Sincere greetings to all who read our parish profile. Grace Church Nampa is a warm and inviting place of worship. We are a gathered community of faithful people who believe that we are all beloved children of God. We hope the information in this parish profile will give you a little insight into what we are about as Episcopalians in Nampa and be helpful to you as you seek to discover where God is leading you.

"We are a warm and caring church that touches the life of the whole community."

When Episcopal lay reader George Buzzelle ventured into Nampa in the late 1880’s, he found himself to be the lone voice of Christianity crying out in the relatively new "wilderness". With the need so evident, Buzzelle began holding services twice a month in the young town of about 400, sharing the upstairs of the Bowman Building, with several other organizations and the town’s only school at the time.

Buzzelle was typical of the frontier missionaries of the time, a builder of churches. In 1889 he organized the construction of Nampa’s first church, on a 12^th Avenue lot between First and Front streets that was donated by the town’s founder, Alexander Duffes.

Buzzelle traveled back East to complete his training for the priesthood and, after returning to Nampa, a missionary parish was organized with consecration of the church following soon. Up until that time, the facility had been used by a variety of denominations, but upon consecration, use was limited to Episcopalians. The name, Grace Church, was taken from the Sheboygan, Wisconsin church where the Rev. Buzzelle was baptized and confirmed.

The Rev. Buzzelle was succeeded in 1891 by Arch Deacon Samuel Jennings who served the parish until being replaced by the Rev. J.C. Scottowe in 1893. Rev. Scottowe resigned his position in 1895 and Arch Deacon Jennings returned to Grace Church. Jennings supervised the moving of the church on July 14, 1900, from its original site to property on the corner of 12^th Avenue and 3^rd Street South, which had been donated by Nampa notable Col. W.H. Dewey. A rectory was built later that same year.

Rev. Samuel B. Booth replaced Jennings and served from September 11, 1910 until July 1914, and later became the Bishop of Vermont. Arch Deacon Alward Chamberlaine served Grace from October 1914 to May 1915. The Rev. Martin Damer replaced Chamberlaine and served until being replaced by the Rev. Joseph Wallace Dunn in 1922. Rev. Dunn served Grace until being replaced by the Rev. L.A.Cook in 1927.

Rev. Cook was succeeded by the Rev. C.A.McKay on May 1, 1936. It was during the tenure of Rev. McKay that the present Grace Church building was constructed. The property on the corner of 12th Avenue and 3^rd Street was sold for $15,000 to the Nevada corporation that owned the Safeway chain of grocery stores and on the same day, an agreement was reached to purchase the property on the southwest corner of 10^th Avenue and 4^th Street South for $5,000. That parcel was purchased from Irma and Thayer Hill, who had obtained the property from her parents, the Bloomfields, who were an old established Nampa family and Episcopalians. As a teenager, Irma had taught Sunday school classes at the "old" church. After she married Thayer Hill, they built on 4^th Street, the house that was first used as a rectory and now serves as the church office. Construction of the present church began on July 7, 1940 and was consecrated on December 18, 1940. The church altar was donated by the Jennings family in memory of the Rev. Samual J. Jennings in 1940. In 1942, new pews were installed and used for the first time on June 7, 1942 in a service that saw Idaho Bishop Frank Rhea confirm his first class of candidates. The church’s current organ was first used in public worship on the first Sunday of May 1951 and was dedicated to Bishop Rhea, that same year.

The congregation approved a petition to become a self-supporting parish at the annual meeting of February 13, 1945. A vestry was created and its first act was to elect the Rev. McKay the parish’s first rector.

The church has many beautiful stained glassed windows. The first two windows, The East Memorial Window ~"Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane" and the West Memorial Window ~ "The Annunciation", were acquired in 1950.

