November 2018 Vol. 63 No. 3

PUBLISHED FOR THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF GRACE CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, RUTLAND, VERMONT

Harvest Dinner — November 10th at 5:30 PM

Please join us for the Grace Church Harvest Dinner—a traditional

turkey dinner with all the trimmings—at 5:30 p.m. with the singing

waiters and then entertainment by international folk music stars John Kirk/Trish Miller from 7 to 8 p.m.

Tickets available in the Church Office: $15/adult, $8/child, 4 and under free.

See you there to celebrate being a community during the season of harvest and sharing.

Consecrate your Pledge on Thanksgiving Sunday, November 18th and bring your pledge commitment to God!

“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?” These are the words of the

prophet Micah speaking to the people of Israel about how they should honor their covenant

commitment to Yahweh, their God.

How do we honor our commitment to God? How do we say Thank you, God for all that you have done

for us in this past year? How? We pledge a portion of our income to God’s good work, locally and

around the world! When Hurricanes Michael and Florence devastated portions of our southern

communities, a portion of our 2018 pledges were already on their way to support the rebuilding of

those communities. When a family is in crisis locally, our pastors and deacons are reaching out and

providing desperately needed spiritual comfort and aid. When someone comes into our church building

seeking assistance for housing, heat or hunger, we are there to help, assisting them with rent or fuel or

food! Plus, we support all the amazing missions, music, and ministries too abundant to name here!! It’s

all about being a blessing! What a gift! What a joy! Please join us.

Pledge your commitment to God through Grace Church on Sunday, November 18th

or by emailing beth@gracechurchvt.org. (Pledge cards will be mailed November 8th.)

A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR

Beyond Resistance and a New

Church Governance

John Dorhauer, the current president of the denomination, in his excellent new book, Beyond

Resistance, The Institutional Church Meets the Post-modern World, starts his concluding chapter helping

the reader understand that Postmodernity isn’t about your age, it’s about how you look at your

world. He writes, “As I travel around speaking about this phenomenon, I encounter people of all

ages who resonate deeply with what it means to be postmodern. What I have learned is that we make a

big mistake if we think this is about old people and young people. When I spoke about this in one

setting, a 90-year-old woman held up her arms and shouted with some glee, “I am a postmodern!” She had spent the afternoon listening to me describe

what it is that differentiates postmoderns from those who see the world through the eyes of

modernity. It dawned on her that she had been living with postmodern sensibilities pretty much all

her life. At a presentation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, another wise elder listened to me prattle

on about what was shifting with postmodern faith, and she said, “It sounds very much as if the Church

is in a paradigm shift between Christianity as a belief and Christianity as a way of life.”

After our Convergence Summit last November, a

group of members began to examine the matter of governance as we shift from a modern to a post-

modern congregation. Several practical questions were percolating among the reVision small groups:

How should we organize ourselves as fewer members step up to serve on church committees? What should

our priorities be in terms of retaining members and growing our budget? Are we still a two-pastor sized

church or should we look at different models of leadership? These and many other questions are

being considered by the Governance Team that is meeting a couple times a month. “We wanted to wait until the other Convergence teams had met to

see what they were going to propose before we felt

we could step up to examine the larger questions of governance,” one member remarked.

Right now, the Governance Team consists of Greg

Ellis, Esther Swett, Bonnie Kelly, Matthew Getty, Laura Zmurko and myself. We have all committed to

reading Dorhauer’s book together and working through many of the areas for conversation that he

invites. As we find ourselves in the midst of really excellent conversations about who we are and how

God is shaping us today and for tomorrow, we are realizing that we cannot assume that we’ll make a

dramatic leap into the future, but that we’ll need to take smaller, more manageable bunny steps that will move us sufficiently into the new church that God

will help us shape in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Do you remember that image I posted last month -

the one of an artist’s sculpture of a church in Belgium that was constructed with horizontal metal beams separated by gaps allowing for the church to become

translucent? You could literally see through the church! It was an image that, at first, scared me as I

saw the modern church “fading away.” But, then, when you changed perspectives, you looked at the

church from a different angle and saw something truly stunning! When you looked toward the

sunlight, the light of the sun came blazing through the church. In other words, when the church’s construct

began to fade away, the Spirit of the Lord’s light can come shining through the church! This is the

paradigm shift we all need to make together! Our Team is working on how we might empower the

church to begin making that shift. I believe it could be truly powerful, but only if the Holy Spirit is shining

through us. It’s not about what we are (the church Bylaws and building), but about who we are (the church as the Body of Jesus) that makes us an

attractive place for all of God’s children to come together so that we can all be empowered to go out

together and shine the Light of God wherever we go!

