Dear Friends,
This Sunday the gospel begins with the repetition of the statement that concluded the gospel last Sunday - Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
What kind of hunger is Jesus speaking about here? Just before this discourse Jesus has fed 5000 people with a few loaves of bread and two fish. So he is not dismissing bodily hunger. But is also referring to spiritual hunger - our desire for meaning, purpose, love, belonging, and justice, and our desire to know and be known by God.
The gospel tells us that Jesus fed the 5000 out of compassion. His compassion also compels him to teach us about the way to satisfy our spiritual hunger. Ultimately, the answer to our spiritual hunger is God, and the Word of God made flesh - Jesus.
It is through the breaking of Jesus' body, like the breaking of bread, that the hunger of the world for God's spirit is satisfied.
Through his lifting up on the cross, and from the tomb, and finally from earth to heaven Jesus establishes the reign of God and sends the Holy Spirit to abide with us and to form us into new community of love and prayer in which we can come to know and live the love of God for the life of the world.
Come to the supper of the Lamb. Be fed by the Bread of Life. Do all such good works provided for you to walk in. And be satisfied.
With Gratitude,
Tuck Bowerfind (he/him)
Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Worship Services | Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost | Proper Fourteen | Sunday, August 11
Holy Eucharist Rt I | 8 a.m. | In-Person and YouTube
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | In Person and Zoom
Sunday, August 11 - Evolving into a More Conscious Communion with the Source of all Creation Through Sacred Geometry. Presented by Antonia Albano. Antonia has had a life-long fascination with how the un-manifest is made manifest permeating all life with its intelligence. She has been on a 20+ yr journey with sacred geometry, considered to be thoughtforms in the mind of God. This spiritual science "represents a latent possibility within ourselves" to grow & evolve into union with God/Source/All That IS ...to actually move closer to becoming a living prayer & living a life of conscious benediction. Antonia will share visuals with animations bringing these multi-dimensional geometric shapes to life.
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Session
Sunday, August 18 - Russian Orthodox Faith & Iconography symbolism & Spirituality, presented by Madelyn Stuart. A basic introduction to Eastern Orthodoxy and iconography, and then focus on practices of spirituality related to iconography and Slavic/Russian Orthodox literature.
Sunday, August 25 - Rat Sunday
Holy Eucharist Rt II | 10:30 a.m. | In-Person and YouTube
Taizé Eucharist | 5 p.m. | In-Person
A Celebration of Holy Eucharist in the Taizé tradition of Contemplative Song and Prayer
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Research Presentation
August 12, 7:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Arden Courtney Collins will present information on the family of William and Cornelia Washington, “coloured” members of Grace for several years starting in 1876. Arden’s research looks into slave ownership by clergy and members of Grace presented by Cat Hudson last fall. Please invite neighbors and friends who might be interested. The presentation will also be offered on Zoom,
Collecting for the Boys Home continues
We are still collecting school supplies and personnel products for the Boys Home. A list of what is needed is on the table near the office. Thanks to those have already contributed. Several of the boys will worship with us on Sunday, August 18th. During the 10:30 service I plan to present them with what we have collected. Questions about this effort can be directed to James Keane at 540-466-9259 or Lisa.
The Mission and Outreach Committee of the Gadsden Trust
The Mission and Outreach Committee of the Gadsden Trust will convene on September 10, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. in the third floor Conference Room for its third meeting of 2024. The Committee will review third quarter grant requests that were submitted by the September 1, 2024, deadline and make awards.
The Gadsden Trust grant request application is available here. Completed applications should be sent to Gail Dickerson. Third quarter grant requests must be received by noon on September 1, 2024. Gadsden Committee meetings are open to the parish.
New Coffee Hour Schedule
Beginning Sunday August 4 the following team leaders will host Sunday morning coffee hours. Please thank our Coffee Hour team leaders!
August 11 team leaders are Joanne Robblee and Melissa Cox
August 18 team leaders are Grace Simcoe and Peggy Riethmiller (Anne Sauder will coordinate a special reception in honor of visitors from the Boys Home of Virginia following the 10:30 service.)
