Posted: February 8, 2024

News for Sunday, February 11, 2024

Upcoming Events

02/11        9:30 a.m.     Annual Parish Meeting (Church)
02/11         10:30 a.m.  One Worship Service
02/11        Following Worship Mardi Gras Celebration (Parish Hall)
02/12                             Office Closed
02/12        5:30 p.m.    Spirited Sisters (Mosaic Restaurant, River Road)
02/14      12:00 p.m.   Ash Wednesday (Spoken | Church)
02/14        7:00 p.m.    Ash Wednesday (Choral | Church)
02/15        8:30 a.m.    Daily Lenten Morning Prayer Begins (Chapel)
02/18        5:00 p.m.    Foyer Groups Dinner (Tazza Kitchen, Scott’s Addition)
02/19                             Office Closed
02/21        9:00 a.m.    Weekly Lenten Book Discussion Begins (Parish Hall)

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

Save The Date

02/25       9:30 a.m.    Adult Formation Sunday Series: William Tan Organ Concert (Chapel)
03/03     10:30 a.m.   Fauré Requiem with Parish Choir and Chamber Ensemble (Church)
04/28     10:30 a.m.   Bishop’s Visitation for Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation (Church)
06/02     10:30 a.m.   Centennial Celebration (Church)

Highlights

Annual Parish Meeting – This Sunday, February 11
The Annual Parish Meeting will be held this Sunday, February 11th, at 9:30 a.m. in the Church. Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. outside of the Library. When you register, you will receive a Vestry election booklet and ballot and a copy of the Annual Report.

*Please note: A version of the Vestry election booklet distributed at church on Sunday, February 4th included an incorrect version of candidate Julie Joyce’s biography. The correct version of Julie’s biography was sent out with all other candidates’ biographies on Monday, February 5th.

Mardi Gras Celebration – Following Worship This Sunday, February 11
The 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Baptism & Brass Quartet will be the only service on this day. Following 10:30 a.m. worship, don your purple, green, and gold beads and stay for a reception full of New Orleans Jazz and King Cake!

*On this day, childcare will be provided in the Nursery for children up to age 3 and in the Youth Room for children up to age 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. There will not be Sunday School or Sunday Breakfast.

Burying the Alleluia – This Sunday, February 11
In the season of Lent, we refrain from saying or singing “Alleluia.” We say this joyful word often in church, but during Lent, we put it away, until Easter morning when we again celebrate with a loud “Alleluia!” The children of the parish have decorated this year’s Alleluia banner in Sunday School. On February 11th, they will join the service to present the Alleluia banner to the parish, take it to the columbarium, and bury it. Join us on Easter morning to see us raise the Alleluia!

Ash Wednesday

This Wednesday, February 14th, is Ash Wednesday. There will be two worship services held in the Church this day, a spoken service at 12:00 p.m. and a choral service at 7:00 p.m. Clergy will also be offering “Ashes-to-go” on the VCU Campus beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Discernment Committee Survey – Submit Feedback by Sunday, February 18
The Discernment Committee is seeking input from the parish, asking what characteristics are most important in a Priest-in-Charge. The committee will use the survey responses to inform their evaluation of candidates. All are encouraged to participate. Please fill out the form by Sunday, February 18th.

Worship

Lenten Morning Prayer – Weekdays at 8:30 a.m. Beginning February 15
Starting Thursday, February 15th, a daily service of Morning Prayer with Holy Communion from the reserve sacrament will be held on weekdays at 8:30 a.m. in the Chapel. Each service will be led by an officiant from the clergy or laity and a lector and chalice-bearer from the laity. If you would like to serve as an officiant or a lector/chalice-bearer, please sign up using the signup sheet located at the Connect Table. Training and support will be provided to all who sign up. The Rev. Steve McGehee will lead two training sessions, both in the Chapel: Sunday, February 11th at 1:00 p.m., and Tuesday, February 13th at 3:30 p.m. For more information, please visit our website at ghtc.org/contact and select The Rev. Gregory Bezilla from the drop down menu.

Parish Life

Spirited Sisters – Monday, February 12
Spirited Sisters, a women’s group of the parish, will meet next on Monday, February 12th at 5:30 p.m. at Mosaic Restaurant in River Road Shopping Center at 6229-A River Road for lively conversation and a meal. For more information or to RSVP, please visit our website at ghtc.org/contact and select Spirited Sisters from the drop down menu.

Foyer Groups Dinner at Tazza Kitchen – Sunday, February 18
The Foyer Groups will meet on Sunday, February 18th at 5:00 p.m. at Tazza Kitchen Scott’s Addition at 1500 Roseneath Road. All are welcome. These informal gatherings for brunch, lunch, or dinner, either potluck or at a restaurant, are opportunities to enjoy good conversations with good company. If you are interested in attending, please visit our website at ghtc.org/contact and select Foyer Groups from the drop down menu.

Education

Lenten Book Discussions – Weekly on Wednesdays Beginning February 21
For our Lenten observance, you are invited to join the Rev. Greg Bezilla and Mrs. Kate Given in reading “Meeting Jesus At The Table: A Lenten Study” by Cynthia M. Campbell and Christine Coy Fohr. This book takes a look at the meals Jesus shared with others in the Gospels, and provides a chance to think about the importance of hospitality and community around our own tables. Copies are available for $5 and may be purchased at any point throughout Lent. On Wednesdays in Lent beginning on February 21st, we will gather from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. following Morning Prayer to discuss the ideas presented in the book. Hope to see you there!

Lectio Divina – Weekly on Wednesdays Beginning February 21
Lectio Divina is a ministry group that originally started as a Bible study and has shifted focus to reading and reflecting on the upcoming Sunday gospel. They meet by Zoom on Wednesdays from 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. and all are welcome. The next session begins on February 21st. If you are interested in Lectio Divina, please visit our website at ghtc.org/contact and select Lectio Divina from the drop down menu.

Adult Formation Sunday Series: Chapel Organ Concert – Sunday, February 25
As part of the Adult Formation Sunday Series, William Tan will perform an organ concert of works by Bach, Couperin, Lang, Langlais, and Mascagni, as well as several hymns on Sunday, February 25th at 9:30 a.m. in Gibson Memorial Chapel. William served as Organ Scholar at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Oregon Hill for eight months. He was awarded the 2023-2024 Richmond Chapter of the American Guild of Organists Scholarship and studies with Daniel Stipe, Principal Organist at All Saints Episcopal Church. Plan to attend this wonderful concert featuring our beautiful Chapel Organ!

Other Communications

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.

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, ghtc.org/contact.

For more information, visit the News page.