An "Episcopal Visitation" can sound like a quite formal affair.  Or maybe a haunting from affected, English ghosts!  In fact, as Nedi Rivera taught us, it's really a time of celebration, inspiration and dancing!  So when Bishop Rickel visits on Sunday, June 27th, we should expect something grand, graceful and great.  And it will be all that-with some genuine formal touches as well. 

Greg will preach and celebrate at both services, and will indeed be spending the weekend on Bainbridge with his family.  It turns out that the 27th is also his birthday, and so Grace his gifting his family with a weekend at the Vineyard Inn, with some Island adventures planned.  After the services on Sunday Doug and Cassie Picha are graciously hosting a brunch for our Trustees (the Bishop's Committee) and partners where we look forward to talking with Greg about the future calling and mission of Grace.

A Bishop's visit is, in fact, a central part of both tradition and identity in the Episcopal Church.  As such, the liturgy and our worship for those visits usual include a chance to for us to honestly, and publicly, affirm our faith-and even to say, with confidence and hope, that we identify ourselves as Christians Folk in the Episcopal tradition.  Many of the people who participated in our Lenten Evenings this year indicated a desire to be received into the Episcopal Church when Greg is here.  If you would like to join in that process please let Bill Harper and Candee Heald know. Bill will be hosting a conversational dinner at Grace on Tuesday, June 22nd, from 6:30-9-and during dinner we will talk about this natural and good "public proclamation" of faith.  If you attended the Lenten program and still want to step out and forth (and even if you didn't attend, but now feel inspired) please let us know.