Life With Grace | September 12
- Grace Episcopal Church
- 3 minutes ago
- 12 min read
Dear Friends,
This Sunday we get to overhear Jesus telling two parables to religious leaders who are grumbling about his practice of eating with sinners. The parables Jesus tells are about the joy of a shepherd who finds a lost sheep and of a woman who finds a lost coin. Jesus tells his listeners that our Father in heaven has the same sort of joy over the return of a sinner.
In the nave we are displaying an enlargement of an illumination of these parables taken from the Saint John's Bible. Along with these two parables the illumination includes the parables of the good samaritan, the prodigal son, and the rich man and Lazarus. And within this collection of parables there is another image, the now iconic image of the Twin Towers, all in gold.
It is hard to imagine anything that could redeem the horror of 9/11/2001, let alone make it an icon of divine joy. Yet there it is, all golden, like the found coin, the found lamb, the found son, and poor Lazarus.
In the days after 9/11/2001, in the midst of all that horror, we all witnessed the searching for survivors in the rubble, and then the searching for the remnants of the dead. We witnessed the searching for why this had happened so if possible we could keep it from happening again, and the searching for ways to help and to heal survivors, to comfort the grieving, and to protect our loved ones from harm, and the searching for the way to build community back better and more beloved than before.
And all of these efforts still shine with divine compassion. Compassion flowed from every corner of the earth. Remember? So many of us began to see our muslim neighbors for the first time and we began to communicate and let them know we cared about them. We began to pay attention to ways we had failed to love other neighbors as ourselves. We began to recommit to an authentic search for beloved community. It was a golden time, despite the darkness. And in many ways that work continues.
But we witnessed another, darker, search begin to grow, like a cancer, at the same time - the search for justification to hurt someone else as much or more than we had been hurt. The search for how to close ourselves off from the outsiders who might want to hurt us again. And in many ways that work continues.
Things are always getting lost, and sometimes horribly ruined. May God help us search for ways that increase joy, health, communion, light and protect us from the temptation to seek revenge, alienation, and the cover of darkness.
With Gratitude,
Tuck Bowerfind (he/him)
Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Worship Services | Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost | Season of Creation| Sunday, September 14
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | In-Person and on YouTube
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | In-Person and on Zoom
September 14 - Pentateuch Overview & Creation Illumination - Joanne Robblee - From
September 14th-December 15th, we will have The Pentateuch volume of the Saint John’s Bible with us. On this first Sunday, Joanne will share information about the first five books of the Old Testament and their significance. She will also take us through the process of interpreting the Illumination, “The Creation."
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Sessions
September 21 - Signs in the Wilderness - Drew Sorber - The Historic Relationship between Scripture and the Interpretation of the Natural World. Drew shares how the Pentateuch provides a model for how Christians interpreted natural phenomena for centuries that still impacts our modern view of the Divine in nature.
September 28 - The Creation Stories - Alex Brown - Not everyone realizes that there are two separate Creation stories in the book of Genesis. Alex will lead us in a discussion of these two scriptural passages.
October 5 - Traditional Techniques Used in SJB - Joanne Robblee - The Saint John’s Bible is the only modern day illuminated Bible. One unique aspect of this Bible is that traditional methods were used to create it. Come learn mor about the complex techniques that make this Bible so special.
October 12 - Rewriting the Script - Drew Sorber - Drew will share information about how writing systems were used to preserve the Bible. He will look into the development of the various scripts used in the early and medieval Biblical manuscripts.
October 19 - Balaam and his Dilemma w/ Moabite King's Orders - Harvey Markowitz - At the beginning of Numbers 22, we are introduced to the Moabite King, Balak, who has just decided to commission the Aramean prophet Balaam to curse the wandering Hebrew people who will soon be amassing on his borders. Though a non-Hebrew, Balaam prays to Adonai to seek His approval for this undertaking. God’s response to the prophet’s request sets off a rich chain of events that has puzzled and intrigued Biblical theologians and historians for centuries. It is the goal of this presentation to identify some of these points of interest and the associated areas of contention.
Holy Eucharist Rt II | 10:30 a.m. | In-Person and on YouTube
Beginning this Sunday, the nursery will be available for both the 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services.
