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All Saints Day

November 3, 2024

IN THIS ISSUE

• The Investiture Of Presiding Bishop-elect Sean Rowe - Saturday, November 2
• First Sunday Of The Month
• Treasurer's Update
• Pumpkin Patch Update
• A Word Of Thanks From Your Priest
• All Saints Day - Kid's Parade And The Necrology - November 3
• Stewardship 2025 Kick-Off - November 3 - Reflection On Stewardship From Mother Suzanne
• Alvin ISD Serves - Bel Sanchez Elementary Returns To The Mobile Food Pantry - Thursday, November 7
• Men's Prayer Breakfast - Saturday, November 9
• JDOK Is Collecting Items For The Hope Center Of Houston
• Alvin Senior Center Thanksgiving Luncheon - November 28
• From The Brothers At SSJE - Way Of Love
• Free Readers This Sunday
• Blanket Drive
• Beware of Phishing Scams
• Altar Flower Dedications - Smith And Burford Families

Liturgy Of The Week

• Holy Eucharist Rite I - Livestreaming Via YouTube
• The Preaching Moment Podcast - Celebrating 2,078 Downloads
• Rector's Tuesday Bible Study
• Wednesday Noonday Prayer Around The World
• Wednesday Evening Sanctuary Choir Practice
• The Mobile Food Pantry - Thursday, November 7 - Bel Sanchez Elementary Returns
• Friday Get Clean Mobile Shower Ministry
• Friday Morning Panera Bread Doughnation Bagging By Waymakers
• On Generosity...

• Click Here For The Prayer List
• Click Here For The Church Calendar
• Click Here For The Server Schedule
• Click Here For The A/V Guild Schedule
• Click Here For Parish Directory

Keep Scrolling to Learn More...

If you know of a brother or sister with no computer or internet access - would you please print off this email and drop it off to that person? We don't have many, but there are some. Let's help all of our Grace Family stay connected.

The Investiture of Presiding

Bishop-elect Sean Rowe

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Treasurer's Update

Unpacking Our Monthly Financials

Thank you for your positive feedback to last week’s (lengthy) year-to-date recap. Here’s a much shorter look at how the financials recap at a monthly basis.

Our average monthly income is $25,661. Our average monthly expenses, without unplanned repairs such as HVAC replacements and rectory repairs for tenant turnover is $30,503. That’s a net negative of $4,842 that we need to find a way to make up. With the unplanned HVAC and rectory replaced our monthly expenses average $34,670, for a net negative of $9,009.

Church funds are not used for purchasing food for our Food Ministry. Most of our food (nearing 3 million pounds) comes from the Houston Food Bank and donations. We do purchase food using a $10,000 grant from the United Way of Brazoria County, specifically earmarked for that purpose,

What can you do? Does your employer offer charity donation matching? If so, consider asking them to support Grace for our outreach programs. Do you know a community organization that donates towards things like our Food ministry costs? While we have the Strategic Mission Grant, it does not fully offset the costs of the Community Missioner/Planter salary package, plus we have infrastructure costs for the food bank we house- utilities, equipment wear and tear, etc. If they donate towards our Outreach/Community initiatives, it would help offset those costs that we are carrying in our normal budget. We can give them publicity for their generosity if they would like.

And of course, during this time, I hope you are prayerfully considering your sacrificial pledge to Grace for 2025.

Yours in Christ,

Donna

It's Over!

The Pumpkins Have Left The Patch!

Dear Grace,

Our Pumpkin Patch Season is finally over! Nearly 500 families visited the pumpkin patch in October. So many lasting memories! The patch generated a total of $10,366.12 in pumpkin sales, exceeding last year by $1,205.53! That generated a profit of $3,451.92 for Grace and $6,914.20 for the Navajo Nation. The beauty of this is that there are no upfront costs we pay to purchase the pumpkins. This will help us pay the electric bill and water bill in November.

Grateful,

Mother Suzanne+

A Grateful Priest

Dear Amazing Grace Family,

You sure know how to make a priest feel so special on her birthday! Thank you for the kind words, cards and sentiments expressed.

And for a wonderful surprise party on Sunday which included German chocolate cake!

Beyond grateful for my Amazing Grace! Thank you, again!

All Saints Day, The Necrology

Sunday, November 3rd

In the Nicene Creed, Christians affirm their belief in “the communion of saints.” All of us who are in Christ and belong to him are bound together in him, whether we are in our earthly life or our heavenly one. This great theological truth is celebrated every year on All Saints’ Day, which is always on November 1.

One of the ways we observe this day is by listing the deceased in a list called the Necrology. We will have two necrologies.

