Dear Friends,
Those of us who only know Jesus through the gospel witness may be inclined to think the first disciples who saw him face to face enjoyed privileged understanding. But the Gospel of Mark makes it clear that the first disciples were as confused as we are, despite the fact that Jesus explained some things directly to them.
The first disciples grew in understanding. Peter for example didn't accept the crucifixion as a part of God's plan until long after he encountered the empty tomb, even though Jesus had taught about it over and over. Mark's gospel assures us that the first disciples didn't have a privileged vantage. Like them, all disciples growing in understanding is part of following.
Growing in understanding doesn't just happen. We have to trust and follow through a lot of confusion and misunderstanding. In particular Jesus warns us not to look for signs of his return, and not to confuse suffering and conflict with the removal of divine blessing and favor. These two tendencies have short circuited many disciples. If we spend our time looking for signs of Jesus' return, we are not doing the essential and difficult work of building the new community. If we think suffering and conflict are a judgment from God, we will fail to examine our own role in causing suffering and our role in making peace and restoring justice.
The way of the cross helps us see that suffering and injustice are not obstacles to our witness to the love of God. They are essential to God's plan. By the cross Jesus demonstrates the mercy of God. He puts an end to sacrifice and violence and victimization as a way of serving God. He makes God's solidarity with the victims of sacred violence crystal clear. To resist and renounce the powers of the world that corrupt and destroy the creatures of God and to trust in the love and sovereignty of God, loving our neighbors, especially the most vulnerable, is the way of life.
It is not easy to see and to walk that way. But once we see it we have to keep trying to follow. Because the way of the cross is the way of life and peace - it is better to suffer than to cause unjust suffering, it is better to forgive rather than to exact revenge and continue the cycle of violence, it is better to love than to give reign to hate, it is better to seek and tell the truth than to lie to curry favor or get advantage. It matters where you place your trust, where you entrust your heart. Believe in God. Keep following, keep growing in the way of Jesus.
With Gratitude,
Tuck Bowerfind (he/him) Rector | Grace Episcopal Church
Blue Ridge Outdoor School - When entering the church driveway, please be aware that the children are in the churchyard in the morning from 8:45–9:00 a.m.and in the afternoon from approximately 2:50 p.m.–3:15 p.m. There may be a cone in the driveway to prevent cars from coming in to quickly; you may still park in the lot. Thank you!
The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day.
Worship Services | Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost | Proper 28 | Sunday, November 17
Holy Eucharist Rt 1 | 8 a.m. | In Person and YouTube
Note: Our 8 a.m. servicse are now streamed on YouTube, not Zoom.
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m. | In Person and Zoom
Alexandra Brown will be presenting at Christianity and Culture this Sunday: The Wideness of God’s Mercy: Ideas about Salvation in Early Christian Thought
“For God has shut up all in disobedience so that God might have mercy on all.” Romans 11:32
The Nicene Creed, a product of the 4th century, rehearses the Christian narrative from creation to the incarnation of God in Christ “for us and for our salvation,” to his ascension … and his coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead.”The final stanza narrates the procession of the Holy Spirit, belief in the “holy, catholic, and apostolic Church,” baptism for forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the dead and expectation of life in the world to come. Each claim of the Creed in its particulars reflects rigorous, anathema- provoking,early Christian debate over three centuries about what the Church will teach. And each claim engages language of metaphor and poetry to express what the post-communion prayer calls, “these holy mysteries.”
Whose salvation is narrated here? All in creation? The baptized alone? By what criteria and toward what end are the “living and the dead” to be judged? Does Christianity teach eternal damnation for some and eternal bliss for others? What implications for our life together on earth emerge from the Church’s answers to these questions?
What I want to explore in this session is an ancient counterpoint to the familiar narrative of end-time eternal damnation of some that most of us know from common parlance, from Western art, from certain readings of Augustine and Calvin, and from what may be misguided teaching about the fuller biblical witness regarding final judgment and the destiny of souls.
