Life With Grace | July 18
- Grace Episcopal Church
- Jul 18
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 21
The Funeral of Helen Louise Bahm Head | Saturday, July 19, 1 p.m.
In-person and YouTube
Dear friends,
This Sunday's gospel shows us Jesus entering a village and being welcomed into the home of two sisters. We will remember his instruction to his disciples, to go into the villages he himself will visit. Whatever house you enter, say Peace be upon this house. If a child of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon them. Eat and drink what they put before you.
The house he enters belongs to Martha of Bethany, who welcomes him but becomes anxious about the demands of serving him and asks him to remind her sister Mary of her duty to help.
This gospel is the companion to last Sunday's which illustrated the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. The story about Mary and Martha illustrates the companion commandment - love God with all you are and have. Mary, who chooses to sit at Jesus's feet and listen to his teaching, illustrates the love of God as attentiveness to God's Word.
We are being presented with complementary lessons here, not competing ones. Listening with loving attention to what the Lord God is saying to us is not in competition with loving your neighbor. But we might recognize the priority of paying affectionate attention to the Word of God.
Jesus is not telling Martha that she must do her work without her sister's help. He is inviting her to challenge unspoken cultural norms and expectations, and accept the opportunity to join Mary in sitting at his feet and listening to his teaching, the opportunity to be fed by him, the bread of life, before feeding him.
The right order of things is first to accept God's gifts to us and our neighbors then to serve God by sharing with those neighbors who are in need.
The truth is God is always giving, in word and spirit, in mercy and truth. God is the Giver. Take time to receive. Reconnect with the joy, peace, and mercy that God gives in all times and places. Then look for the way you can bear fruit through loving service of your neighbor.
With Gratitude, Tuck Bowerfind (he/him)
Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Worship Services | Sixth Sunday after Pentecost | Proper 11 | Sunday, July 20th
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | In-Person and on Zoom
Holy Eucharist Rt II | 10:30 a.m. | In-Person and on YouTube
Ceiling fans in the nave: Questions have been asked about using the ceiling fans in the nave during the summer months. Because they force the warm air that collects near the top of the nave downward, it negatively impacts the effectiveness of the air conditioning. Accordingly, the recommendation has been made to leave them off.
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Coffee Hour
We have Sunday July 27 available for coffee hour volunteers. Please consider helping with fellowship after the 10:30 a.m. service. We need 2 volunteers to provide snacks (for 50 people), set out and clean up afterward. Thank you for your time and talent!
Music in the Garden at Boxerwood
130 Munger Lane
Gates open at 5:30 pm, music from 6:30-7:30 pm
$5 per adult, kids are free.
BYOB, BYO chairs and pack out your waste.
Leashed pets welcome.
July 18 The Late Night Stumblers
July 25 Caravan of Fools
August 8 Honest Labor
August 22 The Ruckus Bluegrass Band
September 5 Betty and the Hot Flashes
Music at Noon
Adam Williams, tenor; William McCorkle, piano
Thursday, July 24 at 12 p.m.
Lexington Presbyterian Church
The Saint John's Bible Returns
It was such a wonderful experience having The Gospels and Book of Acts with us. In mid-September, The Pentateuch volume of the Saint John's Bible will be arriving and staying with us up until Christmas. We are hoping that some of our parishioners might like to be involved with this second "visit". Please let Joanne Robblee know if you want to volunteer and attend an initial planning meeting.
If you have questions, please contact Joanne Robblee at joannerobblee@gmail.com.
