May 12, 2024
Ascension

Click here for this week's readings.

To access bulletins, Livestream and Zoom links, and to make an offering, click here.

Wednesday Gatherings

Weekly Wednesday Gatherings take place from 10 – 11:30 a.m. in the Grace sanctuary. The service is a combination of conversation and reflection on the Biblical texts for the following Sunday, healing prayer, and Eucharist. 

Thursdays, May 16, 23, 30 at 11:00 a.m.
The Good Immigrant Book Group

May 14 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Conversations about Death

May 18 at 9:30 a.m.
Electing Convention for the Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Olympia

The Grace Delegation would like your input

Dear Grace Members,

On May 18, a new Bishop for the Diocese of Olympia will be elected at a special electing convention. In addition to Reverend Eric, there are six lay Delegates from Grace who will be casting votes: Ruth Blaney, Ted Cozine, Jim Quitslund, Holly Renfrew, Ken Wesley, and Eric Matthews. They will be meeting on Monday, May 13 to review their impressions of the nominees. 

If you did not attend the Meet and Greet at Grace on May 1, you can watch the video, HERE. You can read more about the nominees and watch a video from each one HERE.  

Please let the Delegates know your preferred nominee, including a short description of your reasons, by noon on Monday, May 13, by emailing Eric Matthews.

Respectfully,
Your Grace Delegation

_____

NOTE: Those not designated as Electors are encouraged to view the proceedings via the St. Mark’s live-stream. Live-streamed proceedings are expected to begin at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2024.

We will meet on Sunday May 12 to celebrate our Mother

Bring your coffee to the living room right after the service. 

We will expand on our stories, inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer’s quote in our Earth Sunday service: I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.

Together we’ll strengthen our love for life.

Hope to see you there!

Questions? Contact Nancy Peregrine or Deborah Milton.

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

RSVP required

In this facilitated, informal, small group discussion we’ll explore our personal relationship with death.

• What worries us
• What questions we have
• How we handle our discomfort around death

It's not a bereavement group, not Advanced Care planning, not a forum to give advice.

Participation is capped at 24 people. 

Continuing on May 16, 23, and 30

The Good Immigrant presents 26 powerful stories with various viewpoints on the controversial topic of immigration — and addresses the questions of who is welcome, why, and who will speak for them?

Each week we’ll discuss 2 or 3 articles written by first and second-generation immigrants from all over the world. You are also encouraged to report on other stories in the book that you find meaningful. 
 
All are welcome! For questions, and to RSVP, please contact Florrie Munat or Kim Cockroft. Books and reading schedules are available in the Narthex for a suggested donation of $16.

Sunday programming

Ages four and under are welcome in our beautiful, interactive nursery with adjoining playground under the supervision of trained staff.

Children ages 3 or 4 through 12 begin with their families in the sanctuary for a children’s moment with our priest, after which they go to their classrooms for rich and creative programming, and then return to the sanctuary for communion with their families. 

Sunday Youth Gatherings

Middle schoolers and high schoolers, join us right after the 9:30 service (around 10:30) in our new Youth Room.

Do you want to volunteer for our youth gatherings? Let Kim know.

To support keeping Grace safe and secure, we have a Night Owl team. Each team member volunteers for a week at a time. We walk the exterior of the building, verify all the doors are locked and latched, and that all windows and the gate are closed and latched. The team members arrive after 9:00 p.m. or a bit later, after all the folks involved in a rental or other Grace activities have left. This takes about 15-20 minutes.
 
Sign up for ministry here. Questions? Email or call Eric Matthews: (206) 718-2254.

Aloha. Last August, our Grace Community sent a donation to Holy Innocents Episcopal Church in Lahaina, and we began a conversation. The church was destroyed in the fires that consumed the area, and hundreds lost their possessions and became homeless.

A Cup of Cold Water is a community organization that uses donations for the temporary lodgings of disaster survivors (ironically, this organization was begun in 2014 by members of Holy Innocents). During the month of May, we will be collecting items which were requested by this organization.

Please put your new and gently-used items in the baskets in the Narthex:

• Men’s T-shirts (preferably black, all sizes)

• Flip Flops (especially sizes 10, 11, 12)

• Men’s shorts, sizes 30 – 36 (fast drying if possible)

• Large Band-Aids

• Antibiotic ointment (Neosporin)

• Towels

Mahalo (thank you!)

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Women of all ages, and youth welcome!

All materials for felting are provided. Invite a friend!

Please bring a drink or a snack to share; there is no cost.

RSVPs encouraged (so we can have enough materials): kim@gracehere.org

Thursday, June  6, 2024

You are invited to attend the Men’s Group Gathering and Potluck on Monday, June 3, at Grace from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Your modest financial donation will help offset the cost of the main dish. There will also be an opportunity to donate to The IRIS Fund. These funds will be given to Dan Rohan’s family (Melissa Meyers, Frankie, and Iris) to support their needs as they support Iris during her treatment for leukemia. Click here to learn more and sign up, or contact Eric Matthews.

Invite Friends!

June 10, July 8, August 12, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

June Theme: Blessing

Contact Kim with questions.

Despite threatening clouds, the only sprinkles in the garden were from parishioners blessing the new plants with holy water! It was a time of great joy, as Reverend Eric and parishioners prayed at each corner of the garden and then sang “Inch by Inch, Row by Row” waving wet branches over seedling starts. The happy group concluded the rogation with a tea table filled with delectable offerings. Thanks to Kathleen Abell and Cindy Logan for their organization and yummy food, and to Ann Strickland for leading us in song with her ukulele. Special thanks to Reverend Eric for a lovely liturgy. It was a very sweet time together.

Rides are needed to 9:30 a.m. Sunday services for Ellen Walls, who lives in Winslow across from Ace Hardware. 

Thanks very much to all who have offered rides!

Knitting into the Mystery is a prayer shawl ministry. The shawls are knitted by wonderful, gracious people who choose the colors and patterns. The shawls bring comfort and prayers to whomever receives them. More kind prayer shawl knitters are needed. If you are interested, contact Beulah Downing. She will provide you with the lengths and widths that work best.

Printmaker/sculptor Virginia H. Davison presents “Math in Art,” a series of shellac plate prints based on the Pythagorean Theorem. Virginia is fascinated with color relationships, spatial harmonies, texture, and surfaces that feel exciting and illusionary. There is one base plate, and then smaller shaped plates are used to add the new colors and shapes, slowly building up layers and meaning.

Sunday, June 16 from 10:45 a.m. – 12 noon 

A Celebration of the Life’s Work of Dennis Carlson & Beulah Downing

and

A Book Launch for Dennis’ Memoir: Scalpel, Spirit and Seeds: My Life Promoting Health in Ethiopia and around the World

The book may be purchased here, and some copies will be available at the event.

Kids and Youth, sign up for Camp Huston this summer!

• Discovery, International Odyssey, Mini, or Horse Camp

• Programs for kids 6 – 15

• Counselor training for youth 16 and up

• Scholarships available

Sun, May 19th, 6:00 PM

Vespers is a short, contemplative service which marks the transition from day to evening. You are invited to join us for music and readings which celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit.