Life With Grace | April 11
- Grace Episcopal Church
- Apr 11
- 9 min read
Updated: Apr 16
Dear friends,
This Sunday we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and we follow him through his arrest, crucifixion and burial.
It seemed to some that Jesus had miscalculated the cost of building the kingdom. (Lk 14:29) They mocked him, If you are King of the Jews, save yourself. (Lk 23:35-39) But the miscalculation was theirs. Jesus understood the cost of the Kingdom was forgiveness of sins, which he pronounced as innocent victim (Lk 23:34) and ratified as risen Lord. (Lk 24:36,47).
As his disciples we continue to struggle with the work of reconciliation. Sometimes enduring and forgiving persecution and injustice for the sake of his love that transforms enemies into children of God. Sometimes falling back into demands for justice and the use of violence against those we judge as threats to our security and well being.
Thanks be to God for the example of grace given to us in Jesus Christ and for the Spirit to follow in the steps of his most holy life. Whenever we fall into violence, hatred or despair may we remember and return to the way of the cross, the way of love, and find it the way of life and peace.
With Gratitude, Tuck Bowerfind (he/him)
Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Worship Services | Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday | Sunday, April 13
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | In-Person and Zoom
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | In-Person and Zoom
The Lexington/Rockbridge Area Minister's Alliance invites you to the Annual Community Palm Sunday March. Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. beginning at Hopkins Green Park. Join us as we gather for prayer, scripture reading, and music as we start our Holy Week celebration. As we march through Downtown Lexington, prayers will be offered for the community and the downtown churches. Complementary palms will be distributed to everyone.
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Sessions
No C&C on April 20 (Easter)
April 27, The Saint John's Bible with Joanne Robblee
Holy Eucharist Rt II | 10:30 a.m. | In-Person and on YouTube
Celtic Evensong and Communion | 5:00 p.m. | In-person
This is a contemplative service. In order to prepare for worship and allow for private prayer, we ask that silence be observed upon entering and that you turn off cell phones. Musicians Anna Billias, Martha Burford, and Julia Goudimova will offer meditative music.
Women's Bible Study
Women's Bible Study has changed its meeting place to the home of Susan Cross, 621 Marshall Street. The time is 3:30 p.m. on Sundays. All ladies welcome! We are discussing the lectionary readings for the following Sunday. No preparation is necessary.
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Celebration of New Ministry for Samson Mamour
Holy Week & Easter
Morning Prayer - Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. at Grace Church
Stations of the Cross are displayed in the church and the liturgy for the stations is available for use at any time during the day.
April 17, 6:30 p.m. - Maundy Thursday Service/Foot Washing and Holy Eucharist (In-Person and YouTube)
April 18, Noon & 6:30 p.m. - Good Friday Service (Evening Service will be In-Person and YouTube)
April 19, 6:30 p.m. - Easter Vigil with Holy Eucharist, followed by Festival Lamb Dinner (In-Person and YouTube)
April 20, 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. - Easter Services with Holy Eucharist
Festival Lamb Dinner - Sat., April 19 - Parish Hall Come feast on leg of Lamb immediately following the Easter Vigil service! We will provide lamb, couscous, asparagus, bread, coffee & tea. Please help round out the menu by bringing a green salad, Waldorf salad, side dish, or dessert and wine to share.$15.00/per person donation greatly appreciated.
Lanford Mission Emergency Fund Easter Appeal
The Lanford Mission Emergency Fund (MEF) was begun in this parish over 40 years ago to assist residents of Rockbridge County who request emergency financial help in meeting rent, utility, medical, or temporary housing expenses. The MEF primarily receives its funding from Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas offerings as well as a small number of pledges that are designated “Mission Emergency Fund”.
Requests for assistance are usually made because of sudden illness, loss of health insurance, unexpected job loss, or other unanticipated crisis situations. RARA (Rockbridge Area Relief Association) does the vetting to verify need, and then contacts Grace Episcopal along with Lexington Presbyterian and St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic churches to share costs with RARA.