May you all be truly Thankful this season for the abundance God has provided us all!

John

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Healing Ministry by Rev. Bob Boutwell Grace Church offers a Healing Prayer service on the second Sunday of each

month, with the next one to be held in the Chapel on Sunday, November 11

at 11:25 a.m. Healing is one of the most important ministries of the church.

In some churches, the anointing with oil and healing prayer is considered to be

one of the sacraments like baptism and communion. It is one of the ways that

God blesses, cleanses, heals and forgives us. It is mentioned in the Letter of James in the Bible

(James 5:13-15) as one of the ministries of the Deacons or Elders of the church.

In the 29th chapter of Genesis we read that Jacob’s wife Rachel was barren and unable to have

children. She prayed that God would have mercy on her; “then God remembered Rachel; he

listened to her and opened her womb.” She became pregnant and gave birth to a son whom she

named Joseph. At the Ignite Healing Conference in June our guest speaker, Lee Grady, told how he

had invited people to come forward for prayer at a healing conference. A mother brought her

daughter forward because she had had two miscarriages and was told by her doctor that she could

never have children. Lee laid hands on her and prayed that Jesus would heal her. She felt that the

Holy Spirit had removed whatever was blocking her conception. At another healing conference a

year later the same woman came forward and showed Lee the beautiful baby boy that God had

given her. Jesus had opened her womb and had removed whatever had been blocking her pregnancy.

Those who need healing are invited to come and receive the love of Jesus with the laying on of

hands, the cleansing and healing of prayer, the anointing with oil and the power of the Holy Spirit. In

prayer you may ask Jesus for repair of physical damage, illness, emotional, psychological disorders, or

inner healing of hurtful memories or feelings of rejection. Jesus can remove anything that is blocking

your loving relationship with God and your complete healing. You may ask Jesus to extend healing to

others about whom you are concerned. Members are also urged to come to praise God for healings

they have received or heard about and to offer prayers for those who have come to seek healing.

Every Wednesday I am in my office at the church from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and am available for

healing prayers and consultations. You may contact me by phone at 802.773.3057 or by email at

revrbtwl@myfairpoint.net.

50-Year+ Member Recognition Sunday! November 4

All 50+ year members of Grace Church

are encouraged to join us on Sunday, November 4

as we recognize and celebrate all of you wonderful folks

who have been with us for so many years!

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Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord.

EVENING SERVICE FOR ALL SAINTS

NOVEMBER 4 AT 7 PM

Grace Church Sanctuary Choir, Castleton University Chorale and soloists will

present an evening of music and poetry to celebrate and remember the lives of

those who have died. Under the direction of Dr. Sherrill Blodget, the choirs will

perform Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria, accompanied by Alastair Stout on the Grace

Church organ. Between the movements of the Gloria, specially chosen poems

will reflect on the lives of loved ones who have died this past year.

FOLK SUNDAY - NOVEMBER 11

We are honored to have John Kirk and Trish Miller performing at our

Harvest Dinner on November 10th. They will also be offering their

wonderful talents at the 10 a.m. morning worship on November 11th.

John and Trish will accompany the Children’s Choir and Sanctuary Choir

in Cherokee and Arapaho folk songs, and offer traditional tunes for the

prelude and postlude.

JAZZ SUNDAY - NOVEMBER 18

We are excited to welcome back the Onion River Jazz Band to lead our 10 a.m. morning worship

on November 18th. They will accompany the Sanctuary Choir as well as offer upbeat hymns and

songs. The handbell choir will also play a gospel medley. Invite a friend to Grace Church to

experience this exciting contemporary style of worship!

MESSIAH REHEARSALS BEGIN

The Rutland Area Chorus will present Handel’s Messiah

on December 2 at 3:30 and 7 p.m. All are invited to sing in this

wonderful annual celebration of the coming of the Messiah!

Rehearsals are each Sunday afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. One

rehearsal may be missed, if necessary. The dress rehearsal

on December 1 from 12:30 to 2:45 p.m is mandatory.

November 4, 2-4 p.m. November 18, 2-4 p.m.

November 11, 2-4 p.m. November 25, 2-4 p.m.

