Posted: August 31, 2023

News for Sunday, September 3, 2023

Upcoming Events

09/04                            Office Closed
09/10                            Fall Schedule Begins
09/10      9:30 a.m.     Parish Forum: Reconciliation
09/10      9:30 a.m.     Children and Youth Formation
09/11                            Office Closed
09/17     10:30 a.m.    Holy Communion and Commissioning of Sunday School
09/17     11:45 a.m.    Parish Ministry Fair (Following Worship | Parish Hall)
09/17       1:00 p.m.    Confirmation Retreat (Church)
09/18                            Office Closed
09/23      3:00 p.m.     Ukrainian Benefit Concert (Church)
09/24                            Youth Sunday Funday (Busch Gardens Williamsburg)
09/25                            Office Closed

Save the Date

10/08                            Pledge Drive Begins
10/08                            Winter Gear Drive Begins
10/16      4:00 p.m.     Westminster Canterbury Cocktails (Westminster Canterbury)
10/29      4:00 p.m.     Children & Youth Sunday, Grace & Holy-ween, & Parish Picnic (Roslyn)
*8:00 a.m. Worship is regularly scheduled. There is no 10:30 a.m. Worship or 5:30 p.m. Evening Worship due to the 4:00 p.m. events.

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

Program year and formation for all ages begins Sunday, September 10
The 2023-2024 program year will begin on Sunday, September 10th. Formation for all ages will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. A special communication that outlines formation plans with registration forms went out by email this week. Printed copies of that letter are available at the Connect Table just outside the parish library. Additionally, there will be a special commissioning of Sunday School students and teachers during the 10:30 a.m. service.

Children’s Choir and Youth Orchestra Meet & Greet – Sunday, September 10
Please save the date for the second of two opportunities to meet and greet Abigail Stinnett and Stan Baker, Children’s Choir and Youth Orchestra directors. The second brief session will be on Sunday, September 10th, 2023 at 11:45 a.m. These meetings will take place in the library. Children’s Choir members (Pre-K thru 5th grade) and parents as well as Youth Orchestra members (Upper Elementary, Middle School and High School) and parents and prospects for both groups are all invited. The purpose of the meetings is to allow Stan and Abbey an opportunity to get (re)acquainted with you and to discuss some of our ideas and hear your thoughts as well. We will also talk about the first Children & Youth Sunday on October 29th (an afternoon event). For more information, please contact Stan Baker.

Parish Ministry Fair is Sunday, September 17
On Sunday, September 17th after the 10:30 a.m. service, we will celebrate and renew our commitment to the many ministries of Grace & Holy Trinity Church. Ministry leaders will be available at tables around the parish hall where they will explain what they do and encourage new volunteers to participate. Food will be provided, including assorted sandwiches for all from Cuisine a la Carte.

Recap of the Diocesan Transition Minister’s Visit to GHTC
On Sunday, August 20th, Diocesan Transition Minister the Rev. Shirley Smith Graham, visited to lead the parish forum, to listen to the congregation’s concerns, to explain a customized transition, and to recommend immediate steps to maintain parish momentum. A recap of key points from her visit, as well as the slides from her presentation, were distributed last week via the weekly eNews. Copies of these materials are available at the connect table located just outside the parish library. For more information, please contact Senior Warden David Lewis or Junior Warden Meredith McGuire.

Worship

Sunday Evening service has returned, now at 5:30 p.m.
The Sunday evening service, held last year at 5:00 p.m., has returned with a new time for worship. Ease into the beginning of a new week with this beautiful, ancient service of Compline from the Book of Common Prayer. Led by a chorus of our parish choir, the service lasts about thirty minutes. For more information, please contact Associate Rector Paul Evans.

Education

First 2023-2024 Confirmation Retreat on Sunday, September 17
The first Confirmation Retreat of the 2023-2024 program year will be held at the church on Sunday, September 17th from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Led by Associate Rector Paul Evans, this retreat will focus on the important question “What is Confirmation?” As we have previously communicated, we will be repeating the same four retreats held last year in anticipation of a May 2024 Bishop’s visit to confirm everyone who has participated in all four retreats. The second confirmation retreat this fall will be held on Sunday, November 12th from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at church. This second session will focus on the question “What does it mean to be Christian?” Please contact Associate Rector Paul Evans to sign up for the September 17th confirmation retreat.

Parish Life

RSVP for Lunch following September 7th Worship at Westminster Canterbury
On Thursday, September 7th, the Rev. Steve McGehee will preside at the 10:30 a.m. community worship service. Following worship, we will share a catered light lunch in the Jacqueline room. To RSVP please email Lauren Frazier or call 804-359-5628 x23.

Donate Your Time and Talents to the Parish Ministry Fair
This year’s Parish Ministry Fair will include Time and Talent Drawing, where every five minutes vestry members will draw two lucky winners from fair attendees. Winners will get to choose from a variety of exciting donations of fellow parishioners’ time and talents including a ride in a Model T, a workshop on how to record a digital interview,  guitar lessons, and many more. Could you offer a one-hour golf or fishing lesson? Cook a dish? Mow a lawn? Sing or play a few songs for a small group? Ministry Fair coordinators Cathy Saunders and Mary Ann Blankenship are still seeking donations of time and talent. If you are interested in offering up your time and talent for the drawing, please contact Mary Ann Blankenship.

Outreach

Save Your Seat! Admission for Ukrainian Benefit Concert Now Available on our Website
Visit ghtc.org/ukraine to purchase admission for the September 23rd Hope for Ukraine Concert featuring members of the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Admission is $25 per person, and $15 per person for a group of ten or more. 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.

Other Communications

A Word About Parish Communications
If you have an announcement that you would like to share in our parish communications, please contact Associate Rector Paul Evans directly by calling the parish office at (804) 359-5628 x16.

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 Grace & Holy Trinity 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.

For more information, visit the News page.