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News from Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst September 2015

It Only Takes a Spark

One of my all-time favorite saints is St. Catherine of Siena, the 14th century Dominican tertiary (third order) and Doctor ofthe Church who worked tirelessly for its reform and to move the papacy back to the Vatican from Avignon. Perhaps hermost famous quote is:

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

This is a mantra to live by; this is a mantra for Grace Church – to orient one’s life, first and foremost, for the purpose ofbecoming the person God wants you to be; not the person society or anyone else tells you, you are or ought to be. Howliberating!

The summer is rapidly ending (where did it go?), and the new academic year is about to begin. This season brings newpeople, new energy, and new beginnings. Let’s start afresh. As a community of faith, let’s dedicate ourselvesintentionally to become the people God wants us to be. Let’s answer Christ’s call to true discipleship.

Be who God meant you to be:

Celebrate! That’s right, celebrate your faith. Worship regularly at Grace – Sunday mornings at 8 and 10:30am;Wednesdays at 12:10; and Friday evenings at 5:30pm. Come with your hopes and your dreams, your joys and yoursorrows, your heart and your mind.

Engage! Come to the Celebration of Grace Ministries, Sunday September 13th, in the Connector, after the 8:00am service,and in the Parish Hall following the 10:30 service. Meet other parishioners, greet newcomers, make new friends, anddiscover all the wonderful ministries taking place at Grace.

Share! Share your beliefs, your thoughts, your ideas, your questions, and your doubts. As disciples, we are ever-evolvingin our faith and beliefs. Christian education is for all ages.

- Sunday school, for ages 3 – 12th grade, will meet on Sundays 9:15-10:15am. Ages 3-5 will still be using theCatechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori based approach to learning the Gospel. Grades 1st – 5th will betaking part in a new curriculum: Weaving God’s Promises, an Episcopal program designed to weave togetherour biblical salvation narrative with important components of our Anglican tradition. Middle school and highschool youth will continue following the Rite 13 and Journey to Adulthood curricula. They too will meetSunday mornings during the education hour, as well as every other Sunday afternoon. Liturgy in the Chapelwill be held the third Sunday of the month, beginning in October at its new time of 9:45am, in order to betterincorporate our PreK-5th grade Sunday school classes.

- Adult Christian Education will take place Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30pm, beginning September 16th

with a seven-part series on Global Christianity. An Inquirers Class for new and not so new members, whichalso doubles as a Confirmation class, will be held later in the season, beginning November 11th. On November1st we will explore contemporary interpretations of St. Francis of Assisi, and on November 4th we will discussPope Francis’ recent encyclical: Laudato Si’.

Serve! Get involved in the pastoral care ministry. Make a meal for someone who is sick. Drive someone to a doctor’sappointment. Write a card to someone who could use a little support. Help make our worship a true and gloriousexpression of the people. Join the altar guild; become an acolyte, a lector, a lay Eucharistic minister, or an usher. Helpwith coffee hour. Take your faith into the world and change it for the better. Spend a night in the Cot Shelter; serve ameal at Not Bread Alone. Support the education of a scholarship student in Ramallah and help the children at St. Matthieuin Haiti. Give of yourself! (cont. on page 2)


GracePray! Pray without ceasing. Pray when you wake up; pray in the morning; pray in the afternoon; pray in the evening;pray when you go to bed. Pray for the world; pray for one another; pray for yourself.

These are exciting times and Grace Church is an exciting place. Be who God meant you to be, and be that person hereat Grace Church. You are blessed and Grace Church is blessed through you. And together, with God’s help, may weset the world on fire!

Grace and peace,

The Rev. Tom Synan+

The Rev. Sarah Dunn’sOrdination to the Priesthood -Saturday, October 3rd, 10:30am.It will be a glorious day for thisparish and for the greaterChurch, when Bishop Dougcomes to Grace to ordain Sarahto the Priesthood. All arewelcome and all are encouragedto attend.

