200 W Lang St, Alvin, TX 77511-2396 I 281-331-5657 I 281-331-1355 I www.gracechurchalvin.com

O ne Go d — O ne Fami ly — O ne T ab le November

2018

The Outpost

Catch us on Facebook Grace Episcopal Church Alvin

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BIRTHDAY CAKE SUNDAY

November 4th is Birthday Cake Sunday, sponsored by the Ros-sanos’. Please join us between the services for cake and fellowship.

Parish Meeting

A Parish Meeting will be held on Sunday, Nov 18, at

9:15 am. We will elect oncoming vestry members (4) and one delegate to attend Diocesan Council. A light breakfast of pastries, fruit, juice, and coffee will be

provided.

If anyone is interested in standing for Diocesan Council, they can notify the church office. Nomina-

tions will also be taken from the floor at the meeting. A special Moments of Grace e-newsletter will be sent out prior to the meeting with information on the can-

didates.

In this Edition

From the Deacon in Charge/Upcoming Page 1

Birthdays & Anniversaries Page 2

Lay Ministry Schedule Page 3

The Jesus Prayer/Upcoming Con’t Page 4

Spiritual Formation Page 5

Calendar Page 6

Parish Prayer List Page 7

Dear Grace, One of the lectionary readings that was preached on this month at Grace was the call of Barti-maeus found in the 10th chapter of the gospel of Mark. Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, begs Jesus to have mercy on him and to provide healing. Jesus answers his re-quest and provides healing with sight. When Bartimae-us experienced healing, he immediately stopped what he was doing: he threw off his cloak and followed Je-sus. That day he became a disciple! All of us have our own stories of call. I felt the call to ordained ministry while in college. My call has been one of many callings throughout my life…calls to faithfulness to communities and people and jobs, calls of walking through a certain door that led to another door which led me down a path to where I never quite imagined going. Quiet calls, with lots of thoughts about, “can I really do this, God?” An Episcopal priest by the name of Barbara Brown Taylor, writes about calls in her book, “The Preaching Life”. This is what she said: “If my own ex-perience can be trusted, then God does not call us once, but many times. There are calls to faith and calls to ordination, but in between there are calls to particular communities and calls to particular tasks within them—calls into and out of relationships as well as calls to seek God wherever God may be found. Sometimes those calls ring clear as bells and some-times they are barely audible, but in any case, we are not meant to hear them all by ourselves. It was part of God’s genius to incorporate us as one body, so that our ears have other ears, other eyes, minds, hearts, and voices to help us interpret what we have heard. Together we can hear our calls, and together we can answer them, if only we will listen for the still, small voice that continues to speak to us in the language of our lives.” God has each of us at Grace at this time for a purpose. He has called each of us here to be a beacon of hope, a community of refuge as well as a place where people are loved. Following Jesus’ example, we are to offer hope. In October, we had so many people step onto the grounds of Grace that may not have otherwise done so. Our pumpkin patch, pet blessing, movie night and children’s carnival were expressions of Grace, love, and outreach to our community. My heart is full with all the goodness that is happening here. If you call Grace your spiritual home, God has you here for a rea-son. I’m grateful to be called along with you to the work He has given us the privilege to do together. We are called to holy work for and with holy people. You are needed, and you are loved. Your Deacon, Suzanne

Grace Church Choir Presents:

“Longing for the Light”

An Advent Concert

Saturday, December 15, 2018 6:00 PM

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=birthday+clip+art&view=detailv2&&id=1D55A706729B257E671DD9ACB41561006BF930A6&selectedIndex=176&ccid=MsfeSKWG&simid=608000673732167349&thid=OIP.M32c7de48a586cf271ba5eb53b7e19a69o0

Volunteer Ministries

Altar Guild Director:

Janice Bell jsbell_7@hotmail.com

Fellowship & Pastoral Care Council Mary Smith, mebsmith@comcast.net

Liturgy & Worship Council Janice Bell, jsbell_7@hotmail.com

Media & Communications Council Donna Tate, donna.s.tate@att.net

Jo Nell Parker jnparkerkw@hotmail.com

Lay Ministry Scheduler: Vicki Ennis, 281-585-4660

vrennis@att.net

Your Vestry:

