News & Announcements

Upcoming Events

Saturday 10/04 9:00 a.m. Confirmation Retreat (Parish Hall)

Sunday 10/05 9:30 a.m. St. Francis: Seeing Treasurers in Creation led by Father Brent (First Floor Classroom)

Sunday 10/05 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite Two with Blessing of the Animals* (8:00 a.m. Worship is Regularly Scheduled | Outdoor 10:30 a.m. Worship on 8 N. Laurel Street) *No livestream available. Worship will be posted to YouTube following the service.

Wednesday 10/08 6:00 p.m. Stewards of Hope Dinner: Parish Life (RSVP Here | Trinity Alumni House)

Saturday 10/11 Acolyte Festival (National Cathedral, Washington D.C.)

Saturday 10/11 9:00 a.m. Episcopal Church Women Fall Meeting (RSVP Here | Pohick Church at 9301 Richmond Highway, Lorton, VA)

Sunday 10/12 9:30 a.m. Inquirers’ Class Interest Session 1: Welcome & Overview (Second Floor Conference Room)

Sunday 10/12 9:30 a.m. Lutherans & Episcopalians: What’s different in our churches? Led by Pastor Marissa (First Floor Classroom)

Sunday 10/12 11:45 a.m. Lay Reader/Lector Meeting (Following 10:30 a.m. Worship | First Floor Classroom)

Sunday 10/12 4:30 p.m. Fall Fest with St. James’s & St. Mary’s (St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 12291 River Road, Richmond VA)

Sunday 10/19 Parish Ministry Fair Session 2: Worship & Outreach*
(Before & After the 10:30 a.m. Service | Parish Hall) *Second of two sessions.

Sunday 10/19 5:30 p.m. Youth Group at The Pace Center (700 W. Franklin Street)

Sunday 10/19 6:00 p.m. Stewards of Hope Dinner: Mission & Outreach (RSVP Here | Hetherington Family Home near Country Club of Virginia)

Sunday 10/26 9:30 a.m. Intergenerational Formation: The Communion of Saints led by Madeleine Preston (First Floor Classroom)

Sunday 10/26 11:45 a.m. Grace & HolyWeen (Following 10:30 a.m. Worship | Parish Hall)

Tuesday 10/28 6:00 p.m. Stewards of Hope Dinner: Worship (RSVP Here | Melton Family Home near Tuckahoe)

Sunday 11/09 9:30 a.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry Interest Meeting (Second Floor Conference Room)

Sunday 11/09 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with VCU’s Vox Concordia Treble Choir & Vocal Chamber Ensemble (Livestream Available | Church)

Sunday 11/09 4:00 p.m. Choral Evensong for Veterans Day and Day of Remembrance (Livestream Available | Church) [OUT to Lauren]

Sunday 11/16 4:00 p.m. Parish Oyster Roast (Sauer Family Home near Three Chopt Neighborhood)

Highlights

Holy Eucharist with Blessing of the Animals in Monroe Park – This Sunday, October 5 at 10:30 a.m.

In commemoration of St. Francis Day, you and your pets are invited to Eucharist with a Blessing of the Animals. The 10:30 a.m. service will be held outside on Laurel Street to accommodate our animal guests. Please bring a chair and keep pets leashed or in their carriers and with you at all times. We look forward to celebrating God’s creation and the animals that enrich our lives! 8:00 a.m. worship is regularly scheduled. No livestream is available. 10:30 a.m. worship will be posted to YouTube following the service.

2026 Stewardship Campaign Begins – Second Stewards of Hope Gathering on Wednesday, October 8 at 6:00 p.m
Hope is at the heart of our life together. It steadies us in uncertain times, guides our worship, and empowers our service to the world. This year, as Stewards of Hope, we’re invited to anchor our giving in that same steady hope. Our 2025 goal is $800,000, which will support the four pillars of our shared ministry — Worship, Education, Parish Life, and Mission. We invite you to prayerfully consider your gift and return your pledge by mail or through online giving by Commitment Sunday, November 2nd.

These ministries reach into every corner of our congregation and our community, shaping lives and proclaiming the Good News. Each pillar will be celebrated at dinners, hosted in a parishioner’s home (or a location they choose) each at 6:00 p.m. The host provides the main dish, guests bring a side or dessert, and the church will provide beverages. RSVP for the remaining dinners here.

