Dear Ones at Grace,

Before I knew that it was a part of the Scriptures I knew it as a song. And any time I read or hear it, or for that matter even think about it, I hear the Byrds singing it. “To everything, turn, turn, turn; there is a season, turn, turn, turn; and a time to every purpose under heaven .” Eccl. 3:1 How true it is and how close together those seasons can be. I am thinking especially of verse 4 at this point in time which says: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.

As I write this, we as a congregation and I as your priest have just experienced 8 days in August which focus this verse on our corporate life. On a Saturday evening we held a farewell party for Jim and Kate Chipps who are moving (have moved by the time you read this) away from Casanova to a military retirement facility near Fort Belvoir. Lots of mixed emotions there as we know that it is a wise move given all that has been going on in the last few years but a difficult one nonetheless. Then the next day, Sunday we gathered at our 9 a.m. service for the baptism of Isabel Rose Vasbinder, daughter of Amie (Swann) and Jonathan Vasbinder. What a celebration it was as she was baptized on Jonathan and Amie’s first wedding anniversary. In less than 24 hours we had a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.

Two days later, news of the death of Becky McLeod rippled through our community and beyond and we prepared for her funeral and burial. Two days after that, around 200 people came to Grace to say farewell to Becky and to support her family. Then to finish off this eight day period, on Saturday afternoon, I officiated at the wedding of her son Parker Brumfield to Maya Brin. In spite of all that had happened earlier in the week it was a joyous day with incredibly beautiful weather for an outdoor wedding at the Inn at Kelly’s Ford. Yet again we had a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.

All of this is to say, as the current Master Card commercial says, “life comes at you fast.” However, I am not going to suggest that you use Master Card to take care of your problems. Instead, I am going to suggest that you not take life for granted. We always think that there will be a tomorrow but for some there isn’t. I am not suggesting that you stop planning for the future. Doing so would be imprudent! But don’t miss the present while waiting for the future to arrive. And take a few moments to read Ecclesiastes chapter 3:1-8 and ponder what things in there may be guidance for what you may wish to do with your day today. So don’t wait another day to tell your spouse, child, parent, sibling or friend that you love them. And don’t wait another day to get yourself right with God either. That is every bit as important as any of the other.

So take time, make time to laugh, weep, mourn, dance, love, embrace and forgive depending on whatever is happening in your life. You will be blessed and so will others.

In Him, Jim+

Sunday School

Don’t forget that Sunday School starts on September 9^th at 10:15 (right after the Sunday service).

Thanks

Dear friends,

Thank you for all the many kindnesses that you have show to us over the years. Your love has been evident ‑ from welcoming Jim as your seminarian and then as rector through his retirement and since then. Your graciousness and kindness have been unending and we have felt blessed all along.

We thank you for the surprise 25th anniversary party (and quilt), for Jim’s retirement party and for the “going away” dinner just a few days ago.

Although we are moving to Fairfax County, we hope to see you from time to time – especially if you continue the roast beef dinners, etc!

There are special thanks to the Rev. Jim Cirillo and Dale for their generosity in allowing Jim to feel comfortable in continuing to attend Grace Church and for being thoughtful in so many ways.

Grace Church will be in our hearts and minds forever.

With grateful hearts,

Jim and Kate

Invitation to a Fall Bible Study

When?

Wednesday, October 10 at 6:30

(light dinner, followed by bible study from 7-8

Where?

Grace Episcopal Parish Hall

What?

1 John

Why?

To learn what it means to walk in “truth and love”

How?

Through communal discovery of this letter

For?

For about six weeks (we should be done by Thanksgiving!)

Questions?

Contact Virginia Palmer-Fuechsel at (540) 428-2375

or fuechsel@msn.com

This summer several of us spent a few Wednesday evenings in the Parish Hall exploring “Reading Letters,” using the communal discovery bible study method. We focused on the shortest epistles of the New Testament—Philemon, then Jude, followed by 2nd and 3^rd John. Several participants, and a few who weren’t able to join us in the summer, have asked if we could try something like that in the fall. Much of what we discussed during our study these brief letters led me back to one of my favorite epistles, 1 John, in which core themes of our faith are developed in heartfelt depth.

