Life With Grace | May 8
- Grace Episcopal Church
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
Dear Friends,
Our gospel reading this Sunday continues in the Farewell discourse of Jesus to his disciples on the night before his crucifixion.
Jesus is telling his disciples as a group that our relationship with him will change. He is leaving us. And yet we will still know him through keeping his commandments. With the help of the Spirit, we will know he is with us when we continue his work of self offering love to God for the sake of the world.
Even disciples like us, who never knew Jesus during his earthly life, can know him through keeping his commandments to love God and love one another.
While our knowledge of Jesus is personal, it isn't private anymore than his work was private. He demonstrated God's public love for the sake of a just and compassionate human community.
It is important for us to continue the work of Christ in public, through worship of course, and also through our roles as citizens - because the truth is we cannot fully become who God is calling us to be apart from the society in which we live.
That doesn't mean we have to make everyone become Christian. That would be antithetical to the non-coercive, freely offered love of Christ. Forcing faith has deeply corrupted the life of the church and had terrible consequences for human community.
But I think public witness does mean that we should engage in political debate, discourse, and action; speak and work for justice and peace among all people; and challenge government and corporate power and people of other faiths to recognize and respect the dignity and worth of every human being in our legislative policy.
The disciples of Jesus keep his commandments publicly, and sometimes suffer terrible public persecution. But we persist both because we authentically love the people of God, who after all are all people and because through our public worship and political witness, Jesus lives and walks with us in the power of the Spirit.
With Gratitude,
Tuck Bowerfind (he/him)
Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Worship Services | Sixth Sunday of Easter | May 10
This Sunday is Mother's Day. We pray for the mother who gave birth to us, the one who adopted us, and the ones who mentored us along the path of life. We give thanks for their ministry; and we pray for your blessing on all individuals of this world who shelter, protect, and lovingly care for children.
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
May 10 - Hiraeth is a Welsh word that translates roughly in to English as "a deep longing." Martha Burford and Jules Grimes are headed to Wales in late September on a pilgrimage "Discovering the Borders Within/Without: A Celtic Discovery in the Welsh Marches to Pilgrim Coastal Paths." “We are exploring deep longing and holy discovery. Led by the Very Rev. Tony Pompa (former Canon to the Ordinary, Diocese of Virginia and former Dean of Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania), and Dr. Connie Andrejko, (neonatologist, Reiki Master, and certified Yoga instructor), the pilgrimage will include time at Tintern Abbey, Dora Abbey, Hereford Cathedral, Llanduff Cathedral, St. Illtud's Church, St. David's Church, and more!” Engage with Martha and Jules as they research and get psyched up about their travels! “We will share what we will be doing and things of interest about the places. We also promise to report back after we have soaked in all of this Celtic, breathtaking, historical, and deeply sacred experience.”
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Session
May 17 - There will be no class
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.
Celtic Contemplative Service with Healing Prayers and Music | 5 p.m.
The Rev. Anne Grizzle, celebrant.
Next Sunday, May 17, is the Parish retreat at Shrine Mont. We will have regular services on May 17 at 8 and 10:30 a.m. The Reverend David Cox will preach and celebrate at both services.
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!
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.
Grace's Children's Choir
Back By Popular Demand! Grace's Children's Choir will sing on Pentecost, May 24th! Stay tuned for details next week! If you have questions, contact Melanie Griffis or Martha Burford via martha@gracelexva.org
Call for Volunteers
Volunteers Needed: We currently have two paid nursery aides to provide childcare on Sunday during both the 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services. Because the DIOSWVA requires two adults over 18 years of age for the nursery, the service cannot be provided if one is out. We are asking for volunteers to be available on an as needed basis. Training on the program "Protecting God's Children" is required. Please contact Lisa if you are interested in volunteering or contact James Keane with questions about the program.
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
Project Horizon - Volunteers needed
Project Horizon is currently recruiting volunteers to support their mission of providing safety, advocacy, and resources for survivors of domestic and sexual violence in the Rockbridge community.
As Rockbridge County's only domestic violence shelter and 24-hour crisis hotline, their work depends on strong community partnerships. Since their founding in 1982 by a small group of dedicated local women, Project Horizon has grown to offer a wide range of free and confidential services, including a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, counseling, outreach to underserved communities, and prevention education for youth from kindergarten through college.
Volunteers remain at the heart of this work. They support the hotline, assist in the office, help with shelter-related needs, contribute specialized skills (such as translation or creative projects), and partner with staff on outreach and community events.
Volunteers needed are: Day and evening volunteers to answer the hotline & connect callers with resources, engage with shelter residents, work with children's programs, help with community events, and partner on special programs & projects.
They are excited to invite new volunteers to their upcoming training beginning May 30th.
Or email Sara at smcentyre@rockbridge.net
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 ministry of Grace House on the Mountain and it’s director Anita Boyd. 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, especially Andrew Turner Wainwright.
In Thanksgiving for May Birthdays
5/8 Kate Holston
5/9 Patrick Hugg
5/12 Anne Hershbell
5/13 Caroline Russell
5/15 Jenny Mastin
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
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