Dear Friends,
For the past three years the Episcopal Church has been collecting information from each parish on how we have been working to dismantle racism in ourselves, our congregation, and our community, as well as how we are responding to challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic in particular and to any other local challenges and opportunities over the past year.
This Sunday at 9:15 during Christianity and Culture, in the Parish Hall, Joanne Robblee and Rob Minor will lead a discussion focused on three specific questions we are required to answer:
1. What opportunities and challenges did the congregation face in 2022?
2. Looking to the future, what changes do you hope to see in your faith community? What does your community need in order to bring these changes about?
3. Share stories of how you have spent the last year naming, addressing, and dismantling the injustices of racism in yourselves, congregations, and your communities.
If you are unable to participate in the discussion, feel free to send your responses to me. And please take these questions into account as you think about our facilities and how we can best adapt them to serve the needs of our ministries and community in response to God's call to live in equity, compassion and love with God and our neighbors.
With gratitude,
Tuck Bowerfind, Rector, Grace Episcopal Lexington
P.S. While Grace will hold services at 8AM and 10:30AM this Sunday, all are invited to attend the diocesan-wide Eucharist on Sunday at 10:00AM. For those unable to attend in-person, I encourage you to watch the livestream together on the diocesan Youtube channel.
Worship Services | Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany | Sunday, January 29
Holy Eucharist | 8AM
In-Person & Zoom
Christianity and Culture| 9:15AM
Parish Hall & Zoom
Annual Convention | 10AM
Holy Eucharist | 10:30AM
In-Person & YouTube
Evensong | 5PM
Reception following in Parish Hall
Upcoming Evening Events
January 28–29 | Evensong and Recital with visiting organist Dr. Theodore Davis
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 AM
In-Person & Zoom
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Christianity and Culture | 9:15AM Sunday Forums
January 29 (Diocesan Convention) | Warden Joanne Robblee and Rob Minor will introduce the Parochial Report Questions each parish is asked to answer.
February 5 | Delegates to Diocesan Convention will share their observations about what happened at Diocesan Convention.
February 12 | We will celebrate Holy Eucharist at 9:15AM Eucharist followed by 10:30 am Town Hall meeting with Architect Neal Roseberry to continue our discussion about what Grace Church will look like in 25 years and how our buildings might support that vision.
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.
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. Reception to follow in the Parish Hall. All are welcome.
Free will donations will be gratefully received for this stellar program and performance! For details contact Martha Burford.
Lent Madness
The goals of this contest are fun and reflecting on how we are inspired and challenged by some exemplars of Christian discipleship. Please invite friends to participate and come to the presentations and debates.
Please subscribe for the Lent Madness emails which will allow you to vote for each contest.
There will be a prize for anyone who correctly picks the Faithful Four and the 2023 Golden Halo winner before Ash Wednesday. (I have heard that Captain Phillips will be trying to get the VMI community to rally behind Jonathan Daniels.) On February 19 at Christianity and Culture we will introduce the contest with the first six presentations. Other presentations will take place on Wednesday nights in March starting at 6:45PM. On Wednesdays in March those who wish may gather for abbreviated Evening prayer at 6PM. Anne Sauder will serve a Soup and Bread supper at 6:20PM and our presentations will begin at 6:45PM. We plan to adjourn at 7:30PM.
Souper Bowl
Join Campus Kitchen for a soup-tasting event benefitting the Campus Kitchen Backpack Program. Enjoy soups from local restaurants and caterers, and listen to W&L acapella groups. All ticket sales will go directly to provide breakfast, lunch and snack items to area children on free and reduced lunch programs.
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 today for the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia as we convene our 104th Annual Convention.
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), 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), Carolyn Glenn (friend of Judy Schram), Jack Hershbell, David Passmore, 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 and February Birthdays
1/27 Sean Carrington, Joseph Moles
1/29 Jane Brooke
1/30 Melissa Gladwell-Sayre, Cary Edgar
1/31 Tom Gosse
2/2 Clarinda Carrington
2/10 Glen Szarzynski
2/12 Rowan Moles
2/15 Rick Pollard
2/17 Keith Prince
2/19 Rose Hein
2/21 Steve Riethmiller
2/23 Beverly Tucker, Graham Hess
2/24 Holt Merchant
2/25 Jeanne Passmore
2/27 Joseph Henson
2/28 Caitie Carrington
2/28 Erin Carrington
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. Please remove the old, @graceepiscopallexington.org emails from your address books and replace them with the new versions.
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.