As we approach Easter, we ask you to consider a donation to the Lanford Mission Emergency Fund. If you would like to make a gift in the form of a check, the check can be made out to Grace Episcopal Church with “Lanford MEF” noted on the memo line. A donation to the Lanford MEF can also be made on Grace’s Website at www.gracelexva.org.
The Christian Outreach Committee sincerely thanks you for your faithful and generous support of this long-time Grace Episcopal outreach ministry!
Helping Ukrainian Families please consider helping this humanitarian outreach. The group has engaged an immigration attorney to guide the Ukrainian families, that were helped by Hosting Ukrainian Families, through the rules and regulations that could provide a safeguard from deportation. Donate HERE.
Flowers for Easter
Lilies, tulips and hydrangea plants will be used to decorate the Nave & Chancel for Easter. If you would like to purchase a Memorial plant for $10, please make your check payable to Grace Episcopal with Flower Guild on the memo line, or donate online by clicking this link: Memorial Flowers then in the Fund box, click the down arrow and choose Flower Fund. To list a memorial in the bulletin, email Lisa by Tuesday, April 15.
Music Announcements
On Palm Sunday at the 10:30 liturgy, we will be joined by Paradigm School A Cappella Singers. The group, led by ACDA outstanding choral conductor Joan Riddle Steinmann, will join Grace’s choir for much of the service music, including “Like as the Hart” by Herbert Howells. Their organist, Nathanael France, will play the prelude and accompany the Howells anthem.
At 5pm on April 13, we will offer A Celtic Contemplative Eucharist. The Rev. Anne Grizzle will celebrate. Anna Bilias, Martha Burford, Julia Goudimova, and members of the choir will lead the music.
Wednesday, April 16
12 noon at Lexington Presbyterian
MUSIC AT NOON
Organ music on hymns for Lent and Holy Week
William McCorkle, organ, with Michael McLaughlin, baritone
Men's Prayer Breakfast
Over the last four weeks, the Men’s Prayer Breakfast Group studied the Saint James Bible, the illumination process, and Luke’s Canticle of Simeon. With the intent to deepen our spiritual lives and bring us closer to God and each other, members were asked to connect The Word to their daily lives by creating a contemporary interpretation of The Word and a visual image that represents that discernment. The attached illumination is a celebration of that effort and is offered as an invitation for you to actively look for and appreciate all the love that surrounds us. Thank be to God!
The Saint John's Bible
If you have photos you would like to share of the St. John's Bible in our community and beyond, please send them to Lisa.
As the visiting volume of The Saint John’s Bible makes its home with us for three months, we also turn to other volumes to share with the congregation and visitors.
In The Saint John's Bible, there are only two relatively small illuminations in the pages of the Book of Luke that lie between the full page illumination of the Parables -- alongside the image of Jesus with Martha and Mary -- and the stunning golden illumination of the Crucifixion.
The first of these two small illuminations accompanies the Gospel passage relating the Last Supper. Unlike Leonardo da Vinci's famous rendering, with its renowned image of Jesus at the table with his disciples, this illumination shows us only the meal itself, while it also makes a strong allusion to the Eucharist as it has been practiced throughout the centuries. At the same time it alludes to to the Passover meal Jesus and the disciples were observing: The first panel shows the unconsecrated bread and jar of wine; the second shows the Eucharistic chalice, with wine that also evokes the blood of the Lamb -- which is represented above and also references a Passover tradition.
The third panel shows a ciborium, the vessel used to reserve the Eucharist for the sick and dying. The overall tone of the illumination and its modest size convey a somber message; as Jesus himself says, he will not eat (some texts say "again") until he is in the kingdom of God.
The stamped borders dividing the panels contain both the Star of David and the Cross, representing the dual aspect of this meal that also speaks of the sacrifice to come.
The second small illumination accompanies the text of the Crucifixion and is an example of chrysography, from the Greek "letters in gold." Chrysograhy was traditionally used, and is used throughout The Saint John's Bible, to set off important passages. This one holds the final words from the Cross, related in the text of this page:
"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."