BY THE GRACE OF GOD

AND WITH THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE

THE RIGHT REVEREND DOUGLAS J. FISHER

BISHOP OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS

WILL ORDAIN

SARAH AMELIA DUNN

TO THE SACRED ORDER OF PRIESTS

IN CHRIST’S ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTLE CHURCH

SATURDAY, THE THIRD OF OCTOBER

TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN

AT TEN THIRTY IN THE MORNING

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS

YOUR PRAYERS AND PRESENCE ARE REQUESTED

RECEPTION FOLLOWING CLERGY: RED STOLES PARISH HALL

“Fiery Furnace” Grace Church Theatre CampJuly 27 - August 2 2015

The performance of “The Fiery Furnace” by Sam Lowry was the culmination of the week long camp in which 13 campers took part. The campmet in the Church and Parish Hall from 9 am - 2 pm, Monday to Friday. The dress rehearsal was Saturday morning, and the performance waspart of the service on Sunday, August 2.

At the beginning of every day, we met in the church to look carefully around so that the children could thendraw something they liked. Some children did rubbings. Every day the children helped prepare the scenery,which consisted of many strips of orange, red and yellow crepe paper attached to bungee cords that wentaround 7 of the pillars in the church, with many, many more strips of red, and orange shiny fabric that werethen attached to strings and hung from the pillars diagonally across the church creating the Furnace! Thestrips on the pillar at the lectern flickered like flames with the fan!

At the same time the golden idol, beautifully designed by Pam Wilkinson, was secured upright anddecorated with shiny gold paper from top to toe, many beads, jewels and two cell phones! Pam Wilkinson created the idea using a wonderfulgiraffe puppet created about 8 or 9 years ago. It was transported on a dolly when the crucial time came in the play to move it to the center. Thechildren also worked with Lego, creating their own idols, some origami that became part of the idol decoration, and had their faces paintedduring the week and also for the performance. Sashes were cut out by the children to wear as part of their costumes. Kelly Goar quietly helpedevery day with these activities. Meg Kelsey-Wright came in for an hour each day to play the piano so we could learn the score. They memorizedthe music by Wednesday so that we could work on the blocking the rest of the week.

Tom Synan opened the week by telling the story of “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego”. Sarah Dunn came in every day tosing fun songs or talk with the children after lunch, as did Nancy Lowry, who did one science game, had the children drawin the church and helped the children write the Prayers of the People which four children read in the service. Two othersread the second lesson.

Marion Rosenau designed the costumes and Dick Damon accompanied the dress rehearsal and theperformance. Dick also gave a delightful demonstration of the organ’s inner and outer workings! Alex Perry played theviolin part. Sam Lowry wrote this delightful piece with a rap, backup singers, and some wonderful catchy tunes. Thechildren really loved singing it, and Caleb Ireland did a wonderful job as the not too smart king who loved his power. Hewas one fabulous rapper!

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped, including the wonderful young counselors, Alex, Thomas, and Evan Perry, and Caleb Ireland.

It was a hot week, and at times as with all theatrical performances, one wondered if it would ever come together. But when working withchildren, one should never doubt that they always pull it off, and this was no exception. Look for it soon on the Grace Church website!


Grace in Action

CAST

Caleb Ireland - KingMadeleine(Maddy)Leone - ShadrachSophia (Sophie) Leone- MeshachJake Goar - Abednego

Gabriel DavilaHadley GoarJada MattreyAlex PerryEvan PerryThomas PerrySaliim SaulsberryHosea ShabazzSam Thiel

Music and words by Sam Lowry


Newcomers and Parish Life

NewcomersMost newcomers state that walking into a new church for the first time can be somewhat challenging. New socialcontacts, a different service format especially for those from a different religious background and new traditions.

Most newcomers come looking for a spiritual home, searching for ways to serve the community, or seeking ways tomake a difference. Newcomers don’t always want to be formally introduced to a congregation but expect people to befriendly and welcoming. Research shows that 40% of visitors make up their mind about a church before meeting therector. Within two minutes, an opinion is formed about whether the congregation is friendly.

Grace Church welcomes all to our services. We have tried many different ways to reach out to newcomers. Here aretwo ideas that may not have been tried before.

“Rule of Three” Members will not talk to other members for three minutes after the service. This time period istypically how long it takes guests to leave. This gives us time to reach out to newcomers.

“Circle of Ten” Each member will greet anyone, member or guest, who comes within 10 feet of them. Say “ I don’tthink we met before…” if you are not sure if the person is a member or visitor. Would these approaches work?Wouldn’t hurt to try.

