We are now on our summer service schedule, with one service at 9:30am. The regular service schedule will resume on Sunday, September 7th
Fourth Sunday Collection August 24 Grace Church’s 4th Sunday Offering will go to the Amherst Survival Center. Since 1976, the Center has promoted the health and well-being of residents of Franklin and Hampshire. It provides a welcoming community where families and individuals can come for food and access to other resources. The Amherst Survival Center serves more than 6,000 people each year. All of its services are free, including a food pantry, to go community meals, fresh food distribution, a warming center with computers for those experiencing homelessness, information & referral, as well as a variety of other support services. Showers, laundry, and lockers are available for people experiencing homelessness. All of this is provided in a warm community center environment, with activities ranging from live music to sewing workshops to office hours with elected officials. All are welcome at the Survival Center. 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: August 25, 2025.
Ascentria is collecting clothing donations again! This time, they are focusing on “work ready” clothing for the 16-20 year olds who are interviewing for and beginning new jobs. Please donate adult small and medium casual pants, khakis; polo shirts, short and long sleeve shirts, flannel shirts, plain T shirts and socks and shoes. Ascentria send their warm thanks for the many terrific donations of baby and little kids’ things, which they continue to distribute!
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.
Garden Ministry The Garden Ministry is seeking someone to help maintain the Columbarium garden. No experience necessary; we will provide training if needed. Anticipate 2 times per month in the area. Contact Sara Liberty-Laylin.
Haiti Uniform and School Supplies Campaign We have almost reached our goal of outfitting all the students at St Matthieu with a new uniform and supplies for the school year – pencils, paper, folders, workbooks. With only a few more days in the campaign, you have already prepared 227 Haitian children for school! This is wonderful and generous! Now please help with the final few children! All contributions are appreciated. For each student, a uniform is $50 (made in Bayonnais!) and supplies are $25. Other donations contribute to these amounts and help with potential cost increases. To donate: write a check to Grace Episcopal Church with “Haiti Ministry – uniforms” in the subject line; or go to the church website, click “give,” go to “Haiti Ministry” in the dropdown, and mention uniforms in the “note” space; or go to coffee hour on Sundays starting today, where we’ll be ready to meet you. Mèsi anpil!
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/
Parish Directory, Deadline for photos and updates September 15 It’s time for a new Grace Directory! The last one was done in 2022. If you were not in the last directory, please send a photo and current contact information to the office. If you have moved or changed your information since the last directory, please send your updated address and phone number(s) to Terrie Korpita. We plan to use the same photos as the last directory; unless you wish to submit a new one. Nancy Lowry will be in the Connector during Coffee Hour on August 31 and Sept. 7 to take your photo if you so desire. Doug Moore will also be available.
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.
St. Nicholas Bazaar As summer winds down, it’s a good time to find those no-longer-needed treasures we all have in our homes! Especially antiques and fine jewelry! Put donations on or under the table just inside the door to the undercroft. Donations should be clean and in good condition. Most kinds of items are accepted, but not mildewed items, clothing (except scarves), textbooks and binders. Questions? Contact Joan. Thank you!
Save the Date
Wednesday Service The Holy Eucharist with Healing Prayer Service on Wednesdays at 12:10pm will resume on September 3.
Creation Season will be September 1-October 4. Climate Action at Grace is coordinating this year with Sts. James and Andrew, Greenfield, to bring you Two Sundays of discussion and a Saturday retreat. We look forward to envisioning together some ways of living sustainably, from spiritual perspectives. We hope you’ll join us.
On Saturday, September 6 The Rev. Jimmy Pickett and the Saints James and Andrew Green Team will be offering a retreat: Cultivating Eco-Spiritual Resilience. The work of Creation Care often feels like an overwhelming, never-ending, list of moral tasks that can lead to frustration, disengagement and spiritual exhaustion. Cultivating spiritual practices is essential for long-term resilience in the face of a changing environment. This will take place at Sts. James and Andrew, 1741 S. State Street, Greenfield. Gathering will begin between 9:15-9:45 a.m. with beverages, light offerings and fellowship, and welcoming will begin at 9:45 a.m. Please bring your lunch; we will provide beverages and desserts. A period of reflection and blessing will end the retreat by 3 p.m.
