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For Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, September 30, 2012

                    Sunday's readings here.
Elsa 20120325
The Rev. Elsa Worth
Rector
Email Elsa:
 [email protected]

Click HERE to read Elsa's blog 

Nancy 20120325
The Rev. Nancy Gage
Deacon
Email Nancy:
[email protected]

 Dave 2
David McWilliams

Minister of Music
Email Dave: [email protected] 
 

Grace Church Office Hours:

Mon-Fri: 1-5 pm
203-268-2809
Email: 
[email protected]
Happenings-
To see what's been going on in, and around, Grace, click on each of these links:
Musical Interlude
If you would like to see and hear Jessica Dickinson and Dave perform "Andante Cantabile" by Katharine E. Lucke, just click on the cello!
Sermons Online
Just a reminder that if you missed a sermon from one of our services (or want to see it again!), you can click here to link to the site. In some cases we have, also, provided a text version if you would prefer to read it.  
Also, you can click on "Sermons" in the email header above to connect to the site. 
Please share this site with your friends.
We are the CEREAL church!
Cereal
For a long time, Grace
Church has been delivering canned goods and other food donations down to the St. Luke's/St. Paul's Food Pantry in Bridgeport. They urgently need donations of all kinds of groceries, but one of the items that they seem to run out of and need a lot of is cereal.

If all of us could remember to pick up a box of cereal (or two or more!)  each time we shop, we'll be able to make a wonderful and much needed contribution for the food pantry each week.  There is a collection basket at the main entrance of the church, and also one in lower Lewis Hall.
"The Glow" Archives:
To view previous issues of "The Glow", click here.
Episcopal Crest Episcopal loga
If you wish to subscribe to the Episcopal Diocese of CT weekly eNewsletters, please click HERE.


Living Compass
Click HERE to read this week's wellness message from Living Compass





Dear friend,  
Salted

   

"For everyone will be salted with fire."

-Mark 9:49

 

Life doesn't always go smoothly. There will be bumps in the road, times of trouble, periods of pain - or as Jesus says - everyone will be salted with fire. Just like table salt intensifies the flavor of food, our difficulties can often bring depth and clarity into our lives. For example, the Israelites were hungry. All they'd had for weeks upon weeks was that bland, crusty manna to eat every morning, and they were dreaming of the fish, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic they used to enjoy back in their slavery days in Egypt. Each time they had to withstand another meal of manna, it was as if fire was salting their mouths and their souls. And they were quick to complain to Moses, and Moses, too, was nearly dried up by all their griping - almost burned to a crisp by the fire they were salting him with as their solo leader.   God responded by providing a new and deeper community around Moses and among the Israelites. God empowered seventy leaders to work alongside of Moses and filled them all with the fire of the spirit. Life would still be salted with fire for them, but at least they were together in it in a new way.

 

Where we see intractible problems, God finds unexpected ways to open us into a deeper life of shared community and ministry. When has your life been salted with fire? When have your difficulties led to deeper connections with yourself, God or others? How have these difficult times enhanced the flavor of life for you?

 

Here at Grace Church we are dancing with life's big questions. If you're searching for a community of faith to belong to, we invite you to come to explore, come to connect and come to believe among us here at Grace Church. We'd enjoy both your company and your participation as we follow in the way of Jesus and learn and grow in discipleship together.
Peace,
 
Elsa Signature

The Rev. Elsa Worth
Grace Episcopal Church

Coffeehouse Begins
                             -this Saturday night at 7:00!
Beatnik

Our new monthly coffeehouse for teens begins this Saturday, September 29th and will happen from 7-9pm on the last Saturday of each month thereafter. The coffeehouse will be a chaperoned, sober event sponsored by Grace Church and offered to the teens of Trumbull and surrounding communities for the purpose of providing a welcoming and accepting space for teens to be themselves, to enjoy music and the arts, and to grow in community.  

 

Church members can support this event in two ways:  

  1. Volunteering as a chaperone or;
  2. Baking treats or donating individually wrapped snacks or drinks to sell at the coffeehouse each month. If you'd like to volunteer or if you have questions, contact Dave M, Avery or Jon.

Ancestors
                     -meets this Sunday at noon 

People in middle school and their parents will gather for lunch and an exploration of Noah, the Obedient Eccentric this Sunday at noon at Christ Church in Tashua. Our materials have arrived! Please bring $35 per student to cover the cost of your new Bible and Anti-Workbook!


