March 23rd Guest preacher – Rev. James McDonald
James McDonald and his wife, Lisa, retired and moved to Western Mass. 2½ years ago. James attended the University of Chicago Divinity School and Princeton Seminary. He served as rector at St. Stephen’s, Schenectady, NY for 33 years.
The Envelope, please… Let more spring sunshine into the Connector when you take an envelope for the Haiti Ministry’s special Lenten fundraiser. Our goal is to build a classroom for the 9th grade at St. Matthew’s School. If every envelope is taken and filled, we’ll succeed. So far, $3253 has come in, for which many thanks. TODAY, March 23, we are hosting another coffee hour after the 10:30 service, with tasty food and personal reflections. Sandy Muspratt and Patty Appelbaum will speak briefly about how their visits touched their hearts and broadened their understanding. Please join us!
Fourth Sunday Collection, March 23 The Outreach Commission has designated the recipient of Grace Church’s fourth Sunday collection to be Amherst A Better Chance. ABC is a residential high school program that prepares academically talented and highly motivated African American, Latino, Asian, and Indigenous American students from educationally underserved school districts for college and future leadership roles in the broader community. Scholars live family-style in a warm supportive environment enriched by daily sessions with Amherst College tutors. Since the Amherst program began, over 120 ABC scholars have graduated from ARHS, and they have attended more than 50 colleges and universities. 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.
Lenten Book Series: The Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde’s How We Learn to be Brave – Decisive Moments in Life and Faith, Sundays at 9:15am March 9th – April 6th The decisive moments in life are those pivot points when we’re called on to push past our fears and act with strength. With How We Learn to Be Brave, Bishop Mariann Budde teaches us to respond with clarity and grace even in the toughest times. Being brave is not a singular occurrence; it’s a journey that we can choose to undertake every day. Here, Bishop Budde explores the full range of decisive moments, from the most visible and dramatic (the decision to go), to the internal and personal (the decision to stay), to brave choices made with an eye toward the future (the decision to start), those born of suffering (the decision to accept that which we did not choose), and those that come unexpectedly (the decision to step up to the plate). Drawing on examples ranging from Harry Potter to the Gospel According to Luke, she seamlessly weaves together personal experiences with stories from scripture, history, and pop culture to underscore both the universality of these moments and the particular call each one of us must heed when they arrive. Sunday March 23th, we will explore up through chapter 4.
Poetry meditation for 3/24 moving to Tuesday 3/25 Due to a memorial scheduled Monday morning, Megan will be moving the Lenten poetry meditation next week to Tuesday, at the same time, 12:15 p.m. An email with the Zoom link will go out on Tuesday morning. We’ll return to Mondays the following week. Thank you for your flexibility! We hope you can join us!
Youth group Escape Room today – 12:35 p.m. at Hampshire Mall
Youth in grades 6-12 are invited to participate in an Escape Room today! We will meet at All in Adventures at Hampshire Mall around 12:35 p.m. and begin our game by 12:50 p.m. The Escape Room will end by 1:50 p.m. Please talk with Megan about your child’s participation.
Next two Sundays Mar. 30th & April 6th – children & youth art-making for Stations of the Cross, 9:15-10:15 a.m.
The next two upcoming Sundays, we will continue the project of creating new Stations of the Cross art for our children’s Good Friday service. Children and youth of all ages can join us for this creative way of connecting with a central story of our faith! Nancy Lowry will help coordinate. We will be in the upstairs classroom of the Parke House.
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. Next meeting, in the Connector: March 24, 2025
Lectors and Lay Eucharistic Ministers Needed Through our lectors and LEMs – and our combined ministry of priests and laity – we reaffirm the words, ideas, and sacraments that are the foundation of our faith. We would love for you to join us! Every three months, the schedule is built around the availability of those who volunteer. At various points during the year, volunteers are also need for Christmas, Holy Week, and other special services. Some people choose to act as either a lector or a LEM; some people act as both. Training as both a lector and a LEM can be provided. Please email Cara Crandall with any questions, or if you would like to become a lector or LEM.