August 25 team leaders are Stephen Lowe and Michael McLaughlin
September 1 is Unitive Worship at 10:30 followed by First Sunday Lunch
September 8 (Marc Nikkel Day) team leaders are Susan Mead and MJ Mayerchak
September 15 team leaders are Gail Dickerson and James Keane
September 22 team leaders TBD. If you would be willing to help lead coffee hour this day please contact Tuck.
September 29 team leaders are Ruth Smith and Chris Young
October 6 team leaders are Cecile West-Settle and Elizabeth Boetsch
October 13 team leaders are Lynn Dent and Bill Kozak
October 20 team leaders are Drew Sorber, Madelyn Stuart, Connor Rothermel, and Rose Hein.
Team leaders would welcome assistance. Please contact team leaders directly if you are available to help!
Regarding The Winter Star and Extra Events for Young People
The Winter Star will be rehearsed and prepared Saturday mornings 10-11:30 Dec. 7, 14, and 21, and we will offer it as the "Pageant" at the early service on Christmas Eve. We will ask that participants make themselves available to at least two of the three preparations. This still remains open to the community at large, and anyone is welcome, of course, to attend the early service on Christmas Eve.
Summer of 2025 we will go back to last summer's successful formula of a day "Art Expression Camp" 2-5pm the week before public schools start.
We also are going to offer, beginning in October, "Art Expression on the Courtyard" for kids on First Fridays, 5-7pm, during the galleries' "First Fridays" as a way to offer kids an art experience and let their parents enjoy the galleries. Feel free to contact Martha for more details.
Monday Music on the Courtyard is Back!
Grace Episcopal Church announces its second season of "Music Mondays on the Courtyard." No Monday Music on the Courtyard on August 12 | Prospects for bands didn't work out, so our next Monday Music will be Open Mic Night, Monday, September 16, 6:30-8:00pm. All are invited to bring food, beverages, lawn chairs, and blankets. In the event of rain, music will move into the Undercroft of the church. Free will donations are accepted. For information contact Martha.
The Wall that Heals Program
As you know, The Wall That Heals is a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center. It will be at the Jackson River Sports Complex in Covington, from October 3rd – October 6th, and will be open 24 hours a day. It is free to the public. The Wall That Heals honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed forces in the Vietnam War, and it bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.
We are relieved this event has been well funded – we have successfully raised enough to support bringingThe Wall That Heals to our area and to cover needs for supporting the event while it is here. We appreciate your willingness to support this unique opportunity. We are now seeking help spreading the word about The Wall That Heals as we continue to move forward. We would love if you could help spread the word.
The Wall That Heals will be escorted through downtown Lexington on October 1st. We hope our community will come out to cheer as the truck is escorted through downtown Lexington. If you know any community members, schools, or organizations, or church groups that may be interested in a tour, or who would like to volunteer for this event, check out the following website for schedules, contacts and opportunities available:
VPAS
Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS) offers older adults and their family members a variety of services. Please feel free to use VPAS as a resource, even if we can't help directly, we'll always try to point people in the right direction.
Examples of Services:
Meals on Wheels for homebound adults age 60+
Medicare Options Counseling
VPAS Cafes in Buena Vista, Lexington, and Goshen for socialization and lunch
Senior Transportation to medical appointments
Activities such as Line Dancing, Seated Yoga, Tai Chi, and Pickers Strings Group
Info about financial assistance programs
Caregiver support and training
There is an upcoming workshop called "Prepare to Care: Navigating a Dementia Diagnosis." This is a workshop for family caregivers, care partners, and friends of persons new to dementia. It will be held on Wednesday, August 28 from 9 am-12 pm at Maury River Senior Services, 2137 Magnolia Avenue, Buena Vista, VA. Table discussions, role plays and resources to help you in your journey. No cost. To register, call at (540)261-7474 or visit the site.
