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.

For the gospel reading, we hear a key section of Mark, in which Jesus asks the disciples: "Who do you say that I am?" 

The passage for this week also includes Jesus' prediction that he will suffer and be rejected by the religious leaders. One implication is that by following Jesus, disciples will suffer, too. 

What questions do these words raise for you? For the full texts of the Sunday readings, click on "Sunday Scripture texts" above. 

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

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."

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

The vestry is the governing board of the parish, and regular vestry meetings are open to all parishioners. Last Sunday, about a dozen people who are not on the vestry attended the meeting. The group talked about current leadership issues and ways communication between the vestry and the parish could be enhanced. People generated several ideas, from town hall meetings to sending out a digest of the monthly minutes to having vestry members act as liaisons to smaller groups of parishioners (committees working on a particular task or area, such as "outreach" or "communications"). 

 

The vestry is very interested in hearing parishioners' ideas about the parish's life and mission. The list of vestry members is published in the back of the bulletin each week. If you have a question or concern, please feel free to share it with any vestry member. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Thursday, October 18, in the evening. 

 

About 20 students began their work for the GED (General Educational Development) certificate this week at Grace Church. The Literacy Center of the Lehigh Valley uses our multipurpose room downstairs three mornings a week, free of charge, for this purpose. The organization's mission is "to help people of the Lehigh Valley achieve literacy and English skills needed to succeed in life."

The classes are free and they help people master the subjects on the GED test: writing, reading, math, social studies, and science. Grace Church is glad to support our neighbors by sharing our space with them. 

The Literacy Center welcomes volunteers and provides training and support for them. For more information, click here.  

David Moyer is organizing a Spaghetti Dinner next Friday night. It's downstairs in Hadesty Hall, from 4:30-7:00. The event is a fundraiser for the church, and all are welcome. The cost is $9 for adults, $6 for children 5-18, and free for kids 4 and under. 

 

Two of David's friends (including a retired chef) are preparing marinara sauce and meatballs from scratch--the word is their cooking is outstanding! They are donating their time and skill. 

Parishioners and others can support this effort in a variety of ways. First, you can come and eat, and you can invite others to do the same. Second, you can sponsor the cost of some ingredients or supplies. For example, pasta ($25), tomato sauce ($45), ground beef ($60). Other sponsorships for paper products, wine, dessert, and cheese are welcome. Third, volunteers are needed to help set up, serve, and clean up. Sign-up sheets are at the back of church and on the table in hallway on the way to the gathering space. 

A separate email about this event will be sent to parishioners. For more information, contact David by phone or email.

It's been in the paper a lot lately: the development coming to downtown will transform our neighborhood. A group called the Allentown Community Benefits Coalition (ACBC) will convene a community meeting this Monday night, September 17, at 7:00 pm. The location is Resurrected Life Community Church (144 N. Ninth St.).

Here is what the flyer about the meeting says: "The ACBC will be having its next coalition-wide meeting to work toward the community securing benefits associated with current and future development projects in Allentown. We've invited a guest speaker from Pittsburgh to learn how he was able to help assure a community benefits agreement for his community when a hockey arena was built in his neighborhood.

"The community must be an active participant in every aspect of community development; from the planning to the implementation. What we're observing, however, is that plans are developed and moving, and the community is an observer. Come to our meeting and participate in ensuring that the community's voice will be heard in the current NIZ projects and throughout all development projects in Allentown."

Several Grace parishioners participated in the last meeting, which occurred on August 15. Clergy and members from other downtown churches participated as well. The group discussed possible benefits the community would like to see in the areas of affordable housing, employment, youth programming, education, and business development. I (Beth Reed) plan to attend and all are welcome. 

To learn more about the ACBC, click here.

The photo is by Donna Fisher of the Morning Call.

 

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.