Dear Friends,
This Sunday, June 11, please join us at Grace for one service of worship, Holy Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. (no 8 am Service) followed by a Town Hall meeting starting at 11 a.m. to report back on responses to the Building Use Plan proposal.
Those in attendance will have opportunity to make suggestions and ask clarifying questions about the Building Use Plan proposal and our planning process.
Anne Hansen will describe the Strategic Planning process to develop a coordinated long range plan ministry program, facilities, and finance. Architect Neal Roseberry will be present to answer questions about the purpose of Schematic Design phase, the next step in our process. Wardens Joanne Robblee and Rob Minor will summarize the Vestry process for deciding on what to include in Schematic Design phase.
Please join us!
Did You Know these groups rely on Grace?
With Gratitude,
Tuck Bowerfind, Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Worship Services | Proper 5 | Sunday, June 11
Unitive Worship: Holy Eucharist | 9:30 a.m.
In-Person & YouTube
Town Hall Meeting: Building Use Plan | 11 a.m.
Parish Hall
Taizé Eucharist | 5 p.m.
In-Person
We're Worshiping at Jordan’s Point Park on Sunday, June 25!
This year, instead of Lake Robertson, we are gathering at Jordan’s Point for a 10:30 service of Holy Eucharist under the pavilion followed by a picnic. The change of location is to provide easier access to parishioners who would like to join in the service and picnic, but are unable to travel to Lake Robertson. The church will provide fried chicken, dessert and water. Please bring a lawn chair, blanket and your favorite salad or side dish to share! (The 8 am service will remain at Grace.)
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
EfM Graduation
Congratulations to Sue Denson and Pat Gibson as they receive their completion certificates for EfM from Father Tuck and James Keane. Because of COVID-19 we were unable to celebrate graduation from the program over the past two years. Congratulations also to Michelle Green Mackie and to Joanne and Paul Robblee.
EfM, Education for Ministry, is a lay person’s four-year study course designed to help participants gain a better understanding of Anglican theology and to develop a more informed personal theology. The course was created by the Episcopal Seminary at Sewanee (University of the South). Grace has been participating for many years, the most recent 13 years mentored by James Keane. All four years’ students meet together to read a Lectio Divina, discuss their assigned readings, and pray as a group. The first years read the Hebrew Bible AKA the Old Testament; the second years read the New Testament; third years read the history of Christianity; the fourth years read works that explore various theological philosophies and is designed to help define a personal theology.
Bike and Build Bikers
Thank you to everyone who brought food and participated in our hosting of the Bike and Build Bikers! On June 5 and 6 Grace Episcopal played host to 23 riders participating in the Bike and Build program. This organization provides an opportunity for (primarily young) people to help raise awareness for the need of affordable housing. They travel by bike from Yorktown Virginia to Eugene Oregon over the summer. Every few days along the way the they provide volunteer labor at a Habitat for Humanity (or other similar organization) build site. Each rider raises money for the housing organizations they visit.
Grace Episcopal has often hosted the riders for the night as they travel. We give them a dinner, a place to shower, a place to sleep, and breakfast before they head for their next stop in Roanoke. This year they stayed with us for two nights as they spent Tuesday at the Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity build site at Greenhouse Village. The added day gave us the chance to really get to know these incredible volunteers.
Monday night Grace and Habitat collaborated to provide a feast for them as they finished their ride from Charlottesville. Tuesday morning the Men’s Prayer Breakfast crew treated them to one of our trademark breakfasts, and heard about each of the riders. They are from all over the U.S. and two from other countries; Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, Alaska, New Hampshire, California, the United Kingdom, and Brazil.
After their work at the Habitat site, they had time to explore a little of Lexington, and then devour a whole lot of pizza and ice cream.
Spending time with them was special and uplifting. They all share a commitment to service, and recognize the importance of helping their neighbor. They were also very appreciative of the efforts made by our congregation and the volunteers from Habitat. All of them expressed how much they liked Lexington, and a desire to return for a longer visit.
Meals on Wheels in Lexington
Meals On Wheels is the oldest and largest national organization supporting community-based senior nutrition programs. It addresses hunger and social isolation problems that impact homebound older adults. The program in our area is administered by the Virginia Program for Aging Service (VPAS).
In Lexington, meals are picked up from the RARA building on Spottswood Drive and delivered between 11:00 and 12:00 noon on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Volunteers select their preferred day(s) and get a delivery route within a convenient radius, usually taking no more than a half hour.
In addition to helping to meet nutritional needs of homebound seniors, serving as a Meals On Wheels volunteer provides opportunities for social interaction that is rewarding to volunteers and recipients.