Come One, Come All! Raise a toast to the success of The Renewing Grace Campaign. This Sunday, September 14, 2025 after the 10:30 a.m. service in the Parish Hall, join us for food, drink and fellowship and lots of thanksgiving!
Celtic Contemplative Service with Holy Communion and Ministry of Healing Prayer | 5 p.m. | In-Person Only
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
The Saint John's Bible Returns
The Saint John's Bible volume, the Pentateuch has arrived! Tuck has already placed it proudly in its rack in the front of the sanctuary. We are so excited to have this very special book "visiting" us until mid-November.
After the services, if anyone wants to come up and take a look at "Big John," as I lovingly call him, please do so. Sadly, there are only 8 illuminations in this book and most of them are in Genesis. If you want to look through the book, please remember to use the wipes that are there before you touch the pages. We hope to have a docent available to assist you.
Beginning September 14th and going to November 16th, a series of presentations that focus on different aspects of the Pentateuch will be offered during Christianity and Culture (9:15-10:15). Please know that everyone is invited to these sessions that follow a brief coffee hour that begins at 9:00.
Also, on Thursday afternoons in October and up until Thanksgiving, you are invited to bring groups or friends to view "Big John." Docents will be there to share information about the Bible and the illuminations. If you would like to have the Bible visit a group you belong to, please let Lisa or Tuck know. We are more than glad to share "Big John" and do a brief presentation with others in the community.
On Saturday mornings (10:00-11:30) in the Undercroft during October, a series of workshops will be given about the Pentateuch. Those plans are still evolving and information will be shared as soon as possible.
If you are interested in volunteering and participating in any of the activities that are being planned for "Big John," let Joanne Robblee know.
Paws to Connect
We are back! Join us on Tuesday and Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the patio. Bring your furry friends and connect with students.
Chalice Ministry
Interested in developing your spiritual life? Consider serving as a chalice minister. It can be a very meaningful way to share in the worship of the parish while deepening your faith.
Chalice bearers are needed at both the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. service. Please contact Lisa if you would like to serve through this ministry.
Education for Ministry
Education for Ministry (EfM) will begin again the third week of September. We will be trialing a new one-year program that covers the Old Testament, the New Testament, church history and ethics and morality. There are assigned readings and video's each week with discussion in class along with theological reflection exercises. Currently, the class meets on Tuesday from 1-3PM. The suggestion has been made to move the class to Thursday from 5-7PM. Other times may be considered. If you are interested or need more information please contact James Keane or contact the office and I will get back to you. Tuition remains at $340.00 for the year plus a $10.00 copyright clearance fee and a 5% credit card processing fee.
5 p.m. Community Services
As autumn quickly approaches, we are elated to invite you and your friends to our 5 p.m. Community Services. All are welcome.
September 14: Celtic Contemplative Eucharist
September 28: Evensong Celebrating the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels
October 12: Celtic Contemplative Eucharist
October 26: Evensong Celebrating the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude
November 9: Celtic Contemplative Eucharist
November 23: Evensong on Christ the King Sunday
December 14: Contemplative Service of Light in the Darkness
Note: There will be no 5 p.m. Service on December 28.
Seed Collection
Calling all acorns, walnuts, buckeyes, hickory nuts, and more!
We will send them to the collaborative project between the Virginia Department of Forestry and and the Extension Service for their seedling and reforestation farms.
Collect in paper bags, not plastic. Bring them to Martha (or leave them outside her office door in the Undercroft). She will take them to the Crimora seedling farm by Oct. 10.
Above: photos from last year's seed collection.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
October 4, 2025, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Maury River Middle School, 600 Waddell St., Lexington
Materials accepted:
Pesticides, Herbicides, Fuels, Used oil, Antifreeze, Mercury (Household Products only), Solvents, Sealants, Cleaners/Bleaches, Oil-based paints only (no latex), Lithium batteries, NiCad batteries.
Contact: Daniel Miear 540-460-7331 or Scott Dameron 540-464-3601 with any questions.