Imagining the Undercroft As you may know, we are in the process of looking at what activities might be accommodated in the Undercroft if it were upgraded to a finished space. In addition to meeting with the groups that are presently occupying the space, we’re also looking to all of you for suggestions of other uses you feel would be beneficial to Grace and presently don’t have a home… There is a suggestion box in the Connector for you to use to pass on your thoughts or feel free to email John Robinson. We look forward to your suggestions.
Are you interested in being baptized, or know someone who is? Along with Holy Communion, Holy Baptism is one of the two great sacraments given by Christ to the Church. We acknowledge one Baptism, which means Baptism in the name of the Trinity is performed once in a person’s life and is recognized regardless of where or how it took place. If you have not been baptized or you are not sure whether you were baptized, and would like to know more, please contact the church office or one of the clergy. We would be happy to speak with you about this holy sacrament.
Clothing Drive Ascentria Refugee Services for New Americans has asked Grace Church to help with a clothing drive. They are looking for seasonal clothes for refugees moving into Western Massachusetts. Ascentria especially wants clothing for children, from birth to primary school age. A shopping cart will be placed in the back of the church for those who can donate. You can bring items with you to church on Sunday or drop them off during the week during regular business hours. Ascentria Refugee Services For New Americans provides legal, housing, and language support to new Americans across New England. Thank you for your generosity, and if there are items you wish to donate other than what is listed or would like to become more involved, please reach out to rporter@ascentria.org. If you wish to learn more about Ascentria and the work they do, please check their website at https://www.ascentria.org/service/services-for-new-americans/.
The Grace Church Stewardship campaign for 2025 To date 141 pledges have come in totaling $509,690 – most encouraging, we have 7 new pledges. To those who have pledged God Bless, to those who have yet to pledge please pray and pledge so our Vestry can budget for 2025. If you need a pledge card, they are available as you enter the church or you can contact the office (413) 256-6754 or Bruce Stebbins at (413) 530-3805.
Coffee hour help needed! The 8 a.m. coffee hour is looking for a couple of willing baristas to fill in once a month this Fall and keep the coffee hour perking along reliably. If you can help out or want more information, email Betsy Mathews or speak with the clergy.
Publicity for your Event? Please let the Communications Committee know if you need help with your event. Please fill out this form: https://www.gracechurchamherst.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Request-for-Event-Publicity-Form-2023.pdf, also located on the “Outreach” page of the church website. The committee requests at least 6 weeks notice. Please forward questions to Patrick Kelly or Sarah Chadwick.
The Pastoral Care Commission The Pastoral Care Commission is looking for volunteers to help our fellow Grace family. This might include sending cards, calling or emailing those needing support, or helping coordinate any of these activities. We meet once a month, but monthly attendance is not a requirement. If you feel called to help out with this ministry, please contact Gail Gnatek.
Calendar Donations Please bring extra 2025 calendars to the food basket for the Survival Center.
Save the Date
Diocesan Young Adult Lenten Retreat Day, April 5th at Grace Church, 10 am – 2 pm Young adults ages 18-40 from across the diocese are invited to come together for a Lent retreat day involving worship and prayer, individual reflective and creative time, and small group conversation. Please register at https://forms.gle/SBWwZ5iq5Ac7GqJv9, or email Megan for details.
YAMN (Young Adult Ministry Network) Board Game Gathering, Saturday Mar. 29th, 2-6 p.m., Tree House Brewing The diocesan young adult ministry, for adults ages 18-40, will be gathering for board games at Tree House Brewing in South Deerfield on Sat. Mar. 29th, 2-6 p.m. Pizza will be provided by the ministry, and non-alcoholic beverages are available. Please RSVP to Megan. She can also offer rides to and from Tree House from the Amherst-area.