The Rev. McKay resigned his post in 1954 and was succeeded by the Rev. Helbert H. Frost who served until June 1955. The Rev. Harold Valli Myers was rector during the building of the current parish hall. Rev. Myers stepped down from full time ministry in 1970 and became the assistant Pastor when Rev. Ray Schaumburg accepted a call to take over the Grace Church pulpit. Rev. Schaumburg resigned in 1975 and was succeeded by Rev. Nathaniel Pierce. The Rev. "Nat" Pierce, who resigned in 1984 to accept a call from a Boston-area parish, was succeeded by the Rev. James Swearingen, who served until April 1988. He was replaced by the Rev. Milt Holmes. Under Rev. Holmes the church celebrated its 100^th anniversary on March 26, 1989. The celebration took on an official air when the Nampa Mayor at the time, Winston K. Goering and the city council, approved a resolution proclaiming the month of May 1989 to be Grace Church Episcopal Church month. In part, the resolution cited the church and its members for being "an integral and viable part of the community" during its 100-year history.

Rev. Holmes retired in 1996 and was succeeded by the Rev. Douglas Yarbrough. In November of 2004, Rev. Yarbrough was removed from Grace by Bishop Harry Bainbridge and the bishop became the rector of Grace Church. The parishioners reacted to this with mixed emotions, incredulity, distress and sad division. In January of 2005, the Rev. Thomas Mayes was appointed as Interim Pastor by the Bishop to assist and guide the parish through its time of healing and "finding of itself". Rev. Mayes’s tenure ended abruptly in December 2005 when he sustained a stroke that prevented him from returning to Grace. Grace was once again faced with the absence of a pastor for guidance and "stability" on a continuous basis, or so it thought. Through many prayers and the hard work and dedication of the vestry members, lay readers, and the faithful members of the congregation, Grace continues to be a welcoming place to actively worship every Sunday, using lay readers for Morning Prayer services and supply priests, when available, to administer Holy Eucharist.

With God’s help, Grace Church will not just survive but will continue to grow spiritually and serve not only its parishioners but all the community of Nampa.

The church grounds consist of 3 buildings centered with a paved parking lot:  the church, which is handicapped accessible; parish hall, a large masonry building with a number of classrooms and two restrooms downstairs and a large open meeting room, restroom and full kitchen upstairs. The parish hall is also handicap accessible. An older 6 room former house is used as the church office. While all three buildings are in good repair, there are some items which could use updating.

The top priority at Grace church is for worship to be a soul-feeding, joyous experience.  While guided by the tradition of the Episcopal Church, we are striving to make it a living, free, and creative expression of the faith of the community gathered.  Worship is thoughtfully and thoroughly planned .Grace’s commitment to offer full membership to all members (children included) is reflected in both worship and those leading worship.

Fall Schedule: 1^st Sunday after Labor Day through last Sunday before Memorial Day

Sunday begins at 10:30 a.m. with Religious Education for all ages at 9:00 a.m.

Summer Schedule: 1^st Sunday after Memorial Day through last Sunday before Labor Day Sunday begins at 9:30 a.m. There is no religious education.

With both summer and fall schedules the services are either Morning Prayer or Eucharist. Both are Rite II with music.

When we had a full time priest, Grace held two Sunday services: The first service was at 8:15 and was the more traditional Rite I with no music. The second service was at 10:30 and was the more contemporary Rite II with various types of music.

We now have a full time priest, Rev. Karen Hunter, as of Feb.18, 2007.

Attendance (these figures are approximate)

(as of September 24, 06)

Note: After Fr. Mayes stroke attendance dropped

but during the summer began to again increase.)

The lay readers and lectors play a huge part in the worship at Grace, especially on those Sundays that a supply priest is not available to celebrate. Our lay readers and lectors are trained by the diocese and guide the parish through Morning Prayer using a sermon from the Episcopal web site appropriate for the Lectionary Readings that day.

A Worship Committee is in place to guide and ensure that the traditions and practices of the Episcopal teachings are adhered to and followed. Since Lay Readers play a large role in the worship, they are represented on the committee, along with the organist, a representative from the youth program and interested members of the congregation. The committee meets on a regular basis.

Grace has regularly scheduled acolytes and greeters who enhance our services every Sunday. There are a minimal amount of boys and girls who serve as acolytes but we have at least one scheduled every Sunday. There are two greeters that are scheduled every Sunday and their duties include greeting, handing out church bulletins, ushering, and collection of the offerings.

