No nursery staff this week  Unfortunately, due to nursery staff being unavailable, we cannot provide childcare until February.

Grace Church Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, February 1st following a single service at 9:30am.

Icon Exhibit continues today, Feb. 1  There will be an exhibit of icons created in the St. Luke’s Iconography Workshop at Grace Church on Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1, 12 noon to 5 pm each day. The exhibit will be in the Chapel, with an entrance on Spring Street.

Order Your Soup Today!  The Haiti Soup Supper Annual Extravaganza is next Saturday, February 7!  Over 26 delicious soups, chowders, and chilis have been donated by parishioners as well as by generous local partners. A meal will consist of a quart of soup, homemade bread, and cookies that will be enough for two.  All proceeds benefit the St. Matthew’s School in Haiti. Order soup today at the annual meeting or online at https://shorturl.at/96Ndc.

Pastoral Care  A Grace parishioner is in need of meals for the next few weeks. If you are interested or would like more information, please email Gail Gnatek.

2026 Pledge Envelopes  If you requested envelopes, you may pick them up from the box on the table in the back of the church beginning this Sunday. They will (hopefully) be in alphabetical order. Note: if this is the first year that you have requested pledge envelopes, your pledge number may have changed.

Gifts to Grace  When making a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) gift to Grace Church, please ensure your fund provider includes your name and the intended purpose of the donation (e.g., Pledge, Haiti, Outreach) with the distribution. This helps us ensure your gift is properly acknowledged and applied. Thanks, Jaana

The Grace Church Stewardship campaign for 2026  To date 142 pledges have come in totaling $536,532 – most encouraging, we have 5 new pledges.  We are off to a good start.  To those who have pledged God bless, to those who have yet to pledge please pray and pledge so our Vestry can budget for 2026.  If you need a pledge card, they are available as you enter the church or you can contact the office (413) 256-6754.

Publicity for your Event?  Please let the Communications Committee know if you need help with your event.  Please fill out this form:  https://www.gracechurchamherst.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Request-for-Event-Publicity-Form-2023.pdf, also located on the “Outreach” page of the church website.  The committee requests at least 6 weeks notice.  Please forward questions to Patrick Kelly or Sarah Chadwick.

Coffee Hour  Coffee hour is a lovely tradition and we hope to see you there after the 10:30 service.  The hospitality committee keeps a small supply of treats on hand but this often is not enough. Won’t you please be so kind as to donate a baked good for all to enjoy?  Coffee cakes, quick breads, muffins, or bagels are always appreciated as well as other baked goods.  Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness. Please see Sarah Chadwick if you have questions or want to help out further.

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 of 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/

Calendar Donations  Please bring extra 2026 calendars to the food basket for the Survival Center.

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: February 9, 2026

Ash Wednesday Services

Holy Communion and the Imposition of Ashes

February 18, 2026

8:00am, 12:10pm, 5:00pm (Chapel Taize service), & 7:00pm