Life With Grace | October 16
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 First Sunday after Pentecost | October 18
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
Christianity & Culture - October 18, "So Who Is This Jesus?--An Answer from the Year 600." The Reverend David Cox explains a point of view that influences the Christian tradition to this day.
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Classes
Christianity & Culture - October 25, Religion of the Founding Fathers, David Cox, Christian discipleship in democracy
Christianity & Culture - November 1, All Saints’ Day, Parish Site History, Catharine Burns, A history of the land of Gace church and Parish house
Holy Eucharist Rt II | 10:30 a.m. | YouTube and In-Person
This Sunday the Nursery is available at both 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 are also welcome. Please contact James Keane for more information and to offer assistance.
During the month of October, the Parish Office will be closed on Fridays. We will be having a lot of construction vehicles and there will be no place for the volunteers to park. Lisa will have access to email and phone messages so if you have a need you can always get in touch with her. Tuck will be back in November. Thank you for your continued support.
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.
Beginning on October 18 we celebrate the abundance that we have been given and our part in being stewards of this bounty.
Rooted in Abundance Campaign October 18–November 15
● Sunday, October 18: Lynn Johnson from Habitat for Humanity will give the Stewardship Moment at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Sunday October 25: Kickoff – 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Maggie Leventis will give the Stewardship Moment at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
o Pledge packets containing Wardens’ letter, 2026 Stewardship brochure, and pledge cards will be handed out this Sunday. Remaining packets will be mailed or delivered after November 1.
● Sunday, November 1: Patrick Hugg will give a Stewardship Moment at 8 a.m. and Sarah Moyer & Ryan McCoy at 10:30 a.m. (No First Sunday Lunch)
● 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
Phase 2 Renovation Update
All Saints' Day Necrology and Remembrances
Below are listed the names of people who have been in our prayers for the departed since All Saints' Day passed. If you would like to add the name of a departed loved one to this list (11/2/2025-present) to be remembered in the bulletin for the feast day of All Saints, Sunday, November 1, please email Lisa with your request.
All Souls' Day is November 2, if you have someone you would like remembered please give me their name separately from the recently departed. Thank you.
Names of the Departed
Doug Ayer
Roger Baroody
Bettie Cadden
Ned Henneman
Diana Kenney
Ann Nay
Marjorie Sherrill
Jimbo Smith
Shirley Whitney
Susan Williams
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.
Table Fellowship Groups
Fall is here and new table fellowship groups are being formed. We hope you’ll join us to meet new people, share a meal and build our Grace community.
Whether you choose Sunday brunch, lunch or dinner, in-home or out is up to you. Groups will be formed based on preferences. All are welcome, whether you’re single or a couple.
Signup by emailing Lisa before Sunday, November 1.
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.
Music at Noon
Thursday, October 29 at noon | Lexington Presbyterian Church ‘Music at Noon’
William McCorkle, organ, Organ compositions inspired by the hymn ‘A Mighty Fortress Is Our God’
Rockbridge Pride 2026
Rockbridge Pride Virginia will host Rockbridge Pride on Saturday, October 17, from noon to 5 p.m. at Brewbaker Field Sports Complex, 198 Wallace St., Lexington.
This family-friendly community celebration will feature live entertainment, local vendors, food, and activities, bringing neighbors together to celebrate love, diversity, and community in Rockbridge.
Volunteers needed for the Neighborhood Grocery at RARA.
Each Thursday afternoon members of Grace, and their friends, staff the Neighborhood Grocery. We normally help between thirty and fifty clients with selecting food and loading groceries in their cars and with restocking shelves. Especially needed are strong backs to help put boxes of groceries in client’s cars. Volunteer shifts are from 2–4:30 p,m. You will be scheduled for one Thursday a month unless you wish to work more often. Please contact Kathy Hill for more information or to volunteer. kathrynchill1@gmail.com, 804-347-1967. Thank you for considering.
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 new men's briefs and boxer shorts and women's underwear - all sizes, men's collarless tee shirts in all sizes, men's shorts, jeans, pants sizes 30 to 36, and new or gently used men's socks. 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. Thomas, Abingdon and their rector, the Rev. Heather Ma. Pray for Brendon, Timmy, Laura Stearns, Lynda deMaria, Kent Wilson, Jerry Nay, Paula Cooper, Sharon Humphreys, Elizabeth Klein, Dot Fogo, Buddy Atkins, Dennis Coughlin, Gerry Locher, Mo Littlefield, Tena Clark, Shay Peters, Meg Moss, Steve Lawrence, Patricia Williams, Peggy Matheson, Michelle Mackie, Gary Steinmiller (cousin of Darlene Keane), Virginia Cooke, Mike and Sue Ellen Jent, Jeff Mason, Katherine Greene, Lake Curry, Glen Jones, Nanalou Sauder, Jacob Chenault, Susan Cross, Mimi Knight, Carol Gornto, Samantha Moran, Cathy Cocks, Pat Gibson, Elizabeth Harralson, Lori Apgar Rangel, Richard Shinnick, Liz (Sue Denson’s sister) 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 October Birthdays
10/16 Sharon Kurtz
10/19 Lori Apgar Rangel
10/20 Drusie Milford
10/23 Claudia Ellis
10/24 Sarah Centorino
10/26 Melissa Cox; Madelyn Stuart; Maggie Leventis
10/27 Connie Loughhead
10/30 Steve Shultis
10/31 Peggy Hays
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