Dear People of Grace,
With the President declaring a national emergency, the communication from Governor Cooper and the update to the City of Asheville State of Emergency Proclamation, your leadership team at Grace has decided to suspend all worship services until further notice. This decision is not taken lightly and reflects an abundance of caution for our beloved parishioners as we all try to stay safe and healthy.
As mentioned in my previous communication, ALL activities at Grace: Lenten Programs, Monday Morning Bible Study, Wednesday Healing Service, Yoga, NA/AA Meetings, Centering Prayer gatherings, OSL, Monday’s Vestry Meeting, etc. are suspended until further notice. Take care of yourselves and practice “Social Distancing.”
Starting this Sunday and each Sunday thereafter where we do not “physically” meet as the Body of Christ at Grace we will livestream a clergy led worship service with homily at 10:30 AM. You can find our livestream on YouTube. Search for “Grace Church Asheville” and click the “Videos” tab. We will soon have a link on the main page of our web site to assist you in getting to the right page. Please give it a try and see how it works.
Gathering as a community of faith is central to our Christian practice. Caring for the healing and wholeness of everyone is what Jesus is all about. The sacrament of the church is meant to radiate to the world how we live our lives as Christian people. During this worldwide health crisis, the most sacramental act we can make, the most loving thing we can do, is to hold ourselves together during this time of physical separation.
We are Christians. Our Lenten journey reminds us that the root of our ethic is that we care for each other; not just our own but the entire human family and all of God’s creation. The poor, sick, and elderly stand to suffer the most severe consequences of the virus. At this time we are called to make a choice for the common good. It is a part of our Lenten practice. This is the choice that Jesus showed us again and again in the Gospels.
Grace Church sits as a Light on a Hill. We are called to shine that light in both joyous and difficult times. We are more than a beautiful stone building with beautiful stained glass windows; we are the Body of Christ gathered in this place. We are all the church…we are called to be Christ to each other. May we practice this each day in the coming days and weeks.
During this time of absence, I invite all of you to join one of the clergy, or any lay person who wants to volunteer, every evening at 8PM, beginning on Monday March 16th on our “Live” Facebook page to pray one of the most ancient liturgies in our Prayer Book; Compline found on page 127 in the BCP. We will say the ancient prayers, confess our sins, hear scripture and learn from one of the many Holy Women and Holy Men of our Church.
At this time we are unsure of office staffing during the week. Rest assured that e-mails will be checked and phone messages will be returned. In the event of any type of emergency please call Fr. Bob or myself. E-mail updates will be more numerous during these days, we will do our best to keep you informed. If you know a parishioner who is not “connected” or technically savvy please be a Sister and/or Brother in Christ and share this information, maybe with a phone call or printing the communication, by placing it in their mailbox or door. If you have a need or know of someone does please let us know. We are here for you and we love you!
Let us pray,
Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the living of these days. Give us the courage and strength to know you are present and beside us; give us the grace to forgive ourselves and others; give us the strength to support each other, those in need, and continually offer our thanksgivings for those who put themselves at risk in our medical professions; give us the wisdom to know what to do, what to say, and when; and in your mercy, O Christ, guide us so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessings, Peace & Love,
Gary+ and your leadership team at Grace
Fr. Gary Butterworth
Grace Episcopal Church | 871 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, NC 28804
graceavl.com | 828-254-1086
Office Hours:
Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
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