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. This could be a simple way to let someone know about our life and work, and to communicate our welcome.

See you Sunday!

We celebrate the Eucharist at 10:00. The gospel passage relates Jesus' message that "the Reign of God has come near" and describes Jesus calling the first disciples to leave their fishing and follow him, so they can "fish for people." 

After the service, we will have refreshments and a forum on a topic in the news this week. 

The image above is "Jesus calling the disciples," a 2001 painting by Chinese artist He Qi. For more about the artist and his work, click here. 

In December our food pantry again assisted more than 300 families. In early January, Grace parishioner and retired community health nurse David Moyer gave free flu shots to any pantry clients who wanted them.

 

Neighbors who need food and who meet the income requirements register with our pantry and may come once every four weeks. Some people come every month, others only occasionally. Some people have been coming for years. Every week, we see new faces. 

 

On Sunday night, 16 people of Grace in serious need of silliness read a farce by Tom Stoppard, The Real Inspector Hound. The one-act play had elements of Agatha Christie and parodied theatre critics who are full of themselves. It was a hoot. 

From the Stewardship Committee: "We had a successful stewardship campaign in the fall, and many thanks to all who pledged for the work of Grace in 2012. 

 

"For the financial part: We received one new pledge. Thirteen households increased their pledge for 2012 (one doubled it!) Fifteen households kept their pledge the same as in 2011. Four households decreased their pledge slightly, and four households that pledged in 2011 did not pledge for 2012.

"For 2012, 32 households pledged a total of $73,420. This is down slightly from last year, in which 36 households pledged a total of $76,354.

"For the time and talent portion, people largely listed ways they currently serve the church and our ministries. 

"If you have not yet pledged and would like to, please call Monica Lewellis, Grace's treasurer, and let her know (610-435-4060), by January 23 (the date of the finance committee meeting). If you would like to add to your pledge, considering that this year's overall amount is lower than last year's, you can also call Monica.

"Again, thank you to all who pledged for 2012. This is such a Place of Grace!"

Our Annual Meeting this year will be Sunday, February 19, immediately after the Eucharist. 

At the Annual Meeting, the parish does several things: votes on new vestry members, examines and votes on a budget prepared by the finance committee, and hears reports from other committees of the parish. The meeting functions as a "State of the Parish" gathering in which we look back at last year and forward to this year. It's important that as many parishioners as possible participate in the meeting, so please plan to stay if all possible.