Back for another summer run, Grace Church's own version of summer Bible camp will be holding its final two events in August!  

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! 

For more information Email The Reverend Sarah Motley.

When:   Sunday, September 8^th at 5:30 PM
Where:  Blake Hall, St. John's

              3240 O Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
RSVP:     To Jeanne Jennings, 202.365.0423 or Email Jeanne

              (So we will be able to order enough pizza for everyone)

Quick Overview:

• Audience: Members of Grace and St. John's Parishes who are ages 12 to 18 and their friends (older members will be 'junior leaders' who help plan as well as participate in activities)
• Leaders:
  • Jeanne Jennings (Grace), 202.365.0423, Email Jeanne 
  • Patrick Scanlon (St. John's), 703.615.6783, Email Patrick
• When: Monthly meetings every 3^rd Sunday, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM (tentative; dinner will be served)
• Location: Grace, St. John's and other venues as appropriate
• Goal: To create a multi-parish Youth Group that will:
  • Provide a Christian-based community for fellowship, support and fun
  • Enhance and strengthen members' relationships with Jesus Christ
  • Empower these young people to have a positive impact in our community
  • Encourage members to become witnesses and ambassadors of the Gospel

Some initial ideas for activities:

• Participate in a spiritual exercise using the Labyrinth in Georgetown's Waterfront Park
• Movie Night: Watch an appropriate popular movie and discuss Christian themes in the story
• Church Lock-in: host a pajama party with fun, Christian-based activities at Grace, St. Johns or the National Cathedral
• Bingo Ministry: provide a meal and run a bingo tournament for clients at Georgetown Ministry Center (may be eligible for volunteer credit for schools)
• Prepare dinner and eat with Georgetown Ministry Center clients participating in the Community-based Overnight Shelter (November through February)
• Attend a Nationals Game
• Go ice skating as a group at the outdoor rink in Georgetown (November through February)

Please mark your calendar and come join us to celebrate the end of the summer and the beginning of fall for the second edition of Music on the Lawn! 

This year, we will welcome the following four jazz bands: 

Thursday, September 5th  

Thursday, September 19th

The Larry Brown Quartet (instrumental jazz)

Thursday, September 26th

Marshall Keys and Herman Burney (alto sax and upright bass)

Check the News and Events section of our Website for more information or email the office.

Dean Gary Hall of the Washington Cathedral invited The Reverend Richard Killmer, executive director of the National Religious Campaign against Torture (NRCAT), to the June 2 forum. 

The Episcopal Church is a member of NRCAT. Reverend Killmer showed the ecumenical short movie "Ending U.S.-Sponsored Torture Forever" and then answered questions posed to him by Dean Hall. 

The movie is ecumenical because representatives of the three Abrahamic faiths, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim, refer to the basic tenets of their religion which in each case forbid torture under any circumstances.

In the U.S., 18 U.S.Code section 2340-A declares torture to be a felony, and the U.S. is also a signatory to the U.N. Convention against torture of 1984, ratified in 1987. Treaties have the force of law. During the movie, President Linda Gustitus of NRCAT, declared that three actions have been called absolutes which cannot be committed:  Genocide, Slavery, and Torture. 

Reverend Killmer explained that this American position has a proud history. 

During the Revolutionary War, even when enemy Hessian soldiers mistreated their American prisoners, George Washington did not permit torturing them in return. 

Indeed, U.S. forces took pride during the Second World War that they did better than the axis forces by refraining from torturing Japanese and German prisoners of war. As Rabbi Serotta said in the movie, if man is fashioned in the image of God then torture is a direct violation of God.

Many believe that in our recent history the mistreatment of prisoners, in Abu Ghraib most evidently, amounts to torture, and has done much to discredit the country. President Obama issued an executive order on January 22, 2009, which forbids torture and bases treatment of prisoner solely on the Army Field Manual. 

NRCAT is calling for an accounting of the "enhanced interrogation" practices sanctioned by the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel under President Bush. Some countries whose people have suffered officially-sanctioned human rights violations have set up so-called Truth and Reconciliation Commissions which hold officials who have sanctioned such violations accountable. 

The Senate Intelligence Committee has finished a report on this matter, but the report has not been made public. While some hold that the aforementioned treaties and statutes have settled these issues once and for all, NRCAT believes the Intelligence Committee report should be made public so the country can finally air the many different opinions about the definition and practice of torture.  

• The majority of the July 15 Vestry Meeting was devoted to a presentation by Alfonso Narvaez, from Aeon Preservation, of his proposal for the repair and restoration of the sandstone arches over our windows.

• A subcommittee on stonework repair was appointed. Paul Alligood, Stephane Le Bouder, Diana Dick, Beth Lee, Peter Wallace and our Rector, John Graham will follow up with Alfonso and authorize the work if the firm estimate fits within our budget and requirements. 

• The Friends of Grace Gala raised $27,034. as of 7/15/13 for the stonework repair.

• Paul Alligood reported that Garden Day was on July 13th. Volunteers removed the weeds that came up after all the rains. The turnout and the weather were both excellent! We are so thankful for our beautiful garden and gardeners!

• The Bach Festival was a superb success.  Music was excellent, and the festival did better financially than in the two previous years. The sanctuary of the church is perfect for the type of chamber music featured in this festival.

• Adam Harrington's Discernment Committee has been meeting regularly. Please hold Adam, Diana Martin, and the Discernment Committee in your thoughts and prayers. 

• Sarah Motley, Assistant to the Rector, initiated planning for a combined Youth Group with St. John's Church, Georgetown. There has been lots of interest and enthusiasm on the parts of both congregations. The next meeting is scheduled for the first week in August.

• Christian Education Summer Pilgrimage begins on July 18th with a tour of the gargoyles at the National Cathedral. Next, Sunday, July 21, will be the Grace Church organ tour/art project. 'Save our Seminary' tour  and walk in Silver Spring, MD will be Saturday, July 27. The grand finale, 'Children of the Gospel' concert will be at the National Building Museum, at 2 on Sunday, August 4.

• Marie-Laure Poire and John Graham are planning our Music on the Lawn series scheduled for Thursdays in September. Jeanne Jennings has had to resign as coordinator because of increased work requirements; John and Marie-Laure expressed their gratitude for the strong foundation Jeanne has laid over the last two years.