News from Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst January 2016
150 YEARS OF GRACE It all began because the famed Huntington family had a summer house in Hadley, a summer home that is now a historic house and museum located at 130 River Drive. The family was famous because of William Reed Huntington, who was instrumental in his day for the 1892 revision of the Book of Common Prayer. His thesis on the nature of the Church formed the basis for the “Lambeth Quadrilateral”, a document listing four essential marks of the Church, which were approved by the Bishops of the Anglican Communion at Lambeth in 1888. This document still remains relevant for discussions concerning unity and doctrine in the Church, and can be found in our current Prayer Book at page 876. Frederick Dan Huntington, rector of Emmanuel Church in Boston, was in Hadley in the summer of 1864, when he was asked to hold services for a group of Amherst residents. For several weeks, this group met for worship at a local Baptist meeting house. That however came to an end when Dr. Huntington announced he was going to preach a doctrinal sermon that troubled his Baptist hosts (perhaps a sermon on the necessity of bishops for a church to be ‘legitimate’; a topic that a Baptist congregation certainly would find troublesome). In September 1864, a small group met in the home of Mrs. Mary H. Jones, mother of the founder of the Jones Library, to organize a parish. Dr. Huntington gave Grace Church its name, and for almost two years, services were held in the Amherst Academy, which today is the parking lot on Amity Street, next to the Amherst Cinema. Things moved quickly. The Rev. Samuel P. Parker, of Stockbridge, was called in November 1864 to be the first rector. The parish purchased the land for the church, initially intending to build a small chapel. Dr. Huntington, however, enlisted friends beyond Amherst to donate money for a complete church building, and Henry Dudley, a noted architect from New York, was retained to draw suitable plans. The cornerstone was laid July 25, 1865, and the building’s design is an adaptation of the English style from the 13th century, with St. Michael’s Church in Oxford as the possible model for Grace. Grace Church Parish was officially incorporated April 17, 1865, two days following the death of President Abraham Lincoln. The first service was held in the church in March 1866 and the Bishop of Massachusetts consecrated the building in July 1867. And here we are 150 years later! There is much to the history of Grace Church – most importantly the history of people. The life of a parish is more than its buildings, possessions, and statistics. It is the weaving of lives through time; a chain of faithful and dedicated people interconnected from 1864 to today and onward into the future. This coming year we will celebrate 150 years of Grace Church in Amherst. We will begin with a special service, Sunday, March 6, 2016, to mark the 150th anniversary of the first service held in the church. This service will be, in part, historical, because it will be conducted according the rites of the Prayer Book that was in effect in 1866. We will conclude our 150th celebration Pentecost Sunday 2017 (June 4, 2017) to mark the 150th anniversary of the consecration of Grace Church. What we do as a community of faith between these two dates (15 months) is up to you. A Steering Committee was recently formed to oversee our 150th celebration of Grace. The members of the committee are: Mary Hocken, Chairperson Ben Gilsdorf, Youth Rep Tim Hampson Anne Homme Janine Kelly Sheila Mammen Steve McKelvey Diana Spurgin Emma Wilburn, Youth Rep Reynolds Winslow Many ideas are being considered, but most importantly, the committee would like to hear from you about ways we can commemorate 150 years of Grace in Amherst and celebrate who we are. It is hoped that all committees and commissions and everyone associated with Grace Church will participate in some way in the months ahead, so please reach out to members of the committee or speak with Sarah or me, and share your ideas.
May God bless you and may God continue to bless Grace Church in the coming New Year!
Grace and peace,
The Rev. Tom Synan+
www.gracechurchamherst.org 2015 St. Nicholas Bazaar Christmas at Grace
www.gracechurchamherst.org Christmas at Grace
Grace Church 2015
Grace Church 1870
www.gracechurchamherst.org Outreach
Outreach! Our Christmas Outreach Offerings brought in $7430.77 to be sent to Episcopal Relief and Development - earmarked for Syrian refugees, Casa Latina, and Center for New Americans.