Wednesday 10/08 Stewards of Hope Dinner: Parish Life (Trinity Alumni House)

Sunday 10/19 Stewards of Hope Dinner: Mission & Outreach
(Hetherington Family Home near Country Club of Virginia)

Tuesday 10/28 Stewards of Hope Dinner: Worship (Melton Family Home near Tuckahoe)

National Acolyte Festival – Saturday, October 11 in Washington, D.C.

All middle and high school youth are invited to attend the National Acolyte Festival on Saturday, October 11th in Washington, D.C. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the acolyte ministry and meet youth from around the country. The cost for the event is $10 plus an optional bag lunch cost. Please register your child in Realm by Friday, October 3rd. If you’d like to come as a chaperone, contact Madeleine Preston at ghtc.org/contact and select “Director of Formation” from the drop-down menu. *The RSVP sentence is WEB/Friday only.

Inquirers’ Class (Confirmation) for Adults – Begins Sunday, October 12 at 9:30 a.m.

Inquirers’ Classes help adults who are interested in knowing how the Episcopal Church approaches worship, faith, spirituality, and theology. The class is open to anyone who wants to know more about the Church, especially adults who want to be baptized, confirmed, or received in the Episcopal Church. In addition, it is a great way to get to know other people at Grace & Holy Trinity Church (GHTC). On Sunday, October 12th, meet in the Second Floor Conference Room at 9:30 a.m. for our first session together. Our Bishop will be at GHTC on Sunday, April 26th to confirm and receive those who have participated in the classes. If you ever wish to be a Eucharistic Visitor or Vestry member, you need to be confirmed or received. Youth confirmation classes are being offered too. Please contact Director of Formation Madeleine Preston for more information on youth confirmation, and Father Brent for questions regarding the classes and adult confirmation.

Become a Lay Reader to Help Lead Worship – Sunday, October 12 after 10:30 a.m. Worship

During each service, members of the congregation lead us in reading scripture. GHTC would love to expand our cadre of lay readers (lectors). Readers are scheduled only when they tell us they are available, have each month’s schedule in advance and are provided with their reading on Wednesday before they read on Sunday so they can prepare. If you are interested, please attend an informational meeting on Sunday, October 12, after the 10:30 a.m. service in the first floor classroom or contact Mary Ann Blankenship at (804) 334-8922 or visit ghtc.org/contact and select “Lectors” from the drop-down menu.

Intergenerational Formation: The Communion of Saints – Sunday, October 26 at 9:30 a.m.

In preparation for our next Intergenerational Event, we invite you to bring in a photo of a favorite saint – either from church history or from your own life – and clip it to the cross in the Parish Hall. You may also email me a photo to print. We will share stories of our saints during the event on October 26th. –Madeleine Preston, Director of Formation

Grace & HolyWeen – Sunday, October 26 after 10:30 a.m. Worship

Join us for our annual Grace & HolyWeen event on Sunday, October 26th after the 10:30 a.m. service! There will be food, activities, and a costume contest. Don’t forget to bring your costume to change into after the service. Do you have decorations to bring or want to lead an activity? Contact Director of Formation Madeleine Preston at ghtc.org/contact and selecting “Director of Formation” from the drop-down menu.

2026 Outreach Grant Accepting Applications Now – Deadline of Saturday, November 1

Grace & Holy Trinity Church is accepting applications to support community organizations and facilitate volunteer opportunities during the 2026 calendar year. The Outreach Grant Program provides financial support to non-profit organizations that promote Christian beliefs and principles through their services or programs. It is the commitment of GHTC to reach out to the community with God’s spirit of love, help and hope. Funding requests can range from $5,000 to $20,000. The 2025–2026 deadline for consideration of grant support is Saturday, November 1st, 2025. Apply here.