Louise and I have enjoyed serving as Parish Life Co-chairs. Not only has the experience strengthened our personalfriendship but has also enabled a stronger bond with our whole community.

We have welcomed newcomers, worked with the various commissions under the Parish Life umbrella, and have hadevents recognizing all Grace members who have given unselfishly of their time to our parish community. Now is thetime for others to have the same experience. Come with enthusiasm and new ideas! If you would to volunteer to bethe new Parish Life Chairperson or Co-chairperson, please contact Janine Kelly at [email protected] or 549-6418.

We are a community striving to be fully alive in the glory of God — in ourlife together, in our participation in the sacraments, and in our efforts torespect the dignity of every human being.

Come worship with us, join our Music Ministry or the Altar Guild, help out withSunday School, or join us in service at the Interfaith Cot Shelter, Craig’s Doors, or Not Bread Alone. Try knitting aprayer shawl, or grab a shovel and help us to plant our new gardens in the spring! We hope that you will join us and finda home where you can discover the life of Christ that dwells within you and that needs community to find its fullexpression.

We look forward to seeing you in Church, at gatherings in the Parish Hall, or at coffee hour after services, in theConnector. If you are new here, please fill out a blue “Welcome card” (found in the pews). Just place it in the collectionplate, and indicate if you would like to speak with a member of the clergy.

Welcome!


J2A PilgrimageThe Journey to Adulthood pilgrimage to New Orleans was a week filled with service, community, andspiritual growth. Once there we also met up with another J2A program from St. John's Church inFayetteville, North Carolina, and the groups bounded quickly. All of the youth worked tremendouslyhard throughout the course of what was to be an extremely hot and humid week.

Our week began with an orientation to the devastation Katrina had wrecked upon the beautiful city.We visited the Lower Ninth Ward for our first stop, which was quite a serious and somber time for theyouth. One of our group members were shocked by how many vacant lots remained, where houses and

families use to be. After this tour we served at Start the Adventure in Reading, a non-profit aimed at helping low-incomeelementary school children with their reading. While there we disinfected reading materials, stapled A LOT, and put togethergames for the children. We ended the day with our first round of Stone Soup. The youth were split into two groups and weregiven the task of creating a meal for 17 people with only $4 a person. Group one created a meal of chicken fettuccine alfredo withroasted vegetables and a s'mores casserole for dessert! It was absolutely delicious.

The next day of our pilgrimage we served at Love in Action, a food bank where we helped distributefood to the elderly and disadvantaged who live in the nearby communities. Itwas over 100 degrees in the warehouse, but the youth never complained once.And I saw so many of the youth come out of their shells by greeting strangersand helping them push their grocery carts through the aisles. I was soimpressed by the love our group showed every single person they met that day.For dinner that evening we had our second round of Stone Soup, which was afiesta in and of itself! We had rice and beans and cheese quesadillas with a

plethora of salsas and dips to try. And later in the week we found that team two won the Stone Soupcompetition. After dinner we took the ferry over from the Algiers neighborhood (where we stayed) to the French Quarter andpartook in some fabulous beignets at Cafe du Monde.

On Wednesday we worked at a local charter high school where we painted a whole three-story stairwell. Wewere covered with paint by the end of it, but the youth still had the energy to paint base boards in the hallwaysand pull weeds on the playground. I was impressed by their energy and enthusiasm considering the long day wehad just had. That evening Mt. Olivet Episcopal Church hosted us for dinner, and afterwards parishionerswalked us to music on the point, where we enjoyed live music, snowballs, and a beautiful sunset over the FrenchQuarter.

Thursday was perhaps one of the most amazing days of the trip. We began withwalking an outdoor labyrinth in Audubon Park. The youth took this time quite serious

and walked the labyrinth with a contemplative purpose, I was also glad to see them journaling so much!

After this time of reflection we went on a good ol' fashioned swamp tour, where we sawour tour guide feed an alligator out of his bare hand! And we were also all able to holda baby alligator. It was quite an adventure. Even though our day was already going sosuperbly, the highlight was working with the youth of the YWAM Kid's Club inthe Algiers neighborhood. There we spent the afternoon playing with childrenwho often times do not get the love and attention they deserve. I have also neverseen the youth get so filthy in such a short amount of time! Later that night,come to find out, when one of our group member's feet were extremely dirty,one of the children actually asked to wash his feet and did. It was such agrace-filled moment not only for this individual, but for the whole group.