Upcoming Christianity and Culture Sessions
Holy Eucharist Rt II | 10:30 a.m. | In-Person and on YouTube
Women's Bible Study | 3:30 p.m.
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
ACTS Call for Members
What is Grace Actively Caring Through Sharing (ACTS)?
How can I be a part of it?
Grace ACTS is an important ministry to the parishioners and the community of our church. Our four teams consist of over 20 people or family units that volunteer for the Grace ACTS ministry. Each team has about 6 members and is on duty every 4 weeks. Grace ACTS members select two or more needs from the list when their team is on duty. Team members pray for, call, visit or send a card to those on the list that are ill, have had a death in their family or are celebrating a new baby or a birthday. Please continue to pray for this vital ministry to our parish. If you have a pastoral concern or know of someone who does please contact Fr. Tuck, Melissa Cox or the Parish Office. If you would like to serve on a team, please contact Melissa.
Dinner Groups
We are excited to invite you to join our Church Dining Groups—a delightful opportunity to build connections, share meals, and grow in fellowship with one another. Whether you choose Sunday brunch, lunch or dinner, in-home, out or a combination is up to you! Please contact Drusie Milford or Ruth Smith at 910-409-9325 to join a group (and indicate your preferential meeting time). All are welcome!
Walk in Love Stewardship Campaign
This Sunday we are handing out pledge cards. Monday we will mail cards to parishioners who were not at church. Thank you to everyone who has already pledged to the Walk in Love pledge campaign to fund the 2025 operating budget of Grace Episcopal Church. Every pledge helps us with our planning for the year to come. We will list the names of those who have made a pledge every week, as well as the total pledged to date in the Parish News Life with Grace. Our goal is between 120-130 pledges totaling $540,000. To date we have received pledges from 81 households totaling $405,070.
Thanks to our contributing households thus far:
Lori Apgar
John & Cecilia Arpin
Doug Ayer
Anne Blanken
Laurent & Elizabeth Boetsch
Tucker & Delea Bowerfind
Jane Brooke
Madison & Katharine Brown
Martha Ann Burford
Bettie Cadden
Betsy & Buddy Carter
David & Marjorie Connolly
Melissa & David Cox
Ed & Marlys Craun
Dennis & Susan Cross
Susan Denson
Lynn & Carol Dent
Barton & Gail Dick
John & Gail Dickerson
Punky Dod
Ed & Lu Dooley
Will & Cary Edgar
Don & Claudia Ellis
Carole Elmore
Matthew Fogo & Kevin Manning
Patrick France
Tim & Catharine Gaylard
Keith & Pat Gibson
Rene' Glidden
Tom & Carol Gosse
Julianne Grimes
David & Anne F Grizzle
Peter & Julia Grover
Margaret Haberman
Woody & Becky Hall
David & Anne Hansen
Sandy & Catherine Harcus
Elizabeth Harralson
Helen Head
Jack & Anne Hershbell
Harold & Kathryn Hill
Kay Horner
David & Chris Howison
Benjamin & Laurie Huger
Gini Jardim
James & Darlene Keane
Diana Kenney
Deborah & Bill Klein
John & Beth Knapp
Bill & Kathy Kozak
Sharon & Frederick Kurtz
Greg & Janet Lemmer
Buster & Signe Lewis
Mo & Julia Littlefield
Pat & Lisa McGuire
Jo McMurtry
Susan Mead
John & Drusie Milford
Su Minor
Joseph & Abby Moles
Helen Moore
Ann & Jerry Nay
David & Jeanne Passmore
George & Eleanor Penn
Michael Perry
Shay Peters
Henry Porter
Tim & Mary Price
Joanne & Paul Robblee
Martha & Don Robey
Bill Sayre & Melissa Gladwell-Sayre
Frank Settle, Jr. & Cecile West-Settle
Ham & AP Smith
Jimbo & Ruth Smith
Sarah Stockton
Paul Strickland
Spencer & Beverly Tucker
David Wade
Harry & Marnie Wheeler
Kent & Mary Wilson
Connor Wolfe
If you are new to pledging and would like guidance here are three basic guidelines:
Pledge something. You are a valuable member of the body of Christ. Most of your contribution to Christ's work is through the works of love you do for others every day in your work and personal life. You also share in the responsibility for maintaining and operating our facilities and ministries. Some members give $1/week, some give $400/week. Some give nothing. Whatever you commit and fulfill will be gratefully received and faithfully used for God's mission through Grace. Whether you give something or not, you are a beloved member of the parish and the body of Christ.
