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Sunday Service
 
9:00 AM
Celebrant and Preacher: 
The
Rev. Roger Nelson
Musician:
Nicholas Hayes 
LEM I: 
Agnes Opara
LEM II:
Rochenet Joseph
Chioma Opara
Margaret Smist
Acolytes: Tori Spence, Becca Spence and Jackson Hughes-Page
Ushers:
Steve Duggan and Aram Smith
Altar Guild
Olivia Bracken
Vestry Person of the Day:
Jeffrey Quilter
Nursery:
Melanie Edgecomb and Timmy Lwanga
Counters:
Steve Duggan and Naida Gavrelis
Coffee Hour:  
Tom Hamel, coffee.  Food Host needed
 
*click on link to prepare for this week's readings
Birthdays

David Choi (8/21); Keith Corcoran (8/21); Linda Foote (8/25); Adam Pearson (8/26) and Rev. Noah Evans (8/27).

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!
August forums for feedback on The Diocese of Massachusetts Mission Strategy Draft
The Mission Strategy Drafting Team is meeting to create a long range plan for mission.

The draft mission strategy will be available in early August.  After its release, the team will hold multiple forums around the diocese, inviting members of the diocesan community to imagine how the mission strategy might give shape and life to the shared ministries of the diocese in the near future. read more

Phone and online surveys also will be available for those who cannot attend a forum in person.  The surveys will be open Aug. 8-22, online at tinyurl.com/draftforum and by phone, toll free, at 855-208-5877.
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 item for August 21 is cereal.  The items for August 28 are coffee and tea.
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 Sunday brunch
A casual brunch and conversation following the 9am summer service hosted by the Grace 20s/30s Fellowship.  Email Karen at cata.lee.s91@gmail.com or Heather at h.louisethompson@gmail.com with any questions or to RSVP.   
   
Dining With Grace returns this Summer!
Dining with Grace returns this summer with parishioners opening their homes for summer picnics.  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!  
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. 

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.