Grace Episcopal Church Newsletter
Week of Sunday, September 13, 2015
Grace Episcopal Church 
104 North Washington Street
North Attleboro, MA 02760
Social-Economic Partnership Initiatives Between CRESEST, Episcopal Church U.S.A. and the Anglican Church of Tanzania Diocese of Mpwapwa

Saint Luke's Health Care (LHC) is an encouraging story of the Diocese' efforts to the region. It started as a clinic with few staff and limited services. Since St. Luke's had all the qualities needed for a health center, the Tanzanian government permitted the clinic to be a recognized Health 
Center and the official opening was done by the Prime Minister of United Republic of Tanzania. Now the Center provides a variety of services such as Outpatient and Inpatient. In the outpatient department there is a clinical laboratory, pre-natal clinic, family planning, pharmacy, minor surgery, injections and dressing and counseling services. The Inpatient department provides maternity services 24/7. The average delivery is 5 babies per day. The maternity ward has 24 beds.
 
Fr. Jon and Fr. Kutta getting the discussion going with St. Luke's leadership after seen works and needs of St. Luke's

We visited this hospital, met with its leaderships and we witnessed its work. We were also told about their long term vision to be a medical center with specialties in women and children. The need to legitimize itself as a viable partner in health care has called for new initiatives. Most important is its great reputation among the people of Mpwapwa has called for the expansion of LHC to enhance and expand its services in the district of Mpwapwa. Despite its challenges and shortfalls to provide comprehensive care, LHC remains a hope to the people of Mpwapwa, especially women and children.

The parish of St. Andrea is located near to Queen Esther Girls' High School, formally Chamhawi Bible School, and 7 miles from town in the mountains of Chamhawi.  Fr. Jon and I visited this place, which shares a rich history in ACT. The Anglican missionaries allocated this mountain area as an education center for their evangelical efforts in Mpwapwa in 1881, and in 1958. St. Andrea has 322 members, among them, 180 are children. Currently the parish of St. Andrea runs a pre-school in its unfinished church building. There are about 40 children attending this school.


That year, 12 graduated to enter 1st grade in primary school. Jon and I were blessed to attend their graduation. The long term project for St. Andrea is to build an English-medium education center, both pre-school and primary school, to mountain villages around Chamuhai.

After Jon's safe departure to Boston, I returned to Tanga and Mpwapwa. This provided me more time to meet with people, practice ministry among them, talk more about our Diocese of MA, and make connections. I had opportunities to teach seminars and be a keynote speaker at the memorial service of Bishop Frank Weston, the Anglican Saint in Tanzania. Then I got to speak with Anglican students of St. John's University and preached in the Cathedral of St. Albano in Dar-es-salaam about the needs for further training and the importance of Anglican Communion, especially between ECUSA and ACT. The message was well received and led to multiple invitations to speak in various Anglican churches and groups about such need of social gospel, unity within Anglican Communion, and our ACT and ECUSA partnership. 










I also stayed longer to see the works which we supported by our contributions from the grant which we got from the diocese. I am here reporting that I saw tremendous progress of the works we supported. With our grant of $8,000 the matching grant from the Mission Tithing grant from the Together Now campaign, the girls will have running water and electricity in their shower rooms, laundry room, bathrooms and dormitory. They will have an addition of new classrooms and a laboratory, and additional dormitory which students live in which has been renovated. So our financial contribution has made a huge difference. My 2015 mission trip to Tanzania will provide me with another privilege to witness the works which now Grace and St. Paul support jointly.

In the pictures above, Fr. Kutta's second visit to Chamuhawi, Mpwapwa, gave him more time to further discussions on the development of St. Andrea, see by his eyes the works of renovation of Queen Esther, and meet with the students when classes were in session.

To the left and below is the location of current school and below are the ongoing constructions for the expansion of the school.















The Way Forward - for the rest of Rev. Phillips article in his own words please READ MORE HERE
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RETURN TO REGULAR WORSHIP HOURS

 

Return to regular worship hours this weekend September 12th and 13th.

 

Service with Holy Eucharist is offered on Saturdays at 4:30pm and Sundays at 8:00 & 10:00am.

WORSHIP WITH US

 

Holy Eucharist Service

Saturdays

4:30pm

  

Holy Eucharist Service

Sundays

8:00am & 10:00am


 Please join us for  

fellowship and refreshments following the 9am service

 

JOIN US - UPCOMING EVENTS

Painting Memorial Raffle
- Extended!

