We are an Open and Affirming church. Every one of every age, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental ability, or economic status is invited to join us as together we live out the Gospel message of love, forgiveness, service, and justice.

A Message from the Rev. Jimmy Solano Pickett

WEEKLY SERVICES

The Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

November 1, 2026, 10:00 AM

Grace Church Chapel

67 State Road, Great Barrington, MA

In-person and on Zoom

For Zoom, Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Passcode: 917937

Berkshire South Community Center

Great Barrington, MA

For Zoom, Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Passcode: 917937

Morning Prayer, Wednesday, 10:00 AM

Grace Church Chapel

67 State Road, Great Barrington, MA

In-person and on Zoom

For Zoom, Click Here

Meeting ID: 177 160 858

Passcode: 917937

Centering Prayer, Thursdays at 5:00 PM

67 State Road, Great Barrington, MA

Office Hours



The Grace Church Office is open

Mondays - Thursdays from 10am to 4pm.

Come by to pray at the chapel or to have a cup of coffee with us!

GIDEON'S GARDEN

I've been taking advantage of the surprisingly warm weather we've had to keep on with clearing the field and get a move on organising the tool shed and the greenhouse for next season. There's still plenty to do over the next few months, and I hope to finish up all the necessary outdoor tasks before the temperatures dip. Taking the plastics out of the field has had the added benefit of uncovering some tasty snacks for the chickens, and they have been following me around as I work.

Last week, we had the inaugural meeting of our fledgeling garden long-term planning committee! Jimmy and I had the opportunity to hear more of the history of the garden and to share our experiences from the last couple seasons. If you are interested in participating in this group as we work to vision and plan for the long-term future of the Gideon's Garden ministries, please reach out to Jimmy or me.

Because I had to cancel volunteer hours last Friday, tomorrow will be the final volunteer hours for the 2026 season. Feel free to stop by! Volunteer hours will return in early March when we begin seeding in the greenhouse. 



Cheers,

Jack

Volunteer Hours at Gideon’s Garden:

Tomorrow, Nov 4: 9–noon is the final volunteering slot for 2026!

Thanks for a wonderful season.

I WANT SOME FRIENDS

OPPORTUNITIES to GIVE or VOLUNTEER

SUNDAY MORNING

The Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Kollwitz, Käthe Schmidt, 1867-1945

Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus said, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Ye watchers and ye holy ones

The tune Land of rest is an American folk hymn which in our hymnal is arranged and harmonized by Annabel Morris Buchanan 1889-1983, who was an American composer and folklorist. The author of the book Folk Hymns of America (1938) as well as myriad journal articles, Buchanan (along with John Powell) helped found the White Top Folk Festival (hosted in Grayson County, Virginia, from 1931 to 1939), which promoted music of the people in the Appalachian Mountains. Buchanan's documenting practices are credited for preserving many folk songs that might have otherwise gone on unrecorded.

The text is by F.B.P. {from the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology}  . These initials appear over the text of Hierusalem my happie home (Jerusalem, my happy home) in a manuscript book in the British Library. The hymn is of 26 4-line stanzas, entitled A Song Mad (i.e. ‘made’) by F:B:P. To the tune of Diana.’ The text is based on a passage from St. Augustine’s Meditations beginning Mater Hierusalem, Civitas sancta Dei. In the version ascribed to ‘F.B.P.’ the text suggests a Roman Catholic origin. There are references to ‘Our Ladie’ who ‘singes magnificat’, to Saints Augustine and Ambrose, and to Mary Magdalene: ‘There Magdalene hath left her mone’. 

1 Jerusalem, my happy home,

When shall I with you be?

When shall my sorrows have an end?

Your joys when shall I see?

2 Your saints are crowned with glory great;

They see God face to face;

They triumph still, they still rejoice

In that most holy place.

3 There David stands with harp in hand

As master of the choir:

Ten thousand times would we be blessed

Who might this music hear.

4 Our Lady sings Magnificat

With tune surpassing sweet;

And all the virgins join the song

While sitting at her feet.

5 There Magdalene has left her tears,

And cheerfully does sing

With blessed saints, whose harmony

In ev'ry street does ring.

6 Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

God grant that I may see

Your endless joy, and of the same

Partaker ever be!