Our last full day in New Orleans we brought our week full circle by visiting theKatrina Exhibit. The youth treated the experience quite seriously and took theirtime walking through the museum. Shock and concern were the common ex-pressions on their faces as they took in the tragedy that was hurricane Katrina. Later that afternoon the groupssplit and had the choice of either visiting the Aquarium or the World War II Museum, which seemed like fun forall involved.


J2A PilgrimageThat evening we had our celebratory dinner out where members could partake in the local cuisine. Andto close our time together as a group, we had a special service, affirming the gifts we saw in one anotherand taking part in a foot-washing. It was a beautiful, worship-filled service full of honesty, love, and agood number of tears. I know this time together was the highlight of my trip.

Overall, we had such an amazing week on pilgrimage to New Orleans. We began and closed each daywith the daily office, bringing together all the work we had done that day. Our theme throughout thecourse of the week was: All are the Body of Christ. I believe the youth really took this to heart, and I

could see them growing into adult members of Christ's Body, realizing that their time, talent, and treasure was just as valuable asanyone else's. And they also began to see that those around them, whether they be friend or stranger, where also members of thismystical body. Thank you Grace Church, for all your prayers and support that made this extraordinary week happen for ouryouth.

Sarah Dunn, Curate


Music Ministry

Angel/Youth Choir began in June of2000 and is a choir for all youngpeople starting at age 3. The choir willsing the introit at the 10:30 serviceonce a month. Rehearsals to beannounced. For more information,please contact Mary Hocken [email protected],537-0251, or 549-8773.

Join the Grace Church Choir!

Do you love to sing? The Grace Church Choir welcomes anyone who can match pitch andwho genuinely enjoys learning and singing wonderful music. The Choir rehearses onThursday evenings from 7:30 – 9:00 (our rehearsals start half an hour earlier as we’re headinginto the major church holidays of Christmas and Easter), and sings for the 10:30 service eachSunday morning from September to mid-June.

Our first rehearsal of the fall will be on Thursday, September 10th; our first service after thesummer hiatus is on September 13th. If you have questions or would like to express interest,email our Music Director, Beth Damon, at [email protected]. We’d love to haveyou with us!


Grace in HaitiSummer camp at l'Ecole de St. Matthieu, Bayonnais, Haiti

Summer camp at l'Ecole de St. Matthieu – St. Matthew's School -- in the farming community of Bayonnais,north of Haiti's broad Artibonite Valley, accomplishes several things:

Local children who participate in the camp have something specific, organized, fun to do in the middle ofwhat is otherwise just an extended down-time between June and September. Also, at each day of camp theyget a substantial cooked lunch, including rice, beans, other vegetables and sometimes chicken. In Haiti,hardly anyone takes food for granted.

Local teachers enjoy both the monetary and the psychological benefits of working two extra weeks, for whichthey are paid a welcome addition to their usual salaries. and in which they and the students can explore the

kind of creative learning that too often is cut from school budgets in Haiti (yes, as it is in many districts in the United States).

The entire Bayonnais community gets a renewed awareness of how the congregation of a church in a little town in far-awayMassachusetts is committed to helping l'Ecole de St. Matthieu continue to grow, even to thrive.

And, directly or indirectly, the program connects parishoners at Grace Church to that very large part of the world in whichshelter, food, potable water, medical care, decent employment and education are considerably harder to come by than thosethings are where we live.

This August, as in several previous summers, a grant from the diocese, another from the List Foundation, and some extrafunding from our congregation made a two-week arts camp possible again for children at l'Ecole de St. Matthieu. Benefitingfrom the imagination and energy of UMass student and Grace Church choir member Merry Gibbons and from the amazing talent anddedication of four (or five, depending on how you counted) wonderful Haitian teachers and assistants, 56 children played games, drew pictures,composed skits, listened to stories and sang and danced as though all of life might be contained in music, laughter and friendship.

