PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS -- Sunday, July 11, 2010
Parish Announcements ~ July 25, 2010
Grace Church is 145 years old today!
During the summer there is one Sunday Service at 9:00 am - through August 29.
Nursery hours are offered from 9:00 to 11:00 am.
Wednesday’s 12:10 pm service continues through July.
It will be suspended during August, and will resume on Sept. 1.
Summer Preaching Series continues; Today - Prayers of the People; Aug. 1 - Confession, The Peace; Aug. 8 – Offertory; Aug. 15 - Consecration, Fraction; Aug. 22 - Holy Communion; Aug. 29 Post Communion Prayer, Dismissal
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The Mutual Care Committee provides short-term help during difficult times such as illness, family crisis, injury, or hospitalization. Our volunteers will provide help and support to Grace Parishioners and their families by doing errands, preparing meals, visiting shut-ins, and providing rides to medical appointments. Other support is also available. Please call facilitator Mary McCarthy at 253-3582 if we can help.
Today’s Fourth Sunday Open plate Outreach Collection will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County. They provide support for pairs of "Bigs" and "Littles," who meet to share fun activities, stories, and a little bit of themselves. The impact improves children’s lives and has benefits that last into their adulthood. Thank you for your generosity.
The Bonhoeffer reading group meets Thursdays during July and August. Our next meeting is July 29 in the Connector. Join us at 6:00 pm for dinner, 7:00 pm for the book study. All are welcome.
Safe Church Training: The Rev. Tanya Wallace will conduct a workshop for parish volunteers Saturday, August 28, 2010 at All Saints’ in South Hadley from 1 to 4 pm. The workshop meets the requirements for volunteers who work with children/youth, but not for clergy or church employees. In order to prepare materials in advance, pre-registration is required. Call Karen Warren at Diocesan House, (413) 737-4786,
Backpack Project. Local Congregations have been asked by the Amherst schools to collect backpacks and school supplies for students who might be starting school without these necessary supplies. Please donate backpacks you’ve outgrown (new or used, small or large or in-between) and some spare school supplies. You can outfit the packs completely; bring them in empty or anything in-between. Donations may be left in Connector before August 15 so they may be made ready before the first day of school.
Summer schedules. From now through the month of August, Annie will be in from 9 – noon, (voicemail and email only on Fridays). Voice mail is always available. If not on vacation, clergy and staff retrieve their messages daily. Hilary is currently on vacation, and will return on Aug. 1st. Rob will be on break in August, and Margaret will be away August 7 – 14.
Volunteers Wanted
Try the Altar Guild: Three new members are needed after the 10:30 Sunday Service to fill out the schedule. Training and a partner will be provided. With enough volunteers, you would be needed only once a month. Could you spend part of your coffee hour once a month to help with this important service? Men, women, teens with transport or a parent to help - are welcome. If you would like more information, call Janet Teng at 253-3659.
Mic (as in microphone) Ministry. Help with this easy task, and benefit many. All you need to do is adjust the speaker volume, and plug in a recording devise to record the sermon. The equipment is in the vestibule of the clock tower. Someone will show you what to do, and it only takes a few minutes before and after the service. Getting this done would allow everyone to hear the service and enable people who can’t get to church to hear the sermons on the Website. Contact Annie H. if you are interested (256-6754 or annie@gracechurchamherst.org). Several volunteers could set up their own schedule.
Ushers wanted for 10:30 a.m. Sunday Service this fall: Welcome people to church--only two Sundays per quarter (more if you’d like). All you have to do is arrive 20-30 minutes early, pass out the bulletins & announcements, help coordinate the collection, and help tidy up after the service. Contact Kitty Dougherty if you can help, or would like more information (kitty@kdougherty.net).
Coffee Hour treats: Please bring fine snacks (purchased or homemade) to share at coffee hour next Sunday if your last name begins with letters T – Z.
Education for Ministry is a four year Diocesan sponsored program (students commit to one year at a time), whose aim is to help laity connect to their vocation and ministry. The curriculum is from the School of Theology/University of the South, Sewanee, TN. EFM has existed for over 15 years and currently has 8,000-10,000 students enrolled from many countries. At each seminar the group worships together, examines and studies scripture, and explores the art of theological reflection. Trained mentors help students through this process. The cost is $350.00 (scholarships are available). Currently students come from two parishes in the Diocese. Classes start in late September (Monday evenings in South Hadley) and end in early June. Contact Veronica Chapman at Donna Schneider for more information (ticachap@comcast.net, dbschnei@spansport.umass.edu).
Anniversary Concert to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the William A. Johnson tracker organ at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ashfield, on August 15 at 4 pm, featuring the Da Camera Singers. There will be no admission fee, but donations will be gratefully accepted.
Clutterers Anonymous (CLA) is a twelve-step program for people who share a common problem with an accumulation of clutter. There is a new group meeting on Friday evenings at the Bangs Community Center at 7:30 pm. All are welcome.