Grace Notes
The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
October 9, 2016
“Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 11:18-19
The rules in the Hebrew law about "leprosy" (which covered a wide variety of contagious diseases and not merely what we know today as "Hansen's Disease") were intended to be a crude public health measure. It was necessary to protect the whole village from such infection, so those whose faces were covered with skin lesions were exiled until the infection had passed. In effect they were in quarantine. The local priest was the public health official who pronounced the quarantine over. Not all such diseases were permanent like what we know as leprosy today. Since it was assumed that the lepers were being punished for their sins, their exile was all the more harsh. Small wonder that the cured lepers rushed home to their families and friends. Yet they were thoughtless. Jesus did not need their gratitude, though surely he would have liked it. But they needed to be grateful. We, too, should be grateful for the many things we have—our lives, our families and friends, the warm sunlight, the quenching rainfall, the beauty of sunrise or sunset. Be grateful for the love of Jesus Christ who loves us freely and abundantly, and without reservation
Worship Opportunities
October 9, 2016
8:00 am Holy Eucharist - Rite One
Children’s Church in the Chapel at 9:30 am
10:15 am Holy Eucharist – Rite Two
Wednesday, October 12, Bible Study in the Chapel - 8:30 am
Wednesday, October 12, Holy Eucharist in the Chapel - 10:00 am
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Happy Birthday to you!
10/09 Adaline Brosnihan 10/13 Harry Fullerton
10/14 Hugh Dunphy 10/14 Anne Smith
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Then Jesus said to the man who had invited him: “When you give a dinner, don’t invite your friends and family and relatives and rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return, and you will be paid back. When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. They cannot pay you back. But God will bless you and reward you when his people rise from death.” Luke 14:12-14
This is exactly what Feast @ 5:30 does. Many of The residents of The Moorings, The Anchorage and Washington House are the people that Jesus asks us to feed and the “payback” is the joy in getting to know a group of God’s children in a community atmosphere and what could be considered as a Large Circle Dinner. Feast @ 5:30 has been ongoing for the past seven years, and the residents who join us each week are so appreciative and look forward to each of our visits.
If you have never been a part of Feast @ 5:30, give some thought to joining us in the Fall when we will once again join The Moorings, The Anchorage and Washington House residents in a fun filled evening with food, music and good conversations.
For more information or to volunteer contact Emily Allen at 837-0173 or via e-mail at or Glenis Elliott at 837-0014 or via e-mail at .
—The Feast @ 5:30 Volunteers
A Memorial Service for Gene Moll will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 29, at Grace Church. A reception will follow at the MaineMaritimeMuseum.
Directory Update
Ted, Ginny, and Sharon are updating the data in the church directory. Please stop by the table in the narthex Sunday to view your current contact information, and initial if all is OK. If not, please make the needed corrections. We will ALL benefit from updated data!
Camera Training
We are in desperate need of at least one other person to record the 10:15 Eucharist on oneSunday each month. I would train you to operate the camera and the recorder by your observing theoperation and then be with you until you are comfortable with the procedure. If you have anyquestions about this phone me (375-7159) or visit me at the monitor before or after the 10:15 Eucharist. Thank you for considering to be a volunteer for this outreach ministry to those who can't get to Grace and can watch it on Bath Cable. —Gordon White
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Spirit Book Circle at United Church of Bath and Nancy Chandler invite you to join them in reading Active Hope: How to Face the World We’re in Without Going Crazy by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone. Right after church on October 23, and one Sunday in November we will be discussing our sense of grieving for the destruction of earth’s self healing properties, drawing strength from our ancestors and future heirs, to envision a positive ecological future for our community.Difficult challenges of climate change, the depletion of oil, economic upheaval, and mass extinction together create a planetary emergency of overwhelming proportions. Drawing on decades of teaching an empowerment approach known as the Work That Reconnects, the authors guide us through a transformational process informed by mythic journeys, modern psychology, spirituality, and holistic science. This process equips us with strength, tools, unexpected resilience, and creative power to face the mess we’re in and play our role in the collective transition, or Great Turning, to a life-sustaining society.
—Nancy Chandler
PS: Nancy asked to pass along her “new” telephone number – 207-449-3237
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GRACE CHURCH HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR
Things are coming together for our Holiday Craft Fair to be held on Saturday November 19th! We hopethat everyone will find a way to get involved in what promises to be a fun time. You can volunteer tomake items for the fair, help out by managing a table on fair day, or help with setup or takedown. If youaren’t able to participate directly, we encourage you stop in on the day just to check it out. Proceeds willgo to help offset Grace Church operating expenses as well as to increase our Memorial Funds.
We are planning to have tables for the following:
☺ Knit Items ☺Sewing Items ☺ Wood Crafts ☺ Home Made Food Items ☺ Jewelry
☺ Fair Trade Items ☺ Home Items ☺ White Elephant Items ☺ Christmas Corner
In addition, we will have a kids table with fun activities for youngsters. We will also be serving hot dogs,popcorn, and drinks.
The Fair will run from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. If you want to help out you can contact Glenis Elliot(email ) or Larry Bartlett (). A sign-upsheet is located in the Narthex.
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Remember in our Prayers
In our parish family, let us pray for Molly Luke, Anna Grace, Charlie Duffy, Jessica Gatcomb, and Bill Maier.
Let us pray forfamily and friends: David, Brian, Sharon French, Liane Zajak, Peter McKinney, Joseph Poe, Frank Farrington, Kathy Matson, David Koonce, Timothy, CC Wall, Theresa Joan White and Judy Newman.
