WORSHIP

WEEKLYSERVICESATGRACE

7:45amSunday

“GraceChurchisatinyhistoricchurch,butitisnotamuseum!WeconductthreeservicesonSundays;exceptduringthesummer,whichhastwoservices.The7:45serviceissoquietandpeaceful!Idomisstheorganmusicandhymns,buthavegottenusedtothesimpleRiteIserviceovertheyears.Mostofthe“earlyrisers”areregularparishioners,butweattractvisitorsfromtherivercruiseshipsandothertouristsstayingatnearbyBedandBreakfastsandthehotel.Comingtochurchfromthegraveyardside,thereisoftenmistintheearlymorning.Itiseasytoimagineallwhohavewalkedthiswayovertheyears.Usuallythereisafamilymembervisitingagravesiteorthecolumbariumwall.ThepetcemeteryareafeaturesastatueofStFranciscarvedfromacedarstump,andaplaquewithpet’snamesanddates.Thebeautifulfountainandplantsnearthefrontentrancewelcomeustoenterinsilence.

MyfavoritepewhasaviewoftheYorkRiver,andallthechurchwindowshaveviewsofnearbytrees.Everyweekthereisabeautifulflowerarrangement,candles,altarclothandacrossonthesimplebutelegantaltar.Eachrowofpewshaskneelerswithdifferentdesigns…theywereneedlepointedbychurchvolunteersabout50yearsago!The7:45sermonisthefirstoftheday,andourpriestsseemenergetic.WecanalsohearthechoirrehearsingduringCommunion,andalittlebitofmusiciswelcome!Thecongregationissmall(30-50average)butmighty.Severalearlyworshippersarevestrymembersandothergroupleaders.Weareanoldergroup,andenjoyhavingchildreninattendance.ManypeoplehaveattendedGracefordecades,andsomearenewermembers.WhenIusher,Iamabletogreeteveryonepersonally,andseveralofusgotobreakfastaftertheservice.”

ThetinynarthexfeatureshistoricphotosofthechurchfromtheCivilWarera.Thereisalsoaguestbook,whichissignedbymanyvisitorsduringtheweek.

9:00amSunday

“Thenineo’clockserviceatGraceChurchYorktownissomethingtobeholdandtobeapartof.Describedasa“familyservice”,itismadeupnotonlyofparentsandchildren,butalsosingles,andcouples,bothyoungandold.Ithasalight-heartedandwelcomingatmosphere,whereyoumayhearababycooing,fussingforashorttime,oryoungchildrencommentingonwhateverisontheirminds.TheserviceisheldmostSundaysintheparishhallratherthanthesanctuaryduetothesheernumbersthatcan’tbeaccommodatedinthechurch.Overtheyearsthishallhasbecomeawarmandcomfortingspace,fullofsoftcolors,lighting,andwonderfulartexhibits.Ourformerpriestandmanyotherartisticparishioners,includingyoungpeople,havegracedourparishwallswithbeautifulexamplesoftheirtalent.Ourcollectionofhandmadecrossesaddsanamazingaspecttoourworshipspaceandspecialprocessionalcelebrations.Thealtarguildworksmiraclesmakingthealtar,whichisbasicallyastage,alovelyspacefromwhichtohearGod’swordandtoreceivethesacrament.

ThereisatimefollowingthesermoneverySundaywhereanyonewhowisheshastheopportunitytoexpresstheirgratitudeforsomethingintheirlifeanddepositanofferingintheThanksgivingbasket.Theproceedscollectedinthebasketaredirectedtononprofitsthatchangefrequently.Thisisaveryspecialtimewhereweoftenhearfromthechildreninthecongregationwhospeakwithunscriptedvoices,thetruth.Whethertheyaregratefulfortheirparents,friends,catsordogs,itisalwayssincereandtouchedwithinnocence.Ourtalentedchoraldirectorandorganist,leadsoursmallbutpowerfulchoir.Shebringsaloveofmusicandsongthatinspiresourentirecongregationtoparticipate.