Every church has an Altar Guild, or at least a group of "church ladies" who prepare the altar before services, clean up afterwards, launder and care for the linen, polish the silver, provide flowers, and otherwise spruce up the church. Grace’s Altar Guild attends to all such matters and much more. We are blessed to have these people and their loving ministry.

A vibrant choir is a major goal of Grace Church.  Music is a focus of both worship and ministry.  The pipe organ, which requires a balcony at the back of the church for its tone chambers, is played on most Sundays by a fulltime paid organist.  We also have a piano that was graciously donated in memory of a late parishioner by her family and on occasion is played by our assistant organist or a young teen member of the congregation.  Singing is an integral part of every Morning Prayer and Eucharist service and is performed by all members of the church in the pews.  The official church choir disbanded many years ago, due to lack of energized leadership, but a recent Children’s Choir has been created and performs occasionally, practicing every Sunday in the fall before church service begins.

Our goal is a diverse music program which integrates a wide range of style and tastes in the service of gospel proclamation. We are in the process of contacting local music majors to direct a choir. The program has started to make creative use of the proximity of colleges and universities by asking outside talent to perform in conjunction with worship. Christmas time is a joyous time through music and singing at Grace while utilizing more local talent for bell ringing and piano playing.

Grace Church has been faced with various financial challenges in the past.  Because of misdirection and lack of commitment our requirements for yearly assessment to the diocese had not been met so Grace Church, for a short time, was a diocesan supported parish.  Through an aggressive and active Stewardship campaign (by every member canvassing and by other financial means) Grace has paid in full all diocesan assessments that were owed.  This is a commendable feat by all committed members of the church.  The year round Stewardship Committee is responsible for conducting the yearly pledge drive.  A proposal was offered to Grace by the bishop and accepted by the congregation for partial support, through a three year descending grant, for funding of a fulltime priest.   Many of our members have begun contributing to a "Priest Reserve Fund" as a show of commitment to the Diocesan descending grant

Grace Church is the place for children Sunday morning. An exciting and comprehensive children’s ministry is a primary part of the total ministry of the church. Children are full and equal members of this faith community and we are committed to providing them with many opportunities for continuing growth in their faith, to be educated and to educate others, both young and old, in God’s name.

The children and youth are lead by a dedicated staff of parishioner volunteers that include a Director of Children and Youth Ministries and a Children/Youth Committee team. We have grown from a low in 2005 of 4 to 6 to having 20 to 22 this fall, 2006.

Nursery and child care for newborns through age 2 is available from 9 a.m. until the conclusion of the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service. There hasn’t been a need for this service for quite some time and because the paid nursery attendant graduated high school and has since gone off to college, we have not replaced the attendant and instead utilize volunteers as needed. As the need warrants, we would like to once again make the nursery attendant a paid position. The nursery and child care room is located in the parish hall, adjacent to the church.

There is a comfortable room in the basement of the church, called the Peace Room that is available during Sunday service and is equipped with rockers, a love seat, etc. in which it can be utilized for nursing an infant or entertaining small children and not feeling they are being disruptive during the service. Speakers will be installed so the parents may hear the service.

This is an excellent opportunity for young children to learn about their faith, their church, and themselves. Our vision is a Sunday School where children: come to know Jesus and the Bible, are a part of the Grace Church family, are nurtured into a personal relationship with God, and are encouraged to link their faith with the world around them.

Grace’s Sunday School program runs parallel with the fall schedule and begins the 1^st Sunday after Labor Day and goes through the last Sunday before Memorial Day. The official end of Sunday School is usually represented by a last day celebration and participation award ceremony.

The school is divided by age group into four classes that meet each Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The program that is used and tailored for each age group is called Live B.I.G. – Living your Belief In God. Through the use of videos, music, movement and activities Children and Youth learn about God's love in the world around them. Each Sunday the children take an adventure through video. Some Sundays the adventure will be skits geared for their age where they visit a backyard, an afternoon arts program or a coffee cafe. The children or teens along with their adult role model interact in the skit and deal with common everyday situations and support each other in living their belief. Some Sundays they will experience the Bible story through art, photos and videos. Other

Sundays they will visit other churches or missions where people demonstrate living their belief in God. "Kids Khorus" is offered in the fall 10:00 - 10:15 am. with the goal of having fun and knowing God through music.

