Back for another summer run, Grace Church's own version of summer Bible camp!  

This year the theme will be 'Spirit in Art and Music' in keeping with Grace's year-round engagement with the arts communities in the Washington DC region.

At the heart of the Christian gospel is God the Creator - the One in whom all things "live, move and have their being."  It is the creative Spirit of God that inspires, guides, strengthens  and challenges Christians to become 'co-creators'.  

This summer's Pilgrimage will explore just a few of the many manifestations of this Spirit.  Part of the enjoyment of the Pilgrimage is the sites visited - another, equally important aspect is going 'on Pilgrimage' with others and seeing/experiencing the art and/or music together.

For that reason, your presence is sincerely invited and encouraged!  The programs are meant for all - including children, and anyone else who would enjoy a way to come to know other Grace Church families 'off site.'  

Also, these visits are an excellent way to invite along friends, family or colleagues to introduce them to Grace's approach to the life of the Spirit.

Sign up sheets are on the kiosk outside of church (or in the parish hall in case of Sunday rain).  Or, contact the office via email or phone (202-333-7100) to register.  Come one, come all! 

Sunday, July 21st

12:30 PM, Organ Tour and Art Project

Grace Church

Join Francine Mate for a choir's-eye-view of the church. Stay for an art project that will adorn the church for the remainder of the summer.  All welcome!

Each Sunday morning, at the exchange of the Peace, the congregation has the delight of 'Welcoming the Children' from Sunday School into the service.

A quiet, smiling presence accompanies them up the stairs and onto the altar steps for a presentation or a homily. Sunday School and child care parents know her skills and caring best, but there is much more to what has formed Jacqueline Walters' ministry.

She is a calm, caring presence, but that's not all.  Her life is also.... busy!

Jacqueline has been the Children's Ministries Coordinator at Grace Church since 2007.  "It's my therapy," she says with a chuckle. "Here it's all about warm fuzzy stories and watching kids grow." 

In her weekday life, it's different. She has been a special education placement specialist for the Washington DC public school system, and, as of this summer, will become the Special Education Compliance officer. "There are thousands of complaints each year," she says, and her job is to facilitate early conflict resolution on a case-by-case basis.

If that's not busy enough, she has concurrently also been a student at Catholic University's Law School, graduating last May, and plans to take the Maryland Bar exam in late July.

Before working for the District, Jacqueline's teaching took her into a variety of settings. Her first experience was in Baltimore, working for two years in an elementary school, a juvenile detention center, and as a private school resource teacher. 

While a student at Columbia University in New York City, from which she graduated in 2005, she also spent a summer in Los Angeles on an internship at a California Talented Youth summer camp and also interned at People magazine.

That's only her recent work life, though. While a student at Columbia, Jacqueline "did a LOT of babysitting - the best way to pay for college!" It wasn't only for the usual neighborhood families, however.

Suzanne Vega's family, taking her to international venues and giving her a close-up look at a very different world from that of the classroom. Jacqueline also spent a college semester in Madrid, though she says now "my Spanish is pretty rusty." 

Jacqueline has dreams for the Sunday School, but they're a little more down-to-earth. "I'd love to form a children's choir, and continue the bell choir," she says, "and, like most Sunday School coordinators, I would love to have a strong group of parents/parishioners to take a turn at teaching the children, for one month each school year." (She promises to "teach the teachers")

As the youngest in a family of seven children, Jacqueline speaks from experience when she says with a smile, "Though it's very different from the church I grew up in, Grace Church is like a family, with an approach to faith that guides and prepares children as they come to understand the faith."

That understanding, and all her experience, show in her smile each Sunday as she joins in welcoming the children into church. Grace Church is blessed with her gifts and glad to hear her voice joining theirs: "Peace be with you!" And also with you, Jacqueline.

• Stephane La Bouder was elected to the Vestry to replace Adam Harrington, who has resigned from the Vestry to begin the discernment process to become a priest.  Stephane will serve through the end of Adam's unexpired term, on December 31st of this year.

• Our seminarian, Robert Hartmans was ordained a Deacon on Saturday, 6/15. He will be ordained into the priesthood on 12/15 in St John's Church, Knoxville.

• Loie Randall and Mike Osborn will co-chair our new seminarian, Nic Mather's lay committee. 

• Netting has been installed to secure the stone around the three windows above the main entrance. We are in the process of studying a joint proposal from two firms, one specializing in preservation and the other a structural engineering partnership, for the stone repair.

• Eastbanc's financial contribution to the garden enhancement has arrived. Eastbanc's landscaper will replace the two dead trees planted in the winter as well, free of charge.

• The Friends of Grace Gala team reported that there are more items in the silent auction this year. More businesses, for example, the Ritz Georgetown and the Care of Trees, have donated items. 

• The Vestry approved the repairs on the organ this summer by David Moore.

• The Vestry approved an amount to support the Summer Pilgrimage Events.

• Prayers for Healing will begin on the second Sunday of the month at the 10 AM service.

• Alternate liturgies with Eucharistic Prayers from Enriching Our Worship will begin on the last Sunday of the month at Sunday morning services.