Grace Episcopal Church  
In This Issue
Sunday Ministers
Birthdays
Sunday Services

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Sunday 
9:00 AM
Celebrant: 
The Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold
Preacher:  The Rev. Noah H. Evans 
Musician:  Sean Glenn
LEM I: Dennis Hale
LEM II: Wes Foote, Jr.  
Lector I*:
Lucia Page
Lector II*:
Deborah Jennings  
Acolytes: 
Louis Carson 
Usher: 
Vin Maganzini   
Altar Guild
Elaine and Robin Sheets 
Coffee Hour Hosts: Steve Duggan,
coffee - food host needed 
Counters:
Vin Maganzini and Bryan Spence 
Vestry Person of the Day:
Molly Fenn
Children's Homilist: 
Sue Maltz  
    
*click on link to prepare for this week's readings  

Birthdays

 

Linda Foote, (8/25); Adam Pearson and Jeana Zafiris (8/26); The Rev. Noah Evans (8/27); Taylor Beebee, Michael Cox and Guesly Eugene (8/29); Elizabeth Beatrice and Elaine Walters (8/30).


 If we do not have your birthday, please contact the church office at 781-396-7215 or office@gracemedford.org  

Welcome
Please join us at Grace Church!
We celebrate the Eucharist during the summer on Sunday at 9:00 AM.  The Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold, Assistant Rector is the Celebrant on Sunday.  The Rev. Noah H. Evans, Rector is our Preacher.  There will be a children's homily during the service offered by Sue Maltz. 

Summer Worship Schedule

Our Summer Worship Schedule, with one service at 9:00AM will continue until Sunday, September 7 when we will resume our services at 8AM, 10AM and 5PM.  Our summer schedule allows 8,10 and 5 o'clockers to get to know each other, and also helps to beat the summer heat.

Kid's Corner

 

There will be a children's homily on Sunday offered by Sue Maltz. 

 

Christian Education Meeting...after the 9 o'clock service on Sunday, August 24th:  

Do you have a child or grandchild  in Sunday School or a Wednesdays at Grace class? Have you taught Sunday School? Are you on the Christian Education Committee? Maybe you are none of these, but do you secretly long to be part of an amazing experience of growing in your own faith and helping form young people as disciples and activists? Or do you quake with terror at the thought of leading a Sunday School class, but are an expert in manga or bluegrass music, debating, woodworking, or balloon sculpture? Grace Church needs your skills, your excitement, your ideas! Come and join Rev. Maggie after church next Sunday to talk about our church school programs for the coming year.

 

Godly Play Training at Grace Church

Grace Church is tentatively hosting Godly Play teacher trainings for the New England region on September 19-21st. During this training participants experience all aspects of the Godly Play method and begin to become fluent in the Godly Play core stories and lessons. Core training follows an action/reflection model of learning with a mixture of trainer-led presentations and participant storytelling presentations. Core training plenary presentations cover: the Spirituality of the Child, Setting up a Godly Play Environment and Supporting the Circle of Children. This will be a wonderful opportunity to become a Godly Play teacher, with the training right here at Grace Church! Let Noah if you are interested, or might be interested in this.

 

Save the Date information for Children and Youth Programs!

NOW: Register for Fall Children and Youth programs at www.gracemedford.org

September 24 following the 9AM service: Christian Education Meeting

September 14: Sunday school begins

September 17: Wednesdays and Grace Begins

 

Outreach Corner    
The next opportunity to help with St. Luke's Community Dining is August 30. For a few months, we will be preparing bagged lunches in the Grace Church kitchen from 9-10:30 AM and distributing them at St. Luke's between 11:00 AM and noon.  Please contact Brenda Pearson at bpearson267@gmail.com
if you are interested in volunteering or have questions.  

Food is needed for the food pantries that Grace Episcopal Church supports. Food items may be placed in the baskets just outside the main entrance to the sanctuary (an usher can help you locate them.)  The items for August 24 are spam or tuna.  The item for August 31 is canned soup.

 

Semi-Annual Clothing Pantry

This Fall our pantry will be held on Saturday, September 13 from 9:00 AM to noon.

