Worship Services | Day of Pentecost | Sunday, May 28
Holy Eucharist | 8 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Christianity & Culture | 9:15 a.m. Parish Hall Keith and Pat Gibson will lead a discussion of Memorial Day and GEC parish contribution to the armed forces (this would be more of a reflection than a series of bios) and include a reading of Mark Twain’s short story, The War Prayer as a point of reflection and honor to those who answer the call to military service.
Holy Eucharist | 10:30 a.m.
In-Person & YouTube
Holden Evensong | 5 p.m.
In-Person
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Congratulations to the following students who are graduating this year from college, high school or Education for Ministry (EfM): Emily Brookfield, Anna Dennis, Sue Denson, Townsend Dotterer, Pat Gibson, Joshua Henson, Benji Hess, Graham Hess, Boots Lackey, Michael McLaughlin, Elaine Price, Ren Price, Christopher Vasquez.
Paws to Connect: A Recap
Thank you to all who attended and participated in Paws to Connect! We look forward to welcoming students back in the fall!
Ministries Opportunities at Grace
Please contact the church office and let us know if you can help 540-463-4981
Coffee/Hospitality Hour: A committee is being formed to schedule and organize 2-3 events each month following the 10:30 service. The responsibilities of this committee would be to schedule hosts for the designated Sundays, ensure that supplies are available for the hosts and follow up and provide instruction for the hosts.
Altar Guild Update
The Altar Guild would gratefully welcome new members to the team. Each team is “on duty” one week per month. The ministry is to care for the altar, altar linens and altar vessels. The team prepares the altar each week for the two Sunday services and clean up after the services. They also set up for special services like baptisms, weddings and funerals.
They consider the Altar Guild work as a grateful service to God for His love for us and His many blessings. They team up with the Flower Guild at Christmas and Easter to decorate the church with flowers and candles. It is joyful work to the Glory of God. Contact Lisa or Tuck in the Parish Office if you are interested or would like more information. Please consider joining this wonderful ministry.
Bike and Build Bikers
Bike & Build is a national nonprofit committed to raising awareness for affordable housing. The Central United States team, made up of 25 riders, is pedaling into Lexington, VA to volunteer on a construction site, helping to build affordable homes with the Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity.
The journey began on May 31st on the east coast in Yorktown, VA. Over the next 10 weeks, the Central US team will pedal an average of 70 miles per day to the Pacific Ocean arriving in Florence, OR on August 14th. Along the way, the riders will participate in volunteer build days with 16 different affordable housing organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together, and small local housing nonprofits to help build affordable homes for families in need. Riders will work to support communities in Charlottesville, VA, Lexington, VA, Hazard, KY, and many others across the US. They will also advocate for the need for affordable homes for all in the pass-through towns along the way and many communities that host riders overnight.
“I am so excited to ride my bike across the country and make a difference for the important cause of affordable housing! I’m hoping to meet many new people and learn more about the communities that we travel through this summer. I hope to gain new perspectives that will help me become a better advocate for affordable housing in my own community and beyond.” - Bike & Build CUS Rider
The Central US route is one of two long-distance bike trips this summer where riders will see and experience first-hand the affordable housing need in this country. In addition to volunteering, riders meet with local officials and community members to discuss affordable housing issues. Riders will sleep in local churches, community centers, and schools, and will rely on the generosity of hundreds of community members for food, showers, and other necessities. When the trip is complete, many Bike & Builders have gone on to continue their commitment to service through their career choices or further volunteering. Please consider supporting the Central US team’s journey across the U.S. here: https://bikeandbuild.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=5013
Bike & Build is a non-profit organization that encourages young adults to address the country’s affordable housing crisis through organized bicycle trips. Trip participants support the affordable housing cause by fundraising and building efforts. Since its founding in 2003, Bike & Build has motivated over 3,900 young adult volunteers and contributed over $6.4 million and 255,000 volunteer hours to housing groups such as Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together to fund projects in the United States. For more information, visit www.bikeandbuild.org or call (267) 331-8488.
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
Building Dementia-Friendly Communities
Jeri Schaff, executive director of the Virgnia Program For Aging Services (VPAS) was the guest presenter at this month's Christian Outreach Committee. She shared compelling information about the number of individuals diagnosed with dementia, how this number is expected to dramatically increase in the coming years, the challenges to caregivers, and what we have learned about how to communicate meaningfully with people with dementia to make them feel comfortable, valuable and safe.