Not Bread Alone is a community meal program that The fellowship meets at noon on the second Sunday offers FREE homemade, hot meals and groceries to of each month to pray, discuss, and plan responses anyone in need. Meals are provided three days a week to social and economic injustices locally, nationally, and on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving and Christmas in and in the world. We welcome everyone to our the lower level dining room of the First Congregational monthly meetings. Church in Amherst, 165 Main St. Grace Church members volunteer on the second Saturday of each month from 10:30-2:30. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Chris Hoffman ([email protected])
Ongoing Interfaith Vigil against Drone Warfare: Tuesdays, January 5th and January 19th, at noon in the Parker Room. Silent meditation, prayers, discussion. Pray for peace in our time. All are welcome.
www.gracechurchamherst.org Grace Notes “Notes”
On Sunday, December 6th, Rev. John Balcom gave the final blessing at the 8am service in honor of the 73rd anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.
Due to the great number of responses to our request for challenging Bible passages, adult education this spring will be offering an extended series contemplating those difficult verses that you have suggested. This nine week series will be conducted in two parts. Part one of our series, which will take place during the season of Epiphany, is entitled: “Unwelcome Scriptural Epiphanies: Wrestling with the Old Testament.” Part 2 of our series will run throughout the duration of Lent and is entitled: “Wandering with Jesus: Bewildering Moments in Christ’s Ministry.” Please join us on Wednesday nights at 7:00pm in the Connector, for what is sure to be stimulating conversation. Come bringing your questions and concerns.
Unwelcome Scriptural Epiphanies: Wrestling with the Old Testament January 13th -- Genesis 18:16-23 (Abraham bargains with God) January 20th -- Genesis 19:1-25 (The Sin of Sodom) January 27th -- Genesis 22:1-19 (The sacrifice of Isaac) February 3rd -- 2 Samuel 11 (David & Bathsheba)
"Lucy Robinson and Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Creation Care Minister for the diocese, at the march in Boston on Jobs, Justice and the Climate. They joined about 2,000 other people and with a marching band bore witness to our continuing support of climate justice actions, fair job wages and conditions, and support of all communities."
www.gracechurchamherst.org Upcoming Events at Grace
Save the Date for our next fund-raiser, a “Roots” supper Saturday, January 16 at 6:00pm. Feast on delicious soups and main dishes featuring root vegetables. Do you have a favorite soup, bread, or dessert to contribute? Great! Even better if there is a story behind it, or if it is in some way reflective of your cultural "roots". Join us for good company and comfort food benefiting the children of St. Matthieu's School. Volunteers needed to contribute dishes, serve, tend bar, and clean up. $15 per adult; children 12 and under eat free. Tickets and sign-up available in the Connector after services. Please contact Meghan Siudzinski 540-239-6072 or Jess Andrews 949-338-9887 with questions.
Greening Grace “Tar Sands” Presentation On January 17th at noon and 4pm in the Parish Hall, DeAnne Riddle and her husband Chris will show a film about the tar sands operations in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. They visited that area last summer. They will present at Grace Church, as well as the Hitchcock Center.
Iconography Workshop An ongoing iconography workshop meets every other Sunday afternoon. Previous artistic experience is not necessary, since icon writing is as much a contemplative process of an inner spiritual journey as it is an artistic discipline. There will also be a 4 day workshop offered from January 18-21st from 8am to 5pm in the Parish Hall. Please feel free to contact Sandy Lillydahl at [email protected] for additional information.
Sunday, January 24th, 2016 at 7:30 pm Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst
Brahms: Missa Canonica Rheinberger: Mass in E-flat, Op. 109 - Cantus Missae and additional works
www.gracechurchamherst.org Upcoming Events at Grace
Saturdays, January 9th and 23rd “Over 60s Gathering at Grace” 2-3:30 in the Connector A group of over-60s for exploring the myths, magic, and challenges of this phase of our lives. Please join us for friendly conversation as we Tea and Titles will connect around common interests . We typically take place on meet bi-weekly, usually on the 2nd and 4th Thursday, January 7th at Saturdays of each month. For more information 4pm in the Connector. contact Adrian Stair, 230-3868, All are welcome! [email protected].
