July’s fourth Sunday offering will go through the AFEDJ (American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem) designated for the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza. In the 11-day war in June and its aftermath, which caused huge destruction of buildings and infrastructure, Ahli, the only Christian hospital in Gaza, treated people despite the bombing and destruction. It has added staff in its surgical, nursing, laboratory, Xray, and psychosocial departments to try to meet the increased need. The director, Suhaila Tarazi, says of the bombardment, “Families have been shattered by its devastating impact, especially children.” Please be generous and remember them in your prayers.
You can write a check payable to Grace Church and add “July Outreach” on the memo line. You can place your check in the collection plate located in the back of the church on Sunday morning or you can mail it to us at the Church Office: Grace Episcopal Church, 14 Boltwood Avenue, Amherst, MA 01002
The Stewardship campaign: To date 170 pledges have come in totaling $464,786 – most encouraging, we have several new pledges. To those who have pledged God bless, to those who have yet to pledge please pray and pledge so our Vestry can budget for 2021. If you need a pledge card, please contact the office (413) 256-6754 or Tom Dougherty at (413) 563-7321. You can mail us your pledge or drop it off at the church. Letting us know now what you hopefully will give in 2021 helps us to better plan for the year.
2021 Haiti School Uniform and Library Book Campaign – Weekly Update: As of this week, 94 students at St Matthew’s School in Haiti will be dressed to win in their new school uniforms at the start of the academic year. This last week we gratefully received $850. Thank you! We are working to provide 200 students with school uniforms and to contribute books to the school’s new library. A $60 donation will cover the cost a uniform, textbooks, and other basic school supplies for one student. An additional donation of $25 will make a valuable contribution towards filling the library shelves.
Our goals are: Uniforms: $12,000; Library Book: $ 5,000; Total Campaign: $17,000
So far, we have raised $5,685 for 94 school uniforms. We have 106 uniforms to go and want to raise another $11,315. If you are able to help, please make checks payable to “Grace Church” and write “Haiti School Uniforms” on the memo line. You may also give via the church website by clicking the “Give” button and then selecting “Haiti Ministry” in the “To” drop down box.
Donations in any amount are most welcome. Thank you. Subscribe to the Haiti Ministry blog at graceinhaiti.org/blog!
The Amherst Survival Center is in need of donations for their personal care pantry. Items needed: Soap, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Shampoo, Menstrual products, Incontinence products.All donations can be dropped off in the back of the church. For more information, please contact Kevyn Smith at kevynsmith09@gmail.com
Volunteer at the Survival Center The amount of need in our area has grown tremendously. Prior to COVID, the Survival Center provided between 85-100 meals a day. That number has ballooned to almost 250! The Survival Center is always in need of help. Volunteering there is easy, safe, and fun. Some jobs, such as distributing lunch or bags of produce from behind plexiglass, can be done sitting. Some light lifting may be required, but not more than 15-20 pounds. Teens and young adults are welcome, as are people of all ages. Please consider volunteering at the Amherst Survival Center. For more information, go to their website https://amherstsurvival.org or speak with one of our volunteers.
Piano available Would anyone want an older Chickering grand piano? Due to the recent generous donation to Grace by Marion Rosenau of her Steinway grand (which is currently at a piano restoration shop, getting some new parts), we now have one more grand piano than we need. When Marion’s piano is finished by the rebuilder, in one month, it will come to stay in the Sanctuary, and the current Sanctuary grand piano will move to the Parish Hall, and the Parish Hall Chickering grand will go…. somewhere. I hope the dump isn’t its next home. It is tunable, has real ivory keytops, and can still make music. It’s 6 feet, 5 inches long, and was built in 1927 in Boston. I (Dick Damon) will help get the piano moved and will charge only a modest fee — hopefully enough to pay any necessary moving helper(s). Please contact me at 413-549-3857) if you or someone you know might be interested.