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 to listen (or download) music performed by Dave during our services.
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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,
"Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
-Hebrews 4:12
Remember the story of the Emperor's New Clothes? The Emperor and his court and all his subjects were all so caught up in appearances and trying to fit in that they couldn't even see what was right in front of their own eyes. The emperor, wanting to be at the height of fashion, believed the scam of the tailors and pretended he could see the grand but imaginary suit. Not wanting to offend him, his court all felt they had to agree that it was the lovliest suit they'd ever seen. When the king paraded down the street, even all his subjects ooh-ed and ahh-ed about the Emperor's new clothes that weren't really there. It was only when a little child with unclouded eyes, said, "Why is the Emperor naked?" that they could see themselves and what they were doing. The Emperor was, indeed, naked. And they were all acting crazy! Those few words cut through soul and spirit, joints and marrow and straight to the truth they already knew in the hearts.
God has a way of cutting straight to the heart of things. Maybe that's why we so often try to avoid God! Do you know what it feels like to be in denial? Do you know what it feels like to suddenly recognize a self deception? When has the word of God cut you to the marrow, pierced you to the heart or awakened you from a haze?
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 |
Commitment Sunday - service this Sunday at 4:00 PM instead of at 9:30 AM.
This 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 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!
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Godly Play
-this Sunday at a special time
 Because of the Commitment Sunday schedule, Godly Play will take place at approximately 5:30 pm this Sunday, 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! Needed items: Individually wrapped cookies, and cans or bottles of water and other soft drinks. |
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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 14th:
Eucharist service - 4:00 PM
Godly Play - immediately following service at approximately 5:30 PM
Thanksgiving supper - following the service
Night Prayers - 8:00 PM
Tuesday, October 16th
Vestry meeting - 7:00 PM
Wednesday, October 17th:
Guided Meditation - 7:00-7:25 AM
Friday-Saturday, October 19-20th
Diocesan Convention - Hartford
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Sunday, October 21st:
Eucharist service - 9:30 AM
Ancestors - Noon at Grace Church
Night Prayers - 8:00 PM
Wednesday, October 24th:
Guided Meditation - 7:00-7:25 AM
Combined Vestry meeting at Christ Church - 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 27th:
Coffeehouse - 7:00 PM
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