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Calendar for the Week
Wednesday 07/01
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Office Hours
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Thursday 07/02
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Friday 07/03
11:00 am -1:00 pm
Office Hours
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Saturday 07/04
Fourth of July
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Sunday 07/05
No Church School
10:00 am
Holy Eucharist
4:00 pm
Celtic Evensong
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Monday 07/06
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Tuesday 07/07
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Office Hours
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Wednesday 07/08
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Office Hours
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Knitting Group
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Leadership
Interim Priest
The Reverend Sarah A. Conner
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Assisting Clergy
The Reverend E. Clifford Cutler
The Reverend Manny Faria
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Vestry
Ryan Patten, Senior Warden
Lisa Duffy,
Junior Warden
Joanna Troy, Clerk
Katie Scott, Treasurer
Javy Awan
Kai Freyleue
Susan Tweed
Caroline Watson-Felt
Holly Willis
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Staff
Mark N. Peterson, Music Director
Jenny Connors,
Parish Administrator
Tom and Karen Tucker, Sextons
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Anti-racism Team
Kathy Baldwin
Maureen Bingham
Marianne Cannon
Cliff Cutler
Kourtni Patten
Jane Thompson
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Verger
Joanne Moar
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Acolyte
Gavin Watson-Bertrand
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Altar Guild
Laura Beasley-Topliffe,
Directress
Lisa Duffy
Caroline Ogah
Holly Willis
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Flower Committee
Deb Papps, Chair
Maureen Joyce
Jane Thompson
Caroline Watson-Felt
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Celtic Meditations Team
Ryan Patten, musician
Kourtni Patten
Paul Massari
Kathleen Tone
Marianne Cannon
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Director of Church School
Melissa Barnes
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Ad Hoc Fundraising
Peggy Carter
Melissa Barnes
Joanne Moar
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Property
Deb Papps
Tom Tucker
Jason Barnes
Susie Tweed
Jason Sparapani
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Creation Care
Laura Beasley-Topliffe
Louise Faria
Jane Stewart
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Garden of Life
Jason Stonehouse
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Convention Delegates
Laura Beasley-Topliffe
Marianne Cannon
Ryan Patten, Alternate
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Deanery Delegates
Laura Beasley-Topliffe
Marianne Cannon
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A Note from Sarah
A cup of cold water
Dear friends,
This past Sunday, we heard these words of Jesus in our gospel reading: “…whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple…will not lose their reward” (Matthew 10:42). In her sermon that morning, Kourtni Patten reminded us that Jesus sent his disciples out on mission with nothing – no money, no food, no staff, no sandals. Jesus wanted the disciples to know what it was like to be hungry and thirsty, and to have to depend on others
for these basic needs. Jesus wanted them to approach their ministry, not as self-sufficient dispensers of wisdom, but as those aware of their own need so that they might see it and respond to it in others. Kourtni said that “if someone isn’t aware of their own thirst, a cup of cold water for someone else begins to look optional.”
That brings us to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling last week that allows Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians to be ended. This puts at risk the lives of the many thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants who fled war and violence and sought sanctuary in this country. And, as Bishop Julia Whitworth noted a few days ago in her pastoral message about this devastating ruling, Massachusetts has the third largest Haitian population in the U.S. You can
read Bishop Julia’s message here. With this ruling, the wellbeing of thousands of our neighbors has been deemed optional.
Who will give our immigrant neighbors a cup of cold water? We can. One thing we can do right now is support the Immigrant Legal Emergency Fund, established by our diocese last November. Money from the fund is made available directly to parishes to provide emergency grants to
immigrants in our congregations and their families. (As of March, $223,000 had been raised and close to $180,000 disbursed.) If you haven’t yet made a donation, I hope you’ll join me in doing so. Your gift is a cup of cold water for a neighbor who is thirsty for justice.
May you know God’s peace today.
~ Sarah
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Nazareth Peacemaker coming to Grace Church!
Peacemaker from Nazareth Abed Manasra, his wife Israa with their four children, 3 to 9 years-old and sister-in-law Shema, are coming to Grace Church! They are traveling up the East Coast in July during the summer break, and will be with us on the 19th and 20th - the dates are still a bit fluid. Abed is the Interfaith Dialogue Expert & International Programs Director through Rising
Tide International and with Abrahamic Reunion (www.abrahamicreunion.org).
Cliff Cutler has known Abed’s father, Sheikh Ghassan Manasra for 18 years. They once travelled together to the State Department to meet with
Senator George Mitchell, then Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, appointed by President Obama.