Threshold Choir Seeking New Singers
The Rockbridge Area chapter of the Threshold Choir (https://thresholdchoir.org/) is looking for singers. The Threshold Choir is an international organization, with local chapters, that supports singers in bringing songs of comfort to the dying. Here in Rockbridge County, we partner with ConnectionsPlus Healthcare & Hospice.
We sing elegantly simple, beautiful acapella songs (written by members of the Threshold Choir) in three parts for patients in their final months, weeks, days, and hours.
Recently, we have lost a couple of our Threshold Choir singers (to jobs, moves, etc.) and need to supplement our ranks. Our singers need to:
Be able to hold their part (we sing bedside in groups of 3-4 singers, in 3 parts)
Have a pleasant voice & be able to blend with others
Commit to attending practice regularly (twice a month)
Be available to sing for patients (usually weekly)
Be a generous and kindly soul, and able to stand and sing bedside without shedding tears!
It is very beautiful — music with a purpose. If this sounds like it might be a good fit for you, please contact Laurie Bassi (Lbassi@mcbassi.com or 303-981-1526).
Rockbridge County High School's ESL Program
The English as a Second Language (ESL) program at Rockbridge County High School has several needs:
1) English speaking volunteer tutors to read books in English and to have conversations in English with ESL students.
2) English Spanish bilingual volunteer tutors to help ESL students with their assignments for English, history, math, science, etc.
3) Individually wrapped snacks for ESL students such as granola bars, protein bars, cheese crackers, peanut butter crackers, etc.
4) New and gently used items to be used as prizes for ESL students such as freebies from hotels or businesses, travel size or full size toiletries, art and craft supplies, food items, t-shirts, or anything else of interest to teens would be very appreciated.
Donations can be dropped off at the church office and placed in the box marked for the RCHS ESL Program. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Ruth Brunner at 540-463-5555.
Renewing Grace Capital Campaign
Many thanks to everyone who has made a pledge or gift to the Renewing Grace Campaign:
Pam & Jim Adams
Lori Apgar
Cecilia & John Arpin
Laurent & Elizabeth Boetsch
Peter Bowerfind
Tucker & Delea Bowerfind
Jane Brooke
Alexandra Brown
Madison & Katharine Brown
Ruth Brunner
Martha Burford
Catharine & Walter Burns
LM & Elizabeth Carter
Jonathan Clawson
David & Marjorie Connolly
Virginia Cooke
R. David & Melissa Cox
Marlys & Ed Craun
Jay & Joan Crawford
Roger & Anna Crockett
Dennis & Susan Cross
Susan Denson
Lynwood & Carol Dent
Gail Dick
John & Gail Dickerson
Langston & Page Donkle
Lu & Ed Dooley
Jonathan Eastwood & Maria Nava
Cary & Will Edgar
Donald & Claudia Ellis
Carole Elmore
James & Katharine Farrar
Matthew Fogo, Kevin Manning & Dot Fogo
Anzolette Pendleton Gadsden Trust
Timothy & Catharine Gaylard
Rene' Glidden
Rose Gordon
Thomas & Carol Gosse
Melanie Griffis
Julianne Grimes
David & Anne F Grizzle
Peter & Julia Grover
Margaret Haberman
Woody & Becky Hall
David & Anne Hansen
Sandy & Catherine Harcus
Winifred Hart
Heather & Hunter Hawley
Helen Head Estate
Anne Hershbell
Megan & Drew Hess
Harold & Kathryn Hill
Judy Hotchkiss
Chris & David Howison
Benjamin & Laurie Huger
Patrick & Phyllis Hugg
Virginia Jardim
James & Darlene Keane
Suzanne Keen
Emily King & Diego Millan
Trudie Kirkland
Deborah & Bill Klein
William & Kathy Kozak
Raymond & Carolyn Kuper
Sharon & Frederick Kurtz
Greg & Janet Lemmer
A.W. “Buster” & Signe Lewis
Maurice & Julia Littlefield
Bill & Barbara Luton
Meg & Jeff Mason
Mary Jane Mayerchak
William McCorkle
Patrick & Lisa McGuire
Josephine McMurtry
John & Drusilla Milford
Susan Minor
Elizabeth Moss
Grigg & Cindy Mullen
Ann & Jerry Nay
Elaine & Mark Nelson
