Our summer service schedule begins today, Pentecost Sunday, June 5th, with one service at 9:30am. The regular service schedule will resume on Sunday, September 11th.
Palestinian olive oil will be available for sale in the connector following the service today, June 5. It is organic, virgin, first cold press and fair trade. 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 Teya Awwad. She is studying hospitality and culinary arts.
June Community Conversation Board In honor of Pentecost (June 5th), this month’s conversation board is centered on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is often seen as the most mysterious & ill-defined member of the Trinity. What images and stories help you to connect to the Holy Spirit? How, where, and when do you understand God’s Spirit as being present in the world? In you? Share your thoughts on these questions and more, throughout this month, at the bulletin board you can find in the Connector.
New members welcome: The Haiti Ministry welcomes new participants any time. Our next meeting is June 7 at 5:00 p.m., at the church and on Zoom. For more information, contact co-chairs Sandy Muspratt or Bonnie Vigeland, or any member of the ministry.
Bellringers for the 10:30 service We are reconstituting the bellringers – a band 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 Nancy Lowry (saunteringdog@gmail.com), talk with Tom or Megan, or drop a message to the Grace Church office.
Volunteers Needed, Please: We still have a few openings for summer coffee hour. Hosts are needed for the following 9:30 a.m. service dates. June 26, July 3, August 7, August 21, and August 28. If you are able to help, please email Sarah Chadwick at snchadwick@verizon.net. Treats from parishioners are also welcome to supplement the coffee.
Save the Date
Climate Action @ Grace meets Sunday, June 12th at 11:00 a.m. in the Fireplace Room in the Parke House.
Enriching Our Worship Beginning June 19th for Summer Services
Starting June 19th, we will be using the Episcopal Church’s Enriching our Worship liturgical resource for the summer season. You will notice slight changes to some prayers, as well as a new Eucharistic prayer. Enriching Our Worship is an authorized supplement to our usual liturgical texts from the Book of Common Prayer. Some of you may be familiar with this resource from past uses at Grace Church. Following the class offered this Lent on Language & Liturgy, we are excited to have an opportunity to explore alternative liturgical language as a whole worshipping community.
Rooted and rising in love: A summer solstice retreat, In-Person with the Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Tuesday, June 21 • $80 (includes lunch) – financial assistance available, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (registration and coffee begin at 9:00a.m.) This one-day retreat, held in the beautiful landscape of the Rolling Ridge Retreat & Conference Center in North Andover, will include a mix of presentations, small group conversations, individual reflection, and free time for contemplative wandering and prayer. Together we will explore a framework for the heart to help us become compassionate, prophetic leaders who can take up the mantle of moral leadership that this decisive moment in history requires. Register by June 10th at http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ej655d4k1f6bc931&llr=s4blzzbab
Graduations and Commencements! Are you or someone you know graduating this season? On June 19th we will recognize all who have graduated in the last academic year, from Pre-school to Post-Doctorate at a special service. Send us the names of graduates, so we can include them in the service. If you or someone you know is going off to pursue further studies, please let us know that too. Please contact Terrie Korpita in the Parish office at 413-256-6754 or tkorpita@gracechurchamherst.org to request recognition.