This November, contribute to our Community Board in the Connector!
Throughout the month of November, you will find a bulletin board in the Connector around the theme of saints. You are invited to add to and reflect on it before or after the service. The board will have questions related to the saints that inspire us and the saints in our lives. You are welcome to answer its questions with the provided index cards or bring in a photo or picture related to saints in your life or saints who inspire you. (Please only bring a print-out or a copy of a photo you have – something you’d feel comfortable not having returned.) We plan to have other themed, interactive bulletin boards in the future to provide a unique way of coming together as a community; we thank Patty Appelbaum for the bulletin board idea!
The Stewardship campaign has begun with the mailing of pledge materials. Please read these materials carefully and prayerfully reflect on your contribution. If you did not receive the mailing, copies will be on the table at the entry to the church, and please let us know. 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. 21st at both services. Please bring your pledge card then as they will be received at the altar during the service. You can also mail us your pledge, if you cannot be at Grace that Sunday.
Thanksgiving Collection for the Amherst Survival Center Help “Stuff” the Church with Bread Stuffing 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 began distributing Thanksgiving foods on November 1st. If everyone brought 2 boxes of stuffing to church for the next 2 Sundays, we can achieve this goal. Thank you for your help. To date: 210 collected; 290 to go. Thank you for your help.
Climate Action @ Grace meets Sunday, Nov. 14 at 9:30 a.m. in the Fireplace Room in the Parke House. Please join us to consider how we should respond to the climate emergency that we are experiencing. What can be done on the Grace Church campus? Should we join with other faith groups, and if so, how? What wider actions should we engage in? Do we need suggestions for particular ways in which we might act? Perhaps as a warning sign, the boiler is out; dress warmly for this meeting.
Adult Confirmation Class: Wednesdays, November 17 and December 1, 7:00 – 8:30pm via Zoom Bishop Doug Fisher will visit Grace Church on Sunday, December 5. In preparation for this occasion, there will be a 4 week course offered for anyone who is interested in being confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church. Confirmation is for anyone who desires to make a mature affirmation of one’s beliefs in the presence of a bishop. Reception is for anyone who has been confirmed in another tradition but who now desires to be received into the Episcopal Church. What does it mean to be an Episcopalian in the 21st century? Come explore the mystery of God and discuss Episcopal Beliefs and Practices. This course is open to all, regardless of whether you are seeking Confirmation or Reception. Come share your beliefs, thoughts, concerns, and even doubts. There are no questions that cannot be asked. This course will be led by Tom and Megan. For further information, please call the church office at 256-6754 or email tsynan@gracechurchamherst.org. The Zoom invitation is available from the office.
Adopt-A-Family For Christmas: For many years Grace Church members have enjoyed buying or making gifts for a family that is struggling. Wish lists for some 40 families will be available on Sundays starting Nov 14th after both services. The deadline is Dec 19th. AFTER the St Nicholas Bazaar the gifts may be brought to the undercroft on Sunday mornings. If you are interested in adopting a family, please contact Mary Hocken. 413-537-0251, melizhocken@gmail.com
Mindful Discipleship: How to Thrive during the Holidays, Saturday, November 20th, 10:30 – noon, in the Chapel A mindfulness revolution is rippling through science and the media. Thousands of studies have researched the benefits of mindfulness and meditation. These benefits extend beyond the functioning of the brain and nervous system to affect many aspects of physical and emotional health. But just what is mindfulness? And more important, what benefit does it have for the Christian path of discipleship? This workshop will answer this question in practical and experiential ways. You will learn some of the scientific theory about mindfulness, but first and foremost you will learn simple mindfulness practices that can enhance your ability to walk in peace and faithfulness as a follower of Christ. The holidays bring challenges for many of us – the techniques taught in this workshop will help us surf those more gracefully. For more information, please contact Kell Julliard. kelljulliard@me.com
Garden Cleanup The Garden Ministry will conduct a Garden Cleanup on Saturday, Nov. 20 from 9 to 11 a.m. All are welcome to help. Please bring pruning shears, weeders and containers for lugging detritus to the compost. Pray for good weather. Questions? Call Sherry Wilson, 256-6955.
The Gifts from Grace Table at the St Nicholas Bazaar welcomes and needs your creations. Donations of your art and handmade crafts of all kinds are needed for the December 4th event. Any questions, please contact Gillian Duda at ghduda@comcast.net 413-253-7626.
Fall is Yard-Sale Season. The Haiti Committee is eager to acquire a few specific kinds of toys to outfit the preschool classrooms at St. Matthieu, which have almost no toys. We are attempting to collect Duplos (the large Legos), MagnaTiles, and Brio trains/cars, tracks and other accessories. We’d also like a few dolls with Black or brown complexions. If you have any of these, please consider donating them to us rather than putting them in your yard sale. And if you are scouting yard sales and come upon any of these, please consider buying them for our Haiti school. The children of St. Matthieu will be most grateful. Please spread the word to friends with kids. Thank you!
Sunday Coffee Hour – Volunteers needed We are looking for volunteers to help set up coffee hour, following both Sunday services. Responsibilities include preparing coffee and cold beverages. Food is not being offered at this time. For more information please contact Betsy Mathews at magistramathews@gmail.com for the 8am service or Mark Leonas at mleonas123@gmail.com for the 10:30am service.