Life With Grace | November 6
Changes in the Parish House: The “new” temporary offices for Lisa and Tuck are now located in the Brooke Room in the undercroft of the church, joining Martha in that space. We ask for your continued patience and understanding as we navigate this period of construction. If you have pastoral needs, please reach out to Lisa or by calling the office. The parking lot will not be available during the week or on Sundays. They have put up fencing behind the Parish House and the area between the two buildings has to be kept open for a fire lane. Please do not pull into the lot.
Worship Services | Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost | November 8
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
Christianity & Culture - November 8, Veteran’s Day program, Col Keith Gibson
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Classes
Christianity & Culture - November 15, “The Ornament of the World”, Laurent Boetsch
Christianity & Culture - November 22, Introduction of Vestry Candidates Tuck
Christianity & Culture - November 29, First Sunday of Advent, Advent workshop/Decorate the Chrismon tree, set Creches out, or proposal for a parish banner, Joanne Robblee
Christianity & Culture - December 6, Annual Meeting, Rev. Tuck Bowerfind
Holy Eucharist Rt II | 10:30 a.m. | YouTube and In-Person
Celtic Contemplative Service with Healing Prayers | 5 p.m. | In-Person
Call for Volunteers
We are in need of volunteers for the Nursery. Please contact James Keane for more information and to offer assistance.
Tech Support Needed at 8 a.m. Service
We are looking for someone to start the Zoom and let people into the service at our 8 a.m. service. We have one person who can do it, but they are not there for every service. We are searching for a couple more folks who would be willing and we can schedule them monthly.
Thank you for your help! Training is available!
Morning Prayer | Monday – Friday | 8:30 a.m.
Zoom and In-Person
Stewardship Campaign: Rooted in Abundance
Rooted in Abundance Campaign to support the operating budget* of Grace Episcopal Church, Lexington
We’re entering the season of harvest; of reaping the benefits of what has been planted. As a parish we are rooted in the abundance of past years, and we offer our gifts in gratitude to God who blesses and sustains us for future yields.
Pledge Cards - If you did not receive your pledge packet last Sunday, please check with the vestry members who are handing them out this Sunday. Thank you to everyone who has already pledged to the Rooted in Abundance stewardship campaign to fund the 2027 operating budget of Grace Episcopal Church. Every pledge helps us with our planning for the year to come. Our goal is between 120-130 pledges totaling $540,000. To date we have received pledges from 45 households totaling $241,810.
Rooted in Abundance Campaign October 18–November 15
● Sunday, November 8: Clergy Sermon. Sarah and Harrison Edgar will give the Stewardship Moment at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
● Sunday, November 15 Campaign Conclusion a Lay Sermon will be given by Buddy Carter.
● After November 22 those who have not pledged will receive a phone call to invite them to make a pledge over the phone or indicate their intention to pledge at a later date.
*Note –Complete Operating Budget and Actual figures are available from the office.
Basic 2026 operating budget figures:
o 2026 Total Operating Budget $677,000
o 2026 Pledges - $480,000
o 2026 Prior year pledges, next year pledges, and income from Diocese - $70,300
o 2026 Budgeted Transfers from Restricted and Unrestricted Funds - $91,000
o 2026 Budget Deficit - $35,700
o 2027 SS COLA est – 3.2%
o 2027 Est Total Operating Budget - $697,000
Thank you to everyone who has already pledged:
Lori Apgar Rangel
John & Cecilia Arpin
Tucker & Delea Bowerfind
Jane Brooke
Martha Burford
Betsy & Buddy Carter
R. David & Melissa Cox
Ed & Marlys Craun
Dennis & Susan Cross
John & Gail Dickerson
Langston & Page Donkle
Will & Cary Edgar
Donald & Claudia Ellis
Carole Elmore
Dot Fogo
Matthew Fogo & Kevin Manning
Tom & Carol Gosse
Julianne Grimes
Margaret Haberman
Elizabeth Harralson
Anne Hershbell
David & Chris Howison
Benjamin & Laurie Huger
Patrick & Phyllis Hugg
Gini Jardim
James & Darlene Keane
Emily King & Diego Millan
Trudie Kirkland
Sharon & Frederick Kurtz
Maggie Leventis
Pat & Lisa McGuire
Jo McMurtry
Grigg & Cindy Mullen
Elaine Nelson
Mark Nelson
David O'Connor & Linda Merrick
David & Nan Partlett
George & Eleanor Penn
Michael Perry
Tim & Mary Price
Steve & Peggy Riethmiller
Martha & Don Robey
Bill Sayre & Melissa Gladwell-Sayre
Ham & AP Smith
Ruth Smith
Paul Strickland
Phase 2 Renovation Update
Construction is moving along in the Parish House. Thank you to all of you who have made this campaign possible with your time, talent, and treasures!
