Welcome to Grace Episcopal Church!
Sunday Service 10am
Current Events at Grace:
Christmas At Grace
This year Christmas Eve and the fourth Sunday of Advent fall on the same day. We have decided that we should have one service on Sunday, December 24th. We will have a traditional candlelight service of Holy Eucharist on Christmas Eve at 9:00pm, with the Rev. Kim Rossi, Rector of St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Olean officiating. We are planning a joyful service full of Grace Church Christmas traditions, as well as a time of prayerful reflection, hope, and celebration for our new beginning at Grace, and remembrance of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! We are also planning a special surprise for the children who will be in attendance, so don’t miss out on the fun! Please come celebrate the season with us.
The following Sunday, the first Sunday of Christmas (the only Sunday in Christmas), will be a service of Lessons and Carols, a tradition we all look forward to during the Christmas season, as we await the arrival of the Magi on Epiphany.
As is our tradition at Christmas, we will be purchasing poinsettias to decorate the church for the Christmas season. And, as is tradition, we are asking for donations to cover the costs of the flowers. You may send your memorials including your name and who you wish to remember this season to “Grace Episcopal Church”, 21 N Washington St., Randolph, NY 14772. Or you can come and bring it in person. We will need the Memorials by Sunday 12/17 to get them published in the Christmas Eve bulletins.
New Beginnings at Grace!
Starting in September, we began a regular schedule of worship leadership, with Ivy Shortz, a trained worship leader, and the Reverend Colleen McHale O'Conner on Alternating Sundays.
Ivy is from Franklinville, and normally attends services at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Olean. Reverend Colleen comes to us from the Genesee Deanery, where she spent many years serving as Dean of the Genesee Deanery, and spear heading the Genesee Regional Initiative, specializing in rural ministry.
We are blessed to have these two wonderfully talented and dynamic individuals leading our worship each Sunday. If you haven't been to Grace for a while, there is a feeling of new beginning here, and we invite you to come and witness it for yourself.
Maui Relief: Now Through December 2023
For the past few weeks, since the devastating wild fires, the jar at the top of the Chancel steps has been designated for Maui wild fire relief. The Vestry has decided that this will continue through December at least, and that every dollar donated by the congregation will be matched by the Vestry.
Ladies Night Out: Every Second Thursday at 5:30pm
-- The ladies are taking a break for the holidays. They will be restarting on February 8th, so mark your calendar now.--
Ladies Night Out is on the second Thursday of each month, at 5:30pm. Please join us for a fun evening of fellowship. Locations to be announced for each month. If you plan to attend, need a ride, or would like more information, please contact Sarah Barton 716-359-7135, or Dianne Gaddis 703-201-4753.
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News from Bishop Sean
Bishop Sean would like the practice of the common cup to return at communion. For intinction, the Bishop would like clergy or Eucharistic ministers to intinct the bread in the wine (as we have been.)
At Grace we'll have the common cup, as well as the option for intinction. People can signify their preference:
- Both hands extended to receive the bread and common cup
- One hand extended, the other crossed over the chest to receive the intincted host (we thought this makes sense, as it’s a somewhat familiar gesture - both hands crossed over chest indicates a desire not to receive communion, but a blessing.) As we do at Grace, we’ll give it a try, learn, and adapt as needed.
Grace Partners with Randolph Melioristic Theatre
Alumni from the Randolph Melioristic Theatre, including our own Kalan & Stephanie Brown and Dan & Sara Yarrington, are creating a series of webisodes that will be shared through various social media platforms and will provide viewers around the world the opportunity to donate to “Randolph Melioristic Theatre’s Young Artists’ Fund.” This fund will provide financial support that will allow youth ages 6-21, living in the Randolph area, to actively take part in the arts.https://www.facebook.com/RandolphMelioristic/
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