December 1, 12:30-2:45 p.m.

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REMINDER: CHOIR REHEARSALS DURING THANKSGIVING WEEK

No rehearsals on Wednesday, November 21.

TTBB and Sanctuary Choir will rehearse at their normal times on Tuesday, November 20.

Handbell choir meets as normal on Monday, November 19.

No Children’s Choir that week; they will resume on November 28.

HANDEL’S MESSIAH

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2 AT 3:30 AND 7:00 PM.

On Sunday, December 2, Grace Church will present the annual

performances of Handel’s Messiah. The Rutland Area Chorus,

soloists and orchestra will perform the concerts at 3:30 p.m. and

7:00 p.m. under the direction of Alastair Stout. The Messiah soloists are soprano, Allison Devery-

Steinmetz of Montpelier; alto, Amy Frostman of South Burlington; tenor, Cameron Steinmetz of

Montpelier; and bass, Zebulun McLellan of Tinmouth.

Handel’s Messiah, one of the great Baroque choral masterpieces, depicts the prophecy and birth of

Jesus Christ as told by Isaiah, the prophet and the writers of the Gospels. Alongside Messiah, RAC

will also perform Cantata No. 62 by J.S. Bach, Savior of the Nations, Come, which Bach wrote for the

first Sunday of Advent. A free-will offering will be received and a reception will follow the 7

p.m. performance.

We are also excited to announce the first Grace Church Composition Competition. Rutland Area

Chorus, soloists and orchestra will premiere the winning work during the 2019 Christmas season.

For more information, please call the Church Office at 775.4301.

Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord.

Worship in November

Nov. 4 50+ Year Member Recognition

All Saints’ Sunday, Communion

Church Stories

John Weatherhogg, preaching

Come as we recognize those who have

been members of Grace Church for 50

years or more!

Evening Service for All Saints, 7 PM

A service to celebrate the lives of those who have died. Details on page 4.

Nov. 11 Folk Sunday Fish Stories Tracy Weatherhogg, preaching

Nov. 18 Jazz, Stewardship, and

Thanksgiving Sunday

Women’s Ministries Harvest Bake Sale John Weatherhogg, preaching

Nov. 25 Service of Wholeness

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How to Draw a Lion: Art Auction and Party

Friday, November 16, 6-9 p.m.

The Adelphi Hotel – 365 Broadway- Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Please join us for an art auction and party featuring paintings created by orphans in Kenya

through the art education program How to Draw a Lion. How to Draw a Lion is an arts

education program created by John Platt, a NYC based artist, to bring hope to orphaned or at-

risk children in sub-Saharan Africa. Each year John Platt travels to the region and spends months

teaching art for schools in Tanzania, Kenya and Malawi.

For more information: https://www.drawalion.com.

There will be a silent auction, music, cash bar and appetizers. All are welcome, including your

friends and family!

100% of the proceeds will benefit the orphans and students at Rapha Community Center in

Nyahururu, Kenya. Rapha is a children’s home and secondary school developed by

HEAL Raising Our World Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization

based in Saratoga Springs.

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Grace Church in the Wider Community

Volunteers Needed! Vermont Farmers Food Center – Farmacy Program

Pre-Thanksgiving Packing – Wednesday, November 21

The Vermont Farmers Food Center (VFFC) will be putting together an additional

packing for Farmacy program participants prior to Thanksgiving. Come to the Vermont Farmer’s

Food Center on Wednesday, November 21 from 10 a.m.—12 noon and/or at 3 p.m. to help with

pick up and distribution. See Tracy if you are interested or have questions! There will be dinner that

night for program participants and volunteers so we hope you are able to participate!

November is Fuel Fund Month!

Anyone who receives offering envelopes will notice a special envelope

included in their box for the Fuel Fund. This special offering goes to assist

those who come to Grace Church looking for help with fuel and heat.

Those who do not receive envelopes can donate to this special fund by making checks out to Grace

Church and noting FUEL FUND on the memo line. Thanks in advance for your contributions to

those in need!

Sunday, Nov. 18 — Thanksgiving Food Collection

You are invited to join in a celebration of Thanksgiving at both the 8:30 and the

10 a.m. worship services by bringing a contribution of non-perishable food

items. Please remove the contributions from the bags and place them at the

Communion Table as you enter the Chapel or the Sanctuary.

All Church School students are invited to bring a Thanksgiving Offering of peanut butter and jelly.

