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. This Sunday and next we hear stories of Jesus healing people. This week, it's Simon's mother-in-law. She is sick at home, he takes her by the hand and lifts her up, and she begins to serve the people around her. The first reading, with these beloved words from the prophet Isaiah, prepares us to hear this healing story:

For the full texts of the readings, click "Sunday Scripture texts" in the Quick Links box. 

We've been practicing a sung version of the Nicene Creed before church for the last few Sundays, and we will sing it during the service this week and for the remaining weeks before Lent. Learning to sing the Creed was a recommendation of the group that gathered to prepare the liturgies for Advent and Christmas (but we could not learn it quickly enough to sing it during those times, so we're trying it now).  

After refreshments and conversation, the vestry will gather for a brief meeting in the conference room downstairs. 

The image above depicts the healing of Simon's mother-in-law; it is from an 11th-century gospel book. For more information, click here. 

A group gathered last Sunday to prepare the liturgies for the coming seasons. For example, we decided to use a slightly different form of the Prayers of the People during Lent (including more silence).

 

During the six weeks of Lent, our Sunday Forum time after church will focus on some texts of the Easter Vigil--the Exsultet, which praises Jesus as the Light, and several Scripture texts that we hear each year at that service. We will have a chance to learn more about these texts and share how they sound to us. When we come to celebrate the Vigil in the darkness of April 7, our experience will likely be richer for having already opened our hearts and ears to these texts.

In the seven weeks of the Easter season, the Forum will focus on the Nicene Creed. We will learn of its context and origins and be able to share how we experience it, what we think about it, what questions it raises for us, etc.  

 

Grace Montessori will host two events this Saturday (Feb. 4) for parents who may be considering sending their children to our school. At 10:00 AM, at the primary site (814 West Linden Street), The Rev. Beth Reed and Mrs. Libby House and other faculty and staff will welcome parents of 3-6 year olds. They will describe how we implement the Montessori philosophy, show parents around the facility, and answer questions. At 1:00 PM, at the elementary site (108 North Fifth Street, on the second floor of the church building), they will present a similar program for parents of children ages 6-10. 

Libby House is the Executive Director of the school and Beth Reed is its chaplain. The school is a ministry of our parish, and through grant writing and other fundraising, we offer financial assistance to about 30 percent of the students. This allows students in downtown Allentown who could not otherwise obtain a high-quality early childhood education to receive one. It also means the school is a place of economic diversity and an anchor in the downtown. 

Please share this information with anyone you know who may be interested. 

 

Since the fall, five new people have joined our regular assembly at Grace and at least two others have been fairly regular participants. These seven have been invited to have dinner with vestry members and their partners and spouses next Sunday, Feb. 12, at the home of Beth and Jeff Reed. It's a next step in getting to know each other. Five people have said they can come for sure.

This is great news for our parish! If you are not new and you see some faces on Sunday that you don't have names for, please introduce yourself. If you are new, please know how glad we are to have you as companions in our life and work. 

 

Two attorneys from North Penn Legal Services were at Grace last Friday and Saturday during the food pantry hours. They gave out literature in English and Spanish about the rights of tenants and were available to meet with pantry clients, pantry volunteers, and the GED students who were in class next door. The attorneys, Grace parishioner Lori Molloy and a bilingual colleague, were kept busy consulting with people about their particular situations. A relationship between Grace and North Penn Legal Services has been in place for several years. 

You may recall that we've been looking for a person to assist with Spanish translation when an attorney from North Penn visits the pantry, as the colleague who came last week may not always be available. So, if you have skills in Spanish and could help out once or twice a month when the pantry is open, please let the church office know (610-435-0782). 

 

 

. . .You know it must be time for the annual Pancake Supper. David Moyer organizes this event for Shrove Tuesday evening, Feb. 21, a feast of fatty food before the fasting of Lent.

Pancakes, fasnachts (doughnuts), sausage, and applesauce are on the menu. Prices: Adults, $8; kids 6-12, $4; kids under 5, free. All are welcome. The supper is in Hadesty Hall (the lower level of the church building--the entrance is on Fifth Street), from 4:30-7:00.