Grace Notes

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

RECTOR’S REFLECTIONS - May 2010

Dear Ones,

I was in Manassas at the Family Christian Bookstore in April and saw a book which caught my eye entitled Grace Notes. Yup, the same as our newsletter but with the extended title Daily Readings with a Fellow Pilgrim. It is a collection of excerpts from books written by a fellow named Philip Yancey with one for each day of the year, much like the ever popular My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers. I have been thumbing through it looking at the titles he has for each day and came across one that may apply to where we are as a church. It is called Faith Under Fire.

Yancey writes, “Paradoxically, difficult times may help nourish faith and strengthen bonds. I see this in human relationships, which tend to solidify in times of crisis. My wife and I both have grandmother’s who have lived past a hundred. Talking with them and their friends, I detect a trend which seems almost universal in the reminiscences of older people: they recall difficult, tumultuous times with a touch of nostalgia. The elderly swap stories about WW II and the Great Depression; they speak fondly of hardships such as blizzards, the childhood outhouse, and the time in college when they ate canned soup and stale bread three weeks in a row.

Ask a strong, stable family where they got such strength, and you may very well hear a story of crisis. Seeing this principle lived out among people, I can better understand one of the mysteries of relating to God. Faith boils down to a question of trust in a given relationship. Do I have confidence in my loved ones --- or in God? If I do stand on the bedrock of trust, the worst circumstances will not destroy the relationship.

One Christian thinker, Soren Kierkegaard, spent a lifetime exploring the tests of faith that call into question God’s trustworthiness. A strange man with a difficult personality, Kierkegaard lived with constant inner torment. Again and again he returned to biblical characters like Job and Abraham, who survived excruciating trials of faith. During their times of testing, it appeared to both Job and Abraham that God was contradicting Himself. God surely would not act in such a way – yet clearly God is. Kierkegaard ultimately concluded that the purest faith emerges from just such an ordeal. Even though I do not understand, I will trust God regardless¼”

Is our trust in God based in our circumstance or in spite of our circumstance? If we are living a faith that involves “but what have you done for me lately” then we have a fair weather faith at best. Our financial distress colors what we think and do and is the very time we need to stick together and stick with God. It is a time to draw nearer to God and one another for the encouragement we can have together. As the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews put it, “let us consider how to stir one another up to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another¼” Heb. 10:24-25

So let us continue to meet together in worship and fellowship, to encourage one another and to stir one another to love which works its way out in action in His name. And one day we will look back at this time with “a touch of nostalgia” as Yancey puts it, having been encouraged and strengthened in our faith and life.

In His grip,

Jim+

Sunday School Teacher Roster

May 2 – Betsy Anderson

May 9 – Dale Cirillo

May 16 – Mary Neal

May 23 – Charlotte Perry

May 30 – Mary Neal

Pancake Breakfast

There was a good and significant discussion at a meeting held after church on 4/18/2010 regarding holding ongoing pancake breakfasts. It was decided that 3 breakfasts a year would be a good beginning that would not overtax the congregation. Many ideas were discussed including making as many of these breakfasts an “event” that might draw more people. An example would be to have a breakfast with Santa in early December. We decided as a whole to do this in such a way so as not to be in conflict with other things we were doing, like the Christmas Tree Lighting, but the concept was a good one. We also were looking for times that would fit both the church schedule and community schedule as well. What was decided is as follows:

- Valentine’s weekend breakfast each year (February)

- Mother’s Day weekend breakfast (May)

- Casanova Hunt Opening weekend (October)

We need to make sure that this will work with rather than conflict with the hunt before we move ahead. The thinking was that it might be a good draw for those who come to the blessing of the hounds and then just leave rather than “hilltopping”.

We also agreed that we would assign teams of people to work at these breakfasts, much as we do with the roast beef dinner each spring, rather than just asking the same people to work all three. The hope is that we will get more participation by church members and spread the work load out rather than burdening just a few.

The next breakfast will be on Saturday May 8 from 8:30 to 10:30 AM in the Parish Hall. Tell your friends. Bring your mother (or if you’re a mom, have your kids bring you)!

Community Yard Sale

There was a good discussion at a meeting held after church on 4/18/2010 regarding Grace Church hosting a community yard sale on Saturday June 5^th at the corner of Route 28 and Meetze Road. The property is owned by Barbara McLeod who has given us permission to use it for this event and Barbara Jacobs has agreed to be the general organizer.

The idea would be to sell space at this event for $10 per person/family/vendor and to advertise not only in our Casanova and Midland communities but also in Bealeton to our south. We are looking to raise our level of presence as a church in Bealeton, which is located midway between us and Remington. We also plan to run our own concession stand at the event and so will need help with that as well as parking. Please talk it up with those you know. Anyone interested in a space can call 540-788-4419 and leave a message.

Summary of Jim’s ministry in March of 2010:

In March I made 8 home visits, 10 hospital visits, met with 8 people in my office and had 12 “other” visits by phone or some other place. I attended clericus and a Region 13 meeting, both held at Grace Church, the Plains and presided at the Eucharist one Sunday at St. Andrew’s, Ada. I also attended the Lenten study series at St. James each Wednesday and taught 1 week. I organized the Pancake Breakfast we held in late March. One Thursday I travelled to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and visited some of our wounded warriors along with some of their families. In addition to all of this I attended the Commander’s Conference at Ft. Pickett one Saturday with the Virginia Defense Force and a joint VDF/VA National Guard training day for chaplains in Richmond on another.

