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.