Standing Together: Restoring Goodwin – Please join us for a fundraiser on Saturday, October 26 to help repair the historic Goodwin AME Zion Church in Amherst. The event has two parts: a dinner here at Grace at 5PM and a concert next door at First Church at 7PM. Suggested ticket prices are $15 (dinner) and $20 (concert). If you can’t attend donations of any amount are welcome. The Harvest meal at Grace is being prepared by members of Goodwin, the Hampshire Mosque and other congregations. The concert will feature several local Gospel choirs. This event is sponsored by ION (Interfaith Opportunities Network). Tickets for the dinner have sold out. Contact your ION rep, Eve Webster (evecweb (at) gmail.com) for details and possible tickets for the concert.

Daylight Savings Reminder! The clocks need to be changed back one hour November 3^rd. Enjoy that extra hour of sleep!

October 27 is the 4^th Sunday of the month and the recipient of the 4^th Sunday Offering is our partner in Haiti, St Matthew’s School. Our faithful support has ensured a vibrant school for rural children otherwise denied education. Unfortunately Haiti is in renewed political turmoil: protestors, barricades, burning tires fill the streets. Fuel is scarce, food is running low. Many schools did not open this fall. St Matthews did open but was temporarily closed. Our help is ever more essential at this fraught time. St Matthew perseveres; thankfully it re-opened this week.

For Thanksgiving, the Amherst Survival Center has asked us to collect 500 boxes of bread stuffing, which the Survival Center will distribute throughout November. They would like as many boxes as possible by November 4^th. If everyone brought 2 boxes of stuffing to church for the next 2 Sundays, we can achieve this goal. Thank you for your help.

The Stewardship campaign is beginning with the mailing of pledge materials, which you should receive this week. Please read these materials carefully and prayerfully reflect on your contribution. If you do not receive the mailing, copies will be on the table at the entry to the church. We need the participation of all members if we are to maintain our programs, meet unexpected expenditures and continue to provide support for others in our community. The annual In-gathering will be Sunday, Nov. 24th at both services. Please bring your pledge card then as they will be received at the altar during the service. The Feast of Grace potluck luncheon will follow the 10:30 service. If you are away on the 24th, we will gladly receive your pledge earlier. Thank you.

As we move into Creation Care season, Greening Grace invites you to spend some time learning about collectively reducing the use of fossil fuel, using The Episcopal Church’s tool: Sustaining Our Island Home, or www.sustainislandhome.org. Please join us today in the Parish Hall after either service. You may very well be rewarded with a sense of hope and impact on behalf of Creation…… one of our primary chosen ministries, as described by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. Refreshments will be served.

Realities and Remedies of the Climate Crisis: Where are we headed? How can our faith help us face this crisis? What can we, as people of faith, do? In the Connector, 7:00pm, October 30 – What Can We Do?

• Sustaining Earth, Our Island Home: DeAnne Riddle, Grace Church

• Carbon Fee & Dividend: Tony Rogers, Climate Action Now

• Going Solar: Karen Ribeiro, Pioneer Valley Photovoltaics (PV-Squared)

• Stretch Code for Buildings: Chris Riddle, retired architect

• Community Choice Aggregation: Adele Franks, Climate Action Now

All Saints Day Parade November 3^rd at the 10:30 service. Children and youth are invited to dress up as their favorite saint and process!

All Saints Day November 3^rd at 4:00pm a special service with Bishop Doug Fisher. Bishop Doug is making a special visit to Grace to receive several parishioners who could not be received during his visit in June, and to bless and dedicate a memorial plaque as well as gifts from Youth Confirmation pilgrimages.

Trick or Treat for UNICEF boxes are available in the Connector –  Carry a UNICEF box with you when you ask for treats, or use it at home as a mite box. UNICEF works in 190 countries and reaches millions of children in need. The money collected can be sent to UNICEF (address on the box) or bring the box back to church and Lucy Robinson will send Grace’s combined donations to UNICEF. There’s a new way to do door-to-door fundraising – use Instagram Stories. Create a virtual door using TOT for UNICEF donation stickers in Stories or donate online now to help a child in need. Visa is partnering with UNICEF USA to make it easier this Halloween. #ToT4UNICEF. For more information, contact Lucy Robinson

House Plant Sale: Many thanks to all who bought house plants last Sunday to support the Garden Ministry. We made $150, which will help underwrite plants for next year. Thanks to David Williams for propagating all the plants. Thanks from the Garden Ministry.

All Souls’ Day: We will celebrate the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed Monday, November 4th, at 7:00 p.m., with a service of Holy Communion and a reading of names from the Book of Remembrance. There is a sign-up sheet in the back of the church, if you would like to add names of deceased loved ones.

Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to join our small group that gathers twice a month for conversation on life & faith! On Monday, Nov. 4th, come to the All Souls’ service at 7 p.m. Following the service, those who can stay are invited to come with us to Amherst Coffee. On Monday, Nov. 18th, we’ll gather at our usual 6 p.m. meeting time – this time at Share Coffee! If you have any questions, please contact Megan at mmcdermott (at) gracechurchamherst.org. Megan is also available to meet with you one-on-one to chat about life and faith!

Writers of Grace Reading Event – Nov. 16th – Looking for readers!

Last fall, a number of parishioners shared their creative writing with us at a reading event. We are hoping to hold our second annual “Writers of Grace” reading on Saturday, Nov. 16th at 2 p.m. Do you have poetry, fiction, or nonfiction you would like to share alongside others from church? Please email Megan at mmcdermott (at) gracechurchamherst.org to sign up or for more information.

Remember the St. Nicholas Bazaar, December 7: Cleaning closets? Decluttering? Bring your unwanted treasures for the St. Nicholas Bazaar, Dec. 7, 2019! Wanted: antiques, collectibles, jewelry, Christmas items, toys & games, books, CDs, DVDs, linens & scarves, artwork and household items. Make sure your donations are clean and in good condition. Donations may be dropped off in the undercroft near the big shelves. More information about volunteering and baked goods to come. Check November Grace Notes and future bulletins. Questions? Contact Joan at jobrien82 (at) gmail.com. Thank you!

Arts and Crafts for St Nicholas: In recent years the St Nicholas Bazaar (Dec. 7) has included a “Gifts of Grace” table where arts of all kinds by parishioners is offered for sale. If you are engaging in a hobby or trying a new pursuit, please consider setting aside a creation for this table. We need your watercolor, pottery, jewelry, photograph, handmade card, woodworking or anything you think up.