There are four parking spaces in front of the church designated
for persons with handicaps, particularly mobility handicaps.
Since these parking spaces are often needed during the week,
they are no longer designated “Sunday Only.” Please keep thesespaces free for those who may need them.
NewGrace Bath Website!
Gracebath.org
The Communications Committee is proud to announce our new website. There are many improved features on the new site! There are tabs forAbout Us,Calendar,Worship (including sound files of Ted’s sermons), Outreach, Grace Notes, Rector’s Reflections (containing a letter about the new fall programs), A Word from the Presiding and Diocesan Bishops, and Special Announcements.
In the center of the page is a meta slider, showing pictures from around the church on a rotating basis. We need more pictures, in landscape format, please.
Beneath the slider are two headings: Life within the Walls, and Life outside the Walls, with photos. These photos will be swapped out seasonally. We also need plenty of those, in portrait format, please.
Being mindful of the needs of visitors and “church shoppers,” we have placed contact information, service times, a map, and directions at the bottom of ALL pages. Also at the bottom of the Home page are seven upcoming events, with a link to the improved. As with anything representing the church to its members and visitors, we appreciate your feedback.
—The Communications Committee:
The Rev Ted Gaiser, Glenis Elliott, Barbara Lovely, Sharon Steele, Cindy Young
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Appearing before the Vestry
Would you like to present a concern or new program idea to the Vestry? You’re encouraged to contact our Rector, Fr. Ted, Donna Miller, our Senior Warden, or Mark Wheeler, our Junior Warden regarding being added to a Vestry meeting agenda. The Vestry has a strong sense of “living in community” and wants everyone at Grace Church to feel free to bring forth and present your thoughts, ideas, and concerns. For consideration, please notify us by the second Tuesday of every month.
An Opportunity for Service!!!!!
Tis the season … stewardship, that is. One of the ways in which we give thanks to God for our many blessings is through the use of our time and talents. In our recent Worship Committee meeting, which was lively and well attended, we decided to invite and encourage parishioners to consider whether they might be called to serve as a greeter/usher, server, crucifer, lector (reader), musician, or member of the Altar Guild. Over the next several months we’ll be scheduling a variety of meetings/trainings and encourage you to prayerfully discern whether or not this might be the time to consider doing something new.
Healthy liturgies depend on a network of individuals, especially those who diligently, and often silently behind the scenes, engage in the necessary preparation of the altar. Those individuals are known collectively as the Altar Guild. If you’ve ever felt called to serve on the Altar Guild, here isanopportunity to get involved. You’re invited to attend a meeting/training on Sunday, Oct. 23, following the 10:15 service (~12:00). Our agenda will include a discussion about the role of the Altar Guild in preparing for worship, the typical responsibilities involved, hands on training, and set up for special services (high holy days, baptisms, weddings, & funerals).
All Saint's Day Flowers
The Grace Flower Guild is offering to make floral sprays for all those persons who would like to remember their loved ones in this way. We will put your name on a tag on the back of each spray and will hang them on the pews (nearest to where you usually sit) and after the service you may collect it and take it home to enjoy and remember.
We are asking for a donation of $20.00 per spray-however, if that is not possible, we accept anything! Please put your name and the name of the person you are remembering on the sign up list in the Narthex on the big bulletin board. Make the check out to Grace Episcopal Church and in the memo line putAll Saint's Day Flowers.
We are hoping that this will be a special way to remember those that have gone before us as well as helping our Flower Guild.
Thank you all in advance for participating in this ministry.
The Grace Flower Guild
Worship Leaders
October 9, 2016
Celebrant – The Rev. Dr. Ted Gaiser
Ushers – 8:00 – Jackie Berry & Colleen Stevens Greeters
10:15 – Robyn & Tom Butler Reta & Dick King
Lectors – 8:00 – John Beaven Readings
10:15 – Sharon Steele Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
Psalm 66: 1 - 11
Chalice Bearers – 8:00 – Judy Nash & Mark Wheeler 2 Timothy 2 :8-15
10:15 – Donna Miller Luke 17:11-19
& Stephanie Batterman
Prayers of the People – Sharon Steele Coffee Hours
8:00 – Glenis Elliott – Emily Allen
Camera – Gordon White 10:15 –Leah Zartarian
Altar Guild – 8:00 – Jackie Berry Wednesday, Oct 12 – Frank Jacob
10:15 – Joan Bishop
Calendar of Upcoming Events
Vestry Member Glenis Elliott will be keeping this calendar up to date, so if you have any questions or suggestions, please call or email her at:
837-0014 or to:
mailto:
Weekly Happenings
- Wednesdays - Bible Study, 8:30Am, Chapel
- Wednesdays - Midweek Eucharist, 10AM, Chapel
- Thursdays on Local Cable Channel 14 at 4:00 p.m. Grace Church service is
telecast.
Committee Meetings & Groups
- October 11th EFM – 4:40 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Tubbs Hall
- October 13th Feast @ 5:30 – The Anchorage
- October 13th Stewardship Meeting – 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. - Library
- October 13th Choir Rehearsal – 7:00 p.m. – Choir Room
- October 18th Vestry Meeting – 5:45 p.m. – Tubbs Hall
- November 19th Holiday Craft Fair – 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- November 22ndVestry Meeting – 5:45 p.m. – Tubbs Hall