Dear friends,
I want to extend my congratulations to Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS). Two weeks ago, VTS commemorated its Historic Bicentenary from October 11-14 with an array of inspiring events that showcased its incredible 200-year journey. People from around the world attended the event.
Two centuries is a significant amount of time. Just imagine what can happen in two centuries: the changes, the progress, the people, and the opportunities. This two-century-long mission of service to God reminds us to reflect, appreciate, and acknowledge the journeys of the people God has sent to inspire us. Our Christian past has mixed stories of flaws, faithfulness, sin, and grace, but that does not divert God's love from us. God's love for us remains constant despite our complicated past. He never gives up on us and continues to work through us, ensuring we are always cared for no matter who we are.
The Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, The Most Reverend Dr. Hosam E. Naoum, and the Primate and President Bishop of The Province of Jerusalem & the Middle East were expected to attend the event. However, due to the ongoing situation in the region, they were unfortunately unable to be present. Thanks to technology, he was able to join via Zoom.
I kindly request your prayers for the people in the affected region. Let's thank God for the safety of our brothers and sisters in the area and their work to advance the Kingdom. As children of God, we affirm that God calls us all to love our neighbors as ourselves and to pray for the peaceful resolution of all conflicts. The gospel of peace is unequivocal in its message that violence has no place in the world. As such, God detests all forms of violence, as it contradicts the very essence of our Lord's teachings.
If you have spare time, click the link below to watch the 45-minute YouTube video of the conversation with Archbishop Hosam and Dean Markham.
Peace with us
Rev. Samson
Worship Services | Proper 24 | Sunday, October 22
Holy Eucharist | 8 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Christianity and Culture | 9:15 a.m.
Parish Hall & Zoom | Sacred Ground
C&C Schedule
October 22: Sacred Ground is a film and readings based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. This 11-part series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American Historie. Please join Tuck and some Sacred Ground graduates and learn more about this timely program. October 29: Now that our Grace pilgrims have recovered from their recent pilgrimage to Israel, we are excited to have them share their experiences and inspirational moments with us. What a special way for our members, old and young, to work together to take care of God’s creatures great and small. We look forward to seeing you at these sessions of Christianity and Culture. Please invite a friend to come with you.
Holy Eucharist | 10:30 a.m.
In-Person and Youtube
Canterbury Club Update
After the 10:30 a.m. Eucharist, Canterbury Club will be meeting in the College Room on the third floor of the Parish House after the VMI Parents Weekend Reception immediately after the service. If you don't know where that is, you can find Michael McLaughlin at the reception and he will direct you. At 5 p.m., we will be celebrating a Choral Evensong, celebrating the life and contributions of St. James of Jerusalem. A gem of the Anglican Communion, Evensong is an excellent way to recollect at the end of the day. Immediately following on the churchyard will be the church Celebration of Ministry, in which we will be celebrating the many differences parishioners and students make in Lexington and Rockbridge County in their daily lives. This is a great way to celebrate, give thanks, and to get connected with the many ministries our area has to offer. Be on the lookout in November for an announcement about a spiritual hike and retreat.
Bible Study, 4 pm – The ladies’ discussion group will meet in the Welles Room (Library). Please join us!
Choral Evensong | 5 p.m.
Morning Prayer | Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.
In-Person & Zoom
Prayers for Peace in the Holy Land
A Note from Tuck:
I am writing to ask for your prayers for a de-escalation of violence between Israeli and Palestinian people and for return to the challenging work of building a sustainable and lasting peace.
I have reached out to the current student director of Hillel House, the Chaplain at VMI, and the director of Student Services at W&L to express our support of Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish and Muslim students.
I encourage you to reach out to your Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish and Muslim friends in recognition that this crisis creates the conditions for increased anti-semitic and anti-muslim behavior, as well the strong likelihood that they or someone close to them has been impacted by this crisis.
Finally, please read the following statement by the Episcopal Church and the accompanying statement by Churches for Middle East Peace.
Pray for peace.