Prayer Circle
- Saturday, 9/12 @ 9am

Return to Regular Worship Hours
- September 13th

Sunday School Classes begin
- Sunday, September 13th @ 9am

Welcome Back Picnic
- September 13th
(weather permitting)

Creation Care Service
- Sunday, October 4th


Quick Links
STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE 2015

Questions:

Please call the office at 508-695-5471 or email Sherry at office@gracechurchna.org  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
SEPTEMBER
Kerry Osbourne Azzu
September 1

Deborah Werner
September 2

John Mangili
September 4

Emily Tetreault
September 5

Richard Williams
September 10

Fred Fish
September 13

Raegan Booth
September 14

Eric Gouck
September 15

Amanda Matte
September 15

Nicole Matte
September 15

Colby Johnson
September 21

Michael Tetreault
September 22

Brenda White
September 22

Jo Ann Bourgeois
September 23

Diane Ward
September 27

Don't see your birthday listed? Please let us know by calling or emailing the parish office so we can add your special day to our database. 
Click on the email link below:
 
Forward to a Friend 
Sunday School Curriculum News

Grace Episcopal Sunday School is excited to introduce a new curriculum this year called "Weaving God's Promises". We have purchased 2 programs to accommodate our all age groups through 8th grade.Weaving God's Promises is an engaging three year Christian education curriculum, created specifically for Episcopal children and youth. It contains common Episcopal content and explores stories in creative ways appropriate for each age group. While it is not a lectionary based program, it does include Bible stories that fit into the Episcopal Church's revised common lectionary for years A, B and C. Theological and historical information on the Anglican/Episcopal history and heritage is part of every session plan. Class sessions are structured around the Holy Eucharist as set forth in the Book of Common Prayer:o Gathering: Simple activities focusing the children on the lesson to come.o Telling the Sacred Story (Liturgy of the Word): Telling the biblical story.o Prayer (Prayers of the People): Giving thanks to God for God's presence with us.o Sharing (Holy Communion): A time of fellowship with time for sharing that week's story.o Sending Forth: Closing prayer sends the children/youth to worship or back to their homesEach session also has age appropriate activities that are fun and appealing. Activities include drama, crafts, games, discussion questions and more. This is a great way to accommodate several learning styles and abilities.The "Mission" of Weaving God's PromisesTo teach children and youth how God's promises of salvation are woven into our lives.To teach children and youth the way of Christ, not only in the church but also in the world as Christ's ambassadors.To give children and youth a solid grounding for future youth and high-school formation programs, to prepare them for Christian adulthood.To foster the spiritual formation and growth of our children and youth in Christ's love and mercy and to teach the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation.The Three Years of Weaving God's PromisesYear One: Weaving Our FaithYear Two: Weaving Together the Family of God
Year Three: Weaving God's Beloved Community

We look forward to introducing this new curriculum to all our Grace Kids.

Please let me know if you would like additional information or have any questions with regard to this program.

Blessings,
G.Sharpe
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
September 13th - Sunday School Classes begin 9 am upstairs (Children must be registered before attending class)

September 20th - Blessing of the Backpacks - Please bring your backpacks to church!

Note that registration forms can also be found under the Sunday School Bulletin Board in the hallway. Please complete and leave in Sherry's office in the Sunday School bin on the wall.

We are also welcoming volunteers in the Sunday School program. All volunteers must be Cori Checked and be Grace Church Members for more than 6 months. Please contact G. Sharpe if you can help us.

We are excited to present our new curriculum - Weaving God's Promise.

Don't forget to bring your smiles!
Blessings,
G. Sharpe

Grace Church Choir News
Do you like to sing? Are you available to attend choir practices on Thursday evenings, from 7:30 - 9:00pm? 
If the answer is yes, then we invite you to join us at our annual choir potluck supper, which this year is being held on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6:30, and then to stay for our first rehearsal of the year. Director of Music Dr. Bob Lambe is always looking for additional singers, male or female, and while many of our singers are musically trained, many of us just enjoy lifting our voices in song. 
Come One, Come All - Church Picnic
Sunday, September 13th
COME ONE, COME ALL and kick off a brand new year at Grace Church!
This Sunday we go back to our fall schedule with two services at 8am and 10am. Hey kids - Sunday School kicks off at 9am. Weather permitting, the 10am service will be held outside followed by the annual church picnic. Hotdogs, burgers and drinks are supplied. Bring your favorite side dish or dessert to share. Can't wait to see you there!!!
(Note: Please bring along a lawn chair if possible.)
Prayer Circle
Saturday, September 12th
We meet at the church on the first Saturday of the month from 9:00 - 10:00 AM. It is a small time commitment but a very powerful and important ministry. We are always looking for new members. Please pray about whether the Lord is calling you to this important ministry. We will be meeting on:

September 12
October 3
November 7
December 5
January 2, 2016
February 6
March 5
April 2
May 7
June 4

For more information please call or e-mail Mickey Fournier at
508-699-2445 or nallanf@aol.com or come to a meeting.
NOW RECRUITING COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS!
If you enjoy conversation accompanied by COFFEE following Sunday service, please help us out 
by becoming a coffee hour volunteer. Questions should go to Allison Standifer at adstandifer@yahoo.com

Coffee Hour is a great opportunity for fellowship after service.  Please join us for this time of sharing and getting to know each other.  We are looking for volunteers to host a coffee hour. All that is required of you would be providing a snack and making the coffee!  Please see Allison or the sign-up sheet in the common room.  Thank you!
ALTAR FLOWERS


 If you'd like flowers placed on the altar in memory of, in thanksgiving for, or in honor of a loved one, family member or friend, please notify Cyndee Williams or the parish office. A donation of $50 is what it cost us to purchase flowers from Nolan's but we can also work with a donation you are comfortable with.