This time is in conjunction with the Adult Christian Education time and allows the children and adults to participate together and as one congregation in our worship at the 10:30 Sunday service. Each class is staffed by at least two teachers, some of whom are licensed Idaho state teachers or who have many years of various teaching experience. All have been certified in the Sexual Abuse Awareness program, required by the diocese.

Our goal is to start a fun night from 6:45 to 7:30p.m.with different activities such as playing games to learn more about the bible, and crafts, and a time for focusing on our service activities. The dream is to have this fun night be for all - young and young at heart. The youth, 7th and 8th graders, have been invited to join Trinity Lutheran, First

Presbyterian and UCC churches in the TGIW which is a preparation program for Confirmation.

Grace Church encourages participation and even sponsors those youth and young adults who need assistance to attend the summer youth camp at Paradise Point in McCall Idaho. Paradise Point is a time for the young people from across the diocese to come together to get to know each other in a fun, safe, and spirit-filled. Supported by a committed staff campers sing, play, swim, worship and rest in a spectacular camp environment, miles from home, within a new family community. Upon their return, the campers are encouraged to tell their camp experiences to the congregation through personal testimony. This year youth were encouraged to share their summer experiences through articles in our church newsletter

- In October we participated in the Crop Walk and afterward went out for pizza.

- November finds the entire church is involved with the Annual Turkey Dinner. The children and youth keep very busy busing tables and serving drinks.

- December is our annual Christmas Caroling to our shut-ins.

- In January we will celebrate the Christmas story with an Epiphany pageant or festival.

- Good Friday is celebrated with an intra generation Stations of the Cross.

- Easter Sunday is the time for our annual Easter Egg Hunt held in the church yard with plastic eggs filled with candy and change. We celebrate new life with the flowering of the cross in the sanctuary.

- May is the end of school / graduation celebration with an outing.

- Summer sees various age camps at Paradise Point.

- Group camping trip

- Vacation Bible School at the beginning of August

October – Crop Walk

November – Canned food drive

December – Christmas caroling

January/February – Collect school supplies for children at the shelters

March/April/May – make blankets for the Linus project

October - A baked goods table at the annual Gifts of the Heart Bazaar in the parish hall.

November - Gift baskets will be sold by silent auction at the Annual Turkey dinner.

November/December - Sell Christmas ornaments and cards

February - Host the Sweetheart Dinner and Dance.

We encourage all members to on-going growth and change by providing continuous opportunities for Christian education and personal development. Members are committed to life long learning through meetings, classes and other learning activities, which are often intergenerational.

Every Sunday during the fall schedule, while the children/youth are participating in Sunday School, the adults meet in the parish hall library about 9:00a.m and discuss various Christian formats. We dissected the Lord’s Prayer and discussed what we all feel is it that the words mean and say to us. Our most recent agenda is to read and discuss the gospel lesson for that day, which leads to more in-depth discussions and conversations.

This time is also a place where one can be open and feel without judgment as they seem called to be on many occasions. The presence of the spirit is always felt during these gatherings.

The diocese schedules workshops throughout the year in various areas of the diocese. In 2006 lay readers attended a workshop and have incorporated a number of the ideas they received into their leading of Morning Prayer. A delegate represented Grace Church at Idaho’s first Interfaith Hunger Forum.

In early 2005 we started a series of classes and discussions called Rooted in God led by the Reverend Margaret Babcock. In the fall Fr. Milt Holmes and Fr. Tom Mayes led two planning sessions. Fr. Tom’s stroke intervened and the series was not completed

The Reverend Canon Karen Hunter of Salmon led us through a planning process. This involved meeting with the vestry in February and April 2006 to lay out a suggested format which helped us plan and move forward. She facilitated two workshops, in May and July. From that effort came the seven provocative statements we are using in our planning process as we move forward, "Building On Our Best". Karen has also been a resource person conducting sessions for both the Worship and Sunday School/Youth focus groups.

