Life With Grace | June 12

Grace Episcopal Church
3 days ago
6 min read

A congregation sits in wooden pews during a church service as a priest speaks from the pulpit near the altar, framed by stained-glass windows, organ pipes, and arched wooden beams. — Join us this Sunday as we reflect on Christ’s call to continue the work of healing, restoration, and compassionate leadership in our own generation.

Dear Friends,

This Sunday we read Jesus' instructions to his 12 disciples for their mission to expand his ministry to respond to the needs of people, encouraging trust in God's provision, carrying forward the work of healing and restoration. Discipleship is not passive belief. It is active participation in the work of restoration.

According to Matthew there was a crisis of leadership, the people were like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus sent the disciples to fill the vacuum by exercising the leadership of the good shepherd who has compassion, love for the people. This is not a mission to fill pews or get converts. It is a mission to remind all people of the truth of humanity: we are of God's making, in God's image, beloved of God and that we will find our fulfillment in honoring God's presence in one another through acts of love and justice that restore wholeness.

Magnifica Humanitas speaks to the critical importance of this truth as a common good and upholds the vision of a culture and civilization of love in every age, including the digital age of artificial intelligence.

The point is, the mission continues in this and every generation. It continues in and through us. We are sent in the power of the spirit to heal, restore, and provide true leadership in a time when many leaders are enthralled with greatness and power and prestige rather than the needs of their people for truth, justice, and restoration to beloved community.

With Gratitude,

Tuck Bowerfind (he/him)

Rector | Grace Episcopal Church

Worship Services | Third Sunday after Pentecost | June 14

Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person

Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person

June 14 Magnifica Humanitas Ch 4-5 Pope Leo

Upcoming Christianity and Culture Session

June 21 The Little Flower Therese Lisieux

June 28 The Story of a Soul Therese Lisieux

June 28 5pm Tree of Life directed by Terrence Malik with Jessica Chastain, Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, In the college room

July 5 Introduction to Romans and When in Romans by Beverly Gaventa Alex Brown

Last Sunday the lectionary began a semi continuous series of readings from Paul's letter to the Romans which will continue through the next 14 Sundays. On July 5 Alex Brown will offer an introduction to Romans at Christianity and Culture and we will continue to study the letter at Christianity and Culture through July. To assist that study we will use When In Romans by Beverly Gaventa (available for $16.50). (Grace will purchase copies for those who request them.) You won't need the book to participate in the study.

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.

Six smiling adults pose inside a church with arched stained glass windows; one person holds a tablet displaying a group video call with additional participants.

Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.

Zoom and In-Person

Women’s Bible Study

Our Women's Bible Study on the Book of James meets on Tuesdays from 9:30 - 11 a.m. in the College Room. Contact Michelle Mackie for more info.

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.

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 5:30pm so that early arrivers can meet up with friends to picnic, socialize, or get a bite to eat. Musicians take the stage at 6:30pm and conclude at 8:00pm 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.

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.

Upcoming Messages

Please be on the lookout for two additional emails - an update on Renewing Grace and a letter from Pere Schneyder Couloute about the crisis at Ecole Saint Marc in Cerca la Source Haiti.

Clothes Closet at Christ Episcopal

The Clothes Closet at Christ Church, Buena Vista, needs new men's briefs and boxer shorts - all sizes 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.

Hiker Dinners

On Monday, June 15, teams from Grace will serve dinner at St. John's Episcopal Church in Glasgow for hikers passing through on the AT. If you would like to help prepare and/or serve dinner on one of these nights, please contact Tuck at tuck@gracelexva.org. Emily King is coordinating the June 15 dinner service.

deCycles

On Tuesday, June 30, twenty teenage and young adult cyclists will be spending the night at Grace. If you would like to help provide supper Tuesday night, breakfast Wednesday morning, July 1, or transportation to Rockbridge Aquatics pool for showers Tuesday afternoon, please contact Tuck at tuck@gracelexva.org.

deCycles is a high-adventure Christian youth program offering challenging bicycle trips for teens and young adults since 1970. This current group is pedaling 1,500 miles over three weeks as a way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Prayer List

Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: Pray for Presiding Bishop The Most Rev.Sean Rowe. Pray for the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia and our Bishop The Rt. Rev. Karin MacPhail and our formerbishops, The Rt. Rev. Mark Bourlakas, The Rt. Rev. Neff Powell, and the Rt. Rev. Heath Light. Pray for God’s blessing on the peacemaking labor of Anthony Poggo, former bishop of the South Sudanese diocese of Kajo-Kejiland now serving as Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, and Ezekiel Kondo, Archbishop of the Episcopal Churchof 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, Richard Partlett, Gerry Locher, Doug Ayer, Mo Littlefield, Tena Clark, Shay Peters, Meg Moss, Steve Lawrence, Patricia Williams, Peggy Matheson, Al Hipp (nephew of Virginia Cooke), Scott Ford, Sid, 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, Margaret “Peggy” Carter (sister of Buddy Carter). Pray for the people living in war, pray for cessation of violence, and for reconciliation, and peace. Pray for those who have died, Emily Griffis Stephens.