Vestry Nominations
The Nominating Committee of the Vestry are seeking names of members interested in serving on the Vestry. According to the Canons of our Diocese of Southwestern Virginia,
“Only persons who are confirmed adult communicants of the parish in good standing, as defined in Canon 1.1 of the Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, for at least one year preceding the election shall be eligible for election as Vestry members.” Vestry members are elected to serve a 3-year term.. A weekend vestry retreat is usually held in February, and most vestry members attend at least 2 meetings per month (1 meetings related to the work of the vestry and 1 committee meeting).
Please contact a member of the Nominating Committee (Will Edgar, CC Arpin, Buddy Carter, or contact Lisa in the Parish Office to submit names for consideration.
Children’s Choir
Children’s Choir will meet during Graceful Play, which takes place during the sermon, throughout the fall. Martha Burford and Melanie Griffis, joined by Music Scholars May Nash and Tatum Wiley, will lead the children in making a joyful noise.
Stay tuned for details about this year’s Christmas Pageant.
Sing with the Chancel Choir
The Chancel Choir is full of joy—and has room for new and returning singers and all who wish to make music at Grace. Rehearsals are held Thursdays from 7–8:30 p.m. in the undercroft and Sundays at 9:30 a.m., temporarily in the chancel.
The choir regularly sings at the 10:30 a.m. Eucharist and at monthly Evensongs beginning in October. Members also frequently sing at the 5 p.m. Second Sunday Celtic Service, which resumes in October.
If you are interested in singing only for the monthly afternoon services, or if you play an instrument and would like to share your gifts, please contact Martha Burford.
STEPS Graduation
Please join us for the Graduation Celebration of Robert L. White from STEPS: From Incarceration To Independence on Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 12 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church.
Contact Anna Crockett at aennchen3@gmail.com or 540-460-3254 for additional information.
Thanksgiving Diaper Drive
Hosted by Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA) Neighborhood Grocery: RARA finds themselves in urgent need of diapers to replenish their supply for their clients. Although every size is welcome, they are particularly short of diapers in the larger sizes (3-6 month). Any size of diaper donation is welcome - their volunteers will separate large packages into smaller packets for distribution.
The bin will be available in the Narthex on Sunday morning and in the Undercroft during the week. RARA will collect them after November 30. Thank you!
Food for Pets of RARA Clients
We are collecting 8- or 10-pound bags of dry food or packages of 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.
Clothes Closet at Christ Church
The Clothes Closet at Christ Church, Buena Vista, needs Men's small jeans, waist sizes 30, 32 and 34, and small boys size: 18 months.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 a.m. until noon. You may drop your items off then. Alternately, you can bring your items to the Grace Episcopal 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.
Prayer List
Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: Pray for Presiding Bishop The Most Rev. Sean Rowe. Pray today for the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia and our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Karin McPhail and for the people of St. Mark’s, Fincastle and their rector, the Rev. Willis Logan. Pray for Pope Leo XIV, Bishop of Rome. Pray for Brendon, Timmy, Laura Stearns, Lynda deMaria, Kent Wilson, Jerry Nay, Paula Cooper, Sharon Humphreys, Elizabeth Klein, Dot Fogo, Buddy Atkins, Gerry Locher, Mo Littlefield, Tena Clark, Shay Peters, Meg Moss, Steve Lawrence, Patricia Williams, Peggy Matheson, Gary Steinmiller (cousin of Darlene Keane), Virginia Cooke, Mike and Sue Ellen Jent, Katherine Greene, Lake Curry, Glen Jones, Jacob Chenault, Susan Cross, Mimi Knight, Carol Gornto, Samantha Moran, Cathy Cocks, Pat Gibson, Elizabeth Harralson, Lori Apgar Rangel, Florence Willis, 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, Ann Nay, Michael Haire (brother of Susan Cross), Patty Holmes Irving.
In Thanksgiving for November Birthdays
11/6 Kitty Wainwright, Michael Perry, Patrick France
11/7 Pam Adams, Melanie Griffis
11/8 Evan Atkins, Grace Simcoe, Donna Noyes
11/10 Richard Jones
11/13 Julia Grover
11/14 Jim Farrar
11/15 Tim Price, Rene' Glidden
11/18 Alex Eastwood, Diana Harris
11/19 Steven Lawrence, Hank Humphreys, Langston Donkle
11/21 Tim Gaylard
11/23 Bill Kozak, Kristi Finnell
11/27 Anne Blanken, Avery Hess
11/30 Harry Warner, Ruth Brunner
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