Grace Episcopal Church  
In This Issue
Sunday Ministers
Birthdays
Sunday Services

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Sunday Services
9:00 AM

Celebrant and Preacher: 
The Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold    
Minister of Music:  Ruth Roper
LEM I:
Kate Woodward 
LEM II: 
Mia Benjamin  
Lector I*:
Barbara Povey 
 Lector II*:
Barbara Novaes 
Acolytes:
Louis Carson, Catherine Woodbury and Elizabeth Woodbury  
Usher:
Butch Edgecomb 
Altar Guild
Adele Travisano and Marie Glynn
Vestry Person of the Day:
Louis Carson   
Children's Homily 
Catherine Smith 
Healing Ministers
Brenda Pearson and Cindy Scott 
Coffee Hour Hosts:
Steve Duggan, coffee and Kathe Swaback and Chris Paul, food  
Counters:
Jane Scherban and Naida Gavrelis   
 
*click on link to prepare for this week's readings  

Birthdays

 

Erica Deane and Marie Glynn (7/12); Lorella Bowers and Tristan Cross Choi (7/14); Sara Folta (7/15); Caroline Daly (7/18).


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!

On Sunday, July 12, we are on our summer service schedule with one service at 9:00 AM. This will be a chance for worshipers from the 8 AM, 10 AM and 5 PM congregations to be together, and also allows us to beat the summer heat! The Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold is the celebrant and preacher for this service.  Healing prayer will be offered.  Catherine Smith will give the children's homily.

 

Forum on General Convention

Mia Benjamin, our Life Together intern, journeyed to Salt Lake City for the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church. At the Convention, delegates and Bishops passed several exciting resolutions and elected our first African-American Presiding Bishop, Bishop Michael Curry of North Carolina. Join Mia for discussion, questions and answers about all things General Convention on the patio after our 9:00am church service.

#FlatGrace at Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center.  The Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold is camp chaplain this week! 

You can bring Grace Church with you wherever you go this summer too! 

Pick up a picture of Grace Church and bring it with you on your travels this summer.  Take a photo and post it to social media or send it in and we will post it on our bulletin board. To print one from home, click here.
Jean
Jean
Watch this great short film about Grace Church parishioner Jean Spiers' experience downsizing and moving. She has much wisdom and is a great mentor to many in the parish!
Curious about the progress of organ restoration project? See the "Restoring Grace" blog. 

Recently, for the first time since its installation, the organ was completely dismantled piece-by-piece and sent to David E. Wallace and Co. organ builders in Gorham, Maine for a complete restoration.

The organ restoration project is the final project to be paid for by the 2011 Grace Church Capital Campaign along with additional fundraising being done to help support this effort.

Outreach Corner 

 

The next opportunity to help at St. Luke's Community Dining is July 25. It is not just cooking. There are several other duties that go along with community dining, such as, serving food to people seated, clean up, washing dishes, cutting up vegetables, filling the plates with food before serving and so much more.  Please contact Lisa Carson with any questions or to volunteer to help on July 25th!

 

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 July 12 are cereal or coffee.  The items for July 19 are peanut butter, sunflower seed butter or jelly.

Kid's Corner  

 

Register for Fall youth education programs

Please register now for our September Sunday School and Wednesdays at Grace programs.  Your registration helps us to plan, group classes and order supplies.  Click here for the online registration form.

 

Summer @ Grace for kids

From now through September 13th, there will be a Children's Homily in the parish hall during the regular sermon time. Please contact Rev. Maggie at maggie@gracemedford.org if the Spirit might be calling you to participate in this fun ministry. Catherine Smith will offer a children's homily on July 12. 

 

We'll be rolling out our first Scripture Explorer Backpacks this summer--filled with materials to help you explore a Bible story together at home or on the road! This is a great opportunity to grow in God's Word wherever you're roaming. Look for them after school ends...

