This month’s article is, for the most part, a sermon I preached on September 13 at Grace Church. It was suggested that I use it as the basis for this month’s article for two reasons. First, everyone was not there to hear it, which is not a judgment against anyone who wasn’t there but simply an observation which is true for any Sunday of the year. Second, it bears repeating for those who were there since it is an important basis for our life together for many years to come. I think you will soon understand why as it is important for us all. I have deleted some things and added others to enhance the message for this written format.

Your Vestry voted last month to adopt a new mission statement for Grace Church, Casanova. It has a reference to Acts 1:8 at the end. The mission statement is this: “Grace Church – Reaching the world for Jesus Christ, beginning in Casanova – Acts 1:8”

Acts 1:8 says this, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” or as another translation says “to the uttermost parts of the earth.” Jesus says this to His disciples just before He ascends into heaven at the Ascension. This statement, along with the Great Commission in Matthew 28 which tells them, (and us) to go, make disciples of all nations, is the marching order of virtually every Christian church. Above all else, we are to be about the business of spreading the good news of the Kingdom of God. That is the mission of the church – the whole church and every church. But instead of using the time worn “To know Christ and make Him known” statement the Vestry came up with something that is simple yet far reaching. It is so simple that it may seem innocuous at first. But upon further reflection there is more to it than one may catch at first. Look at it again.

“Grace Church – Reaching the world for Jesus Christ, beginning in Casanova – Acts 1:8” Beginning in Casanova. It would be so easy for us to see our mission as Casanova. But it doesn’t say that. It begins in Casanova and goes beyond. Way beyond! It says that Grace Church has the mission of reaching the world, that is “the uttermost parts of the earth”. The whole thing! That’s pretty big. It’s a mission so big that we can never accomplish it alone. We will need to work with the church and mission societies around the world in order to accomplish it. And, we need to depend upon the power of the Spirit of God to accomplish it as well. We are told this in Acts 1:8.

But we aren’t just reaching the world for Grace Church or even the larger church. We are reaching the world for Jesus Christ. We are told this also in Acts 1:8. “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” We are His witnesses and cannot do this on our own. First and foremost, we need the power of God working in us and through us. We need to be open and willing to have God’s Spirit move in us and work through us, individually and corporately. And next, we need to make connections to and partner with others who will do this work as well. Unless, of course, you want to personally go to Africa and Asia and South America and Europe to carry out this mission.

We start in Jerusalem (Casanova) and move on to Judea (Fauquier), then to Samaria (Virginia). Then we move out to the uttermost parts of the earth, which is everything outside of Virginia.

The task at hand: to be His witnesses. Episcopalians are as afraid of the word witness as they are the words evangelism and tithing. I just used them all in one sentence so you all must be shaking in your shoes right now! But really, what does it mean to be a witness as say a witness in a courtroom? Basically a witness is asked to testify or give testimony to tell what they have seen and heard. It all sounds so Baptist but it’s really just Christian.

I was asked to testify back in May. I gave my testimony at a deposition for a car accident I had witnessed. The deposition ended up being 56 pages long as I responded to questions from 3 different lawyers. What made it difficult to do was the fact that the accident was 2½ years before the deposition. There were things that were fuzzy and things I really couldn’t remember at all in that time. But there were also things that were crystal clear and it was easy to make definitive statements about those things. The lawyer for the person who was injured kept focusing on the things that were clear trying to make the case for his client. The lawyers for the two separate parties that caused the accident kept focusing on the fuzzy stuff trying to find a way to get their clients off the hook.

Jesus isn’t asking us to focus on the fuzzy stuff. He wants us to focus on the clear stuff as we are witnesses for Him. What’s crystal clear to you about what God has done in your life? Has He transformed your life in some way? Have you experienced answered prayer or miraculous healing? Maybe not a “miraculous” healing but one that is out of the ordinary – like 7 weeks of no pain after a supposedly painful surgery and recovery. That’s MY story and I’m sticking with giving God the glory for it. That’s part of my current testimony about God in my life. What about you? What has God done in your life recently or distantly that you remember clearly? Share it with others. That’s YOUR story. You don’t have to go out there and be the next Billy Graham, unless God is calling you to be the next Billy Graham. God just wants you to be you and talk about Him and what he has done in your life so that others may know that God exists and cares about them in the same way He cares about you.

