Posted: December 5, 2024

News for Sunday, December 8, 2024

Upcoming Parish Forums

“Journey Through Advent”
Dec. 8 and 15 (First Floor Classroom)

Upcoming Events

Sunday 12/08 3:00 p.m. Caroling in Monroe Park & Holiday Market (Monroe Park)

Monday 12/09 5:30 p.m. Spirited Sisters (Mosaic Restaurant, River Road Shopping Center)

Friday 12/13 9:00 a.m. St. Andrew’s School Service Opportunity (St. Andrew’s School)

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

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)

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

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

The 4th Annual Caroling in Monroe Park & Holiday Market – Sunday, December 8 with Music Beginning at 4:15 p.m.
GHTC’s Caroling in Monroe Park & Holiday Market brings 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 on Sunday, December 8th, 2024. There will be a holiday market with local vendors, River City Wood Fire Pizza food truck, JC Desserts, a Red Door Ministry Clothes Closet giveaway shop, ornament painting, photos with Santa in his Model T, and fun children’s activities starting at 3:00 p.m. The brass quintet will begin at 4:15 p.m. with caroling following at 4:30 p.m. Visitors can use the QR Code on the back of the Sunday worship bulletins for complimentary Sunday parking in the VCU West Main Street Parking Deck. GHTC encourages carpooling to help bring all of the friends and family.

Christmas Poinsettia Flower Memorials – Deadline to Submit is Sunday, December 8
As we prepare for Christmas, we invite you to donate one or more poinsettias in memory of someone deceased. Please visit our website at ghtc.org/give, select the “Altar Guild” fund, and enter your loved one’s name in the “note” section. The cost is whatever you would like to contribute, and the memorial names will be printed in the Christmas Eve bulletins. The deadline to submit is this Sunday, December 8th. Your donations support the work of the Altar Guild. You may also contact Financial Administrator Kathy Schultheis in the Parish Office at (804) 359-5628 x14.

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.

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 3:00 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 page.

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.

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.

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 8th between the worship services, and 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.

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.

2023 Lessons & Carols Released on SoundCloud this past Wednesday, December 4
Last year’s Festival of Lessons & Carols was professionally recorded and GHTC has released the full album on SoundCloud as of Wednesday, December 4th at 7:00 p.m. Listen to Lessons & Carols all season long in preparation for this year’s Advent and Christmas worship. Thank you to our musicians for putting this beautiful album together.

Call for Red Door Clothes Closet Volunteers after Worship – Sunday, December
Volunteers are needed Sunday, December 8th beginning at 1:00 p.m. to help set up the Red Door Clothes Closet Giveaway Shop during the 4th Annual Caroling in Monroe Park & Holiday Market. Volunteers will be moving clothes on racks with wheels from the second floor to Laurel Street. There will be no heavy lifting.

Christmas Ministry for Dumbarton Elementary Students – Sponsorships & Donation
Through the Christmas Ministry for Dumbarton Elementary School, Grace & Holy Trinity has helped find sponsors for all 24 students this year. The Christmas Ministry is now only looking for monetary donations to purchase grocery gift cards for families and teachers. Each family is comprised of one to four children. Detailed instructions for gifts will be given to each sponsor. Unwrapped gifts can be brought to the Church parking lot on Saturday, December 7th, 2024, or picked up from your home. Monetary donations will help purchase grocery store gift cards to assist the families and teachers supporting these students. For Monetary Donations, please visit our website at ghtc.org/give and select “Christmas Ministry” from the fund drop down menu. If you would like to sponsor a family, make a monetary donation, or 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 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. Please drop off any new or gently used winter gear at the service ministry box between the elevator and the kitchen.

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.

Reopening of Notre Dame
The reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris will be accompanied by the peal of bells there and at cathedrals throughout the United States. Be part of this historic occasion by gathering on the plaza of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart this Saturday, December 7th at 2:00 pm. Grace & Holy Trinity Church will help our neighbors celebrate by ringing our bells in tandem with Notre Dame. Afterwards, inside the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, their new gallery organ will be played briefly in honor of Notre Dame.

The Pace Center Student Spotlight – “Braiding” with Olivia
Pace Student Olivia was a fresh face on Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU’s) campus when she transferred from Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) this fall. Although she grew up moving around, has lived in 14 different places, and loves trying new things, Olivia still struggled to find her community while attending NOVA. “It was difficult to meet people at community college,” Olivia explained, “because it’s a commuter school and you’re not around your classmates for very long.” After some searching, Olivia discovered Arise Campus Ministry and found a local church community that she felt supported by. But by then, it was time for another move. After she got her associate’s degree, she transferred to VCU to pursue a fine arts degree. “I asked my pastor, ‘What do I do when I get down to VCU?’ and he quickly named the Pace Center.

Olivia was relieved to have a place to begin meeting people as soon as she moved to Richmond. “When you’re a transfer student, or just new to an area in general,” Olivia explained, “it’s hard to meet people and it can take a while to make friends. So, I dropped by Pace during orientation and introduced myself to Rev. Russ. There happened to be an event going on – trivia – and I joined in. Everyone there was really nice and welcoming.”

Olivia is settling into her new routine at VCU and has begun to serve in the Altar Guild of Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, but she still finds it difficult to meet people sometimes. “I’m still commuting, so it’s hard to relate to dorm-life,” said Olivia, “but Pace has helped me to get to know people that I normally wouldn’t meet.” This semester, Olivia is involved in a small group and is also helping to lead Arts and Faith Circle, “I’m going to teach this technique called ‘fingerloop braiding’, which is a very old technique used all over the world.”

“The Pace Center has a lot of spiritual programs, which are important to me,” Olivia shared, “but it also offers programs that speak more to my hobbies, like Strings & Things. I think Pace is a place where you can meet your spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental needs as opposed to student organizations, which are more activity-centered. You don’t really go to the people at Comic Book Club to help you through a tough time. But you might at Pace. To me, Pace is ultimately a place for self-discovery and trying a bunch of different things!”

Thanks to your generous contributions, students like Olivia can connect and find spiritual support at Pace.

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.