Consider pledging proportionally. As your income or net worth change, continue to give proportionally. For example - you can base your giving on a proportion of your gross annual income. Or if you have a positive net worth, you might consider basing your giving on a proportion of your net worth.
Consider tithing your income or net worth. Traditionally, tithing is ten percent of gross household income. Muslims have a different standard that you might consider. They give 2.4% of their gross positive net worth. If they have zero or negative net worth, they are not expected to give anything except time and talent.
Advent Meditations
This Advent season, you are invited to join our Diocesan Advent Meditations, a three week online series offered live on Zoom Monday nights in Advent at 7:00p.m. Join us for this series to slow down, take time for silence and contemplation as we experience this special season.
Angel Tree is coming!
Since 2007 the parish Outreach Committee has partnered with Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Christmas ministry. Angel Tree seeks to restore those affected by crime and incarceration by introducing prisoners, victims, and their families to a new hope available through Jesus Christ.
This year our church will receive the names of 50 children to serve in this important ministry. Children being served virtually reside in areas where there is not sufficient local support. Weneed your help!
Early in December you will be provided with a unique code for Grace Church, enabling you to access the virtual Angel Tree site. Each tag corresponds to one child. The sponsorship amount for each child is $30.
Thank you for joining with Angel Tree to be the hands and feet of Jesus as they seek to restore relationships between children and their incarcerated parents.
For any questions, please contact Sharon Kurtz at sswain01@yahoo.com or 828-424-3434.
Langford Mission Emergency Fund Thanksgiving Appeal
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, we reflect on God’s love for each of us and allthe blessings and gifts in our lives.
Please consider a donation to the Lanford Mission Emergency Fund (LMEF) to assist our less fortunate neighbors in Rockbridge County. Through mid-November, the LMEF has assisted 134 individuals/family units in Rockbridge County who seek emergency financial support to meet rent, utility, food, medical, or temporary housing expenses.
In most cases, RARA (Rockbridge Area Relief Association) does the vetting to verify need and eligibility and then contacts Grace Episcopal along with Lexington Presbyterian and St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic churches to share with RARA in the financial support.
Partial funding for the LMEF comes from Grace’s Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas offerings; and individual gifts. A donation to the LMEF can be made through your Thanksgiving offering in the form of a check made out to Grace Episcopal Church with “Lanford MEF” noted on the memo line as well as on Grace Episcopal Church’s website (www.gracelexva.org).
The Christian Outreach Committee sincerely thanks each of you for your continued, generous support of this long-time Grace Episcopal ministry! May each of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Holiday Church Open House
Friday, December 20 4–6 p.m. During the Open House at Grace, visitors are invited to see Nativity sets shared by our members. Martha Burford will play carols and invite all manner of fa-la-la singing, and candy canes will be offered! We look forward to visitors!
Diocesan Update on Hurricane Helene
Many of you have been praying for all those affected by the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, in much of the southeast, especially in the Diocese of Western North Carolina. Please continue your thoughts and prayers. I wanted to let you know that most of the high water in this diocese occurred in the Abingdon Convocation and some areas of the New River Convocation.
We are checking in with our parishes in those areas and none are reporting any damage to their facilities. Some lost power, but reports at this hour are that all power has been restored. There are still some cell service outages in the far southwest.
There are many trees down throughout the Grace House property. Luckily, none came into contact with any of the buildings on the campus. We are working with the staff to begin assessment and tree removal in the critical areas that might impede functioning. We will keep you updated on assessment and need. If you or your parish would like to contribute financially to relief work thatEpiscopal Relief & Development is doing in the most affected regions please click the button below.
