News & Announcements

Upcoming Events

Tuesday 01/06 4:00 p.m. Westminster Canterbury Happy Hour & Caroling (Updated Date from Postponement | Courtyard 5th Floor Lounge)

Friday 01/09 5:00 p.m. Parents’ Night Out (Drop-off at 5:00 p.m. with Pick-up at 9:30 p.m. | Bar Solita, 123 W. Broad Street)

Sunday 01/11 9:30 a.m. Intergenerational Formation: Bound Together in Baptism led by Madeleine Preston (First Floor Classroom)

Sunday 01/11 10:30 a.m. Children & Youth Sunday with Holy Eucharist and Baptism* (Livestream Available | Church)

*Acolyte Recognition Sunday. 8:00 a.m. worship is regularly scheduled.

Sunday 01/11 11:45 a.m. Usher Training & Refreshments (First Floor Classroom)

Wednesday 01/14 10:30 a.m. Stories & Lunch hosted by GHTC (Lunch Begins at Noon | The Pace Center)

Saturday 01/17 5:00 p.m. Front Porch Forum Dinner (Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. | Parish Hall)

Saturday 01/31 7:00 a.m. Youth Ski Trip (Day Trip | Meet at GHTC Parking Lot)

Sunday 02/08 9:00 a.m. Annual Parish Meeting* (Church) *Worship is regularly scheduled.

Sunday 02/08 11:45 a.m. Annual Meeting Reception with Questions (Following 10:30 a.m. Worship | Parish Hall)

Highlights

Pastoral Care Phone Number 

A Pastoral Care Line is now active for parishioners experiencing a pastoral emergency when the church office is closed. The on-call number is (804) 322-3758. Please save this number to your phone’s contact list. Voice and text messages can be left at this number. The pastoral care team is comprised of our clergy and two staff members. We want to make sure we can connect to support our parishioners in any time of need.

Westminster Canterbury Happy Hour & Caroling Rescheduled to Epiphany – Tuesday, January 6 at 4:00 p.m.
All are invited to the rescheduled Westminster Canterbury Happy Hour on its new date of Tuesday, January 6th at 4:00 p.m. in the Courtyard 5th Floor Lounge. Bring your own drinks and food to share. Please register by calling the Parish Office at (804) 359-5628 x23 and speaking with Lauren Frazier.

Parents’ Night Out – Friday, January 9 at 5:00 p.m.

Our first Parents’ Night Out of the program year will be on Friday, January 9th from 5:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m. All children and youth are invited to the church for dinner, games, and a movie. The parents’ meeting location is Bar Solita (123 W. Broad Street). Please register your child here by Wednesday, January 7th.

Intergenerational Formation Event: Bound Together in Baptism – Sunday, January 11 at 9:30 a.m.

What does baptism mean for us individually and as a community? Join us in the First Floor Classroom on Sunday, January 11th at 9:30 a.m. for this event for all ages. All will be invited to share stories and photos from their own baptism or their children’s baptisms.

Children & Youth Sunday with Holy Eucharist and Baptism – Sunday, January 11 at 10:30 a.m.

All children and youth are invited to share their gifts with the congregation during our Children and Youth Sunday the first Sunday after Epiphany! The worship service will be Holy Eucharist and Baptism. There are opportunities to serve as lectors, ushers, chalice bearers, and/or musicians. Please register here by Wednesday, December 31st.

Youth Instrumental Ensemble 2026 Rehearsal Schedule – Returns Sunday, January 11

Assistant Choirmaster & Organist Luke Brennan writes, “I hope that all of you are doing well this holiday season. I am inviting you to join the Youth Instrumental Ensemble for this cycle. All youth musicians (orchestral instruments, keyboards, guitars, and singers) from 4th grade through high school are invited to join the ensemble, and we also welcome solo performances. We will be preparing a musical piece to present on Children & Youth Sunday, March 22nd, 2026, at the 10:30 a.m. service. The Ensemble will begin rehearsals after church on January 11th, and there will be five rehearsals prior to the performance. Attendance for at least four rehearsals is suggested.”
Rehearsal Dates: January 11 | February 8 | February 22 | March 1 | March 15

If your youth is interested, please contact Luke Brennan by visiting ghtc.org/contact and selecting “Youth Instrumental Ensemble” from the drop-down menu or call (804) 358-4369 x21.

Stories & Lunch hosted by GHTC at The Pace Center – Wednesday, January 14 at 10:30 a.m. 

Members of Grace & Holy Trinity are invited to prepare lunch for the students at The Pace Center, our campus ministry partner at Virginia Commonwealth University. We are seeking volunteers to help plan the menu and prepare the food. No washing dishes! The students set the tables and clean up. Volunteers are invited to have lunch with the students and participate in the conversations. The Pace Center has shared that the students get the most joy from conversations with non-students, like the GHTC volunteers. If you are interested, the time commitment is 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Front Porch Forum Dinners – Begins Saturday, January 17, 2026

Our community will be offering a full course dinner before the Richmond Forum events in 2026. Sylvia May, a parishioner, choir member, and chef, along with Father Brent have planned this community building idea for utilizing our proximity to Altria Theatre. The four-course dinner will be in the Parish Hall on forum nights beginning on January 17th, 2026. The cost is $110 per person, which will include parking, drinks, and the meal. Seating will be limited to 35–40 people. Ministry groups wanting to raise money could work a night together and this is also a great way for any older youth to gain restaurant experience. Guests will arrive at GHTC after 5:00 p.m. and dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. Richmond Forum doors open at 7:00 p.m., so dinner will end by 7:15 p.m. We are advertising this invitation to area Episcopalians as we all tend to enjoy the forum, so invite widely. Click here to make your reservations.

