July/August 2011 Newsletter
PURLS OF GRACE PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
In the
beginning of this year my friend Lisa had a very serious surgery including a
colostomy. Many others and I prayed for her complete recovery. A lovely pink
shawl was sent to her at that time, picked from our collection of finished
shawls.
Lisa
recovered well and in June her colostomy was reversed in a five hour surgery.
Only two weeks later she was well enough to get in her car and drive to a
family reunion over two hours away. Then, after many hours of visiting, Lisa
went back behind the wheel and drove all the way home. Everyone was amazed! I thank God and
praise Him for His healing powers.
Blessings, Gunlög Millet
NEWS FROM THE TAPE MINISTRY
As you
already may know, the gospel and sermon are audio taped every Sunday and copies
are made by request. As of this writing, there are 58 more blank
tapes. When they have been used up, we will convert to a CD system.
Grace and Charley Bates have been
responsible for this ministry for almost 10 years and would like to retire from
it and move on to other things. If you would be interested in this
ministry, please contact Grace at 860/575-1103 for further information.
SUMMER FELLOWSHIP COFFEE HOUR
During
the summer only cool, refreshing refreshments are served at our Coffee
Hours. Hosts can also serve coffee
and tea, if they wish. No snacks of any kind are needed. In our
current economic times this makes volunteering much easier and it is easier to
clean up. So you will be able to head quickly to the beach on those gorgeous
Sunday afternoons.
There
are still summer Coffee Hour volunteer spots available for anyone wishing to be
a servant of your fellow churchgoers. Currently, the month of August is
completely available. So, please consider hosting a summer time of fellowship
after the 10 o’clock service. The “Beverages Only” will be in effect
until the Labor Day weekend.
I would
like to extend a very grateful thank you to all the wonderful people who
have hosted a Coffee Hour in the past. Although I may not thank you in person,
know that I keep you in my thoughts and prayers and am grateful for your
generosity of time, talent, and food!
Have a
wonderful remainder of summer, keep cool, and also look for the Coffee Hour
sign up sheet next time you are at Grace Church.
Blessings to all, Kathy Bartus
Spotlight on
Ministry at Grace Church
THE ALTAR GUILD
Altar Guild work goes on quietly behind the scenes. The work is often not noticed because
in normal circumstances average worshipers don’t think about the familiar scene
in front of them as long as it is familiar. They don’t consider who has put the ornaments and
furnishings in place or who cares for them.
Yet these two responsibilities have been fundamental to the
Altar Guild Ministry from its start.
In the fourth century of the church what is considered the
work of an altar guild was performed by male leaders of the church called
clerics or sacristans. Years later
laymen became sacristans. Sometime
in the nineteenth century women become assistants to sacristans, at least in
the English part of the church. By
the turn of the twentieth century these women assistants were beginning to
organize into guilds, and in most places in the United States these “altar
guilds” assumed the sacristan’s duties themselves under the guidance of their
priests. Since then, in the
Episcopal Church, women have predominated in altar guilds, perhaps because
until 1970 this channel was the only route open to them for serving God in the
sanctuary. It has become apparent,
however, that as other ways of serving God have opened to women, and other
ministries, once thought of as men’s work have welcomed the participation of
women, the work of the altar guild would benefit greatly by again welcoming men
into that ministry.
Today altar guilds are groups of men and women who are
called to serve God by preparing and tending the places where Episcopalians
worship. The work they do together
is an offering of time and many talents.
It is a ministry of love undertaken in the name of Christ.
One very simple way to concretely support the Altar Guild is
by sponsoring the Sunday flower display.
This is accomplished by a $35 .00 donation . You may choose to give
these flowers to the memory of a loved one or to celebrate a special
occasion. If you would like to be
a donor please contact Chris, our Parish Secretary, at the church office
(860/388-0895) and she will have someone contact you for the specific
information.
Men and
women of Grace Church are invited to explore the Altar Guild Ministry. Father Hoffman or any member of the
Altar Guild would be happy to talk with you about this ministry and its many
blessings.
SUMMER CHOIR
Have you always thought about joining the choir but have been
hesitant to commit to the Thursday night practice? During the summer, the only
choir practice for the ten o'clock service is on Sunday morning at 9:15
am.
Come and give it a try! All levels of experience are welcome;
the only requirement is a desire to worship God.
SUMMER OFFICE HOURS
During the month of
August, the church Office will be open 9:30 am until 12:30 pm, Monday through
Friday.