Bishop Harry conducted vestry training. During Lent he led three evening discussion classes for the parish, and met with the vestry in a planning session in August

The Reverend Jennifer Anttonen, priest of Saint David’s Caldwell, conducted an evening workshop where attendees could share and work though a process of "Bagging Our Baggage" to better move forward into Grace’s future. They learned to use the workshop process when a group needs to resolve issues.

The vestry invited the Very Reverend John Smylie, author, song writer and musician to spend a weekend as gift to the community and Grace Church’s Fall kickoff. John brought his Gifts of Light Ministry in a concert open to the public on Friday evening, a workshop Saturday and Eucharist celebrated Sunday. A second concert is being planned with guest organist Sean Rogers during Epiphany. Our vision is that such events will continue.

An active and motivated vestry exists. A volunteer of the parish acts as the permanent vestry clerk and records the minutes of each of the meetings. The Church Coordinator also attends each meeting. The vestry meets at least once a month and the meetings are open to all members of the parish.

Sexton

We have a non member of the parish that is paid to come in once a week, on Saturdays, and do basic cleaning of the church, parish hall, and church office.

Members of this congregation are grounded and centered by their faith in Christ and therefore truly able to welcome all people, ideas, and opinions, without judgment. The stability and structure of Grace Church rests not on personality, prosperity, doctrine, or circumstance, but on Christ Jesus.

The members also have a common goal and clear sense of purpose. We are working toward organizational systems which facilitate better communication so that all members are easily engaged in doing God’s work joyfully and effectively. We are striving for greater teamwork while valuing individual creativity seeing both as needed and important in the life of this church.

The church office is normally staffed Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00p.m. A part time church secretary and part time temporary Church Coordinator are presently employed and are an important part of the operation and continuity of the day to day business and church life.

A lack of communication among members and to the community is presently a challenge. Representation of groups by vestry liaisons and a newly formed communication chairperson has led in getting the word out. This has begun to improve the situation.

Parish and community communications currently take several forms: announcements and special inserts in the weekly Sunday bulletins, bulletin board in the parish hall, the monthly newsletter that goes out to all members of the church (active and inactive), articles in the two local newspapers; Idaho Press Tribune and the Idaho Statesman, email broadcasting through church email distribution lists, the establishment of a church website, telephone tree notification system, active telephone prayer chain, and the revision and updating of the Church Members Directory. We are presently running ads in the local paper.

For many years ECW was a strong organization within the church. With changing times and most women working outside the home, the younger women no longer participate in meetings. 2000-2001 was the last year a president formally served.  Currently, there are no official meetings. However, a small group of women who have spent their lives being a part of the ministry of the church through the ECW have not been deterred.  Another important area in which the ECW participates is the providing of funeral receptions for families in the parish.  They still bring people together in a spring rummage sale and a fall bazaar, maintaining a separate checking account and informally decide among themselves how it will be used.  ECW monies are primarily used to maintain the kitchen in the parish hall with one of the more recent purchases being a new dishwasher.  Other areas that have received ECW monies include a donation to the priest reserve account from the spring rummage sale and to the newly organized group of Shawl Knitters.  It is a delight to see the enthusiasm generated by these women.

It is the desire of the group to be able to continue with the loosely woven format until such time as another type of organization makes itself known. 

We have programs to support needs on international, national and local levels. Some of these programs include:

United Thank Offering: and Idaho Episcopal Relief and Development.

Salvation Army: Until this year several members cooked lunch one day a month for the Salvation Army program. Another member paid for the food. Physically, it grew to be too much and they regretfully resigned. The parish had to face the realization that none of the older members had the stamina to stand for the length of time needed and all the younger members work. We are planning to find other ways to help. A food drive is a first step and we are also "adopting a kettle" where we will "ring the bell" for donations.