Confirmation On Sunday, January 10th at 4:00pm, here at Grace Church, we will host a service of Confirmation for seven of our youth. These students have been an integral part of our community—from raking leaves, to cooking Mardi Gras dinner, to participating in the Christmas pageant and All Saints’ Day parade. We hope that you make it back to Grace that Sunday to join in the festivities and celebrate with our youth in this milestone. There will be a reception following the service in the Parish Hall.
NEW GROUP FORMING: St Nick's Fiber and Fabric Craft Cooperative --There was a strong demand for hand crafted items at the St Nicholas Bazaar last month and all our hand crafted items sold quickly. --So, St Nick's Fiber and Fabric Craft Cooperative will begin meeting to provide materials, instruction, motivation and fellowship for knitters, crocheters, quilters and needle work craftsmen and women. At meetings-twice a month- crafty folk( novice, average, advanced or brilliant) can share supplies, experience, patterns and project ideas while producing valuable items for the St Nicholas Bazaar and enjoying the comfortable fellowship of friendly fiber fiends. January meetings in the Connector: Tuesday, Jan 12, 7:00 PM, Thursday Jan 14, 2:00 PM. Contact: Jessica Mix Barrington [email protected] Betsy Mathews [email protected]
www.gracechurchamherst.org CommUNITY!
TRINITY INSTITUTE 2016 LISTEN FOR A CHANGE; SACRED CONVERSATIONS FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
January 21-23, 2016 The McCaffery Room, Keefe Campus Center, Amherst College
Sponsored by the office of Religious and Spiritual Life, Amherst College
Racial justice is a matter of life or death; we can't afford to stay silent and tacitly accept the (mostly) invisible systems that support inequalities, create suffering, and deny human dignity. Rather, we need to have an open dialogue--a process that starts with listening. Trinity Institute 2016 recognizes that many of us avoid conversations about race because they're difficult, uncomfortable, or could risk being perceived as prejudiced. The conversations in TI 2016 will be learning opportunites: chances to talk skillfully about charged issues with people who might have differing perspectives, with less apprehension.
The life-giving conversations will teach us more about the racial issues of our time, including structural racism, mass incarceration, and policy change. Featuring Nicholas Kristof (New York Times columnist, two-time Pulitzer winner); Anna Deavere Smith (actor, playwright, professor, MacArthur Fellow); Michael Curry (presiding bishop elect of Episcopan Church); Emilie Townes (Dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School); Michele Norris (radio journalist, former host of NPR "All Things Considered"); Eduardo Bonilla-Silva (Professor of Sociology, Duke University); Victor Rios (Assoc. Professor of Sociology, UCAL, Santa Barbara); Kelly Brown Douglas (Professor of Religion, Goucher College); Gary Dorrien (Professor of Social Ethics/Religion, Union Theological Seminary/Columbia University).
www.gracechurchamherst.org “At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, 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 was homeless, and you took me in.” -Mother T eresa
seeks to further the healing ministry of We coordinate parishioners eager to help Jesus Christ in our parish family by Grace Church members or their families offering prayer and support to members of during an illness or family crisis. Short-term Grace Church who are sick, injured, help includes offering rides to church or to disabled, aged, and those who find medical appointments; bringing meals to the themselves in crisis or in challenging door, shopping for groceries, picking up transitions. For more information or to prescriptions, and visiting. Quarterly request assistance, please contact facilitators accept referrals from clergy, Jeannette Stebbins ([email protected]). family or friends. Please contact Jeannette Stebbins([email protected]) for more information.
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 to share with parishioners who cannot get to church. LEV’s offer home-bound and nursing home residents a chance to share Holy Communion with the rest of the gathered parish. Please think about who would welcome having a LEV bring Communion. Please call the Parish Administrator Angela Battle at 256-6754, speak to any clergy member, 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])
www.gracechurchamherst.org