Grace Notes Newsletter of Grace Episcopal Church, Alexandria, Virginia Rector’s Reflections February 2011 Inside this Issue Sharing Our Gifts From the Assistant Rector....................2 This year, because Easter Sunday is so late (April 24), our Epiphany season Epiphany Celebrations ........................3 includes nine Sundays. In Epiphany we celebrate the revelation of God’s love Stewardship.........................................3 in the life and ministry of Jesus. The Sunday Gospels in the cycle of readings Graceful Worship............................4, 9 from St. Matthew will include five weeks of lessons from the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord’s most concentrated teaching. I encourage you to read and Alexandria Tutoring Consortium........5 study Matthew chapters 5-7 and reflect upon how you share the gift of God’s Parish Announcements ........................5 love in Jesus Christ Our Lord. La Gracia: An Amazing Journey...........6 At an early January Adult Forum and at the Parish Annual Meeting, I Sr. Warden’s Report ............................6 announced that our special theme and focus for 2011 will be “Sharing Our Mending the Broken Heart..................7 Gifts.” Most of us know how blessed we have been; how God has given us so many gifts. Once we can identify our gifts, we are able to share them. As St. Parish Register.....................................7 Paul writes, “God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance so Worship Program................................7 that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in Evensong Reception Photos.................8 every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Grace Babies on the Way.....................8 February and the season of Epiphany include many opportunities to celebrate Environmental Grace...........................9 and share our gifts beginning with our EYC’s annual Super Bowl hoagie [email protected] sandwich sale for the Feast of Candlemas on the 6th. We end the month with a wonderful opportunity for spiritual renewal with Br. Curtis Almquist of the February Birthdays ............................10 Society of St. John the Evangelist at a retreat day on Saturday the 26th and Music Notes......................................10 with Br. Curtis preaching and teaching on Sunday morning the 27th. We plan a School News......................................10 festive Organ and Brass concert to conclude this weekend at 6:00 pm on the 27th. Christmas Giving ..............................11 Eco News ..........................................11 The Society of St. John the Evangelist is the oldest religious order for men in the Anglican Communion, founded in 1865. I have been close to the society Missions ......................................11, 12 for more than 30 years. Some of you will remember other members of the Parish Staff ........................................11 community visiting us in years past, including Br. Paul and Br. Eldridge. They Rt. Rev. David Jones Photos..............12 share abundant gifts with the wider Church. Their monastery in Cambridge, MA and retreat center in Newbury, MA are holy places steeped in prayer and Spiritual Retreat Form.......................13 hospitality. Visit their web site at www.ssje.org. I look forward to all of us at Grace continuing to discern our gifts and finding many opportunities for sharing. It all starts with knowing Jesus and making Jesus known. Grace, Peace and Love, — The Rev. Robert H. Malm Worship Schedule From the Assistant Rector Sunday Schedule The Hungry Season Holy Eucharist Rite 1 .............7:30 am Farmers know about the “hungry season.” This is the season between the Child care ............. 8:45 am–12:45 pm Winter stores of your last big harvest (in the Fall) and the first fruits of your La Santa Eucaristía.................. 9:00 am next harvest in the Spring. In past centuries, this was a time of belt tightening, Choral Eucharist Rite 2 .......... 9:00 am just hoping to make it through. Families would reduce the amount they ate with Christian ed classes ............... 10:15 am the hope of making things last a little longer. Choral Eucharist Rite 1 ........ 11:15 am Holy Eucharist Rite 2 .............5:00 pm With modern refrigeration, and access to credit, the effects of the hungry season are diminished, but we still live in a world where the struggle for adequate food is a reality. Even here in the most affluent part of the country, Weekday Eucharist many struggle from time to time to put sufficient food on their tables. For more Tuesdays, Rite 2 with healing .6:30 pm than a decade, Grace Church has sought to meet emergency food needs Wednesdays, Rite 1 ................ 7:00 am through our food pantry. Thursdays, Rite 1.................... 