4th Sunday Collection, October 22 The Outreach Commission has chosen Amherst’s Not Bread Alone as the recipient of this month’s 4th Sunday offering. Three times a week Not Bread Alone serves freshly cooked family-style meals in a nurturing, relaxing, environment. Many of their guests are homeless or live in nearby subsidized housing. Every generation, from kids to seniors, is represented. Not Bread Alone welcomes all as guests or as volunteers to prepare food and share in the feast. 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 Harvest Festival Our Harvest Festival concludes this afternoon with a Classical Concert at 4pm.
Monday Art & Poetry Meditations Over Zoom
Megan has resumed weekly Zoom meditations based on art and poetry, this time around the theme “Gifts and Graces.” Zoom links will go out by email Monday mornings.
Joy of Living Group, 7:00-8:30 p.m., 2nd and 4th Mondays This group combines meditation, practices integrated in the flow of life, and discussion. Led by certified mindfulness instructor Kell Julliard and practice leader and licensed acupuncturist Claudia Citkovitz, it meets in the Connector. Next meeting: Oct. 23
Church Gardens Annual Fall Clean Up, Saturday, October 28th from 9:00 am to noon. Please bring rakes and garden clippers if you have them. Keeping in the Halloween spirit, we will have hot cider and donuts afterwards.
Death & Dying Series – Spirituality and Theology, October 29th after 10:30 service
The next event in this series organized by our Pastoral Care committee will be Tom and Megan presenting how Christian faith informs our perspective on death and dying.
Celebrating Beth Hart Damon’s 23 Years of Music Ministry at Grace on Nov. 5th
On Sunday Nov. 5th, Grace will come together for one service at 9:30 a.m. with a catered brunch to follow, to celebrate Beth Hart Damon’s years of service as music director. Please plan to join us for this celebration of Beth’s ministry, and be in touch with Kitty Dougherty or Harold Norris with any questions.
All Souls’ Day: We will celebrate the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed Monday, November 6th, at 7:00 p.m., with a service of Holy Communion and a reading of names from the Book of Remembrance. There is a sign-up sheet in the back of the church, if you would like to add names of deceased loved ones.
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 would like as many boxes as possible by November 17th. If everyone brought 2 boxes of stuffing to church for the next 2 Sundays, we can achieve this goal. Thank you for your help.
Covid reminders There has been an uptick of Covid cases locally, including here at church. We remind you that masks are welcomed and you are encouraged to participate in services according to your comfort levels and precautions, whether in-person or online. If you feel sick, please stay home, and if you have Covid and can use help in anyway, please contact the clergy.
Instagram Account Exciting news! Grace Church now has an Instagram account. Check it out and be sure to follow us at Grace Church Amherst at https://www.instagram.com/gracechurchamherst/. Also be sure to share posts with friends.
Coffee Hour Hosts Still Needed for 8 a.m.
Many thanks to those who are hosting! Multiple hosts are still needed for 8 a.m. Contact Nina Scott for more info.
Coffee Hour Treats It would be great to revive the pre-COVID tradition of donating treats to coffee hour. Homemade and store bought treats are welcome at each service. Please bring any treats to the coffee hour host in the kitchen prior to the service. Looking forward to your tasty contribution! Thank you!
Save the Date
Be Present, Be Kind, Be Curious – Tergar Meditation Instruction, Nov. 10-11 Friday, Nov. 10, 7-9 pm and Saturday, Nov. 11, 9 am – 4:30 pm. The workshop provides principles and practices from the three levels of the Joy of Living program – the innate qualities of awareness, loving kindness and compassion, and the wisdom inherent within all of us. It will include videos, guided meditations, discussions, small group interaction. Suggested donation $25. Contact Kell Julliard for more information.
St. Nicholas Bazaar Dec. 2 is only 6 weeks away! Please bring in your donations, (especially fine jewelry and antiques!), as soon as you can. Items should be in good working condition and clean. We accept many kinds of items, but please NO textbooks, binders, VCR tapes, cassettes, classical records, clothing, or mildewed items. Donations may be dropped off in the undercroft after the Sunday service, or during office hours (M-F, 9-4) until November 27th. Any questions, contact Joan. Thank you!