Living the words of Easter morning – Come and see – Go and tell! Come and see that the tomb is empty! Go and tell His disciples what you saw. “Grace Church – Reaching the world for Jesus Christ, beginning in Casanova – Acts 1:8” Ask God how YOU can reach the world for Him beginning but not ending here in Casanova. Who can you speak to, who can you meet with, who can you partner with to be a witness near or far? Get with them and begin reaching the world for Jesus!!!

This is our mission. Our first step is to understand it. Our second step is to truly claim it as our own and not just as something the Vestry did. Next, we need to embrace it. Finally, we need to act upon it individually and as a congregation to pattern what we do in our actions and our finances to live into this mission.

I ask you then to open your minds and hearts to understand and claim this mission to reach the world for Jesus Christ, beginning in Casanova. If it sounds too big to accomplish, that’s because it is – by ourselves. It is too big for us – but it is not too big for God! So we need to open our minds and hearts to Him first, the mission second and ourselves last. This doesn’t mean that we ignore our needs but rather that we focus our vision beyond them.

In doing so, I believe that God will open for us doors that we want opened but which we are not able to open on our own. Our concerns about numbers in attendance, children in attendance and finances will be doors that open when we focus beyond ourselves. There is a children’s song which sums this thought up succinctly: “Put Jesus first and Others second and then Yourself at the end of the line and you will find true joy in your life through J-O-Y.”

Blessings for JOY in your life,

Jim+

Vestry Highlights

Submitted by the

Senior Warden:

September Meeting

The Vestry is currently reviewing church policies, beginning with the cemetery policy. It was determined that no changes/corrections/additions can be discussed until the Vestry has an opportunity to assess the layout of the current cemetery plat, in conjunction with the policy. Review to be continued at the next meeting, once the plat is obtained.

The church website has been placed with a new web hosting service and a new webmaster, Louie Warren, Jr., will be maintaining the site.

The bazaar will take place on the first Saturday of November; planning will begin this month

Decisions:

Authorize management company for Redlands, ARMI, to extend the current lease rate of $1365 per month for another year.

Adopt new mission statement as follows: “Reaching the World for Jesus Christ, Beginning in Casanova. (based on Acts1:8)”.

Contact all church members with e‑mail addresses to determine whether or not they would prefer an electronic copy of the newsletter, instead of a paper copy

The Letter of Agreement between the rector and the church was distributed and will be reviewed at the next meeting. A mutual ministry review will also be conducted.

August Meeting

The Vestry is currently reviewing church policies, beginning with the cemetery policy. It was determined that no changes/corrections/ additions can be discussed until the Vestry has an opportunity to assess the layout of the current cemetery plat, in conjunction with the policy. Review to be continued at the next meeting, once the plat is obtained.

The church website has been placed with a new web hosting service and a new webmaster, Louie Warren, Jr., will be maintaining the site.

The bazaar will take place on the first Saturday of November; planning will begin this month.

Decisions:

Authorize management company for Redlands, ARMI, to extend the current lease rate of $1365 per month for another year.

Adopt new mission statement as follows: “Reaching the World for Jesus Christ, Beginning in Casanova.” (based on Acts1:8)

Contact all church members with e‑mail addresses to determine whether or not they would prefer an electronic copy of the newsletter, instead of a paper copy.

The Letter of Agreement between the rector and the church was distributed and will be reviewed at the next meeting. A mutual ministry review will also be conducted.

Renovating Your Temple

Excerpts from Fitness Magazine

WORKOUT TIPS:

Stand on one foot! Yep! Balance training has become a vital component of fitness programs and daily living. It helps prevent falls in the elderly and ankle and knee injuries in very active individuals. To improve your balance, begin by standing on one foot, lifting the opposite knee to hip level, while keeping the pelvis in neutral alignment. Use a wall or chair for support, if needed. Hold the position for five seconds and increase to 25 to 30 seconds as you notice improvement. Is this too easy? If so, try closing your eyes for additional challenge. Is this still too easy? Try performing the move on a thick carpet or foam mat.