Thanksgiving Community Potluck Dinner & Sing

Sunday, November 18 at 5:30 p.m.

Rutland Jewish Center

Join together with others in our community for a vegetarian potluck dinner

and a community sing. Join us as we give thanks together!

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ON-GOING WEEKLY

EVENTS

SUNDAY

8:30 Chapel Service

9:00 Choir Rehearsal

10:00 Sanctuary Service

11:15 A Time of Fellowship

11:45 Joyful Noise Choir Rehearsal

MONDAY

8:00 AA

5:30 AA

6:45 Tintinnabula

7:00 Boy Scouts

TUESDAY

9:00 Yoga

12:00 Staff Meeting

5:00 AA Women’s Group

6:00 Bereavement Support

6:30 Wit’s End

7:00 AA

7:00 GA

WEDNESDAY

7:00 Prayer Group

8:00 AA

11:30 Men’s Luncheon

12:00 AA

4:00 Children’s Choir

7:00 Sanctuary Choir

THURSDAY

12:00 AA

FRIDAY

8:00 AA

AA- Alcoholics Anonymous

GA - Gamblers Anonymous

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

11.1

6:00 Diaconate

11.2

11.3

9:00 Property Committee

Clean-up Day

11.4 All Saints’ Sunday

Communion Sunday

Food Shelf Sunday

50-Year Member Recognition

2:00 Messiah rehearsals begin

5:00 Youth Group

7:00 All Saints Service

11.5

9:30 Women’s Small Group

4:30 Mission and Service

5:30 Music Committee

11.6

11.7

8:30 Property Committee

9:00 Healing Ministry Office

Open

9:30 Bible Study

4:00 Children’s Choir

5:30 Midweek Dinner

6:00 TTBB Choir

7:00 Sanctuary Choir

11.8

5:30 Listening for God potluck

and book discussion

6:00 New Member Class

11.9

11.10

5:30 Harvest Dinner

11.11 Soup Sale Sunday

Equal Exchange Sales

11:25 Healing Prayer Service

2:00 Messiah rehearsal

7:00 Youth Group Lock-In

11.12

Church Office closed

in honor of Veteran’s Day

11.13

11.14

9:00 Healing Ministry Office

Open

9:30 Prayer Shawl Ministry

9:30 Bible Study

10:00 Health Care Share Pack

4:00 Children’s Choir

5:30 Midweek Dinner

6:00 SSAA Choir

7:00 Sanctuary Choir

11.15

2:00 The Fortnightly

11.16

6:00 Preschool Art Show and

Pizza Fundraiser

11.17

11.18 Thanksgiving Sunday

Jazz and Stewardship Sunday

Thanksgiving Food Sunday

Womens’ Ministries Bake Sale

11:30 Third Sunday lunch

2:00 Messiah rehearsal

5:00 Youth Group

5:30 Thanksgiving Community

Potluck and Sing

11.19

9:30 Women’s Small Group

11.20

9:00 Women’s Sewing Group

6:00 TTBB Choir

7:00 Sanctuary Choir

11.21

9:00 Healing Ministry Office

Open

No Bible Study

11.22

Church Office closed

11.23

Church Office closed

11.24

11.25

2:00 Messiah rehearsal

5:30 Welcome Table Dinner

11.26

11.27

11:45 Let’s Do Lunch

5:15 Finance Committee

11.28

9:00 Healing Ministry Office

Open

9:30 Bible Study

4:00 Children’s Choir

5:30 Advent Workshop/Potluck

6::00 SSAA Choir

7:00 Sanctuary Choir

11.29

6:00 Church Council

11.30

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SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

