God wants your heart. Therefore, he demands your money. Jesus gives us these simple instructions concerning money and possessions: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19-20)

He commands us not to store up money here on earth, but instead to invest that money into heaven—into the Kingdom of God. Why is it so important to put your money into the Kingdom? Jesus explains: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). It is impossible to overlook the importance of that verse. Wherever your treasure is, that determines where your heart will be. Your money leads; your heart follows. Knowing this, Jesus commands us to put our money into eternal things. Why? So that our heart will be into eternal things as well.

For example, say you invest money into a company's stock. Previously, you didn't really care about that company, and you didn't bother to read news articles about them. Now, however, you're scouring the newspaper for any articles that even remotely relate to that company, you check their stock price daily, and you religiously read their earnings reports. What caused such a change? Your money was invested into that company and with it your heart becomes invested also.

This principle—where your money goes, your heart follows—is illustrated very well in Mark 10:17-22, which we just recently read on a Sunday morning. It records the story of a rich young man who came to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. He had done everything right and followed the commandments, but, according to Jesus, there was "one thing" he lacked: "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

The man had great wealth, but really his wealth had him—it owned and controlled him. Jesus wanted the man's heart, and so Jesus demanded his money. Jesus knew that the man could never follow Him if his heart was more attached to his possessions than to God.

The man's face fell, and he went away sad because his heart was too attached to his possessions. His money was invested in his own possessions, and therefore his heart was invested in his own possessions. However, Jesus wanted to break that bondage, so he commanded the man to give away all of his possessions to others. By giving his money to help the poor and the needy, Jesus knew that the man's heart would be set free and transformed for serving others, and in so doing he would come identify with and follow Christ.

Do you want your heart to be full of love for others? Give to them, and bless them with your money and your heart will follow. If you want a heart for God, invest your money in building the Kingdom of God. Then your heart will follow. If you want a heart for the poor and the needy of the world, use your money to fight poverty and hunger, locally and globally. Then your heart will follow. If you want a heart for global missions, support missionaries in Africa, Asia, and the rest of the world and your heart will follow. Wherever your treasure is, that's where your heart will be also.

Blessings in Him,

Jim+

TREASURER’S REPORT

AUGUST 2009

Income for the month of September was $8,806.47; expenses totaled $9,232.67 resulting in a deficit for the month of $426.20. Our year-to-date income is $101,640.24 (budget - $100,006.00) and expenses are $103,237.15 (budget - $99,585.00), resulting in a year to date deficit of $1,596.91.

Please continue to pray for Grace Church that it will grow spiritually, financially and numerically. If anyone has any questions regarding this report or any financial matter, please feel free to contact me.

Judy Ball

Treasurer

Remember to Fall Back

Set you clock back one hour before going to bed on Oct 31 since daylight savings time ends early in the morning of Nov 1.

Operation Christmas Child

2009

It’s time again to get your shoe boxes ready since our shoe box collection date is Sunday Nov. 8, the day after our Annual Bazaar. Materials are here for OCC 2009

with information about what and how to pack a box. They are available at all 3 church buildings as well as at the Post Office. Let us once again partner with Samaritan’s Purse in “reaching the world for Jesus Christ¼”

Ingathering Sunday

While you haven’t heard much about, stewardship, money and giving this fall, it will soon be time for our Ingathering Sunday for 2010 pledges, which will be on Sunday November 22. A pledge card is enclosed in Grace Notes for your use that day. If you will be unable to be with us in worship that day, it would be helpful if you would send your pledge in before then so we can include it in the offering to God that day in worship. Instructions for mailing can be found on the card.

Thanksgiving Service

Our annual Thanksgiving Service will be held at 7:30 pm on Wednesday November 25 at the church.