The camp ran five days a week from August 3 through August 14, starting at 8 a.m. and continuing until 2 p.m.Merry and I flew from LaGuardia to Toussaint L'Ouverture Airport in Port-au-Prince on August 1, givingourselves enough time to make the two-and-a-half hour drive to the northern city of Gonaives, to meet the brandnew priest there, Father Joseph Tancrel Diegue, and his vivacious wife, Carole, and, in my case, to enjoy areunion with Clibert Massillon, the uncommonly gifted head teacher at St. Matthieu. We met on Sunday, talkedabout the schedule a bit, adjusted to sleeping where the nighttime temperature rarely dips below 80, and thenlaunched the whole program the next morning.

Almost anyone who works on a development project in the Third World learns quicklythat it's a good idea not to overplan, and following that principle served us very well this summer. Merry could getall the kids' attention quickly with a lively body-shaking and counting game, and the children seemed happy to sing“Alouette” as many times as anyone wanted them to, but a crucial and exciting element of the program was that theHaitian teachers got to work out most of it themselves as we got underway.

Increasingly in these summers, members of Grace's Haiti committee, a succession of priests in Gonaives and thestaff at St. Matthieu have recognized that the school's own teachers need to be in charge of the camp. We planned this summer's camp on theassumption that 2015 would be the last year in which the camp's directors were Grace Church parishoners, and that, beginning in 2016 thedirectors would be teachers at the school, while whoever goes to Bayonnais from Grace plays a supporting role, bringing money and supplies,assisting in activities. In fact, Merry and I realized within a few days that we were already making this hoped-for transition, and it was goingquite nicely.

The key was the Haitian teachers. Officially three of them were hired for the camp: Clibert, Benito and Fritzner.As soon as the camp began, however, we realized we had four teachers: Julien, who was recruited to be ourinterpreter, turned out to be a charismatic musician, song- and games-leader, and all-around pied piper. Weorganized each morning into four activity time-slots, with a half-hour break in the middle for snacks, frisbee,jumping rope and playing soccer. Each of these four led one of the activities – Clibert and Fritzner alternatingturns with stories, reading aloud, then interpreting parts of a story dramatically, while Benito and Julien alternatedbetween music and games.

Another bonus: Johnny, hired simply to be the driver who got us from Gonaives to Bayonnais each morning andback to Gonaives in the afternoon, was not about to spend camp time lounging in his SUV or studying his cell phone. He sat at the edge of adrawing group, sometimes sketching something himself, oftener noticing what the kids were drawing, offering a suggestion, and watching thewhole group if Clibert was called away by one of his many other duties at the school. Or he took a turn reading aloud. His presence was onemore reminder of how eager all the members of this very welcoming community are to get involved in something that helps everyone grow andlearn.


Grace in Haiti

Interested in seeing other ways to contribute to the Haiti Ministry’s mission?Click here http://www.graceinhaiti.org/ways-to-help/ to view options!

As for the children themselves, it takes half a minute to fall in love with every one of them. Like school children anywhere, they are loaded withenergy and want to Do Things. More remarkably, at least to someone used to the separation of grades in American schools, the 56 children in ourcamp this summer ranged in age from four to fifteen or sixteen years, and they would all join in many activities together. (This effect may beheightened because, often, a child in a rural district in Haiti may start school at almost any age. We met one senior in high school who is 28.)

By the end of the first day, duct tape was holding a few dozen colorful sketches and expressionistic portraits to walls inthe little church of St. Matthieu, which on weekdays continues to serve as the main school building. Benito would beplaying his guitar in one of the small rooms in the old goat shed across the road, while children sang solo or ensemble.Julien led another group through hilarious rounds of musical chairs or invited me to teach them “Simon Says.” Fritzner orClibert read a story in Kreyol, pausing to ask the children to interpret a conversation between two characters.

Merry and I circulated, watching, stepping in if asked, seizing some inspiration-of-the-moment to start an impromptugame. Transitions between activities were easy, as Merry led each group of children from one activity to the next in an

efficient circular pattern they all understood.

At noon, Mme. Soirine Jeudy, St. Matthieu's seemingly indefatigable veteran preschool and kindergarten teacher, and her assistants would serve atasty lunch they had spent the morning cooking on a wood fire next to the goat shed. The children ate at benches inside the church, then ran on thedirt playground or sat in the shade for a bit. Then everyone gathered inside the church again while Merry and Julien took turns leading a song ordance, Fritzner helping the smaller children find a place in the throng and Benito strumming guitar with two of the oldest boys playing drums.Packets of much-needed drinking water appeared. At 2 p.m. everyone gathered for a closing prayer.

