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For Fifth Sunday of Pentecost, July 1, 2012
For  Sunday's readings, click HERE 
Elsa 20120325
The Rev. Elsa Worth
Rector
Email Elsa:
 [email protected]

Click HERE to read Elsa's blog 

Nancy 20120325
The Rev. Nancy Gage
Deacon
Email Nancy:
[email protected]

 Dave 2
David McWilliams

Minister of Music
Email Dave: [email protected] 
 

Grace Church Office Hours:

Mon-Thur: 1-5 pm
203-268-2809
Email: 
[email protected]
"The Glow" Archives:
To view previous issues of "The Glow", click here.

We are the
CerealCEREAL Church!
For a long time, Grace
Church has been delivering canned goods and other food donations down to the St. Luke's/St. Paul's Food Pantry in Bridgeport. They urgently need donations of all kinds of groceries, but one of the items that they seem to run out of and need a lot of is cereal.

If all of us could remember to pick up a box of cereal (or two or more!)  each time we shop, we'll be able to make a wonderful and much needed contribution for the food pantry each week.  There is a collection basket at the main entrance of the church, and also one in lower Lewis Hall.

Episcopal Crest Episcopal loga
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Living Compass
Click HERE to read this week's wellness message from Living Compass





Dear friend,  
Asking Hand

 

"Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, 'Who touched my clothes?'"

- Mark 5:30

   

In this Sunday's Gospel story, Jesus has crossed over the sea to another region, and his reputation has preceded him. Great crowds gather around him, hoping to see him, hear him, to be healed by him. The crowd is thick and presses in on him as he tries to make his way to the local synagogue leader's home. Now in that area there was a woman who had suffered from hemorrhaging for twelve long years. She'd spent every cent she had on doctors, but nothing had worked - in fact, it was just getting worse.   In an era when a menstruating woman was considered unclean, this was a significant problem for this poor woman, and she was desperate for healing. Hearing that Jesus was in town, she said to herself, "If I can just touch the edge of his robe, I will be made well." She somehow managed to work her way into the thick crowd behind Jesus, just enough to be able to reach forward and touch his cloak with her fingertips. The story says, "Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease."

 

And in the midst of that seething crowd, with people bumping and jostling and pushing Jesus from every direction as he went along, Jesus stopped, turned around in the crowd, and said, "Who touched my clothes?" Understandably, the disciples responded, "Well, um, everyone Jesus. There's a whole crowd around you touching your clothes." But Jesus kept looking into the crowd. The woman realized that he somehow knew about her, and approaching him with fear and trembling, she fell down before him and "told the whole truth." This woman was probably very nervous because she knew that she was the least of the least in that crowd - a woman - an unclean woman - someone who shouldn't have even been in the presence of these religious leaders in the first place. She knew that Jesus would have great matters to attend to - matters that seemed far more important than her. She was probably expecting the worst when she came forward. But, instead of reprimanding her for stealing some of his healing power, Mark tells us that Jesus commends her for her great faith and assures her she has been made well.

 

This story implies that Jesus is quite aware of our greatest needs - and perhaps even more keenly aware of the needs of those who are poor, marginalized or outcast. It also implies that the act of reaching out for healing, in itself brings healing. In what ways are you poor, marginalized or outcast?  How has that kept you from being whole? Have you reached out to God for help? Has the reaching itself changed or healed you?

 

Here at Grace Church we are dancing with life's big questions. 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,
 
Elsa Signature

The Rev. Elsa Worth
Grace Episcopal Church

Vestry News:  

      

Summer Church Location Swap

Grace Church and Christ Church are swapping locations this summer whenever their own priest is on vacation. We will be worshiping in Tashua  THIS SUNDAY, July 1st, July 8th, July 15th and August 26th. Service times at Christ Church are 8:00 and 9:30 AM.  For those who may be interested in going together, let's meet at Grace Church at around 9:00.  For directions to Christ Church, see this LINK.  Let's show great hospitality this summer both in welcoming others in to our usual location and venturing out to visit others in theirs! 

 

Elsa away on vacation

Elsa will be away on vacation from Friday, June 29th through July 16th. In case of pastoral emergency, please contact the Rev. Louise Kalemkerian at 203-536-9259.


Screwtape

Summer Book Club  

 

Join us in reading CS Lewis' classic satire, The Screwtape Letters this summer. With dry British wit, Lewis uses an unusual format to expose the many temptations that keep us from being the faithful people we strive to be. Meetings follow coffee hour on Sundays. Come to one or all sessions.

 

July 29                   Preface - chapter 7

August 4                Chapters 8-25

August 11              Chapters 16-23

Augusts 18            Chapters 24-31

Coffeehouse Beatnik

Our new monthly coffeehouse for teens begins on July 28th and will happen from 7-9pm on the fourth Saturday of the month thereafter. The coffeehouse will be a chaperoned, sober event sponsored by Grace Church and offered to the teens of Trumbull and surrounding communities for the purpose of providing a welcoming and accepting space for teens to be themselves, to enjoy music and the arts, and to grow in community.  

 

Church members can support this event in two ways:  

1. Volunteering as a chaperone or  

2. Baking treats or donating individually wrapped snacks or drinks to sell at the coffeehouse each month.

    

If you'd like to volunteer or if you have questions, talk to Dave M, Avery or Jon.

Piano Lessons
Would you like to study the piano? Do you know someone else who would? Our minister of music, Dave McWilliams, is hoping to gather some students to study with him on Sunday afternoons right here at the church. Dave is experienced in teaching piano students of all ages. Speak with, or email, him if you're interested in knowing more.
 
                    This Week's Announcements

Sunday, July 1, 8:00 or 9:30 AM  

Grace Church will be at Christ Church, Tashua  

 

Wednesday, July 4, 7:00 - 7:25 AM                                                Morning Meditation   
 
Upcoming Events
Sunday, July 8, 8:00 or 9:30 AM
Grace Church will be at Christ Church, Tashua

Wednesday, July 11, 7:00 AM
Morning Meditation
 

Saturday, July 28, 7 - 9 PM

Coffeehouse for Trumbull area teens in the Parish Hall 

Other News
Parish Hall available for community functions
Party Card
Click HERE for additional information and Parish Hall availability.

Coming July 28th...
for Trumbull area teens.

Coffeehouse - Open Mic