News
News and Service Updates
“How Can This Be?”
“How can this be?” We all can resonate with Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel on hearing that she was to be the bearer of God into the world! And yet it is a question worthy of multiple situations where God keeps doing the unexpected. Personally, I say it every...
Advent 2023
ADVENT PRACTICES AND PRAYERS Reverse Advent Calendar This year we are inviting our Grace community to participate in our Reverse Advent Calendar where "Giving" instead of "getting" is the theme. You're invited to put a non-perishable food item in a box or bag...
YOUTH MINISTRY UPDATE!
With the help of parents in the community, I am rebuilding the youth ministry program with middle school students in St. Helena. In the last full week of October, I had a pizza dinner with ten 7th and 8th graders on a Monday night and then pizza again with four 6th...
“Do You Guys Ever Think About Dying?”
At a bespoke dance party, heavy on the sequins and synchronized dance moves, two Barbies are talking: Barbie #2: “This is the Best Day Ever…” Barbie #1: “It IS the Best Day Ever! So was yesterday and so was tomorrow and every day from now until forever!” Barbie #1...
Becoming People of Peace
My heart is breaking, as I know many of yours are and I believe God’s heart is, at this war in the land of Jerusalem whose name means “City of Shalom-Peace.” As I have reflected on what we can do on the other side of the world in the face of such intractable conflict...
Feast of St. Francis Slideshow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKGuGGU6gBA Last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of St. Francis with a special outdoor service on the church Labyrinth and time of Animal blessing. We put together short slideshow of photos taken by Marvin Humphrey of this special day in...
Reflection on Seven Years
Reflection on Seven Years I have gotten into the habit of thinking I have been at Grace the number of years of the anniversary coming up at the start of the calendar year, so honestly it surprised me a bit last week when our senior warden reminded me my actual...
Love thy Neighbor, Compost Responsibly!
Two Sundays ago the Environmental Stewardship Ministry sponsored Andy Buck from Upper Valley Waste Disposal to discuss what is suitable for compost and recycling bins. Some takeaways from the talk were: 40% of food bought in California is wasted (We recommend “Just...
An Important Update from Grace
To Our Grace Church Family and Friends, Grace to you and peace! On behalf of the Vestry, Finance Committee and Sustaining Grace (formerly The Endowment) Team, we are writing with an important update on the successes and challenges of our congregation. We would...
Welcome Back Everyone!
WELCOME BACK EVERYONE! Maybe you are thinking, “Sarah dear, we have BEEN back…” and you are correct, of course. Perhaps we can think of mid-August and Mission Trip Report Sunday on August 27 as our “soft start” while we all recalibrated to our post-summer rhythms. And...
A Healthy Church is a Singing Church
It’s been said that a healthy church is a singing church. How do we define a healthy church? Is it church attendance and growth, or is it something deeper. And what does singing have to do with being a healthy church? Statistically, music plays a significant...
Cultivating Space
Last Sunday, we heard the story of Jesus’s most famous miracle, his walking on the water. I believe that biblical truth resonates on many different levels. Considered from a metaphorical and spiritual standpoint, how it was that Jesus might have been able to...