ANNOUNCEMENTS: May 2008

Sunday School: May 18th is the last day of this year's Sunday School program. Children and their teachers will be recognized during the 10:30 service.

Opportunity for Service : The Altar Guild urgently needs two people to help clean up after the 10:30 am service. Can you commit to serving once a month during the coffee hour? You will be given training, and will work with a partner. We also urgently need one or two people to wash and iron the small linens which are used during the service. You will NOT be asked to launder the big cloth which covers the Altar. We need one person who can commit to two separate months during the year, or two people who can each commit to one month. This can be a soothing and meditative task. Men as well as women are welcome. (At present we have five men who volunteer in different capacities.) Please contact Janet T. at 413-253-3659 or speak to the Rector.

Greening of Grace Meeting: All are welcome to join the Greening of Grace group Monday, May 19 at 7:00 pm in the Parker Room in the Old Rectory. We have lively discussions as we work to green up the church's physical plant and help the congregation of Grace raise their level of action to preserve God's Creation.

Healthcare Forum: A forum addressing various aspects of health care decision making will take place in the parish hall following both services on May 25th. Speakers include Kevyn C., Michael E., Jono H. and Bob K. Massachusetts Health Care Proxy forms and other informational literature will be available.

A Service of Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, 37 Chestnut St., Springfield, on Saturday May 31st at 11 a.m.—Bishop Gordon Scruton presiding. All are welcome to attend.

Coffee Hour meets after the 8:00 am service in the Parker Room. After the 10:30 service we gather in the Parish Hall. Next Sunday, please supply all kinds of delectable baked goods if your last name begins with N-S.

“Global Insights” Please join us on May 21 in the Parish Hall to learn more about Liberia and Ghana. Rebecca Scruton, R.N., a spiritual director and wife of our Bishop Gordon Scruton will be our speaker. In January the Scrutons spent two weeks visiting these two African countries at the request of local Anglican bishops. She has much to share about the dire needs and hope of these two countries. The talk takes place in the Parish Hall, with supper at 6:00 pm and the program at 6:30-8:00 pm. This series of talks is part of Grace Church's ongoing campaign to help The Episcopal Church meet the Millennium Development Goals established by the U. N. in 1999.

An Iconography Workshop taught by Vladeslav Andreyev of the Prosopon School of Iconography will be held from June 23 – 28 in the Parish Hall. This workshop is for both beginning and intermediate students, and no previous artistic experience is necessary. For more information contact Sandy L. at 549-2740, or email slillydahl@library.umass.edu.

The Silly Skyscraper -- A Musical Drama will take place as part of the 10:30 Service, Sunday, June 1st . Please come! There is rehearsal May 18th following the 10:30 Service. There will also be rehearsal next Saturday, May 24th from 9:30 to 10:30 and Sunday, May 25th from 12:30 to 1:30. Our dress rehearsals are Wednesday, May 28th from 6 -8 (pizza provided), and Friday, May 30th from 6:30 to 8pm in the Church. Questions? Call Mary H. at 549-8773 or email mhocken@verizon.net.

Clean-Up Day on Saturday, March 24: Please come on Saturday the 24th at 9am for a Spring Clean-Up. Dress code is casual but work gloves are a must. We’ll do some raking and pruning as well as window cleaning. Call Jen Soper at 530-7831 with any questions – we look forward to seeing you there!