Click Here For All Things Lent, Holy Week, And Easter

Palm Sunday and the Passion Narrative of our Lord Jesus Christ according to

St. Mark - No Sermon

March 24, 2024

8:45 AM - Procession of the Palms Begins Under the Pavilion



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WEEKLY NEWS & UPDATES

IN THIS ISSUE


  • Mission & Outreach At Grace
  • The Good Friday Offering
  • Important Reminder
  • From The Brothers At SSJE - Grace
  • Next Holy Experiment - Shower Ministry Begins March 22
  • An Invitation To Holy Lent
  • Towel & Washcloth Donations Requested This Sunday
  • Save These Holy Week Dates...
  • Women's Brunch & Egg Stuffing - Saturday, March 30
  • Faces Of Easter
  • Volunteers Needed For Alvin Music Festival & Cook-Off
  • Parish Spring Cleaning March 23rd With The Harbor
  • Camp Allen Abundant Living Retreat March 25-27
  • Don's Fish Fry and Silent Auction Benefit For Womens's Center of Brazoria County, April 20
  • Vacation Bible School June 8 & July 13
  • Summer Camp With Mother Suzanne July 14-20


Liturgy Of The Week


  • Liturgy Of The Palms & Holy Eucharist Rite II
  • The Preaching Moment Podcast - Celebrating 100 Episodes Published!
  • A Holy Pause
  • Rector's Tuesday Bible Study
  • Wednesday Noonday Prayer Around The World
  • The Mobile Food Pantries - Saturday, March 23rd As Part Of The Harbor's Compassion Weekend and Thursday, March 29
  • Friday Get Clean Shower Ministry
  • On Generosity...


  • Click Here For The Prayer List
  • Click Here For The Church Calendar
  • Click Here For The Server Schedule
  • Click Here For The Live-Streaming Team Schedule
  • Click Here For Parish Directory
  • Click Here For The Coffee Host Schedule


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.


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 [email protected]

Click Here To Read the Presiding Bishops Good Friday Offering Letter To Congregations

Important Reminder

We use Remind as our text messaging application in order to send out updates including important last minute information you may need to be aware of. If you are not already signed up, please do so now.


Thank you!

Grace


Every single one of us is more than the worst thing we have ever done. There is a child inside each of us whom God knows and adores, and that is by God’s grace. Grace is getting what we don’t deserve but which God desires.

 

Br. Curtis Almquist, Society of Saint John the Evangelist

Click Here To Read More

Shower Ministry Began March 22

On Friday morning March 22, Grace launched our latest Holy Experiment. Mr. Chad Harris' Lord of the Streets shower trailer will be coming to Grace every week from now on. We will be offering breakfast, showers and clean clothing to our unhoused neighbors.


Like our weekly Mobile Food Pantry, we expect this to be an ecumenical ministry with not only volunteers from Grace, but members from throughout our community, including Together For Alvin


DONATION ITEMS NEEDED:


  • Towels Towels Towels - Washcloths Washcloths Washcloths - Gently used are fine


  • New or gently used clothing – shirts, pants, shorts, belts, shoes, underwear, socks. 


  • Toiletries (preferably small or travel sized) – deodorant, hand lotion, chap stick, mouthwash, wet wipes, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, nail files.


  • Miscellaneous (new or used) – backpacks, shopping bags, small tents.


  • Trailer supplies – large size shampoo, conditioner, body wash or hand soap; tall kitchen trash bags, large black garbage bags, latex gloves for volunteers, Ply 1 RV toilet paper.


  • Financial donations to help purchase items are welcome; donations can be made by cash or check or online. Checks should be made to Grace with “shower ministry” in the memo.

Join Mother Suzanne One Last Time

After Church Sunday

Bitter and Sweet: A Journey into Easter

An Invitation To Holy Lent

In a world that celebrates indulging our whims whenever we want, practicing the traditions of Lent is countercultural.

When we welcome the temporary suffering of Lent, we swim upstream in a culture that goes with the flow.


The practice isn’t about proving our worth or earning God’s love; it’s about remembering how dependent we are on our Maker while we live here in our temporary, fragile bodies.



This Lenten season you are invited to journey with Mother Suzanne through Bitter & Sweet: A Journey Into Easter

Click Here To Read Sample & Order Bitter & Sweet

This Sunday We'll Be Collecting New Or Gently Used Towels and Washcloths For The Shower Ministry

Thanks to all who responded this past week! We will again be gladly accepting donations of new or gently used towels and washcloths this Sunday

Thank you for supporting Mission & Outreach at Grace!

Save These Dates

Rite of Reconciliation

If sin weighs heavily on your conscience; if you want to grow in grace and the love of God and your neighbor; if you seek spiritual counsel for an issue or sin that you can't seem to shake; if you want to enter Easter season with a pure conscience, confident in God's mercy and pardon, then Mother Suzanne encourages you to avail yourself of the Rite of Reconciliation. Confess your sins openly without fear of judgement, and hear God's good word of pardon and absolution. Please email [email protected] to schedule an appointment

Wednesday, March 27 - From 5:30 - 6 PM

Join Us For Our Last

Followed Immediately At 6 PM

By Our Last

All women in the parish are invited to Janay Andrade's home: 2714 Owen St in Alvin on Sat., 3/30 at 11am for brunch & egg stuffing, (for the Easter Egg hunt).


Every woman is invited to bring something sweet to share, and items to stuff in the Easter eggs - no eggs, Aubrey has plenty of eggs!