11.1

6:00 Diaconate

11.2

11.3

9:00 Property Committee

Clean-up Day

11.4 All Saints’ Sunday

Communion Sunday

Food Shelf Sunday

50-Year Member Recognition

2:00 Messiah rehearsals begin

5:00 Youth Group

7:00 All Saints Service

11.5

9:30 Women’s Small Group

4:30 Mission and Service

5:30 Music Committee

11.6

11.7

8:30 Property Committee

9:00 Healing Ministry Office

Open

9:30 Bible Study

4:00 Children’s Choir

5:30 Midweek Dinner

6:00 TTBB Choir

7:00 Sanctuary Choir

11.8

5:30 Listening for God potluck

and book discussion

6:00 New Member Class

11.9

11.10

5:30 Harvest Dinner

11.11 Soup Sale Sunday

Equal Exchange Sales

11:25 Healing Prayer Service

2:00 Messiah rehearsal

7:00 Youth Group Lock-In

11.12

Church Office closed

in honor of Veteran’s Day

11.13

11.14

9:00 Healing Ministry Office

Open

9:30 Prayer Shawl Ministry

9:30 Bible Study

10:00 Health Care Share Pack

4:00 Children’s Choir

5:30 Midweek Dinner

6:00 SSAA Choir

7:00 Sanctuary Choir

11.15

2:00 The Fortnightly

11.16

6:00 Preschool Art Show and

Pizza Fundraiser

11.17

11.18 Thanksgiving Sunday

Jazz and Stewardship Sunday

Thanksgiving Food Sunday

Womens’ Ministries Bake Sale

11:30 Third Sunday lunch

2:00 Messiah rehearsal

5:00 Youth Group

5:30 Thanksgiving Community

Potluck and Sing

11.19

9:30 Women’s Small Group

11.20

9:00 Women’s Sewing Group

6:00 TTBB Choir

7:00 Sanctuary Choir

11.21

9:00 Healing Ministry Office

Open

No Bible Study

11.22

Church Office closed

11.23

Church Office closed

11.24

11.25

2:00 Messiah rehearsal

5:30 Welcome Table Dinner

11.26

11.27

11:45 Let’s Do Lunch

5:15 Finance Committee

11.28

9:00 Healing Ministry Office

Open

9:30 Bible Study

4:00 Children’s Choir

5:30 Advent Workshop/Potluck

6::00 SSAA Choir

7:00 Sanctuary Choir

11.29

6:00 Church Council

11.30

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Midweek Dinners continue!

Join us on Wednesdays for dinner at 5:30 p.m. with a table activity to end

the evening by 6:15 p.m. A suggested donation of $3/person is appreciated

to cover the cost of the meal. Additional volunteers are welcomed to help

with desserts and meal preparation. Please contact Kelly Thompson

(438.2230/kelser52379@yahoo.com) or Tracy (775.4301/

tracy@gracechurchvt.org) if you have any questions.

November 7 – Breakfast for Dinner November 21 – NO MIDWEEK … Thanksgiving week

November 14 – Pizza November 28 – POTLUCK and Advent Workshop

Fourth Sunday Welcome Table Dinner

Sunday, November 25, 5:30 p.m.

The Welcome Table Dinner is a free meal offered the 4th Sunday of each

month here at Grace Church thanks to the help of many volunteers.

Volunteers are needed each month to:

To volunteer, contact Sarah Pulcer (775.8861/sehenry2001@yahoo.com).

help to prepare food

be a table host

donate food & desserts

help serve

help with clean-up

coordinate the meal

Third Sunday Lunch—Sunday, November 18

Help is needed with the Third Sunday Lunch on November 18. This

lunch is a great way to learn more about those people in church who

sit a few pews behind you or on the other side of the aisle. The menu

always includes vegetarian options so come and enjoy good food and

conversation.

Soup makers are needed for this community event. Please contact Holly English-Payne

(henglishpayne@comcast.net) if you can help.

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Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

“In the 1920’s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the

Osage Nation in Oklahoma after oil was discovered beneath their land.”

This narration chronicles what really happened in the early years of the 20th

century in Oklahoma and with the founding of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

with J. Edgar Hoover as its head. The Osage Indian tribe really owned the land

upon which oil was discovered, and the owners of the land received a substantial

payout from that ownership. And herein lies the tale of the Osage Indian tribe.

Molly Burkhart senses something sinister when her sister mysteriously disappears and other family

members fall victim to death under strange circumstances. Even many of those who investigated the

crimes/circumstances were themselves victims of violence.

David Grann has thoroughly researched the archives, and this book reads like a who-done-it about

the appalling treatment of the native American Indian tribe and the growth of the FBI. The reader

wonders whether this is a fictional mystery, or is it authentic? It is a gripping mystery, a masterful

work of literary journalism crafted with the attitude of a mystery. Well-written and well researched,

this New York Times Notable Book is a POWERFUL book!

Book Reviews by Florence Boutwell

“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” - Margaret Franklin

Don’t Forget Per Capita Dues …

$15/member/year are due NOW!

The end of the year is fast approaching. Please bring

your pledge current, if possible. Questions? Call Beth

Wolven at 775.4301. Monday to Thursday, 1—5 p.m.