VESTRY MEETING HIGHLIGHTS 4/12/2010

Examples of God’s grace we have experienced were a full house at church on Easter and the loss of the life of only one worker (instead of six) who were repairing the A/C system at Cedar Lee Middle School in Bealeton recently.

The treasurer reported a deficit of $1,706.03 this month, therefore we are still operating in the red.

Art Payne, our Jr. Warden, has been busy sprucing up the grounds at the church, Parish Hall and Redlands, with the help of a few others.

Sr. Warden Bobbie Gouldthorpe stated that she has been listening to concerns of certain members of the congregation about the future of Grace Church.

Fr. Jim reported that Bible Study continues at St. James on Wed. at 7 pm in the Parish House and we are invited to attend (as we did during Lent). Jane Childs remains stable and Becky Warren could use our prayers in dealing with the recent loss of family members. Jim will be away at the Clergy Conference May 3-5, on vacation May 13-17 and away on continuing education May 26 in D.C. and again June 1-4 at the Small Church Leadership Conference.

Plans to continue the Saturday pancake breakfast were discussed with the next one possibly being on May 15. A community Yard Sale is being planned for June 5^th. Barbara Jacobs will be in charge of setting it up.

Fr. Jim lead a discussion about the financial situation at Grace Church based on talks with the Bishop. These matters will be further explored by the Vestry with the bishop on April 15^th.

Thanks from Carol Grove

Many thanks to all the helping hands that worked to make the roast beef dinner a success. We could not have done it without each of you. Thank you,

Karen Walton & Carol Grove

Redemption Diner

Nearly 4 years ago a community ministry was started to deliver hot meals once a month to families in need. In this time, over2100 meals have been delivered. We are always looking for more volunteers. Right now, we need drivers able to deliver to the Warrenton area. If you feel called to be a part of this miniatry, please give us a call Carol Grove (540) 788‑9755 or Karen Pickerell (540) 788‑4252

TREASURER’S REPORT for MARCH, 2010

Income for the month of March was $12,249.32 (budget $11,325.00). Expenses totaled $10,648.69 (budget $11,325.00), resulting in income for the month of $1,600.64. Our first quarter income was $42,832.11 (budget $33,975.00) and disbursements were $40,873.57 (budget $33,975.00); income for the quarter $1,958.54.

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

Fr. Jim’s Pension Plan Premiums $4,867.04

(5 months in arrears)

Fr. Jim’s Autumobile Expenses for

February $ 338.50

Total Past Due $5,205.54

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

Grace Church May 2010

SUNDAY	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY
						1
2 Worship 9:00	3	4 *Donna Shipe Fr. Jim Away	5 11:00 AM Senior Center No HE today	6	7	8
9 Worship 9:00	10 7:00 Vestry Meeting *Sue Ballentine	11	12 * 11:00 AM Senior Center *Rick Anderson	13 Ruritan Dinner 7 PM	14 *Carol Payne Fr. Jim Away	15 Grace Notes deadline #Bryan & Barbara Jacobs *Betsy Anderson
16 Worship 9:00 United Thank Offering Sunday	17	18	19 * 11:00 AM Senior Center	20 *Jane Childs	21 *Karen Walton *Bobbie Gould-thorpe	22
23 PENTECOST Worship 9:00	24	25	26 * 11:00 AM Senior Center No HE toiday Fr. Jim Away	27	28	29
30 Worship 9:00 Parish Picnic	31		* 10:30 AM Eucharist in Parish Hall every Wed.

* = Birthday #Anniversary

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

May 4 Donna Shipe

May 10 Sue Ballentine

May 12 Rick Anderson

May 14 Carol Payne

May 15 Betsy Anderson

May 20 Jane Childs

May 21 Karen Walton &

Bobbie Gouldthorpe,

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO:

May 15 Bryan & Barbara Jacobs

Grace Church Serving Schedule -- May 2010

Date	Svc	Day	Lessons		Lector	Acolyte	Altar	Coffee Hosts
May 2	HE 9 AM	Easter 5	Psalm 148 Acts 11:1-18	Revelation 21:1-6 John 13:31-35	Betsy Anderson	Madell Day	Betsy Anderson	Doris & Ralph Pearson
May 9	HE 9 AM	Easter 6	Psalm 67 Act 16::9-15	Revelation 21:10, 22--- 22:5 John 14:22-29	B. Gould- thorpe	Jack Perry	Doris Pearson	Judy Ball & Barbara Whitbred
May 16	HE 9 AM	Easter 7	Psalm 97 Acts 16:16-34	Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 22-21 John 17:20-26	Linda Swann	Doris Pearson	Charlotte Perry	Sue Ballentine
May 23	HE 9 AM	Day of Pent. Whit-sunday	Psalm 104:25-35, 37 Acts 2:1-21	Romans 8:14-17 John 14:8-17, 25-27	Dee Garrett	Madell Day	Carol Goshorn	Mary Neal & Dianne Fahy
May 30	HE 9 AM	Pent 1 Trinity Sun	Psalm Canticle 2 Proverbs 8: 4:22-31	Romans 5:1-5 John 16:12-15	Judy Ball	Jack Perry	Barbara Jacobs	Mignonne Spellmeyer & Dee Garrett
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

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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.