We are an Open and Affirming church. Every one of every age, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental ability, or economic status is invited to join us as together we live out the Gospel message of love, forgiveness, service, and justice.

A Message from Rev. Tina Rathbone

The world is a mess. We know this. It is dangerous and violent and filled with division, oppression and fear. And, at the same time, the world is beautiful: full of miracles, blessing, friendship and love. One reality does not discount the other. Both are true. And both require our attention.

Today I’m grateful to be filled with the joy of the latter – mostly because of a toddler who received communion for the first time last Sunday. He’d been watching with real and focused attention as the eucharistic prayer unfolded, and readily accompanied his grandparents to the altar. When he was finally at the head of the line, he carefully shaped his hands into a little cup, and when I placed the host carefully there, whispering to him what it was and who it was from, he stood stock still for a moment, genuinely astonished, slowly turned his huge, brown eyes to the small white circle in his hand, and then stared at it in stopped and silent awe.

In all my years of being a priest I have never seen anyone receive the Eucharist with more reverence than little Josiah who is not yet two years old – and it was a gift to behold him beholding the small disc of love in the palm of his hand. During these weeks when we are reminded, time and time again, about the life giving power of the ‘bread that comes down from heaven’ I pray that we all may all allow at least a portion of the wonder that overtook Josiah to overtake us the next time we ask for – and receive – our own small but eternal portion of the bread of life.

GIDEON'S GARDEN

Last Week at the Garden

With another

Summer Volunteer Hours

If you would like to help out with the Garden this summer, join us for our open volunteer hours on Mondays & Wednesdays from 9am-12pm. All are welcome and no experience needed! For the next few weeks, we'll need as many hands to help with our harvests. We have so much for pantries!

CHURCH SCHOOL

Welcome to Grace Church, children and families!

During the summer months, in place of church school, we offer quiet activities in our worship space to help engage children during the service.

WEEKLY WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost

August 18, 2024, 10:00 AM

at Berkshire South Community Center

15 Crissey Road, Great Barrington, MA

In-person & live-streamed on ZOOM

For Zoom, Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Passcode: 917937

Please visit our website:

https://graceberkshires.org/visitor/

for up-to-date information and a link to the digital service booklet.

Click here for WEB site ROTA

Contemplative Eucharist, Wednesdays at 10:00 AM

In-person at Grace Chapel and on Zoom

For Zoom: Click Here

Centering Prayer, Thursdays at 5:00 PM

In-person and on Zoom

For Zoom: Click Here

Encouraging a practice of silence and stillness we focus on practices of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina using scripture, art and music. All are welcome.

OPPORTUNITIES to GIVE or VOLUNTEER

Nominations Committee Encourages Service

to Our Diocese

Diocesan Elections to be held at

Diocesan Convention November 9th

At the Diocesan Convention on November 9, we'll be electing new members for a number of positions. You can read about these service opportunities in the Nominations Booklet.

The form to nominate yourself or someone else is here: Nomination Form. The whole process can be completed online!

The deadline for nominations is September 4, 2024.

The following positions are to be elected at this Convention:

Standing Committee: One clerical and one lay member.

Diocesan Council: Two clerical members (one each from the Worcester and Pioneer Valley Corridors) and three lay members (one from each of the three corridors)

The Chapter of Christ Church Cathedral: One lay member (Valley Corridor) and two clerical members (Worcester and Valley Corridors). Note that corridors are a tradition for these specific positions, not a requirement.

Disciplinary Board: One clerical and lone lay member.

Provincial Synod: Two clerical members and one lay alternate.

Thank you for considering these service opportunities for yourself or by nominating someone else.

Questions? Contact Sue Gore

Since the start of the current Israel-Hamas war , Episcopal Relief & Development has been supporting long-time partners in the Holy Land including Al Ahli Hospital, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, to provide emergency medical support in Gaza. Despite being hit by two explosions that damaged buildings and claimed hundreds of lives, the hospital is still serving those who are in need of care. Episcopal Relief & Development stands with the brave staff of Al Ahli Hospital as they risk their lives to help others.

Please pray for peace in the Holy Land and consider making a contribution to the Episcopal Relief & Development Middle East Fund to help meet the growing needs of all people in the region.

Scan this QR code to make a contribution:

Download QR Code in English (.zip)

Lee Food Pantry

For more information please

contact Sue Gore

sue.gore@leeaudio.net

LEARNING AND DISCOVERY

LOVING THE QUESTIONS /

sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts

in partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts

What is God’s will for my life? How do I live my best life? What might this look like? Is what I want truly want what God wants for me? Is what I want best for myself and others? Perhaps there is something I’m missing? Perhaps there is something I’m blind to and can’t see? … these are the kinds of questions that we sit with and wrestle with together in our community of discernment called Loving the Questions.

We meet twice a month via Zoom beginning in September and ending in March. Our primary focus is rooted in prayerful listening to God using a format of group spiritual direction taught by Shalem Institute. Our aim in our gatherings is to listen more deeply and intently to God's gentle and loving desire for each one of us.

We look forward to the possibility of walking together with you!

Registration is now open for 2024-25. For details, including our schedule, please go to our website at www.lovingthequestions.org. We also enthusiastically welcome any and all inquiries about our community and details about our gatherings. Please contact us at lovingthequestions@gmail.com to arrange a conversation to answer any questions you might have.