Donna Tate, Senior Warden donna.s.tate@att.net

Charles Lamb, Jr. Warden cflamb70@yahoo.com Anna Arendell anamerican1@yahoo.com Tom Clark tdplclark1@sbcglobal.net Glennie Hefner glenniehefner@me.com Lionel Ortiz lot73@icloud.com Tommy Peebles holidog@att.net Allen Reid reidallen98@yahoo.com Randy Smith 281-968-7074

The Office

Mailing Address 112 W. Lang Hours: M-F 9:00-1:00

The Staff

Deacon in Charge: The Reverend Suzanne Smith

Organist & Music Director: Paul Humphrey Gphumphrey@yahoo.com

Parish Administrator: Laura Tate gracechurchalvin@hotmail.com

Children’s Minister: Aubrey Smith asmithereen1225@gmail.com

Nursery Attendant: Claudia Pouncey 281-840-3547

Outpost Edi tor : : o f f i c e@g r ac ec h u r c h a l v i n .c o m

1 Charlie Lamb

3 Kent Taylor

4 Jim Reimer

5 Gary Taylor 6 Ruth Fitch

13 Joanne Fisher 13 Russell Thatcher

14 John Fisher 14 James Joseph

14 Jeremy Lamb

14 Alton Mathis

16 Buster Schapper

17 Anna Arendell

17 John Evans

18 Deborah Bruner 22 David Anderson

27 Melodi Meshek

28 Tom Clark

Ha ppy Birthday

Grace Episcopal Church One God

One Family One Table

Vision

Grace Episcopal Church seeks to deepen relationships with God,

bring individuals together into a family that builds up one another in love

and support, and actively serve our

neighbors and community. Mission

In this family of faith God brings together individuals in all stages of their spiritual life to form an inclu-sive family. As a family, we encour-

age growth in relationships with God, others, ourselves, and the crea-

tion, in that we:

Practice invitation to God’s ta-ble,

Welcome and incorporate those who come,

Work together to worship the Lord in powerful liturgy,

Challenge, encourage and teach one another, and

Build one another up for minis-try in and beyond the church.

Page 2

14 Charles and Hel-en Wreyford

19 Mark & Kati Gar-ner

25 Jim & Elizabeth Reimer

November

LAY MINISTRY SCHEDULE

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO SERVE

PLEASE SECURE A SUBSTITUTE

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11/04/18 11/11/18 11/18/18 11/25/18

Altar Guild Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Team 4

Janice/Anna Ivy/Janice Margret/Lydia Carol/Jackie

LEV Kati Glennie Jim Donna

WORSHIP SERVICE

8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM

Vestry Anna Lionel Lionel Tommy

Ushers Phyllis Becky Anna Betty

Carol Ken

Lector/Intercessor Gary Tommy Jana Gary

Crucifer/LEM Gary Tommy Jana Gary

WORSHIP SERVICE

10:30 AM 10:30 AM 10:30 AM 10:30 AM

Vestry Tom Charles Donna Randy

Ushers Mary Charles Donna Jim

1st Lesson Kati Glennie Jo Nell Randy

Psalm Kati Glennie Jo Nell Randy

2nd Lesson Kati Glennie Jo Nell Randy

Intercessor Charles Don Mary Jana

Chalice Charles Don Mary Jana

Crucifer Makayla Makayla Don Jana

Gospel Jeremy Cora Pia Gunner

Torch Avery

Torch Eli

Children's Chapel Aubrey Aubrey Aubrey Aubrey

Page 4

The Jesus Prayer

Prayer is a spiritual discipline that can be accessed at any time or any place. Starting in the fifth century, spiritual guides and contemplatives taught the use of the Jesus Prayer:

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me,

a sinner.”

The Jesus Prayer comes from two scripture sources. One is the prayer of the tax collector in the Temple: “God, be mer-ciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13). The other is the cry of the blind man by the road near Jericho who calls out to Je-sus, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:38). (Mark 10:46-52)

A short form of the prayer is “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” The prayer’s shortest form is simply the name Jesus. Especially in Eastern Christianity people have been taught to repeat this prayer constantly as a way of pray-ing without ceasing. With the help of a teacher, people learn to coordinate the prayer with breathing so as to “inhale” the presence of Christ and to “exhale” all that keeps one from loving God.