Ourushersusuallyrotateweekly,andoftenincludehusband-wifeorparent-childteams.Followingtheservice,chairsarepulledaside,thechildrenheadtoSundaySchool,andweallshareavibrantcoffeehourwithlivelyconversationandfellowship.Thistimeisoftenfollowedbyadultforumswithvaryingtopicsledbyourclergy,othermembersofthecongregation,oroutsideguestspeakers.AsweleavethatspecialspaceweareassuredthatGodwasamongusandwefeelblessed.”

11:20amSunday

“Attendingthelate(11:20a.m.)serviceatGraceislikegettingtogetherwithyourfamily(whichwedonothaveclosebysincewemovedtoVirginiafromMissouri).WhenIstopattheentrancetothechurchtodropoffmyhusband(whoishandicappedfromastroke)anusherorparishionerstandingclosebywillhelphimoutofthecarandupthestepsandhandrailwiththegentlenessandlovetheywouldshowtheirownDadorGrandfather.Onceinsidethequietsanctuaryonefeelssurroundedbythe“cloudofwitnesses”whohaveworshipedonthissiteforcenturies.AstheorganbeginstheprocessionalhymnandthecongregationstandsIamoftenprivilegedtoserveasAcolyteorEucharisticMinister.Thisisreallyanhonorandajoyfulservicetoparticipateintheliturgy.

GraceusesRite1atthisserviceanditstillthrillsmewiththefamiliarandbelovedwordsthatIgrewupwith.Whenthepeaceispassedfollowingtheabsolutiontherearehugsaswellaswarmhandshakes.Thesermonsalwaysbringusthegoodnewsinawaythatchallengesustoliveourfaithintheworld.Followingthesermonwehavecometoacceptandappreciateanextendedperiodofsilencetoallowthemessagetosinkdeeplyintoourminds.

AtthepassingoftheThanksgivingBaskettherearewordsofgratitudeforfamily,friends,thecommunityofGrace,thehomily,anniversaries,beautifulweatherandsometimesevenforaVirginiaTechwinonSaturday.

AswegatheratthealtartoreceivetheHolyMeal,ushersofferhelpupthefewstepstothoseabitunsteadyandforthosenotabletonavigatetheaislethepriestsbringthesacramenttotheminthepew.Asthecongregationdepartsthereisachancetospeaktothepriestsoutsideatthebottomofthestepsandexchangehugsandfamilynews.

Visitorsarealwaysgreetedbyparishionersandwelcomedaswellasbytheclergyandencouragedtofillouta“VisitorofGrace”cardwithcontactinformation.”

10:00amWednesday

OnWednesdaymorningsat10:00asmallergroupgathersintheSanctuaryfortheweeklyhealingservice.SometimesthenewliturgyofEucharistPrayersfromSamuelWells(vicaratSt.Martin-in-theFieldsinLondon)isusedandthecongregationisofferedachancetoexpresstheirthoughtsconcerningthescripturereadings.AtthealtarrailafterreceivingthesacramentalayhealerandthepriestlayhandsoneachpetitionerprayingfortheminquietconfidentialityandofferingwordsofGod’speaceandcomfort.

8:00amMondaythroughFriday

8:00amMondayCenteringPrayer

OnMondaymorningsat7:30asmallgroupgathersintheparloroftheParishHouseforCenteringPrayer.Therearethe“regulars”aswellasthosewhocomewhentheirscheduleallowsandvisitorsfromthecommunitywhohearaboutourmeeting.Beginningwithsomereflectivereadingandscripturefollowedbyafamiliarchant,therefollows20minutesofintentionalsurrenderintothepresenceofGod.Lettinggoofthoughtsthatarisenaturallyandreturningtojust“being”inclosecommunionwithourCreatorisacontemplativeblessingthathelpsusstarttheweekstrengthenedandatpeace.

TheLabrynth

TheideaforGraceChurch’slabyrintharoseoutofanEFMclassandwascompletedduringLentof1995.IthasbecomeasignificantsymbolofthemeditativespiritatGrace.OurlabyrinthisaChartresstylemadeofcanvasabout30feetindiameter.TarpsmakeitpossibletobeusedoutsideaswellasintheParishHouse.Fromthestart,thelabyrinthwasinvitedtovisitalloverthedioceseandbeyond...colleges,retreatcenters,andchurchesinterestedincreatingtheirownversions.TherehavebeenmanytimesthatthelabyrinthhasbeensetupintheParishHallwithsoftTaizemusicplayingandmanylightedcandlessettingaquietpeacefulatmosphereforsilentwalkingmeditation.