FLOWER AND CHURCH SPIRE MEMORIALS

Each Sunday, our Sanctuary and Chapel are graced with flowers given in memory or in honor of a

loved one. Throughout the week, our stunning church spire is lit. If you would like to give flowers or

have the Church Spire lit in celebration or in memory of a loved one, please contact David Hazen for

flowers (483.2337/ peren@aol.com) or the Church Office for the spire (775.4301).

Women’s Small Group Mondays, November 5 and 19 9:30 -11 a.m.

This group meets in the Church Parlor for fellowship and discussion of the many

ways our faith intersects with our lives, particularly how our faith impacts the

spiritual lives of our families. We will continue our discussion of Rachel Held Evans book, Inspired.

Others are welcome to join us! For more information, contact Tracy Weatherhogg (775.4301).

Women’s Ministries Activities

Soup Sales begin on Sunday, November 11 after church with a suggested donation

of $5/container. Soup makers are always welcome to help supply the sale.

On Sunday, November 18 we'll have a Holiday Harvest Bake Sale. Sign-up sheets for bakers will be

available in Fellowship Hall the two Sundays prior to the sale.

Our ministry continues into December. Sign-up sheets for our Christmas Luncheon, to be held at

"The Doll House" on Wednesday December 12 at 11:30 a.m., will be available in Fellowship Hall

on December 2 and 9, which is also a Soup Sale day. On December 23 we will have TRAYS of

Christmas Cookies for sale. Bakers will be needed for that sale, too. Sign-up sheets will be available.

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Material Aids Sewing

Group

The Women’s Sewing Group

still needs help sewing Church

World Service book bags. We

are always looking for new members! We meet

monthly from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the 3rd

Tuesday through April. Our next meeting is

Tuesday, November 20. Please call Ardena

Ackerman (773.6435) or Helen Willis

(773.2115) if you have questions or would like

to learn more.

Seeking Knitters!

We would love to have you

join us to knit and crochet

Prayer Shawls. A Prayer

Shawl is a gift to someone,

to “wrap” them in prayers and bring them

comfort, love and strength. Please consider

joining us on Wednesday, November 14 at 9:30

a.m. for an hour or so. We have yarn, needles

and patterns or bring your own. Want to learn

… come, and we will teach you! Please contact

Marty Barclay at 775.1076 to learn more.

Women at Grace Church

The Fortnightly …. Meeting for 139 Years!

The Fortnightly’s November 15 meeting will feature Dr. Alis Headlam speaking on

Project Vision in Rutland: Past, Present, Future. Dr. Headlam was a professional educator

for almost 50 years. For her doctorate degree in literacy and multicultural education,

she conducted research in Jamaica, where she interviewed authors, artists, children and

teachers about the cultural relevance of a book project that brought books to all

students in grade 4- 6 for the first time in Jamaican history. Two years ago, she completed a project

with children from the Boys and Girls Club and Stafford students to recognize and value the

diversity in Rutland. They interviewed and photographed 19 individuals. The result was a hard cover

picture book called We Are One Rutland. Currently she is working on a project to honor the work

being done by Rutland City’s Project Vision. She will be

talking about the events that preceded Project Vision

as well as the progress and future of the group.

November 15, 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Tea and sweets served after the program in the Parlor.

All are welcome. To learn more or for help with transportation, contact Bonnie Kelly, 775.2249.

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Let’s Do Lunch!

Tuesday, November 27

11:45 a.m. at Roots

Plan now to join us at 11:45 a.m. at Roots in Rutland for an informal

gathering and time of fellowship. Call the Church Office by Monday,

November 26 if you are able to be with us.

All women and friends of Grace Church are welcome to join us!

Women at Grace Church

Don’t forget!

Food Shelf Sunday—November 4th!

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Personnel Committee Updates

NOVEMBER is time again for year-end Grace employee reviews, so keep an eye out for

those green feedback sheets in the bulletins.

The Personnel Committee is soliciting YOUR comments about our staff. We’d like to hear

any feedback (good, bad, great or ugly) you are able to share about any of our employees and

ministers: John, Tracy, Alastair, Diane, Kit, Beth and Ken. Feel free to jot down comments on the

green feedback forms found in the Sunday bulletins and place them into the collection plate or the

Personnel mailbox downstairs. Or just email in your ideas to Laura Zmurko (committee chair) to

ljcz4vt@yahoo.com. The window for submitting feedback is Sunday, 11/2—Sunday 11/25.

