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! 

We celebrate the Eucharist at 10:00.

Our gospel passage has Jesus proclaiming "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." This passage is from the sixth chapter of John's gospel, and I encourage you to read the whole chapter to get a deeper sense of what Jesus could mean by that.

After the Eucharist, we will share refreshments in the gathering space.

For the second year in a row, St. John's Lutheran Church at 5th and Hamilton will host an interfaith service the evening before the Pride in the Park Festival. The service is called "Engaging the Spirit: Celebrating Faith, Pride, and Equality."

Local members of the gay community, as well as musicians and clergy (including Beth Reed) are preparing the service. It will begin at 7:30 on Saturday, August 18, and refreshments will follow the service. All are welcome. 

Members of Grace Church will help staff the diocesan booth at the Festival (Sunday afternoon, August 19, at Cedar Beach). Other churches that are participating include St. Andrew's, Allentown; and the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem. If you would like to volunteer for a 2-hour shift between 12:00 and 6:00, please contact Beth Reed. Mike Allen, Tony Voros, Kathy Young, and Addison and Mary Louise Bross have already volunteered. 

As the Rev. Scott Allen of St. Andrew's puts it: "Pride in the Park is the largest LGBT gathering in the Greater Lehigh Valley, drawing over 4,000 persons of all sexual orientations to its venue. [Helping at the diocesan booth] is a wonderful way to live the Gospel and to share good news with many who have felt alienated or wounded by their past Church experiences. Please consider being part of this Episcopal Church welcome for the LGBT Community and their allies. This might even count as Evangelism. . . ."

Kelly and Gunnar Denton-Borhaug have generously offered to host a picnic at their home in Coopersburg on Sunday, September 2. All are welcome. (And bring your swimsuit, if you like; there is an in-ground pool!) There is no agenda other than enjoying each other's company. 

The Denton-Borhaugs will prepare some grilled chicken and hot dogs; the rest of us can bring a salad, dessert, or beverage. There will be a sign-up sheet for these items in the hall outside the gathering space starting this Sunday. 

 

Love Free or Die is a documentary about Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay person to become an Anglican bishop. The 2012 Sundance Film Festival awarded the film a "Special Jury Prize for an Agent of Change."

On Thursday night, September 13, we have the opportunity to see this amazing film at Grace Church. 

Parishioners Hank Baird and The Rev. Ray Harbort are leading publicity and organizing the logistics of this showing. This is a great opportunity to welcome visitors from throughout the Lehigh Valley to our parish, and to demonstrate our commitment to the full inclusion of everybody who seeks a deeper life with God and the church. 

Read more about the movie and see clips at the website.