Fourth Sunday Outreach Collection, October 26  The Outreach Commission has designated the Diocese of Navajoland as our fourth Sunday recipient, to support their work addressing the economic needs of Navajo and other Native Peoples. Navajoland is coextensive with the Navajo Reservation, some 27,000 square miles in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. One third of the people in this beautiful but impoverished area lack water in their homes; and one of the most important of Navajoland ministries is the delivery of food and water. Your offering will help them in their efforts. 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.

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.

Thanksgiving Collection for the Amherst Survival Center, Help “Stuff” the Church with Bread Stuffing  For Thanksgiving, the Amherst Survival Center has asked us to collect 500 boxes of bread stuffing, which the Survival Center will distribute throughout November.  They would like as many boxes as possible by November 23rd. If everyone brought 2 boxes of stuffing to church for the next 2 Sundays, we can achieve this goal.  Thank you for your help.

 All Souls’ Day  We will celebrate the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed Monday, November 3rd, at 7:00pm, 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 !

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

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 27, 2025.

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. Three remaining Thursday morning sessions (9:30-11:30) Oct 30, Nov 6, 20 in the Parker Room. Interested? Contact Nancy to save a seat (limited).

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.

Annie Cheatham Reading Southern Stories  On Wednesday, November 19, Annie Cheatham will be at Grace Church to read from her new book, The Baby’s Gotta Have Somethin’: Glimpses of a Southern Childhood. The event will be at 2 pm in the Connector. All are welcome.