Life With Grace | March 13
- Grace Episcopal Church
- 21 hours ago
- 6 min read
Dear Friends,
What did I do wrong? Why did God let this happen to me, to us? What did they do wrong? Why did God do that to them?
We are all familiar with the tendency to assign the cause of misfortune to the mysterious (in)justice of God. If God had wanted to bless (insert person or group) he would have. Their personal or collective suffering is a divine consequence.
This Sunday's gospel tells a different story.
When the disciples ask Jesus who sinned, this blind man, or his parents, to cause God to afflict him this way, the gospel opens our eyes by showing us that we are wrong in our thinking about sin, judgment, and punishment.
The good news is clear. Jesus is the "light who enlightens every person" by welcoming us into a full and saving relationship with God who loves the world, and a new way of relating to each other as brothers and sisters rather than through the categories assigned by the world.
Sin is not turning toward and trusting in Jesus. The new relationship he offers with God through himself is eternal life. The new community formed in relationship to him and in his name proclaims that eternal life through our efforts to live in love and charity with one another in the household of God, which is the whole world.
Sometimes we just won't see.
We persist in using the impairment of others as a metaphor for our ignorance, our choice to ostracize, scapegoat, politicize, dehumanize.
The blind man isn't the one with the problem. We are the problem when we use impairment, disease, poverty, gender, race, nationality, religion into object lessons - ostracizing, scapegoating, feeling sorry for people with differing abilities or experiences, ignoring or denying their full humanity. We should be trying to understand, appreciate, and help each other.
What will it take before the disciples see a person born blind (or with any other sort of difference) and recognize, instead of a partial person to be pitied or avoided, a full human being with a unique perspective and tremendous gifts to share with those who are willing to invite, welcome, and share the gifts of God with them?
What differences and impairments do you scorn or pity or avoid? What obstacles do we put in people's way at Grace? What can we do as a church to help people of varying abilities to join us in receiving and ministering the grace and goodness of God with us?
With Gratitude,
Tuck Bowerfind (he/him)
Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Worship Services | Fourth Sunday in Lent | Sunday, March 15th
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
SUNDAY, MARCH 15th - 4th Sunday of Lent - Christianity & Roots of Common Law - David Partlett
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Session
SUNDAY, MARCH 22nd - 5th Sunday of Lent - American Church/Changing Beliefs, Practices and Affiliations - Jon Eastwood
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-noon. We can pay $15/hour. Volunteers also welcome. Please contact James Keane for more information and to offer assistance.
Lenten Programming & Easter Services
Wednesday Evenings in the Parish Hall - 6 p.m. Supper prepared and served by Anne Sauder, 6:30 p.m. presentation, Concluding prayer 7:25 p.m.
Wednesday, March 18 - Tuck Bowerfind Parables of the Kingdom Ch 13
Wednesday, March 25 - Alex Brown Parables of the Kingdom Ch 25
Wednesday, April 1 - No program
Thursday, April 2 - 6:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday Eucharist
Friday, April 3 - Noon & 6:30 p.m. Good Friday Liturgy
Saturday, April 4 - 6:30 p.m. Easter Vigil followed by Lamb Supper
Sunday, April 5 - Easter Services 8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Joyful Noise for Palm Sunday! Children’s Choir is Back!
Grace is celebrating the return of the inclusion of children’s voices in our music program. For Palm Sunday 2026, Children will lead the Palm Procession from the front steps of the church, through the Nave, and to the steps of the Chancel.
The procession song is "Hosanna" by Carl Tuttle and is the first 2:55 of this link: https://youtu.be/IBwT0R8l2IQ?si=wV6gGPYSNTX20jrn
To prepare our fledgling group of little singers, Graceful Play will focus on learning the anthem during our time on March 8, 15, and 22. All children are invited to join in and to join an actual Children’s Choir rehearsal after 10:30 Worship also on March 8, 15, and 22. All Grace families are invited to send us your preschoolers and older children. We will serve snacks followed by a 45-minute singing and learning time. This will be led by Melanie Griffis and Martha Burford, with assistance from a few volunteers.
If you are a Grandparent, Auntie, Uncle, beloved friend or otherwise attached to a young singer planning to attend/visit on Palm Sunday, please share the link above so they can join in!
It is my prayerful hope that we will bring this joyful noise experiment into our worship on a regular basis. You may contact me with questions at 540-460-9650 or mgriffis1@msn.com.
With gratitude,
Melanie Griffis
Flower Donations
There are still Sundays available on the flower chart. If you would like to donate flowers in memory or thanksgiving please sign up. The chart is located on the bridge next to the doorway to the elevator. The suggested donation is $75.00. When you put your name on the chart, please remember to let Lisa McGuire know your dedication.
The Flower Guild is also looking for new members. If you enjoy arranging flowers and would like to join a ministry please consider signing up. You can email Claudia Ellis.
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Paws to Connect
Paws to Connect is back! Join us on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. on the steps of Grace. We'll see you soon!
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.
Invitation from the Sheriff
Join Sheriff Tony A. McFaddin Jr. for an afternoon of community and crime prevention at his Senior Social Luncheon. Free and open to the public 50 years and up. Wednesday, March 25, 2026. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Virginia Horse Center. Sponsors and Vendors located throughout the concourse. Catered lunch served at noon in the Mezzanine. Guest speakers presenting topics relevant to the senior population.
Music at Noon
Thursday, March 19
12 noon at Lexington Presbyterian
William McCorkle, organ
Music for Lent: Mendelssohn, Brahms, Reger, Markull
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-Elect The Rev. Karin MacPhail. Pray today for the people of St. Paul’s, Salem and their rector, the Rev. Ned Morris. 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, Joe Irby, Kent Wilson, Jerry & Ann Nay, Paula Cooper, Ned Henneman, Sharon Humphreys, Elizabeth Klein, Dot Fogo, Buddy Atkins, Dennis Coughlin, Rob Fleming, Patty Irving Sensabaugh, Richard Partlett, Gerry Locher, Doug Ayer, Mo Littlefield, Becky Merchant, Betsy Carter, Tena Clark, Cheryl Wood, Tom Capito (brother of Kitty Farrar), Shay Peters, 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.
In Thanksgiving for March Birthdays
3/14 Cindy Mullen
3/15 John Milford
3/16 Shay Peters, Catherine Harcus
3/17 Ed Craun, Bill Sayre, Pat McGuire
3/18 Elizabeth Knapp
3/19 Wade Branner, Cecile West-Settle
3/23 Laura Stearns
3/24 Rose Gordon
3/26 AP Smith
3/27 Kathryn Hill
3/31 Will Edgar
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