Grace Episcopal Church  

In This Issue
Birthdays

Connect with Grace!

Easter
Sunday Services 

8:00 AM
Celebrant:
The Rev. Noah H. Evans
LEM: Branwen Smith-King
Usher: 
John Schlesinger
Altar Guild:
June Pietrantoni

10:00 AM
Celebrant and Preacher: 
The Rev. Noah H. Evans
Assisting Priest: The Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold
Minister of Music:
Ruth Roper 
LEM I: Rochenet Joseph
LEM II:
Mia Benjamin
LEM III: Kate Woodward
Lisa Faber Ginggen
Margaret Smist
Acolytes:
C.J. Nwachukwu, Ellie Hunt and Emma Maganzini
Ushers:
Jane Scherban and Linda Foote
Altar Guild
Adele Travisano and Marie Glynn
Children's Homily: The Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold
Vestry Person of the Day:
Catherine Smith 
Counters:
Jane Scherban and Naida Gavrelis
Coffee Hour:  
Tom Hamel, coffee - The Vestry, food
 
*click on link to prepare for this week's readings
Birthdays

Linda Borelli, Nadine Martinez, Barbara Novaes and Margaret Smist (3/28); Daly Celletti and Isaiah Irwin Evans (3/29); Matt Fenn and Jarrod Rogers (3/30); Beverly Convery, Sandra Eriksson-Ellis, Barbara Hammond, Linda Rogers and Holger Wirz (3/31).

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!

Maundy Thursday 
March 24, 2016
7:00 PM - Holy Eucharist with foot washing and stripping of altar
 
Good Friday 
March 25, 2016
12:00 noon - Liturgy for Good Friday
5:30 PM - Children's Good Friday service.  A brief service of songs and stories.
7:00 PM -Liturgy for Good Friday with music and choir
 
Holy Saturday
March 26, 2016
10:00 AM - Proper Liturgy for Holy Saturday
7:00 PM - The Great Vigil of Easter with music and choir
 
Easter Sunday
March 27, 2016
8:00 AM - Holy Eucharist with Traditional Language
10:00 AM - Festival Holy Eucharist with music and choir
with Easter Egg Hunt following the service
2:00 PM Easter with Medford Rehab
Easter 2016 Greeting from Presiding 
Bishop Michael Curry
"This is not a fairy tale."

"This world does not need another fairy tale," 

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry said in his Easter 2016 Message. 

"This week's story of crucifixion and resurrection is not a fairy tale." read more

The video is available here.
Medford Churches Celebrate Palm Sunday
Posted On the Medford Transcript's site on Mar. 21, 2016

On March 20, Palm Sunday morning, Grace Episcopal Church, St. Francis and St. Joseph's Roman Catholic churches and First Baptist Church gathered in Medford Square for their annual Blessing of the Palms. read more
by Mia Benjamin 
Grace Church processed down into Medford Square to join with St. Joseph's and First Baptist for the Blessing of the Palms.read more
Medford Church's 1885 Organ Restored to Original Splendor
By Christina Bagni BOSTON GLOBE CORRESPONDENT  

Drawing from Psalm 50:23, "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth the Lord" is inscribed in calligraphy on the 1885 organ in Medford's Grace Episcopal Church.
Since its installation over 130 years ago, the E. & 
G. G. Hook & Hastings organ has been touched up now and then, including a conversion from mechanical to electric in the 1950s. But last April marked the beginning of a much-needed total renovation, the first the organ has ever received.
read more

Save the date!  
Bishop Alan M. Gates will be at Grace on Wednesday, April 6 at 7:00PM for a Service of Dedication of our restored organ, and a celebration of the completion of our Capital Campaign project.  A festive community dinner will be held at 6:00 PM.
Outreach Corner 
The next opportunity to help at St. Luke's Community Dining in Chelsea is April 30, 2016. Please contact Lisa Carson with any questions or to volunteer to help. 
  
Food is needed for the food pantries that Grace Episcopal Church supports. The items for March 27 are coffee or tea.  The items for Sunday, April 3 are peanut butter, Sunflower Seed butter or jelly.
Wednesdays @ Grace
Toddler Godly Play class - 5:30-6:30
Godly Play 1-Preschool-Kindergarten,   5:30-6:15
Godly Play 2-Grades 1-2,   5:30-6:15
Dinner,   6-6:45
Child-care for children through 2nd grade, 6:45-8
Bible Class (grades 3-4), 6:45-8
Rite 13 youth group (grades 5-7), 6:45-8
J2A youth group (grades 8-9), 6:45-8
Adult Education classes, 6:45-8
 
Learn about Parenting Journey Programs
Led by Joanne Bell
Wednesday, March 30 at 6:45 PM
Being a parent in today's busy society isn't easy. The demands of work and family often compete for our time and attention leaving little time to reflect. Join us to learn more about Parenting Journey read more 
 
Save the date!...Bishop Alan M. Gates will be at Grace on Wednesday, April 6 at 7:00 PM for a Service of Dedication of our restored organ, and a celebration of the completion of our Capital Campaign project.  A festive community dinner will be held at 6:00 PM.  Please join us!
 