MorningPrayerisofferedeverymorning,MondaythroughFriday,at8:00intheSanctuary.Gatheringtosharethistraditionalworshipserviceisawonderfulwaytostarttheday.

SPECIALSERVICESATGRACE

BlessingoftheAnimals

OnceayearonaSundayinOctober,usuallyonoraroundthe4th,visitorstothevillageofYorktownmaynoticeaprocessionofpetsheadingtothechurchyardatGraceforaspecialceremonycalledthe“BlessingoftheAnimals”.ThiscustomisconductedinremembranceofSaintFrancisofAssisi’sloveforallcreatures.Adultsandchildrenbringtheirfavoritefurry,feathered,finned,largeorsmallfriendstothecelebration.Aprayerisofferedwhichmaysoundlike“Blessedareyou,LordGod,makerofalllivingcreatures.Youcalledforthfishinthesea,birdsintheairandanimalsonland.YouinspiredSaintFrancistocallallofthemhisbrothersandsisters.Weaskyoutoblessthispet…BlessedareyouLordourGod,inallyourcreatures!Amen.”Astheprayerisofferedtheblessingandthesignofthecrossgentlygracestheheadsoftheanimals.

Theceremonyisusuallyheldoutside,weatherpermitting.In2017abeautifulsculptureofSaintFrancisbecameanadditiontothechurchyard.Itwascarvedfromthetrunkofafallentreebythecousinofourformerrector’swifeandaddsanotherspecialdimensiontothiscelebration.Ofcourse,weatherdoesn’talwayscooperate.Atthosetimeswehavehadtheserviceintheparishhalloreventhesanctuary.Allthatisasked,nomatterthevenue,isthatourpetsbeatleastsomewhatmanageable.It’squiteasightaswecomeforwardusuallyinpairs,onehuman,oneanimaltobeblessed.NoahwithhisArkwouldbeimpressed.

AdventandChristmas

AllfouroftheAdventSundayservicesareheldintheSanctuaryasthebeautifullargeAdventWreathislit,onenewcandleeachweek.Thewreathiscreatedusingfreshgreensandsomeherbsandissituatedinaprominentspotnearthealtar.Familiesareinvitedtocomeforwardtolightitbeforetheservicebegins.Thewreathsonthedoorsaredecoratedwithpurplebowstoremindusthatthisistheseasonofanticipationforthesavior'sbirth.TheDaughtersoftheKinghavecreatedabookletofdailyprayersforAdvent,whichisofferedtomembersandvisitorstoenrichthesedaysofpreparation.UnlikethemallsandretailstoreswhobegintheSantadecorationsandChristmasmusicbeforeThanksgiving,Gracespendstheseweeksgettingourspiritsready.

EarlyinDecembertheDaughtersoftheKinginvitethecommunitytoaserviceofremembrance,recognizingthatsomewhohavesufferedthelossofalovedonearedealingwiththisholidayseasonwithheavyheartsandwhowelcomeanopportunitytobringphotosandtolightcandlesandsharetimeinquietreflectionandmemories.

TheChristmaspageantispresentedontheSundaybeforeChristmasat4:30intheParishHallwiththenewestGracebabyservingasareallivebabyJesusandalltheyouthtakingpart...fromthelittlest“angels”and“sheep”totheoldershepherdsandwisemenandtheHolyCouplethemselveswiththesquirming(sometimescrying)infant.FollowingthepageantfolksadjourntothechurchyardwhereahugebonfireislitusingthebeautifulYuleLogwhichhasbeenblessedatthealtar..Thetraditional

Revelsincludedances,singing,storytelling,poetryandarefollowedbysomewarmchowder,hotdogsandcocoa.

TherearethreeservicesonChristmasEve.At4:30thereisafamily-friendlyserviceintheParishHall.

At7:00pmthereisaserviceintheSanctuary,whichisverywellattendedandfamilieswhohavegatheredfortheChristmascelebrationrejoiceandgathertogetheratthealtarforEucharist.