The use of gold on a background of purple in ancient times represented the highest order of royalty, either secular or of the church, and so it is here.
It's notable that chief scribe, artist and director Donald Jackson and his associates did not choose to accompany the page that tells of the Crucifixion with the full-page image of the Crucifixion itself. That will come; but for the moment it's as if the words alone are enough.
These two somewhat subdued illuminations follow Jesus' and the disciples' meal at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, surely a joyous occasion that immediately precedes the dramatic entry into Jerusalem on the day we celebrate as Palm Sunday. They speak of the darker time immediately ahead, but also of the transcendence that will live through the ages. They do it very quietly.
Connections Plus
Do you have your Ducks in a Row?
Connections Plus is now offering a 6-session educational group in which the participants support each other through the process of gathering important information, such as health, property, finances, and final wishes to make things easier for those who must resolve our affairs.
Locations offering sessions:
Manly Memorial Baptist Church - Parish Hall (food/beverage allowed), 202 S. Main Street, Lexington. Beginning April 14, 2025, 5:30-7 p.m. Meetings held every other Tuesday ending June 24
Sunnyside House at Kendal at Lexington, 160 Kendal Dr., Lexington. Class Schedule: 9:30-11 a.m. on Thursday April 3, Tuesday April 15, Thursday May 1, Tuesday May 13, Thursday May 29 and Thursday June 12.
Bakers Wanted for the Community Table
Please contact Virginia Cooke at 348-5367 if interested!
Clothes Closet at Christ Episcopal
The Clothes Closet at Christ Church, Buena Vista, continues to need girls' clothing sizes 10-13, only. They are not accepting any other items at this time as they are chock full! The Clothes Closet is open every first and third Saturday of the month from 9 am until noon. You may drop your items off then. Alternately, you can bring your items to the Grace Church office and Lisa will ensure your items are conveyed to the Clothes Closet. Thank you for your support of this valuable asset to our community.
Paws to Connect
Thanks for a great semester of Paws to Connect!
Prayer List
Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: Pray for Presiding Bishop The Most Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe. Pray for the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and our Bishop, Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: Pray for Presiding Bishop The Most Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe. Pray for the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Mark Bourlakas. Pray for the people of Trinity, Arrington and their rector, The Rev. Donna Steckline.
Pray for the healing of Pope Francis. Pray for Brendon, Timmy, John Perry, Laura Stearns, Lynda deMaria, Polly Lawrence, Betty Cadden, Jeff Mason, Joe Irby, Kent Wilson, Diana Kenney, Jerry & Ann Nay, Paula Cooper, Ned Henneman, Sharon Humphreys, Nancy Mastin, Elizabeth Klein, Mary Etta Randolph, Carl & Rachel Pattison, Grace, Mercedes Aravena-Echaurren, Justin, Rodrigo, Wes O’Dell and family, Virginia Poston (sister of Betsy Carter), Dot Fogo, Roger Baroody, Michelle & John Evola (cousins of Darlene Keane), David Austin (friend of the Keanes), Ellen Fure, Buddy Atkins, George Collier, Rosemary Phillips (sister of Paul Robblee), Patricia Williams, Emily & Luke Child, Rebecca Robblee (daughter-in-law of Joanne & Paul), Kathy Kricensky (Abby Moles mom), Andy Wolfe, Oneatha Shinnick, and those we name aloud or in our hearts.
Pray for the people of Israel, Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, Ukraine, and pray for cessation of violence, and for reconciliation, and peace.
Pray for those who have died.
In Thanksgiving for April Birthdays
4/13 David Passmore
4/14 Gini Jardim
4/15 Helen Head
4/16 Don Ellis
4/18 Dennis Cross, Kevin Manning
4/19 Lisa McGuire, Beverly Wirtz
4/20 Erika Brooke
4/22 Buddy Atkins
4/25 Genelle Gertz
4/26 Chuck Smith
4/27 Clara Pickett
4/28 Sharon Humphreys, Clark Simcoe, Abby Moles, Madison Brown
4/29 David Hansen
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