Dear People of Grace,
May the Blessing and Peace of Christ be with you.
As a community of faith we are meant to be together. During this time of being apart physically I wanted to start a note to you to keep you informed and to feel that we are a community. This will include notes, a meditation or two, goings on, points of interest, etc. I also invite any writers in our midst to add something if they feel so called. Just e-mail it to me and I’ll include it. I was wondering what the title should be and have decided on “Grace Gatherings.” I hope you find it a source of connection and strength throughout the days ahead.
Yesterday was a little different. Hopefully many of you were able to be with us (virtually that is) and Fr. Bob, Dn. Jeanette and I held worship and livestreamed it on our YouTube page. It appears that this may become one of the ways we come together each and every week for a period of time. If you listened to Fr. Bob’s sermon…maybe this is a journey through Samaria!
My guess is that worshipping virtually is new to everyone. We thought it went fairly well for the first time. If you have any suggestions, insights, etc. please let us know.
During this time of absence we will gather as a community each evening at 8PM on Facebook to pray Compline together. All you need do is go to Grace’s Facebook page and join in. This is probably another first for all of us. We hope this brings comfort and strength for those who join in. According to An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church Compline is “The last of the four services in the Daily Office (BCP, p. 127). It is descended from the night prayers said before bed at the end of the monastic round of daily prayer. Compline is a simple office including a confession of sins, one or more psalms, a short reading from scripture, versicles and responses, the Lord's Prayer, collects which ask for God's protection during the night to come, and the canticle Nunc dimittis.”
Compline can be led by Clergy and Lay Persons. If there is anyone who would like to share in leading Compline please let me know and we will set up a rotation.
Every morning I begin my day using a resource called “Pray as You Go (PAYG).” It is offered from an Ignatian Community in the United Kingdom. I would encourage you to listen on your computer or smart phone. The PAYG App is available on both the Android and Apple stores. You can also access it online at https://pray-as-you-go.org/home/.
Please take care of yourselves. Support one another and love yourselves. Please be in touch with us if a need arises. We love you.
Listed below is an article I hope you will find helpful if the need arises. It is an article from The Asheville Citizen Times titled: Coronavirus: how to get tested in Asheville, WNC and how long it takes, you can find the article at https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2020/03/16/coronavirus-how-get-tested-asheville-how-long-takes/5058117002/
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+
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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