We need volunteers to help with set-up, pantry day and close down. Whatever time you have available to help, even just an hour, would be greatly appreciated. Adults only are needed on Saturday.

 

Our set-up days are as follows:

Wednesday, September 10 help is needed getting clothing from storage area above the office.

Thursday, September 11 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM for sorting in the church.

Friday, September 12 from 6:00 until set up is done.

In the past adults and their children have helped with sorting and folding.

 

Please, let Maria Fenn know if and when you can help. Thanks so much to all who have helped in the past. Thanks also to the kind people who donate their gently used clothing.

Other Announcements     

 
  Dining with Grace this Summer....
 Saturday, August 23rd
At the home of Tom and Jane Hamel in Medford.   6-8 families can attend.  

 

Green banner
Please join Tufts FOCUS (Freshman Orientation Community Service) program and Grace Church GreenUp CleanUP on
Monday August 25 and Tuesday August 26th from 9 AM to 3 PM for a clean-up of the Columbus School and nearby Columbus Park.  Stop by and help for an hour or two! 

 

New Grace Church rainbarrels installed 

Garden Help Needed

Things are getting ripe in the garden! We need individuals or families (you can also combine with others) to weed, and harvest the garden and deliver produce  to the local food pantry we support at the UU Medford Church.  Instructions for how to take care of the garden are displayed next to the volunteer sign-up board on the easel in the Parish Hall.  

 

Backpack Blessing

Kids!! Bring your backpacks to the 9:00am service on Sunday, August 31st and we will have a special blessing for you as you head BACK TO SCHOOL. Adults!! Most of you have been spending time away from work this summer....you can bring your cell phones and Blackberries to Church for a blessing as you plunge back into the fall routine.

 

Come-see THE GUYS -- on September 5

On Friday, September 5 a reading of Anne Nelson's play THE GUYS will be presented in Wiles Hall. Brenda Pearson and Jeff Pietrantoni will perform the play at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the fund to bring a few parishioners from Bogota, Colombia, South America to visit and share time with us at Grace, Medford. Donations for the performance, which includes coffee and dessert, are $10.00 -- or more if you are able.   Advance tickets are not necessary and donations will be accepted at the door. If you have any questions, please contact Maria Fenn or Jeff Pietrantoni.


Program Year Worship Schedule Resumes on Sunday, September 7th

Worship Sundays at 8AM, 10AM and 5PM

 

 

Beginning of School Picnic

A parish picnic will be held following the 10 am service on Sunday, September 7. Burgers, hot dogs, drinks and chips will be provided. A free will offering will be collected to cover the cost. If your last name begins with A-Q bring a salad or side dish, R-Z bring a dessert!

 

Grace Women's Book Club

The Grace Church Women's Book Club meets monthly at 7 pm on the third Thursday except for in August.  Here is our upcoming book selection.

September 18 is Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton 

Please see Genita Johnson during church at 10 am service. or contact her at pawleyslegacy@verizon.net for more information.  All women are welcome to come, even if you have not read this month's book and just want to check out our book club.   

 

Grace Women's Retreat

The Retreat is On! We have registered enough women to hold the dates (October 3-5) for the fall women's retreat at Rolling Ridge Conference Center in Andover, MA. Please contact Maria Fenn (MFENN@partners.org) about available spots left as they will be given on a first come first serve basis. As it gets closer I will be sending out informational emails. There will also be copies of schedules and such at church.  If any of you would like to lead an activity, let Maria Fenn know.    

 

Blessing of the Animals and Holy Eucharist 

Sunday, October 5 at 5:00PM

Come join us for a Blessing of the Animals! We will be acknowledging our relationship with creation, especially those animals who are a part of our daily lives! Bring your dogs, cats, fish, and sheep, stuffed animals, or a picture of animals, for a special blessing at Grace Church.

 

We will also be collecting donations for the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA. The Northeast Animal Shelter is one of New England's largest no-profit, no-kill animal shelters and takes in homeless animals across the US. Currently, they have a large need for canned dog and cat food, jars of all-meat baby food, clay cat litter, toys for dogs and cats, as well as blankets. For more information on donations, contact Kris Plausky at kris.plausky@gmail.com