Food for Coffee hour: An enjoyable part of our Sundays is the coffee hour after a worship service. The Coffee Hour Ministry relies on donations of food items for this special social time. If you can donate crackers, cookies, or other baked items, it would be very much appreciated. Also, vegetable and fruit plates are welcome. Coffee Hour volunteers will prepare coffee and tea and set the table with food donations.
Greening Grace and the Episcopal Peace Fellowship will meet in the Parker Room after the 10:30 service on Sunday 2/9. We will vote on sending funds for white boards to our Ramallah project, plan for Earth Day and more. Everyone is welcome to come.
Contemplative Prayer Group is meeting on Mondays at 5:00 to 6:00 pm in the Parker Room. Please contact Michael Erard.
Adult Education, Wednesday, February 12, 7:00 p.m. in the Connector. Rev. Dr.Susan Schaeffer , a priest who has been a “Gracie” for over 15 years, will present a two-part series, “From Sources to Scripture.” The Bible is a collection of books with many voices and a long history. Who or what are the sources called J, E, D, P, Q? D1 and D2? Last week we looked at how the biblical writings are rooted in the histories of Israel and early Christianity, and are shaped over time by the religious perspectives of later generations. This second portion of the class will look at the use of the Bible as holy scripture by the Church and consider how it speaks to us today.
First College/University Student Meet-Up of Semester – Sat., Feb. 15th This semester, our biweekly gathering for college and university students (both undergraduate and graduate students welcome!) will take place every other Saturday at 11 a.m. For our first meeting, we will gather for brunch at Lone Wolf on Feb. 15th. The group provides a chance for students to form community and engage in supportive, open discussion on a variety of topics related to faith. Please reach out to Megan for more details.
The Grace Church Stewardship campaign for 2020 To date 164 pledges have come in totaling $455,552.00. To those who have pledged God Bless, to those who have yet to pledge please pray and pledge so our Vestry can budget for 2020. If you need a pledge card, they are available as you enter the church or you can contact the office (413) 256-6754 or Tom Dougherty at (413) 563-7321.
Sustain Earth by Being Heat Wise – There are lots of clever ways to keep your home warm and reduce the work of your heater. Simple things like opening drapes to let the sunshine in during the day and then closing them at night can save energy and money. And by reducing energy use you also reduce carbon emissions and air pollution. Learn more at sustainislandhome.org. Courtesy of Greening Grace.
SAVE THE DATE
Multi-Church Ice skating Party for the whole family on February 16. Arrive at 12:00; skate from 12:30-1:20 You’re invited to the Mullins Center for a multi church ice skating party. The whole rink is booked and skate rentals are free! Bring a friend and join us for an afternoon of fun on the ice. You can also bring a lunch to enjoy in the party room and we’ll have snacks and water on hand for everyone. Parking is available right next to the rink.
Potluck with Lucio Perez: 5:30 pm on Monday, February 24 at First Church Amherst. Please bring food to share that does not require heating up at church and plan to participate in clean up! Many hands make for light work! For more information please contact Karen Levine.
20s and 30s Bookmill Afternoon – Sat., Feb. 29th Local young adults are warmly invited to be part of Grace Church’s monthly gatherings, which are meant to give space both for social connection and spiritual conversation. This month, we’ll be going together to the Bookmill in Montague, followed with time at the Lady Killigrew Café. We will leave from Grace at 1:30 p.m.; people are also welcome to meet us at the Bookmill at 2 p.m. Please let Megan know if you need or can offer a ride.
High schoolers can now register for this summer’s Episcopal Youth Event! Anyone currently in grades 9-12 is invited to join the Western Mass. group attending this summer’s Episcopal Youth Event. We’ll travel to University of Maryland, College Park and stay there for three days of worship, speakers, and workshops alongside Episcopal teenagers from around the country. Departure date July 7th and return July 11th. For more information on EYE: https://events.episcopalchurch.org/eye/ or contact Megan who will be one of the chaperones.
Will you join us? Help plan the next steps in the ongoing work of Grace Church with St. Matthew’s School in Bayonnais, Haiti. Whether you see yourself as a part of the committee that meets monthly or as someone who would work on specific short-term projects, we promise conversations and working sessions that are efficient, interesting, and fun! Suzannah Fabing, John Stifler, Bonnie Vigeland, or any other member of the committee will be delighted to talk with you about how you can make a difference in this ministry.