Adult Forum meets Sunday at 9 a.m.  Children's Sunday School meets  at 9:15.


Lent at Grace
Formation for the season of Lent meets each Sunday morning at 9:00 am
We will explore Richard Rohr's newest book Jesus' Alternative Plan Please join us as we journey through Lent together.  We will continue our study every Sunday at 9:00 am in the Parish Hall with our last class on March 26th.

I hope you will find it engaging and inspiring during this Holy season of Lent.
You can order the book on-line or you can purchase the book at Malaprops Bookstore downtown Asheville.

Virtual Sit Meditations for Lent Beginning February 24, 2023  

 

Are you looking for a centering practice during Lent? Join the CAC online contemplative community for a free series of Virtual Sit Meditations to cultivate greater awareness during this Lenten season. Live streamed on YouTube, these virtual meditations will take place each Friday at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET; 6 p.m. GMT), from February 24 until April 7.

Virtual Sit Meditations for Lent
Every Friday from February 24 – April 7, 2023 
Featuring CAC Faculty and Staff
Presented by the Center for Action and Contemplation 
LEARN MORE
 

Looking ahead to Holy Week and Easter
April 2- Palm Sunday - 10:30-am
April 6 -Maundy Thursday service - 7:00 pm
April 7 - Good Friday services - noon and 6pm
April 8 - Easter Saturday Vigil- 8pm
April 9 - Easter Sunday service - 10:30 am

Episcopal Church Women
Save the date! 
The ECW will hold its Spring Potluck Luncheon on Saturday, April 22nd, at noon in the parish hall.  We will have a business meeting to discuss our goals for the upcoming year.  We would love to encourage newcomers to join us! 
 

● Tell Congress to Permanently Protect the Arctic Refuge
Legislation in both the House and the Senate has been introduced in Congress that would alter current law that permits oil and gas exploration and would permanently protect the area as wilderness. Click here to share an email that has been prepared for your use and will be addressed to your elected officials by EPPN. You can also revise that email to add your personal thoughts. 

● Taking Stock of U.S. Engagement in Africa Join EPPN on March 21st at 2pm for a special conversation on advocacy and church engagement across the continent. Click here to register for the Zoom presentation. 

● Join Refugee Council USA for National Advocacy Days May 2nd - May 3rd, 2023, in Washington, DC. Click here to register for this “in-person” event. Registration ends April 10th, 2023. Participants will also be able to attend a number of special training sessions to help build and expand their advocacy  toolbelt for advocating for refugees. The event is free to attend, but participants traveling from out of the area will be expected to cover the cost of their travel and accommodation.

The Medical Advocacy Ministry (MAM) will hold a 30 minute important meeting after church on March 26 in the Parish Hall.  All ushers, acolytes, vestry and any other interested parties are invited to attend.  This will be to demonstrate the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and Blood Pressure Monitor (BP) donated by the MAM to those who may be involved with the use of both items when needed.  Information will be available on a follow up inservice clinic for AED and BP monitor use along with CPR that Red Cross provides.  

AED Certification in Asheville, NC - Red Cross

Financial News
Dear Grace Family,
Your Finance Team has completed its portion of the annual Parochial report for  our Friends at the Diocese. The submitted results reflect Grace's operating and general  financial position for 2022. Grace's profile reflects a very positive uptrend from 2021 and these results are a testimony to the generosity of the Grace community and talent 
of Grace's leadership. Please be mindful of your annual pledge for 2023 to help sustain  the Grace mission and ministry. The Parochial Report will be published upon completion by all parties and then submitted to the Diocese.
 
Peace,  Katie Douglas (Financial Reporting) and Steve Birkhofer (Treasurer) 

Grace Backpackers

DEADLINE APPROACHING FAST! Your food donations for Backpackers are needed no later than Wednesday, March 22! Thanks to all who have already donated non-perishable items. We can still use more – and here’s another thought: In these last few days, we could also add fresh fruit (apples, oranges, etc.) and bread. All donations will be used to fill bags for 50 families from Jones Elementary and will be delivered directly to homes on March 25, just in time for Spring Break. Your help counts! Thank you!

Upcoming Lent Events in the Community

 Stations of the Cross

Art Show
This event features art work by a resident of our Winter Shelter!

“Diamonds in the Rough” – You’re Invited! Artist Joerob and friends (including our own Anne Jarema!) invite you to join a celebration of sculpture, mixed media, live music, video and more. Through our participation in the Winter Safe Shelter, many of us have come into relationship with Joerob and are eager to support him in his work of restoring dreams and bringing community together through the arts. Please join us Saturday, March 25, 3-8pm, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 587 Haywood Road, in West Asheville, for Diamonds in the Rough, presented by the Restored Dreams Project.

“If God gave me a second chance using my creativity and my art, then I wanted to give that same thing to other people. Through my art, maybe I can inspire someone to use their art to find their way. That’s restoring. 

Learn more here.
 

 
Have you seen this historical marker on Charlotte Street? It honors the legacy of Helen Morris Lewis who was a motivating force in the women's suffrage movement in North Carolina. She also became the first woman to seek elective office in North Carolina. For more on this crusader, visit here

Please consider making a lasting impact on Grace Episcopal Church by creating a legacy gift for the Grace community that lasts for generations!  
To learn more about planned giving and make Grace Episcopal Church part of your estate planning, please meet fellow parishioners and endowment committee members in the Church library following the March 19 Sunday service. Grace member John Chastain will lead the conversation.

Have you considered joining the Altar Guild?

