Climate Action@ Grace will have our monthly meeting this Sunday, October 12, after the 10:30 coffee hour (so about 12:20). Please feel free to join us and find camaraderie and share your own thoughts.
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: October 13, 2025.
Raising the Questions, Tuesday, October 14 at 9:30am in the Connector Raising the Questions is a Grace Church reading and discussion group that focusses on theology and liturgy. We meet monthly on the second Tuesday at 9:30 am. Got questions? Come join us.
From the Pastoral Care Commission: It’s Time to Socialize, Can we get an Amen? Recognizing there is an enormous amount of stress and anxiety in many people’s lives, and that there’s an epidemic of loneliness in our world, the Pastoral Care Commission invites you to introduce and share simple ways for people to get together solely for the purpose of socializing. Some suggestions: go to a movie, meet for ice cream, go for a walk or a hike, listen to music, have a picnic, go to a museum, karaoke. Use your imagination and think of something fun to do with others. This is meant to be a form of self-care, so that in part we can better take on the challenges of life and be better able to do the things God is calling us to do. Suggestions can be sent to Gail Gnatek. Ukelele Sing-Along. Betty Brown invites you to join her at the Amherst Senior Center, Thursday, October 16 at 3pm for Joy of Song with Sara Snyder. This event is free of charge. Meet in the reception area at 2:45. If you are interested in joining, please contact Betty, cell (413) 230-7373.
Life Story Writing – for those of us in the autumn years of life interested in reviewing life so far. We’ll excavate long forgotten memories, explore life choices, and reacquaint ourselves with our own stories: highlights, influential events, roads taken and not taken. Multiple handouts; no previous writing experience required. Four remaining Thursday morning sessions (9:30-11:30) beginning Oct 16, 30, Nov 6, 20 in the Parker Room. Interested? Contact Nancy to save a seat (limited).
All Souls’ Day We will celebrate the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed Monday, November 3rd, at 7:00 p.m., with a service of Holy Communion and a reading of names from the Book of Remembrance. There is a sign-up sheet in the back of the church, if you would like to add names of deceased loved ones.
You are welcome! We want you to know that you are welcome here. If you are new to Grace Church please reach out, because we are here to invite, embrace, and welcome you into our community. Whether you are :
- New to the area
- New to our church (and perhaps new to the Episcopal faith)
- A longtime resident in search of connection and community
- Part or the LGBTQ community and are looking for a spiritual home where you are welcomed and affirmed
- A New Student, looking for a place of safety and comfort during your time studying here
- A Mom or Dad of a student and want a place that will support your child while they live and study here
We are here for you. Please fill out a blue Card, and reach out to someone wearing a WELCOME badge and come back AGAIN !
Not Bread Alone Needs Our Help Three days every week and most holidays, the Not Bread Alone crew prepare and serve a homemade, hot dinner to all comers, in the parish hall at First Congregational. Everything is more expensive now and they would welcome our help keeping the NBA pantry stocked. We’ve been asked to collect:
- Olive oil
- Canola oil
- Canned chopped tomatoes
- Canned beans (garbanzo, black, pinto, red or pink)
You can bring your donations to the church and we’ll get them to NBA – now through October 19th. Thank you for any help you can provide.
Vestry Meeting Minutes Minutes of the most recent Vestry meeting are posted on the bulletin board in the Connector just to the left of the door into the Church. If you wish to see past meeting minutes, please go to our website at https://www.gracechurchamherst.org/our-church/parish-staff/
St. Nicholas Bazaar donations! Bring in your donations for the bazaar the sooner the better, especially antiques and fine jewelry. Remember that items should be in good working condition and clean. We accept many kinds of items, but please NO textbooks, binders, classical records, clothing (scarves are ok), or mildewed items. We already have a large number of books and puzzles, so if possible hold those for next year. Donations may be dropped off in the undercroft after the Sunday service, or during office hours (M-F, 9;30-4). Put them on the table inside the door from the walkway. The bazaar (Dec. 6) is fast approaching – this is a good time to think about how you can contribute to its success during set-up, the day of the bazaar, and/or clean up. Volunteer sign-ups will appear in early to mid-November. Any questions, contact Joan. Thank you!
Save the Date
Children & Youth Choir Open House, Sunday, Oct. 26, 9:00-10:30AM. Please join Arianne Abela, Junior Choir Director, in the Parish Hall to learn about the new youth music program for the community. Fun activities, face painting, songs, snacks, and fall crafts. ALL children and youth are welcome! For more information please contact Arianne.
Grace Church Harvest Concert, Saturday, Nov. 8, 4 PM. Celebrate the harvest season with beautiful music at Grace Church! The concert will feature Mark Fraser, cello; Estela Olevsky, piano; Dick Damon, organ; Hanif Lawrence, tenor soloist; the Silverwood Quartet; the Cantabile vocal ensemble; and the Grace Church Choir directed by Hanif Lawrence. Suggested donation is $25 at the door, with proceeds benefiting the Grace Church Organ Fund.