Posted: July 3, 2024

News for Sunday, July 7, 2024

Upcoming Events

07/04 – 05 Parish Office Closed in Observance of Independence Day
07/05   12:00 p.m. Red Door Closed (Returns to Regular Schedule on 07/12)
07/07   10:30 a.m. Independence Day Worship (Church)
07/07   12:00 p.m. Independence Day Picnic with Patriotic Music (Parish Hall, RSVP required)
07/08   5:30 p.m. Spirited Sisters (Mosaic Restaurant, River Road Shopping Center)
07/11   4:00 p.m. ECW Tea with the Rev. Dr. Brent Melton (Parish Hall, RSVP required)
07/22   4:00 p.m. Westminster Canterbury Happy Hour with The Rev. Dr. Brent Melton, Priest-in-Charge (All Are Welcome | Westminster Canterbury)
08/02   5:00 p.m. Parents’ Night Out (Adults’ Location TBA)

Save The Date

08/18   4:00 p.m. Worship with Blessing of the Backpacks (McGuire Family Home)
09/08   Program Year Schedule Begins
09/15 10:30 a.m. One Service Only (Church)
09/15 12:00 p.m. Parish Ministry Fair (Parish Hall)

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

Highlights

One Service and Parish Picnic – This Sunday, July 7
There will be one service only at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 7th, as we welcome our new Priest-in-Charge, the Rev. Dr. Brent A. Melton. The parish picnic, featuring good food and patriotic music, will immediately follow worship and be held in the parish hall.

Red Door Ministry will be Closed on Friday, July 5 & Call For Volunteers
The Red Door Ministry will be closed on Friday, July 5th and will reopen as regularly scheduled on Friday, July 12th, 2024.

With the VCU students away for the summer, Red Door Ministry is seeking volunteers to support this vital community ministry. Volunteers can choose between two shifts, with some working both. Tasks vary widely, including food prep, serving, and clean-up. Youth over age 16 can volunteer, preferably with a parent, but have restrictions on cooking. Interested in volunteering or have questions? Visit our website at ghtc.org/contact and select Red Door Volunteer Coordinator from the drop down menu.

Episcopal Church Women to host Parish-Wide Tea for the Rev. Dr. Brent Melton – Thursday, July 11
The Episcopal Church Women invite you to an Afternoon Tea with the Rev. Dr. Brent Melton on Thursday, July 11th at 4:00 p.m. in the parish hall. All are welcome to attend. Please RSVP online here by Monday, July 8th.

New Presiding Bishop Elected – The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe
The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, bishop of Northwest Pennsylvania and bishop provisional of Western New York, was elected and confirmed on June 26 at the 81st General Convention to serve as the 28th presiding bishop. His nine-year term as presiding bishop, the face and voice of The Episcopal Church and its chief pastor, begins Nov. 1. Read more about The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe here.

Worship

Call for Livestream Volunteers
Like many other churches, our livestream began during the pandemic when we were unable to safely worship together as a congregation. Since the return to regular worship in church after the pandemic, the livestream has become an important ministry to many parishioners and friends of the parish who are unable to come to church for worship. If you feel called to support this ministry as a volunteer, the vestry and staff encourages and welcomes your support. Training will be provided. For more information, contact the Communications team by visiting our website at ghtc.org/contact and selecting “Communications Team” in the drop down menu.

Parish Life

Spirited Sisters – Monday, July 8
Spirited Sisters, a women’s group of the parish, will meet next on Monday, July 8th 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.

Westminster Canterbury Happy Hour with The Rev. Dr. Brent Melton – Monday, July 22
All are invited to join together at Westminster Canterbury on Monday, July 22nd at 4:00 p.m. for for drinks and conversation with The Rev. Dr. Brent Melton. If you would like to attend, please sign up at the round table outside the church doors. You can also register by calling the Parish Office at (804) 359-5628 x23 and speaking with Lauren Frazier.

Summer Camp Care Packages for Children & Youth
Do you have a child or grandchild who is attending sleepaway summer camp? The Children & Youth Ministry would love to send your special young person a care package to let them know how loved they are while they are away. These packages will include notes from church staff, GHTC swag, and sweet treats! You can sign up to receive a care package at ghtc.org/summercamp, or contact Lauren Frazier in the Parish Office at (804) 359-5628 x23.

Spirited Readers Book Club – Upcoming Meetings
All members of GHTC and their friends are welcome to join the Spirited Readers Book Club for one or every meeting. We meet in members’ homes, generally on the afternoon of the third Monday of the month. Over the next few months, the club will be reading:

• Necessary People by Anna Pitoniak (a “chilling” novel exploring the fault lines of friendship, ambition, loyalty and love)
• Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (a classic set in the 1920s, in which the protagonist reflects on her past, including WWI)
• West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge (During the Great Depression two giraffes miraculously survive a hurricane and after a hilarious twelve-day road trip are delivered to the San Diego Zoo.)
• James by Perceival Everett (Huckleberry Finn re-told from the perspective of the enslaved Jim)
• An Unfinished Love Story by Doris Kerns Goodwin (a memoir by the renowned historian about her husband’s service during Kennedy and Johnson administrations)
• The Women by Kristin Hannah (a novel about a young woman who serves as a nurse during the Vietnam War and what she experiences during and after the war)

Questions or want to attend? Contact Mary Ann Blankenship by visiting our website at ghtc.org/contact and select Spirited Readers Book Club from the drop down menu.

Education

Children’s Chapel Seeking Storytellers
We are looking for adult volunteers to read stories and help supervise children during Children’s Chapel during the 10:30 a.m. service. If you enjoy storytelling and have a heart for inspiring young minds, we would love to have you join us! Sign up to volunteer during July and August online here. Questions? Contact Terry Hathaway by visiting our website at ghtc.org/contact and select Children’s Ministry from the drop down menu.

Mission

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. Many VCU students may be away for the summer, but there are still opportunities to get involved! Please visit thepacecenter.com for more information on Pace’s upcoming events and how you can support students in our community.

Paint Flower Pots – Visit The Pace Center website for more information
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
Communications Questions | Communications Team
Formation Questions | The Rev. Dr. Brent Melton
Pastoral Care Questions | The Rev. Dr. Brent Melton
Music Questions | Dr. Elizabeth Melcher Davis
Paying Your Pledge | Judy Bowman
Property & Church Records Questions | Lauren Frazier
Vestry Questions | Meredith McGuire

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

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.

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.

For more information, visit the News page.