Donna Noyes
David O'Connor & Linda Merrick
Anita Ogard & George Strickland (in honor of Tom & Paul Strickland)
Elizabeth & Bill Oliver
David & Nan Partlett
David & Jeanne Passmore
The Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust
Eleanor Penn
Michael Perry
Henry Porter
Steve & Peggy Riethmiller
Cynthia Robertson
Joanne & Paul Robblee
Martha & Donald Robey
Rose & Connor Rothermel
Woodson & Lori Sadler
William Sayre & Melissa Gladwell-Sayre
Judy Schram
Maurice Seaton
Frank Settle, Jr. & Cecile West-Settle
Thomas F. Shehan III
Marjorie Sherrill
Steve & Susan Shultis
Hampden & Aine Smith
James & Ruth Smith
Andrew & Katherine Squires
Stephen & Janice Straske
Paul Strickland
Eliza Stucki
Elizabeth Tracy
David Wade
Catherine Wainwright
Kent & Mary Wilson
Michael & Beverly Wirtz
A special thank you to our friends from AA and Project Horizon for donating to our Renewing Grace Capital Campaign. Your generosity and friendship are a true blessing.
To learn more about the Renewing Grace campaign and its priorities, and to make a gift or pledge online, visit www.givingsites.com/renewinggrace/.
First Baptist Church Anniversary
The First Baptist Church will celebrate the 158th Church Anniversary and 7th Anniversary of Pastor McKinley Williams on Sunday, September 21, 2025 @ 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.. The Guest for the 11 a.m. Service will be the Rev. George Smith, Pastor, Second Baptist Church Philadelphia, PA and there will be lunch served between services. At 3 p.m. the Guests will be the Bishop Michael Turner and the Choirs and Congregation of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Staunton, VA. All are invited to attend, for more information call the church (540) 463-4854. The Church was organized a few years after the Civil War ended and is currently the oldest independent African American Church in the area.
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, winter clothes only and boys summer clothing, sizes 10-12. 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.
Upcoming Music Event
Saturday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m.
GOLDEN POPS! Rockbridge Chorus; Scott Williamson, conductor; William McCorkle, piano
Connections Plus
Connections Plus presents: Let's Talk Dementia with Dr. Cathryn Harbor, Medical Director
Join us for a casual discussion focused on understanding dementia, exploring prevention strategies, and discovering how to live well with dementia.
September 16, 2025, 2 p.m. Maury River Senior Center, 2137 Magnolia Ave, Buena Vista, VA
Prayer List
Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: Pray today for the people of St. Mark’s, Clifford and their rector, the Rev. Allison Caudill.
Pray for Brendon, Timmy, 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, Carl & Rachel Pattison, Wes O’Dell and family, Virginia Poston (sister of Betsy Carter), Dot Fogo, David Austin (friend of the Keanes), Buddy Atkins, Rebecca Robblee (daughter-in-law of Joanne & Paul), Stan Driver, Chris Clayton Syrrist (cousin of David Sorrells), Glen Jones, Charlotte & Mike Murphy, Jean & Mike Walsh, Cullen Bahr, Lane Hewett, Susan Martin, Carolyn, Ernest Edgar (father of Will Edgar, Bill Gibson (brother of Keith Gibson), Nancy Hellwig, Dennis Coughlin, Harlan Beckley, Mike Haire, Chuck & Biddy Watson, Rob Fleming, Alyce Bonham, 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 September Birthdays
9/16 Tucker Bowerfind
9/18 Judy Hotchkiss, Carolyn Kuper
9/19 Julia Littlefield, Nanalou Sauder, Frank Settle
9/20 Keith Gibson, Spencer Tucker, Drew Sorber, Phyllis Hugg
9/21 Chris Howison, Barbara Luton, Austra Burr
9/22 Ann Nay, Elizabeth Oliver
9/24 Graham Centorino
9/25 Darlene Keane
9/26 Page Donkle
9/28 Winifred Hart
9/30 Mo Littlefield, Lynda Bassett-DeMaria
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