Life With Grace | September 25
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.
Worship Services | Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost | September 27
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | Zoom and In-Person
September 27: bell hooks — Sarah Moyer — Christian discipleship in democracy: Sarah Moyer will speak about the documentary she produced on bell hooks’ life as an American philosopher, educator, author, and social critic; she was a Distinguished Professor in Residence at Berea College in Kentucky. Professor Hooks wrote about race, feminism, and social class. If you would like to watch the documentary you can access it here.
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Classes
October 4: Democracy in Islam — Drew Sorber — Christian Discipleship in democracy
October 11: Strategic Planning in the Episcopal Church — Rebecca Wilson
Holy Eucharist Rt II | 10:30 a.m. | YouTube and In-Person
We welcome Dr. Anna Billias and her daughter Dasha as guest musicians this week! Martha is away on continuing education this Sunday (along with Jules Grimes). They are on pilgrimage with the Very Rev. Tony Pompa and a cohort of folk visiting Tintern Abbey, Dore Abbey, Hereford Cathedral, Llandaff Cathedral, St. Illtude's Church, St. David's Church, and more in Wales. Super bonus for Martha and for Grace Church is that Fiona Gillespie, the Celtic musician from the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, PA will be on the trip! Other former choir members of Martha's are going as well. Tony and Martha are super psyched for all of the music that will emerge from collaborating musicians!
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
Phase 2 Renovation Update
Phase II update: K&L has been, or soon will be, installing signage, barricades, adding dumpsters and other equipment to the parking lot. Access to Parish House will be limited. K&L has asbestos abatement scheduled to start on Monday, Oct. 5. At that point, the parish house will be off limits to everybody except the contractors. If someone does go in, that is a violation of protocol which could lead to reporting to EPA and/or fines. Our Clerk of the Works cannot emphasize enough the need to stay out of the building.
To reach the restroom, you can use the stairs located behind the organ. If you have any problems with mobility, it would be best to take the elevator to the ground floor, walk across the driveway, and enter through the greenish gray door at the far end of the undercroft. Directional signage will point parishioners and visitors to the bathroom location in the undercroft. 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. Schedule of construction is in this week’s Parish News and on the homepage of our website gracelexva.org.
Phase 2 Timeline
Design Phase
Design – Architect 4/1 to 6/15
Construction Documents 8/13 to 9/4
Permits Review 9/8 to 9/21
Notice to Proceed 9/21 (expected date)
Submittal & Lead Times
9/8/2026 to 11/30
Split Units & DOAS
Plumbing Fixtures and piping
Panel Boards
Light Fixtures and wiring
Chair Lift
Doors and Hardware
Demolition
Construction Fencing and Signage 9/22 to 9/24
Asbestos Abatement 10/12 to 10/23
Selected Demolition 10 to 11/6
Shooing, Bracing & Steel 10 to 11/13
Demo Slab and Wall for Chair Lift 11/9 to 11/11
Concrete Work – Trench slab 11/12 to 11/18
Water & Sewer lines
Pour Concrete – Repair slab 11/17 TO 12/2
Mechanical & Electrical Phase
Electrical Rough-In 10/22 to 12/16
HVAC Piping (roof to rooms) 11/2 to 2/19
Plumbing – Bathrooms 11/19 to 12/30
Roof Curbs, Rails & Penetrations 2/22 to 3/5
Interior Finishes
Wall studs and Door Frames 2/3 to 12/17
Drywall 12/24 to 1/2
Coffered Ceiling 12/31 to 1/15
Paint Primer 1/7 to 1/13
Tile 1/8 to 1/14
Ceiling Grid 1/15 to1/21
Toilet Partitions & Accessories 1/29 to 2/10
Cabinets, Countertops, Doors & Hardware 2/2 to 2/15
Final Paint 2/25 to 3/1
Ceiling Tiles 3/2 to 3/3
Finish & Trim-out
Toilet Fixtures 1/15 to 1/28
Light Fixtures 1/22 to 1/28
Chair Lift 2/2 to 2/8
Grilles Register, & Diffusers 2/2 to 2/22
Plumbing Fixtures 2/9 to 2/15
Final Acceptance
Electrical Inspection 2/9 to 2/10
Mechanical Inspection 2/23 to 2/24
Building Final Inspection 3/4 to 3/5
Punchlist 3/9 to 3/15
Final Completion – DONE
3-15-2027
Easter
3-28-2027
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.
