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.

After the Eucharist, we will share a cake to celebrate the presence and service of Sarabel and Rodney Conn at Grace over many years and to wish them well as they move to the Cathedral for their church home. Rodney will be serving there as a deacon. 

Thirty parishioners converged at the Denton-Borhaug home last Sunday evening. We talked and ate and drank and visited. The kids swam and some grown-ups got into a spirited game of croquet! It was a relaxing, enjoyable evening in a beautiful setting, and we are grateful to the Denton-Borhaugs for hosting. Here are a few photos.

 

   

   

About 10 days ago, Mary Louise Bross, through her connection with the Lehigh County Conference of Churches (6th and Chew Streets), learned that several households that were affected by a fire in our neighborhood were still in serious need. She asked if Grace could help, and thus there was a basket during coffee hour last Sunday for donations.  

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."

Here's a snippet from The Hollywood Reporter's review (Jan. 23, 2012): "Despite the insurgent rallying cry implied by its title, Love Free or Die is a probing, evenhanded account of the experience of Gene Robinson. . . . Examining the ripple effect of his actions both within the U.S. Episcopal Church and the 78 million-strong worldwide Anglican network to which it belongs, Macky Alston's engrossing documentary sheds light on a significant chapter in the broader struggle for LGBT rights."

This 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 every person who seeks a deeper life with God and the church. 

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

Our neighbors at St. John's Lutheran Church (37 S. Fifth Street) host concerts throughout the year. Their effort is called "Arts at St. John's," and they host performances by organists, singers, jazz players, and more. Many performances are free; others have a suggested donation of $5 or $10. 

In addition to concerts on selected Sunday afternoons and Friday nights, they host "Music in Midtown at Midday" on the Tuesdays in October and April. Concerts start 12:10. For a complete schedule, visit this site.

We could support their efforts by showing up some Tuesdays; we could also consider how we can reach out to downtown workers, taking a cue from St. John's. Any ideas? Contact a vestry member or Beth Reed.