The Great Litany is a form of intercessory prayer which includes various petitions that are said or sung by the leader, with fixed responses by the congregation. It was used as early as the fifth century in Rome. At the time of the Reformation, the Litany was the first English language rite prepared by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. Throughout the centuries, the Litany was used for a variety of occasions, including times of crisis, Morning Prayer, and ordinations. Given its long and rich history, it is part of our heritage, which we incorporate into our worship services twice a year – the First Sunday of Advent and today, the First Sunday of Lent.
Palestinian olive oil will be available for sale by the Episcopal Peace Fellowship in the Connector following both services Sunday. It is organic, virgin, first cold press and fair trade. Olive oil is sold on the first Sunday of each month. The proceeds from the sale enable Grace to provide a scholarship for a student at the Episcopal Technological and Vocational Training Center in Ramallah. Our current student is Bisan Freij. She is studying hospitality and culinary arts, and loves to cook.
Come nourish your Lenten observance with Sunday morning Bible study. Join the Rector and others to study, and react to, the Gospel and Old Testament lesson for the following Sunday. We meet, usually in the Parish Hall, Sunday mornings at 9:20.
Lent Series: Signs of Life – 5-Week Series on Wednesdays, Starting Mar. 4th
Over five Wednesdays in Lent, we will gather together to explore some of the signs and symbols at the heart of Christian worship as well as life itself. Over our sessions, we will explore light, water, food, shelter, and community, seeing how they connect to our personal spirituality as well as our worship together. This five-week series uses a curriculum created by the Society of St. John the Evangelist, an Episcopal religious order located in Cambridge, and Virginia Theological Seminary. Gatherings will be held March 4th, March 11th, March 18th, March 25th, and April 1st at 7 p.m.
Follow along with youth group’s Lent Through the Lens project! Throughout the season of Lent, photographs taken by youth group members will be posted on the Instagram account @graceyouthcreate along with accompanying Bible verses on which to reflect. We invite you to check out or follow the account and use it throughout the season to engage with Scripture in a creative way.
Contemplative Prayer Group is meeting on Mondays at 5:00 to 6:00 pm in the Parker Room. Please contact Michael Erard at 413- 563-3676 (cell)
The Grace Church Stewardship campaign for 2020 To date 167 pledges have come in totaling $462,852.00. To those who have pledged God Bless, to those who have yet to pledge please pray and pledge so our Vestry can budget for 2020. If you need a pledge card, they are available as you enter the church or you can contact the office (413) 256-6754 or Tom Dougherty at (413) 563-7321.
Sustain Earth by Buying or Leasing an Electric Vehicle – Looking for a new or used car? Electric vehicles are much cheaper to operate and maintain than gas cars. They also don’t create emissions that cause air pollution. And ranges are extending—up to 300 miles or more on an overnight charge. Many states also offer large tax incentives, state rebates, carpool lane access and free parking. Learn more at sustainislandhome.org. Courtesy of Greening Grace.
SAVE THE DATE
Sunday March 8 following the 10:30 service – John Lent, Executive Director of the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (AFEDJ), will give a presentation on their work in the Middle East, including his visit with Giovanni Anbar, the director of the Episcopal Technological and Vocational Training Center (ETVTC) in Ramallah, which we help support through the sale of Palestinian olive oil. The AFEDJ supports schools, hospitals, and centers for children with disabilities in Palestine, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon, including the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza. Please come to the Parish Hall.
The Garden Ministry will meet Saturday, March 14, at 10 a.m. in the Connector. We will plan for a spring plant sale, a spring clean-up day and how to maintain the gardens over the summer. Newcomers are welcome. Call Sherry Wilson at 256-6955 with any questions.
20s & 30s March Event – Volunteering at Great Falls Books Through Bars! For March, our 20s & 30s group will head to Turners Falls to volunteer with the non-profit Great Falls Books Through Bars, which provides free books and reading materials to people in prisons. Grace Church already has a relationship with this organization – our Connector has a collection box for donations! We’re excited to further that relationship by volunteering from 1-4 p.m. on Mar. 14th. Tasks will include helping go through prisoners’ requests, matching them with books, and packaging book for mailing. Please email Megan for more information.
Bazaar Recap and Planning meeting: There will be a meeting for anyone involved with the bazaar, or anyone who’s interested in learning more about it, on Sunday, March15 at 12:00 in the Parker Room. We will discuss what went well and what could be improved for next year’s bazaar. We hope to see you there!
Lenten Quiet Day on Sat., Mar. 21st, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Finding the Creator in Creation with Rev. Anna Woofenden Using a series of contemplative and spiritual practices, our Lenten Quiet Day, held here at Grace, will provide an opportunity to explore the interconnection of God’s revelation in both scripture and creation. The day’s leader, Rev. Anna Woofenden, is the founder of the Garden Church in San Pedro, CA and now the Protestant Chaplain at Amherst College. She is the host of the Food and Faith Podcast and the author of the forthcoming book, “This is God’s Table: Finding Church Beyond the Walls” (April 2020).
High schoolers can now register for this summer’s Episcopal Youth Event! Anyone currently in grades 9-12 is invited to join the Western Mass. group attending this summer’s Episcopal Youth Event. We’ll travel to University of Maryland, College Park and stay there for three days of worship, speakers, and workshops alongside Episcopal teenagers from around the country. Departure date July 7th and return July 11th. For more information on EYE: https://events.episcopalchurch.org/eye/ or contact Megan who will be one of the chaperones.