Summer Poetry and Prayer Series Mondays at 12:15pm via Zoom
Megan is leading a Zoom meditation series on poetry, using an array of mostly contemporary writers. Join us for a poem, reflection prompts, meditation time, and optional discussion each week, Monday at 12:15 p.m. Be on the lookout for an email soon with the Zoom link.
Tuesday Morning Prayer Tuesdays at 8:30am in the Garth Please enter through the Connector door or the Spring Street door. In case of inclement weather, we will gather in the Chapel. Prayer sessions will use morning prayer liturgies from sources like Daily Prayer for All Seasons, an Episcopal resource emphasizing inclusive and expansive language, and will sometimes include simple movement meditation and music. It is also a chance to connect personally with a small group. All are welcome! For more information, please email Megan.
Art Auction for Mind the Gap Grace parishioner, Peter Mishkin, is a talented visual artist whose work is sophisticated and intriguing. Peter has produced an extensive and engaging body of work at the Anchor House of Artists and has graciously made 30 beautiful paintings available to benefit in part the Mind the Gap campaign. Peter’s work will be available via silent auction as follows in the Parish Hall.
Saturdays July 15 and July 22, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Sundays July 16 and July 23, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Plus, learn more about Peter’s art at “Anchor House and the Art of Peter Mishkin.” A lecture will be held on Sunday, July 16 at 11:00 a.m. and will be presented by parishioner Kell Julliard, who has a background in art, and Michael Tillyer, from the Anchor House. This is a wonderful opportunity to own a truly stunning piece of original art. The proceeds from this auction will go to the Mind the Gap campaign to help eliminate the deficit in the church budget. Proceeds will also benefit Peter and Anchor House.
A Message from the Search Committee As many of you may already know, Beth Damon is stepping down as Music Director at Grace Church. For the past 23 years, Beth blessed our parish with exquisite music and helped create and sustain one of the best church choirs in the Valley. She leaves an incredible legacy and will be greatly missed. Looking ahead, a search committee has been formed and already begun the process of finding our next Music Director. It is our privilege to serve the parish in this endeavor. As we look to the work ahead, we invite you to share your thoughts and ideas with us. We welcome your help with names of potential candidates and any recommendations you may have. We will gladly take your input into consideration. Please contact any members of the Search Committee to share your ideas: Sarah Boy; Dick Damon; Ruthie Ireland; Mark Marshall; Elizabeth Musgrave.
Pastoral Call for Volunteers Do you like to cook? Do you like to drive? Would you like to help fellow parishioners? Pastoral Care is looking to develop a list of volunteers to be contacted as needed. Most likely a request for food or a ride would occur every other month or so. And being on the volunteer list does not obligate your assistance every time a request is made. If you are interested in this ministry, please see the sign up sheets at coffee hour, or email Gail Gnatek.
Grace Church Facebook Page The Communications Committee, with the help of Terrie Korpita, our Parish Administrator, have done some fine tuning and updating of the Grace Facebook page. Be sure to like us at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071025877972 and check back frequently for updates, events, and announcements. There are so many wonderful things happening at Grace – please help spread the word and share our Facebook postings with friends.
Save the Date
July 23rd is the 4th Sunday of the month and the recipient of the Outreach Offering will be the Center for New Americans. CNA is a community-based, non-profit adult education center that provides the under-served immigrant, refugee and migrant communities of Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley with education and resources to learn English, become involved community members and obtain tools necessary to maintain economic independence and stability. It welcomes immigrants of all races, religions, and national origins, and believes that our community is made strong by a diversity of skills, cultures, and traditions. Please consider a generous gift. If you write a check please make it payable to Grace Church and add “outreach” on the memo line. Thank you for any gift you are able to give.
2023 Haiti School Uniform and School Supply Campaign Remember when you were in school and how wonderful it was to have new clothes and school supplies for the year? Here at Grace, we help to provide this blessing to the students of St. Matthew’s School in Haiti. This week we gratefully received $900 toward this effort. Thank you!
Our September 10 Goal Our Progress:
237 Students/Uniforms 27 Children Ready for School, 210 To Go
$17,775 Total $2,035 Donated, $15,740 To Go
Won’t you please help? A donation of $75 will cover the cost of one child’s uniform, textbooks, and other basic school supplies. But a donation in any amount matters and is deeply appreciated. To donate, 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.
2023 Harvest Festival – Save the Weekend! The weekend of October 21/22 will see the reinstitution of the much-loved Grace Church Harvest Festival! A wonderful event of years past, it will return in 2023 as a part of the Mind the Gap campaign. Plans are underway now for concerts, dinner and dancing, a flower festival, fall decorations, and more. This event will offer many opportunities for seasonal fall fellowship and fun. Please do plan to get involved by donating your time or skills to make this event memorable and successful. If you are interested in helping, please contact Mary Hocken.