In the second week, the children put together a variety show, which combined elements of the drawing, story-reading,dancing, and singing they had been doing in the first week. On the final Friday, they presented the show and celebratedwith a party – more dancing, more singing, and some extra treats for lunch and snacks. I'm reporting this part of thecamp in less detail, simply because I was on hand for only the first week, and at press time Merry is at home with herfamily, resting after a busy summer that also included accompanying the Grace Church youth group to New Orleans.By the time you're reading this, she'll be back in the classroom, studying for her degree in music education.

The whole experience was wonderful, an excellent use of Grace Church's resources, and exciting for the Bayonnaiscommunity.

– John Stifler

News from the Haiti Ministry

School is out for the summer in Bayonnais, but a lot is still going on at St. Matthieu;

v The school’s eight teachers will be attending a weeklong training program in Gonaïves, thanksto a grant from the Haiti Ministry. The grant pays for an experienced trainer to come fromPort-au-Prince, the teachers’ transportation to and fro each day, and a daily lunch. This pro-gram was implemented by the former priest in charge of St. Matthieu, Jean Fils Chery, whoconsidered teacher training a top priority.

v Current and former members of the Haiti Committee have offered to pro-vide scholarships for all this year’s sixth-grade graduates of St. Matthieu, toenable them to attend seventh grade at La Redemption, the bigger school in Gonaïves that is also under Jean FilsChery’s direction. This is a pilot project. If it is successful, the Haiti Ministry hopes to expand the opportunity forindividual parishioners to sponsor a St. Matthieu graduate through high school. The cost is $300 per student peryear. Since there is no high school in Bayonnais, children must go to Gonaïves for education beyond elementaryschool. The cost is prohibitive for most families: none of our graduates has gone on to high school in the last few


Outreach

The fellowship meets at noon on the second Sundayof each month to pray, discuss, and plan responses

to social and economic injustices locally, nationally,and in the world. We welcome everyone to our

monthly meetings.

Not Bread Alone is a community meal program thatoffers FREE homemade, hot meals and groceries to

anyone in need. Meals are provided three days a weekand on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving and Christmas inthe lower level dining room of the First Congregational

Church in Amherst, 165 Main St. Grace Churchmembers volunteer on the second Saturday of each

month from 10:30-2:30. For more information or to vol-unteer, please contact Chris Hoffman

([email protected]).

Ongoing Interfaith Vigil against Drone Warfare: Tuesdays, September1stand September 15th, at noon in the Parker Room. Silent meditation,prayers, discussion. Pray for peace in our time. All are welcome.

Outreach!Our July Outreach Offerings brought in $934.00 to be sent to

The Amherst A Better Chance program.Our August Outreach Offerings brought in $769.00 to be sent to the American Friends ofthe Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (AFEDJ) for the scholarship program at the Episcopal

Technological and Vocational Training Center (ETVTC) in Ramallah

Volunteers Needed!

We are looking for volunteer positions to be filled in the following capacities:* Coffee hour hosts (now and in the fall)

* Parish Life Co-chairs (now)Contact: Janine Kelly [email protected] / 549-6418 * Sunday School Teachers for the middle school and high school programs (starting in September)Contact: Sarah Dunn [email protected] / 256-6754


Upcoming Events at Grace

Saturdays, September 12th and 19th

“Over 60s Gathering at Grace”11-12:30 in the Connector on the 12th and inthe Parish Hall on the 19th. If you’re over60, embarking on the best years of your life(in spite of rumors to the contrary) and havesome serious concerns to explore withfellow adventurers, please join us forfriendly conversation as we connect aroundcommon interests. We meet bi-weekly, onthe 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month.For more information contact Adrian Stair,230-3868, [email protected].

“Celebration of Grace Ministries – Sunday Sept 13, 2015”We would love you to participate in the Celebration of Grace Ministries on Sunday, Sept 13, 2015.Join us in the Connector after the 8am service and in the Parish Hall following the 10:30am service. This eventwill give you the perfect opportunity to meet and greet other members of the parish. Come join us and let usknow what your special ministry is all about. Refreshments will be served.