• The first will list all the names of all our loved ones (church members or not) who have died in the year since the last All Saints’ Day (November 1, 2023, through October 31, 2024). This list will be read aloud in our morning worship service on November 3.
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• The second necrology lists all the names of deceased loved ones who died at any time in the past. These names will be listed in our worship bulletin on November 3.

Kids' All Saints Parade Nov. 3rd

Kids ages 4-11 are encouraged to come to church dressed as a patron saint for our annual All Saints Parade of Saints! Not sure which saint to dress up as? Think about something you like to do or might want to be when you grow up. 

There's probably a patron saint for that! Some examples: St. Francis of Assisi-patron saint of animals and nature, St. Cecilia-patron saint of musicians, St. Luke-patron saint of doctors, St. Florian-patron saint of firefighters, St. Sebastian-patron saint of athletes. 

Meet Aubrey Smith in the narthex before church so we can see your costume and assign you a patron saint's name. Kids will parade in with the processional at the beginning of worship and will sit together until we leave for Children's Chapel.

A Personal Reflection On Stewardship From Mother Suzanne+

Stewardship 2025 Campaign

Officially Kicks-Off Sunday, November 3

“Unless the Lord builds the house,

    the builders labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

    the guards stand watch in vain.”

Psalm 127:1-2

Dear Grace,

This psalm challenges me that it’s possible for me to do something for God, without doing it with God. Even when I have the best of intentions, I sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that the burden and responsibility of what I’m trying to do rests solely upon my shoulders. Unless I build the house, it won’t get done! 

But this prayer pushes me to take a fresh look at my posture. Am I bent over the weight of something only God can carry? In this season of stewardship, I will admit I’ve had many sleepless nights and worry over how we will have enough resources to continue the work we’ve begun at Grace. In this time of anxiety--born out of great care and love for Grace, many parishioners have come alongside and have reminded me gracefully—that our “Amazing Grace” is ours…but firstly, She is the Lord’s. We do nothing without Him at the center—including our finances.  

60 Bel Sanchez Elementary Students Return To Grace Mobile Food Pantry

For Alvin ISD Serves - Thursday, November 7

Donations of Thanksgiving desserts are requested. These donations can be dropped off to Anna Arendell the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at the Alvin Senior Center.

Please Help The Junior Daughters Of The King Support The Hope Center Of Houston

We are collecting small size hand sanitizers and refillable/reusable water bottles. This is for all JDoK chapters in our diocese.

There will be a basket in the narthex to collect the items.

Way of Love



Love can teach us to bend low and serve, to risk personal loss to follow the example of our Savior. Love can keep our hearts open to truth, even when that truth is inconvenient, or when it threatens our social status or way of life. Clinging to power and privilege is not the way of Jesus. Jesus’ way is the way of love.

Br. David Vryhof, Society of Saint John the Evangelist

Free Readers This Sunday

We will have a box full of readers in the Parish Hall during coffee hour. Feel free to pick up a pair or two.

Blanket Drive:

Share Warmth with Our Community

Dear Grace Family,  

As we anticipate the colder months ahead, we invite you to join us in a meaningful outreach to those experiencing homelessness in our community. We are collecting warm blankets to provide comfort and support during this challenging time.

Your generous donations can make a significant difference in the lives of those in need. Please bring your new or gently used blankets to the church on Sundays. Together, we can share warmth and love with our neighbors. Thank you for your kindness and support!

Beware of “Phishing” Scams

Look Closely At The Email Or Text Messages

One of a miriad of examples of what a phishing scam email might look like:

Or a text message like this:

Please rest assured that neither Mother Suzanne, any vestry member, nor the Episcopal Diocese of Texas will ever solicit money or make such a request via trext or email for any reason. Any such requests are fraudulent and should be ignored and deleted.

There has been a recent rise in “phishing” scams, or fake texts and emails attempting to secure your personal or financial information.

Churches are a particular target. Typically, scammers create a fake email or text messages similar to that of your priest, vestry member, or bishop, and then send out a request to a broad range of people in the church or diocese. It might not be a request for money, but instead more information, such as a copy of the church directory.

Always ensure that text message or email is from the named person before you share any information or make any purchases. Look closely at the email. Is it really from the stated person? Call the person to make sure. Mother Suzanne will only email from her Grace email address (rev.suzanne@gracechurchalvin.org) and if it’s not from that address, it’s not official.

Please let us know if you have any further questions or concerns, and thank you for your patience and for making us aware that Grace has been the target of a phishing scam.

