesday, July 29at 12 noon at Lexington Presbyterian
Adam Williams, tenor/guitar. Classic songs from the 60s and early-to-mid 70s, featuring songs by Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, and more. You are cordially invited.
Food for Pets of RARA Clients
We are collecting 8- or 10-pound bags of dry or wet dog, puppy, cat, and kitten food for pets of RARA clients.
Any brand is welcome, but please choose regular diets.
Donations may be delivered inside the RARA Neighborhood Market at 350 Spotswood Drive, Lexington, during the following drop-off times:
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
If these times are not convenient, donations may also be dropped off at the parish office.
For questions, please email Susan Cross.
Clothes Closet at Christ Episcopal
The Clothes Closet at Christ Church, Buena Vista, needs new men's briefs and boxer shorts and women's underwear - all sizes, men's collarless tee shirts in all sizes, men's shorts, jeans, pants sizes 30 to 36, and new or gently used men's socks. 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.
Upcoming Funerals
Doug Ayer Funeral, Saturday, July 18 at 11 a.m. followed by a reception in the Parish Hall.
Jimbo Smith Funeral, Saturday, July 25 at 11 a.m. followed by a reception in the Parish Hall.
Prayer List
Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: Pray for Presiding Bishop The Most Rev. Sean Rowe. Pray today for the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia and our Bishop The Rt. Rev. Bishop Karin’s McPhail. Pray for the people of Christ Church, Big Stone Gap.
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, Kent Wilson, Jerry & Ann Nay, Paula Cooper, Sharon Humphreys, Elizabeth Klein, Dot Fogo, Buddy Atkins, Dennis Coughlin, Rob Fleming, Patty Irving Sensabaugh, Gerry Locher, Mo Littlefield, Tena Clark, Shay Peters, Meg Moss, Steve Lawrence, Patricia Williams, Peggy Matheson, Al Hipp (nephew of Virginia Cooke), Scott Ford, Sid, Allison Williams, Ian Thomas Treger & family, Biddy & Chuck Watson, Sue Denson, Anne Hershbell, Michelle Mackie, 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, especially Doug Ayer and Jimbo Smith.
In thanksgiving for the marriage of Richard Jones & Roslyn Odrick on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
In Thanksgiving for July Birthdays
7/10 Joe Simcoe
7/11 Mary Wilson Grist, Elizabeth Grist, Mary Wilson
7/13 Jackson Hotchkiss
7/14 Bethany Hull
7/15 Linda Merrick
7/17 Kris Hoolahan
7/18 Carla Henson
7/19 Jeff Mason
7/20 Lisa Tracy
7/21 Catharine Gaylard
7/23 Miss D Penick
7/28 Paul Robblee, Su Minor
7/29 John Brooke, Holly Pickett, Jonathan Eastwood, Woody Hall
7/31 Margaret Haberman
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