Sheila Mammen and Kitty Dougherty are helping to coordinate this event.Please contact them for any questions that you might [email protected] [email protected] 413-665-8579

Saint Michael’s PicnicOn Sunday, September 27th,there will be one service at 9:30followed by the Saint Michael’sPicnic. The picnic is open to allparishioners, newcomers andfriends. Please join us!

Adult Education commences this fall on Wednesday,September 16th from 7-8:30pm in the Connector with theseries “Global Christianity.” This seven week serieswill reflect on our incarnational faith through the studyof Christianity in various cultures—including but notlimited to Kenya, Japan, Peru and the United Kingdom.

Haiti Camp Report On Sunday,September 20th, enjoy a cup of Haitiancoffee after the 10:30 service, and thenjoin us in the Sanctuary to hear a reporton this summer’s theater camp in Haiti. Meredith Gibbons, who led the camp,will share her experiences and showpictures. How do you manage 50 kidswhen you don’t speak their language,the translator doesn’t speak yours, yourco-worker backed out at the lastminute, and many of the supplies gotbumped off the plane? Merry did it,and she’ll tell you how!

Sunday September 13th 8 and 10:30am services resumeSunday, September 6th is the final 9:30am service for the summer season.

Our regular schedule of 8 and 10:30am services begins Sunday, September 13th.

Sunday School begins on September 13th, and will meet from 9:15-10:15. Classes are offered for children & youth ages 3-Grade 12.


CommUNITY!

July, 2015

Let's Celebrate More FOA CHAMPIONS in Honor ofOur 25th Anniversary!

It may be the middle of the summer, but FOA keeps working tomake a difference in our community. This month we would like torecognize some special people - Mary Hocken and the dedicated

members of the FOA Advisory Board.

Mary HockenFOA couldn't have a better Champion than Mary Hocken! Mary hasgone above and beyond--helping FOA support needy families and isespecially gifted in getting others involved. For the past 20+ years,she has spearheaded the effort by Grace Episcopal Church to be surethat children receive gifts generously donated by members of theirparish community--a major undertaking and one that she does withher amazing enthusiasm and attention to detail. She brings the gift ofmusic to her church by directing the Angel Choir, and has extendedher reach globally by working tirelessly to build and fund a school inHaiti. A former FOA board member, Mary is always available to helpwhen needed. If you see her riding around town on her trusty bicycle,please be sure to give her a nod and say "thank you!"


CommUNITY!

On September 17th, 2015, the streets of downtown Amherstare closed to traffic and open to a night of fun from 5-9pm for the Celebrate Amherst Block Party! In its fourthyear, this event brings thousands of people to downtown fora lively street fair environment including food vendors,multiple main stages with music, circus performers, dancing,and vendors from many area organizations. The streetsbecome a playground for all ages in this fantastic communityevent. The Amherst Block Party is an event that you won’twant to miss! Free and open to the public!www.amherstdowntown.com

Will Bike 4 Food (WB4F) is a fun and active cycling event thatallows participants of all levels to join in the fight against hunger.This year’s WB4F will take place on Sunday, September 27th andinclude 10, 25, 50, or 100 mile routes through the beautiful PioneerValley.

Now in its 5th year, the event has brought together hundreds ofdedicated individuals, businesses, and teams who have raised morethan $200,000. Funds raised from this important event support themission of The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in its workwith the community to feed our neighbors in need.

Be sure to join in all the fun this year, while helping to support ourcommunity. Registration is now open. You can ride as anindividual, or grab some family, friends or co-workers to form ateam! Use the link below to register!

https://www.firstgiving.com/foodbankwma/will-bike-4-food-2015


“At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we havemade, how many great things we have done.

We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I washomeless, and you took me in.”

-Mother T eresa

seeks to further the healing ministry ofJesus Christ in our parish family byoffering prayer and support to members ofGrace Church who are sick, injured,disabled, aged, and those who findthemselves in crisis or in challengingtransitions. For more information or torequest assistance, please contactJeannette Stebbins ([email protected]).

We coordinate parishioners eager to helpGrace Church members or their familiesduring an illness or family crisis. Short-termhelp includes offering rides to church or tomedical appointments; bringing meals to thedoor, shopping for groceries, picking upprescriptions, and visiting. Quarterlyfacilitators accept referrals from clergy,family or friends. Please contact JeannetteStebbins([email protected]) for moreinformation.