Thank you, thank you to everyone who participates in the review process! We received a

generous amount of feedback in the last two years regarding our staff members, and it helped to

provide a more well-rounded assessment.

Bridgette Remington, John Casella, Laura Zmurko, Carolyn Hazen & Esther Swett

From the Personnel Committee ...

Welcome to the World!

Grayson Allen Webb was born on September 27 to Kylie May Allen and

Travis Webb of Bloomsburg, PA. Grandparents are Brian and Cathy Parker

Allen of Felton, Delaware. His older brother, Jayce (age 2), and his great -

grandparents, Bette and Bob Parker and Pat Raiche (of North Carolina), are

thrilled! 8 lb, 3 oz, 20 ¼”.

David and Debra Baasch are thrilled to share

that on October 19th, Killian David Baasch

was born (weighing in at 9 lbs. 3 oz.) to their son Douglas and his wife

Kimberly Baasch. Happily, both parents and baby are doing well and

adjusting to the new normal of around-the-clock feedings. Douglas is

in his 5th year of a 6-year surgical residency program at the University

of Florida Health in Jacksonville, FL. This is the first grandchild for the

Baasch family.

Page 15 - The Star

Advent Workshop and Potluck Wed, Nov. 28: 5-6:30 PM (Activities at 5 PM, Dinner at 5:30 PM)

WHO? All are welcome! All ages! Individuals and families … young and

old and in-between!

WHAT? An opportunity to gather for a potluck dinner, wreath making

and other activities to get us ready for the Advent season!

Contact Kelly Thompson (438.2230/kelser52379@yahoo.com) to learn more.

Youth News for November

Sunday, Nov. 4 – A normal Sunday: Join us for activities, discussion, food, & fun

Sunday, Nov. 11 to Monday, Nov. 12 – A Lock-in! Join us for a night of fun as

we are Locked-in for the night! We will gather at 7 p.m. on Sunday and pick-up

will be at 10 a.m. Monday.

Sunday, Nov. 18 – Community Potluck Dinner & Sing Event at the Rutland Jewish Center, 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 25 – Welcome Table Dinner servers needed

Grace Preschool to Sell Wreaths!

Grace Preschool is taking orders for Christmas wreaths from November 1-29, with wreaths to be

delivered the first week in December. Orders can be placed in Fellowship Hall after worship services.

22" wreath without bow - $23 22” wreath with bow - $26

28” wreath without bow - $29 28” wreath with bow - $33

For further information, contact Liz (775.4301/gracepreschoolvermont@gmail.com).

Grace Church Youth and Family Ministry

Grace Preschool Art Show & Pizza Party Fundraiser Friday, November 16, 6-7:30 PM in Fellowship Hall

Come enjoy pizza and an opportunity to see the artwork of the Grace Preschool

students! Tickets are $4 per person and include pizza and beverages donated by local pizza shops

and Thomas Dairy. In addition, each class will be raffling off a unique piece of art that they have

created together. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the event for $1 per ticket/7 for $5.

Contact Liz Yaddow (775.4301/ gracepreschoolvermont@gmail.com) for information or tickets.

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Grace Church Memorials

The Sanctuary and

Chapel Flower Memorials

November 4 to the Glory of God and in loving memory of

Robert A. Bloomer by his family.

November 11 and 18 to the Glory of God and in loving

memory of H. Martin Brown and Stephen W. White by

their family.

November 25 to the Glory of God and in loving memory of

Rodney E. Hubbard, Russell Hart, and Gladys and

Harry Hart.

(If you would like to have a flower memorial, please contact

David Hazen: 483.2337/peren@aol.com).

The Church Spire will be illuminated

November 4 to the Glory of God and in loving memory of

Peter Day Hanson by his family.

November 11 to the Glory of God and in loving memory of

John Pap by his daughter, Julie Charnock.

November 18 to the Glory of God and in loving memory of

all of our loved ones on this Thanksgiving Sunday.

November 25 to the Glory of God.

****If you would like to have the Church Spire lit in

celebration or in the memory of a loved one please contact the

Church Office (775.4301). The cost for this is $20.

The Church Office will be CLOSED Monday,

November 12 in honor of Veteran’s Day and also

closed November 22-23 for Thanksgiving.

Regular Church Office Hours

Monday – Thursday

8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Friday: 7:30—9:15 a.m.