Posted: August 1, 2024

News for Sunday, August 4, 2024

Upcoming Events

08/02   5:00 p.m. Parents’ Night Out (The Graduate)
08/18   4:00 p.m. Worship with Blessing of the Backpacks (McGuire Family Home)
08/28 11:00 a.m. Stories & Lunch (The Pace Center)

Save The Date

09/08                    Program Year Schedule Begins
09/12   6:00 p.m. Central Richmond Regional Pride Eucharist (St. Mark’s Episcopal Church)
09/08 12:00 p.m.  Reception for Father Brent & Family (Following Worship | Parish Hall)
09/12 6:00 p.m. Central Richmond Regional Pride Eucharist (St. Mark’s Episcopal Church)
09/15 10:30 a.m. One Service Only (Church)
09/15 12:00 p.m. Parish Ministry Fair (Parish Hall)
11/02 11:00 a.m. Bishop Sean Row Installation Service*
                            (Prelude begins at 10:00 a.m. | The Episcopal Church Center in New York City)
*There will be an extensive livestream production to support churchwide access and participation.
11/03 10:30 a.m. Most Upcoming Baptism Offering (For more information click here)

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

Highlights

Parents’ Night Out – Friday, August 2
A reminder for those who have signed up: Parents’ Night Out is tonight, August 2nd. Children will enjoy fun and fellowship while the parents gather for happy hour at The Graduate Hotel. Please drop off your children at the church at 5:00 p.m. and pick them up by 9:30 p.m. PNO is open to all parishioners and family members to better connect with the parents of GHTC. Questions? Visit our website at ghtc.org/contact and select Children’s Ministry from the drop down menu.

Worship with Blessing of the Backpacks & Picnic
We are grateful to Billy and Meredith McGuire who are having a parish-wide worship and picnic on Sunday, August 18th, at their home in Goochland. All are invited and no RSVP is required. Worship will begin at 4:00 p.m. Parishioners are encouraged to bring chairs, and the pool will be open, so if you’d like to swim, please bring a suit and a towel. The address is 746 Merry-Go-Round Road, Manakin Sabot, VA, 23103.

Morning worship for Sunday, August 18th is still regularly scheduled for 8:00 a.m. in the Chapel and 10:30 a.m. in the Church.

Sign Up for Music eNews
Sign up for the Music eNews to stay connected with the vibrant musical life of our congregation. By signing up, you’ll receive exclusive updates on concerts, music-centered worship services, and other exciting music-related activities at GHTC. Visit our website at ghtc.org/music to subscribe. The sign-up form will appear on mobile devices at the bottom of the page.

Caroling in Monroe Park & Holiday Market – Parishioner Vending Opportunity
Caroling in Monroe Park continues to expand this year with more vendors as part of a holiday marketplace. If you make crafts or merchandise and would like to participate as a vendor in the market, please contact Meredith McGuire by visiting our website at ghtc.org/contact and select “Vestry” from the drop down menu.

Children’s Chapel Seeking Storytellers
We are looking for adult volunteers to read stories and help supervise children during Children’s Chapel during the 10:30 a.m. service. If you enjoy storytelling and have a heart for inspiring young minds, we would love to have you join us! Sign up to volunteer during July and August online here. Questions? Contact Terry Hathaway by visiting our website at ghtc.org/contact and select Children’s Ministry from the drop down menu.

Red Door Ministry Call For Volunteers
With the VCU students away for the summer, Red Door Ministry is seeking volunteers to support this vital community ministry. Volunteers can choose between two shifts, with some working both. Tasks vary widely, including food prep, serving, and clean-up. Youth over age 16 can volunteer, preferably with a parent, but have restrictions on cooking. Interested in volunteering or have questions? Visit our website at ghtc.org/contact and select Red Door Volunteer Coordinator from the drop down menu.

Call for Livestream Volunteers
Like many other churches, our livestream began during the pandemic when we were unable to safely worship together as a congregation. Since the return to regular worship in church after the pandemic, the livestream has become an important ministry to many parishioners and friends of the parish who are unable to come to church for worship. If you feel called to support this ministry as a volunteer, the vestry and staff encourages and welcomes your support. Training will be provided. For more information, contact the Communications team by visiting our website at ghtc.org/contact and selecting “Communications Team” in the drop down menu.

Circles RVA is Recruiting Leaders & Allies
Circles RVA, which meets every Tuesday night at Grace & Holy Trinity Church, equips and inspires individuals and families to permanently move out of poverty and thrive. They create intentional relationships that expand support communities and engage the wider community to reduce or eliminate the systemic barriers that hinder people from rising out of poverty. Interested in volunteering or have questions? Visit our circlesrva.org.

Parish Life

Spirited Readers Book Club – Upcoming Meetings
All members of GHTC and their friends are welcome to join the Spirited Readers Book Club for one or every meeting. We meet in members’ homes, generally on the afternoon of the third Monday of the month. Over the next few months, the club will be reading:

• Necessary People by Anna Pitoniak (a “chilling” novel exploring the fault lines of friendship, ambition, loyalty and love)
• Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (a classic set in the 1920s, in which the protagonist reflects on her past, including WWI)
• West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge (During the Great Depression two giraffes miraculously survive a hurricane and after a hilarious twelve-day road trip are delivered to the San Diego Zoo.)
• James by Perceival Everett (Huckleberry Finn re-told from the perspective of the enslaved Jim)
• An Unfinished Love Story by Doris Kerns Goodwin (a memoir by the renowned historian about her husband’s service during Kennedy and Johnson administrations)
• The Women by Kristin Hannah (a novel about a young woman who serves as a nurse during the Vietnam War and what she experiences during and after the war)

Questions or want to attend? Contact Mary Ann Blankenship by visiting our website at ghtc.org/contact and select Spirited Readers Book Club from the drop down menu.

Mission

VCU Family Cultural Exchange Program – Applications Now Open
The VCU Family Cultural Exchange program provides Richmond community members and international students and scholars the opportunity to develop cross-cultural relationships that stimulate curiosity, increase cultural understanding and provide insight into a world beyond personal perspectives. Interested in participating? Visit the VCU Global Education Office Website here.

Pace Center Stories & Lunch – Wednesday, August 28
Parishioners will provide homemade lunch for students at The Pace Center. Questions or interest in volunteering with The Pace Center? Visit our website at ghtc.org/contact and select “Junior Warden” from the drop down menu.

Upcoming Events at The Pace Center
The Pace Center, our covenant partner for campus ministry, is an inclusive, multicultural community at VCU where students’ unique stories and gifts are valued. As a collaborative ministry of several Christian denominations, it emphasizes the importance of deep relationships and the inherent value of each individual. Many VCU students may be away for the summer, but there are still opportunities to get involved! Please visit thepacecenter.com for more information on Pace’s upcoming events and how you can support students in our community.

Walk-A-Dog                       Fridays at 12:00 p.m., meet in front of The Pace Center
Paint Flower Pots             Visit The Pace Center website for more information
Food Donation Sign Up   Sign Up to Donate on The Pace Center Website

Other Communications

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) | The Rev. Dr. Brent Melton
Mission Questions | Chuck Bleick
Communications Questions | Communications Team
Formation Questions | The Rev. Dr. Brent Melton
Pastoral Care Questions | The Rev. Dr. Brent Melton
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 email pastoralcare [at] ghtc.org or call the Parish Office at (804) 359-5628.

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 by visiting 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.

For more information, visit the News page.