Life With Grace | May 9
- Grace Episcopal Church
- May 9
- 7 min read
Dear friends,
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is often referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday because the gospel lesson comes from the 10th chapter of John where Jesus speaks of himself as the Good Shepherd.
The Good Shepherd is one of the most beloved images of the Church, representing God's loving care for us and the model for our care for one another. As our Shepherd, Jesus asks us to remember his self-offering love through the sharing of bread and wine as a sign of his love and forgiveness for the responsibility we bear for his suffering, and the suffering of other innocent victims of injustice. He confirmed that love and forgiveness in his resurrection appearances and through the gift of the Spirit who renews us in the power of his love and forgiveness.
We feel his joy when we remember him and follow him in our lives, forgiving those who treat us unjustly and giving of ourselves for the protection and well being of our neighbors, and especially for the weak and the innocent, the poor and the sick.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow those who follow him, and we shall dwell in the company of the Good Shepherd for ever.
With Gratitude, Tuck Bowerfind (he/him)
Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Worship Services | Fourth Sunday of Easter | Sunday, May 11
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | In-Person and Zoom
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 11: Walter Bruggeman discusses "The Relational God".
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Sessions
May 18: Bruggeman discusses "Restorative Grace".
Holy Eucharist Rt II | 10:30 a.m. | In-Person and on YouTube
Celtic Eucharist | 5 p.m.
Celebrant: The Rev. Tuck Bowerfind; Musicians: William Hughes, violin; Martha Burford, piano; Susie Falconer and Eliza Stucki, voice. Reflection given by Daisy Grover.
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
What defines Grace is not our location or our 182-year history, but rather a commitment to seeking, serving and loving together in companionship with God through the Spirit given in Christ.
A strategic planning group established in 2023 defined anticipated changes in staffing, parish programs, our relationships with each other and with the wider community, ongoing stewardship needs, and the places where we foster and nurture growth. With assistance from an architecture firm, Grace completed a facilities use study in February 2024 resulting in a comprehensive plan for modernizing the Parish House. A feasibility study completed in November 2024 identified and prioritized elements of the comprehensive plan for a first phase of Parish House renovations within a total $3 million budget.
Our Parish House, built in 1958, provides an important base for the extension of fellowship, service, and teaching ministries originating from our worship.
In recent years, parishioners have experienced the benefits that these improvements to our church spaces have brought to the vitality and enthusiasm of our worship services.
The renovation of the Parish House will help us extend that beauty, vitality and enthusiasm into the spaces where we begin doing God's work in so many creative ways.
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. Major projects to be addressed by the Renewing Grace campaign include: Addressing the Parish House infrastructure; making the Parish Hall fully accessible; and improving the interior of the Parish Hall and the Parish House's second 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.
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.
Upcoming Muisc Events
SPRING CONCERT ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 14!!
Celebrate spring with William McCorkle as he offers an organ concert next Wednesday, May 14, at 7:00 p.m. in the Lexington Presbyterian sanctuary. Joining him will be baritone Michael McLaughlin (W&L ‘23), whose beautiful singing has graced concerts and worship services around the community over his six years in Lexington.
The May 14 program features a treasured work of organ literature, François Couperin’s magnificent Messe pour les Paroisses (Mass for the Parishes). The celebrated Parisian organist, harpsichordist, and composer, Couperin (1668-1733) is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential musicians of his time. The Mass for the Parishes is one of two organ masses composed and published by Couperin in 1690. This is a non-liturgical work, but it follows the text of the ‘ordinary’ (=the portions used in every service and not specific to a particular day of the church year) of the mass. Half of the sentences of text are replaced by organ pieces, with the alternating verses sung to a chant melody. The rich assortment of short organ pieces showcases the distinctive organ sounds of the French instruments of Couperin’s time, a period usually described as the ‘first golden age of French pipe organs.’
Says William McCorkle: “I am delighted and fortunate to offer this concert. I learned Couperin’s organ masses before I went to college and have included them in concerts throughout my life as an organist. But it was only in 2023 that I finally performed one of them (the Messe pour les Couvents / Mass for the Convents) as Couperin intended, with a singer {yes, Michael McLaughlin, who is a gifted liturgical scholar] presenting the alternating lines of the mass text. I am excited to have the opportunity to present the Mass for the Parishes with Michael. It’s another dream realized, another ‘bucket list’ item checked off.’
The concert is Wednesday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. at Lexington Presbyterian AND it will be live streamed on the Lexington Presbyterian website: lexpres.org
Trex Challenge Met Again
As we celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day this week, the Creation Care Committee is very pleased to announce that Grace Church has once again met the goal of 1,000 pounds of plastic film collected and recycled. Thanks to your steadfast support we have been able to reduce the amount of plastic film in this world by the equivalent of 50,000 plastic bags. For our efforts we will also receive a new Trex bench.
Going forward we will continue to collect plastic film to reduce the amount of plastic in our environment. Thanks so much for all your help with this project.
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, 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, Roanoke, their curate, The Rev. Tray Light and their rector, The Rev. Eric Long. 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 Birthdays
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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