The recipient of the 4th Sunday offering on Nov. 28th will be the Interfaith Cot Shelter. Located in downtown Northampton, the Interfaith Shelter is an emergency shelter for homeless adults offering warm beds and hot meals from November through April. Members of Grace Church have been volunteering at the shelter for over 20 years. The shelter is a cooperative effort between the City of Northampton, area houses of worship, Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals, and Service Net. Please consider a generous gift to this important ministry. If you write a check, please add “Outreach” on the memo line. Thank you for any gift you are able to give.
Thanksgiving Collection for the Amherst Survival Center – We Did It! This week, we met out goal and then some. 527 packages of bread stuffing were collected for the Thanksgiving distribution at the Survival Center. Thank you for your help.
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!
Adult Confirmation Class: Wednesday, 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.
The St. Nicholas Bazaar is only 1 week away on Dec.4!! Sign up or email Joan – Help is especially needed Thursday morning to move boxes, Saturday for sales (9-3), and Saturday for clean-up (2:45-done). Sign-up sheets are in the Connector. Many hands make light work! Lawn signs and flyers – also in the Connector – take and distribute around town! 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.
Space for Your Spirit: A Weekly Advent Gathering, Wednesdays, Dec. 1st, Dec. 8th, Dec. 15th, Dec. 22, 6:30-7:00 p.m. in the Chapel
During Advent, Grace will host a short, half-hour gathering in the chapel each Wednesday evening. The service will begin and end with Taizé chant, or other short and simple a capella music, as well as a reading of Scripture, but the majority of the time will be your own. You can take advantage of provided exercises and materials to guide you into creative or contemplative engagement with the week’s Bible story or the themes of the Advent season; or you can just simply be with God and yourself through silent prayer, letting the background music wash over you, journaling, etc.Please consider joining us. Reach out to Megan (mmcdermott@gracechurchamherst.org) with any questions.
Vestry Nomination Forms are available in the back of the church.
SAVE THE DATE
Second Sunday of Advent December 5th, a special service with Bishop Doug Fisher at 9:30am. Bishop Doug is visiting Grace for the first time in over two years, and we are delighted to have him back. There will be baptism, confirmation, reception, and reaffirmation. We hope you can join us for this special occasion. Please note that this will be the only service that Sunday.
A Service of Advent Lessons & Carols, Sunday, December 12th 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!
Christmas Pageant: We’re beginning preparation for the Christmas pageant – which takes place at the 4:00 p.m. service on Christmas Eve. All children and young people are welcome to participate! We’re currently gathering a list of participating children/youth. Please let Megan and Kate Atkinson (mmcdermott@gracechurchamherst.org and katkinson@doctorkate.net) know if your child will be joining in & if they have any preferred roles. Info on rehearsal times coming soon.
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