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.

In the gospel, Jesus continues his teaching about himself as the Bread of Life. To illuminate that image, the first reading tells of the banquet Lady Wisdom invites people to. She calls out: "You that are simple, turn in here! . . . Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Lay aside immaturity, and walk in the way of insight." 

For the full texts of the scripture readings, click the link called "Sunday Scripture texts" in the box on the left. Reading the Sunday texts before we gather for the Eucharist is a great way to let them sink into our hearts and minds. Questions or responses may bubble up in us, and then when we hear the texts proclaimed in our midst on Sundays, our experience of the "what the Spirit is saying to God's people" may be richer. 

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

The Community Corrections Center on Hamilton Street is a halfway house--men finishing their prison sentences and getting ready to reenter the community live there, usually for a span of a few months. Many get jobs if they are able to; others engage in community service. 

Men from the Center (who were incarcerated for nonviolent crimes) have been helping in the food pantry for many years--distributing food to clients, cleaning, restocking tables, and breaking down boxes. This week two neighbors had time on their hands and offered to help around the church: they weeded the garden areas and the parking pad area, swept up all the dead leaves, and pulled weeds from the sidewalk cracks (see photo). Our corner looks a lot tidier thanks to them!

Last night (Aug. 15) about 45 people from downtown churches and other organizations gathered at Zion's UCC to talk about what we would like to see happen in downtown Allentown relative to the coming development projects. From Grace, Addison and Mary Louise Bross, Lori Molloy, and Beth Reed attended; one of the Grace House residents also attended. Part of the meeting involved small groups that discussed what we would like to see in the areas of employment, housing, education, and youth programming. 

Several groups concerned about downtown development are joining themselves to create the Allentown Community Benefits Coalition. For more information, visit this site.

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, 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. 

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 is a sign-up sheet for these items in the hall outside the gathering space, and also on the windowsill at the back of the church. 

 

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.