I offer The Jesus Prayer to you…a reminder…a compan-ion…to carry in your heart when you don’t have the words to pray…when you wake up and hear the news of another shooting…when you’re so riddled with anxiety that words are hard to find… when you’ve said or acted in a way that isn’t kind or charitable…when you have thoughts about an-other person that you know you shouldn’t be thinking…pray this prayer. It’s in these moments in particular, but also all the moments in between that we should call on the words of our blind friend, Bartimaeus, which simply say, ”Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God. Have mercy on me a sinner. Pray it, be-lieve it and let it become a companion of yours on the jour-ney of faith.

Your Deacon,

Suzanne

Upcoming Visiting Clergy for November

The past few months at Grace we have been blessed on Sunday mornings, not only with Deacon Suzanne leading Morning Prayer and reintroducing us to this piece of our vast and diverse history, but also with visiting priests joining us on Sunday mornings to reside over Holy Eucharist.

One of our very faithful visiting priests, The Rev. Rick Benson, will be joining us the last two Sundays of the month and we are grate-ful to be welcoming him back.

We are also very excited to be welcoming two new faces to Grace early on this November...

This coming Sunday, the 4th, The Rev. Mark Crawford will be joining us as we celebrate All Saint’s Day services. There will be an oppor-tunity during both services to light candles and remember our loved ones who have passed on this year. At the 10:30 service, there will also be a Chil-dren’s Parade of Saints. If you have children, be sure to allow them to dress up and a Saint will be assigned to them based off of their attire during Sunday School at 9:30 am.

On November 11 we are very blessed and ex-cited to welcome Canon Kai Ryan. Canon Ryan works alongside transition minister Francine Young, who helped placed Deacon Suzanne at Grace!

Canon Ryan is Canon to the Ordinary and Chief Operating Officer, leading the ministry staff of the Diocese to support and imple-ment the vision of the Diocese. She is in-volved with canonically Revised Title IV work, assisting the Bishop’s work with clergy disci-pline and other discipline matters. She also mentors rectors, clergy new to the Diocese, bi-vocational priests, transitional deacons, pas-toral leaders, pastoral leader interns, and in-terim clergy.

We are truly honored to have her visit Grace and look forward to welcoming her on the 11th.

SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, December 8

You are invited to a Christmas Open House Hosted by Deacon Suzanne

and the Rev. Travis Smith as Deacon Suzanne’s Christmas gift to Grace and to you!

Your presence is the only gift requested. The Open House will be held at the parish house of Holy Comforter in Angleton. It will beautiful-

ly decorated for Christmas and a wonderful opportunity to come together in fellowship for

the holidays. Childcare will be provided. Carpool information and times to come

Spiritual Formation

Children’s Classes All Ages of Children Welcome Sundays 9:30-10:15am

Adult Classes Sundays 9:30 –10:15am Tuesdays 11:00am to 12:30pm Deacon’s Bible Study in the Admin Bldg. Conference Rm. Topic: “When Heaven Meets Earth” A Twelve Part Study on Heaven from the Bible Project.

Wednesday Night Bible Study The Bible Study hosted by Holy Comforter Episcopal Church Parish Hall (227 Chenango, Angleton TX 77515) centers on a video series called “How to read the Bible” led by Father Travis Smith, Father Preston Weatherly, and Deacon Suzanne. The evening begins with a meal and fel-lowship at 6 PM and the study begins at 6:30. Childcare is provided. A carpool from Grace gathers in the parking lot at 5:10 in order to leave by 5:20. All are welcome!

Morning Prayer Join us every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 9:30 in the Sanctuary for Morning Prayer!

Page 5

Join us at Grace at 10am

on November 24th for our

1st Annual Turkey

Bowl! We will be bowling

with, you guessed it, a

frozen tur- key! Don't

worry, it'll be bagged and wrapped to keep the tur-

key juice to a minimum! We need 2-liter coke bot-

tles for pins, so please bring any that you have lay-

ing around to the church by Sunday the 18th so we

can fill them with water and freeze them!

