At our annual meeting last Sunday, Elsa charged Grace Church with three important tasks.

• To decide which outreach and mission activities we will engage in this winter and spring to keep sowing the seeds of God's healing love out into our community and make Grace known as a place of healing and wholeness
• To consider all possible clergy leadership models as we move into the future - full time, part time, shared leadership or having no clergy at all; and to specifically explore the possibility of clergy sharing with Christ Church.
• To consider our property and its uses, exploring ways to either increase our income through our property or to decrease our property costs.  No possible options will be off the discussion table.

Each individual in our church has been asked to consider which area interests and animates them most and to put their name on that working group's list. You will find these lists posted on the wall downstairs today. We will all move forward in organizing these teams into working groups at the next vestry meeting on Sunday, March 10 (to which all are invited). Between now and then, you are encouraged to continue the important conversations about these tasks that we began last Sunday, and to continue to add more questions and ideas to the newsprint for each area. You are welcome to add your questions and ideas to any of the three areas, but you are asked to put your name in only one working group. If you missed the meeting and have questions, please speak to Elsa or a vestry member during coffeehour. Time to get to work!

Wednesday, February 13th marks the first day of Lent. We will mark the occasion with two services this year:

2:30 - 4PM: Ashes to Go - at the bus stop in front of Starbucks in Trumbull Center with the clergy of Grace and Christ Church.  To see details and coverage of last year's event, click here. 

7PM: Ash Wednesday Liturgy - in the church

The vestry has decided to hold its meetings on the second Sunday of each month, beginning on March 10. This change not only fits better with our current vestry members' schedules, but it also gives everyone in the parish the opportunity to attend, stay informed and get involved. Also on every second Sunday, beginning March 10, we'll be having a potluck lunch in the church hall after church. Who doesn't love a good potluck lunch? Please mark your calendars now to remember to bring something yummy to share. The vestry meeting will then take place following lunch, and all are invited.

Our new part time custodian, Angel Acevedo, began work last week. We welcome him to our staff. Angel lives in Ansonia, CT with his wife and young daughter and is excited to be with us.

Certainly you've noticed the used clothing shed in our back parking lot.  Please spread the word about this new outreach project -laminated posters and small flyers are available to post and share.  Clothes donated into the shed are picked up by St. Pauly's, who distributes them all to people in need across the globe through their connection with larger agencies.  All of the usable clothing that gets donated makes its way to people in need, saving landfill space.  Items accepted include clothing, shoes, sneakers, belts, linens, pillow cases, blankets, curtains and stuffed animals.  (Please do not put rags, fabric scraps, pillows, toys, household goods or electronics in the shed.)  Grace church receives 4 cents per pound on all items collected in exchange for hosting the shed. For further info on this project, there is information about St. Pauly's available in coffee hour, or click on this link: St. Pauly's.  

If you and your spouse were married on or before December 31, 1963, you are invited to attend a special 50th anniversary liturgy held each spring in Hartford. Whether or not you can make it to the service, we can make sure you are included in the prayers that day. If you and your spouse have been married for 50 years or more and you'd like to be included in any way or if you have questions about the event, please call Maryann in the office.