N.B. our hymnal does not have verse 5

John Cheek, Music Director

LET US PRAY

GRACE CHURCH

Please include in your daily prayers this week:

Members of the Parish Family: Richard Starr; Kirk and Connie Garber; David Pixley; Edna Leavenworth; Pennie Curry; Aicha and Matt Marcos; Rick and Sue Gore, and the Haywood family; Louise Peterson; Charlene Peet; The Rev. Marc Britt; Anne Andrews; George Raymond; Dindy and Mark Anderson; Linda White and her grandchildren, Claire, Mark, and Johnny; David Hamill; Rosemarie Blakely.

Others we Love: Aya Abdallah and Frank Zimmerman, son and daughter in law of Janet Zimmerman; Pat Murray, grandmother of Caroline Murray; Lenny Clough, brother-in-law of Dindy Anderson; Judy Davis, grandmother of Jacob Greer; Lisa Solomon, friend of David Pixley; Jack Starr, father of Richard Starr; Julia DePeyster, friend of Lea Richardson; Ada Gómez, mother-in-law of Rev. Jimmy; Cynthia Griesing, Holly Murray’s mother; Doreen’s sister, Linda Manardi; Paul, neighbor of Gina and Phil; Susie, Mike, and Emily Silver; Fran Hunt, Anne Andrew's sister; Michal Snyder, Dessida's sister; Anne Kistrup and Pam Reed, Lynn Walker's friends; Susan Bunce, Mary Booton's sister; George Laye; Fleming Rutledge; Tania Guerrero and her baby daughter Eugenia Marie Ayala Guerrero; David Rodriguez Ovalle, Sergio Rodriguez's father; Richard Cherneff; Cynthia Griesing, Holly Murray's mother; Bishop Michael Curry; Sara Miles and her wife Martha; Jerry and Karen Ericson; James Driscoll; Livia Driscoll; Deborah McCurdy.

Those who have died: Cathy Haywood, Doug Happ, Lorraine Colombo, Lisa Leavenworth, Fred Harris, Dick Rutledge, Dale Peterson, Hawa Kiebre and Salif Tiri Ouedraogo, mother and father of Aicha Marcos; Kathy O’Brien, Pennie Curry’s sister; Paul Haywood, Sue Gore’s brother; The Rev. Donna Larson former Rector of St. George's; Hannah Peabody, Caroline Murray’s friend; The Rev. Donald Peet; Pamela Drumm.

Our world: For the people of Iran, Lebanon, Haiti, Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, the Sudan, and all other places of violence and war, that peace and justice may prevail, and human fear and suffering diminish. For all victims of hatred in this country; for all victims of gun violence and also for those who inflict gun violence on others. For all who are alone, afraid, or despairing. For prisoners, unhoused people, newly arrived immigrants, and all our neighbors, near and far.

The many ministries of our local community, especially for our partners at St. Paul's and the Rev. Samuel Vaught, the Rev. Jane Tillman, and the Rev. Libby Wade; Christ Trinity and the Rev. Erik Karas; the Mampong Babies' Home; and The Rt. Rev. Miguelina Howell, our Bishop.

The many ministries of our local community

Especially for our partners at St. Paul's and the Rev. Samuel Vaught, the Rev. Jane Tillman, and the Rev. Libby Wade; Christ Trinity and the Rev. Erik Karas; our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Miguelina Howell; and the Mampong Babies' Home.

And we offer thanks: for all those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries this week.



FLOWER DEDICATIONS

Please place your dedications in an envelope and include the name of the person you wish to honor.

Please note that your $30.00 contribution toward the flower purchase can be sent to the Grace Office or placed in the Offertory Collection.

An Episcopal Community in the Southern Berkshires

67 State Road/P.O. Box 114, Great Barrington, MA 01230

Grace Church Parish Administrator: Mackenzie Kendall

You can reach the church office by email: office@graceberkshires.org 

and by phone: 413-644-0022.

The Rev. Jimmy Solano Pickett

Rector of Grace Church

rev.jimmysp@graceberkshires.org

Jack Kamps

Gideon's Garden Director

gideonsgarden@graceberkshires.org

Lee Cheek

Keyboardist

John Cheek

Choir Director

OFFICERS

Rector ....................The Rev. Jimmy Solano Pickett

Senior Warden ........Matt Marcos

Junior Warden ........Evie Starr

Treasurer ..................Sue Gore

Clerk ...........................Doreen Hutchinson

VESTRY - AT LARGE

Class of 2027..........Jainee McCarroll, Kevin Rosero

Class of 2028..........Mackenzie Kendall

Class of 2029................Dindy Anderson, Phil Burt, Lynn Carlson