Posted: December 12, 2024

News for Sunday, December 15, 2024

Upcoming Parish Forums

“Journey Through Advent”
Dec. 15 (First Floor Classroom)

Upcoming Events

Sunday 12/15 9:00 a.m. Pageant Costume Fitting (Staff Meeting Room)

Sunday 12/15 12:00 p.m. Worship Committee Meeting (First Floor Classroom)

Monday 12/16 5:00 p.m. Blue Christmas Service (Chapel)

Friday 12/20 12:00 p.m. Red Door Holiday with River City Wood Fired Pizza* (8 N. Laurel Street)
*Red Door Lunch will not be open for service on 12/27 and will return on 01/03.

Friday 12/20 4:30 p.m. Holy Strollers Holiday Lights Walk (One Monument Avenue)

Sunday 12/22 8:00 a.m. Advent IV with Holy Eucharist* (Chapel) *One service only.

Sunday 12/22 9:00 a.m. Breakfast & Ministry Preparation for Christmas* (Parish Hall)
*Last Parish Breakfast of 2024. Returns in 2025.

Sunday 12/22 9:45 a.m. Children’s Choir Rehearsal (Church)

Sunday 12/22 10:00 a.m. Children’s Pageant Rehearsal (Church)

Sunday 12/22 3:30 p.m. Prelude Music Begins (Church)

Sunday 12/22 4:00 p.m. Lessons & Carols (Church)

Sunday 12/22 5:00 p.m. Reception (Parish Hall)

Sunday 12/24 3:30 p.m. Prelude Music Begins (Church)

Tuesday 12/24 4:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant (Church)

Sunday 12/24 10:30 p.m. Prelude Music Begins (Church)

Tuesday 12/24 11:00 p.m. Midnight Holy Eucharist (Church)

Wednesday 12/25 10:00 a.m. Christmas Day (Chapel)

Save the Date

Sunday 01/05 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Baptism (Church)

Sunday 01/05 3:00 p.m. Youth Sunday Funday Christmas Party (Lee Family Home)

Sunday 01/05 4:00 p.m. Parish-wide Twelfth Night Tea (Parish Hall)

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

Highlights

Blue Christmas Service – Monday, December 16
For many people, the approaching Christmas holiday does not bring with it the joy and happiness that is advertised on television or in greeting cards. They may be facing a holiday after the death of a loved one or other type of loss. Perhaps they have suffered through an emotional trauma, or maybe they feel pressured and overwhelmed by holiday preparations. On Monday, December 16th at 5:00 p.m. a Blue Christmas Service will be held in the Chapel. It is an opportunity to have a quiet, spiritual time amid a busy season. This short reflective service will include scripture, music, and meditations to focus on the comfort God offers during dark times. All are welcome.

Holy Strollers Holiday Lights Walk – Friday, December 20 at 4:30 p.m.
Everyone is invited – children, families, grown-ups, and friends – for an evening holiday walk on Monument Avenue. Meet at 4:30 p.m., Friday, December 20th, in front of the One Monument Avenue condominiums. The address is 413 Stuart Circle, which is at the southeast corner of Monument Avenue and Stuart Circle. Afterward, enjoy light refreshments at the One Monument Avenue condominium building, our starting point.

Sunset is at 4:55 p.m. It’s wonderful to walk along Monument Avenue in the evening during this season, marveling at the beautiful holiday decorations and lights. Dress for the weather – meaning warm clothes, walking shoes, hats and gloves. A flashlight is a good idea. Also, an important reminder that we’ll be walking along a main thoroughfare so we need to be careful at all intersections and be alert for uneven sidewalks.

Complimentary parking is available in the parking garage across Lombardy Street from the One Monument Avenue building. Enter the alley behind First English Lutheran Church, which is across the street from One Monument Avenue. A few parking spaces are available on the right behind the church, or drive about 15 feet farther and turn left at the second garage entrance and park on the right, first floor, in any spaces marked for First English Lutheran Church (“and thank Cathy Saunders for arranging all of this!” – Susan Hankins).

Sign Up for the Christmas Pageant – Tuesday, December 24 at 4:00 p.m. 
It’s that time of year again: our Christmas Pageant is just around the corner. We welcome children as young as age three and through high school to join our cast of angels, shepherds, and sheep. Costume fitting will take place on December 15th in between the services as well as following the 10:30 a.m. service. There is one rehearsal on Sunday, December 22nd at 10:00 a.m. The pageant is on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24th at 4:00 p.m. Sign up online here as soon as you are able. Questions? Contact Mr. Nick Sollog or Mrs. Neil Gregory.

Stewardship Update
“We are grateful for the 117 pledges that have already been offered for our ongoing ministries in 2025. This amounts to $681,812. Our pledge goal is $750,000. We hope the remaining 30 plus pledging units will come in soon as we plan ahead. This year’s theme was Embracing Joy. This has helped to acknowledge the joy in the fullness of being a community. If you are still considering your 2025 pledge, please ask how God is calling you to share in this joy. Sharing in the incredible moments, like a wedding, baptism, funerals and weekly worship, we celebrate life and God. I am both thankful for GHTC and have great hope for our future together. Blessings! 

