
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- |
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,
"My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me."
John 10:27
Have you ever tried to call an animal you don't know? Maybe it's a cat you've seen in your yard and you want to see if it's got a collar and license, so you go out and call, "Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty." Or maybe you see a stray dog dangerously near the street and you want to call it away from danger. You try whistling, you say, "Come on, doggy." Chances are, such animals don't come to you because they don't know you from a hole in the wall. Animals only trust people with whom they have a relationship. Jesus' words suggest that those who follow him are in relationship with him. They know his voice - and he knows them and and calls them by name. How would you describe Jesus' voice in your life? What are some of the other voices you might follow? How would you describe your relationship with these other things - and with Jesus?
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 |
The Three Working Groups at Grace
- The Mission Working Group (how will we sow the seeds of God's healing love out into our community this spring to make Grace known as a well of healing and wholeness?)
- The Property/Financial Resources Working Group (how can we use/manage our property and funds to support our mission?)
- The Leadership Resources Working Group (what kind of ordained and lay leadership is necessary to support our mission?)
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Ancestors News
This Saturday, April 20th, the Ancestors group will venture over the St. John's in Bridgeport to participate in an emerging ministry with the domestic worker community. Many of these families are from Latin America. Following a communal meal, Meghan Vessel, a seminarian linked to St. John's will facilitate a meeting for the domestic worker folks and Sarah, our seminarian, will facilitate games and activities for any children who show up. All interested can meet at Grace at 11am and we'll aim to finish by 2:15pm. If able to come, please let Sartah know if you can help with either drinks or main course offerings. Please contact Sarah Ginolfi at 717-575-7137 with any questions.
Next Sunday, April 28th, the Ancestors group will have their final class of the year right after the service at Christ Church (at about 11:15am). We'll look at Daniel and Jonah. Then, for all interested/already committed, we'll head on over to Seaside Park in Bridgeport to participate with the Episcopal Deanery's Walk Against Hunger team. The walk begins at 1pm. Please visit ctfoodbank.org/walk for details or contact Sarah Ginolfi at 717-575-7137.
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Godly Play -next Sunday, April 28th
Godly Play will meet next Sunday immediately following the service. The children will learn about the Good Shepherd.
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The Gift of Guest Musicians
We have been unusually fortunate at Grace to have a number of different guest musicians come and play at Grace with Dave over the past year. They have always come as a favor to Dave and at no charge to Grace Church. We'd like to establish a guest musician fund so that Dave can offer honoraria to guest musicians. If you enjoy the beauty and variety that guest musicians provide to our services, please consider giving a gift directly to this fund in the envelope provided in our booklet Sunday, which can be placed in the collection plate. We are very grateful to Dave and all his colleagues for the gift of uplifting music! Please use the envelopes provided for these donations.
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Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Join Officer Gary MacNamara, police chief in Fairfield, in standing up against violence next Saturday at the "Walk a Mile In Her Shoes" event in Fairfield center. This event is meant to raise awareness about domestic and sexual violence. It would be great to have a peaceful team from Grace Church take part. Donations written to the "Center for Women and Families" can be made at the event.
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Greater Bridgeport Walk Against Hunger -next Sunday, April 28th, 1:00 PM
Our youth will be joining the youth of Christ Church in the annual
Bridgeport Walk Against Hunger at Seaside Park next Sunday, April 28th at 1:00 PM.
The event raises funds to provide fresh groceries, fresh produce and hot meals to hungry children, families, seniors and individuals through the Connecticut Food Bank, which provides food to people who are serviced by approximately 600 food-assistance programs in Fairfield, Litchfield, New Haven, New London, Middlesex and Windham counties. A $7 contribution will provide someone in need with one week of meals and give hope for a better tomorrow. Last year, hundreds of walkers helped raise enough funds to distribute $1.2 million worth of food at wholesale value. Checks made out to the "Connecticut Food Bank" can be given to Sarah to deliver - or you might want to join in and walk yourself. For more information click here.
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Live Longer and Get Stronger -this Sunday, April 21st at 1:00 PM
This lively series for seniors continues this and next Sunday from 1-3 in the Lewis Hall meeting room. This week our own Tom and Fiona demonstrate their ballroom dancing skills and we talk about the joy of movement. Mouse would be happy to talk with you about the series. She been having so much fun at these meetings she wants everyone to come along!