Members of the Altar Guild carry out the meaningful ministry of preparing our church for worship, especially setting the altar each Sunday, as well as preparing for baptisms, weddings, and funerals, and making sure the linens, silver, and brass are in tip-top shape. We need to add two more people  to each of our four groups that serve one Sunday a month. Would you serve with us? Please connect with Shannon Townsend or just walk into the sacristy and speak to the member serving. 

ADVANCING RACIAL JUSTICE SAVE THE DATE

Every April YWCAs across the country celebrate a month of anti-racism awareness, bringing into focus issues around equity and justice. Until Justice Just Is, previously known as Stand Against Racism, will kick off with a virtual YWCA-USA keynote event, Advancing Justice: Ensuring Equity for All, on Thursday, April 13th at 3 pm. It will feature experts, community leaders, and elected officials to discuss intersections between racism and housing disparities, how disability and mental health challenges increase the impacts of these disparities, and what we can do to address the most critical issues affecting communities of color today. Register today to attend this virtual event. Questions about the event? Contact racialjustice@ywcaofasheville.org.

Praying Together
Rev. Milly holds open spiritual direction sessions for individuals or couples weekly by appointment Wednesdays 1-3 pm in the sanctuary. Please email Rev. Milly to schedule your time with her: Milly@graceavl.com

Weekly Taizé Tuesday evenings at 6pm

What if .  .  .  as part of a Lenten practice this year we set aside one hour of time just to listen for God — just be available to listen?

Why not take a short break on the way home from the pressures of the office or a few moments away from the hustle and bustle of the demands of home?

The weekly Taizé service offers just such a respite. Please consider the Tuesday evenings of Lent at 6pm as an opportunity to experience a brief slice of peace .  .  .   And as Milly has reminded us — to Slow Down.

For more information on Taizé at Grace visit: 
www.graceavl.com/taize-grace

Women Walking the Way
Thursday at 8:00 am meet at the Bird Sanctuary parking lot. Women of Grace, please consider joining Rev. Milly for a weekly walk at Beaver Lake. This time together is devoted to deep listening to how we as women walk the way of Jesus, in the world and in our community of Grace. No need to register or even email her, just show up! 


Monday Morning Bible Study
Bible Study will continue to meet via Zoom on Mondays until further notice, at 10:30 AM, as we study the scriptures for the upcoming Sunday service. Please join us virtually or by clicking on the button at graceavl.com/.

The Pastoral Care Team at Grace
Our pastoral care team invites you to reach out to us with any pastoral care needs you, or your family, may have, by emailing the team at pastoralcare@graceavl.com.You can also email, text or call Fr. Mike at 860-771-1656 or Rev. Milly at 828.772.1429, Sunday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., unless it’s a pastoral emergency.

Our Prayer List

For Parishioners: Pat Davis; Rusty Herman; Daniel and Hannah Johnston; Shari Lane; Joan Mahon; Laura and Tsz-yan (GN) Snyder; Kelly and Sydnor Thompson; Barbara Wilcox; Tim Wrinn.

 For Homebound Parishioners and Those in Healthcare Facilities: Bill Coward; Bobbie Eblen; Eunice Ferguson;  Dorothy Engel; Ed Denison, Marion Mayfield-Johnson; Deb Pegel; Rita Spragg; Cys (Sis) Hayes; Shirley Turner.         

 For Others: (Names will remain on the list for 6 weeks unless we hear otherwise.) Linda Adams (neighbor of Cliff and Anne);  Angela (sister of Steve Booth); Wes Auret (godson of Elaine Potter); Gene Bowen (brother of Larry Bowen); Gabriel and Lara Brongel and family (grandson and daughter of Jackie Schauer);Cathy (friend of Elaine Potter);  Porter Claxton (friend of Ginny Moser); Jimmy Cole (lifelong friend of Sonny Rawls); Ann Derwort (sister of Jeanne Sims); Cody Ervin (friend of Hannah Pennell); Woody Geizentanner (friend of Pat & George Davis; ) ; Patricia Grace (friend of Gael Paschal); Jackie Haines (sister of Carol Booth); Angela High (friend of Vicki Vest); Cherry Howe (friend of Rusty Herman & Janice Orson) Laury Keen (friend of James Cannon's sister); Candy Kelly ( friend of Dodie King); Gene Mahon (brother of Pat Mahon); David Moltke-Hansen and Patricia Poteat (friends of Jeanna nd Ron Sims); Molly Breslin (friend of Gary Coffey and family); Bob Noble (brother of Walt Noble); Pam (neighbor of Mike Reardon); Matthew Pennell (son  of Hannah Pennell); Sharon Prater (friend of Lorie Tola); Michele and Kevin Randall (niece and nephew in-law of Jeanne and Ron Sims); Sarah and Bo (friends of Amy and Phillip Trees); Wilma Wilson (mother of Debbie Jones).
 

We grieve and pray with the families of  Robert Giles (brother of Nancy Walters) and Yogi Ayer (friend of Jeanne and Ron Sims).

 
For Those in Service to Our Country: Tommy & Danny Brown (grandsons of Ed & Marla Woeckener); Martha and Matt Cardenas (daughter & son-in-law of Hannah Pennell); Matthew George (son of Zoe Davis); Jason Marino (son of Lynda McCredie); Sarah Jane Wilkey (daughter of Diane & Tony Wilkey).

For those who have birthdays:  James Carlin; Valerie Heavens; Gael Paschall; Linsday Whitner; Scott McKenzie; Guy Sayles; Keith Hargrove; Andrew Wall; Donald Alford; Laura Parton; Peter Cassarino; Pat Mahon.