The Gracevine

 

 

Grace Episcopal Church

Whittle Parish

P. O. Box 32

The Plains, Virginia  20198

(540) 253-5177
Text Box: People of Grace Church Clergy: The Rev. Caroline Smith Parkinson, Ext 1 caroline@gracechurch.net Vestry: Sue Smith - Treasurer Barbara Merchant - Senior Warden Meg Dalton Dallas Wolfe Wendy Ault Robert Dryden Catherine Delaney Susan Leslie-Fraser Alan Caudill Juilanne Clifford Thomas H. Valk Teresa Whitticar Becki Ryder, Registrar Staff: Sam Carabetta, Organist/ Choirmaster samueljc@starpower.net Clif Stroud, Assistant Organist Anne Michael Breeden, St. Cecilia Choir Director Michelle Adzima, Preschool Director littlegraces@gracechurch.net Vicky Griffith, Parish Administrator Ext. 2: Vicky@gracechurch.net Belinda Durney, Administrative Assistant to the Rector; Ext. 3: Belinda@gracechurch.net Sue Carter, Sexton  The Episcopal Church welcomes you. Text Box: Alleluia, Christ is Risen. The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia. On Easter Sunday afternoon, after the services were over and the choir robes had been hung up, the Altar silver carefully cleaned and linens readied to be laundered, the beautiful new Grace Church banner in its place, the Easter eggs all found and consumed or at least saved for another day, the Parish Hall straightened up and the dishes from the receptions all washed and put away; I sat in the choir stalls for a while reflecting on the week. The church was still filled with the beautiful flowers and the echo of the glorious Alleluias reverberated around the now empty nave. Beginning with Palm Sunday, day by day we had retold the ancient story, walking the way of the Cross, striping the Church of all decoration, remembering Jesus’ passion for justice and righteousness -- these days on which the history of the world depends when somehow God used the stark injustice and horror of the execution of Jesus turn around the way the world works. By Sunday, the Day of Resurrection, we had arrived at the point where nothing we could do would be adequate to what God has done for us. It is beyond our comprehension, “that God so loved the world…” We had heard the readings, sung the ancient hymns and I was filled with the emotions of this overwhelming day, fed by Word and music, by Bread and Wine, by wonderful fellowship. The oft repeated African saying that “it takes a village to raise a child” applies to the ministry of the church. It takes our village -- all of us together -- to retell and to remember again the story that is the foundation of our faith – members of the choir and Altar Guild, acolytes, ushers, those who ordered and arranged the flowers, the Eucharistic Lay Ministers, the Vestry and Sunday School staff and their families as well as our parish staff: Sam Carabetta, Clif Stroud, Ann Michael Breeden, Vicky Griffith, Belinda Durney, Sue Carter, Sharon and Robert Blake, and Wanda Allison. I am deeply grateful to each of you whose ministry made the glorious celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord a reality at Grace Church this year. In the days and months ahead, I pray that we will remember the joy and wonder of God’s amazing love, sharing it with all who love him and all who want to love him more. Blessings and peace, Caroline+ Text Box: April 1, 2008

Calendar

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Art Show

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Serving Schedule

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Little Graces

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Outreach

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