Tashua Apple Festival

This popular annual event takes place on October 6th and 7th at Christ Church. How can you support it? You can order a pie in advance, volunteer to help make pies, even help out on fair day. Let's show our friends in Tashua a new level of faithful assistance and hospitality by helping them make their fair a great success.


Commitment Sunday - October 14th
                                       -please save this date.

 Following Jesus - that's what we're called to do every day in everything we do.  It's about being kind and loving, open and honest, vulnerable and real in our relationships, in our actions, in our choices.  Being mindful of stewardship means being mindful of how we spend ourselves - our time, our energy, our gifts, our resources.  There are a lot of ways to live out our faithful stewardship.  But they say that you can tell what a person's priorities really are by looking at their checkbook.  How we share our financial resources in the world says a lot about what we value most, what and who we choose to support, and how we steward our lives.  Maybe that's why more than half of Jesus' parables had something to do with managing money and possessions!

 

On Sunday October 14th, we will have our annual commitment Sunday.  Good stewardship is something we practice all year round, but once a year, we put aside a special Sunday for one particular aspect of stewardship - making and consecrating our financial pledges to the church.  On that Sunday, stewardship visitors will visit each and every church member throughout the morning and early afternoon.  These visits are a wonderful way to share our love for Grace Church in both words and deeds.  Once everyone has been visited and all the pledge cards for 2013 have been collected, we gather for worship  at 4:00 in the afternoon (instead of in the morning.)  Following the service, we celebrate with a festive dinner, when we will find out what we have raised together to support our ministry in the coming year.  This year, our dinner will be a thanksgiving feast to express our gratitude to God and to each other!

 

Please save the date - October 14.  It'll be a special one for our church community
Candlelight Vigil - October 10th, 6:30 PM
CandlesJoin Elsa and other concerned citizens at the Trumbull Library and Town Gazebo on Wednesday, October 10 at 6:30 PM for a candlelight vigil sponsored by the Center for Women and Families (CWF) in Bridgeport.  There are many families hurt by violence that are in deep need of God's healing.  This event raises both awareness and funds for the important work of CWF
Grace Choir
                      -our choir is looking to grow!
Choir We're currently looking for new choir members of all ages and abilities for the fall when rehearsals will begin.  Please consider supporting our thriving music program by becoming a member. Can't read music? Not a problem!  Have no experience? None is necessary!  You just need a willingness to learn and be part of a truly unique and fulfilling experience! Talk to Dave or any other choir member if you're considering.  Choir rehearsals are brief and take place immediately after coffee hour on Sundays.
Installation Service for Rev. Todd Shipley
                                  -this Sunday at 4:00 PM

Perhaps you have enjoyed a sermon by our friend Todd at one of the Recovery Services. If so, you might want to come and celebrate with him as he is formally installed as the minister of Unity Hill Congregational Church here in Trumbull on this Sunday at 4 pm. Elsa will be delivering the pastoral prayer at the service. Come help fellow brothers and sisters in Christ celebrate their new mutual ministry together.

Broadway on Main Street
 We're hoping that on the evening of November 10th, with the help of Dave McWilliams, singers from our choir and the choirs of other neighboring churches will gather to sing Broadway show tunes to raise money for the Center for Women and Families (CWF) in Bridgeport.  October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and although our date is in November, we hope our musical efforts will help those who are healing from violence.  More details are to come - meanwhile, save the date!
 
                    This Week's Announcements

Sunday, September 30th:

Eucharist service - 9:30 AM

Ancestors - noon at Christ Church, Tashua

Installation of Rev. Todd Shipley at Unity Hill Congregational Church - 4:00  

Night Prayers - 8:00 PM

 

Wednesday, October 3rd:
Guided Meditation - 7:00-7:25 AM
 
Upcoming Events

Sunday, October 7th:

Eucharist service - 9:30 AM

Recovery Service - 5:00 PM 

Night Prayers - 8:00 PM     

Wednesday, October 10th:                      

Guided Meditation - 7:00-7:25 AM

Candlelight Vigil, Trumbull Town Gazebo - 6:30 PM   

Night Prayers                               Night
Have you tried Night Prayers yet? It is a truly special and peaceful event. Fill your tank by candlelight for the week ahead - this Sunday and every Sunday night at 8PM
Party Card


Church Hall available for community functions



For additional information and Church Hall availability, click
.