Posted: May 26, 2023

News for Sunday, May 28, 2023

Upcoming Events

05/28       Summer Schedule Begins: Children’s Programming pauses and resumes
                Sunday, June 4th, during 10:30 a.m. worship
05/29      Office Closed for Memorial Day
05/30      Summer office hours begin, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
06/04      Children’s Chapel Resumes during 10:30 a.m. Service

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.

Highlights

Children’s Programming pauses this Sunday; Summer Children’s Programming begins June 4
Our Sunday morning Children’s programming, including Children’s Breakfast, Children’s Choir, and Children’s Chapel, pauses this Sunday morning, May 28th. Beginning next Sunday, June 4th, the Children’s Breakfast and Children’s Choir remain on pause for the summer months, but Sunday School carries on as Children’s Chapel. Parents and children alike will gather in the church to begin worship together, and then children are invited to head up to Children’s Chapel with their teachers. This summer we will follow a child-led curriculum as we explore the questions they have about the faith. A snack will be provided each morning. We ask that a parent of each Sunday School child come up to the Sunday School room to pick up their child(ren) following the service.

Welcoming Assistant Organist and Choirmaster Stanley Baker
Stanley Baker begins his ministry to the parish this Sunday, May 28th. A native of Alabama, Stan has been a professional church musician, organist and choirmaster, for over 40 years, working in different denominations. Most recently, Stan served at Centenary United Methodist Church in downtown Richmond. He holds an undergraduate degree in organ performance from the University of Alabama and a graduate degree in Church Music from Westminster Choir College. At Grace & Holy Trinity, Stan will oversee and conduct both the children’s choir and the youth orchestra. He will also assist Dr. Elizabeth Melcher Davis with service playing, directing, and accompanying.

Parents’ Night Out – Friday,  June 9
The Summer 2023 Parents’ Night Out series will start with a delightful evening on June 9th. Parents are invited to drop their children off at church beginning at 5:00 p.m. before meeting for a cocktail hour hosted by Executive Assistant to the Clergy Lauren Frazier (location TBD). Church staff will provide dinner for the children, and parishioner Susan Hankins and several adult chaperones will lead the group on a walk (for children age four and up) to a playground in Oregon Hill. The evening will end with a movie for children, and youth are invited to join Associate Rector Paul Evans for vintage video games. Pick up is at 9:00 p.m. Our nursery will be open for children as young as infants. Youth are especially invited to join us in service as Junior Counselors. Please register on our website at ghtc.org/youth by Wednesday, June 7th if your family would like to participate. And save the date for upcoming Parents’ Nights Out on July 21st and August 18th.

Looking Ahead: Sunday Children and Youth Programming Fall 2023
On Sunday, September 10th, our full model of Sunday morning programming for Children and Youth will resume. Children Pre-Kindergarten through 4th grade will continue with a full morning of Children’s Choir, Children’s Breakfast, and Sunday School, led by Mrs. Kate Given and her staff. Students in 5th through 8th grade will have their own Sunday School at 10:30 a.m. in the Library led by parish clergy, Alison Martin, and a team of parent volunteers. This program will follow the Feasting on the Word curriculum, a high-quality curriculum that centers upon the lectionary texts appointed for each Sunday morning. Students in 9th through 12th grade will meet in the first floor education room for a program focused upon lectionary study and local and international mission planning. All programs will conclude in time for children and youth to receive communion with their families in church. For more information, contact Associate Rector Paul Evans.

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.

Parish Prayer List Now Available in Sunday Worship Bulletin
Thanks to the ministry of The Rev. Steve McGehee, a carefully curated and regularly updated parish prayer list is now being printed in the Sunday morning worship bulletin. In order to keep the Prayer List current and to facilitate the intentionality and mindfulness with which we pray, we print names on the Prayer List for three months or less. If you would like to add a name to the Prayer List, please contact Lauren Frazier in the parish office.

Worship & Music

Missa Brevis Recap
The Parish Choir’s presentation of Mozart’s Missa Brevis in G Major, K. 140 last Sunday was in loving memory of Elizabeth Martin, who faithfully served as our Assistant Organist for 43 years. Thank you to our Music Ministry for a lovely service, thank you to our Hospitality Committee for the reception that followed. During the reception, we honored Assistant Organist and Choirmaster Sean McDonald and The Rev. Steve McGehee who both concluded their ministries to the parish. You can view and/or download all of the photos from Sunday, May 21st.

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

Spirited Sisters will meet June 12
The next Spirited Sisters get together will be held on Monday, June 12th at 5:30 pm at Burger Bach on Cary Street.  All are welcome to join us for conversation, dinner and drinks.  Please contact Cathy Saunders with any questions and if you are interested in attending.  

Need-Based Scholarships available through GHTC Endowment Fund – Deadline is June 4
Grace & Holy Trinity, through the GHTC Endowment Fund, provides need-based scholarships to active members of the parish. The funds are administered through the Scholarship Committee chaired by Billy McGuire. The deadline for applications is Sunday, June 4th. For additional information or to make a request, please contact Billy McGuire.

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.

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.

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.

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.