January 26 – February 1 at Grace
Concert: Lux
Grace Church Friends of Music welcomes treble chorus, Lux, on Sunday, January 26 at 4:00 PM. From the Latin for “light,” Lux was born out of a need for beautiful treble music to bring light into this difficult and sometimes dark world.
Concert is free; a reception will follow in the parish hall.
Their concert program, entitled Kindred Spirits, draws connections between past and present. It brings listeners on a journey that will leave them asking, “What type of life do I hope to live? What legacy do I hope to leave behind? How will my connection to the people around me and the world I live in push me to live a life of love, truth, joy, and grace? One full of friendship, sacrifice, and richness.”
What is Religious Life Sunday?
by Charles Helmer
The General Convention of The Episcopal Church approved resolution 2022-B004, “Foundation of Religious Life Sunday,” to be commemorated each year on the 3rd Sunday of Epiphany. The purpose of this observance is to share information about vowed religious orders and Christian communities, their residential and dispersed ways of life, and what resources and support they have to offer to all Episcopalians. This includes both traditional monastic orders and dispersed communities of vowed members who live according to a rule of life.
The concept of religious orders may be a surprise to many parishioners and it has been said to be, “The Best Kept Secret in The Episcopal Church”. We actually have a long history of religious orders and communities throughout the church of sisters, brothers, monks, and friars, reflecting its rich tradition of religious life. These roles are present in various forms within the church’s recognized religious orders and communities, modeled after the practices of historic Christian monasticism.
The observation of Religious Life Sunday will be the celebration of our church ministries that are based on monastic traditions and the communities in which three of Grace’s parishioners are members.
You can learn more about Religious Life Sunday by visiting the website: Religiouslifesunday.org.
Vestry Election
All confirmed members of the parish age 16 and up are eligible to vote in the 2025 vestry election. (Grace Church Bylaws section 3.4.5) Ballots must be returned by 12:00 PM on Tuesday, January 28.
Paper ballots will be available at church Sunday morning or in the parish office Monday and Tuesday. We encourage online voting, you can find a link in the parish newsletter.
The eight nominees are: Jim Bradley, Jo Brewer, Bob Byrne, Darlene Hauserman, Gary Lawrence, Raymond Smith, Jason Voyles, and Jeff Whalen.
Winter/Spring Foyer Groups Forming
The deadline to sign up for the next round of foyers is Monday, January 27! Don’t miss this opportunity to become better acquainted with your fellow parishioners and enjoy each other’s company.
Christian Education
CE classes meet from 9:30 – 10:30 AM most Sundays until May 4. Exceptions are February 16, April 6, April 13, and April 20.
Preparing for the Ministry Fair
On Sunday morning, February 23, from 9:30 to 10:30, we will hold a Ministry Fair in the Parish Hall. All ministry groups are invited to attend and share information about the faithful work you are doing in this community. We will need a count of who needs a space, so please email Fr. Stuart by Monday, February 17 so we can arrange for those to be set up. Some groups may share space, depending on how many sign up!
Also, we will have all available easels in the Parish Hall that morning, so it is first come first serve for those. If you need copies made, please make sure that someone from your ministry group comes the week prior to do those. There will not be staff available to make copies and such that Sunday morning, so let us know the week prior (at least) if you have any questions.
The Ministry Fair gives us an opportunity to see the broad spectrum of life at Grace Episcopal Church. On a personal note, I must say how proud I am of this community and all the ways so many share their gifts to nurture, as our Mission and Vision Statement says “prayer, formation, worship, and service.” Thank you for the deep and faithful work you do.
Always,
Stuart
Dates for Your Calendar
Look ahead to upcoming opportunities for prayer, worship, and community!
- February 2 Annual Meeting
- February 13 Fellowship Gathering
- February 23 Ministry Fair
- February 23 Soul Work Book Club begins
- March 4 Pancake Supper
- March 5 Ash Wednesday
The Glimpses of Grace Podcast
We invite you to explore the podcast on Spotify (or your podcast app of choice) or here on this website!
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