News for Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025

Upcoming Events

Sunday 04/13 Cancelled: Youth Sunday Funday

Monday 4/14 5:30 p.m. Spirited Sisters (Mosaic Restaurant)

Monday 4/14 6:00 p.m. Downtown Community Ministry holds Holy Monday Prayer Vigil at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (815 E. Grace Street)

Thursday 4/17 7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday (Church) 

Friday 4/18 12:00 p.m. Good Friday (Followed by Stations of the Cross in
Monroe Park | Church)  

Saturday 04/19 7:00 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter with Baptism (Church)  

Sunday 04/20 9:00 a.m. Easter Day (Church) 

Sunday 04/20 11:00 a.m. Easter Day (Family Service with Children’s Sermon | Church)

Sunday 04/20 12:00 p.m. Easter Egg Hunt (Following 11:00 a.m. Worship | Monroe Park)

Sunday 04/20 Parish Office Closure Begins in Observance of Easter (Concludes on April 25th)

Friday 04/25 Cancelled: Red Door Ministry

Saturday 04/26 9:00 a.m. Pace Center Parish Work Day hosted by GHTC (The Pace Center)

Sunday 05/04 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion in Memoriam of the Rev. Hill Brown
with Gloria by John Rutter & I Was Glad by C. Hubert H. Parry (Parish Choir, Brass, Percussion & Organ
with Reception to Follow | Church)

Friday 05/09 12:00 p.m. Red Door Ministry with Shood (Parish House)

Save the Date

Saturday 05/10 6:00 p.m. unBelizable Dinner hosted by Belize Mission Team
(Silent Auction, Dinner & Bingo | Parish House)

Sunday 05/11 10:30 a.m. Children & Youth Sunday (Church)

Sunday 05/18 4:00 p.m. Greater Richmond Children’s Choir Spring Concert
(Free Admission | Church)

Monday 05/26 Parish Office Closed in Observance of Memorial Day

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

Highlights

Childcare During Holy Week
On Palm Sunday, April 13th, 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, April 20th, the nursery will be open for children ages 3 and under starting at 8:30 a.m. Please pick up your children from the nursery following 11:00 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.

Holy Week through Easter 2025

Maundy Thursday (Last Supper): On Thursday evening, April 17th, we invite you to gather around our table as Jesus did with his disciples. Our worship service feels familiar with reflection, prayers, and music. The service ends with the stripping of the altar, as our sacred space is cleared of ornate items on the pulpit, lectern and the high altar of our church. The last act is washing the altar and singing softly.

Good Friday (Death): On Friday, April 18th at noon, we move together through the liturgy of how Jesus’ love was poured out on the hard wood of the cross. We will end our worship acknowledging the cross. Then we are invited to do the Stations of the Cross together in Monroe starting
at 1:00 p.m. 

Stations of the Cross: At 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 18th in Monroe Park, will be Stations of the Cross. The group will walk 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. In case of rain, we will hold Stations of the Cross in the Parish Hall.

The Great Vigil (Resurrection) on Saturday, April 19th, gathers us in the darkness before lighting a new fire. We remember that it is only by the light of Christ that death and darkness is defeated. The paschal candle is lit and the candlelight takes us through the liturgy. We listen to the powerful scripture which summarizes the entire Biblical story of the Old and New Testament. A reflection, baptismal, prayers, and music helps to prepare us for the first Easter. The lights come on as we say, “Alleluia, Christ is risen!” This service moves from darkness (death) to new light (life). Please bring bells to ring during The First Eucharist of Easter.

The Easter Celebrations continue into Sunday Morning, April 20th, with services at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Please bring flowers and greenery to use during The Flowering of the Cross. There will be no parish breakfast on Easter Day.

Downtown Community Ministry holds Holy Monday Prayer Vigil at St. Paul’s – Monday, April 14 at 6:00 p.m.

Please join the Downtown Community Ministry churches (DCM) on Holy Monday to come together in a show of sacred solidarity to stand with those who are suffering due to this current time of trial and turmoil in our city and nation. Together, on the steps of St. Paul’s we will lament, pray, and ask for God’s justice and deliverance for all who walk the way of the cross with Jesus this Holy Week.  This event is hosted by St. Paul’s, located at 815 E. Grace Street, in collaboration with the DCM. Free parking is available in the St. Paul’s parking garage located at 111 N. 8th Street.

Applications for Endowment Scholarships Due Sunday, May 4
Through the Grace & Holy Trinity Endowment Fund and the Mason Memorial Fund, GHTC provides need-based scholarships to active members of the Parish. The grants support tuition to independent schools, colleges, and graduate schools. The funds are administered through the Scholarship Committee, chaired by Billy McGuire. Applications are due on Sunday, May 4th. To learn more about applying for a scholarship, visit our website at ghtc.org/contact and select “Scholarship Committee” from the drop-down menu.

Upcoming Events at The Pace Center – Saturday, April 26 at 9:00 a.m.
GHTC will host a Parish Work Day at The Pace Center on Saturday, April 26th at 9:00 a.m. We encourage all ages to volunteer! The Pace Center, our covenant partner for campus ministry, is an inclusive, multicultural community at VCU where students’ unique stories and gifts are valued. Please sign up for Pace’s newsletter, “Keeping Pace” by clicking here. “Keeping Pace” provides more information on Pace’s upcoming events and how you can support students in our community.

Parish Work Day hosted by GHTC Saturday, April 26th at 9:00 a.m.

Stories & Lunch Wednesdays from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.*

*The final Stories & Lunch of the semester will be held on Wednesday, April 30th.

Walk-A-Dog Fridays from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Two Search Updates

We will welcome Madeleine Preston for our Director of Formation. The two remaining search processes are still making progress with candidates. Each search is still taking new applicants and continuing conversations with current applicants. Please keep the two searches in your prayers for Assistant Choirmaster & Organist and Assistant Priest.

Read the Full “Madeleines Announcement” Here

Worship in Memoriam of Rev. Hill Brown with Special Music & Reception – Sunday, May 4 at 10:30 a.m.
GHTC invites you to Holy Communion on Sunday, May 4th in Memoriam of the Reverend Hill Brown. The GHTC Parish Choir will present Rutter’s jubilant “Gloria” and Parry’s festive “I Was Glad” with brass, percussion, and organ. There will be no parish breakfast, instead, a reception will be held in the Parish Hall following the worship service. 

Personal invitations and envelopes are available to our parishioners on the Connect Tables. We encourage you to invite friends and family to the special service and reception.

“unBelizable Dinner” hosted by The Belize Mission Team – Saturday, May 10 at 6:00 p.m.
Following their recent mission trip to Belize this March, The Belize Mission Team will continue their work by hosting the second “unBelizable Dinner” on Saturday, May 10th at GHTC. The dinner will begin at 6:00 p.m. and include a parish-wide meal, silent auction, and bingo! The team hopes to fundraise for future mission work while creating fellowship and ministry opportunities for others. If you would like to RSVP or have any questions please click here, or contact Lisa Dawson by email or by calling (804) 350-1950.​

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) | Father Brent
Mission Questions | Chuck Bleick or The Rev. Steve Pace
Communications Questions | Father Brent or Tyler Brady
Formation Questions | Father Brent
Pastoral Care Questions | Father Brent or The Rev. Jon Scarffe
Music Questions | Dr. Elizabeth Melcher Davis
Paying Your Pledge | Kathy Schultheis
Property & Church Records Questions | Lauren Frazier
Vestry Questions | Chuck Bleick
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.