Paws to Connect
Join us this Tuesday and Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the courtyard in front of Grace!
Upcoming Music Events
Sunday, October 22 5 p.m. Join us for Choral Evensong celebrating the Feast of James of Jerusalem, featuring prayers of peace for Jerusalem. The service will include Scripture, hymns, prayers, and music by Herbert Howells, Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. On Saturday, October 28 at 7 p.m. the Chamber Music Society of Lexington and Grace Church present a concert of Music of the Southern Hemisphere. Guest and local musicians will offer music by composers of Uruguay, Brazil, Cuba and other countries.
Wednesday, November 1 at 7:30 p.m.: Join the members of the W&L choral program in welcoming the Allegri Ladies Choir from Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in a performance at Grace. Conducted by Maurice Kelly, Allegri is on their 10th Anniversary Tour of the United States. The group has hosted the University Singers during their performances in Derry in 2016 and 2022 and will be making their Lexington debut. The concert will feature Allegri, the University Singers, conducted by Shane M. Lynch, and Cantatrici, conducted by Lacey R. Lynch, in a joint performance with combined pieces such as “Irish Blessing” by Philip Stopford and “Shenandoah” by James Erb. Join us for what will be a great evening of music and fellowship!
Saturday, November 4, 7 p.m. The Chamber Music Society of Lexington presents a program by The Deutsch-Amerikanisches Klarinettentrio.
Grace Church contributed greatly to last week's Spectacle at Boxerwood! We hosted rehearsals in the Brooke Family Undercroft; Minister of Music, Martha Burford, composed music for the event and worked with local youth to bring it to life, and Music Scholars, Michael McLaughlin and Annie Thomas helped set up for rehearsals and the performance. It was amazing community outreach!
Boys Home of Virginia Wish List
Please help us support the Boys Home of Virginia by supplying any of items on their wishlist.
2025 Convention
The Vestry is looking for Delegates and Alternates to Convention 2025. If you are a Grace Church Member and are interested in being a Delegate or Alternate, please contact Kathy Hill for more information.
A Plea for Haiti
Our neighbors in Haiti are struggling through a period of political violence and chaos. With the government disabled, many Haitians rely on church schools to educate their children. Grace, as part of the Virginia Haiti Collaborative, supports one such school in Haiti, St. Marc’s in Cerca-la-Source. Every month the Collaborative sends $5000 to Haiti to pay the salaries of the 30-some teachers at St. Marc’s who teach the 350 students in grades K-12. That $5000/month pays the full salaries of 30 adults and provides education for 350 students. The Collaborative is the school’s only source of funding.
This season, we are also raising money so that the students can have computers at school. They will need some degree of computer literacy to take their graduation exams and to serve them as they seek jobs after graduation. If you can help provide schooling for these children, please put Virginia Haiti Collaborative on the memo line and send your check to Trinity Episcopal Church, 214 W. Beverley St, Staunton, VA 24401. Trinity provides bookkeeping for the collaborative. For more information, please contact Anne Hansen or Tuck.
Ministry Celebration
Stewardship and IWC are planning a ministry celebration at 5:45 p.m. on Sunday Oct 22, immediately following evensong. This is a reception for all members of the parish, whether they attend evensong or not.
At this reception we want to have a large word cloud that shows all the organizations in Lexington and Rockbridge county supported financially or through volunteer work by members of Grace. To solicit this information we want to survey the congregation and get their input. "Please share all the organizations in Lexington and Rockbridge county you support financially and or through your volunteer work"
A member of IWC and Stewardship will tabulate results for creation of a word cloud and perhaps name tags "Ask me about ___________"
IWC and Stewardship will plan the menu for the reception. We will need survey results by the end of September. Contact Liz Moss with any questions. emoss267@gmail.com
Grace Dining Groups Update
The dining groups have been formed and information sent out. However, it is never too late to still join a group. We have weekday luncheon, Sunday brunch and weekday dinner groups. Some dine in homes and some prefer to dine out. If you are still interested, please email Drusie or Ruth.
