The Rev. Elsa Worth
Rector 
The Rev. Nancy Gage
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Musical Interlude
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If you would like to have music when reading The Glow (or for whatever else you might be doing!), just click on the keyboard image and listen to Dave's prelude from last Sunday, "In the Presence of God" by Paul Hayes.
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Happenings-
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To see what's been going on in, and around, Grace, click on each of these links:
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| 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!
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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. |
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"The Glow" Archives:
To view previous issues of "The Glow", click here. |
  | | If you wish to subscribe to the Episcopal Diocese of CT weekly eNewsletters, please click HERE. |
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Click HERE to read this week's wellness message from Living Compass |
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| Dear friend,
"But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me."
-Mark 10:14
"Run along, there sonny. Don't bother the man. Go on, now. Scoot!" The disciples thought Jesus would have better things to do than to have his very serious discussion of the nature of human relationships interrupted by little children. But, Mark says, Jesus was indignant. Loving and welcoming those who were vulnerable was at the heart of Jesus' teaching. They were not to be pushed away or shunned, but embraced, understood and cared for. This went for children - and for all those who were oppressed, sick or poor or outcasts from society. "Let them come to me," Jesus said. "The kingdom of God belongs to such as these." And Jesus not only stopped what he was doing to welcome the children, he blessed them. Jesus seems to have lived a life full of interruptions. He'd be heading off for a time of quiet when dozens of sick people would come asking for healing. He'd be about to go across the lake when 5000 people needed food to eat. He'd be trying to get into the city when he'd pressed in upon by crowds of people on the road, all trying just to get a glimpse at him. And as we read today, in the middle of a serious debate with the Pharisees, people were bringing their children to him - hoping he'd touch them. Jesus didn't seem bothered by such interruptions. He simply received those in need with love and healing attention.
How do you react when your life is interrupted by someone who needs your attention? Are you able to offer hospitality to people's weaknesses as well as their strengths? How do the needs of others invite you into a deeper relationship with God, yourself and others?
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. |
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Peace,
The Rev. Elsa Worth
Grace Episcopal Church |
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Recovery Service - 3rd Anniversary
-this Sunday at 5:00!
Grace Church offers the Recovery Eucharist as a welcoming, come-as-you-are liturgy for all those who want to celebrate their recovery or the recovery of others in a worship setting. Rooted in the ancient Christian liturgical tradition, elements of the service are drawn from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. Eucharist is celebrated with grape juice instead of wine and everyone is welcome to take part in the communion.
The Rev. Jan Grinnell, preaching
Theme: Does God Have Limits?
Music with Dave McWilliams
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Commitment Sunday - October 14th
-please note the change in schedule
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 |
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Godly Play
-Sunday, October 14th, at a special time
 Because of the Commitment Sunday schedule, Godly Play will take place at approximately 5:30 pm on Oct 14, immediately following our service and right before our Thanksgiving dinner together. We'll be reviewing what we learned in the orientation at our last session and will experience our first story together. |
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Coffeehouse - diocesan shout out!
 Check out the the latest issue of the Weekly eNews from the Episcopal Diocese of CT here. Our Coffeehouse is listed under "Parish Pearls"! If you want to know what is going on in the CT Diocese and the greater Episcopal Church, we highly recommend subscribing to this informative newsletter. To sign up, click on the link provided here.
AND, we're already looking forward to the next Coffeehouse on Saturday, October 27th!
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 Tashua Apple Festival - this weekend
This popular annual event takes place this Saturday and Sunday 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.
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A Blessing of the Animals
 Elsa will be presiding at a service of Blessing for Animals in honor of St. Francis Day this Saturday, at 2 PM at Christ Church in Tashua. (during their Apple Festival.) Bring your dog, your cat, your birds or fish or lizards - All God's creatures are welcome! |
Candlelight Vigil - October 10th, 6:30 PM
 Join 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 |
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Diocesan Convention is October 19th & 20th
The annual convention of the diocese meets in Hartford soon. Elsa and Nancy will represent us as clergy delegates, and Dave Varker will be our lay delegate. The theme of the convention this year is "Claiming, Equipping and Sending," and Grace Church has taken active part in planning and leading the convention. Elsa, Ron Voges and John Chamberlain attended the convention planning session in August, and Elsa and John have been invited to lead part of the opening session on Friday morning. It's going to be a very interesting convention, and anyone is welcome to attend - you can register on line, here, or call the diocesan offices at 860-233-4481 (800-842-0126 in CT). Please extend your thanks to those who have taken time and energy to represent us in the wider church! If you have any questions about the upcoming convention, you can speak to any of our delegates.
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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! |
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Grace Choir
-our choir is looking to grow!
 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.
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This Week's Announcements
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Sunday, October 7th:
Eucharist service - 9:30 AM
Recovery Service - 5:00 PM
Night Prayers - 8:00 PM
Wednesday, October 10rd:
Guided Meditation - 7:00-7:25 AM
Candlelight Vigil, Trumbull Town Gazebo - 6:30 PM
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Sunday, October 14th:
Eucharist service - 4:00 PM
Godly Play - immediately following service, approximately 5:30 PM
Thanksgiving Dinner following service
Night Prayers - 8:00 PM
Wednesday, October 10th:
Guided Meditation - 7:00-7:25 AM
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