Open Arms Baby Boutique

Open Arms Baby Boutique was established November 2001 by our then rector, Fr. Douglas Yarbrough, through grants from organizations such as March of Dimes, United Way, Boise State Nursing Department, Mercy Medical Center, Salvation Army, Grace Episcopal Church and service organizations in Nampa such as Lion's Club, Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce.

There is a governing board consisting of eleven members, an administrator and several volunteers who help each week.

The Boutique was held in the undercroft of Grace Church until it outgrew the quarters. It was then moved to the United Church of Christ where more room was provided and entrance and exits were more user-friendly.

Over 1,300 women have been served. We enroll ten to twelve new mothers each month.

Much of the baby's needs are gifts from Wal-Mart, Kmart and LDS' Deseret Industries, and other church groups. Stock is also replenished by the mothers returning items their babies have outgrown for which they receive points which they can trade for other baby items of need.

The fifth Sunday of the Month a special collection is made at Grace for Baby Boutique and is then matched by Grace Church's Vestry. The congregation of Grace has been very supportive of Baby Boutique.

Alcoholics Anonymous: Two groups, morning and evening, meet in the church basement five days a week. In addition, their district meeting/birthday party uses the parish hall monthly for Saturday afternoon and early evening. The size of our hall has room for games and social activities which help recovering parents learn to connect with their families in healthy ways. This is deeply appreciated by the area AA programs.

Girl Scouts: For the past 10 or more years Grace Episcopal has been a great help to both the City of Nampa’s Girl Scout population and the regional Girl Scout Council. They report: "The parish has always had their arms open wide to help in any way. This includes allowing girls to help at church events to earn community service hours, opening the parish hall for trainings and other events, monthly meetings for adult volunteers. The church has even offered to allow us to store the Nampa Girl Scout shed near the church office." 

                   Neighborhood Association: This local group regularly uses the Parish Hall for its

         meetings.

Prayer Shawl Ministry:

With the help and guidance of the Shawl Ministry at St. Stephen’s Parish in Boise, there is a Prayer Shawl Ministry at Grace Church. Sixteen members are knit or crochet shawls, baby caps, and other needed items. Made with prayer, they are also blessed at the altar then given for comfort, solace, celebrations or other reasons. "There is indeed comfort in the making and giving of a shawl."

So far in this new ministry 4 shawls and several caps for newborns have been finished, blessed and given.

The ministry has its own room in the Parish Hall. It is in the process of being renovated and will be a place to knit with storage for yarn.

Turkey Dinner:

November 16, 2006 marks the 55^th annual Turkey Dinner put on by the members of Grace Church Nampa. Through good times and bad, in spite of snow storms and rain, the citizens of Nampa have been able to count on the Turkey Dinner. The Turkey Dinner started with the men of the church cooking the dinner in the undercroft of the church, and quickly grew to a feast for several hundreds of people. Although the location, the workers, and the set up and decorations have changed through the years, one thing has remained constant: good turkey and stuffing and all the side dishes expected for a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, the Thursday before Thanksgiving.

There are many memories revisited by the Turkey Dinner, some not so positive, but always recalled with a smile and a memory of overall good times. This is one activity in which the entire congregation can be involved, from the children to the elders. We usually feed 400 + people, starting at 4.30 p.m. when many seniors are lined up for the traditional feed! The turkeys are donated by the generous people in the congregation many of whom also donate pies and work for at least an hour helping prepare and serve the food.  We generate a list of homebound people who would benefit from "Turkey to Go".  The left over food has been donated to the local Salvation Army who provides a Thanksgiving dinner to homeless and hungry people in the community the Friday before Thanksgiving.

The Turkey Dinner has become a community outreach to bring people together to enjoy good food and good company: to nourish the soul as well as the body. I would like to think that the true spirit of the Turkey Dinner is exemplified by the following little story.

Last year, Melissa Gentry had to leave her post at the Turkey Dinner for a time and when she returned, she saw three teen age boys outside the parish hall. They could smell the turkeys and stuffing a block away. The boys asked Melissa if there was a charge for the meal. She told them that if they would come in and help, she would see that they were fed. They came into the hall and worked diligently for a time. In return, they were each provided all they could eat that evening, not only for them, but also for family members at home. Isn’t this a bit like the abundance of God’s love and concern for us?