Youth Encounter Spirit (Y.E.S.) Hi, everyone! I want to share with you something that I have been involved with since last year. I have had the pleasure to be on the steering committee for a very special event that happens twice a year in our diocese: Y.E.S. (Youth Encountering Spirit). This year’s dates are Nov. 16-18. Junior high kids from all over the dio-cese of Texas have an opportunity to get away for a weekend and come to our beautiful Camp Allen in Navasota to learn about their true worth in God's eyes. What does a relationship with Jesus really mean to me? To my life? In relation to my friends and fami-ly? Am I good enough as I am? Is He really there when I need him? When I don't (or think I don't)? They get to answer these questions together with other adult leaders and their peers in some very fun and meaningful ways. I had an incredibly rough time in junior high, so jr. high ministries have a very special place in my heart. This is such a tough age! They aren't kids anymore, but they aren't quite adults, either. They are trying to carve out a place for themselves among their peers while just beginning to learn who they really are. When the world feeds them lies about who the world thinks they should be, they need to be rooted in the truth that they are God's masterpiece! That is, first and foremost, their identity! To register for Y.E.S. go to www.epicenter.org/yes. Aubrey Smith Children’s Minster

Christmas Walk a Mile Neighbors Sharing Christmas

Presented by the Annual Alvin/Manvel Ministerial Alliance

December 10 at 6:30 PM

1st Church– First Methodist Church 2nd Church– 1st Lutheran Church 3rd Church– First Presbyterian Church 4th Church– Grace Episcopal Church Join us for a time to come together with others in our city to prepare for the Christmas season in worship.

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Moring Prayer 9:30am

2 Moring Prayer 9:30am All Soul’s Service 7:00pm Holy Comforter, Angleton

3

4 Ingathering Sunday* Holy Eucharist (I) 8:00am Christian Education Programs Holy Eucharist (II) 10:30am Vestry Mtg, 12:15 pm

5

6 Deacon’s Bible Study, 11:00am BSA Troop 400—7:00pm ALANON—7:30pm

7 Moring Prayer 9:30am Bible Study, Holy Comforter, Angleton 6:00pm, Carpool time, 5:10 BSA Cub Pack 400, 6:30pm Choir Practice, 7:00pm

8 Moring Prayer 9:30am

9 Moring Prayer 9:30am

Office Closed in honor of Veterans’

Day

10 Baby Shower 2-8pm

11 Holy Eucharist (I) 8:00am Christian Education Programs Holy Eucharist (II) 10:30am

12 13 Deacon’s Bible Study, 11:00am Vestry Mtg., 7:00pm BSA Troop 400—7:00pm ALANON—7:30pm

14 Moring Prayer 9:30am Bible Study, Holy Comforter, Angleton 6:00pm, Carpool time, 5:10 BSA Cub Pack 400, 6:30pm Choir Practice, 7:00pm

15 Moring Prayer 9:30am Grace Guild, 10:00am

OUTPOST DEADLINE

16 Moring Prayer 9:30am

17

18 Holy Eucharist (I) 8:00am Children’s Sunday School 9:30am Parish Meeting 9:15am Holy Eucharist (II) 10:30am Private Reception 4pm

19

20 BSA Troop 400—7:00pm ALANON—7:30pm

21 Moring Prayer 9:30am Bible Study, Holy Comforter, Angleton 6:00pm, Carpool time, 5:10 BSA Cub Pack 400, 6:30pm Choir Practice, 7:00pm

22 Office Closed

23 Office Closed

24

Children’s Turkey Bowl 10am

25 Holy Eucharist (I) 8:00am Christian Education Programs Holy Eucharist (II) 10:30am

26 27

28 Moring Prayer 9:30am Bible Study, Holy Comforter, Angleton 6:00pm, Carpool time, 5:10pm BSA Cub Pack 400, 6:30pm Choir Practice, 7:00pm

29 Moring Prayer 9:30am

30 Moring Prayer 9:30am

*If you have not received a pledge card, please contact the church office

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Let us pray

for the Church

and for the world.

Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your name may be united in your truth, live together in your love and reveal your glory to the world.

Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend Justin Welby Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry Diocesan Bishop, The Right Reverend C. Andrew Doyle Assistant Bishop, The Right Reverend Hector Monterroso Bishop Suffragan, The Right Reverend Dena Harrison Bishop Suffragan, The Right Reverend Jeff Fisher Grace Deacon In Charge, The Reverend Suzanne Smith Grace Music Director and Organist, Paul Humphrey

Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours and grant that we may serve Christ in them and love one another a he loves us.

Our Administrator, Altar Guild, Bible Studies, Children’s Ministries, Christian Education, Cursillo, Community Outreach, Grace Guild, KAIROS Prison Ministry, Lay Ministers, Music Ministry, Youth Ministry, Vestry, and all others serving you.