Sunday, September 7 Marianne Connor will lead us in a discussion relevant to So many of us: A Conversation about Aging from a Regenerative Perspective, Parish Hall, 12:15-1:15. Marianne has Years of experience connecting spirituality and practical systems for day-to-day living, including for later life stages.
Our monthly meeting for Climate Action at Grace will be the second Sunday, September 14, 12:15 in the Parker Room.
September 21: Tending the Soil: A Living Systems Theory of Change, Parish Hall, 12:15-1:15.
Education for Ministry (EfM) Info Sessions Education for Ministry is launching a revised curriculum in the fall of 2025. Although there are new books and texts, the focus of the EfM: Classic program remains the same: four consecutive years covering the Old Testament, New Testament, Christian History, and Christian Ethics and Spirituality. The program still meets weekly for 1 1/2 to 3 hours in seminar groups that worship and pray together, discuss the weekly learning material, and reflect theologically. EfM is now utilizing an online learning platform, which means you receive podcasts, videos, art, and essays as part of the weekly assignment, offering rich and modern material. I would love to share the plans with you and hope you can join us for one of the three online information session. Sessions are on Sunday, August 24, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday, September 9, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Register at https://www.diocesewma.org/for-congregations/education-for-ministry If you have questions before the online info sessions, you can reach me here: Rev. James McDonald, mailto:james.ross.mcd@gmail.com?subject=Education for Ministry
Grace Church Youth Choir We are pleased to announce the return of the Grace Church Youth Choir under the direction of Arianne Abela, Interim Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator. Rehearsals will take place on Sunday mornings from 9:15-10:15 in the Parish Hall beginning on September 7. The singers will occasionally present music and/or a skit in the 10:30 services. For more information on how to get your kids involved, please email Arianne. You can also scan here to register. Upon registering, a calendar for the 25-26 academic year will be sent out with service presentation dates and information on the Christmas pageant.
All Are WELCOME Here! Grace Church is launching a new Hospitality Program to better welcome all who come to Grace Church. Beginning Sunday, September 7, after both the 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM services, a small group of parishioners will wear WELCOME badges to help greet and connect with new folks. We invite YOU to be a part of this ministry! Whether you’ve attended Grace for years or you’re a more recent arrival, consider grabbing a badge and be available to say hello after the service or during coffee hour. It’s a simple but powerful way to build our community and to let folks know they’re very welcome here. There’s always someone new to meet, new to greet, and new to reconnect. Who knows, you may “entertain angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2) Questions or comments? Reach out to Kitty Dougherty.
Benefit Concert for Pioneer Valley Workers, Saturday, Sept. 13, 7:00pm, Unitarian-Universalist Society of Amherst, 121 North Pleasant St. An evening of inspiring pro-democracy, social justice-themed music from area folk musicians to benefit the Pioneer Valley Workers Center, a critical non-profit organization serving immigrant workers in Western MA. Donations accepted to benefit the work of the PVWC. For more information: indivisiblewestquabbin@gmail.com
Community Food Drive for the Amherst Survival Center on Saturday, September 20 Bring donations to the Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road Amherst, Saturday September 20th. Donations will be accepted from 9:30 – 11:30 am.
Celebrate the harvest season with beautiful music at Grace Church! Saturday, November 8, 4:00 pm The concert will feature cellist Mark Fraser, (executive artistic director of the Mohawk Trail Concerts and the cellist in the Adaskin trio). Dick Damon, organ, Estela Olevsky, piano, Kell Juilliard, flute, as well as the Cantabile ensemble and Grace Church choir as directed by Hanif Lawrence, assistant director of choral music at Smith College.