Summary of Jim’s ministry in September of 2009:

In September I made 5 home visits, 6 hospital visits met with 5 people in my office and had 5 “other” visits by phone or some other place. I served as preacher and celebrant at St. Andrew’s, Ada one Sunday afternoon and attended the Region 13 Clericus as well as another meeting of Episcopal clergy. The community picnic was something I spearheaded while working with others in our Casanova community. As a VA Defense Force chaplain, I attended drill one Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT ON OUR

ORGANIST

MICHAEL CALHOUN

As of the beginning of this month Michael Calhoun will have served Grace Church as its organist for 20 years. So it seemed appropriate to write a spotlight article on him.

Michael was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia. He grew up in West Union and began his musical training at the age of 9 on the trumpet. Michael gained his love of music through his passion for history and the example of a favorite history teacher, Mrs. Wilma Tucker. He began studying the piano at the age of 18, in his second year at Glenville State College. He had only one organ course (while working on his master's degree in music and language arts at W.Va. Wesleyan College), but had been serving as a church organist and pianist since becoming a band director in 1974.

As we all have found out, Michael is very knowledgeable about the Bible and seems to be able to answer all sorts of questions about religion, history, or literary figures. He gained all this knowledge largely by devouring books, and has retained a love of philosophy and Byzantology.

Michael served as a band director and community college instructor in W. Va., and then worked for a year as a manager for a cable television company. For six years he worked for a marble factory while teaching piano privately and giving recitals. In 1988 he moved to Virginia, working for a year with a construction parts supplier in Chantilly. Then, after 17 years with a small educational materials company in Falls Church, he gained the position he currently holds with Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads, where he often plays the piano for residents and, we are sure, is a great favorite with people who live there. He was named the 2008 Employee of the Year. He teaches piano in the evenings and on weekends, and has been a piano teacher for about 35 years.

We are so fortunate to have Michael as our Church organist. Not only are our services enriched by his music, but he makes us all feel welcome when he is there each Sunday before the service to give us a cheerful greeting or a hug. Thank you to Michael for being such an important part of our worship at Grace Church.

RECITAL

Michael Calhoun (for twenty years our organist) will present a piano program at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, in the Auditorium of Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads. The program will consist of an "Introduction and Allegro" from a Handel Suite; The "Jig" Fugue of Bach; Rubinstein's "Reve Angelique" from Kammenoi-Ostrov; the "Aeolian Harp" Etude of Chopin; Strauss's "Emperor" Waltz; the 1915 hit, "Nola;" and an improvisation on "I Believe in Miracles." There is no admission charge and everyone is welcome; for directions or other information please contact Michael.

LABYRINTH GARDEN

In order to improve the appearance of the Labyrinth area, a landscape plan was proposed – planting Crepe Myrtles and Deodar Pines, replacing the existing chair in the Labyrinth with a stone bench, placing other stone benches around the outside of the Labyrinth, and putting in a walkway from the gravel drive to the entrance of the Labyrinth. In order to pay for this plan it was decided to ask for contributions from Grace Church members.

On Sunday, October 11, I presented our plan to the congregation (with the help of a beautiful painting by Greg Huddleston which depicted our plan) and we received contributions in memory or in honor of loved ones in the amount of $1,275.00. At that time we had received a quote of $865.51 from Lee Highway Nursery for the purchase and planting of 8 Biloxi Crepe Myrtles. The Nursery later was able to acquire the 3 Deodar Cedars we wanted and revised their quote for the entire planting (8 Crepe Myrtles and 3 Deodar Cedars) to $1,101.76. The garden will be planted under the watchful eye of Greg Huddleston on Thursday, October 15.

We have also received promises of additional contributions in the near future, so we will have funds to start purchasing the stones for the benches. Next Spring (or earlier if funds permit) we will proceed with the plans for the walkway to the Labyrinth.

If you would like to make a contribution, please make your check to Grace Church and note on the check that it is for the Labyrinth Garden. If you would like to honor or remember someone by your gift, their name should also be noted on your check. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.

I truly appreciate all the enthusiasm and generous contributions received for this project. I believe our Labyrinth will be a very inviting and peaceful area for all to enjoy.

