Samson Mamour: JESUS AND SUMMER
With the arrival of summer, its meaning may vary from person to person. For some individuals, this period represents an opportunity to engage in gardening and maintain the splendor of the natural environment...
For others, it signifies a chance to spend time with loved ones, travels to different destinations, and discover new experiences. To ensure your comfort during work or travel, having a refreshing glass of water is essential to quench your thirst, especially during the hot summer days. A simple act of kindness, like someone offering a beverage during your visit, can significantly impact your feelings.
Several weeks ago, my support group and I received an invitation to lunch at the Shultis residence. The Shultis' warm welcome deeply touched me during our visit. The experience was truly delightful. The atmosphere was lovely, and the food and hospitality were fantastic. The Shultis' kind-heartedness and graciousness were truly noteworthy and deserving of recognition. Being friendly, warm, welcoming, and helpful to others, especially strangers, is a trait of our faith. A fundamental principle of our Christian faith is demonstrating friendliness, warmth, and helpfulness towards others, even if they are unfamiliar to us.
Daily hospitality will give us a more profound sense of connection and belonging with the people around us. In the Book of Matthew, Jesus encourages us to provide the little ones with a cup of cold water. Giving a cup of cold water may seem like a small gesture, but it's a gift that almost anyone can provide. It's important to remember that our financial status should never be an excuse to avoid helping our fellow brothers and sisters, as Jesus would want us to do what we can to assist others regardless of our wealth.
In ancient times, Wells was where our ancestors offered hospitality to strangers and received prophetic promises and words. Wells is where God always starts something new.
Even though we may not have the tradition of Wells in our towns for providing hospitality as in the past, we now have better chances to arrange tables in the courtyard and offer drinks to our fellow Christians or visitors. It allows socializing and also getting to know each other deeply. Take, for instance, the parables shared by Jesus about the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan. One of the critical lessons emphasized in these parables is the importance of hospitality. Who knows, some individuals you have given a cup of drink may be angels in disguise.
On Sundays, let not our fellowship end inside the Church building. Let our company continue to the courtyard and parish hall, where God often begins something new.
Rev
Samson Mamour
Worship Services | Proper 9 | Sunday, July 9
Holy Eucharist | 8 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m.
Parish Hall & Zoom | Charismatic Tradition
Holy Eucharist | 10:30 a.m.
In-Person & YouTube
Taizé Eucharist | 5 p.m.
In-Person
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Upcoming Music Events
Dialogue Circle
Would you be interested in joining a Sacred Ground Dialogue Circle? Please contact Tuck to express your interest.
A Dialogue Circle is a group of 4-10 people who co-create a trustworthy space to do inner work in community. Sacred Ground is a film based dialogue series on race and faith. The SG curriculum includes a set of documentary films and short videos, available for free to registered dialogue groups via streaming in a password-protected area on this site; a set of readings, also available for free to registered dialogue groups as PDFs in a password-protected area on the Sacred Ground site.
We will start a Sacred Ground Dialogue Circle when we have 4-10 people willing to commit to the curriculum. The Dialogue Circle will agree to its own schedule of meetings.
Camp Grace: “Make Us Instruments of Peace.”
Guess what! We’re doing that “summer camp thing” at Grace, August 7-11!! Based on a prayer attributed to St. Francis, the 2-5 p.m. camp is open to rising Kindergartners through rising 6th graders. An extra “Excited to Write!” component for rising 7th-rising 8th graders will finish the day 5:00-7 p.m. and include light dinner...
What is it? It’s mission with kids! Each day will include art activities, music activities, listening activities, and time learning about things such as the Labyrinth. The planning team includes Martha Burford, Marjorie and David Connolly, Carol Dent, Melanie Griffis, Jules Grimes, Anne Sauder, Heidi Schweizer, and Emma Vasquez. We will ask families for a donation of 50.00 per child for the week. Limited scholarships will be available. Rationale: Outreach to families. Enriching our community/communities. That last week before school starts, this year, August 7-11, is a week many camps have shut down, and is a week families seek activities for children before school starts. Our goal is to help families in that limbo week and also to help kids get excited about the beginning of the school year. This camp, and another one called “The Winter Star” during winter break, culminating in a performance on Epiphany, will focus on outreach to families with children. (More on “Winter Star” later.) Since you’re itching to be part of this: We would LOVE more help in this effort that springs from the named desire in Grace’s corporate life: to invite, welcome, and connect to families and children. We will need your help getting the word out. Martha, personally, would love help from someone good at spread sheets as we set up the daily schedule. Extra adult bodies in the rooms, help with snacks, help with drop off and pickup: there are lots of ways you can be involved for small amounts of time in this effort to welcome children. To jump into this joy, just run to your email and send martha@gracelexva.org a note, or call her at 804-514-8839. *Important note: 9/10 or more of the planning team will have completed online abuse prevention training in Praesidium Academy. While completion of the diocesan advised course won't be required for all volunteers, we encourage folks to consider taking it, especially as we gear up for focus on welcoming children.
