Lenten Book Series: The Rule of Saint Benedict A Rule for all Christians, Sundays at 9:15am February 22nd – March 22nd From the time it was first written in the sixth century, the Rule of St. Benedict has been one of the most influential, enduring documents of Western civilization. Composed for the guidance of his own monks at Monte Cassino, St. Benedict’s Rule has become the basis for the rules of practically every Christian monastic community in the West. It is an excellent guide for living the spiritual life – through work, prayer, study, obedience, community life, and moderate asceticism. The spirit of the Rule is summed up in the motto of the Benedictine Confederation: pax (peace) and the traditional ora et labora (pray and work). It provides a moderate path between individual zeal and formulaic institutionalism; because of this middle ground, it has been very popular.
Fourth Sunday Outreach Collection, Feb. 22 The Outreach Commission has designated the recipient of Grace Church’s fourth Sunday collection to be Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD). ERD is the Episcopal Church’s response to the call to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to respect the dignity of every human being. ERD partners with locally-led organizations around the world and in the US to advance lasting change in communities impacted by injustice, poverty, disaster and climate change. It does this by focusing on four interconnected priorities: early childhood development, women and girls, climate resilience and disaster response. 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.
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 23, 2026
Knitters Unite People are making red knit hats with a tassel, which was a form of protest in Norway during World War II. If you would like to knit a hat, please contact Mary Ellen Shaughan.
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 143 pledges have come in totaling $537,182 – 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/
Ascentria Care Alliance is putting together a list of volunteers should they need assistance regarding the immigrant community they serve and who we have supported with our clothing drives. If activated, supporters may help with things like:
- Supporting families with daily needs such as food delivery or transportation
- Helping reduce isolation and anxiety through check-ins and accompaniment
If you’re interested in being part of this rapid-response supporter list, please sign up at https://ascentriacarealliance.formstack.com/forms/crisis_volunteer_response
Save the Date
LUCE Bystander Training, Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst, MA, Friday, March 7 from 2:00-4:00 PM Learn from the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network about how to effectively respond to ICE sightings and attempted detentions. To confirm your spot, please register by 5:00 PM on Friday, February 27. They will only admit people who are registered in advance. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. Be sure to arrive before 2:10 p.m. or your seat may be made available to others. Registration Link: https://secure.ngpvan.com/2-dx33KWyUepV6AcYnMsOA2
Thank you, Bishop Fisher! Saturday, March 14th, 3pm Join us for a special service to celebrate Bishop Fisher and to thank him for his ministry among us. There will be a reception following the service. St. Andrew’s, 335 Longmeadow St, Longmeadow, MA 01106
Garden Ministry The Grace Garden Ministry needs volunteers to load garden debris on Saturday March 21st and 28th. We will meet at 9am by the pink doors on Spring St. We will finish at 11:AM. By doing this work ourselves, we are saving over $900 from our budget. Please let Sara Libertry-Laylin know your availability. We thank you!
Ora et Labora: An Invitation this Lent to get more involved
Ora et Labora – this centuries –old phrase, meaning “pray and work,” is rooted in Christian tradition. It originated from St. Benedict of Nursia (circa 480-547) as a guiding principle for monastic life, but it is applicable for all Christians. It challenges us to think about a life fully dedicated to inviting God into every aspect. St. Paul speaks to this kind of commitment in Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
The principle of ora et labora provides a guide:
- Sanctify work
- Sanctify time
- Balance work and prayer
- Live out love
- Be mindful of others
- Find rhythm in life
This Lent all are invited to take on this spiritual practice. To support one another, we will list opportunities and ways for you to get involved at Grace Church – simple tasks to help in the ministries of the parish. Please join us in sanctifying work and time and finding the blessed balance of Ora et Labora.
Outreach Ministries
Amherst Survival Center
The Amherst Survival Center serves more than 10,000 people in our community every year, providing prepared meals, a food pantry, fresh food distribution, food deliveries, and a variety of other support services and programs. Volunteers are crucial to the Center’s operation. Here are some ways you can help:
- Volunteer to work at the Center: volunteers help to prepare and serve meals, unload deliveries of donations from area stores and set up fresh food distribution, stock pantry shelves and help participants with pantry shopping, prepare food packages for deliveries, and many other tasks. To learn more and to sign up for a volunteer orientation, please go to the web site https://amherstsurvival.org/volunteer/
- Become a Neighborhood Food Coordinator who recruits a group of “neighbors” to donate food, and collects the donations and delivers them to the Center every other month. To learn more about becoming a coordinator, please go to the web site https://amherstsurvival.org/nfp/
- Collect food donations gathered at Grace Church and deliver them to the Center.
- For more information please contact Patrick Kelly.
Garden Ministry is looking for help with various tasks including:
- The Garden Sale is May 9th but we are seeking items for the sale during Lent. Please bring garden decor and smallish patio items in good condition to the under croft tables (There is a sign designating Garden Sale).
- Work Outdoors on March 21st and 28th in the Garth area loading up garden debris. Meet on the Spring Street pink door at 9:00 and wear work gloves.
Contact Sara Liberty-Laylin.
St. Nicholas Bazaar could use a few people to take a box or two of bazaar leftovers to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Contact Joan O’Brien.
Mutual Care Committee is looking for of people willing to send cards and to check up on people. Also a list of people to include in a Meal Train invitation when meals are requested. Meal Train is a self-scheduling way to sign up for meals. There’s no pressure to sign up if invited. It’s just a way to get the word out. Contact Gail Gnatek.
Communications Committee The Communications Committee publicizes Grace Church happenings. We work with our Parish Administrator to arrange Church website content, post events on social media and online calendars, and create event flyers and signs. Volunteer opportunities include:
- Taking photos at Church events
- Designing graphics for flyers, signs, and social media posts
For more information please contact Sarah Chadwick or Patrick Kelly.