Light, Darkness and the In-Between

Two Psalms for Lent

As the season of Lent draws to a close in mid-April, a Quiet Morning will be offered in the church for those seeking time for reflection and preparation.

A shortened version of the Lenten study sessions held following the 5:00 PM Sunday services, the time will be spent examining Psalm 51 and Psalm 30. These Psalms exemplify expressions of the human condition and also call to confession of both shortcomings and gratitude.

Led by John Hassell from the 5:00 PM congregation, and the Reverend Sarah Motley, the Quiet Morning is open to all. 

Contact Sarah for further information or with questions.

What is going on?

Please set aside the evening of Sunday, April 27, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, for the Friends of Grace Gala. 

Come enjoy "A Louisiana Bayou Bash" with the goal of raising money for our Saving Grace Fund. Cajun food, cold beverages, games of chance and zydeco music from the "Little Red and the Renegades" band will fill the sanctuary for a fun night of dancing and fellowship. 

Childcare will be available, and there will be reduced rate parking for the evening thanks to the Colonial Garage at 1050 Thomas Jefferson Street NW. Dress for the event is party casual -- come in your Bayou Best!

How can I get involved?

First - Purchase tickets for the Gala, come, and have fun! RSVP using the reply card included in the Gala invitation. Invitations arrived in late March  - contact the office via email if yours did not arrive. The ticket price will be $100 per person and $175 per couple, as in prior years.   

Second - If you can make a commitment beyond ticket purchase, consider becoming a sponsor; your invitation will provide information about levels of sponsorship. Higher-level sponsorships are especially needed and welcomed this year. 

Third - Help out with the Silent Auction because it is historically the biggest source of revenue for the Gala. Whether or not you can attend the Gala we would love contributions to the Silent Auction. The categories for past donations have included: 

• Great Escapes - vacation homes, frequent flyer miles or special outings;
• Fabulous Feasts - prepared food or gift cards;
• Cultural Treats - tickets to sporting events or theater; and
• Superior Services - what each of us can do - babysit, dog sit, edit, computer help, lead a tour.

Think creatively about what you can do or who you know that may be willing to contribute. Think about local businesses that you patronize such as your hair salon, gym or local restaurant that may be willing to donate a gift certificate. Please contact Gala co-chair Scott Murphy or Silent Auction chair Ari Lynn Tonini - they'll be glad to hear from you!

How is this "Saving Grace"?

The Gala raises money for the Saving Grace Fund to support maintenance, repair and restoration of Grace's buildings and grounds. This year, the focus is on the stone arches at the front of the church, or its façade - which has deteriorated significantly over the past 150 years.

The first priority is to remove and replace the crumbling stone from the three windows above our entrance. These arches are key to the church's structural integrity and their deterioration will pose a safety hazard if not addressed, so black netting has been installed to keep them in place until the restoration is finished.

Estimated total cost for restoration of the west façade is almost $150,000. And that's just the beginning - restoration of the stone on the north and south "elevations" of the church will cost over $200,000 each. A surplus of funds built up over the past ten years will help us pay for the first phase, but we will have to replenish the Saving Grace fund to pay for the restoration of the north and south elevation.

Graphic illustrations of the work plan will be on display in the church and Parish Hall in the weeks leading up to the Gala.

Third Space is an offshoot of the "Theology on Tap" series and the objective is similar in nature-to provide a community of local young parishioners who are experiencing similar spiritual challenges in the workplace an opportunity to discuss their careers through the lens of faith. The hope is Third Space will appeal to individuals who normally might not attend a Sunday service, while at the same time offer attending young parishioners a chance to interact with each other in a social setting.

Attendees from the first meeting heard from former White House Economic Adviser, Dr. Sharon Lockwood of St. John's Georgetown. Among her many achievements, Dr. Lockwood's greatest accomplishment has been her service to the DC underserved community. Over the past 30 years she has helped over 37 children from Langston housing project in Northeast DC and Anacostia attend college and graduate; many are doctors, lawyers, and PhDs.

Dr. Lockwood shared intimate moments from her past and time as a young professional traversing politics and academic attainment. She left everyone inspired as she conveyed the sentiment that you can focus on your career while also giving back to others who are less fortunate. Attendees enjoyed a rich and robust conversation, while enjoying a comfortable space to engage with one another. 

Please join us for the next Third Space event on Tuesday, April 22nd from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. It will again be held at Le Pain Quotidien, 2815 M Street NW; childcare is available at Grace via the Parents' Night Out program. 

For several years now, Grace has benefitted from the work of The DC Project, a coalition of churches, synagogues and faith-based organizations under the umbrella of the Washington Interfaith Network (WIN).

The project used its combined bargaining power to negotiate cheaper electricity generation services from alternate providers, and Grace and others realized significant savings as a result.

Now The DC Project has become a free-standing not-for-profit called the Community Purchasing Alliance (CPA). On behalf of its members, including Grace, CPA has negotiated a new electricity generation contract with DirectEnergy of Pittsburgh.  

This new contract not only saves us money by comparison with Pepco rates, but it also provides us with 100% green power generation using wind, biomass and other renewable resources. 

Pepco continues to provide billing and transmission.

CPA, no longer receiving a WIN subsidy, now seeks to support its mission through dues from its members. At $750 a year for a group with a budget in Grace's range, it strikes me as a very good deal.