In Peace, Brent
P.S. If you need a pledge card, please contact Lauren during the week or ask an usher to show you the Connect Tables on Sunday to find a pledge card.”

GoFundMe for the Bomar Family
Kyle Bomar’s wife, Caitlin, passed away after a fifteen-month battle with cancer on Tuesday, November 19th at her childhood home in Waynesboro, Virginia. In addition to grief and shock, Kyle is facing the challenge of being a single parent to their three girls, Anna (6), Mary Clare (4), and Sophia (3) while being the full-time Rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Orange, Virginia, roughly 50 miles from where the family lives in Waynesboro.

The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 13th at the First Presbyterian Church in Waynesboro. The address is 249 S. Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro. It takes roughly two hours to get there. Carpooling options are developing. To provide financial support, there is an established GoFundMe account in Caitlin’s name. The money will be used to provide childcare coverage allowing Kyle to work. Click here to visit the GoFundMe.com page.

Youth Sunday Funday Christmas Party – January 5, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
Middle school and high school students are invited to a white elephant regifting exchange and tacky sweater contest at the Lee Family Home, 312 Ralston Road. Parents are welcome to drop off or join in some holiday cheer and NFL viewing. Please RSVP with Laura Lee at (850) 266-3996.

Thank you to Meredith and Billy McGuire, our Caroling Volunteers, Musicians, and Visitors
On this past Sunday, December 8th, GHTC’s Caroling in Monroe Park & Holiday Market brought The Greater Richmond Children’s Choir (GRCC), New Life Deliverance Tabernacle Vocal Ensemble, RVA Street Singers, the GHTC Vocal Ensemble, and a brass quintet together to lead us in carols for this fourth annual holiday event. The holiday market was filled with local vendors, the River City Wood Fire Pizza food truck, cronuts from JC Desserts, a Red Door Ministry Clothes Closet giveaway shop, ornament painting, photos with Santa in his Model T, and fellowship. The brass quintet, dressed in custom made costumes, began at 4:15 p.m. with caroling following their prelude.

Make sure to tag @graceandholytrinity in all of your Caroling photos and videos!

GHTC would like to thank everyone involved, all of our visitors, and especially Meredith and Billy McGuire, for helping to make this holiday community event such a success!! Happy holidays and we’ll see you next year at the 5th Annual Caroling in Monroe Park.

Parish-Wide Twelfth Night Tea – Sunday, January 5 at 4:00 p.m.
The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) of GHTC invites the parish, family, and friends to a typical London Hotel Afternoon Tea on the Twelfth Day of Christmas. ECW hopes to build friendships and community while celebrating the last day of Christmas together. The Afternoon Tea will begin at 4:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall and end around 6:00 p.m. If you would like to attend, please email Catherine Perrin at robertperrin@acm.org or call (804) 402-1179.

Christmas Ministry for Dumbarton Elementary Students – Sponsorships & Donations
Please consider making a monetary donation to the Christmas Ministry to purchase grocery gift cards for families and teachers to support our needy students. Donations can be made online and check Christmas Ministry or by writing a check with Christmas Ministry in the memo section. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Smith at (804) 339-8030 or at nancybsmith@yahoo.com.

Red Door Winter Gear Drive
As the winter months approach, Red Door is seeking limited donations of coats, scarves, knit hats, gloves, socks, underwear, sweatshirts, and sweatpants for Richmonders in need. We are no longer accepting donations of bedrolls, bedding/blankets, and suitcases due to limited storage space. The Red Door Winter Gear Drive began on Sunday, November 17th and will collect until Wednesday, January 15th. Please drop off any new or gently used winter gear at the service ministry box between the elevator and the kitchen.

Remaining Communications

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. Please visit thepacecenter.com for more information on Pace’s upcoming events and how you can support students in our community.

Holy Eucharist & Healing Wednesdays beginning at 11:00 a.m. (GHTC Chapel)
Stories & Lunch Wednesdays from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Arts & Faith Circle Wednesdays from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Movement in Grace Wednesdays beginning at 7:00 p.m. (GHTC Church)
Walk-A-Dog Fridays from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
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 or The Rev. Steve Pace
Communications Questions | Communications Team
Formation Questions | The Rev. Dr. Brent Melton
Pastoral Care Questions | The Rev. Dr. Brent Melton or The Rev. Jon Scarffe
Music Questions | Dr. Elizabeth Melcher Davis
Paying Your Pledge | Kathy Schultheis
Property & Church Records Questions | Lauren Frazier
Vestry Questions | Meredith McGuire
Campus Ministry Questions | The Rev. Russ Kerr

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

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.

Prayer Request – Online Form
If you or someone you know is in need of prayer, please visit our website at ghtc.org/prayer and fill out the form. Your requests are confidential and will be shared with Parish Administrator and clergy.

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.

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.

For more information, visit the News page.