Life With Grace | May 22
- Grace Episcopal Church
- May 22
- 5 min read
Dear Friends,
Luke and John record differing accounts about how and when the community of disciples received the Holy Spirit. But they agree the Spirit was received by all the disciples of Jesus, not only the "Eleven", but all who were together in his name.
What seems to have changed with the gift of the Holy Spirit is that the community of disciples realized they knew God for themselves. It wasn't just because Jesus had told them or they read it in the scripture. They knew the true God and the truth of God.
One of the marks of their knowledge was peace - not the rumor of peace somewhere, but the reality of peace with God, one another, and the world here and now. A second mark of their knowledge was joy in God's presence. You know, like the joy of being in the presence of your beloved.
God is always present of course. But finally they tasted God's presence for themselves Perhaps their resistance to experiencing the real presence of God passed away.
They believed. They finally believed. And they realized believing compelled them to get about trying to open the eyes and hearts of others to the truth about God made known in Jesus in the hope that one day all flesh will see the truth of God's never failing love and presence together.
With Gratitude,
Tuck Bowerfind (he/him)
Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Note - on Pentecost, the birthday of the church, it is traditional to wear a little red. And it is always important to remember - "You have to take a good time with you." Catty McGuire
Worship Services | Day of Pentecost | May 24
This Sunday, May 24 is Pentecost. We invite you to wear red to the Sunday services!
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
Christianity & Culture - May 24, Renewing Grace: Don Robey will discuss the progression of Phase 1.
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Session
May 31 - The Trinitarian Heresies led by Tuck Bowerfind
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.
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
Zoom and In-Person
Paws to Connect
Join us on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. on the steps of Grace. We'll see you soon! Paws to Connect will "pause" for the summer at the end of May and resume when classes start up again in the fall. Thank you for supporting this important ministry!
Scenes from the Parish Retreat at Shrine Mont. Please join us next year!
Congratulations 2026 Graduates!
Deng Mithiang Ashwil, Certificate of Practical Nursing, Virginia Western Community College
Tucker Bowerfind, Boston University
Ava Crocker, Rockbridge Community High School
Shelly Crocker, Lylburn Downing Middle School
Zaria Daniels, Washington & Lee University
Evan Alexander Dent, Cairo American College
Laney Smith Duggan, Southern Alabama University - Medical School
Sally Hansen, PhD in English, University of Notre Dame
Kathryn Howe, Southern Virginia University
Jordan Kach, Washington & Lee University
Andrew Dale Lemmer, Rockbridge County High School
Henry McNair Mitchell, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN
Annie Thomas - Masters in Music and Choral Conducting - Portland State University
Connor Wolfe, Virginia Military Institute
Jesse Zhang, Washington & Lee University
Nolan Zunk, Masters of Fine Arts, University of Texas at Austin
Also to those not listed!
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.
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.
Hiker Dinners
On Monday, June 8 and 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. Cary Edgar is coordinating dinner for June 8, and 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, 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.
Ducks in a Row
Connections Plus will be offering four six-session educational groups beginning in September 2026, which focus on identifying, organizing, and compiling important information and documents to make settling your affairs much easier for your loved ones and legal representatives. The class addresses different topics such as emergency information, medical, property, finances, final wishes, and duties of your executor. If interested in registering or finding out more about this $30.00 class, please contact Joanne Robblee.
Maury River Senior Center (VPAS), 2137 Magnolia Ave, Buena Vista
Wednesdays 9:30 – 11 a.m. — September 9, 23, October 7, 21, November 4, 18.
Sunnyside House at Kendal, 160 Kendal Dr. , Lexington
Mondays 9:30 – 11 a.m. — September 14, 28, October 12, 26, November 9, 30
The Thursday classes offered at Sunnyside are Full
Grace Presbyterian Church, 40 Village Way, Lexington
Tuesdays 9:30 – 11 a.m. — September 15, 29, October 13, 27, November 10, December 1
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 Youth of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia and Youth Missioner, Patricia Cope-Levy. 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, 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) 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 May and June Birthdays
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, Emily King
6/17 John Thomas Loughhead
6/18 Alden Mastin, Matthew Fogo, Douglas Huber
6/20 Susan Lawrence, David Grizzle
6/21 Catharine Burns
6/22 Morgan Roper, Sandy Harcus
6/29 Lu Dooley, Michael Finnell
Please consider subscribing to The Episcopal Church Press Release Digest.
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.
Comments