Grace Episcopal Church

Thomas Merton retreat
An Advent retreat on the spirituality of Thomas Merton was held at Grace Saturday, December 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Retreat leader Rev. Dr. Patrick Collins, an authority on Merton, combined words and music in this contemplative experience.

Thomas Merton (1915-1968) had already earned a national reputation as a poet, before becoming a monk at the Trappist monastery of Gethsemani in Kentucky. There, under a discipline of silence and prayer, he became a world-renowned author on the contemplative life.

Yuletide services at Grace
This year the day before Christmas coincides with the Fourth Sunday of Advent. There will be only one morning service at Grace, at 10 a.m. Then in the evening there will be two Christmas Eve services. The first, at 6 p.m., is especially geared toward children, with children’s choir and children’s homily. Finally, a choral service of carols at 10:30 p.m. will precede the traditional midnight Eucharist at 11, during which child care will be provided.

On Christmas morning at 10 Eucharist will be celebrated, and on Wednesday, the Feast of St. John, there will be morning prayer at 9:30 a.m.

On December 31, the first Sunday after Christmas, there will again be a single service, at 10 a.m., consisting of Hly Eucharist with lessons and carols.

Older News

Celebration Of New Ministry—What A Party We Had!
The Rev. Jennifer L. Adams was formally installed as our new Rector on Saturday, September 30—the first female rector in Grace’s 140-year history. The Rt. Rev. Robert Gepert, Bishop of Western Michigan, presided and preached at the service (liturgically named a “Celebration of New Ministry”). The Celebration continued afterward with the presentation of gifts and joyful feasting, music and dancing in the church’s undercroft.

As the 22nd Rector of Grace Church, Adams succeeds the Rev. Thomas L. Toeller-Novak, who retired in 2005.

A graduate of Kalamazoo College and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, in Berkeley, she has served at Grace since 1994 when she began as an assistant. She has had active roles in the Diocese and the national Episcopal Church, as well, serving most recently on the diocesan Standing Committee, on the national Standing Commission on Ministry Development, and as a deputy to General Convention.

Photo During The Installation

Photos After The Installation

Rector Jen Adams with the Rev. Tina Velthuizen, who as a member of Grace in the 1980s became the first woman ordained priest in the Diocese of Western Michigan. She is now rector of Holy Trinity parish in South Bend, Ind.

About the artwork Grace Church parishioners gave Jen at the celebration on September 30.

It is called "Embracing the Spirit" - the artist is Michael and Jane Lewis of Easy Street Studios - Lutz, Florida. The work is hand painted silk, a French process approximately 100 years old. First the drawing is done with gutta resist. Then the colors are painted with French dyes using watercolor techniques and the resist to keep the colors separate. After dyeing, the silk is steam set to prevent fading. The steamed silk is then mounted on paper then cut and assembled to create a dimensional design known as bas-relief. The mat is acid free to ensure archival quality. The frame is ash.

About the artists: Their current work is spirited by the visions and images of Jane and guided by the craftsmanship of Michael. "We believe our work is the reflection of the spirit within us all. We feel strongly about the importance in our lives of objects that speak to us, inspire, excite, or in some way enrich us. It is this level of communication that we aspire to in our work."

Winning many awards and critical acclaim their work is collected internationally. Corporate and private collections include: UNICEF, The White House, Sun Bank, Walt Disney World, All Childrens Hospital, Spelman College, Ikon Office Solutions, Milwaukee Art Museum, MacGraw Hill Publishing, and The National Children’s Trust Fund.

Blessing of the Animals

More than 50 people came to an outdoor service at Grace on a sunny Sunday afternoon, October 8, and brought with them about 25 pets—cats, dogs large and small, two hamsters and a snake—to receive a blessing.

The simple liturgy began with the beloved Anglican hymn “All things bright and beautiful . . . the Lord God loves them all.” It included selections from the Psalms, a prayer by Albert Schweitzer, and phrasing from St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day is October 4. Several of those present spoke of ways that their pets enriched their own lives.

The service “reminds us of the sacredness of all life and provides an opportunity to celebrate the animals who share our lives,” according to D. K. Brazzel of Duke University. It maintains a Christian tradition that has been traced back to the fourth century and was first observed at Grace thirty years ago.

Several Grace parishioners have been active in recent years in the Humane Societies in both Ottawa and Kent counties.

Full-time Youth Minister Appointed

Sunday School and youth programs for 2006-7 are in full swing, now under the leadership of Grace’s first full-time Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries, Debbie Coyle.

She brings to the task a lot of creative energy and “demonstrated abilities to build meaningful relationships with and among young people,” states Rector Jen Adams. She has several years of teaching experience at the middle and high school levels, in Holland, Fennville, and Grand Rapids in both public and parochial school settings.

A graduate of Hope College, she holds a master’s degree in education from Aquinas College.

Assisting the rector in overseeing the Children’s and Youth Ministries program is the Christian Education and Formation Commission, chaired by Mary Huisman.

Companion Parish Visit

The last week in August we had eight visitors from our companion parish in England, the Parish of Fawkham and Hartley in the Diocese of Rochester, southeast of London. The week’s schedule included visits to the Episcopal Cathedral in Kalamazoo, beaches and dunes along the lakeshore, Crane Orchards, and various sites of historical, cultural, and natural interest in Holland, Grand Rapids, and Saugatuck. Also on the program was West Michigan Whitecaps baseball game.

This was the second such exchange: last fall, eight parishioners from Grace were welcomed at Fawkham and Hartley with home-stays and a full round of sightseeing.

It is hoped that the relationship can continue and be expanded to other kinds of mutual sharing and support.

The photograph below was taken during their visit here.