Plastic Bag and Film Recycling through the Trex Challenge
Around the world over 400 million tons of plastic are produced each year and the quantity is growing exponentially. Sadly, only a very small percentage of the plastic waste is being recycled, while the majority ends up in landfills and the oceans. The Creation Care Committee at Grace Episcopal believes we need to do our part to reduce plastic film waste, and we have joined the Trex Challenge to recycle plastic bags and films.
You may be aware of Trex, a company in Winchester, VA who produces composite materials for decking and other uses. Trex uses the plastic bags and film collected in the production of their products. The challenge is to collect 500 lbs. of plastic film over a 6-month period. If we meet this goal, we will receive a free bench made from Trex material. This program has been tremendously successful at Kendall where they have received 5 or 6 benches because of their collection efforts.
Our program kicks off on October 1st. For Grace to receive credit, all plastic bags and film should be deposited in the blue container under the bridge. We will collect and weigh the contents before taking the bags and film to be recycled. A listing of acceptable plastics is attached for your reference.
We ask for your steadfast support in this effort. Together we can make a difference in our environment if we all join in this program.
Wanted - Sunday School Teachers
Grace is looking for youth, college students and adults willing to help provide Sunday School for a few children each Sunday from about 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. We are willing to pay a stipend. Please contact Tuck to find out more.
Prayer List
Prayer for the election of the next Presiding Bishop: Almighty God, source of all wisdom and understanding: Look graciously on your church, and so guide the hearts and minds of those who will choose our next presiding bishop, that we may receive a faithful pastor who will care for all of your people, equip us for our ministries, and proclaim your word to us and to the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Please pray for the wider Church and intercessions requested by our Congregants: Pray for the continued healing of The Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. The Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Mark Bourlakas. Pray for the people of Grace Memorial, Lynchburg and their rector, the Rev. Alan Cowart. Pray for Brendon, Michael Murphy, Timmy, Rick Alexander, Bradley Fairchild and Karen Junkin, Gloria June Perry, Glen Jones, Patricia Brown Boyer, Dolly Shumate, Carolyn Glenn, Jack Hershbell, Laura Stearns, Worth & Katie Burnes, Amelia Dull, Barb Ostrander, Stephen deMaria, Annie Campbell, Polly Lawrence, Betty Cadden, Jeff Mason, Joe Irby, Kent Wilson, Rosemary Phillips, Joan Wade, Don Ellis, Diana Kenney, Patrick Bowes, Ann Nay, Paula Cooper, Lucy Moise, Penny & Ned Henneman, Steve Riethmiller, David Wade, Barbara Bova, Daniel Diener, Carrie Strickland, Shelby, Anne Stenhouse, Clay Sadler, Lynn Butler, Sharon Humphreys, Eloise Adams, Nancy Mastin, Judy (Carole Elmore’s sister), Elizabeth Klein (daughter of Deb & Bill Klein), Linda Lanford and Erik Figueroa (family of Mary & Tim Price), Marc Silvia (brother of Lisa McGuire), and those we name aloud or in our hearts. Pray for those who have died. Pray for the people of Israel, Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, Ukraine, and pray for peace.
In Thanksgiving for October Birthdays
10/20 Eloise Adams, Drusie Milford
10/23 Claudia Ellis
10/24 Sarah Centorino
10/25 Lily Youngman
10/26 Melissa Cox
10/27 Connie Loughhead
10/29 Jimbo Smith
10/30 Steve Shultis
10/31 Peggy Hays
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.
2023 Community Pride Festival
Join us on October 21 at Brewbaker Field from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. For Project Horizon’s annual Pride Festival. See the below flyer, in both English and Spanish, for more information.
Donations for Lisa's House – Project Horizon
Items we currently need: · High efficiency laundry detergent · Toilet paper, paper towels · Lysol disinfectant spray · Dish soap · Coffee · $10 gas cards At this time, we are only able to accept items on this list. Thank you for thinking of us!
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