Unlike when one is asked, "What did you do on your summer vacation?" many of us has been asked how we coped with the period of extreme physical distancing during Covid-19. For many of us, this was and continues to be a very difficult time. In particular, our routines and schedules have been completely turned on end. As challenging as this is, this time has also afforded us opportunities to take on a project or two.
Laura Beasley-Topliffe took on the role of Chair of the Altar Guild the year before the pandemic. She has faithfully carried this out even when the only view we were having of the altar was a virtual view. She has taken the time to tend to some of the appointments that have begun to fray and to do some of the housekeeping needed.
Laura also took on a major project which was a labor of love and a gift to us all. Laura crafted a beautiful Easter frontal for our Lady Chapel Altar. Below, you will find a picture of this gift to the Glory of God. Laura found a way to redeem some of the time lost during the pandemic. She found a way to not only find God in this time, but to illustrate the powerful love of God. May we all find ways to glorify God in our own time. Thank you, Laura.
In the Way of Love,
Debbie
This Sunday
In the lesson from 2 Samuel, David and God have a little conversation about God's need (or lack thereof) for a "house. In the Gospel, the disciples have returned from their mission and are relating to Jesus what they were able to accomplish, what they saw in their travels, and just how exhausted they all are from this. Jesus tries to get them some rest, but the excitement about the Way of Love follows them.
At 9:30 am, the Church School will gather to engage in a story and to work on the Abundant Life Garden with Melissa Barnes.
At 10:00 am, we will celebrate the Eucharist. Deb Papps will be assisting and Andrew Bishop and Luke Tanguay will be our ushers. If you will not be there physically, you may engage with the service on either Facebook or on Zoom, using the links on the sidebar.
At 4:00 pm, our Celtic Evensong with Communion will have Paul Massari assisting with the readings and a reflection will be offered. You may also engage with this service on Facebook.
Please join us wherever you are
in your search for meaning.
Everyone is welcome at any and all services at
Grace Episcopal Church
Parish Prayer List
Please keep the following in your prayers:
Martin Ryan, Kristin Gourley, Scott Tucker, Zan Duffy, Dianne, Linda Whalen, Deb Guilford, Kim Colvin, Sarah Colvin Duffy, Michael Towey, Christine Reichert, Nancy Brown, Jesse Kamp, Stacia, Bob Peterson, Brian Peterson, Robert Squillaro, Jenny, Loretta and Kris, Deb Papps, Derek Fuller and Family, Kathy Southern, Becky, the people of Palestine, and the Salem Public Schools. For an end to racism, gun violence and oppression.
If you have prayer requests, please email [email protected] by Tuesday at noon for publication in that week's e-news.
Regathering News
The following protocols are in place if your wish to attend our services in-person:
Diocesan and state health guidelines prevail. Please observe the procedures listed below, and as always, thank you for observing these protocols, which is an expression of your care for everyone in the Parish family.
Everyone must wear a mask inside the church and maintain six foot social distancing between households.
Please enter the church by the front Church door. You will greeted by an usher who will direct you to sign in (by household name and email) for contact tracing purposes. Please wait to be greeted and maintain social distancing until an usher is available to invite you into the space.
As you enter and exit the church, please use hand sanitizer, which will be available at the entrance and in the pews.
Bulletins will be available on the table as you enter. They will also be electronically available. If you take a bulletin, please take it home with you at the end of the service.
Please place your offering in one of the Offering Plates on your way in. If you forget or arrive late, you may place it in the plate by the chapel door on your way out.
An usher will seat you in an open pew, starting at the front of the church. In order to maintain 6-foot social distancing in the pews, one person will be seated at each end. Members of the same household may sit together.
We will exchange the Peace with the Priest verbally. There will be no “passing” of the Peace with others.
Communion will be offered at the end of the service in one kind (host only). The Rector will distribute communion to parishioners in their pews. After the Rector distributes communion and steps away, you may remove your mask to consume the host. The Rector will then dismiss you. An usher will then direct you to exit the church via the Chapel door.
The restrooms are available, but we ask that they be used by only one person (or household) at a time.
For the time being, there is no coffee hour following the service.
Caveat: We are so happy to see you in person but please remember to stay home if you are experiencing COVID symptoms, have had close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID, or have been asked to quarantine or self-isolate.
Back by Popular Demand:
The Grace Church Healthy Challenge!!
This year our “Healthy Challenge” fundraiser will take place in August 2021. This is a fun activity for all ages, from age 2 – 100! Here is how it works: Participants create an individual healthy goal challenge to be completed during August. The goal can be anything that keeps you strong and healthy in mind, body, or spirit, e.g., practicing yoga every day, walking daily, getting 8 hours sleep, participating in an exercise class, meditating daily, eating an extra serving of vegetables each day, or even dropping a few pounds.
The next step is to obtain sponsors and/or sponsor yourself, whatever works best. A sponsor sheet is available here.
If you can participate, please send an email to [email protected]. with your name and activity so that the Fundraising Committee can keep track of who is participating. We can answer any questions and will reach out to you with a reminder when it is time for you to collect donations from your sponsors. Funds raised will support Grace Church in its operations and mission. At the end of August, checks should be made out to Grace Church with “Healthy Challenge” in the memo line.
Upcoming "Becoming an Anti-racist" Events
Wednesdays, June 24 through July 28 at 6:00 pm: Black Poets
July 21 - Sonia Sanchez
July 28 - Audre Lorde
Saturday, September 11 10am – 12 pm: Anti-Racism Retreat
On this, the 20th anniversary of the attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D. C., let us gather to pray and reflect upon race and reconciliation. We are hoping that this two-hour retreat will be in-person, and will include material from a variety of sources.
Fall Cottage Meetings
We will gather again for our cottage meeting on antiracism. We are hoping that the Fall meetings will be in-person
Early November: Salem’s Black History Trail
We will walk this self-guided audio tour focusing on Salem’s African American history using the download on our mobile devices. Sponsored by Voices Against Injustice, the tour makes up one achievement of Salem’s taskforce for confronting racism, who support initiatives towards making the narratives of remarkable African Americans from Salem’s history more accessible to both visitors and locals.
The tour features 24 stops based on the legacies of African Americans throughout history from Tituba during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 to the present day with contemporary author Stephen Hemingway.
November 28 – December 25: Anti-racist Advent Calendar
We will again offer a daily calendar during Advent of ways to reflect, pray, and act to become an anti-racist.