There is more to a person than the dementia they live and struggle with and they deserve to be valued, honored and treated with respect. Dementia Friendly @ Work is a program that works with businesses, governments, faith communities, and other organizations to provide simple, usually low-cost ways to serve those living with dementia, make them continue to feel part of the community, and preserve dignity and choice. By providing a welcoming, compassionate environment, Grace Episcopal Church can offer families coping with dementia opportunities for meaningful engagement and spiritual connection.
If you are interested in participating in a one- hour discussion led by Jeri Schaff to learn how our parish can embrace and uplift people with dementia and their care partners, please contact Anna Crockett at aennchen3@gmail.com or 540-460-3254. The event will be scheduled based on responses from interested parishioners.
Building Use Proposals
The Vestry requests your feedback on Building Use Proposals prepared by FGMArchitects to address these priorities for improving our Parish House:
Create modern, accessible restrooms on each floor
Create dedicated, modernized, attractive space for young children infant to 6 years old
Modernized office suite sufficient for two clergy, Parish Administrator, and Bookkeeper (note - Music Director's Office in Undercroft)
Improve building accessibility
Update and potentially resize classrooms and conference rooms
Please contact Tuck or one of the wardens, Joanne Robblee and Rob Minor to schedule a presentation at a time convenient for you.
Please plan to join a Town Hall Meeting 11 am Sunday, June 11, 2023 in the Parish Hall for a report on feedback received during these presentations.
Monacan Indian Nation 30th Annual PowWow
June 3rd & 4th, Gates open at 10:00 a.m. General admission: Adults (13-61) $10.00, Seniors 62+ & Children $5.00, 6 & under FREE *Cash Only*
225 Laurel Cliff Road, Monroe, VA 24574
Dance Specials: Mens Fancy: $300/200/100 Womens Fancy: $300/200/100
Red Dress Special: Sponsored by Dark Tide Tattoo Studio, Winner Take All - $500
Dancer registrations: $10 + Tribal ID
Music in the Garden at Boxerwood
Friday Evenings 6:30-8pm starting May 26 with the Late Night Stumblers (Rock/Country originals), gate opens at 5:30 for picnics. Admission free for members, $5 non members (cash only). Kids are free and free to explore. Dogs on leashes are welcome. LexVegas Bistro at all concerts. Join us!
Celebrate June with Grace
Monday, June 5: Celebrate June on Grace’s Courtyard with, live music by Rockbridge’s own “Betty and the Hot Flashes” featuring covers from The Wailing Jennies to TheTalking Heads to Tom Petty and more. Bring food and beverage to share, blankets or chairs to spread out, and a little cash if you want to purchase hot dogs and fixings.
Upcoming Music Events
Best Church Coffee in Lexington!
With an upgraded coffee system and local coffee grounds, Grace is taking our Coffee/ Hospitality Hour seriously. In the bible we learn of disciples gathering for prayer and Hospitality with each other and strangers. The coffee/hospitality hour is an extension of our worship where there is opportunity for fellowship, developing relationships, listening to others and being listened to, offering or receiving compassion and kindness. Let’s not underestimate the importance of Coffee/Hospitality hour. Please plan to attend each week.
Prayer List
Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Mark Bourlakas. Pray for the people of St. John’s, Roanoke and their rector, The Rev. Eric Long. 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), Darlene Travis (sister of Don Ellis), 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 & Bill 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, Lynwood Dent, Jeff Mason, Joe Irby, Kent Wilson, Mo Littlefield, and those we name aloud or in our hearts. Pray for those who have died, especially Paul Mitchell (brother-in-law of Heidi Schweizer). Pray for the people of Sudan, Haiti, Ukraine.
In Thanksgiving for May and June Birthdays
5/30 Lyle McClung
5/31 Anne Tyler McCabe, Ellie Mastin
6/1 Ed Dooley
6/2 Bill Stearns, Philip Brooke
6/4 Sophia Brown
6/5 Grigg Mullen, Helen Kostel
6/7 Bill Luton
6/8 Eleanor Penn
6/13 Michael Wirtz
6/14 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, James 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.
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.