The choir will first sing during the liturgy on Sunday, October 4, as we celebrate the life of St. Francis, offering “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” The children will sing again on Sunday, November 1, for All Saints’ Day.
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.
SVU Chamber Singers
Southern Virginia University’s Chamber Singers, which includes several of our choral scholars, will present a concert of word and music on “The Coming Emmanuel: The Great O Antiphons—Music, Meaning, & the Mystery of Christ,” on Saturday, September 25 at 5 p.m. in the SVU Ballroom. Like the 2025 Lenten program at Grace Church, it is based on the now-published book by David Cox and Michael McLaughlin. Michael and David will introduce each of these ancient texts sung as a chant, a choral anthem, or a verse from “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” which draws its inspiration from the antiphons. Copies of the books will be available following the program.
Flower Donations
There are still Sundays available in October on the flower chart. If you would like to donate flowers in memory of or in thanksgiving for someone please sign up. The chart is located on the bridge next to the doorway to the elevator. The suggested donation is $75.00. When you put your name on the chart, please remember to let Lisa McGuire know your dedication.
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.
Upcoming Documentary Producer Visit
Frederick Murphy has traveled throughout the South for his documentary work and takes his findings to universities and communities all over the region and beyond. His "Indelible Appalachians" was shown at our library in 2025; he will be here in person to introduce us to more of his work on Sept. 29, see below:
Documentary producer Frederick Murphy will present his work "Echoes of the Forks of Cypress," a study in intergenerational racial trauma and the healing process, in two public screenings and discussions on Tuesday, September 29, in Lexington. His visit is sponsored by the DeLaney Center of Washington & Lee University.
The events:
Tuesday 9/29 at 8 to 9 a.m., DeLaney Reading Club Breakfast at the Gin Hotel 1st floor banquet hall, and
Noon- 2 p.m. DeLaney Dialogues at W&L's Watson Galleries.
Mr. Murphy will show excerpts from the documentary, filmed at a former plantation site in northern Alabama. Both events are free and open to the public. The community is invited to come, enjoy a buffet, watch, listen and offer their own perspectives on this important topic.
Mr. Murphy traces part of his own lineage to the area where the filming was done. Based in Charlotte, NC, he has also produced a documentary, "Indelible Appalachians," that features black voices from the Appalachians, dispelling the notion that African Americans were not and are not a vibrant part of the Appalachian community to which we all belong. That work is also definitely of interest.
His work and more information are available on the platform and website historybeforeus.com.
Information on the DeLaney Center is available on the wlu.edu website.
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. Pray today for the bishops of the Episcopal Church as they gather today at House of Bishops. 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, Melissa Wooding, Lake Curry, Glen Jones, Nanalou Sauder, Michael Perry, Waller Wills (son of Ruth Smith), Jacob Chenault, Susan Cross, Mimi Knight, 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.
In Thanksgiving for September and October Birthdays
9/25 Darlene Keane
9/26 Page Donkle
9/28 Winifred Hart
9/29 John Maasch
9/30 Mo Littlefield, Lynda DeMaria
10/2 Donnie McBrayer
10/4 Mary Katherine Lawrence; Anne Hansen
10/6 Christine Szarzynski
10/7 Kay Horner
10/8 Pierson Hotchkiss
10/9 Jerry Nay; Susan Denson
10/11 Heather McBrayer
10/12 Thomas Morrissey
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
Please consider subscribing to The Episcopal Church Press Release Digest.
We're so glad you're here! If you or someone you know is new to Grace and would like more information about Parish life, follow the link below.
Comments