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,
"During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying,
'Come over to Macedonia and help us."
-Acts 16:9
Paul was eager to get moving and spread the good news. The problem was, he didn't really know where to start. He'd picked up his apprentice, Timothy, in Lystra. And the two of them set off with big hopes. But they were having a lot of false starts. Some areas just didn't feel right. They kept trying, but couldn't find a way into many regions. So when Paul had a clear vision of a man pleading with him to come and help the Macedonians, Paul eagerly went. When they'd been in the city for a number of days, the man in the vision didn't seem to be showing up. But one day, Paul and Timothy struck up a conversation with a group of women by the river. Perhaps they weren't getting much traction among the men! Anyway, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth and therefore a woman of means, listened attentively. And God opened her heart to Paul's words and she and her entire household were baptized. Lydia became one of Paul's greatest supporters, and the way of Jesus was brought to Macedonia through her. If Paul had kept searching only for the man from his vision and hadn't started speaking to that group of women, he might not have gotten a foothold in Macedonia at all. Have you ever had a vision of how something was supposed to be or how it was supposed to go, and it didn't turn out that way at all? Were you able to adjust your expectations and just go with the Spirit? What surprises awaited you when you did?
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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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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Saying "Thank You"  to Sarah...
Sarah Ginolfi has had a wonderful year among us as our Yale seminarian intern. She has had the opportunity to preach, to start a youth formation program, make connections between the youth at Grace and Christ Churches, have good conversations one on one with people of all ages and to discern her future in ministry. It hardly seems possible that her year with us is already coming to a close, but May 5 will be her last official Sunday as our intern.
Our monthly potluck is coming up on this Sunday, May 5, so it is well timed as a celebration of Sarah's year with us. Elsa will be presenting Sarah with a personal prayerbook inscribed with her name, and there will be a cake. You are encouraged to bring something special to contribute to the meal. There will also be a big card in the kitchen for people to sign in advance. Church members who would prefer to give Sarah a personal note are most welcome to do so.
Please plan to come and give Sarah a hearty thank you for her year of enthusiastic and energetic ministry among us all. The good news is that although we are bidding farewell to Sarah as our intern, happily, Sarah plans to remain a part of Grace Church this summer and during her last year of seminary next year and to continue her work with our youth in the Ancestors program. Although she won't be our intern, we can look forward to having her among us as a lay leader and community member. We are so very grateful for her commitment to this group of young people and her desire to carry through in teaching the New Testament portion of Ancestors next year, and that will be another thing to be thankful for on May 5!
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Vestry meeting to follow potluck on May 5th.
The vestry will meet following the lunch from 12-2, and anyone who'd like to attend is welcome. |
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Peaceful Parenting in a Noisy World
-this Saturday, May 4th, noon
Join a group of parents who want to pass the peace to their children and build a thoughtful spiritual foundation under their lives together as families. Parenting is not easy in any era, but this group wants to take an honest look at the particular challenges of our times, such as violence in society, hectic scheduling, screens and data, work/family tensions, consumerism, isolation, etc. The group will share their experiences with each other and support one another in moving forward as parents in joy and in faith. Parents of children of all ages are invited to take part. The topic of our first meeting will be "Parental Self Care." The first meeting is this Saturday, May 4 at noon in Lower Lewis Hall. Bring your own bag lunch and beverage. Child care can be available if you call the church office in advance to request it.
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 Men of Grace
-this Saturday, May 4th, 8:00 AM
Men of Grace (MOG) are invited to bring their shovels and rakes to Grace's front lawn, this Saturday, May 4th. We are planning to prepare some areas for plantings. A good time will be had by all! |
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Bring Your Cellphone to Church Sunday
-this Sunday, May 5th!
 On Sunday 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. |
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Mass in the Grass
-this Sunday, May 5th, 4:30 PM
Join us for two Sunday afternoon services - outside at Twin Brooks Park
May 5 and May 19, 4:30-5:00 pm
Rain or Shine
Under the trees near the playground and the Veteran's Memorial footbridge
Twin Brooks Park
A family friendly and casual service for all ages with communion
All are welcome at the table
Bring your family and your lawn chairs.
Sponsored by Grace Church and Christ Church in Trumbull
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Godly Play
-next Sunday, May 12th
Godly Play will meet this Sunday immediately following the service. The children will learn about the Good Shepherd.
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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 (yes, that's Gene pictured on the left!) 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. |
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Pentecost
-Sunday, May 19th, 10:00 AM @ St. John's
We will be hitting the road and heading down to St. John's Church in Bridgeport for the Deanery Pentecost service once again this year. If you'd like to carpool, please speak to Elsa. This festive yearly event is filled with the Spirit! There will be no service in our building that morning, and if you forget and come here to church, not to worry. The service starts at 10 in Bridgeport, so you'll still have time to get down there!
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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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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 |
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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. |
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This Week's Announcements
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Sunday, May 5th:
Eucharist service - 9:30 AM
Potluck and saying "thank you" to Sarah after coffee hour
Vestry meeting - noon-2:00 PM
Mass in the Grass at Twin Brooks - 4:30 PM
Wednesday, May, 1st:
Guided Meditation - 7:00-7:25 AM
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Sunday, May 12th:
Eucharist service - 9:30 AM
Godly Play immediately following service Wednesday, May 8th:
Guided Meditation - 7:00-7:25 AM
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