FAST‑FOOD TIP:

There are some nutritious food options available at fast‑food locations around the country. Samples from 2 menu boards are shown below:

PANERA BREAD: Half Chicken Caesar on Three Cheese Bread with an Apple

QUIZNOS: Sonoma Turkey Sammie and Side Salad with fat‑free Balsamic Vinaigrette

A 1500 CALORIE DAY

For those trying to cut calories try these tasty, but nutritious choices:

BREAKFAST

Spinach & Bacon Omelet

1 egg plus 2 egg whites

2 slices cooked turkey bacon, crumbled

1 cup baby spinach

Cooking spray

1 slice whole‑grain toast

1 teaspoon butter

Whisk eggs, bacon, and spinach together. Coat skillet with cooking spray; cook egg mixture and serve with buttered toast.

SNACK

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich

(1 slice whole‑grain bread, 2 teaspoons peanut butter, 1 teaspoon jelly)

LUNCH

Grilled Cheese with Turkey & Tomato

2 slices whole‑grain bread

1 slice cheddar cheese

2 ounces sliced turkey

1 slice tomato

Cooking spray

cup pea pods

2 tablespoons low‑fat ranch dressing

Prepare sandwich with bread, cheese, turkey, and tomato. Coat skillet with cooking spray and heat. Toast sandwich 3 minutes on each side until bread is golden & cheese is melted. Enjoy, with pea pods and ranch on the side.

SNACK

10 potato chips and 1 tablespoon low‑ fat ranch dressing

DINNER

Steak & Pepper Tacos

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon cumin

1 garlic clove, minced

3 ounces steak strips

1 cups sliced green and red bell peppers

cup sliced onion

2 small (6‑inch) whole‑grain tortillas

4 tablespoons salsa

2 tablespoons low‑fat sour cream

Saute oil, cumin & garlic for 1 minute. Add steak and cook 5 minutes. Add peppers and onions and cook 8 minutes. Place mixture on tortillas and fold. Top with salsa & sour cream. M.N.

SPIRITUAL TIP:

Are you having a bad feeling about another person? This can drag you down spiritually, emotionally and physically. What would Jesus do? Hold a grudge? Stop speaking to the person? Spread the bad feeling? Make yourself feel better (renovate your spirit!!) and try these remedies from the word of God. God will be smiling on you!

Brothers [and sisters], if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:1‑10, “If your brother [or sister] wrongs you, go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed and upheld by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he pays no attention to them [refusing to listen and obey], tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a pagan and a tax collector. Matthew 18:15‑17

M.N.

TREASURER’S REPORT

AUGUST 2009

Income for the month of August was $11,862.67; expenses totaled $13,241.80 resulting in a deficit for the month of $1,379.13. Our year-to-date income is $92,833.77 (budget - $88,894.50) and expenses are $94,004.48 (budget - $88,520.00), resulting in a year to date deficit of $1,170.71.

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

OCC – 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 Christmas Bazaar. Materials will be arriving at the church shortly for OCC 2009. More information about what and how to pack a box will be here then but begin thinking now about partnering with Samaritan’s Purse in “reaching the world for Jesus Christ, beginning in Casanova.”

FALL CAMP

The Tri-Diocesan Council on Aging is once again hosting Fall Camp at Shrinemont October 26-29, 2009. This is a beautiful time to be at Shrinemont, in Orkney Springs, VA so I hope you will consider going this year. The keynote speaker is the Rev. Margaret Guenther, a well known spiritual director and author of numerous books. The chaplain for the week is the Right Rev. David C. Jones, Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Virginia and the musician will once again be Ed Kilbourne, aka the Grateful Ed.

Registration costs are $245 per person for a single room and $215 per person for a double room. Registration forms can be found in the Parish Hall and more information is available from Madell Day or Jim Cirillo.

ADULT EDUCATION

In our Adult Ed. Class we will be fed by means of the Book of Romans this year. Romans is a book rich with meaning and we will work our way through it in small portions. If you have to miss a week, you will be able to jump right back in having missed only a course rather than an entire meal.