 

When you're around, help us tend our vegetable garden! We always need help with weeding and watering. Talk to Rev. Maggie or Jane Hamel about putting your junior green thumbs to work.

 

Also, watch for a "Great Summer Reading for Kids" feature on our Facebook page.

Other Announcements

 

Summer Service Schedule

From Sunday, July 5th until Sunday, August 30th we will be on our summer service schedule with one service at 9:00AM. This will be a chance for worshipers from the 8, 10 and 5 congregations to be together, and also allows us to beat the summer heat!  

 

Summer Cookout with 20/30s Fellowship
Join us for grilling, fun, and fellowship at 6:00pm on Friday, July 10th Emmy's house! Please bring a salad, chips, dessert or beverage. Email mia@gracemedford.org or join our Facebook group for more details on location.

Dining with Grace

We have more picnics scheduled! The first is Saturday, July 11th at the Woodbury home in Revere. Bring your swimsuits as this is a pool party. The picnic begins at 3:00 PM. Cindy Scott will be hosting at her home on Saturday, August 29th at 4PM and Maria Fenn is hosting on Sunday August 30th right after church. Sign-up sheets are on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall.

 

Every Home Has A History: Tips on Tracing the "Family Tree" of Your Dwelling

Dee Morris and Ryan Hayward, presenters

Tuesday, July 14 at 7pm--Medford Public Library

A home reflects the needs and preferences of those who dwell within. Your house is filled with stories. We will explore these topics: Neighborhood - meaning the special area where you live; House Style - defining the architectural appearance of your place; House Legacy - focusing on former residents and "relics" and, finally, Your Own Story - highlighting your memories captured in images. Bring copies (or original images) of your home plus some that document your years and seasons spent there. They could include pictures of birthday parties, weddings, painting the living room, etc. We will create a collage of Medford Homes to be put on display.

 

Book Club

The Women's Book Club meets every third Thursday (except in August) at 7 pm. On July 16 the book is My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. There is no meeting in August. On September 17th the book is The Given Day by Dennis LeHane For more information, see Genita at the 10 am church service or email her at  

pawleyslegacy@verizon.net.

'Eid al-Iftar

After a month of fasting and prayer, our Muslim brothers and sisters are ready to celebrate 'Eid al-Iftar, the joyous holiday at the end of Ramadan, next Friday July 17th! The Bangladeshi Muslim community of Medford and Somerville who have been using our parish hall for nightly Ramadan prayer will be joining us for coffee hour after the 9:00am service to celebrate on Sunday, July 19th. Join us in the common room after for delicious food, an explanation of the deep meaning of the holiest Islamic month, and faithful discussion between our communities.


Contemplative Worship in the Style of Taizé - Sunday, July 19th

Gather with us for contemplative worship in the style of Taizé at 5:00pm. Starting at 5:15pm, Drake Douglas will led us in simple chants, meditation, and prayer inspired by the international ecumenical monastic community in Taizé, France.

 

A new baby Rasure  

is on the way!

Our dear Rachael Pettengill-Rasure and her husband, Matthew, are expecting their first baby in early September. The women of Grace Church have been graciously invited by the women of the First Baptist Church of Medford, to join them in celebrating this wonderful occasion by presenting Rachael with a Baby Shower on Wednesday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. Let's try to get a big crowd together to show Rachael how thrilled we are for her. Please sign the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in Wiles Hall if you are able to attend. More details will follow, or see Cindy Scott if you have any questions.

Green banner
 We have added a link to register, see below!
Water Chestnut Pull
Our river is covered with an invasive plant - water chestnuts.  The City of Medford, the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) and the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation are involved in a multi-year project to remove this plant from our river.  One portion of the work each year is hand pulling the weeds.  The work is messy, wet and fun!

Saturday July 18th, 9am-noon
join members of Grace Church to hand-harvest water chestnuts with MyRWA.  Advance registration will be required to reserve space in a canoe. Click here to register. For more information contact Alicia Hunt.