July 23rd is the 4th Sunday of the month and the recipient of the Outreach Offering will be the Center for New Americans. CNA is a community-based, non-profit adult education center that provides the under-served immigrant, refugee and migrant communities of Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley with education and resources to learn English, become involved community members and obtain tools necessary to maintain economic independence and stability. It welcomes immigrants of all races, religions, and national origins, and believes that our community is made strong by a diversity of skills, cultures, and traditions. Please consider a generous gift. 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.
Summer Poetry and Prayer Series Mondays at 12:15pm via Zoom
Megan is leading a Zoom meditation series on poetry, using an array of mostly contemporary writers. Join us for a poem, reflection prompts, meditation time, and optional discussion each week, Monday at 12:15 p.m. Be on the lookout for an email soon with the Zoom link.
Tuesday Morning Prayer Tuesdays at 8:30am in the Garth Please enter through the Connector door or the Spring Street door. In case of inclement weather, we will gather in the Chapel. Prayer sessions will use morning prayer liturgies from sources like Daily Prayer for All Seasons, an Episcopal resource emphasizing inclusive and expansive language, and will sometimes include simple movement meditation and music. It is also a chance to connect personally with a small group. All are welcome! For more information, please email Megan.
Art Auction for Mind the Gap – ENDS AT NOON TODAY! Grace parishioner, Peter Mishkin, is a talented visual artist whose work is sophisticated and intriguing. Peter has produced an extensive and engaging body of work at the Anchor House of Artists and has graciously made 30 beautiful paintings available to benefit the Mind the Gap campaign. Peter’s work is available via silent auction in the Parish Hall until noon today. Grab a coffee at coffee hour then head down to the Parish Hall to bid, bid, bid! This is a wonderful opportunity to own a truly stunning piece of original art. The proceeds from this auction will go to the Mind the Gap campaign to help eliminate the deficit in the church budget. Proceeds will also benefit Peter.
Pastoral Call for Volunteers Do you like to cook? Do you like to drive? Would you like to help fellow parishioners? Pastoral Care is looking to develop a list of volunteers to be contacted as needed. Most likely a request for food or a ride would occur every other month or so. And being on the volunteer list does not obligate your assistance every time a request is made. If you are interested in this ministry, please see the sign up sheets at coffee hour, or email Gail Gnatek.
Grace Church Facebook Page The Communications Committee, with the help of Terrie Korpita, our Parish Administrator, have done some fine tuning and updating of the Grace Facebook page. Be sure to like us at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071025877972 and check back frequently for updates, events, and announcements. There are so many wonderful things happening at Grace – please help spread the word and share our Facebook postings with friends.
Newcomers One of the goals of the Vestry is to strengthen our efforts in welcoming new people to the community here at Grace Church. The Newcomers Committee has begun meeting to think about what that might look like. If you would like to join in the work or have any ideas to share, please reach out to Rachel Blain or Cara Crandall.
Save the Date
Grace Church Artist Featured in Arts Night Out The colorful and dynamic paintings of Grace Church choir member Peter Mishkin will be exhibited as part of Northampton’s Arts Night Out from August 3 – 11. The exhibit is open from 1 pm to 6 pm, Tuesday through Saturday, at Anchor House of Artists, 518 Pleasant St, Northampton, MA. A reception will take place Friday, August 11, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Admission is free.
2023 Haiti School Uniform and School Supply Campaign Remember when you were in school and how wonderful it was to have new clothes and school supplies for the year? Here at Grace, we help to provide this blessing to the students of St. Matthew’s School in Haiti. This week we gratefully received $900 toward this effort. Thank you!
Our September 10 Goal Our Progress:
237 Students/Uniforms 52 Children Ready for School, 185 To Go
$17,775 Total $3,885 Donated, $13,890 To Go
Won’t you please help? A donation of $75 will cover the cost of one child’s uniform, textbooks, and other basic school supplies. But a donation in any amount matters and is deeply appreciated. To donate, please make checks payable to “Grace Church” and write “Haiti School Uniforms” on the memo line. You may also give via the church website by clicking the “Give” button and then selecting “Haiti Ministry” in the “To” drop down box.
2023 Harvest Festival – Save the Weekend! The weekend of October 21/22 will see the reinstitution of the much-loved Grace Church Harvest Festival! A wonderful event of years past, it will return in 2023 as a part of the Mind the Gap campaign. Plans are underway now for concerts, dinner and dancing, a flower festival, fall decorations, and more. This event will offer many opportunities for seasonal fall fellowship and fun. Please do plan to get involved by donating your time or skills to make this event memorable and successful. If you are interested in helping, please contact Mary Hocken.
St. Nicholas Bazaar Are you interested in antiques and/or collectibles? We need your help with sorting and pricing bazaar donations. Join us – we never know what we’ll find! Some knowledge of antiques and collectibles is helpful. Contact Joan O’Brien with any questions or to volunteer. Donations are being accepted for the bazaar. Please remember that items should be in good condition and clean. We accept many kinds of items, but please no textbooks, binders, VCR tapes, cassettes, clothing, or mildewed items. Donations may be dropped off in the undercroft after the Sunday service, or during office hours (M-F, 9-4).