Faithfully,
Camp Grace Planning Team
Upcoming "Music in the Garden" Concerts at Boxerwood
The Mission and Outreach Committee of the Gadsden Trust
Third quarter grant requests can be sent to Gail Dickerson, Chair, and must be received by September 1, 2023. The Gadsden Trust grant request application can be found here. The third quarter meeting of The Mission and Outreach Committee of the Gadsden Trust is scheduled for September 12, 2023, at 4 p.m. in the Parish Hall.
Grace is sad to announce that Charlotte Walker has died. The Walkers were members of Grace Church (R. E. Lee Memorial) in the 1980’s. General Sam Walker was Superintendent of VMI (7/81-12/88).
Charlotte Behrenberg Walker, 93, of Southern Pines, N.C., went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior on June 23. 2023. Born in Pittsburgh, Pa, in 1930 to William Christian and Charlotte Behrenberg, Charlotte had an amazing life. She was the daughter of a career Army officer, moving numerous times during her youth to include a tour to Japan in her late teens. During that tour, Charlotte met and married the love of her life, Lt. Sam S. Walker. They were married for 67 years until his death in 2015. Charlotte was the epitome of an Army wife. Always supportive of Sam in his many assignments, she lovingly cared for their three children: Walton (Buck), Sam and Sally. They traveled the world, including her favorite stations of West Point, N.Y.; Wurzburg, Germany; Berlin, Germany; Izmir, Turkey; and the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. Her beautiful smile and outgoing personality made her an invaluable helpmate and hostess for Sam in his exceptional military career. She was a favorite of the cadets as the totally engaged wife of the commandant of cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point and later as the wife of the superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute. Charlotte was passionate about music and art. She enjoyed playing her piano and painting in her younger years. For 31 years she was a Red Cross volunteer. Charlotte was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. She attended Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Southern Pines and was an active member of Daughters of the King. Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband, retired Gen Sam S. Walker, and her daughter, Sally Anne Walker. She is survived by her two sons, retired Col. Walton H. Walker II (Catherine) of Fayetteville, N.C., and retired Lt. Commander Sam S. Walker IlI (June) of Seneca, S.C.; and six grandchildren, Walton H. Walker III (Lorene), Sam B. Walker, Joseph B. Walker (Katee), Charlotte W. Olsen (Thomas), Catherine W. Mielle (Benjamin), and Michael S. Walker. Charlotte also had six great-grandchildren: Ellis and Lucy Olsen, Gale and Jonathan Walker, William and Emilv Mielke.
A memorial service will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Southern Pines on July 1 at 11 a.m. Interment will be at West Point, N.Y, at a future date.
Prayer List
Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Mark Bourlakas. Pray today for the Retired Clergy of The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia and their Chaplains, The Rev. Dr. Bob Copenhaver and The Rev. Dr. James Hubbard. Pray for Brendon (friend of the Brooke family), Michael Murphy, John Thomas, Timmy, Rick Alexander, Bradley Fairchild and Karen Junkin (friends of the Gibsons), Gloria June Perry (mother of Michael Perry), Glen Jones (friend of the Riethmillers), Patricia Brown Boyer (sister of Madison Brown), Dolly Shumate (friend of the Lewis’), Carolyn Glenn (friend of Judy Schram), Jack Hershbell, Helen Kostel, Laura Stearns, Carl & Rachel Pattison, Tom Strickland, Worth & Katie Burnes (friends of the Smiths), Amelia Dull, Barb Ostrander (cousin of John Milford), Stephen DeMaria, Annie Campbell, Polly Lawrence, Betty Cadden, Jeff Mason, Joe Irby, Kent Wilson, Ginny Dunaway Ferguson, Mike Robblee and Rosemary Phillips (siblings of Paul Robblee), Joan Wade (sister-in-law of David Wade), Maria Scott, Don Ellis, and those we name aloud or in our hearts. Pray for those who have died. Pray for the people of Sudan, Haiti, Ukraine.
In Thanksgiving for July Birthdays
7/7 Benjamin Holston
7/8 Sue Shultis
7/10 Joe Simcoe
7/11 Mary Wilson, Elizabeth Grist, Mary Wilson Grist
7/12 Otis Mead
7/13 Mary Stuart Gilliam, Caroline Webster
7/18 Carla Henson
7/19 Jeff Mason
7/20 Lisa Tracy
7/21 Catharine Gaylard
7/23 Miss D Penick
7/28 Paul Robblee, Susan Minor
7/29 John Brooke
7/31 Margaret Haberman
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.
Rockbridge NAACP Freedom Fun’d Raiser
“Community United: Spotlight on Glasgow” | 2 – 5pm Saturday, August 19, 2023 | James R. Thompson Sr. Community Center | Glasgow, VA | Donate now at www.rockbridgenaacp.com
Hosting Ukrainian Families
A humanitarian outreach effort organized by citizens of Lexington, Buena Visa, and Rockbridge County, we aim to pave the way for sponsoring temporary re-settlement of families who qualify for entry according to the laws of the United States.
The mission of Hosting Ukrainian Families is based upon love, compassion, and humanitarian concerns for families seeking to live in peace. Accordingly, a call is issued to each person joining in this effort to set aside all political, culturally divisive viewpoints, and all differences which may hinder or defeat these goals. To donate, click the link below.
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