Do you know someone who can’t get to church?

Lay Eucharistic Visitors or LEV’s are trained ministers who are given Communion from the altar, and take it out toshare with parishioners who cannot get to church. LEV’s offer home-bound and nursing home residents a chanceto share Holy Communion with the rest of the gathered parish. Please think about who would welcome having aLEV bring Communion. Please call the Parish Administrator Angela Battle at 256-6754, speak to any clergymember, or email Mary McCarthy at [email protected] to make arrangements.

Prayer Circle is ready to pray for the needs of those

in crisis who want a degree of anonymity. Names will be

held in confidence by members of the Circle and will not

be published outside Circle members. Names will remain

on the list for a month, unless otherwise requested. If you

would like to be prayed for in this way, or would like to

make a request for a loved one, please contact: MJ

Fowler ([email protected])

~ September 2015 ~For additional information, please visit www.gracechurchamherst.org

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat1 12:00 Drone Prayer Vigil

5:00 Liturgical Commission5:15 AA

2 11:00 Staff Meeting12:10 Holy Eucharist,

Rite I with Healing Prayer

3 5:30 Executive Committee 4 7:00 Men’s Group5:30 Evensong

5

6 8:15 Bible Study9:30 Holy Eucharist

11:00 Coffee Hour12:30 Iconography

7 Office closed in honor ofLabor Day

5:15 UA7:00 AA

8 5:15 AA 9 11:00 Staff Meeting12:10 Holy Eucharist,

Rite I with Healing Prayer

10 7:30 Choir Rehearsal 11 7:00 Men’s Group5:30 Evensong

12 10:30 Not Bread Alone(First Congregational

Church, Amherst)11:00 Over 60’s

Gathering

13 8:00 Holy Eucharist9:00 Coffee Hour9:15 Sunday School9:15 Bible Study

10:30 Holy Eucharist12:00 Coffee Hour12:00 Celebration of

Ministries

14 5:15 UA5:30 Contemplative

Bible Reflection7:00 AA

1512:00 Drone Prayer Vigil5:15 AA6:30 Vestry

16 11:00 Staff Meeting12:10 Holy Eucharist,

Rite I with Healing Prayer2:00 Pastoral Care3:45 Staff Event Review7:00 Adult Education“Global Christianity”

17 7:30 Choir Rehearsal 18 7:00 Men’s Group5:30 Evensong

19 11:00 Over 60’sGathering

20 8:00 Holy Eucharist9:00 Coffee Hour9:15 Sunday School9:15 Bible Study

10:30 Holy Eucharist12:00 Coffee Hour12:00 Haiti Camp Report12:00 Greening Grace12:30 Iconography4:00 Memorial Concert

for Dorie Goldman




Rite I with Healing Prayer7:00 Adult Education

“Global Christianity”

24 7:30 Choir Rehearsal 25 7:00 Men’s Group4:15 Taugher/Kemper

Wedding Rehearsal5:30 Evensong

26 9:00 Society of theCompanions of the Holy Cross

4:30 Taugher/KemperWedding

27 8:15 Bible Study9:30 Holy Eucharist

11:00 St. Michael’s Picnic




Rite I with Healing Prayer7:00 Adult Education

“Global Christianity”

Grace NotesSeptember 2015

Grace Episcopal Church • On the Common •14 Boltwood Avenue, Amherst, MA 01002-2301Phone: (413) 256-6754 • Fax: (413) 256-3518 • [email protected] • www.gracechurchamherst.org

Grace Episcopal Church, located on the Town Common of Amherst,is a community of prayer and action. If you want to connect withGod or if you are seeking a deeper knowledge of God, and youwould like to do this with a community that cares for you andhonors you, then Grace Church is the place for you. Our doors areopen to one and all, regardless of where you are in your spiritualjourney.We love because God first loved us.1 John 4:19

Discover true life and true love at Grace Church.

Return Service Requested

“Grace is nothing elsebut a certainBeginning ofglory in us.”

--Thomas AquinasService Schedule

Sunday 8:00 am and 10:30 am Holy EucharistWednesday 12:10 pm Rite I Holy Eucharist and Healing Prayer

Friday 5:30 pm Evensong

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