Dear friends,
In her book Living into God's Dream, Catherine Meeks reminds us that from the beginning we are created in the image of God for life with God at the head and the center and that God has already shown us our future in a vision of a healed human community: Every family, language, people, and nation, praising God in harmony, in communion. Jesus called this dream the Kingdom. Martin Luther King called it Beloved Community. Whatever the name, it is not a wish, but a vision, an enduring hope for the future that shapes and guides our struggles in the present.
Over the next few weeks we have the opportunity to participate in a process for envisioning God's future for Grace Episcopal Church. And in particular for the ways we might adapt our facilities over the next ten years to best support that vision.
1. On January 19 an online survey will be distributed to the active members of the congregation to help us explore the ways our facilities support our various ministries and how our facilities limit or impede God's work. Please complete the survey.
2. On January 22 at Christianity and Culture we will consider the church of the future. What do you hope the church will look like in ten or twenty-five years? What are the current drivers of change in our area? What are the signs of the future we can discern already at work in our church? What is the future we want? What is the future God wants? How can we act now for the future we want with God? Please come and share what you see.
3. During the week of January 29-Feb 6 seven Focus Groups (Hospitality, Vestry, Staff, Music&Worship, College and Adult Ed, Children and Youth, Community Partners) of about 10 will dialogue with our architect, Neal Roseberry, about the future of Grace Episcopal Church. We will share what we appreciate about our buildings and grounds as well as some of the things that get in the way, or that we would like improved - such as accessibility, bathrooms, furnishings and finishes, tech support, room sizes, signage, and carbon footprint. Let us know now if you want to be on a Focus Group.
On February 12 Neal Roseberry will meet with us in person in the Parish Hall to review the results of the Survey and Focus Groups and to get additional input. Please, plan to attend the Town Hall meeting February 12 at 11AM.
God's dream for the future has long been clear. The Kingdom, Beloved Community. Signs of God's Beloved Community already amidst and amongst us. What are they? What do you see? What should we support and invest in with our ministries? How can we best deploy our resources, including our buildings and grounds, in partnership with our neighbors, as we fare forward toward the dream of God? Please share what you see through these opportunities over the next month.
With gratitude,
Tuck Bowerfind, Rector, Grace Episcopal Lexington
Worship Services | Second Sunday after the Epiphany | Sunday, January 15
Holy Eucharist | 8AM
In-Person & Zoom
Christianity and Culture| 9:15AM
Parish Hall & Zoom
Holy Eucharist | 10:30AM
In-Person & YouTube
Upcoming Evening Services
There will be no 5:00 pm service this Sunday. Please join us at the Community Worship Service at 4:00PM at First Baptist Church to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. All are welcome!
January 22 | 5PM Spoken Eucharist
January 28–29 | Evensong and Recital with visiting organist Dr. Theodore Davis
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 AM
In-Person & Zoom
We're on Twitter!
To stay in the loop with all things Grace Episcopal, give us a follow on our new Twitter! While you're at it, check out our other socials too.
LANFORD MISSION EMERGENCY FUND (LMEF)
The Christian Outreach Committee on behalf of the Lanford Mission Emergency Fund (LMEF) expresses its grateful appreciation for parishioners’ generous Thanksgiving and Christmas 2022 offerings. In 2022, the LMEF responded to 171 requests, an increase of 24% over 2021. Financial support in the amount of $22,053.05 increased 35%.
Your generous gifts have already enabled the LMEF to assist with several rent requests in January to keep Rockbridge County residents in their homes. Grace continues to work collaboratively with RARA, Lex Pres, and St. Patrick’s to meet these emergency requests.
Funding for the LMEF comes from COC grant money; your Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter offerings; quarterly draws from the Lanford Mission Emergency Fund Investment Account; and special gifts.
Thank you again for your generosity and continued support of this vital Grace outreach ministry in Rockbridge County!
Christianity and Culture | 9:15AM Sunday Forums
January 15 meet our recently Baptized members: Emily Brookfield and Rose Hein; learn about their spiritual journey and reflect on your own
Stewardship Update
We are pleased that 120 households have pledged a total of $479,433 as of January 6th. The members of the Stewardship Committee appreciate everyone’s prayerful consideration of a pledge to support the parish and its important missions through our relationship with God and Jesus Christ.
