Happy Eastertime! 

Do you know people who are longing for God or a spiritual community? Forwarding this newsletter could be a simple way to let them know of Grace's prayer and work. If you prefer, let the church office know, and we will send it to them. Thank you!

See you Sunday.

We celebrate the Eucharist at 10:00. We ponder again how the Holy Spirit that filled the first disciples soon after Jesus' death and resurrection has blown and burned through the church--and how does it blow and burn and animate us now? How is the Spirit of God active? Where is she moving? How can we tell? How would visitors to Grace tell?

The first disciples experienced themselves as full of the Spirit and able to speak and be understood by people from many countries--at the reception after the service, we can enjoy the foods of many ethnic heritages. 

Lectors (people who read the scripture readings and lead prayers at our services) and ushers (people who assist with hospitality and order in our services) will gather for brief sessions on Saturday, May 26, in the morning. Lectors will meet at 11:00 and ushers will meet at 11:30, in the church. Kelly Cannon and Libby House will lead these sessions. 

Grace Church is required to have our books audited annually, and on May 29 a group will gather to conduct a self-audit. The members are Chris Daniel, Linda Gallagher, Jeff Kemmerer, Libby House, and Lori Molloy. Our treasurer is Monica Lewellis.

The national church provides guidelines for self-audits, which we follow, and which we have used for several years. An outside audit would cost at least $5,000 per year, so this group is performing a substantial service for the our parish.

Grace Montessori School must also have its books audited by a professional; this happened recently and everything is in order.

Hub Willson took pictures of our church interior in early April. Small images of his work are on the photo display "tree" in the hall between the worship space and the gathering space. Check them out if you haven't had a chance to yet.

On June 10, Mr. Willson will take pictures at Grace during our Sunday Eucharist. It would be great to see the church as full as we can make it in these pictures, so please plan to be here that day if at all possible!

The immediate reason for new photos is to have high-quality shots we could submit to the journal Faith & Form, which sponsors annual awards for the architecture and interior design of worship spaces. Grace has been encouraged to enter this awards process. The journal is the official publication of the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art, and Architecture.

The photos will have a much broader use than the journal submission, however; we will use them on our website (which in the process of being reworked) and other print and electronic materials. The photos at the top of this page and above right are examples of Mr. Willson's beautiful work.

A group of parishioners has been gathering for several years now on summer Sunday nights to read and converse about a book or two, as well as to enjoy refreshments and each other's company. The group gathers in homes.

The first book this summer will likely be Tavis Smiley and Cornel West's The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto, and the the group will begin in mid-June. For more information, contact Mary Louise Bross or Bob House.

 

So far this year, there has been a 6% increase over last year in the number of clients our pantry has served. Clearly, the local economy is not working well for these neighbors. 

 

The pantry is grateful for the recent grant of $12,000 it received from the Trexler Trust. Our neighbors depend on such grants and other assistance, as well as the contributions of time and energy from dozens of volunteers.

 

Another way volunteers could assist is by growing food specifically for the pantry, whether in a home garden or in a community garden. Five raised beds for community use will be available in a fenced area at the Franklin Street playground (near 14th and Turner Streets). Garden organizers there (from St. Stephen's Outreach Center) would be delighted for these plots to go to people who will raise food for the pantry. There will be rain barrels, soaker hoses, and tools in the shed for participants to use.

 

Produce for the pantry can be dropped off on Thursdays between set times. For more information, contact Bob House by email or phone (610-435-0782), or Patty McNamara, the pantry director, also by email or phone (610-435-7245).

Here is a description from the national Church's website: "United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Through United Thank Offering, men, women, and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. These prayers of thanksgiving start when we recognize and name our many daily blessings. Those who participate in UTO discover that thankfulness leads to generosity." 

In mid-June, we will have special envelopes for donations to this ministry. 

Grace Church received a grant from this ministry several years ago of around $35,000, which was used to renovate the downstairs bathrooms and the church offices. In other words, we have benefited substantially from UTO, and if we can support this effort, we should, so others can benefit as we have.