Prayer Shawl Ministry Interest Meeting – Sunday, November 9 at 9:30 a.m.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry started in 2003 and has given away nearly 300 shawls. A prayer shawl is a knitted shawl, and is given to someone who is in need of the comfort a shawl brings. Each shawl is wrapped in tissue and is presented in a bag with a prayer. The shawls are knitted by the members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry. We plan to have an interest meeting on Sunday, November 9th at 9:30 a.m. in the Second Floor Conference Room, so we can show you what we do – and encourage you to join us. If you cannot knit, we will teach you and we have yarn and needles to lend. Please join us and learn more about this wonderful ministry. – Betsy Featherstone

Holy Eucharist with VCU’s Vox Concordia Treble Choir & Vocal Chamber Ensemble – Sunday, November 9 at 10:30 a.m. Worship

Vox Concordia is the select treble choir of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and is open to students of any major who sing soprano or alto. Vox Concordia is Latin for “voices together in one heart.” These individual singers, with majors in music, psychology, nursing, art, education, and more, unite in a choral community to make music that reflects the unique beauty of our world. In addition to performing the classics of treble repertoire, Vox Concordia often sings works written by living composers from around the world with texts that address contemporary issues. Vox Concordia has sung in the Richmond area for community organizations such as the Lewis Ginter GardenFest of Lights, Massey Cancer Center Women & Wellness, the Flying Squirrels, area churches, and for VCU sports games, and senior living communities. The choir is conducted by Lisa Fusco, Adjunct Instructor at VCU.

The singers in the Vocal Chamber Ensemble are all voice majors at Virginia Commonwealth University. Several small one-on-a-part ensembles are formed within the class to study and perform a cappella choral music, ranging from early music to 21st century compositions. Each small ensemble selects their music and rehearses it independently through shared leadership among the group. Vocal Chamber Ensemble is coached by Lisa Fusco, Adjunct Instructor.

Choral Evensong for Veterans Day & Day of Remembrance – Sunday, November 9 at 4:00 p.m.

The office of Evening Prayer, or Evensong, is a Reformation liturgical work of great beauty combining the elements of Vespers and Compline. It is modeled on the pre-Reformation “lesser hours” (Vespers and Compline) made by Archbishop Cranmer for the First English Prayer Book of 1549. The Choral Evensong will include the “The Responses for Evening Prayer” by Stephan Casurella, “Magnificat” and “Nunc Dimittis” by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, and the glorious “Let All the World in Every Corner Sing” from “Five Mystical Songs” by Ralph Vaughan Williams sung by the Parish Choir, accompanied by Luke Brennan, Assistant Choirmaster & Organist, and conducted by Dr. Elizabeth Melcher Davis, Choirmaster & Organist. The presentation of “Let All the World in Every Corner Sing” from Choral Evensong in February 2023 can be heard here. Please invite family and friends to this lovely worship service!

Get Involved with The Pace Center this Semester
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. Please visit thepacecenter.com for more information on Pace’s upcoming events and how you can support students in our community.

With college students returning to campus, The Pace Center appreciates donations of snacks, baked goods, and soup. You can sign up here. In addition to food donations, The Pace Center welcomes and invites GHTC parishioners to participate in any (or all) of the following:

• Stories & Lunch | Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m.; Share in a meal and a common story theme.
• Volunteer at Belmont Community Resource Services | Fridays from 9:00 p.m.–12:00 p.m.; Meet at Pace (700 W. Franklin Street) and join a group of students volunteering at BCRS (a 17-minute drive from campus). Belmont serves over 500 families on Friday mornings. Please note that this event takes place outdoors (rain or shine!); dress accordingly.
• Food & Faith | Fridays at 12:30 p.m.; Join a group of students in a simple Faith Share activity (i.e. meditation; a scripture reading; and/or a hymn) and a simple meal prepared together.
• Walk A Dog | Fridays at 2:00 p.m.; Make new friends while walking dogs together. Bring your dog with you, or just show up for a nice walk with college-aged students
• Strings N Things (Crochet & Knitting) | Fridays from 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.; Bring your fiber arts project, or learn a new craft. Beginners (and experts willing to teach) welcome!

All events take place at Pace. If you have questions, please contact the Rev. Russ Kerr by visiting ghtc.org/contact and selecting “Campus Minister” from the drop-down menu.

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 & Pastor Marissa
Formation Questions | Father Brent & Madeleine Preston
Pastoral Care Questions | Father Brent
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@ghtc.org or call the Parish Office at (804) 359-5628.