Music in the Garden
Join us for Music in the Garden on August 23 (Caravan of Fools) and September 6 (The Ruckus Bluegrass Band). Members and kids are free; nonmember adults are $5 cash at the gate.130 Munger Lane | Gates open at 5:30 pm, music from 6:30-7:30 pm | $5 per adult, kids are free. BYOB, BYO chairs, and pack out your waste. Leashed pets are welcome.
Update on the Trex Challenge
Wonderful news! We have met our goal of 1,000 lbs. of plastic film for the Trex Challenge. Thanks so much to all that helped us meet the goal. I want to give a special thanks to Cindy and Grigg Mullen, Lexington Garden Club, Jefferson Florist, Lexington Prescription Center and ConnectionsPlus for their help in reaching our goal. We will continue to participate in this program!
Please note that we will continue to collect plastic film collected. This is not only plastic bags but includes other plastic films that stretch; bread bags, bubble wrap, drycleaning bags, plastic shipping envelopes, Ziploc food storage bags, shrink wrap, salt bags, wood pellet bags, produce bags, etc... everything just must be clean before going into recycling. There is a blue collection bin for plastic film under the bridge between the Church and Parish Hall for your deposit of plastic films. Thanks again for your participation in this challenge.
Project Horizon Seeking Volunteers
There will be a training session in October. If you are interested call and get your name on the list for the training session. Project Horizon desires empathetic, thoughtful, and motivated volunteers of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to help us accomplish our mission of eradicating domestic, sexual, and dating violence through empowerment of survivors, and by being a sanctuary for victims. We need your help to provide these vital services as Rockbridge County’s only domestic violence shelter and hotline.
Project Horizon was founded in 1982 by a group of women sitting around a kitchen table. Today, we provide a 24-hour crisis hotline, free counseling services, an emergency shelter for victims, outreach to underrepresented communities, and educational programming for kindergarten through college-aged students.
Volunteers play an integral role in Project Horizon’s mission by answering hotline calls, providing office support, interacting with shelter residents, working with employees on specific projects, such as translation or art projects, and assisting staff with events.
For information about volunteering and to sign up for our next training, contact volunteer coordinator Janice Burguieres at 540-463-7861or jburguieres@rockbridge.net.
Wanted: Sunday School Teachers
We are looking for youth, college students, and adults to help with Sunday School from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. each Sunday. A stipend is available. Contact Tuck for more information.
Prayer List
Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: Pray for Presiding Bishop Curry, for The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, Presiding Bishop-Elect. Pray for Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Mark Bourlakas. Pray for the people of St. Luke’s, Hot Springs and their priest-in-charge, The Rev. Katherine Doyle. Pray for Brendon, Timmy, John Perry, Glen Jones, Jack Hershbell, Laura Stearns, Lynda deMaria, Polly Lawrence, Betty Cadden, Jeff Mason, Joe Irby, Kent Wilson, Don Ellis, Diana Kenney, Ann Nay, Paula Cooper, Penny & Ned Henneman, Barbara Bova, Shelby, Clay Sadler, Sharon Humphreys, Eloise Adams, Nancy Mastin, Elizabeth Klein, Cullen Bahr (friend of Drusie Milford), Mary Etta Randolph, Carl & Rachel Pattison, Jane Drewry (sister-in-law of Ruth Smith), Barb Ostrander (cousin of John Milford), Grace, Ashley Swain & Elliot Ohmann (daughter and grandson of Sharon Kurtz), Sue Hill, Frances Harcus, Glenn & Christine Szarzynski, Palmer Stickley and his family, Mercedes Aravena-Echaurren, Helen Moore, Patricia Williams, Cecile West-Settle, Christy Panko, Ann, Madison Brown, Kay Lera, Pierson Hotchkiss, III, 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 August Birthdays
8/10 David Partlett
8/11 Mimi Knight
8/14 Gerry Locher, Nick Murphy, Kathy Kozak
8/17 Kent Wilson
8/18 Luke Camp
8/20 Marjorie Connolly
8/21 Lena Simcoe
8/26 Elaine Nelson
8/28 David Howison
8/30 Barton Dick
8/31 Pat Gibson
We're so glad you're here! If you or someone you know is new to Grace and would like more information about Parish life, follow the link below.
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