Come and meet others who want to live longer and get stronger, to smile, learn how to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, retain mental acuity, increase bone density and muscle mass and increase joy and happiness on a daily basis. For more information, visit www.gracetrumbull.org.
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Bishops' 5k Run - Saturday, May 18th
This is the day to get out for some good exercise and fun at the annual 5K to raise money for at-risk children in CT. We've got a team started (Spirit of Trumbull) and you're welcome to come along, as a runner, a walker or a cheerleader! We'll be collecting pledges for our runners and walkers at coffeehour on April 28, May 5 and May 12, so please bring your checkbooks if you'd like to donate. Our head cheerleader, Gene Sanislo or his helpers would be happy to receive your pledges. More information about the Bishops' 5K Run for Kids, including registration and contribution links, can be found here. |
IMPORTANT: Your input requested this week
A number of the Episcopal churches in the Bridgeport deanery, spearheaded by a member of Trinity Church in Nichols, are thinking of booking the Vienna Boys Choir (yes, THE Vienna Boy's Choir) for a concert at the Klein Auditorium in Bridgeport as a fundraiser for our various music programs. Because those Vienna Boys don't come cheap, we need to find out if we could cover the basic cost of the event with advance ticket sales. Here's the info: The concert would be scheduled on a Tuesday evening in December and would be a festive family friendly holiday themed concert. Tickets in the back of the auditorium would be $20 each and prices would range from there up to the best seats in the house for $80 each. Advance ticket sales would need to take place this summer to cover the cost of the choir. All proceeds from the concert would come back to our churches. If people are not willing to commit to making advanced ticket purchases to cover the basic expenses, the planning group will go no further in its planning. That's why we need to hear from you. The planning group needs to know if you might be willing to purchase tickets this summer for yourself, to give as gifts to others or to sell to friends for this special holiday event that will raise money for our music program. Please take a moment to CLICK HERE to record your response to this survey - this is not a purchase, only a survey. Your input will help the group decide whether this event can go forward or not. |
Ecumenical Men's Bible Study
There has been a faithful group of men who meet on Friday mornings for Bible Study here at Grace Church for many years. Some of them go to our church, some to others. They're just starting on the Book of Acts, which is very appropriate to the Easter season and invite newcomers to join them. The group meets in the library over in Lewis Hall at 6:30 a.m. (although some members arrive at 6:45 and sometimes even 7:00) If you want to learn about the Scriptures, you're welcome to arrive when you can. The meeting lasts about an hour, and then closes with prayers for concerns, healing, and thanksgivings. Afterwards, members go to have some breakfast. If you'd be interested in a bible study, but the early Friday time doesn't work for you, perhaps a weekend or evening time might work better. Please let Dave Varker know at dvarke@att.net, or (203) 231-9539 if you'd like to join a men's bible study.
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Bring Your Cellphone to Church Sunday -Sunday, May 5th!
On that morning you're invited to take pictures and videos of what's going on during the service, and to Tweet, Instagram, Facebook or text your friends about what you're up to. Show them the windows! Share the music! Summarize the sermon! Invite them to come with you sometime! As long as your sounds are off, the possibilities are endless. |
Camp Washington Summer Camp
 Registration for summer camp at Camp Washington is now open for all children, ages 5 & up. The camp is located in the Litchfield Hills and is operated by our diocese. For more information and registration forms, click here |
Used Clothing Shed
 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. |
50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration - at Christ Church Cathedral on May 5th
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.
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This Week's Announcements
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Sunday, April 21st:
Eucharist service - 9:30 AM
Live Longer series in Lewis Hall - 1:00 PM
Wednesday, April 24th:
Guided Meditation - 7:00-7:25 AM
Saturday, April 27th:
"Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" at Fairfield train station - 8:30 AM
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Sunday, April 28th:
Eucharist service - 9:30 AM
Godly Play immediately following service
Ancestors at Chris Church - 11:15 AM
Live Longer series in Lewis Hall - 1:00 PM Walk Against Hunger at Seaside Park - 1:00 PM Wednesday, May, 1st:
Guided Meditation - 7:00-7:25 AM
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