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation…

Barbara Adkison, Demi Anderson, Adam and Christy Arendell, Carolyn Armstrong, Susan Armstrong, Windy Arnold, Kimber Ballard, Margaret Barrier, Sandra & Charles Batty, Derrick Beaver, Louis Bell, Patricia Bell, Joyce Bergmann, Riley Bianchi, Stacey Bitner, Christian Blevins, Stephanie Bradford, Morris Browne, Lynne Bruner, Brenda Buelow, Jackie Bush, Nathan Buzbee, Beverly Capehart, Becky Carbone, Karen Carmona, Jackie Childers, Danice Cox, Wanda Craig, Ed Crook, Mother Nan Doerr, Anna-Grace Duffy, Lauren & Daniel Duffy, Diane Ellis, Flossie Elkins, Paula Ellis, Joanne Fisher, Jay Fitch, Luci M. Fuller, Jacob Garcia, Cynthia Gardner, Aaron Gideon, Denny Gideon, Jerrie Grantham, Mildred Grear, Mitchell Hardee, Bill Harris, Phil Henry, Shirleen Honcoop, Roger Ivey, Dalton Jacques, Greg Jeter, Debra Kelinske , David Klewer, Judy Klewer, Carolyn Lacy & Family, Bryan Lamb, Kenneth Lee, Ray Lindemann & Family, Ben Lockett, Lois Marshall, Alice Megna, Ben Meza, Mildred Morris, Ann Oliver, Jim Oliver, Bob Peebles, Joan Pelt, Tom Peterson, Curtis Resta, Barbara Richardson, Donald Richardson, Angela Rodriguez, Daniel Rodriguez, Elena Rodriguez, Chad Rogers, Joe Rossano, Josh Sager, The Steiner Family, Brooke Stephenson, Shirley Stockton, Joyce Stroup, Scarlett Tucker, Fran Van Winkle, Randy Vaughn, Bonnie Weber, Azra Kay Weidner, Katherine Welch, Christie White, Sandra Willis

Our college students in their journey.

Ashton Arendell, Louisiana State University James Beasley, Texas A & M University Catherine Patton, North Carolina State University Protect and guide all who serve in the military.

Mickey Alcantara (USMC), Scott Barrier (USAF), Scott Bean, Robert Berger (USN), Christian Blevins (USA), Jeremiah Bruner (USA), Jason Bryan, Chase Capehart, Taylor Cameron (USN), Robert Carnie (USN), Ryan Cross, Clayton Crouch, David Dezso, Glen Dockal (USA), Raymond Dugan (USN), Thomas Economidis (USN), Mitchell Good-night, Matt (USN) & David Hefner (USA), Lance Henderson, Nathan Hines (USN), Keith (USN) & Kurt (USMC), Adam Miller, Ben Meyer (USCG), Shon O’Connor, Tara Parker, Chad Perry (USAF), Daniel Popham, Ryan Popham, Jonathan Prater, Manuel Rodriguez, Josh Sager (USAF), A. J. Soto (USA), Russell Stewart (USAF), John Swanson, William Thompson, Ray Turner, Vincent Wilson (USA).

Our Expectant Mothers: Cristal Reid, Katrina Blevins

Our Newborns: Hannah Grace

Faithfully Departed: We commend to your mercy O Lord, your servants, John Bergmann, Jack Koeing, Robbie Kelley, and Cody Ryno, that your will for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that they may rest with all your saints in your eternal king-dom.

Guide and protect our First Responders.

Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.

Matthew 21:22

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200 W. Lang St. Mail & Office @ 112 W. Lang St. Alvin, TX 77511-2396

Services

Sunday Worship 8am Rite I

9:15 am Sunday School 10:30 am Rite II

Morning Prayer

9:30 am Wednesday Thursday

Friday

Upcoming Features of Parish Life

Birthday Cake Sunday, November 4

Grace Guild Meeting, November 15, 10:00 AM

Parish Meeting, November 18, 9:15 AM

Children's Turkey Bowl, November 24, 10 AM

Christmas Open House, December 8

Christmas Walk a Mile, December 10, 6:30 PM

Choir Concert, December 15, 6:00 PM

Christmas Pageant, December 23

Member of:

Episcopal Diocese of Texas, epicenter.org

National Episcopal Church, episcopalchurch.org

Worldwide Anglican Communion, anglicancommunion.org

Alvin-Manvel Ministerial Alliance, ministerialalliance.net

One God - One Family - One Table