Leading Together – Vestry Nominating Committee Accepting Nominations Open through January 18, 2026

The Vestry and clergy create a shared vision for the life of Grace & Holy Trinity Church. The Vestry Nominating Committee is now accepting nominations of members to serve a three-year term on the Vestry. All nominations must be submitted no later than January 18th, 2026. Elections will be held at the Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, February 8th, with terms to begin immediately after the election. The new members of the Vestry will be elected by secret ballot, with the five candidates receiving the most votes being elected from among at least eight nominees. To submit the name of a member for consideration, please contact Jane Carlson, Nominating Committee Chair by visiting ghtc.org/contact and selecting “Nominating Committee Chair” from the drop-down menu or call (804) 358-4369.

Youth Ski Trip – Saturday, January 31

Middle and high school students are invited to go snow skiing and tubing on Saturday, January 31st at Massanutten Ski Resort. We will leave from the church at 7:00 a.m. and return by 6:00 p.m. The cost to attend is $50/person, and one friend is permitted per GHTC youth. Please register your child here by Monday, January 26th.

2024 Lessons & Carols Available to Listen to on SoundCloud Now

Last year’s Festival of Lessons & Carols was professionally recorded and GHTC has released the full album on SoundCloud. Listen here to Lessons & Carols all season long. Thank you to our musicians for putting this beautiful album together.

Intinction Behind the Altar Rail

Intinction (dipping the wafer in wine) during communion now takes place behind both communion rails. After you receive the wafer, simply pinch the wafer between your thumb and index finger and hold it up near your face. This will signal for the intinction cup to be brought to you. You will dip the wafer yourself and then receive. Please refrain from intincting in the regular chalice (common cup). A regular communion station will be located in the rear of the Church for your convenience. We hope this change is meaningful.

2026 “Stewards of Hope” Update & Ongoing Pledges

Hope is at the heart of our life together. It steadies us in uncertain times, guides our worship, and empowers our service to the world. This year, as Stewards of Hope, we’re invited to anchor our giving in that same steady hope. Our 2026 goal is $800,000, which will support the four pillars of our shared ministry — Worship, Education, Parish Life, and Mission. Though we have celebrated Commitment Sunday already, we still invite you to prayerfully consider your gift and return your pledge by mail or through online giving. After Sunday, December 21st our total amount pledged is $718,800.80 and our total number of those pledged is 134.

Morning Prayer Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8:45 a.m. Resumes January 6

The staff prays Morning Prayer together on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:45 a.m. to 9:05 a.m. in the Chapel and all are invited. Morning Prayer is a simple and reflective service which is part of the Daily Office. There will not be Morning Prayer on December 30th and January 1st. It will resume January 6th.

Bible Study Wednesdays at 9:45 a.m. Resumes January 7

Bible Study on Wednesdays from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. in the Library is on Christmas Break and will resume on January 7th. This is a no homework or prior Biblical knowledge type of study. You can bring a Bible or borrow one. This Bible Study is designed to listen to how scripture touches our lives and what God might be calling us to be or do. An added bonus is the option to stay for A Service of Holy Eucharist with Healing at 11:00 a.m., two doors down in the Chapel.

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 & Pastor Marissa
Formation Questions | Father Brent & Madeleine Preston
Pastoral Care Questions | Father Brent
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@ghtc.org or call the Parish Office at (804) 359-5628.

Get Involved with The Pace Center this Semester
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.

The Pace Center appreciates donations of snacks, baked goods, and soup. You can sign up here. In addition to food donations, The Pace Center welcomes and invites GHTC parishioners to participate in any (or all) of the following:

• Stories & Lunch | Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m.; Share in a meal and a common
  story theme.
• Volunteer at Belmont Community Resource Services | Fridays from 9:00 p.m.–
  12:00 p.m.; Meet at Pace (700 W. Franklin Street) and join a group of students volunteering at BCRS (a 17-minute drive from campus). Belmont serves over 500 families on Friday mornings. Please note that this event takes place outdoors (rain or shine!); dress accordingly.
• Walk A Dog | Fridays at 2:00 p.m.; Make new friends while walking dogs together. Bring your dog with you, or just show up for a nice walk with college-aged students
• Strings N Things (Crochet & Knitting) | Fridays from 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.; Bring your fiber arts project, or learn a new craft. Beginners (and experts willing to teach) welcome!

All events take place at Pace. If you have questions, please contact the Rev. Russ Kerr by visiting ghtc.org/contact and selecting “Campus Minister” from the drop-down menu.