The Rev. Elsa Worth
Rector 
The Rev. Nancy Gage
|
|  |
Click HERE to read this week's wellness message from Living Compass |
|
| Dear friend,
"Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit."
-John 15:2
No doubt you noticed that there has been some pruning going on in the front yard of Grace Church this week. The goal, as inspired by our "Doing Church Differently" workshop, is to make our church more visible from the street. Over the past three or four decades, the plantings that were so lovingly and beautifully laid out in our Memorial Garden have grown. Many of them have overgrown - and at times over the years, we fell behind on the pruning. We've recently done a lot of radical pruning at clean up days of the flowering shrubs that had become compacted and cramped from years of being surface clipped instead of pruned. Some of these plants were actually pruned right to the ground and are already coming back with new, more delicate branches and lots of new blooms. Some of the larger bushes and hedges, however, have reached the end of their prunable life. This week we focused on removing the overgrown evergreen hedges. These hedges needed continual and regular hedge trimming and we'd like to replace these high maintenance plants with a softer and more varied landscape. The huge rhododendrons in the center of the lawn will be allowed to bloom gloriously one more time before being removed and replaced with a new arc shaped perennial bed that does not block the view of the church. We believe this work will not only make our church more visible, but will give the town a signal that Grace Church is alive and well! What is true for plants is true in our lives - our lives also require pruning in order to continue to bloom and thrive. Are there some neglected areas in your life that could use some radical pruning to bring new life and new fruit to bear? Which branches in you bear no fruit and need to be cut away? Which branches in you might bear more fruit with a good pruning? How might you prune away those things that are sucking up valuable time and nutrients that could be better used for bearing good fruit?
Here at Grace Church we are dancing with life's big questions. Whether you're here just for this Sunday or if you're searching for a community of faith to belong to, we invite you to come to explore, come to connect and come to believe among us here at Grace Church. We'd enjoy both your company and your participation as we follow in the way of Jesus and learn and grow in discipleship together.
|
|
Peace,
The Rev. Elsa Worth
Grace Episcopal Church |
Noisy Collection 
During this Sunday's service, the younger members of Grace will be asking you fill their buckets with any loose change you can spare. This year, the money raised will be donated to the Bishops' 5K Run for Kids. So, check under the cushions on your couch, your car's coffee cup holders, your coat pockets or anywhere else you may find loose change and bring it in this Sunday, May 6th. THANKS! |
Inviting All Runners, Walkers & Supporters
 May 19, 2012
For the past two years Grace Church has taken part in the Bishops' 5K for Kids in West Hartford. The first year, we had a team of three runners. Last year we had a team of 5 runners/walkers. This year, we have SIX participants (and still looking for more): Elsa (of course!), Michele Bourque, Joe MacNeil, Dave McWilliams, Nathan Bowen and Kim Bowen. If you want to sponsor any, OR ALL, of these runners, Anne Martin, Grace's head team cheerleader, will be accepting contributions during Sunday's coffee hour. Or, if you choose, you may contribute online HERE. To date, $973.00 has been collected (this includes online donations)...woo-hoo!!! And what's more, the three Episcopal Churches of Trumbull are teaming up this year into one mega-team - the Spirit of Trumbull - in an effort to make an even bigger difference in the lives of at-risk kids in CT. The money we raise together will go to innovative preschool, after school, educational, recreational and camping programs. It'll be great to join together in outreach in this fun way and hopefully the Spirit of Trumbull can make a significant donation to the fund this year.
For more information, click HERE
|
|
 The GLOW Festival
The GLOW Festival will take place here on Saturday June 2. It will be a day of good food, music, exhibits, talks, classes - even hot air balloon rides! This will be the day that the whole town of Trumbull will see that Grace Church is serious about God's mission of healing and wholeness. We intend to make Grace Church known as a community wide resource for healing and wholeness in body, mind and spirit in the Trumbull area.
Calling all bakers...!
Everyone is invited to find a recipe for a healthy treat - low fat, whole grain, special diet cookies, bars or cupcakes - and make a batch for the GLOW Festival Bake Sale. Please have items individually wrapped with copies of your recipe available for those who'd like to see what is in them - or to take the recipe home to make the treat themselves. There will be a bake sale at both the GLOW Festival on June 2 and also on Monday, May 28th before and during the Memorial Day Parade. We can make room in the church's chest freezer if you'd like to start making baked goods in advance!
What can I do...?
Possible jobs for you in anticipation of Festival Day: Posting flyers? Participating in hospitality at church on Memorial Day before the parade? Making confirmation calls with exhibitors?
Possible jobs for you on Festival Day: Turkey burger griller? Carrot stick cutter? Parking attendant? Person to shuttle people back and forth across the street from the Lutheran Church parking lot in your van? Handing out flyers? Schedule keepers for speakers and presenters?
Speak with anyone on the vestry if you'd like to get involved.
|
|
|
Vestry News
It's an Ordination!
Save the date: Kelly will be ordained to the diaconate on Saturday, June 9th at at 10:30 AM at the Cathedral in Hartford, and we are all cordially invited to attend and celebrate this joyous event.
Godly Play and Infant Pews
The vestry is please to announce the arrival of both Godly Play and the infant/family pews in the rear of the church. These improvements extend our welcome to families even further. Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen this week!
Memorial Garden Improvements
Many thanks to Steve W, Chris S, John K, Christian G and Connor S for their hard work this week clearing bushes, branches and trees. We look forward to a more open view of the church and new garden possibilities for our front lawn. We also know that obvious improvements such as these tell the whole town we are alive and well and growing. Thank you for all your hard work!
|
| This Week's Announcements |
|
Saturday Evening Services
Our Saturday evening services will be taking a summer break soon. The services of healing and wholeness will continue through May 5. And the final Recovery Eucharist of this church year will be on May 12th. The healing services will return again in September - probably on Sunday evening instead of Saturdays.
|
Saturday, May 12, 5:30 PM Recovery Eucharist - Theodicy Jazz Collective and the Rev. Elsa Worth preaching
Saturday, May 19
Bishops' 5K for Kids
Tuesday, May 22, 7:00 PM
Rescheduled Vestry meeting
Monday, May 28 (Memorial Day)
Hospitality event for Memorial Day Parade viewers
Saturday, June 2
GLOW Festival
Saturday, June 9
Seminarian Kelly Moughty's ordination to the diaconate at 10:30 AM at the Cathedral in Hartford Saturday, June 14 Bishops' Open for Camp Washington |
|
Camp Washington
Like Golfing?
Have a great day golfing and support Camp Washington, our diocesan summer camp, at the same time. Info about the Bishop's Open for Camp Washington on June 14 can be found on brochures in the narthex or on line HERE . Want to get a Grace Church foursome together?
Camp Washington - time to register your campers!
Camp Washington has wonderful camping programs for children and youth of all ages. Go to www.campwashington.org or ask Elsa, who volunteers as a camp chaplain there each summer, to find out more.
|
Parish Hall available for community functions
Click HERE for additional information and Parish Hall availability. |
|
|