Additional photos can be viewed on the companion parish's website by clicking here.


News Items
Thomas Merton retreat An Advent retreat on the spirituality of Thomas Merton was held at Grace Saturday, December 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Retreat leader Rev. Dr. Patrick Collins, an authority on Merton, combined words and music in this contemplative experience. Thomas Merton (1915-1968) had already earned a national reputation as a poet, before becoming a monk at the Trappist monastery of Gethsemani in Kentucky. There, under a discipline of silence and prayer, he became a world-renowned author on the contemplative life. Yuletide services at Grace This year the day before Christmas coincides with the Fourth Sunday of Advent. There will be only one morning service at Grace, at 10 a.m. Then in the evening there will be two Christmas Eve services. The first, at 6 p.m., is especially geared toward children, with children’s choir and children’s homily. Finally, a choral service of carols at 10:30 p.m. will precede the traditional midnight Eucharist at 11, during which child care will be provided. On Christmas morning at 10 Eucharist will be celebrated, and on Wednesday, the Feast of St. John, there will be morning prayer at 9:30 a.m. On December 31, the first Sunday after Christmas, there will again be a single service, at 10 a.m., consisting of Hly Eucharist with lessons and carols. Older News Celebration Of New Ministry—What A Party We Had! The Rev. Jennifer L. Adams was formally installed as our new Rector on Saturday, September 30—the first female rector in Grace’s 140-year history. The Rt. Rev. Robert Gepert, Bishop of Western Michigan, presided and preached at the service (liturgically named a “Celebration of New Ministry”). The Celebration continued afterward with the presentation of gifts and joyful feasting, music and dancing in the church’s undercroft. As the 22nd Rector of Grace Church, Adams succeeds the Rev. Thomas L. Toeller-Novak, who retired in 2005. A graduate of Kalamazoo College and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, in Berkeley, she has served at Grace since 1994 when she began as an assistant. She has had active roles in the Diocese and the national Episcopal Church, as well, serving most recently on the diocesan Standing Committee, on the national Standing Commission on Ministry Development, and as a deputy to General Convention. Photo During The Installation Photos After The Installation Rector Jen Adams with the Rev. Tina Velthuizen, who as a member of Grace in the 1980s became the first woman ordained priest in the Diocese of Western Michigan. She is now rector of Holy Trinity parish in South Bend, Ind. About the artwork Grace Church parishioners gave Jen at the celebration on September 30. It is called "Embracing the Spirit" - the artist is Michael and Jane Lewis of Easy Street Studios - Lutz, Florida. The work is hand painted silk, a French process approximately 100 years old. First the drawing is done with gutta resist. Then the colors are painted with French dyes using watercolor techniques and the resist to keep the colors separate. After dyeing, the silk is steam set to prevent fading. The steamed silk is then mounted on paper then cut and assembled to create a dimensional design known as bas-relief. The mat is acid free to ensure archival quality. The frame is ash. About the artists: Their current work is spirited by the visions and images of Jane and guided by the craftsmanship of Michael. "We believe our work is the reflection of the spirit within us all. We feel strongly about the importance in our lives of objects that speak to us, inspire, excite, or in some way enrich us. It is this level of communication that we aspire to in our work." Winning many awards and critical acclaim their work is collected internationally. Corporate and private collections include: UNICEF, The White House, Sun Bank, Walt Disney World, All Childrens Hospital, Spelman College, Ikon Office Solutions, Milwaukee Art Museum, MacGraw Hill Publishing, and The National Children’s Trust Fund. Blessing of the Animals More than 50 people came to an outdoor service at Grace on a sunny Sunday afternoon, October 8, and brought with them about 25 pets—cats, dogs large and small, two hamsters and a snake—to receive a blessing. The simple liturgy began with the beloved Anglican hymn “All things bright and beautiful . . . the Lord God loves them all.” It included selections from the Psalms, a prayer by Albert Schweitzer, and phrasing from St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day is October 4. Several of those present spoke of ways that their pets enriched their own lives. The service “reminds us of the sacredness of all life and provides an opportunity to celebrate the animals who share our lives,” according to D. K. Brazzel of Duke University. It maintains a Christian tradition that has been traced back to the fourth century and was first observed at Grace thirty years ago. Several Grace parishioners have been active in recent years in the Humane Societies in both Ottawa and Kent counties. Full-time Youth Minister Appointed Sunday School and youth programs for 2006-7 are in full swing, now under the leadership of Grace’s first full-time Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries, Debbie Coyle. She brings to the task a lot of creative energy and “demonstrated abilities to build meaningful relationships with and among young people,” states Rector Jen Adams. She has several years of teaching experience at the middle and high school levels, in Holland, Fennville, and Grand Rapids in both public and parochial school settings. A graduate of Hope College, she holds a master’s degree in education from Aquinas College. Assisting the rector in overseeing the Children’s and Youth Ministries program is the Christian Education and Formation Commission, chaired by Mary Huisman. Companion Parish Visit The last week in August we had eight visitors from our companion parish in England, the Parish of Fawkham and Hartley in the Diocese of Rochester, southeast of London. The week’s schedule included visits to the Episcopal Cathedral in Kalamazoo, beaches and dunes along the lakeshore, Crane Orchards, and various sites of historical, cultural, and natural interest in Holland, Grand Rapids, and Saugatuck. Also on the program was West Michigan Whitecaps baseball game. This was the second such exchange: last fall, eight parishioners from Grace were welcomed at Fawkham and Hartley with home-stays and a full round of sightseeing. It is hoped that the relationship can continue and be expanded to other kinds of mutual sharing and support. The photograph below was taken during their visit here. Additional photos can be viewed on the companion parish's website by clicking here.