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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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,
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."
-Luke 21:33
Here in New England, people say that if you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes. It's just one example of how the only constant in life is change. Change is inevitable, and sometimes even the things we thought were constant, things that were our heaven and earth, pass away. Yet, deep at the heart of the whirlwind of change is something that is timeless and eternal. It's the anchor in the storm - the compass in the wilderness. It's a homebase - a lifeline. In the Christian tradition, one way people have described this center is "The Word." Other ways to name it include, "the Truth," "the Way" or "God." Do you trust that there is a changeless, eternal constant in the midst of this life of change? How would you name it? What is your anchor? Your compass? Your homebase? Your lifeline?
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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Happy New Year!
The first Sunday of Advent marks the first day of the new church year. We now enter Year C in the Sunday Lectionary cycle. Advent lasts for 4 Sundays, and then the Christmas season, which goes until Epiphany on January 6, begins on Christmas Eve after sundown. During Advent, we don't sing Christmas carols. In fact, most of the hymns during Advent are kind of somber. The Scriptural themes, like the apocalyptic readings on the first Sunday (today) and the readings about John the Baptist are not all that jolly. Sometimes people are surprised that in the church ,of all places, we're not all Christmassy in December, like the rest of the world is. But Advent is a special time of quiet preparation which allows Christmas even to be all the more joyful when it arrives!
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Advent Night Prayers - New Day and Time
A New Day and Time for Night Prayers during Advent: A candlelit half hour of quiet prayer and meditation each week in preparation for the arrival of Christmas - on the first 3 Mondays in Advent: Dec 3, 10 and 17 at 7:00 PM. |
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Godly Play and Ancestors
- this Sunday, December 2nd
Godly Play meets this Sunday. Godly Play will take place on the 1st and 4th Sunday of December instead of the 2nd and 4th so that we can celebrate the changing of the church season and year with the story of the Holy Family. Come up by the piano for a snack immediately following the service so we can get started right away!
Moses is the topic in our Ancestors group this Sunday. We'll meet at Christ Church at noon.
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Advent Pot Luck Supper
-next Friday, December 7th, 6:30 PM
 Come and join friends from both Grace Church and Christ Church as we get together for a good old-fashioned church supper. No sign ups - just bring your favorite dish to share. It'll be true "pot luck" and we'll trust that, as with the loaves and fishes, we'll enjoy a great meal and good fellowship with our church friends. The ping pong table will be out for the kids and all ages are welcome. Come join the fun on Friday, December 7th at 6:30.
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Blanket Drive for Immigrants and Refugees
- ending this Sunday, December 2nd.
Just as we did last year, we're collecting blankets, as well as pots and pans, for recent immigrant and refugee families in New Haven through IRIS, Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services in New Haven, a program of the Episcopal Diocese of CT. Jody Irwin of Christ Church is coordinating the Trumbull effort this year. New or lightly used blankets or cookware are welcome. Chris George of IRIS says they are in need of at least 150 blankets this year, in addition to cookware. If you have a donation to contribute, you can leave it in our church office, which Jody will collect on Sunday, December 2nd, or you can contact Jody directly at 203-452-9366 to drop them off to her. Please try to make your donation to our office by the end of next week so the items will be ready for Jody's pickup, and ready to deliver to New Haven before Thanksgiving. For more information on IRIS, you can visit www.irisct.org
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Teddy Bears - A Mission of Comfort
 After Hurricane Katrina, Camp Washington collected over 1000 teddy bears from parishes across CT, which they sent to Gulf Coast children who'd lost their homes. Now they hope to do the same for children in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut who recently lost their homes during Hurricane Sandy. Interested in helping out? We can either gather bear donations in the office and then find a volunteer to get them up to Camp Washington before Dec 22, or individuals can mail their own bears to Camp Washington at 190 Kenyon Road, Lakeside CT, 06758. Speak to Elsa if you'd like to coordinate the Teddy Bear effort for Grace Church. |
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Holiday Boutique and Bake Sale
-this Friday, December 1st!
Christ Church Tashua's Episcopal Church Women's chapter is having a Holiday Boutique and Bake sale this weekend. Everyone is invited to join them for some shopping and baked goodies! There will be a number of vendors selling various items that are great for the upcoming holidays or just for everyday use! Stop by the undercroft of Christ Church, 5170 Madison Avenue in Trumbull on Saturday, Dec 1st from 10am - 4pm |
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Christmas Flowers/Decorations Memorials
 If you wish to donate to providing Christmas flowers/decorations and/or memorials, please do so no later than Monday, December 17th. Donation envelopes and memorial slips are available in the rear of the church and may be submitted in the Sunday collection plate, or returned to the church office.
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"Happenings" highlights:
- Thanks to our friends at Leftfield Pictures, you can click here to view a short video of our GLOW Festival that took place in June.
- To see pictures from Trumbull's Interfaith Thanksgiving service, click here.
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This Week's Announcements
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Sunday, December 2nd:
Eucharist service - 9:30 AM
Godly Play - immediately following service
Ancestors - noon at Christ Church
Monday, December 3rd:
Night Prayers - 7:00 PM
Tuesday, December 4th:
Vestry meeting - 7:00 PM
Wednesday, December 5th:
Guided meditation - 7:00-7:25 AM
Friday, December 7th:
Advent Potluck Supper with Christ Church in Church Hall - 6:30 PM
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Sunday, December 9th:
Eucharist service - 9:30 AM
Monday, December 10th:
Night Prayers - 7:00 PM
Wednesday, December 12th:
Guided Meditation - 7:00-7:25 AM
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