Sunday's Altar Flowers Given To The Glory of God

In Memory Of

The Rev. F.S. Burford III

And In Thanksgiving For

Rebecca Burford’s Birthday

By Randy, Mary, Avery Smith

and Elizabeth Burford

The Altar Flower Dedications Book is located in the Narthex, for those of you who would like to make flower dedications. Once you sign up you can drop a check in the collection plate with "Altar Flowers" in the memo line, or in the blue mailbox to the left of the parish office entrance. The dedications will be $45.

The Altar Guild

• Holy Eucharist Rite I, Led by Mother Suzanne
• The service will also be live-streamed via YouTube - a musical prelude will begin at 8:50 a.m.
• 3 ways to Give today: Text the word ¨Fund¨ to 844-943-0932 to give via text, download and use the Vanco Mobile* app from the Google or Apple App Store, or visit the link below. Alternatively, you can mail a check to the church office at 112 W. Lang, Alvin TX 77511

The coffee hour hosts sign up sheet will be available in the parish hall kitchen every Sunday. You can also contact Anna Arendell at anamerican1@yahoo.com.

Rector's Bible Study

Mother Suzanne teaches an interactive and engaging class. We have just begun a study of the book of Revelation. All are welcome, regardless of your knowledge of the Bible.

Noonday Prayer Around the World

This Wednesday, let's pause together as we join our prayers with brothers and sisters around the world via Zoom and Facebook Live.



Beginning at 11:55 you can log in to Zoom here (passcode 032547) to join us as an active participant in the prayers. Or if you prefer, just follow along via Facebook Live beginning promptly at 12:00 PM this coming Wednesday, Book of Common Prayer beginning on page 103, which you can download ahead of time here. 

Sanctuary Choir Practice

Wednesdays, 7 PM

The Grace Sanctuary Choir rehearses Wednesdays 7:00–8:00 pm and sings each Sunday at the 9:00 am Sunday Worship Service and on some Holy Days (the choir meets 30 minutes before each of these services).

This group is open. Contact our Organist and Music Director, Paul Humphrey to meet and learn more about our choir - gphumphrey@yahoo.com

Church in the Streets

Alvin ISD Serves

Mobile Food Pantry

Thursday, November 7

Click on the arrow above to watch our

Thursday Mobile Food Pantry story

Please consider volunteering, even if just for an hour - we could use your help. We begin setting up at 7:00 am and distribution ends at 12 Noon. Clean-up follows that. We especially need volunteers for deliveries to the homebound and to help with tear down and clean up starting at around 11:30.

Thursday Mobile Food Pantry Schedule

If its Thursday, we have a Mobile Food pantry, come rain or shine!

Your Food Ministry Statistics

From Harriet Sturgeon

Will Be Updated Next Week

Weekly Update

The week of October 10, 2024, we distributed 10,000 pounds (5 tons) of food to 274 families, including 41 homebound deliveries, totaling 833 people. We welcomed 20 new families. This was all made possible by the 56 volunteers (including drivers) who showed up to make it happen.

Weekly Update

The week of October 17, 2024, we distributed 11,636 pounds (nearly 6 tons) of food to 290 families, including 68 homebound deliveries, totaling 799 people. We welcomed 17 new famililies. This was all made possible by the 32 volunteers (including drivers) who showed up to make it happen.

Monthly Update - September

For the entire month of September, we distributed 57,248 pounds of food to 1,005 families, including 222 homebound deliveries, totaling 2,891 people. We welcomed 52 new families. This was all made possible by the 194 volunteers (including drivers) who showed up to make it happen.

Year-To-Date

As of the end of September, in 2024, we have distributed 545,657 pounds of food (nearly 273 tons) from the Houston Food Bank to 9,440 families, with 418 new families coming to us for food. We have made a total of 2,165 deliveries. The total number of individuals served is 25,702. It required 1,691 volunteers to pull this off!

Volunteers Needed From 9 AM - 1 PM

MISSION & OUTREACH AT GRACE

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you

all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us

to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick,

and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those

who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow

into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for

our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BCP - Prayers and Thanksgivings #35

Grace is committed to helping those in need, including vulnerable children, the unhoused, and those experiencing food insecurity. To learn how you can get involved, check our website or send us an email edcarrette@gracechurchalvin.org

Match Your Gift

Matching your gift is a great way to make a bigger impact. Many companies match cash gifts from employees to qualified non-profits. Some even match gifts from retirees or spouses. To find out if your company will match gifts to Grace, visit your Human Resources Department. The Parish Office can provide you with a copy of our IRS Letter of Determination and W9 should you need it.