Please let us know what assistance or resources we can assist you with as your parish addresses possible needs in your community.
I ask that you pray through this week and this coming Sunday for those who have died and their families; for those who are suffering and scared; and for all relief workers who are helping people around the clock. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Peace,
The Rt. Rev. Mark Allen Bourlakas
For updated information on Hurricane Relief, read this newsletter from Episcopal Relief and Development.
Greeter Team and Usher Team at Grace
Greeters take turns welcoming worshipers as they enter the churchyard to attend the service. They identify visiting guests, visitors, new members and extend a warm greeting. Greeter schedules are flexible to work with your availability. A great way to meet others at Grace. Contact Cecile West-Settle at West-SettleC@wlu.edu, 540-570-3256
Ushers help the service run smoothly by welcoming worshipers to the service and assisting them as needed. They distribute the service bulletin and help with the offering collection, communion and more. Schedules are flexible to work with your availability. Email or call Lisa McGuire at 540-463-4981.
Training provided, many benefits! Join TODAY
Paws to Connect
Join us every Tuesday and Wednesday this semester from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the steps of Grace. Our pups can't wait to see you!
The Clothes Closet
The Clothes Closet, run by our colleagues at Christ Episcopal Church, Buena Vista, could use some assistance, both with donations for their stock as well as volunteers to help run the operation from 9am till noon each first and third Saturday of the month. Christ Church initially established the closet, and volunteers from our church, as well as some funding provided by our Gadsden Trust, helped expand it into a more robust operation. It is open to all persons and is currently well stocked except for needing these items: children's coats, men's size small shirts and jeans, men's T-shirts of all sizes, bath towels, pots and pans, baking dishes, blankets, queen and full sheets, and women's purses. Please drop any donated items or financial contributions for the Clothes Closet at Christ Church when it’s open.
New Coffee Hour Schedule
The following team leaders will host Sunday morning coffee hours. Please thank our Coffee Hour team leaders!
11/10 - Riethmiller and Simcoe
11/17 - Mead and Mayerchak
11/24 - Dickerson and Keane
Team leaders would welcome assistance. Please contact team leaders directly if you are available to help!
Prayer List
Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: Pray for Presiding Bishop The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe. Pray for Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Mark Bourlakas. Pray today for the Members of the Executive Board and the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia.
Pray for Brendon, Timmy, John Perry, Glen Jones, Jack Hershbell, Laura Stearns, Lynda deMaria, Polly Lawrence, Betty Cadden, Jeff Mason, Joe Irby, Kent Wilson, Diana Kenney, Jerry & Ann Nay, Paula Cooper, Ned Henneman, Barbara Bova, Shelby, Sharon Humphreys, Nancy Mastin, Elizabeth Klein, Cullen Bahr (friend of Drusie Milford), Mary Etta Randolph, Carl & Rachel Pattison, Barb Ostrander (cousin of John Milford), Grace, Sue Hill, Frances Harcus, Glenn & Christine Szarzynski, Palmer Stickley and his family, Mercedes Aravena-Echaurren, Patricia Williams, Christy Panko, Kitty Farrar, Justin, Rodrigo, Wes O’Dell and family, Peggy DePasquale, Nick Penn, Danny Anson (friend of Pat & Keith Gibson), Bill Cannon, Sandy Harcus, Peter Fyfe, Rebecca Robblee (daughter-in-law of Joanne & Paul Robblee)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 the communities that are suffering the effects of Hurricane Helene & Milton. Pray for those who have died, Reid Isaac, priest.
In Thanksgiving for November Birthdays
11/15 Tim Price, Rene' Glidden, Samson Mamour
11/18 Sis Harcus, Alex Eastwood, Diana Harris
11/19 Steven Lawrence, Hank Humphreys, Langston Donkle
11/21 Tim Gaylard, Liam Murphy
11/22 Will McClung
11/23 Bill Kozak, Kristi Finnell
11/26 Michael McCabe
11/27 Jack Hershbell, Anne Blanken, Avery Hess
11/29 Maurya Schweizer
11/30 Harry Warner
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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