Grace Episcopal Church  
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Sunday Service
 
9:00 AM
Celebrant and Preacher: 
The
Rev. Noah H. Evans  
Minister of Music:
Ruth Roper 
LEM I: 
Emmy Llewellyn
LEM II:
Esther Brownsmith 
Hallie Stephenson Lee
Esther Brownsmith
Acolytes: Chioma Opara and Nzube Opara
Ushers:
Jill Capuccio and Daniel Egger 
Altar Guild
Margaret Smist and Dottie Palladino 
Vestry Person of the Day:
Hallie Stephenson Lee
Nursery:
Hannah Rogers and Timmy Lwanga
Counters:
Jill Capuccio and Tom Hamel 
Coffee Hour:  
Vin Maganzini, coffee.  Rebecca Pontius and Bruce Grunwald, food.
 
*click on link to prepare for this week's readings
Birthdays

Miguel McCurdy (8/7) and Ruby Andreasen (8/10).

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 Sundays until Sunday, August 28th we will be on our summer service schedule with one service at 9:00 AM. 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! 
Welcome Alice Lazare 
as our 2016-2017 Life Together Fellow!
Alice Lazare is so pleased to be joining Grace! Growing up in Houston, Texas, she learned the importance of good food and shared faith. Alice is a recent graduate of the University of Texas a Austin where she studied Government and Women's and Gender Studies. She brings great love for books, coffee, and conversation, and cannot wait to meet everyone at Grace. Her first day at Grace Church is Tuesday, August 23rd.  After that day her email address will be alice@gracemedford.org.  Welcome Alice!




Grace Church parishioner, Oscar Greene, has been writing for many years.  At age 98, he is still writing.  His work has appeared in newspapers, magazines and anthologies. He is the author of several books:  House of Strangers, Hampton and the War Years, and From Homecoming to Twilight and Ruby: A Love Story.
 
When Father died in 1942, I traveled 900 miles by train from Illinois to Massachusetts to attend his funeral.
 
When the funeral services ended, I noticed a young stranger standing alone at the rear of the chapel. read more
Outreach Corner 
The next opportunity to help at St. Luke's Community Dining in Chelsea is August 27.  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 August 7 are coffee or tea.  The items for August 14 are tuna or rice.
Church Away from Church Summer Fun
Take Jesus with you on your travels this summer! Last year we watched on Facebook as #flatGrace journeyed with parishioners from London to Maine and many points in between. 

In 2016, #flatJesus (carrying His own #flatGrace) is ready to go! Take a photo of #flatJesus wherever you find yourself this summer, from your backyard barbecue to Timbuktu, and share it with us on Facebook or send us a paper copy for our bulletin board in the Parish Hall. Make sure to bring along your  Summer Church Attendance card with you to every church service you attend in July and August--completed cards can be entered into a raffle for a prize at the end of the summer! Download #flatJesus and instructions and join us for summer fun.
The Grace Garden
The Grace Garden grows produce for the food pantry. Peas and chives have been harvested and donated, and we've got beets, radishes, tomatoes, and green beans coming. We need help to tend the garden through the hot summer months, when weeding and watering are regular needs. Please consider helping for a week this summer! Just use the sign-up sheet in the parish hall, or see or email jane.hamel@gmail.com. We would also love help with the weekly deliveries on Thursday afternoons! Use this signup or email Jane to help out with that.
Other Announcements
 
Summer Service Schedule 
On Sundays, until Sunday, August 28th we will be on our summer service schedule with one service at 9:00AM. 

20s/30s Summer Sunday brunch
A casual brunch and conversation following the 9am summer service hosted by the Grace 20s30s Fellowship.  Email Karen at cata.lee.s91@gmail.com or Heather at h.louisethompson@gmail.com with any questions or to RSVP.   
Youth Leadership Academy
Our parishioners, Catherine and Elizabeth Woodbury, head off to Arizona and Mexico August 5 as part of the diocesan Youth Leadership Academy delegation.  Please pray for the Diocesan Youth Leadership Academy and their adult companions, that their trip be safe, that they remain in good health, and that they be open to the transformational power of the Spirit of God.  If you want to follow the group's progress, check out their blog at http://www.diomassyouth.org/apps/blog/. The group returns late in the evening August 12.

