Grace Notes

The Newsletter of Grace Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 18, Casanova, Virginia 20139 (540) 788-4419 June 2010

RECTOR’S REFLECTIONS - June 2010

Father of the Fatherless an article from the June 2002 Deep Cove Crier

Dear Ones

Imagine a world in which all dads were suddenly removed from the face of the earth. What would be missing? In a nutshell, we would be missing a lot of 'player coaches'. Dads at their best love to root for their kids, to cheer them on, to give them tips. Dads are natural coaches. But dads are also player coaches. Dads at their best love to play. Most dads at heart are over-grown kids who wish that they were back on their childhood baseball diamond, soccer field or hockey rink. Having kids of one's own is the perfect excuse to cut loose from adult pressures and reconnect with what really matters. Father's Day is a unique opportunity to say to countless millions of dads: 'We need you, we appreciate you, and we value your contribution to making our lives a better place'.

I am deeply grateful that family mattered so much to my own father. He invested in me in countless ways that I am just discovering fifty plus years later. While I loved my father, I took so much of his generosity for granted. It is only as I have invested in my three boys with my time, talent, and treasure, that I understand what an enormous commitment it is to be a caring father. Commitment is a scary thing. Family and marriage require from us Dads 100% and more. I am so grateful that my father never ran from my family. One of the greatest gifts that my Dad could ever give me is that he was still in love with my Mom when she died. In fact, I’m pretty sure he still was when he died.

The longer I live, the more grateful I am for my father. He has always cheered for me when I have faced life's obstacles. As I look at my father, I see confidence, competence, and creativity. My father never lets anything stop him in his tracks. Whether he works on his computer or in his workshop, he never lets failure discourage him. I pray that in the years ahead that I too may remain teachable, flexible, and willing to take risks.

When a prison chaplain once offered free Mother's Day cards to inmates, they were all snapped up in minutes. But when he offered free Father's Day cards, there were few takers. Sadly many young men and women today have grown up with little or no experience of a father's love. There is often no 'player coach' in their lives. More than ever before, our youth are a fatherless generation. So much crime, violence, drug usage, and promiscuity flows directly out of the pain of fatherlessness.

One counselor said that fathers are meant to be the 'halfway house' between childhood and adulthood. As Dads bless their teenage sons and daughters, they empower them to be courageous and yet wise, bold and yet discerning. Without the father's blessing, many teens feel unwanted, uncared for, and inadequately affirmed. This can be equally true for single parent families and workaholic two-parent families. The tragedy is that fatherlessness so often carries on generation after generation. Let’s break that cycle!

This Father's Day our hearts need to go wide open towards the fatherless. As the good book tells us, God is the father of the fatherless, the defender of widows and orphans (Psalm 68). God is turning the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the children back to their fathers (Malachi 4:6). This Father's Day, my prayer is that each of us would experience the Father's heart of love for his lost sons and daughters. The Father loves you more than your wildest imagination. The Father is cheering for you to make the best of your life. The Father wants to wrap you in his loving arms. Happy Father's Day!

Your Sheepdog,

Jim+

Vestry Highlights May 2010

The Jr. Warden reported he is working with the renters at Redlands and hopes they will be able to

continue renting there. He is also still working to solve a mold problem in one of our building.

The Sr. Warden stated that there has been a good response to the Wed. morning service at the Parish Hall. She, with Fr. Jim and Jack Perry, have reviewed and revised the Sunday prayer list.

Fr. Jim will attend the Small Church Leadership Conference June 1-4. On July 3-10 he will be with the St. James Youth Mission in S.C. Rev. Lee Moore will preach and celebrate on Sunday July 4.

Barbara Jacobs is working on revising the church directory. We discussed postponing the community yard sale from June 5 to June 26 to have more time to organize and advertise.

Mignonne volunteered to organize the next pancake breakfast in Oct. Fr. Jim will check with the Casanova Hunt to coordinate with their season opening and the blessing of the hounds.

TREASURER’S REPORT

APRIL, 2010

Income for the month of April was $12,151.71, which included $1,911.00 in proceeds from the annual Spring Dinner (budget $11,325.00). Expenses totaled $12,814.62 (budget $11,325.00), resulting in a deficit for the month of $662.91. Our income for the first 4 months of the year was $54,513.82 (budget $45,300.00) and disbursements were $53,218.19 (budget $45,300.00); income for the year $1,295.63.

At the end of March the following bills were due and unpaid:

Fr. Jim’s Pension Plan Premiums $2,867.04

(3 months in arrears)

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

Treasure

June 2010

* = Birthday #Anniversary

SUNDAY	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY
		1 *Ralph Pearson	2 ** 11:00 AM Senior Center	3	4	5
6 Worship 9:00	7 *Drusy Schaeffer	8 *Laura Hendrix	9 ** 11:00 AM Senior Center #Jack & Charlotte Perry	10	11 *June Lewis	12 *Greg Butler
13 Worship 9:00	14 7:00 Vestry Meeting #Greg & Betty Huddleston	15 *Marge Estes	16 ** 11:00 AM Senior Center	17 *Art Payne #Warren & Drusy Schaeffer #Jackie & Donna Shipe	18 #Greg & Stephanie Butler *Betty Huddleston	19 *Isabel Vasbinder
20 Worship 9:00 *Kate Chipps *Jim Robinson	21	22 *Amanda Walton	23 ** 11:00 AM Senior Center	24	25	26 Community yard Sale +Mignonne Spellmeyer
27 Worship 9:00	28	29	30 ** 11:00 AM Senior Center

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Jun 1 Ralph Pearson

Jun 7 Drusy Schaeffer

Jun 8 Laura Hendrix

Jun 11 June Lewis

Jun 12 Greg Butler

Jun 15 Marge Estes

Jun 17 Art Payne

Jun 18 Betty Huddleston

Jun 19 Isabel Vasbinder

Jun 20 Kate Chipps &

Jim Robinson

Jun 22 Amanda Walton

Jun 26 Mignonne Spellmeyer

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Jun 9 Jack & Charlotte Perry

Jun 14 Greg & Betty Huddleston

Jun 17 Warren & Drusy Schaeffer &

Jackie & Donna Shipe

Jun 18 Greg & Stephanie Butler

** 10:30 Holy Eucharist (Parish Hall)

Grace Church Serving Schedule -- June 2010

Date	Svc	Day	Lessons		Lector	Acolyte	Altar	Coffee Hosts
Jun 6	HE 9 AM	Pent 2	Psalm 30 1 Kings 17:17-24	Galatians 1:11-24 Luke 7:11-17	Pam Ruffner	Doris Pearson	Pam Ruffner	Charlotte & Jack Perry
June 13	HE 9 AM	Pent 3	Psalm 5:1-8 1 Kings 21:1-21a	Galatians 2:15-21 Luke7:36—8:3	Betsy Anderson	Jack Perry	Mignonne Spell- meyer	Karen & Jimmy Walton
Jun 20	HE 9 AM	Pent 4	Psalm 42 1 Kings 19:1-15a	Galatians 3:23-29 Luke 8:26-39	B. Gould-thorpe	Madell Day	Doris Pearson	Judy Shipe & Karen Woodward
Jun 27	HE 9 AM	Pent 5	Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14	Galatians 5:1, 13-25 Luke 9:51-62	Linda Swann	Doris Pearson	Betsy Anderson	Judy Ball & Barbara Whitbred
July 4	HE 9 AM	Pent 6	Psalm 30 2 Kings 5:1-14	Galatians 5:1-16 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20	Judy Ball	Jack Perry	Charlotte Perry	Barbara & Greg McLeod

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.