If you are interested in more information on joining the team of Meals On Wheels volunteers, even as a substitute, please contact Anna Crockett at aennchen3@gmail.com or Susan Mead at susanvirginiamead@gmail.com
Music in the Garden at Boxerwood
June 23, Fatty Lumpkin and the Love | Hogs Rock (upcoming dates 7/14, 7/28, 8/11, 8/25 & 9/8) Join us and let there be songs to fill the air!
Celebrate June with Grace
Thanks to everyone who came out for our celebration of June!
The Mission and Outreach Committee of the Gadsden Trust
We will convene on June 13 at 4 p.m. in the Parish Hall for our Second Quarter meeting. The Committee will review second quarter grant requests that were submitted by the June 1 deadline and make awards. Two community requests and one Grace request will be considered. Gadsden Committee meetings are open to the parish. Third quarter grant requests can be sent to Gail Dickerson, Chair, and must be received by September 1, 2023. The Gadsden Trust grant request application can be found here. The third quarter meeting of The Mission and Outreach Committee of the Gadsden Trust is scheduled for September 12, 2023, at 4 p.m. in the Parish Hall.
Bellfry Strength for the Journey Retreat
July 7-9 will be our summer retreat time at the Bellfry in Lexington, Virginia. Registration is now open! Please remember, space is limited and we do fill up quickly. Registering early will secure a space for those who wish to attend. Would you prayerfully ask the Lord who among those you know, who might be in need of such a refreshing weekend and then invite them? Perhaps there is someone you would like for me to contact. Simply provide their contact information and I will reach out. Of course you are always welcome to return if you need a refresh and connect deeper with God. God has been faithful to this ministry over the years and He continues to provide comfort and reassurance of His presence and He continues to meet so many where they are on their life journey. Supporting each other during difficult times is important. Visit our website here.
Prayer List
Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: The Presiding Bishop Michael Curry who is undergoing medical treatment. The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Mark Bourlakas. Pray for Brendon (friend of the Brooke family), Michael Murphy, John Thomas, Timmy, Rick Alexander, Bradley Fairchild and Karen Junkin (friends of the Gibsons), Gloria June Perry (mother of Michael Perry), Glen Jones (friend of the Riethmillers), Patricia Brown Boyer (sister of Madison Brown), Dolly Shumate & Betty Gale Anderson (friends of the Lewis’), Carolyn Glenn (friend of Judy Schram), Jack Hershbell, Helen & George Kostel, Laura Stearns, Carl & Rachel Pattison, Diana Kenney, Tom Strickland, Worth & Katie Burnes (friends of the Smiths), Amelia Dull, Barb Ostrander (cousin of John Milford), Stephen DeMaria, Farris Hotchkiss, Annie Campbell, Polly Lawrence, Betty Cadden, Jeff Mason, Joe Irby, Kent Wilson, Mo Littlefield, Ginny Dunaway Ferguson, Isabella & Anne (family of Carl Pattison), Mike Robblee and Rosemary Phillips (siblings of Paul Robblee), Glen Szarzynski, Cal Odom and those we name aloud or in our hearts. Pray for those who have died, especially Mary Mayhew (sister of Jay Crawford), Darlene Travis (sister of Don Ellis). Pray for the people of Sudan, Haiti, Ukraine.
In Thanksgiving for June Birthdays
6/13 Michael Wirtz
6/14 Penny Henneman
6/15 Michelle Mackie
6/16 Judy Schram
6/17 John Thomas Loughhead
6/18 Alden Mastin, Matthew Fogo
6/20 Susan Lawrence, David Grizzle
6/24 Sandy Harcus
6/29 Lu Dooley, Michael Finnell
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.
Let’s Rock! With Rockbridge Recovery Concert & Cruise-in
June 24, 2023, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Glen Maury Park, Buena Visa, VA | Cruise-in 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., music starts at noon. Music by: Section X, Hateful Bones, Late Night Stumblers, Full Circle Revival, and more!
Food, Raffles, Vendors, Kid Zone. Admission: 1 can food item or 1 pet food item per person. Your help supports recovering addicts, the homeless, survivors of domestic abuse and many more. No alcohol allowed.
Hosting Ukrainian Families
A humanitarian outreach effort organized by citizens of Lexington, Buena Visa, and Rockbridge County, we aim to pave the way for sponsoring temporary re-settlement of families who qualify for entry according to the laws of the United States.
The mission of Hosting Ukrainian Families is based upon love, compassion, and humanitarian concerns for families seeking to live in peace. Accordingly, a call is issued to each person joining in this effort to set aside all political, culturally divisive viewpoints, and all differences which may hinder or defeat these goals. To donate, click the link below.
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