Grace Episcopal Church

Grace Episcopal Church will continue on ZOOM through the end of the year

While we had all hoped to be back in the sanctuary for Advent and Christmas, a new issue has arisen, in addition, of course, to rising COVID numbers. Today we discovered that we have a significant issue with mold and will need to do some dehumidifying and mold remediation before we return to the sanctuary. We had been noticing an increasing smell in the past weeks. There are still a number of unknowns, and we are waiting for more extensive evaluation, and the possibilities for remediation. Because of this situation, your vestry is in agreement that we continue on ZOOM until we can get this situation addressed.

I know this comes as a disappointment to all of us who had hoped to be worshipping facing our beautiful stained-glass window, in the sacred space set aside for our worship together. I hope we can use this time on ZOOM to see each other’s faces as we pray and listen to scripture, and to continue the great conversations we have been having.

Please join us at 9am this coming week and at 9:30 beginning on November 28th.

Don’t forget to send in your pledge. Your generous support will help us to address these issues with our facility and enable us to come back into church!

If you have not joined us on ZOOM before, this is a great time to try it – and, if you have a computer or phone and don’t know how to sign on, please let us know so we can help!  We know that ZOOM worship is not everyone’s “cup of tea” but hope you will consider joining to be part of your church fellowship!

Please watch your email, newsletters and our website (https://gracebath.org) for updated information moving forward!

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Gracious God, our life and times are in your hands. Be with us however we gather so that we may know and show your great love in the world.  Be with those who suffer, especially in this time of COVID.  Help us to heal the divides that sometimes keep us from acting for the common good and open our eyes and hearts to see a way forward so that all may live in health. All this we ask in the name of Jesus. AMEN

We all want to see improvements in the racial disparities in our society, but it can be difficult to have meaningful conversations about these issues. The Sacred Ground program uses discussion groups led by trained facilitators in order to make this conversation safer and more impactful. Groups of 6-9 participants and two facilitators meet roughly every three weeks over the course of ten sessions. During this time they watch and discuss films exploring the history and impact of race and racism in American society. Participants describe the program as “transformational”, “eye-opening”, and “heart-expanding.” St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has been using Sacred Ground with success for over a year, and is now updating it to be applicable to folks from any faith or no faith at all. We hope you will join us.

Want to learn more or register for the program?

Visit: https://stpaulsmaine.org/learning-sacred-ground-new/

Have questions?

Contact our Sacred Ground Program Coordinator: SacredGroundME@gmail.com