Our summer service schedule begins Pentecost Sunday, May 28, with one service at 9:30am. The regular service schedule will resume on Sunday, September 10th.
Young Adult Brunch Sunday May 21st Young adults are invited to go out for brunch following the 10:30 service on Sunday May 21st. For more information, please contact Micah Walter.
Climate Action To meet the challenge of climate change, our Bishops have urged us all to pray, learn, act, ADVOCATE. Advocate? How? Learn how – two events for your calendar:
- Senator Jo Comerford and others, 12:00 noon, May 21st at the Church of Sts. James and Andrew, Greenfield
- Representative Mindy Domb, 11:00 am, June 11th at Grace Church, Amherst
“My Improvised Life” Wednesday, May 24 at 6:00pm in the Connector Kelsey Flynn will talk about her 30-plus years studying improv comedy. She’ll discuss what improv is and how we all improvise every day of our lives. Kelsey says studying improv has taught her that, “Slowing down and being in the moment can change your life. Listening is different than hearing and, when done right, will unlock possibility. Saying “Yes, and” instead of “Yes, but” makes for more productive, and interesting, conversations.” Kelsey is an improviser and stand-up comic who’s performed all over the Pioneer Valley and beyond. She’s laughed with audiences at a former Chinese restaurant in Hadley, Caroline’s on Broadway, and many an American Legion in between. Kelsey performs an improvised musical with the Understudies every first Saturday of the month at Happier Valley Comedy. Sometimes, you can still hear her on 93.9 the River, WRSI-FM. She lives with her wife and two kids in Northampton.
Garden Ministry Plant Sale May 27, 9-12 in front of the Church The Garden Ministry is holding its first plant sale since 2019. YOUR help is needed, please… 1) Donate plants from your garden. Please pot them by May 20, keep watered, label each pot (plant name, color, bloom season). Bring them to the Undercroft on Friday, May 26, from 3-5 p.m. or make arrangements for early delivery. Garden tools, books and ornaments are also welcome donations. 2) Volunteer to help on Plant Sale Day. Set-up is 8-9, sales 9-12, break-down 12-1. Contact Sherry Wilson at 256-6955 to volunteer or with questions. 3) Come to the sale and buy lots of plants. Proceeds support the gardens of Grace Church.
Grace Communications Committee
Grace has recently established a communications committee. The goal of this committee is to share information about our church in order to expand our reach and publicize information about our many offerings. This includes sharing information via our current website, exploring opportunities for social media options, and marketing. If you have expertise or an interest in this area, please contact co-chairs, Sarah Chadwick and Patrick Kelly. We would welcome the opportunity to work with you!
Pentecost Picnic We will have a single service at 9:30am on Sunday May 28th. All are encouraged to wear red on Pentecost. Brother Lawrence will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers and veggie dogs along with refreshments. Please bring a side dish to share. Side dishes can be dropped off at the Parish Hall before the 9:30 AM service. Ideas for side dishes: salads, baked beans, desserts etc.
May 28th is the 4th Sunday of the month and the recipient of the Outreach Offering will be the Amherst Survival Center. The Survival Center, with the help of many volunteers, connects residents of Hampshire and Franklin Counties to food, clothing, healthcare, wellness, and community. Located in North Amherst, the Center offers a wide variety of services including community meals, a food pantry, fresh food distribution, as well as a large number of special programs. Please consider a generous gift to support our neighbors. 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.
14 Volunteers Needed for Summer Coffee Hour Summer church services at 9:30 a.m. will begin on June 4 and go until September 10. That is 14 weeks. We need 14 volunteers to host summer coffee hour. It would be great if this could be shared between current 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. hosts. We would also love to welcome some new hosts to this roster. A sign-up sheet is in the Connector. Won’t you please help? And, as always, folks are most welcome to bring treats to coffee hour. If you have questions, please contact Sarah Chadwick. Looking forward to your kind help!
Save the Date
Presentation sponsored by Pastoral Care, June 4th at 11:15 am Amanda Mullen, PhD, will be giving a presentation on Memory Changes: When to Worry. Dr. Mullen is a clinical psychologist specializing in supporting, teaching, and counseling people living with dementia as well as their families and care partners. In her private practice, Changing Minds, she focuses on helping elders and their families navigate brain change. Please come and bring your questions.
Grace Garden Tour with Lunch Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 10! Grace Church is sponsoring what promises to be a wonderful garden tour with a progressive lunch. Tour three exquisite gardens and dine on three delicious luncheon courses, one at each garden. This is an event not to be missed, but space is limited. Please register before but no later than Monday, June 5 at https://tinyurl.com/Grace-garden or after church in the Connector. Tickets are $40 for one, $75 for two. Tour hours are 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. This event is part of the Mind the Gap campaign where all proceeds go to reducing the current budget gap. Won’t you please participate? Contact Suzannah Muspratt if you want to help or if you have questions.
Graduations and Commencements! On Sunday, June 11th, we would like to recognize all who are graduating, from Pre-school to Post-Doctorate. Send us their names, so we can include them in the service. If they are pursuing further studies, please let us know that too. Please contact Terrie Korpita in the Parish office at 413.256.6754 to request recognition.
Please join members of Climate Action@ Grace on June 11 At 11 a.m., for the tolling of the bell, for 11 minutes, to sound the alarm for the climate emergency on our planet. And immediately following—at 11:15 in the Parish Hall, please come to hear from and speak with State Rep. Mindy Domb about issues of climate justice, bills before the legislature in the current session, and how we can best communicate with our legislators to express our concerns. This is for all—not just for Mindy Domb’s constituents; she is eager to help us be more informed and effective within our community and the Commonwealth.