You can host Abed and his family! This is an amazing opportunity to get to know a family from Nazareth. Abed and Israa will be with the two
littlest around the age of 3; and Shema will be with the older children of 6 and 9. So we need two host families each night. What an opportunity to
meet a family dedicated to peace in a place of such current conflict. If you have children, what a remarkable chance for them to meet children from
another land, one where Jesus grew up and later preached. If you are open to sharing your home for a night, please contact Cliff at 617-870-8942 or
cliffcutler@outlook.com.
Abed is an ordained Sheikh in the Tariqat Qadriyya As-Salaam (Qadiri Sufi Order Of Peace). He is a musician and works with young adults and youth to organize interfaith dialogue and gatherings in and around Nazareth. Our Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Dame Sarah
Mullally recently visited Nazareth. She noted, it “is the town where Jesus spent his early life, and where later he would bring good news to the poor,
proclaim freedom for captives, give sight to the blind and release the oppressed.” It is also the town where Abed Manasra, a Sufi Muslim, works
among all the faiths for peace.
While Abed and his family are with us the whole church will have the opportunity to meet them and hear of their work for understanding and
peace at a church luncheon and evening program. Watch for forthcoming details!
| Camp is in session at the Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center in New Hampshire! | |
BCH Camp is an accredited camp and a ministry of our diocese. Sessions are offered for children in kindergarten through high school.
For more information, go to bchcenter.org/camp.
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Knitting News
The Grace Church knitting group will meet on Wednesday nights instead of Tuesday nights for the summer. The time is the same: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The group will resume gathering on Tuesday nights after Labor Day. All are welcome!
| Grace Church is now accepting gifts via Realm! | |
Realm is an online tool to help us keep more accurate and up to date stewardship records. This will be an alternative to the PayPal button on our website and automated bill pay options. If you pledged for 2026, you will soon receive an email invitation to login to your personal Realm account and create a password (if you don't see it please check your spam folder)
Should you choose to log in, we need your help to ensure our records are up to date. We did our best, but please double-check that your contact information looks correct. Additionally, please review your pledge information and giving history for accuracy. If you notice any discrepancies or have questions, please reach out to me at treasurer@gracechurchsalem.org
While we encourage you to try this new way of giving, don't worry all the old ways still work too! Thank you in advance for your patience as we learn this new tool together!
~ Katie Scott, Treasurer
| Use the QR code below or click here to give through Realm! | |
July 5th
Sixth Sunday After Pentecost
At our 10:00 am Holy Eucharist: The Reverend Sarah A. Conner will preside. Jane Thompson is our Lector and Lisa Duffy is our Chalicer. Megan Salamida and Peggy Carter will act as our Ushers.
At our 4:00 pm Celtic Evensong: TBD will offer a reflection while Paul Massari assists. Christine Reichert will offer the laying of hands for healing, Joanna Troy will offer the Prayers and Marianne Cannon will act as our Usher.
Select services are broadcast live on our Facebook page so you can join us from wherever you are. Leaflets may be found on our website.
Please join us wherever you are
in your search for meaning.
Everyone is welcome at any and all services at
Grace Episcopal Church.
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Parish Prayer List
Please keep the following in your prayers:
Mary Brown, Robert Borden, Linda Abbene, Deven Manthorne, Margarette Connor, Barbara Dwyer, Lilyann, John Gilbo, Vance Gilbert, Reny Sparapani, Laurel, Gary Young, Amy, Paul, Heather and Prescott, Ariana, Sheridan, Javy, Faith Aroko and Family, Jesse Hurst and Family, Maureen Joyce, Arthur, Deb Young, Cindy Rhodes, Ron, Allison Mascolo, Melissa Glassman, Max Joyce, Marc Britt, those battling cancer, Mel, Corey MacNeil, Dianne, Jenny, Loretta and Kris, Priscilla Lemons, Deb Papps, Derek Fuller and Family, for the peaceful repose of the soul of Smadar and all victims of war the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and their ministries; the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem, the Salem Public Schools and for an end to racism, war, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, gun violence and oppression. In thanksgiving, we pray for the ministry of The Reverend Debbie Phillips and her husband, Eric Wagner, this community of faith, for God’s grace and forgiveness, for those with the courage to stand up to tyranny, for creation, for the diversity of people, and for all the blessings of this life.
If you have additions or deletions to the prayer list, please email prayerlist@gracechurchsalem.org by Tuesday at noon for publication in that week's e-news.
The Parish Prayer List is read aloud each Wednesday at Morning Prayer.
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