Main dish & drinks will be provided


If you are unable to attend the brunch but would like to donate egg stuffing items, you can drop them off at the office during Holy Week, Tuesday through Friday, from 9 AM - 5 PM.

Easter Lily Dedications

Dear Grace,



It is the custom at Grace/Alvin, to decorate the church with Easter Lilies on Easter Sunday. The flowers will be put in place prior to the Easter Services and will remain in place until .


Your generous help in making floral dedications will enable the altar guild to create this special Easter tribute. Dedications should be submitted on or before Tuesday, March 26th.


Dedications are available for $20 per line and can be made in “Memory of”, “in Honor of “, in “Thanksgiving for”, or simply “To the Glory of God”.


Your dedications will be included as part of the worship bulletins for March 31st (Easter) and April 7th.


Thank you, 


YOUR ALTAR GUILD

Click Here to Submit Easter Lily Dedication Form & Donate via PayPal

Easter Sunday Baptisms

The next opportunity for Holy Baptism will be on Easter Sunday. Please let Mother Suzanne know if you would like to receive the Sacrament of Baptism on Easter.

Faces Of Easter

During the season of Lent, we hear a series of stories in Children's Chapel called the Faces of Easter. Each week, the kids hear a different part of Jesus' life on earth, from his birth all the way to his glorious resurrection. 


After the story concludes, the children are invited to look around the room and place items by the story materials that they think would help tell the story. 


These are my favorite stories to tell, because while my goal for our work with the kids is for others to see the fruits of our labor and not me, I get to see a glimpse of the connections they make, and the faith that is growing in their hearts, and it makes my heart smile. 


The photos above are updated weekly - check them out to see what they've added so far!

This year we will be joined by members of The Harbor from Friendswood during their Compassion Weekend.

Mark your calendars, and share with friends! VBS (Very Big Saturdays) at the Park will happen at Resoft Park on June 8th and July 13th from 9am-noon! For ages 5-11. 


More info coming soon, so stay tuned!

Camp Allen Summer Camp

With Mother Suzanne

July 14 - 20

Mother Suzanne will be directing Junior High Camp at Camp Allen again this summer. She will be there Week 6 (July 14 - 20) at campsite 3 for junior high (7th and 8th grade boys and girls). Space is filling up fast. It really is a blessed time for kids and youth in the summer. There are some partial camp scholarships available.

Click Here For Summer Camp Website
Click Here For the Sunday Worship Bulletin
Please help us conserve resources by downloading to your mobile device or printing ahead of time and bringing it along with you to church

Sunday's Schedule



  • Procession of the Palms followed by Holy Eucharist Rite II with the Passion Narrative of our Lord Jesus Christ - Led by Mother Suzanne, there will be no sermon.
  • The service will also be live-streamed via Facebook Live - 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
Click Here To View Service on Facebook Live
Click Here To Give Online
Click Here To Submit Your Pledge For 2024
Click Here To Download Vanco Mobile App From Google Play Store
Click Here To Download Vanco Mobile App From Apple App Store
Click Here To Listen To The Podcast
Or you can find The Preaching Moment on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.
A Holy Pause
From Mother Suzanne:

This time together is between 2-5 minutes. A small touch-point throughout the week to remind Grace and others to whom you belong and that we are together walking the road of faith. 

As well, I think it's a good practice to pause during the day and "look up". 

Please join if you are able on Grace's Facebook or Instagram pages....no particular time... The Holy Pause is also uploaded to Tik Tok.

If you subscribe/like/follow our Instagram and Facebook you'll receive a notification when we go live.
"Tell me what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

"Devotions" by Mary Oliver

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 - [email protected]

Church in the Streets

Mobile Food Pantry

Saturday,

March 23rd

With The Harbor

It's Compassion Weekend!

Lunch following at The Harbor



Church in the Streets

Mobile Food Pantry

Thursday,

March 28th

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!

EXCEPTIONS



Saturday, August 3, Back To School Event

Your Food Ministry Statistics

From Harriet Sturgeon

Weekly Update

The week of March 14, 2024, we distributed 12,000 pounds (6 tons) of food to 285 families, including 60 homebound deliveries, totaling 781 people. We welcomed 17 new families. This was all made possible by the 45 volunteers (including drivers) who showed up to make it happen.


Thank you Harriet Sturgeon for being our statistician!

Sunday Card Ministry
Have you noticed the cards on the table as you enter the church on Sunday? Well, one of our parishioners sets these cards out for us to sign and send a greeting to someone we may not have seen in a while, or someone who is ill.

Please take a minute as you come in, or before you leave to sign the cards and maybe write a brief note.
Generosity
1st Sunday

Did you know that the loose plate offering on the first Sunday of each month goes to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund? This fund is used, at the Rector’s discretion, to assist the poor and indigent and to further the ministries of the church, not covered in the church budget. One of the main uses of this fund, at Grace, is to fund our Blessing Box and Blessing Refrigerator.
Birthdays & Anniversaries

You are invited to make a financial offering in honor of your birthday or anniversary. These offerings go to the Herrington fund, which provides scholarships to church conferences and camps for members of our church.  Your offering may be placed in this little basket beside the piano as you approach the Chancel steps.


Kroger Community Rewards

You can help support Grace by simply linking your Kroger Rewards Customer number to Grace. You only need to sign up once and you will earn rewards for the church with every shopping trip! You can enroll at any time, so please try to get your family and friends to sign up as well! Every time you make a Kroger purchase, Kroger will make a donation to Grace. (And you still receive your reward points)
CLICK HERE - HOW TO SIGN UP

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.

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