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Save the Dates
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Flu shots after church:
Oct. 23
Stewardship Ingathering
and Luncheon:
Oct. 30
All Saints' Eucharist:
Nov. 6
Advent and Christmas Planning:
Nov. 6 after church
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Neighborhood Events
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Free Admission
at the Art Museum:
Every Sunday
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Welcome to the weekly e-newsletter of Grace Episcopal Church. Read about what's happening at Grace, and use the quick links to the left to find other helps to our life with God. To share this news with a friend, click the "forward email" link at the bottom of the page. See you Sunday!
--Beth Reed, Priest-in-charge
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| Sunday, October 23, at Grace | | |
Eucharist, refreshments, forum
We celebrate the Eucharist at 10. For the gospel, we get to hear how Jesus answered the question: "Which commandment is the greatest?" For the full texts, click "Sunday Scripture texts" on the top left.
As part of our stewardship reflections, some members of Grace will speak briefly about what the parish means to them and its importance for the future of our neighborhood.
After refreshments, we'll gather for the Congregational Forum. This week Israel and Palestine agreed to a swap of 1,027 Palestinian prisoners for one Israeli prisoner. What is a person worth? How does yearning for a homeland play out in this situation? Bible passages can inform our answers to those questions. Look for an email later today about the forum.
After the eucharist, Dave Moyer, a retired nurse, will give a flu shot to anybody who wants one. He does this service for our community every year. Dave is gentle and professional.
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| "A Place of Grace" | | |
We're at the middle of stewardship season
Our theme for stewardship this year is "A Place of Grace." The church was full of grace last Sunday as we engaged in a communal reflection on the gospel reading (about leaders trying to trick Jesus, and about his saying "Give back to Caesar what belongs to him, and give to God what is God's"). We pondered where our resources come from, and we wondered about the competition between Caesar and God for prominence or dominance in our lives. Several spoke of the church's call to be as clear as we can about following Jesus' vision, and the conflict with our culture that likely ensues when we do that seriously.
The Spirit was speaking to God's people.
This week the Stewardship Committee sent out a letter and a copy of this year's budget and other pledging information. Next week, look for a brochure that outlines ways we can all contribute to ensuring that Grace Church remains and grows as a Place of Grace, for our neighbors, for our city, for any who seek God, and for ourselves.
The prayer and work that we and others do in this building is a tangible example of God's work in redeeming a broken world, in redeeming and healing and nourishing broken people. Our forebears received this mission, and it's up to us to continue being a place where God can love her people.
I sat in class with the GED students downstairs yesterday: about 20 people, mixed in age and race and gender and life experience. Wednesday mornings they concentrate on workplace skills. Their patient teacher, Patti, walked through the need for a resume and what kind of information belongs on one. In coming weeks, she will help the students fine-tune their resumes. Grace Church gives our space to these people three mornings a week: where else could they go? I asked Patti if she needed anything else in the space. She said, "No, we have what we need."
The dreams and the commitment students and teachers with the Literacy Center start with would only get them so far. They need a roof and tables and chairs in a clean, heated space. They need lights and bathrooms. They need partners, like us, who will share what we have for the common good. What they have and what they need is A Place of Grace. I'm glad we're here for them.
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| Justice and Advocacy | | |
Which side are we on?
And what can we do about it?
A workshop to help us answer those questions will be held next Saturday, October 29. It's sponsored by the Lehigh County Conference of Churches' Justice and Advocacy Committee. For more information, click here. I plan to go and would welcome companions. It should be a good way to learn more about income inequality and some steps we could take toward reducing it.
The main presenter is Steve Schnapp, an educator and community organizer with United for a Fair Economy.
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| Church and School Events |
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Save these dates
Sunday, October 30, is our Stewardship Ingathering. We gather in the pledge forms (which will arrive in the mail) on which we've noted our commitments of time and money to the parish for the coming year. We celebrate these commitments with a lunch afterward--please plan to attend!
Saturday, November 5, is Heritage Day for Grace Montessori School. This free event is held in Sayre Hall at the Cathedral in Bethlehem from 12:00 to 2:30. It's a chance for children and their families to make and view displays about their heritages, taste food from many places, and engage in hands-on learning together. You and your children and grandchildren are welcome to come and enjoy.
On Sunday, November 6, we will celebrate the annual Feast of All Saints. At Grace part of our celebration is to name prayerfully loved ones who have died. As their names are read, their memory surrounds us and we know we stand in the communion of saints,
the dead and the living all held together in God's loving embrace. Please mail or bring to the office the names of the beloved you would like us to remember that day--by October 31.
Sunday, November 6, after refreshments, a group will gather to prepare for the seasons of Advent and Christmas. We ground our conversation in the patterns given in the Book of Common Prayer and the scriptures for the seasons, we reflect on the music and styles of celebration we've used previously, and we consider what best will serve our prayer during these seasons. All are welcome.
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| School Children at Church | | |
GMS students held ancient history in their hands
 Our kindergartners and lower-elementary students enjoyed an "in-house field trip" called Science Rocks last Friday. The presenter set up his collection of fossils and bones in our gathering space, and he enchanted the children as he discussed the ages of the items and where they were from. The elementary children, who work with timelines a great deal, brought one that shows the development of animal life, and they could see where particular specimens (trilobites, ammonites, T. rex teeth) fit. Above: Amelia Tuerk (grade 2) and Julia Reed (grade 5) at the paleontology presentation.
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| Occupy Allentown | | |
Protesters make their voices heard
Some friendly, hardy folks have pitched their tents at the intersection of 7th and Hamilton, right in our neighborhood. They are the people of Occupy Allentown, standing in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement. Daily they hold up signs so drivers can see their messages raising awareness about economic inequality, and they engage politely with anyone who will talk with them.
Here's a link to their Facebook page. |
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