Posted: March 21, 2024

News for Sunday, March 24, 2024

Upcoming Events

03/23    10:00 a.m.     Men’s Group (Ellwood Thompson’s)
03/24        3:00 p.m.   Youth Sunday Funday (Sky Zone Trampoline Park)
03/26        9:00 a.m.   Easter Egg Preparation (Parish Hall)

Holy Week & Easter Schedule

03/24    10:30 a.m.     Palm Sunday* (Modern Language | Choral | Church)
03/28     7:00 p.m.      Maundy Thursday* (Modern Language | Choral | Church)
03/29    12:00 p.m.     Stations of the Cross (Monroe Park)
03/29     3:00 p.m.      Good Friday* (Modern Language | Choral | Church)
03/30     7:30 p.m.      The Great Vigil of Easter* (Modern Language | Choral | Church)
03/31      9:00 a.m.      Easter Sunday (Traditional Language | Choral | Church)
03/31     10:30 a.m.     Easter Sunday (Modern Language | Choral | Church)

*One Service Only

Save The Date

04/14         5:00 p.m.   Youth Mission Event (Church)
04/19         5:00 p.m.   Parents’ Night Out: Pentecost (Church)
04/28       10:30 a.m.   Bishop’s Visitation for Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation (Church)
06/02       10:30 a.m.  Centennial Celebration (Church)

Sunday Bulletins are posted by Friday at ghtc.org/bulletin.

Highlights

Childcare During Holy Week
On Palm Sunday, March 24th, the nursery will be open for children ages 3 and under starting at 10:00 a.m. Please pick up your children from the nursery following 10:30 a.m. worship.

On Easter, Sunday, March 31st, the nursery will be open for children ages 3 and under starting at 9:00 a.m. Please pick up your children from the nursery following 10:30 a.m. worship.

During other Holy Week services, no nursery care will be provided. There will be no Sunday School on Palm Sunday or Easter Sunday. We warmly encourage families to worship together in church during this sacred time and look forward to the presence of children in church. Each Holy Week service will provide children’s bulletins and thematic color sheets.

Parents’ Night Out – Friday, April 19
Children and parents, we invite you to join us for our next upcoming Parents’ Night Out on April 19th. Children will enjoy fun and fellowship based around the theme of Pentecost. The location for parents’ happy hour will be provided in the coming weeks. You are invited to drop off your children at the church at 5:00 p.m. and pick them up by 9:30 p.m. We hope to see you there. Please click here to register by Wednesday, April 17th. Questions? Visit our website at ghtc.org/contact and select Kate Given from the drop down menu.

The Wren Masters Baroque Quartet Concert

On Saturday, April 13th, GHTC will host The Wren Masters Baroque Quartet in concert beginning at 3:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. The concert is free and will be followed by a reception.

The Wren Masters specialize in the historical performance of 17th and 18th century music on period instruments; recorder, baroque violin, viola da gamba, and harpsichord. The musicians of this baroque ensemble are current and former members of the William & Mary Music Faculty and the Governor’s Music of Colonial Williamsburg. The Wren Masters are currently Virginia Commission for the Arts touring performance artists. Originally formed in 2005, the Wrens are named after their favorite performance space, William & Mary’s Christopher Wren Chapel, circa 1693.

The Wren Masters will feature a program called “The European Union,” performing music spanning the entire baroque era. Beginning with dazzling new inventions from early baroque composers such as Salamone Rossi and Dario Castello, the program includes string virtuosity by Jean-Marie LeClair, mature baroque music by Handel, and late baroque stylishness of the mid-1700s represented by quartets of Rameau and Telemann (“Paris” Quartet no.12), ending with a chaconne of breathtaking loveliness.

This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Holy Baptism, Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation Preparation for Adults
Adults who wish to be baptized, confirmed, or received and those who wish to reaffirm their Baptismal Vows are encouraged to speak with a member of our clergy. Adult confirmation, reception into the Episcopal Church from another Christian denomination, and adult reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows will take place when Bishop Gayle Harris visits GHTC on Sunday, April 28th at our 10:30 a.m. service. We will present our youth candidates for confirmation on this same date and time.

