Poem and Prayer – Over Zoom on Mondays, 12:15 p.m., Through Summer Season Start off your week with a poem by a contemporary poet and an invitation into prayer! Each week will feature a different poem that invites us into meditation together. Megan will offer a short reflection on the poem and spiritual questions it might open for us, before ushering us into a time of silent prayer and then shared conversation on the poem. This will be a 15-20 minute spiritual practice to add to your week over the summer months, from wherever you might be spending them! Zoom link will be sent out by email. Please email Megan at mmcdermott@gracechurchamherst.org with any questions. If you cannot make this time but would like recordings of the poems and reflections, please let her know.
Tuesday morning prayer – This Tuesday, August 16th at 8 a.m. in the Garth. Throughout the month of August, you are invited to join in for 20-30 minutes of in-person prayer in the Garth/church courtyard (the Chapel in case of inclement weather) on Tuesday mornings at 8 a.m. You can enter through the Connector door or the Spring Street door. 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 incorporate simple movement meditation to help embody prayer. Music will also occasionally be offered. Additionally, it will be a chance to connect personally with a small group! We hope this month of morning prayer will be the start of a regular offering on Tuesday mornings. If you have questions or would like more information, please be in touch with Kell Julliard at kelljulliard@me.com.
Coffee Hour Volunteers Needed We are currently recruiting volunteers to host coffee hour for the 10:30 a.m. service which will resume on Sunday, September 11. Volunteers will only have to host one Sunday every other month. This is such a fun and enjoyable weekly event for all. Won’t you please consider helping? If so, please email Sarah Chadwick at snchadwick@verizon.net. And, speaking of coffee hour, treats from parishioners are always welcome to supplement the coffee.
Collecting diaper donations for youth service trip On Saturday August 20th, youth from Grace will be joining youth from St. James and St. Andrew’s in Greenfield for a service and activity day to Worcester. In the morning, we’ll be assisting at Marie’s Mission, a diaper distribution program located at St. Michael’s-on-the-Heights. Free diaper distribution is especially important for parents facing financial challenges, since government assistance typically does not cover diapers. We hope to bring with us donations of diapers, pull-ups, and wipes! The ministry is particularly in need of diapers in larger sizes. Leading up to the trip, you can drop your donations off in a box marked DIAPERS at the back of the church. Thank you!
August Community Conversation Board: Parables Throughout the Gospels, Jesus relies on parables (short stories that invite listeners’ reflection and often convey meaning indirectly or symbolically) as a form of teaching or a way of answering questions. Parables are among some of the most well-known and well-loved passages of Scripture, though sometimes among the most confusing! During the month of August, our community conversation board will invite your thoughts on how you relate to the parables of Jesus. Please stop by the Connector to contribute your thoughts or read the insights of other parishioners!
Haiti Ministry: Thank you to all who purchased honey last week! Thanks especially to Lisa and Tillman Lucas for making it available and caring for the bees. Honey for Haiti became many uniforms for children.
School Uniforms Campaign – almost there! We have taken in over $13,000 cash enough for all 250 children to have uniforms. Thank you! We would still like to collect a bit more for text books and supplies. $25 will outfit one child, but any amount you can give will be a blessing. To help, 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.
Over60s Gathering will be meeting only once a month through the summer. For information and dates, please contact Rev. Adrian Stair (revadrian@comcast.net).
Evensong Services will be held in the Chapel downstairs through the summer. It is much cooler there.
St. Nicholas Bazaar Are you interested in antiques and/or collectibles? We need you to help with sorting and pricing bazaar donations. Some knowledge of antiques and collectibles desired. Contact Joan (jobrien82@gmail.com) 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. Thank you!