The Community Conversation board Please stop by the Connector to add your thoughts to this month’s Community Conversation board, which will explore the topic Space and Stars, in honor of the feast of Epiphany. On Epiphany we pray, “O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son the peoples of the earth…” How might stars and space speak to us today of God’s presence?
The Grace Church Stewardship campaign for 2023 To date 145 pledges have come in totaling $446,334 – most encouraging, we have 3 new pledges. We still have a ways to go but are off to a very good start. To those who have pledged God Bless, to those who have yet to pledge please pray and pledge so our Vestry can budget for 2023. If you need a pledge card, they are available as you enter the church or you can contact the office (413) 256-6754 or Bruce Stebbins at (413) 549-5933.
Finding the Holy in the Unfamiliar and the Unexpected, Sunday January 15 and 22 at 9:15am in the Fireplace Room When the Magi followed the star, did they know what they would find? When they returned home, they went a different way but did they maintain their religious practices? There are various stories in the Bible where faith traditions intersect. What do these stories tell us about the presence of the holy, particularly in unfamiliar and unexpected situations? We’ll discuss how the holy transcends human boundaries and creates opportunities for epiphanies. For more information, please contact Tom at tsynan@gracechurchamherst.org.
Young adult brunch on Jan. 15th, after 10:30 service Parishioner Micah Walter has been organizing opportunities for young adults at Grace to gather and go out for lunch once a month following the 10:30 service. These brunches are now being held the third Sunday of every month. Put Sunday, January 15th on your calendar, and plan to meet up with Grace’s young adults in the Connector! From there, the group will head out for brunch to somewhere near the church.
Tuesday morning prayer returns Our morning prayer group, which took a hiatus in December, began meeting again Tuesday, Jan. 10th at 8:30 a.m. in the Chapel. Please join us for this creative and contemplative time of prayer and connection! Parishioners rotate leadership of this time and draw on a diverse set of liturgies.
Joy: A Pipe Organ Contemplation, January 18, 6:00pm In this half hour contemplation, two organ pieces will provide the context for an exploration of the nature of joy. Supplemented by readings from poetry and scripture and moments of silent meditation, we will go more deeply than usual into each piece and what it has to say about joy. Dick Damon and Kell Julliard will each play a piece and share their impressions of its meaning.
Movement and the Sacred, Parish Hall, 2:00 – 3:00 pm, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023 Our life of feeling expresses itself through movement. In this workshop, we will experience the way movement can enhance our sense of spirituality, wonder, and connection with the love that is at the heart of our lives. Using images from scripture and poetry, we will explore natural movement qualities easily accessible to everyone, giving our bodies the opportunity to support and enhance our spiritual life. This workshop is for everyone, whatever your skills and capabilities. Mary Hocken and Kell Julliard each have professional backgrounds in offering movement opportunities that are enjoyable and enlivening.
Calendar Donations Please bring extra 2023 calendars to the food basket for the Survival Center.
2023 Pledge Envelopes: If you requested envelopes, you may pick them up from the box on the table in the back of the church beginning this Sunday. They will (hopefully) be in alphabetical order. Note: if this is the first year that you have requested pledge envelopes, your pledge number may have changed.
Save the Date
Iconography Workshop, January 25- 27, 9:00 am to 4 pm, Parish Hall Participants will create icons using ancient techniques and natural materials rich with symbolic meaning: carved wood boards prepared with gesso made from chalk and glue, finely ground clay, pure gold leaf, and ground mineral pigments in an emulsion made from egg yolk. The underlying theology of the icon will be equally emphasized, as each technical step has a corresponding symbolic meaning. No previous experience is needed and beginners are welcome. For more details, contact Sandy Lillydahl 413-549-2740, slillydahl@library.umass.edu.
Grace Church Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, February 5th following a single service at 9:30am. All commission and committee reports should be sent to the Parish Administrator no later than Monday, January 23rd.
Dine In, Help Haiti Out – Yes, planning for the annual Haiti soup supper extravaganza is underway! Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 18 to enjoy favorite soups made by parishioners and local restaurants. In the meantime, we are looking for volunteers to donate soup, bake cookies or bread, or to help out in general. For general information, please contact Sarah Chadwick at snchadwick@verizion.net. To bake cookies, please contact Gail Gnatek at ggnatek@gmail.com. This event supports our work at the St. Matthew’s School in Haiti.