7:00 am After more than five years of leading our Food Pantry with great efficiency and dedication, Barbara Sherlock will be stepping down as coordinator for the pantry in late March. The accolades that I could say about Barbara and her Grace Church is: hard work would fill this page. And we are extremely grateful for her A center for worship and incredible efforts to keep our shelves stocked, our volunteers organized and our food pantry clients fed. fellowship A school for discipleship and Thankfully, Barbara has provided us plenty of time to prepare for this stewardship transition and she has given me a detailed list of the many tasks necessary to A community for healing and keep the pantry operating smoothly. In the weeks ahead, a team will be assembled who will take on these tasks. They will ensure that Grace Church outreach continues to meet the needs of the hungry in our midst. At Grace, we know the importance of this ministry for we know our scripture, and we know Jesus’ response to the question, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave About Grace Notes you food” is “truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who Grace Notes is published 10 times a year are members of my family, you did it to me” (see Mathew 25:35-40). by Grace Episcopal Church, Alexandria, Virginia — monthly except This ministry is one that defines us. We all hope for the day when everyone has for combined July/August and sufficient food, when there are no “hungry seasons” in the lives of our brothers December/January issues. Deadlines for and sisters in Christ. Until that day, we will give of our time, talent and submitting copy are by midnight on the treasure to meet the needs of the hungry who find their way to our doors. 15th of the preceding month. The next Grace Notes deadline: February 15th for If you’ve had experience working in the pantry, and would like to continue in the March issue. this ministry, I’d like to hear from you. If you haven’t had the joy of this Articles may be placed in the Grace experience and are interested in helping us feed the hungry in the future, I’d Notes folder in the credenza in the like to hear from you too. Together we’ll continue to serve Christ in others. Commons, submitted by e-mail to ([email protected]) or faxed to 703-549-2832. All articles are subject I am yours in Christ, to editing. Grace Church’s newsletter — The Rev. Patrick T. Crerar, Assistant Rector team includes Doug Prince (editor), Amy Barron, Gary Carter, Kristine Hesse, June Huber and Beth Wiggers. 2 February 2011 Grace Notes Stewardship The response of the people of Grace Church to the fall 2010 commitment to support the spread of the Good News of Christ pledge campaign has been super, and we thank you for your through the mission and ministries of Grace Church. response thus far. By January 18, 2011, Grace Church had Our annual stewardship expressed through our pledges to the received 315 pledges for 2011, including 284 renewed and 31 operating budget is a most important aspect of our financial new pledges, for a total to date of $872,559. Of the 284 contributions to Grace. However, as we reported at the Annual renewed pledges, 99 remained the same, 137 have increased, Parish Meeting, the generosity of the people of Grace Church and 48 have decreased. As this article is written, the average is expressed in many ways. During calendar year 2010 more level of giving in the annual campaign is $2,770.03 -- the than $300,060 was received for the Grace Anew campaign; highest level on record. The amount pledged for 2011 exceeds more than $25,000 was donated to the special offerings at the total pledged in 2010, during which 330 pledges were Christmas and Easter; and more than $100,000 to the many received for a total of $860,794. designated offerings we make each year including: UTO, That's good, but we’re not done! If you have not yet pledged ERD, Food Pantry, the Altar Guild, Flower Fund, Clergy for 2011, it’s not too late. If you know someone who is new to Discretionary Funds, Memorial Fund, Grace Trust, Mission Grace, then consider speaking with them about the importance Funds, Shrine Mont Scholarships, J2A and others. For this too of making a pledge. If you give regularly but do not pledge, we are thankful! consider making a pledge for 2011. If you have not yet The stewardship of Grace Church is reflected in the pews, the completed your pledge for 2010 and are able to do so, please classrooms, the sacristy, the meeting rooms, and out in the attempt to satisfy it as early in the year as possible. world where the time, talent and treasure of our parishioners What's the bottom line? It’s that we have not yet reached the are put to God’s work through Grace Church. We are blessed goal of every Grace Church family or single member at Grace with devoted, disciplined, sacrificial, and generous household being a pledging member of the congregation— servants of God, and we thank you all.