"In Memory of Her: Records of Women's Philanthropy through DIT
Led by The Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold
Wednesday, April 13, at 6:45 PM
Rev. Maggie has been doing research in the archives of the Diocesan Investment Trust, for a presentation to the diocese's Parish Historians. Get a sneak preview read more
 
The Jury in America Triumph and Decline
Led by Dennis Hale
Wednesday, April 27 at 6:45PM
Grace Church parishioner, Dennis Hale will discuss his new book,T
he Jury in America Triumph and Decline  His book combines legal history, political analysis, and storytelling. read more
Barbara C. Harris Summer Camp
Alessia Doss, Director of the Barbara C. Harris Camp, will be visiting us on Sunday, April 10th. She'll give a presentation on our diocese's wonderful summer camp programs during coffee hour after the 10AM service. Grace Church is a stop on the chartered bus route to camp all summer, and we need volunteers to supervise the camper drop-offs (on Sunday afternoons) and pick-ups (Friday afternoons) from the last weekend in June through the last weekend in July. Are you interested? Contact Rev. Maggie at maggie@gracemedford.org.

Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center Summer Camp registration is now open! Noah will be a camp chaplain and at Camp, Sunday, June 26th - Friday, July 1st. Sign up for that week, or any week of the summer!  Talk to Noah or Maggie about scholarships.  More information at BCHCenter.org 
Green banner GreenUp CleanUp 2016
Grace Church's ministry to engage the community in park cleanups is back for its 6th year!
May 14th, 10AM - Fellsmere Pond, Malden - with Malden Community Action Group - This park is also known to Medford residents as "Five Bumps" a popular sledding location on the edge of Fulton Heights.

Clean Up Leaders and partners are needed to coordinate other clean ups this year. We're also looking for a volunteer or two to help with media and outreach by taking photos and sending short write-ups  to the local papers before and after events. Anyone interested in learning more and getting more involved with this ministry should speak with Alicia Hunt,
GreenUpCleanUp@gracemedford.org
Other Announcements

Woodbury vow renewal
Come and celebrate with Cheryl and Douglas Woodbury when they renew their vows on Saturday, April 2nd at 4 p.m.  Dinner and dancing will follow the service in the Wiles Hall.  Please RSVP by Friday, March 25th by contacting Cheryl at woodburyc@comcast.net

School Supplies for Syrian Refugees
Through our World Food Program benefit, we made connections with other churches that also are helping Syrian refugees.  Two members from St. John's Episcopal Church in Beverly Farms attended our benefit and have asked if we can help collect school supplies for refugee children. The school supplies we send will assist refugee children in continuing their education even as millions have been displaced in camps. All basic school supplies are welcome, including writing utensils, paper, notebooks, office supplies and book bags.  St. Johns will partner with NuDay Syria to get the supplies to the refugees.  Go to www.nudaysyria.net or read about NuDay Syria
hereBring your supplies to church by next week, April 3, or contact Catherine Smith at smith.viggiani@comcast.net to make alternative arrangements. 
 
Book Club
The Women's Book Club meets every third Thursday at 7PM.   For April 22 its Life After Life by Kate Atkinson and May 19 the book is House Rules by Jodi Picoult.  For more information, contact Genita Johnson at pawleyslegacy@verizon.net. 

Cross-Parish Young Adult Hangout, April 22
Grace Church Twenties/Thirties will be meeting up with young adult fellowships from other parishes in the Boston area on Friday, April 22, starting at 6:00pm. Dinner will be sponsored by Life Together, the young adult service corps based in Boston, and hosted at our intentional community house in Brookline. Email Mia mia@gracemedford.org with questions about carpooling!

20s/30s Habitat for Humanity Build
Join folks in their 20s and 30s from local Episcopal parishes to learn and serve while partnering with families in need of housing! Together, we'll be practicing how to be God's hands and elbows at a duplex construction site in Wayland on Saturday, May 7, 8am-4pm. No equipment or prior experience necessary. Organized by the 20s/30s Group at St. Andrew's, Framingham. If interested, sign up on Facebook http://on.fb.me/1SCFen9 or contact Mia Benjamin