Renewing Grace Capital Campaign
Many thanks to everyone who has made a pledge or gift to the Renewing Grace Campaign:
Lori Apgar
Cecilia & John Arpin
Laurent & Elizabeth Boetsch
Tucker & Delea Bowerfind
Jane Brooke
Alexandra Brown
Madison & Katharine Brown
Ruth Brunner
LM & Elizabeth Carter
Jonathan Clawson
David & Marjorie Connolly
R. David & Melissa Cox
Marlys & Ed Craun
Jay & Joan Crawford
Roger & Anna Crockett
Dennis & Susan Cross
Susan Denson
Lynwood & Carol Dent
Gail Dick
John & Gail Dickerson
Langston & Page Donkle
Jonathan Eastwood & Maria Nava
Cary & Will Edgar
Donald & Claudia Ellis
Carole Elmore
James & Katharine Farrar
Matthew Fogo, Kevin Manning & Dot Fogo
Anzolette Pendleton Gadsden Trust
Timothy & Catharine Gaylard
Rene' Glidden
Thomas & Carol Gosse
David & Anne F Grizzle
Margaret Haberman
Woody & Becky Hall
David & Anne Hansen
Sandy & Catherine Harcus
Heather & Hunter Hawley
Anne Hershbell
Harold & Kathryn Hill
Judy Hotchkiss
Benjamin & Laurie Huger
Patrick & Phyllis Hugg
Virginia Jardim
James & Darlene Keane
Suzanne Keen
Emily King & Diego Millan
William & Kathy Kozak
Sharon & Frederick Kurtz
A.W. “Buster” & Signe Lewis
Maurice & Julia Littlefield
Bill & Barbara Luton
Mary Jane Mayerchak
William McCorkle
Patrick & Lisa McGuire
Josephine McMurtry
John & Drusilla Milford
Susan Minor
Elizabeth Moss
Grigg & Cindy Mullen
Ann & Jerry Nay
Donna Noyes
David O'Connor & Linda Merrick
Anita Ogard & George Strickland (in honor of Tom & Paul Strickland)
Elizabeth & Bill Oliver
David & Nan Partlett
David & Jeanne Passmore
Michael Perry
Steve & Peggy Riethmiller
Joanne & Paul Robblee
Martha & Donald Robey
Rose & Connor Rothermel
Woodson & Lori Sadler
William Sayre & Melissa Gladwell-Sayre
Judy Schram
Maurice Seaton
Frank Settle, Jr. & Cecile West-Settle
Marjorie Sherrill
Steve & Susan Shultis
Hampden & Aine Smith
James & Ruth Smith
Andrew & Katherine Squires
Stephen & Janice Straske
Paul Strickland
Eliza Stucki
Elizabeth Tracy
David Wade
Kent & Mary Wilson
Michael & Beverly Wirtz
To learn more about the Renewing Grace campaign and its priorities, and to make a gift or pledge online, visit www.givingsites.com/renewinggrace/.
Renewing Grace Capital Campaign House Parties
The Renewing Grace Capital Campaign committee themed parties to celebrate our fellowship and on-going commitment to God and community have been successful. We have one party left on August 10. If you have not attended a party and you would like to join in the fun, we have a few spots left! You can sign up by clicking the link below. Thank you!
Family Backyard BBQ - hosted by Phyllis & Pat Hugg, Sarah & Scott Centorino.
Bakers Wanted for the Community Table
Please contact Virginia Cooke at 348-5367 if interested!
Clothes Closet at Christ Episcopal
The Clothes Closet at Christ Church, Buena Vista, continues to need girls' clothing sizes 10-18, winter clothes only and boys summer clothing, sizes 10-12. 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 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.
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. Pray today for the people of Christ Church, Big Stone Gap. Pray for Brendon, Timmy, John Perry, Laura Stearns, Lynda deMaria, Polly Lawrence, Betty Cadden, Jeff Mason, Joe Irby, Kent Wilson, Diana Kenney, Jerry & Ann Nay, Paula Cooper, Ned Henneman, Sharon Humphreys, Nancy Mastin, Elizabeth Klein, Mary Etta Randolph, Carl & Rachel Pattison, Grace, Mercedes Aravena-Echaurren, Justin, Rodrigo, Wes O’Dell and family, Virginia Poston (sister of Betsy Carter), Dot Fogo, Roger Baroody, David Austin (friend of the Keanes), Buddy Atkins, George Collier, Rosemary Phillips (sister of Paul Robblee), Patricia Williams, Emily & Luke Child, Rebecca Robblee (daughter-in-law of Joanne & Paul), Andy Wolfe, Mike, Margy & Aaron Haire (Susan Cross’ brother and family), Stan Driver, Chris Clayton Syrrist (cousin of David Sorrells), Pat Hugg, Christopher, Reed, Glen Jones, Anne Hershbell, Charolotte & Mike Murphy, Peter Bowerfind, Jean & Mike Walsh, Erin Daunic, Cullen Bahr, 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. We give thanks for the birth of Anna Rose, granddaughter of Anne & Dave Hansen.
In Thanksgiving for July and August Birthdays
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
8/1 Alexandra Brown, R. David Cox, Henry Porter
8/3 Joshua Henson
8/5 Rissie Murphy
8/6 Michele Hentz, Kaydance Sadler
8/8 Greg Lemmer, Carol Dent
8/10 David Partlett
8/11 Mimi Knight, Gabi Eastwood
8/14 Gerry Locher, Nick Murphy, Kathy Kozak, David O'Connor
8/17 Kent Wilson
8/18 Luke Camp
8/20 Marjorie Connolly
8/21 Lena Simcoe
8/26 Elaine Nelson
8/28 David Howison
8/29 Pierson Hotchkiss
8/31 Pat Gibson
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