Filling Easter Eggs – Tuesday, March 26
On Tuesday, March 26th, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., we are seeking volunteers to assist with filling the Easter Eggs for our Easter Sunday Egg Hunt following 10:30 a.m. worship. Donuts will be provided for the helpful Easter Bunnies. You are welcome to come for Morning Prayer at 8:30, if you like, or to simply come at 9:00 to join Director of Formation Kate Given in the Parish Hall to stuff the eggs. If you are interested in attending, please visit our website at ghtc.org/contact and select Kate Given from the drop down menu.

Thank you from the Assistant Choirmaster & Organist
Thank you to all the members of Grace and Holy Trinity for your kind expressions of sympathy following the death of my mother. She was too ill during the last year to travel here but I know she would have enjoyed visiting GHTC and getting to know the congregation.

Stan Baker, Assistant Choirmaster & Organist

Worship

Stations of the Cross – Friday, March 29
At noon on Friday, March 29th in Monroe Park will be Stations of the Cross. The Holy Strollers will lead the group around the park, stopping at the various stations to reflect on Jesus’ passion and death on the cross. Each station depicts a moment on his journey to Calvary. Please keep an eye on the weather and your email for updates.

Other Communications

Reconciliation of a Penitent
The clergy are available for spiritual counseling and for the rite of Reconciliation. In the Episcopal tradition, Reconciliation of a Penitent (as defined in the Book of Common Prayer) “is the rite in which those who repent of their sins may confess them to God in the presence of a priest, and receive the assurance of pardon and the grace of absolution.” It is often referred to as “private confession.” If you are interested in Reconciliation, please visit our website at ghtc.org/contact and select a member of the clergy from the drop down menu.

Whom do I contact for…?
If you have a question or need to contact GHTC, please use the following email addresses and their respective subjects to help direct you to the correct staff member(s):

• Worship (including Holy Baptism and Marriage) & Mission Questions | The Rev. Greg Bezilla
• Communications Questions | The Rev. Paul Evans
• Adult Formation Questions | The Rev. Paul Evans
• Children and Youth Formation Questions | Kate Given
• Pastoral Care Questions (Including the Rite of Reconciliation) | The Rev. Stephen McGehee
• Music Questions | Dr. Elizabeth Melcher Davis
• Paying Your Pledge | Judy Bowman
• Property & Church Records Questions | Lauren Frazier
• Vestry Questions | Meredith McGuire

For questions outside of these subjects please visit ghtc.org/contact or call (804) 359-5268.

Pastoral Care
Grace & Holy Trinity is committed to providing spiritual guidance, support, and a compassionate presence to all in times of need or spiritual growth. If you would like to speak with the clergy, please visit ghtc.org/contact or call the Parish Office at (804) 359-5628.

Update Your Information in Shelby (Church Directory)
Please take a moment to log into the church’s database and confirm or update your contact information. The church utilizes the address on file to mail parish communications such as newsletters, postcards, and financial statements. Visit ghtc.org/member to log in. Questions? Please contact Kyle Reed at ghtc.org/contact. If you need assistance with your password, please contact Judy Bowman at ghtc.org/contact.

Please Wear Your Name Tags
This is a gentle reminder to please wear your name tags when you come to church. Grace & Holy Trinity is fortunate to have visitors and new parishioners joining us each week. Wearing your nametag is an important part of our hospitality to all and a visible reminder to newcomers and lifelong members alike that we are an open and welcoming community. Please pick up your name tags along the wall in the hallway as you enter from the Cherry Street parking lot, and please leave them there when you leave church. If you need a name tag for the first time or if you have misplaced yours, please contact Communications Associate Tyler Brady at ghtc.org/contact.

Beware of Phishing & Other Scams
Please beware of any communication (email, phone calls, texts) purporting to be from members of our clergy, staff, or someone communicating on our behalf. No member of the Grace & Holy Trinity clergy or staff will ever contact you asking you “for a favor,” such as purchasing gift cards. Scammers use these tactics and are more common than you might think. Please be cautious and use good judgment.

The Rev. Greg Bezilla Available for Appointments
The Rev. Greg Bezilla is available to meet with you by appointment. Greg can be reached at (804) 359-5628 x17 or at ghtc.org/contact.

For more information, visit the News page.