Noah to Be Honored at August 6 NAACP Breakfast for Community Service Work
This Mystic Valley Area NAACP is honoring Rev. Noah at its Freedom Fund Breakfast on August 6, at which he will receive the Wallace H. Kountze Community Service Award for all of his interfaith and community work.  This is a huge honor for Noah, who has put countless hours into organizing community events to ensure that Medford remains a place that celebrates and honors its diversity.  Please consider attending the event to support the NAACP and Noah.  The Freedom Fund Breakfast is the Mystic Valley Area NAACP's only fund raising effort for the entire year.  Go to  http://www.mva-naacp.org/ for tickets and more information.
   
Dining With Grace returns this Summer!
The popular Dining with Grace returns this summer with parishioners opening their homes for summer picnics in July and August.    Scheduled picnics will be listed on the back wall near the parish office - sign up and your host/hostess will tell you what to bring to this pot-luck picnic!  If you are interested in hosting a picnic, please let Margaret Smist or Cheryl Woodbury know when and where!
 
Barbara and Dan Kennedy's home in West Medford on Saturday August 13 at 3pm.   They can host up to 30 people.

The Woodbury home in Revere on Saturday, August 27th at 3 p.m.  We can host many people.  We have a large deck, large yard with pool and very short walk to beach as well.  We have a pet bird and two small hypo-allergenic dogs.

Healthy Returns @ Grace
Parental Caregivers Support Group
The August Parental Caregivers Support Group meeting will be Tuesday, August 23 at 7 PM. We also recommend as a resource guide, The 36 Hour Day(5th edition): A Family guide to Caring for People Who have Alzheimer disease, related Dementias and Memory Loss by Nancy Mace and Peter Rabins. For more information please contact Hallie Lee at hallies.lee@gmail.com.
 
Hiking in the Fells 
As part of Grace Church's new health initiative, Catherine Smith will lead  a hike in the Fells after the service on August 28.  Bring a lunch, water, and sneakers!  The hikes will start at Medford High School.  Each will consist of two 1-hour loops, so you can walk one or both loops.  Bring a friend!
 
Blessing of the Backpacks 
Sunday August 28th at 9AM service
Kids!! Bring your backpacks to the 9 am service on Sunday, August 28, 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 -- bring your cell phones and Blackberries to church for a blessing as you plunge back into the Fall routine.
 
Three Service schedule begins September 4
We return to service at 8AM, 10AM and 5PM on Sunday, September 4th.

Grace Women's Lunch
The Women of Grace Church meet for lunch, year-round, at John Brewer's Tavern in Malden on the first Wednesday of every month, at noon.  Please join us - no prior sign-up required.
 
Parish Picnic 
September 11 following the 10AM service
Hot dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers will be provided by the church.  Please bring a side salad, chips or dessert to share. A free will offering will be collected to cover the costs of the main meal.
 
Please bring the following if your last name begins with:
A-F: A dessert
G-J: Chips
K-Z: Sides and salads
Or just bring something you love to prepare and share!

Women's Book Club
The Women's Book Club meets every third Thursday, but does not meet in August.  Here are the upcoming book selections.
Sept 15 - The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith. For more information, email Genita Johnson at pawleyslegacy@verizon.net. 

Volunteers Needed
Sam McAndrew is the Volunteer Coordinator for the Malden YMCA. This summer They are running a program that provides free lunches to the communities of Everett, Malden and Medford. The Summer Food Program is taking place at 12 different sites throughout these communities. They are also providing some breakfasts and dinners. It takes place from July 5th through August 26th Monday through Friday. They are looking for volunteers.  Please contact him if you are interested at smcandrew@ymcamalden.org or 781-324-7680 ext. 217.  

Register for Children and Youth Programs 
Please register for Sunday School and for Wednesdays at Grace children's education classes.  Sunday School begins on Sunday, September 18th and Wednesdays at Grace programming begins on Wednesday, September 21.

Financial Peace University 
...coming to Grace Church this Fall!
We all need a plan for our money. Financial Peace University (FPU) is that plan! Through video teaching, class discussions and interactive small group activities, FPU presents biblical, practical steps to get from where you are to where you've dreamed you could be. This plan will show you how to get rid of debt, manage your money, spend and save wisely, and much more!  FPU classes will meet on Sundays from 12-1:30 PM each week for nine weeks, starting on 16 October.  The cost is $93 per family for the course materials. Scholarships are available.  Vin Maganzini (vincent.maganzini@gmail.com) and Sara Folta (sara@folta.net) will coordinate - just let them know if you have any questions.