-Book Club: Each month the book club meets to discuss a book all have read, and to enjoy each other’s company for the evening. The books are chosen in advance by the readers and range from religious to fiction to current affairs. Some discussions are very lively and others are short. It is a good opportunity for fellowship and getting to know each other in a new way. The book club is beginning its third year. New members are always welcome. The list for the year 2006-2007 will be published in the November newsletter.

Support of the programs, Shop With a Cop, as well as a support group for the hearing impaired, and the Parish Nurse’s Program are currently inactive. John Anthony desires assistance in getting a ministry for the hearing impaired restarted.

A memorial garden between the church and the parish hall is in the process of being planned.

Budget ~ See Addendum II

For years, decisions on parish matters were made by the rector and rubber–stamped by the Vestry. The tie to the Diocese was very weak. Emerging from this background, we embark on the mission to define a new relationship between rector and parish that will focus on partnership rather than the "I lead and you follow." mentality.

The parish demonstrated over the past two years that it can carry on the day to day business of running a church. At first, the tasks fell on the shoulders of a few, but as the healing occurred more people, new people became willing to come forward and do the things that needed to get done. Although this created a sense of community, we have come to realize a priest is needed to help us continue to grow and develop a deepening spirituality.

Grace Church is looking for a priest who:

* can partner with the members of the congregation and motivate parishioners to become increasingly involved;

* gets his/her energy from the people, can make the gospel engaging and relevant to our daily lives through enriching sermons that are thought provoking, pastoral, and scripture based.

* seeks Christ in all persons; who can easily minister to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of people from all walks of life; who is a compassionate listener, able to counsel with empathy and discretion

* is intelligent, humble, respectful, and has a good sense of humor

* is a risk taker

* is a spiritual leader who will empower us in the formation and development of a deeper spiritual life grounded in prayer and faithful to the gospel.

Provocative Propositions…..describe an ideal state of circumstances that will foster the climate that creates possibilities to do more of what works. They are provocative to the extent that they stretch the realm of the status quo, challenge common assumptions and routines and represent desired possibilities for the organization and its people.

Worship at Grace church is a soul-feeding, joyous experience. While guided by the tradition of the Episcopal Church, it is also a living, free, and creative expression of the faith of the community gathered. It is thoughtfully and thoroughly planned and well executed. Grace’s commitment to offer full membership to all members (children included) is reflected in both worship and those leading worship.

Grace Church is known as a place of interest, energy, and hospitality for all (especially young adults). Everyone one is welcome. Everyone finds opportunity for active, nurturing friendships with other members.

Music is a focus of both worship and ministry. Grace church has an active choir and an excellent, diverse music program. It seeks to integrate a wide range of styles and tastes in the service of gospel proclamation. The program makes creative use of the proximity of colleges and universities.

Grace Church is the place for children Sunday morning. An exciting and

comprehensive children’s ministry is a primary part of our ministry. Here children’s ministry means many opportunities for the ministry of children as well as the education and ministry to children. At Grace Church, children are full and equal members of the faith community.

Grace Church encourages all members to on-going growth and change by

Providing continuous opportunities for Christian education and personal development. Members are committed to life-long learning and classes and other learning activities are often intergenerational. This commitment to learning and growing spills over into community outreach in programs that bring the ministry of growth and healing to various segments of the communit

The members of Grace Church have a common goal and clear sense of purpose. Organizational systems and communication are such that all members are easily engaged in doing God’s work joyfully and effectively. Teamwork and individual creativity are both active and valued in the life of Grace Church.

Members of Grace Church are grounded and centered by their faith in Christ and therefore truly able to welcome all people, ideas, and opinions.

The stability of Grace Church rests not on personality, prosperity, doctrine, or circumstance, but on Christ Jesus.

Grace Church is a community of blessed people who set their hope on Christ.

Grace Church is committed to ministering to the poor, whether that poverty is

economic or spiritual. We are called to be a living example, to feed the empty hearts of God’s people.

 

Last changed: July 04, 2007