I WANT SOME FRIENDS

BOOKS AND BREAD

on Sept. 11, at 6:00 PM

Join us for dinner at someone's home followed by a discussion of

A FEVER IN THE

HEARTLAND

by Timothy Egan

All are welcome! Questions?

Please contact Peter Kirchoff

For Zoom: Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Password: 917937

THIRD SUNDAY SUPPER

Will resume in September 6:00 PM

Location TBD

Stay tuned!

Order off the menu, separate checks.

ALL are welcome! For more information

contact Tina

MOVIE NITE

will break for the summer and resume in September.

For more information contact

George Raymond.

To join this Zoom meeting

Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Password: 917937

SUNDAY MORNING

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

John 6:51-58

Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

O Praise Ye the Lord!

This glorious hymn has music by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, tune name Laudate Dominum. Educated at Eton and Oxford, he was born in 1848 and died in 1918. He was a major figure in the Victorian and Edwardian musical world known especially for his choral works such as "Blest pair of sirens" and hymns like Repton Dear Lord and father of mankind. " Parry's music has become an integral part of Royal Occasions and worship in the UK. His hymn Jerusalem set to words by William Blake "And did those feet in ancient times" relates a possible visit of Jesus accompanied by Joseph of Aramathea to England is immensely popular and is sung at the Last night of the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall by 6000 people, orchestra chorus and organ in a grand arrangement by Sir Edward Elgar.

The words of the hymn are based on Psalms 148 and 150 and written by Henry Willams Baker 1821-1877

-John

Praying for each other and for the needs of the world is a vital mission of Grace Church. To add a prayer request to this list, please contact the Church Office

office@graceberkshires.org or by phone 413-644-0022.

We supply this list so you may contact members of our congregation who are at home or in a nursing facility. Please hold in your prayers and reach out as you can.

BLAKELY, Rosemarie

BREASTED, John

BROOKS, Jane

FRYE, Vonnie

GORE, Barbara

HAIDER,Meredith

McCURDY, Deborah

TURNER, Barbara

GRACE CHURCH

Please include in your daily prayers this week:

Members of the Parish Family: George Raymond; Doreen Hutchinson; Caroline Murray; John and Gabrielle; Mimi and Dick Alford; Linda White and her grandchildren, Claire, Mark, and Johnny; David Hamill; Doone Marshall; Abe Streeter; Meredith Haider; Mark Anderson; Rosemarie Blakely; Barbara Gore; and Barbara Turner.

Others we love: Elvis and the Isaguirre family; Caren Bunce, Mary Booton's cousin; Rick and Sue Gore's nephew, Jordan, the Andre family, and Nick; Anne Kistrup and Pam Reed, Lynn Walker's friends; Susan Bunce, Mary Booton's sister; Doone Marshall's granddaughter, Bex; George Laye; Molle Cheek, John, and Lee Cheek's sister-in-law; Robert Rywkin, Monique Kirchoff's brother; Fleming and Dick Rutledge; George and Tracey Brooks; Kim and Caren Bunce, Mary Booton's cousins; Tania Guerrero and her baby daughter Eugenia Marie Ayala Guerrero; David Rodriguez Ovalle, Sergio Rodriguez's father; Gordon Sparks, Debbie Holmes' brother; Richard Cherneff; Cynthia Griesing, Holly Murray's mother; Bishop Michael Curry; Sara Miles and her wife Martha; Jerry and Karen Ericson; Kristen Mary, beloved cousin of Jainee McCarroll; James Driscoll; Livia Driscoll; Deborah McCurdy.

Those who have died: Jainee McCarroll's friend Doug MacKenzie; Mimi Alford's brother Jimmy; Jayden (JJ) Andre; Jeanette Rotondo and her family; Lois Young, beloved friend of Andrea and Steve White; Stacey Thomas; Father Joseph Sestito, Alex Moore's uncle; Denise Chandler, Abe Streeter's partner; Shirley Sparks, Debbie Holmes' sister-in-law; Thomas Muraco, beloved friend of John and Lee Cheek; Niall Nordoff; Rev. Emily Richards; Rosalind Haywood, Sue Gore's mother, and Abe Streeter's sister; Jack Fargo, Tom Murray's uncle; Eugene (Geno) Wilson, the Murrays' neighbor; Sandra Fowler, grandmother to Megan Piro; Susan Cabot, stepmother to Edward Cabot; Claude Sansaricq; Olga Milligan; Richard William Jorgensen.

Our world: For the people of Haiti, Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, the Sudan, and all other places of violence and war, that peace and justice may prevail, and human fear and suffering diminish. For all victims of institutionalized racism in this country, for all victims of gun violence, and also for those who inflict gun violence on others. For all who are alone, afraid, or despairing. For prisoners, unhoused people, newly arrived immigrants, and all our neighbors, near and far.

The many ministries of our local community and the Diocese of Western Massachusetts: For our partners at St. Paul's and the Rev. Samuel Vaught; Christ Trinity and the Rev. Erik Karas; our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Douglas Fisher; and the Mampong Babies' Home, Ghana; Holy Trinity, Southbridge; Bishop's Chaplains to Retired Clergy; Western Mass. Food Bank.

The Church's wider mission:

The Anglican Church of Melanesia

And we offer thanks: for all those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries this week: Ed & Doreen Hutchinson, 8/14; Barbara Gore, 8/15; John Cheek, 8/17.