Life With Grace | May 16
- Grace Episcopal Church
- May 16
- 5 min read
Updated: May 21
Dear friends,
When we acknowledge, praise, and celebrate Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life who alone leads us to the Father (John 14:6) we should be careful. First and foremost these words are meant to encourage disciples who live in a world that takes advantage of their commitment to mutual love. This encouragement to forgive rather than avenge harm is always needed. But when disciples of Jesus hold majority status, these words can sometimes come across as threatening - convert or else.
The claim that Jesus alone reveals the truth about God - that in God there is only love for the world, no violence, no vengefulness, but complete, gratuitous grace, mercy, forgiveness - can never become a threat or a claim to privilege.
In fact many people who claim Christian faith struggle to see and grasp the way of life that follows such love. The way is always set by the humble and gentle compassion of our Savior who invites all to come, taste, and see. Come, taste, and see that the hope of the world is the self-giving love of God made known to us in the crucified and risen Jesus. Come and join in a community that tries to remember and center God's self offering love in our relationships with each other and with the world.
With Gratitude, Tuck Bowerfind (he/him)
Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Worship Services | Fifth Sunday of Easter | Sunday, May 18
There will be no 8 a.m. service this Sunday. Tuck will be at the parish retreat at Shrine Mont. Anne Grizzle will preach and celebrate at the 10:30 a.m. service. We will still offer Christianity and Culture.
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | In-Person and Zoom
Following up on Tuck's introduction to Walter Bruggeman, widely recognized as America's foremost Old Testament scholar, we will offer 2 videos of Bruggeman teaching. Each is about 45 minutes long.
May 18: Bruggeman discusses "Restorative Grace".
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Sessions
Holy Eucharist Rt II | 10:30 a.m. | In-Person and on YouTube
Women's Bible Study
Women's Bible Study has changed its meeting place to the home of Susan Cross, 621 Marshall Street. The time is 3:30 p.m. on Sundays. All ladies welcome! We are discussing the lectionary readings for the following Sunday. No preparation is necessary.
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Renewing Grace Capital Campaign
As noted in last week's newsletter, several major projects will be covered by the Renewing Grace campaign. Two of these initiatives will involve making the Parish Hall more accessible.
By lowering the building’s front yard to street level, we will create direct, ground-level access to the Parish Hall’s front doors. Featured are a pair of renderings that illustrate what the view from Washington Street of what this project might look like.
New accessible bathrooms will be constructed for the Parish Hall (in the former Scout Room), as well as on the second floor.
The goal for the Renewing Grace capital campaign is $2.25 million, inclusive of all fees and expenses. An existing $1 million bequest received in 2019 will allow us to complete our first phase goals budgetted at $3.1 million. Other major projects to be addressed by the Renewing Grace campaign include: New HVAC system replacing existing boiler, radiators, window AC units and minisplits; rebuilding or replaciement of all windows; full renovation of the ground floor Parish Hall, and partial renovation of the first floor. More information about these priorities will be shared in upcoming Grace newsletters.
Join us for Fellowship & Food to kick-off the Renewing Grace Capital Campaign! May 21, 2025 at 6 p.m. | Parish Hall
RSVP to Phyllis Hugg by May 19.
Rat Ministry Success
Cary and Will Edgar have hosted the same cadet for the last few years, starting as a Rat.
"This photo is from the change of command parade, as our cadet Heaton Lawrence is ascending into corps leadership next year. We still see him a couple of times a month, and he’s even coming to walk the Camino with me and Sarah for a few days this summer after finishing up a study abroad program/before heading home. It’s been such a gift for our family to have him with us!"
Helping Ukrainian Families
Please consider helping this humanitarian outreach. The group has engaged an immigration attorney to guide the Ukrainian families, that were helped by Hosting Ukrainian Families, through the rules and regulations that could provide a safeguard from deportation. Donate HERE.
End of Life Care Seminar
In collaboration with VTCSOM, Roanoke College, Good Sam Hospice, and Voices of Fatih, we are putting on a free half day seminar titled: "The Intersection of Belief Systems and End of Life Care." We aim to explore religious and spiritual beliefs surrounding end of life and why they matter in the medical community. Rev. Dr. Bill Lee will be Keynote speak, we will have a panel discussion with Q&A, small group case study discussions, and Dr. Brian Unwin will be our closing speakers. We hope you can join us on June 3rd from 1pm-5pm at Riverside 4 in room G101 A&B. Please use the Link below to register. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=GJCmcZQHwEGAqNE-H68wpsl3Dt0_XbtNse76px6GLfFUQTQwS0JWRlFaTlY2RkxFN0FIN1cyRjBHNC4u
Address for the Event is 4 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016
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. 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.
Community Appreciation Celebration
For Major General Cedric T. Wins | Superintendent, Virginia Military Institute
Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church
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, and our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Mark Bourlakas. Pray for the people of St. John’s, Lynchburg, their associate rector, The Rev. Ben Cowgill and their rector, The Rev. Chris Roussell. 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), Ellen Fure, Buddy Atkins, George Collier, Rosemary Phillips (sister of Paul Robblee), Patricia Williams, Emily & Luke Child, Rebecca Robblee (daughter-in-law of Joanne & Paul), Kathy Kricensky (Abby Moles mom), Andy Wolfe, Mike, Margy & Aaron Haire (Susan Cross’ brother and family), Stan Driver, Chris Clayton Syrrist (cousin of David Sorrells), 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.
In Thanksgiving for May and June Birthdays
5/16 Ren Price, Elaine Price
5/17 John Dickerson, Cynthia Robertson
5/20 Joan Crawford, Foster Pickett
5/22 Garrett Frascati
5/26 Raeanna Simcoe
5/30 Lyle McClung
5/31 Anne Tyler McCabe, Ellie Mastin
6/1 Ed Dooley, Toni Brown
6/2 Philip Brooke
6/4 Sophia Brown
6/5 Grigg Mullen, Helen Kostel
6/7 Bill Luton
6/8 Eleanor Penn
6/13 Michael Wirtz
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
6/22 Morgan Roper
6/24 Sandy Harcus
6/29 Lu Dooley, Michael Finnell
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