TheChristmasliturgyat10:30p.m.isspectacularwithabreath-takinglybeautifulaltarandspecialmusicfromanexpandedchoirandaspecialsolobyMatthewMoore(asonoftheparishandaprofessionalbaritone)whofillsoursmallsanctuarywithanoverpoweringrenditionof“OHolyNight”.Asweleaveinsilenceatmidnight,weallsinginourhearts,“Christ,theSavior,isborn”

Thereisamid-morningserviceonChristmasDay,whichattractssomeparishionersaswellastouristsfromthecruiseshipsatthedock.

LentandEaster

OnAshWednesdaytherearemorningandeveningservices.ThecongregationisinvitedtotheobservanceofaHolyLentandcometothealtarfortheimpositionofashesandthenthecelebrationofHolyEucharist.DuringLentthereareseveralofferingsofsmallgroupstudiesandopportunitiesforprivateconfessionsandamorninggatheringforLectioDivina.

HolyWeekbeginsonPalmSundayandfindsGracefolksgatheredoutsidethechurchwheretheyreceivetheirpalmbranchesandthenproceedintotheSanctuarysinging“Allglory,laudandhonortoTheeredeemerKing....”

OnMaundyThursdaythereisanAgapemealintheParishHallandthenasombershiftastheDOKofferfootwashinginthechurchyardaseveryoneproceedstothechurchforthecelebrationoftheLastSupperandthestrippingofthealtar.Alllightsareextinguishedandeveryoneleavesinsilence.FollowingthisservicethereisasilentvigilkepteveryhourthroughoutthenightanduntilthenoonserviceonGoodFriday.Thereservedsacramentisofferedthenandattheeveningservice.SometimesagroupofGraceparishionerssolemnlywalkthroughtheVillagecarryingalargecrudecrossandprayingtheStationsoftheCrossatappropriatestops.

OnTuesdayeveningbeforeLentbeginsthereisarousingMardiGrasgatheringintheParishHall.Adeliciousmealissharedandthereissomejazzmusicandsometimesdancingandjustagenerallygoodfestivetimewithfriends.

AtsunsetonHolySaturdaytheGreatVigilofEasterbeginsonthebeachdownontheYorkRiver.ThishasbecomeanecumenicalservicewithseveralEpiscopalparishesandalocalLutheranchurchparticipating.PeoplecomewithblanketsandfoldingchairsandthenewPascalfireislitandtheprocessionbegins.SomeyoungpeoplefromthedifferentchurchescreativelyenacttheLessonsandsometimesthe“drummingpriest”fromGracehaspresentedtheExodusstoryaccompaniedbyhisdrumbeat.SeveralEuchariststationsaresetuptoaccommodatethecrowdandtherehavebeenbaptismsintheYorkRiverwhenpriestandcandidatewadeintothecoldriverwaterforthesacredriteandemergetowaitingwarmdrytowels.

TheEastermorningservicehasbeenheldoutsideformanyyearsandbringstogetherfolksfromallthreeserviceswhojoinincelebrationbeginningwithaprocessionofGrace'sspectacularcrosseswhile“NonNobisNomine,Domine”from“HenryV”isplayedloudlyfromspeakers.ThealtarismountedonastagesoallhaveafullviewofthebeautifulhangingsandflowersandtherearemultipleEuchariststations.

OnAscensionThursdayanearlymorningserviceofHolyEucharisthasbeenheldwithanaltarsetuponthesmallbrickpatiooutsideinfrontoftheSanctuary(weatherpermitting)nexttothebubblingpondformusicalbackgroundandasmallgroupofworshiperscelebratethismajorfeasttogether.

Pentecost

OnPentecostthereisaserviceatthesiteoftheoriginalchurch(1638),whichislocatedonwhatisnowthegroundsoftheCoastGuardTrainingStationontheoutskirtsofYorktown.ThefoundationisstillvisibleandittrulyfeelslikeHolyGround.Wesitinfoldingchairsunderhugetreesthatmayhavebeentherewhenworshippersgatheredinthe17thcentury.ThisistheoccasionwhenthegraduatinghighschoolseniorsfromGracearerecognizedandwhooffertheirwordsforthehomilyandaregivenacopyoftheBiblewithaspecialinscriptionforeachone.FollowingEucharistthefolksgathernearbyforapicniconthepark-likegroundsandgoodfellowshipgoesalongwiththefriedchickenandflavorfulpot-luckdishes.