But just what is a communal discovery bible study? It is a group of people meet together to dig through a Bible passage together through asking and answering good questions. The leader functions as a prepared facilitator, not teacher, as we seek Jesus together in the Word. The format is called a “Manuscript,” in that we study the Bible text, printed out with lots of space, but with no verse numbers, chapter divisions, headings, notes or cross references. Just the text. Oh, and with colored pencils. Aside from the fun, they’re handy for underlining repeated phrases, themes, transitions or scribbling notes and questions.

I hope that you will join us as we explore and learn from John’s letter together.

In Grace,

Virginia

Abide in My Love

An Autumn Retreat on

Anglican Prayer Beads

Saturday, October 6^th, 9:00 AM to 2:00PM

Join us for a quiet day of reflection and contemplation. In John 15:9, Jesus calls us to abide in God’s love. Taking time apart from our daily routine renews the soul, allowing us to return to our lives refreshed.

We will learn about the meaning of Anglican prayer beads, each make our own set of beads, and how to use the beads. The use of prayer beads helps bring us into contemplative prayer – really thinking and being mindful of praying, of being in the presence of God – by use of the mind, body and spirit. The touching of the fingers on each bead is an aid in keeping our mind from wandering, and the rhythm of the prayers leads us more readily into stillness.

Connie Chintall will lead the retreat. The cost of the retreat is $25, which includes all materials to make one set of prayer beads and lunch.

F.I.S.H.

Just a Reminder For The Fish Basket: as the cool weather starts and the children get ready for another school year, please remember to include nonperishable snacks for lunches and afterschool snacks. Also, we ask you to add in school supplies like crayons, pencils, notebooks and gluesticks. We need to nourish them in mind and body.

Carol Grove

Grace Church September 2007

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Worship 9:00

*Shelly Shipe

Office closed

Labor Day

11:00 AM Senior Center

*Amy Payne

Worship 9:00 AM

10:15 Sunday School begins today

7:00 Vestry Meeting

#Jimmy & Karen Walton

11:00 AM Senior Center

Grace Notes deadline

Worship 9:00

ECW Meeting

*Linda Swann

*Gregg Leonard Jr.

*Connie Chintall

11:00 AM Senior Center

*Michael Calhoun

*Jimmy Walton

Worship 9:00

11:00 AM Senior Center

*Andy Butler

*Ray Graham

*Martha Toomey

Worship 9:00

Bishop Jones Visits

Reception afterwards

Healing Service 5:00 PM

* = Birthday #Anniversary

Grace Church Serving Schedule -- September 2007

Date

Svc

Day

Lessons

Lector

Acolyte

Altar

Coffee Hosts

Sep 2

9:00

Pent 14

Psalm 112

Ecclesiasticus 10:7-18

Hebrews 13:1-8

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Linda Swann

Madell Day

Mignonne Spell-meyer

Doris & Ralph Pearson

Sep 9

9 AM

5 PM

Pent 15

Psalm 1

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Philemon 1-20

Luke 14:25-33

Connie

Chintall

Tori Lindsey

Doris Pearson

Melba & Ancel Hendrix

Sep 16

9:00

Pent 16

Psalm 51:1-11

Exodus 32:1, 7-14

1 Timothy 1:12-17

Luke 15:1-10

Betsy

Anderson

Doris Pearson

Martha

Toomey

Mignonne Spellmeyer & Dee Garrett

Sep 23

9:00

Pent 17

Psalm 138

Amos 8:4-12

1 Timothy 2:1-8

Luke 16:1-13

Rick

Anderson

Jack Perry

Charlotte

Perry

Karen & Jimmy Walton

Sep 30

9:00

Heal

5 PM

Pent 18

Psalm 146:4-9

Amos 6:1-7

1 Timothy 6:11-19

Luke 16:19-31

B. Gould-thorpe

Madell Day

Melba Hendrix

ECW Reception

Oct 7

9:00

Pent 19

Psalm 37:3-10

Habakkuk 1:1-13, 2:1-4

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Luke 17:5-10

Mark

Lindsey

Tori Lindsey

Barbara Jacobs

Mary Neal & Sue Ballentine