JIM’S MINISTRY SUMMARY FOR AUGUST

While the first week of August was spent entirely off my feet recuperating from foot surgery, I was able to get out and begin to do a little in increasing amounts in the following weeks. In addition to serving on 3 of 4 Sundays in August I also celebrated at the wedding of Diane Gulick to Ron Fahy on August 22^nd, which was a great joy for me. I also visited 2 people in their homes, 5 people n my office, 8 in the hospital and 6 other visits by phone or in person in some other place. Two of the hospital visits were on behalf of Fr. Chris Pierce at St. James while he was away on vacation. There were no Region 13 meetings or other diocesan meetings to attend during August. As a VA Defense Force chaplain I attended drill on one Saturday and spent some time on the phone and in person with some of the VDF soldiers as well as “my” Black Horse Brigade chaplains.

GIVE AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU

This article is an adaptation of Larry Burkett’s Biblical Principles Under Scrutiny article entitled “Give and it will be Given to You,” published by Christian Financial Concepts, 1985. Used by permission.

“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38). Few Scripture verses are quoted more often than Luke 6:38 regarding giving and receiving. But does it really mean what it seems to say? Does God promise to give to us abundantly? Do God’s promises depend on our giving first? What about those who have nothing to give? Does that mean that they will receive nothing from the Lord?

The promise by Jesus recorded in Luke 6:38 was not made exclusively to the rich, spiritual, gifted, or talented. It was a promise to anyone who would apply its principles. Although the promise does include prerequisites, they are not prerequisites that involve one’s spiritual maturity or social status. The prerequisites are ones of action: give first, then you will receive.

+The first group either gives nothing or very little (far less than 10 percent of their incomes) to work being done in the Lord’s name. Most American Christians belong to this group.

+The second group gives at least 10 percent of their incomes regularly but seldom experiences what can be considered God’s abundant material supply or spiritual bounty.

+The third group gives at least 10 percent of their incomes and can identify times when God has given to them both material and spiritual abundance.

+The fourth group is small. This group gives far above 10 percent of their incomes but seldom identifies with God’s abundant material return.

+The fifth group is even smaller. This group gives far above 10 percent of the incomes and identifies with God’s material and spiritual abundant return.

Those who give nothing or less than 10 percent of their income have, by their lack of giving, limited what God can do for them according to His Word. “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings” (Malachi 3:8). Paul the Apostle amplifies the same admonition. “Now I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). The lack of giving is an external indicator that there is something wrong spiritually.

Those who give more than 10 percent but not necessarily sacrificially and experience God’s abundant supply are meeting God’s prerequisites for where they are in their spiritual growth at that time. As they continue to grow and as God continues to teach them, the outward material abundance may change, as different lessons need to be learned.

Some of those who give far beyond 10 percent of their income and do not experience God’s abundance could be giving with the wrong motive. They may be trying to bribe God; they require and even demand God’s blessings because they gave, as they say, sacrificially. They are not in subjection to God but are trying to exercise control over Him. But others in this category, who give abundantly but receive little physical evidence of God’s return, may receive that return in other ways. These could include excellent health, a good and stable job, children and family who are committed to Christ, a car that seldom needs repairs, and so on.

The group who gives abundantly and receives abundance in return from the Lord, generally give because they desire to give, and although they may expect back from the Lord they do not demand it or become discouraged if they do not receive it in the manner or bounty they expected. Their giving is out of a desire to please God, not to profit from their relationship with Him. They are thankful when God gives back to them and show their thanks by giving back to God even more than they had given before the blessing. Yet, they are also thankful even if God gives them nothing materially in return and will continue to give abundantly. Many in this group go through periods of overflowing abundance from the Lord, as well as long periods of no abundant return. But in either period, they continue to give because their desire is to give to the Lord’s work. If they receive an abundant return from the Lord, they feel that the return was given so that they can give more. If they do not receive an abundant return, they know that they are in the midst of a time of training and learning from the Lord for the next life’s stage that He has prepared for them. As such, they usually conclude that their giving must not decrease but, rather, it should increase.

