News

News for Sunday, March 30, 2025

Upcoming Events

Sunday 03/30 9:30 a.m. Parish Forum: Boys & Girls Club of Metro Richmond, Communities in Schools & Peter Paul Development Center (First Floor Classroom)

Sunday 04/13 10:30 a.m. Palm Sunday (Following 10:00 a.m. Procession in Monroe Park* | Church) *Pony Rides and Palm Crosses

Sunday 04/13 1:15 p.m. Youth Sunday Funday (University of Richmond Challenge Discovery
Ropes Course) 

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)

Save the Date

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 and Reception to Follow | Church)

Saturday 05/10 5:00 p.m. unBelizable Dinner hosted by Belize Mission Team
(Silent Auction, Dinner & Bingo | Parish House)

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

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

Highlights

Lenten Parish Forum – March 30 at 9:30 a.m.

Learn about volunteer opportunities with organizations receiving GHTC outreach grants and support this year. Here are the organizations that will lead the Parish Forum this Sunday, March 30th at 9:30 a.m.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond – Katie Rhodes

Provides a safe, supportive environment where youth can thrive beyond school hours.

Communities in Schools – Alicia Brown

Works with the community inside schools to help students succeed.

Peter Paul Development Center – Corey Taylor

Offers a full range of programs and services to support the neighbors of the East End.

Vestry Meeting Highlights – March 19, 2025

  1. Approval of a 4-month trial to reconfigure the pews in the Chapel to make it more accessible and to highlight the historic font.
  2. Establishment of a working group to review our policies for awarding scholarships.
  3. Approval to dedicate the Sunday, May 4th, 10:30 a.m. service to Hill Brown and create a Hill Brown Music Scholars Fund.
  4. Approval to schedule all formation activities (children, youth, and adult) for 9:30 a.m. on Sundays beginning in the Fall.  
  5. The next monthly meeting of the Vestry after Easter will be on Wednesday, April 30th.

Easter Lily Memorials Now Available – Submission Deadline: This Sunday, March 30 (Lent IV)

If you would like to order a lily for Easter Sunday in memory of a beloved family member or friend, GHTC offers a few different ways to submit. To submit in-person, please fill out the Easter Lily Memorial envelopes found on either Connect Table, with the names of those you are remembering, and place it in the offering plate or give it to clergy. You may also pay digitally in two ways; by calling Kathy Schultheis in the Parish Office at (804) 359-5628 x14 or by visiting us online at ghtc.org/give. The cost is whatever you would like to contribute. The deadline to submit is Sunday, March 30th at the end of the day. The memorials will be printed in the Easter Sunday bulletins for both services.

Palm Sunday through Easter 2025

Palm Sunday on April 13th, starts the holiest week in Christianity with the celebration of Jesus’ return to Jerusalem. Palms were located in backyards of the people of Jerusalem as we remember people also laid palms down on the Jerusalem road. We journey to the Holy City with Jesus.

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. 

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.

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.

Stations of the Cross – Friday, April 18 at 1:00 p.m.
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.

Three 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.

Read the Full “Madeleines Announcement” Here

Search for Assistant Choirmaster and Organist: The Music Committee at Grace and Holy Trinity is continuing to make progress in its search for a new Assistant Choirmaster and Organist. Members of the committee are now in the process of conducting Zoom interviews with applicants for the position. They look forward to hosting on-site visits to meet with potential candidates in the coming weeks. Please keep committee members, Sandie Hale, Megan Lecky, Marshall Morton, Courtney Scottow, and Leslie Winn, in prayer as they continue in their commitment to the music ministry.

Youth Sunday Funday at Discovery Ropes Course – Sunday, April 13 at 1:15 p.m. 

The next GHTC Youth Sunday Funday will be held on Palm Sunday, April 13th, from 1:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Middle school and high school students, please join us for team building on the outdoor ropes course at Challenge Discovery at the University of Richmond (1600 UR Drive). Please RSVP here by Sunday, March 30th. Call Laura Lee at (850) 266-3996 for details.   

“unBelizable Dinner” hosted by The Belize Mission Team – Saturday, May 10 at 5:00 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 5:00 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 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.