Judy Ball

DON’T FORGET THE FALL BAZAAR IN THE PARISH HALL ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7^TH FROM 9AM TO 2PM

CHURCH USE FEES

As Grace Church struggles to make financial ends meet, the Vestry thought it would be helpful to all to post our donation chart for use of church facilities. Note: The Vestry has also decided to make the church available for non‑member weddings for a donation of $500.00."

Thanks, Mary

Current Suggested Donation for Use of Grace Church Facilities (Vestry approved 9/14/09)

Suggested Donation

Additional Required Deposit

Member

Non-Member

Event

Meeting

Event

Meeting

Mem

Non-Mem

Church	-	-	500	-	-	300
Parish Hall	150	25	300	50	50	300
Family Center	150	25	300	50	50	300

Grace Church November 2009

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Worship 9:00

United Thank Offering

*Jean Goad

#Adrian & Jean Hensley

11:00 AM Senior Center

*Paul Dawson

Christmas Bazaar

9 am - 2 pm

*Bryan Jacobs

Worship 9:00

7:00 Vestry Meeting

11:00 AM Senior Center

Ruritan Dinner

7:00 PM

*Sue Payne

Worship 9:00

Dec. Grace Notes deadline

*Matthew Cirillo

*Peter Cirillo

11:00 AM Senior Center

*Fr. Jim Cirillo

*Jason Woodward

Worship 9:00

Pledge Ingathering

#Ralph & Doris Pearson

11:00 AM

Senior Center

Thanksgiving Service 7:30 pm

Worship 9:00

Healing Service 5:00 pm

* = Birthday #Anniversary

Grace Church Serving Schedule -- November 2009

Date

Svc

Day

Lessons

Lector

Acolyte

Altar

Coffee Hosts

Nov 1

9:00

All

Saints

Psalm 24

Isaiah 25:6-9

Revelation 21:1-6a

John 11:32-44

Betsy

Anderson

Jack Perry

Carol

Goshorn

Judy Ball & Barbara

Whitbred

Nov 8

9:00

Pent 23

Psalm 127

Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17

Hebrews 9:24-28

Mark 12: 38-44

B. Gould-thorpe

Madell Day

Barbara

Jacobs

Judy Shipe & Sharon Woodward

Nov 15

9:00

Pent 24

1 Samuel 2:1-10

1 Samuel 1:4-20

Hebrews 10:11-25

Mark 13:1-8

Linda Swann

Jack Perry

Charlotte

Perry

Mary Neal

Nov 22

9:00

Pent Last

Psalm 132:1-10

2 Samuel 23:1-7

Revelation 1:4b-8

JOHN 18:33-37

Rick

Anderson

Madell Day

Mignonne

Spellmeyr

Karen & Jimmy Walton

Nov 25

7:30p

Thnks-giving

Eve

Psalm 126

Joel 2:21-27

1 Timothy 2:1-7

Matthew 6:25-33

Dee

Garrett

Jack Perry

Mignonne

Spellmeyr

NONE

Nov 29

9:00

Heal

5 pm

Advnt 1

Psalm 25:1-9

Jeremiah 33:14-16

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Luke 21:25-36

Judy Ball

Madell Day

Betsy

Anderson

Mignonne Spellmeyer

& Dee Garrett

Dec 6

9:00

Advnt 2

Canticle 16

Malachi 3:1-4

Philippians 1:3-11

Luke 3:1-6

Betsy

Anderson

Jack Perry

Carol

Goshorn

Charlotte & Jack Perry

Non Profit Organization

U. S. POSTAGE

PAID

Casanova, VA 20139

Permit No. 1

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

The Rev. James Cirillo, Rector

P.O. Box 18

Casanova, VA 20139

(540) 788-4419

Website: gracechurchcasanova.org

Services every Sunday at Grace Church on Route 602 in Casanova at 9:00 AM, followed by a coffee fellowship and Sunday School for all ages in the Family Center near the church.