Conclusion

SPOTLIGHT ON OUR

GRACE CHURCH MEMBERS

Meet Charlotte Perry,

Vestry Member

This month’s “spotlight” is on one of our vestry members, Charlotte Perry. Charlotte has been a member of Grace Church since 1989 and this is her second term serving on the Grace Church Vestry. Charlotte was born in California and was baptized in the Presbyterian church by her grandfather. She attended 12 different schools through high school and lived in Hawaii, Japan and Hong Kong. She and her family traveled around the world when she was in her teens. Charlotte graduated from Scripps College in California with a degrees in Child Psychology and Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She and Jack met in California and have been married for 47 years. They have two grown daughters, two sons-in-law and six grandchildren. Charlotte and Jack enjoy attending their grand-children’s soccer games, swim meets, band concerts and figure skating competitions. Their granddaughter, Charlotte (Carlie) Robbins is currently the British Jr. Ladies Figure Skating Champion and Charlotte spent a week at Lake Placid NY this month for the Junior Grand Prix International figure skating competition where Carlie did very well.

Charlotte has enjoyed many interesting jobs. Besides more than 30 years as a teacher of elementary and preschool children, she has been an editor, administrative assistant, conference planner and data base manager. She retired last June after 14 years as the Director and Pre-Kindergarten teacher at St. Stephen’s Preschool in Catlett. After a year of retirement, she would love to find another part-time job.

When not working Charlotte enjoys gardening and mowing, working out at the Fauquier Life Center and swimming. Jack and Charlotte have raised, trained and shown Great Pyrenees dogs since 1969 and both have served on the Board of Directors of the National Captial Area Great Pyrenees Club and the Great Pyrenees Club of America. Charlotte has been teaching Warrenton Kennel Club dog training classes for a number of years. Since Charlotte does NOT enjoy cooking (luckily Jack is a great cook), she has shared with all of us her famous 7‑layer (no cooking required) salad and it is fabulous! Other no cook dishes on her menus include fruit salad, tossed salad and ham and cheese sandwiches.

Charlotte has worn many hats at Grace church over the years and continues to serve the church with tireless love and devotion. Currently, in addition to serving on the Vestry, she is a coffee hour hostess, an active member of the Grace Episcopal Churchwomen (ECW), a substitute Sunday School teacher, and an Altar Guild member.

Charlotte’s vigor is truly explained when she tells you of her miraculous father who will turn 100 in November and will be getting married to his traveling companion of the last 6 years, a “younger lady” of 94, on his birthday. Charlotte is helping with the plans for three days of wedding and birthday celebrations in Walnut Creek California.

Grace Church October 2009

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Worship 9:00

*Ashley O’Meara

11:00 AM Senior Center

*Linda Turchi

*Joyce Bryant

Worship 9:00

7:00 Vestry Meeting

*Madell Day

#Roger & Sharon Woodward

11:00 AM Senior Center

Grace Notes deadline

*Logan Shipe

*Jackie Shipe

Worship 9:00

11:00 AM Senior Center

Worship 9:00

Healing Service 5:00 pm

*Shirley Coffman

11:00 AM Senior Center

*Barbara McLeod &

*Cory Butler

* = Birthday #Anniversary

Grace Church Serving Schedule -- October 2009

Date

Svc

Day

Lessons

Lector

Acolyte

Altar

Coffee Hosts

Oct 4

9:00

Pent 18

Psalm 26

Job 1:1; 2:1-10

Hebrews:1:1-4; 2:5-12

M ark 10:2-16

Linda Swann

Jack Perry

Barbara Jacobs

Karen & Jimmy Walton

Oct 11

9:00

Pent 19

Psalm 22:1-15

Job 23:1-9, 16-17

Hebrews 4:12-16

Mark 10:17-31

Rick

Anderson

Madell Day

Charlotte

Perry

Mignonne Spellmeyer & Dee Garrett

Oct 18

9:00

Pent 20

Psalm 104:1-9, 25, 37b

Job 38:1-7, 34-41

Hebrew 5:1-10

Mark 10:35-45

Judy Ball

Jack Perry

Mignonne

Spell-meyer

Charlotte & Jack Perry

Oct 25

9))

Heal

5 pm

Pent 21

Psalm 34:1-8, 19-22

Job 42:1-6, 10-17

Hebrews 7:23-28

Mark 10:46-52

Dee Garrett

Madell Day

Betsy

Anderson

Barbara McLeod & Greg McLeod

Nov 1

0:00

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

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.