W&L MLK Week Celebration
Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday celebrations are held annually on the third Monday of January, following his birthday on January 15th. Please visit the link below for a full schedule of the week's events.
MLK Community Worship Service
Join First Baptist Church in celebrating the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr with a community worship service on Sunday, January 15th at 4PM with guest preacher Reverend Dr. Kevin E. Donalson, Senior Pastor at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Herndon, VA.. Guest choirs will provide the music.
Baltimore Musician, Dr. Theodore Davis, in Weekend of Music
Casavant Frères Opus 3941 in Concert, 5pm, Saturday, January 28 at Grace Episcopal Church! The program will be played by Dr. Theodore Davis, an active recitalist, chamber music performer, and conductor currently serving at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Baltimore. “Ted” has performed across the Eastern United States, England, and Japan; has achieved national recognition in organ-playing competitions; and is an active and published composer. He has also served as assistant to the music directors in productions at the Boston Early Music Festival and the Amherst Early Music Festival. Ted holds music degrees in organ performance from Birmingham-Southern College, choral conducting from Northwestern University, harpsichord from the Longy School of Music, and a doctoral degree from the Peabody Conservatory.
The program will include works by Louis Vierne, Samuel Coleridge Taylor, Florence Beatrice Price, Ad Wammes, Théodore Dubois, and others.
Choral Evensong on Sunday, January 29, 5pm at Grace Episcopal Church will feature the choir and friends of Grace, directed by Martha Burford; Dr. Theodore Davis as organist at the Casavant Frères Opus 3941; and works by C.H.H. Parry, Sarah MacDonald, S.S. Wesley, Theodore Davis, Thomas Tallis, William Bradley Roberts, and others. Evensong is a service of prayers, Scripture including Canticles, Psalms, and Lessons, and music. It usually lasts approximately 45 minutes. All are welcome.
Free will donations will be gratefully received for this stellar program and performance! For details contact Martha Burford.
Prayer List
Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Mark Bourlakas.
Pray for Robbie and Brendon (friends of the Brooke family), Michael Murphy, John Thomas, Timmy, Katie (daughter-in-law of Connie Bryant), Rick Alexander, Bradley Fairchild and Karen Junkin (friends of the Gibsons), Caroline Parcell, Alice Parcell, Stanard, Rebecca, and Caroline (family of Mary Price), Gloria June Perry (mother of Michael Perry), Glen Jones (friend of the Riethmillers), Darlene Travis (sister of Don Ellis), Elizabeth Boetsch, Scott Littlefield, Patricia Brown Boyer (sister of Madison Brown), Alice Furgerson, Dolly Shumate (friend of the Lewis’), Laura Wieman (friend of the Hotchkiss’), Reed Wilcox (president of SVU) and those we name aloud or in our hearts.
Pray for those who have died.
Paws to Connect
We look forward to connecting with you in the New Year. We will be on the courtyard with our pups on February 14, 2023. Come by and tell us about your holidays and pet the dogs!
Hosting Ukrainian Families
A humanitarian outreach effort organized by citizens of Lexington, Buena Visa, and Rockbridge County, we aim to pave the way for sponsoring temporary re-settlement of families who qualify for entry according to the laws of the United States.
The mission of Hosting Ukrainian Families is based upon love, compassion, and humanitarian concerns for families seeking to live in peace. Accordingly, a call is issued to each person joining in this effort to set aside all political, culturally divisive viewpoints, and all differences which may hinder or defeat these goals. To donate, click the link below.
In Thanksgiving for January Birthdays
1/14 Liz Moss
1/15 Farris Hotchkiss
1/16 Gabrielle Frascati
1/18 Laurie Huger
1/19 Elizabeth Boetsch
1/20 Paul Strickland
1/21 Sarah Edgar
1/23 Virginia Cooke
1/26 Maille Carrington
1/27 Sean Carrington, Joseph Moles
1/29 Jane Brooke
1/30 Melissa Gladwell-Sayre, Cary Edgar
1/31 Tom Gosse
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.
Exciting Things Are Here!
Our new website is live! You will find it more user-friendly and easier to navigate, with a fresh, modern design and new features to enhance your experience. All clergy and staff emails have been updated to @gracelexva.org. You can find our new contacts here.
We appreciate your patience as we work to bring you a better online presence for our church. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or need any information.