Posted: May 11, 2023

News for Sunday, May 14, 2023

Upcoming Events

05/14       9:30 a.m.    Parish Forum: Organ Concert (Chapel)
05/21     10:30 a.m.    Mozart’s Missa Brevis (Modern Language | in memoriam: Elizabeth Martin |Church)
05/21     11:45 a.m.    Reception to mark the Closing of the Program Year (Parish Hall)
05/21      1:30 p.m.    Youth Sunday Funday at Flying Squirrels Baseball Game (The Diamond)
05/21      5:00 p.m.    Final Sunday Evening Service until fall (Chapel)
05/28      5:00 p.m.    End of Program Year | Summer Schedule Begins
05/29      5:00 p.m.    Office Closed for Memorial Day

*Please note that the final Wednesday Evening Service of the spring schedule was held on May 3rd. Evening Prayer will return at a new time during the fall schedule.

Save the Date

06/09       5:00 p.m.    Parents Night Out (Parish Hall | Parents gathering TBD)
07/02     10:30 a.m.    Independence Day Service & Picnic (Church & Monroe Park)
07/09     10:30 a.m.    Hymn Sing During Worship (Church)
07/21      5:00 p.m.    Parents Night Out (Parish Hall | Parents gathering TBD)
07/23      1:30 p.m.    Youth Sunday Funday (Kanawha Pool)
08/06                          School Supply Drive Begins
08/13     12:00 p.m.    Senior Brunch (Following Worship | Parish Hall)
08/18       5:00 p.m.    Parents Night Out (Parish Hall | Parents gathering TBD)
08/20       5:30 p.m.    Sunday Evening Prayer Begins
08/27       4:00 p.m.    Worship, Picnic, & Pool Party with Blessing of the Backpacks (McGuire Home)
08/27                          School Supply Drive Ends
09/10      9:00 a.m.     Parish Forum: TBA
09/10                          Fall Schedule Begins
09/17     11:45 a.m.    Parish Ministry Fair (Following Worship | Parish Hall)
09/23      3:00 p.m.    Ukrainian Benefit Concert (Church)
09/24                          Youth Sunday Funday (Busch Gardens Williamsburg)

Join the 10:30 a.m. service livestream via YouTube.
Sunday Bulletins are posted by Friday at ghtc.org/bulletin.

Worship & Music

Banns of Marriage
I publish the Banns of Marriage between Luna Karam and Colin Burke. If any of you know just cause why they may not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, you are bidden to declare it. This is the third time of asking. – The Rev. Duane Nettles   

Flowers at the Altar
This Sunday’s altar flowers are given to the glory of God. If you would like to remember or honor a loved one by giving the altar flowers, please contact Judy Bowman at (804) 359-5628 x14, with dates and specific requests (such as colors and/or particular flowers). The cost is $100. You may mail a check or handle the cost online at ghtc.org/give.

Parish Life

Caroling in Monroe Park Planning Committee
Mark your calendars for Caroling in the Park on Sunday, December 3rd, 2023. We are hoping to grow this event and create the feel of a European Christmas Market with vendors selling gifts while enjoying the Christmas caroling in the park. We are looking for volunteers to serve on this committee. If you are interested, please reach out to Meredith McGuire.

 Spirited Readers Book Club
You are invited to join the Spirited Readers Book Club, which meets on Monday afternoons once a month at a parishioner’s home. Upcoming books include Demon Cooperhead (Barbara Kingsolver), Hold Still (Sally Mann), This is Happiness (Niall Williams) and Trust (Herman Diaz). For more information, contact Mary Ann Blankenship.

Youth Summer Camp Care Packages
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/youth, or contact Lauren Frazier in the parish office at (804) 359-5628 x23.

Parents’ Night Out: Summer Series 2023
Mark your calendars: Parents’ Night Out returns, once a month throughout the summer. On June 9th, July 21st, and August 18th, parents are invited to bring their children to church for Friday evening childcare. We provide dinner, activities, fellowship, and Christian education. Look out for more details and sign-up forms coming soon!

Update on the Bell Tower Project
Scaffolding and safety barriers for pedestrian access went up several weeks ago in front of the south entrance at N. Laurel Street for bell tower repairs. Crews have also set up scaffolding inside the belfry to repair the stucco. You can still enter the church using this entrance.

Outreach

Red Door Ministry Clothes Closet Seeks Donations of “B” Items During May
Every Friday, the Red Door Ministry serves lunch to approximately 100–150 guests. The ministry also offers clothing, shoes, toiletries, and other items from the Clothes Closet. In order to respond to some shortages in the Clothes Closet, Red Door leaders are designating the month of May as “B” Month. Please bring your donations of Belts, Ball caps, Bras, Books (paperback, crossword, word search), Bath/hand towels, and Backpacks. Items may be used but clean and in good condition, please. Your donation may be left in the box near the kitchen. In-kind receipts are available on the podium next to the box. Please list your donations on the sheet provided as well. (This information is used when preparing grant requests.) If you have questions or would like to discuss a large quantity donation, contact Porsche Pierson.

Save the Date: Ukrainian Benefit Concert – September 23
Our 2023-2024 Concert Series will open with Music for a Cause presenting instrumentalists and singers of the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a special Benefit Event at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, September 23rd, 2023. All funds raised at this concert go directly to Ukraine toward meeting needs of the homeless, widows, wounded soldiers, orphaned and needy children, and all who require hope and healing.

GHTC Youth are invited to join St. James’s Summer Mission Trip to Appalachia – July 16 – 22
St. James’s Church has invited GHTC youth to join their 2023 Summer Mission to Hurley, Virginia, in the far western part of the state. The poverty rate in Hurley is high, and flooding has destroyed much of the community in the past two years. The mission team will work with the Hurley Community Development Center to help repair homes in the community, and with the local food bank, which serves people in the Virginia, Kentucky, and West Virginia corridor. The cost to attend is $300. For more information, contact Associate Rector Paul Evans.

Beware of Phishing and Other Scams
Please beware of any communication (email, phone calls, texts) purporting to be from members of our clergy, staff, or from someone communicating on our behalf. No member of the GHTC clergy or staff will ever contact you asking you “for a favor,” such as purchasing gift cards. These are tactics used by scammers, and they are more common than you might think. Please be cautious and use good judgment.

An Update about Parish Communications
If you have an announcement that you would like to share in our parish communications, please contact Associate Rector Paul Evans by calling the parish office or by email.

Help Us Share Your News

We invite you to share your announcements about ministries of the parish by visiting our website and submitting the communications request form no later than the Monday two weeks before you want your announcement to run in the weekly eNews and the bulletin announcements.

For more information, visit the News page or call (804) 359-5628.