Annual Feast of Grace! The Annual In-gathering will occur Sunday, Nov. 20th at both services. Pledge cards will be received at the altar following Communion. Our tradition of a pot-luck luncheon will immediately follow the 10:30 service. Please bring an appetizer, main dish or dessert to share. Beverages will be provided. You can drop off your donation to BLG in the Parish Hall prior to the 8 AM and 10:30 services. We look forward to seeing everyone there!!
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. To Date: 424 collected; 76 to go.
Amherst/Hadley area Thanksgiving Interfaith Service Resilience and Reunion; Tuesday, November 22nd at the Jewish Community of Amherst, 742 Main St, Amherst, at 7:00 pm
Our Thanksgiving Service will be Thanksgiving Day, November 24th, at 10:00 am.
Get into the Spirit this Holiday Season: Come to an Advent Supper – Wednesday Evenings Nov. 30th, Dec. 7th, Dec. 14th, Dec 21st For the season of Advent, a number of parishioners have agreed to host potluck suppers in their homes as an opportunity for people to connect with one another in small groups. The suppers will start around 6 p.m. A different household is host each week. Please notify Terrie by phone call to the parish office about which evenings you’d be interested in attending. We cannot guarantee everyone will be able to attend every potluck supper, but we will plan that everyone gets to participate in at least one supper during the season. The host for your Wednesday evening will reach out directly to you with more information on what would be helpful to bring and directions to their home. The deadline for signing up is Sunday, November 27th.
Holy Physicality: A Visual Art & Poetry Meditation Series over Zoom, Mondays, 12:15 p.m. Concludes this Monday Nov. 21st. If you are interested in receiving recordings of the meditation because you can’t join us live, email Megan for more info.
Please Join Our Cot Shelter Ministry! On the second Thursday of each month, a group of 2-3 of our parishioners bring and serve dinner & dessert to about 12 guests at the Nothampton Cot Shelter. We arrive at 5:45, warm/cook our pre-prepared meals, serve the guests and do a little cleanup and are out by 7:15. We are in need of expanding our list of those individuals, couples and/or families willing to serve and to be “on call” Please join the Cot Shelter Team!! Please call if you are interested in hearing more about this marvelous ministry. Thanks!! Steve McKelvey C: 413-237-3446
Why does the sanctuary window nearest the tower look so different from the others? Former parishioner Ken Samonds spent years sifting through Grace’s archives to discover the answers to this and many other mysteries. Read all about it in A Slant of Light: The Stained-Glass Windows of Grace Church, now available for pre-publication orders at a special discount price of $19.99. Featuring 75 photos—by Nancy Lowry, Doug Moore, Ken himself, and from the archives—this book takes you into fascinating chapters of Grace’s early history. It’s the perfect holiday gift for the local history buffs and art-lovers on your list. Orders, payable by check or cash, will be taken at coffee hour following both services during November. Pre-ordered books will be available on/after December 4. On December 5, the regular price of $24.99 goes into effect. If you can’t order in person, contact Suzannah Muspratt for further instructions. Ken Samonds will be on hand to take final pre-orders at the St. Nicholas Bazaar on December 3. On Sunday, Dec. 4, he will hold a book-signing in the Connector after both services, and follow it with a talk on the windows at 12:15—an event not to be missed. Mark your calendars!
Save the Date
The 4th Sunday offering on November 27th will go to the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, earmarked for the Ahli Arab Hospital, which runs the only free community clinic in Gaza. It treats over 45,000 Gazans each year, including children needing psycho-social support due to the trauma of war, and children suffering from burns. It also provides fortified, high energy foods for children suffering from severe malnutrition. Please give generously. 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 can give.
The St. Nicholas Bazaar is Dec. 3 from 9 to 2! 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 3 event. Any questions – please contact Gillian Duda at 413-253-7626.
A Service of Advent Lessons & Carols, Sunday, December 11th at 4:00 pm One of the loveliest services of the church year, it is comprised of scripture readings interspersed with a variety of choral anthems and hymns, modeled after the traditional Anglican format. All are most welcome – we hope to see you there!
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 20th after both services. The deadline is Dec 18th. 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
Bellringers for the 10:30 Service
We are reconstituting the bellringers – a group of parishioners who ring the tower bell at certain times during the consecration at the 10:30 service. If you are interested in learning how to do this, email Micah Walter to learn more.