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Grace Notes
Grace Episcopal Church 1607 Grace Church Road Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Brief notes for the members, families and friends of Grace Episcopal Church
A monthly
publication
from the
Grace Church
Communications
Committee
New Program Year Begins September 2013
Adult Forums
Capital Campaign
News
2
Welcome Back to
Sunday School
3
Music Ministry
Calling All Youth
4
A Very Special
Birthday
5
Daughters of the
King
6
Homeless Ministry
Transitions
7
Pennyworth News
Scenes from the Pig
Roast
8
Grace Episcopal
Day School
9
Fiscal Report 10
Inside this issue:
Special points of
interest:
Calling All Youth
A Very Special
Birthday
Why I Am A Daughter
Homeless Ministry
Updates
September brings the start of another
program year at Grace Church with an
increase in activities and opportuni-
ties for everyone to deepen their rela-
tionships with God and each other.
The program year begins with Ministry Sunday on
Sunday, September 8. Ministry Sunday is a great
day to connect with old friends, meet new ones, and
learn about everything happening at Grace. After
both services, our various ministries will have tables
with information available. Stop by each table to
learn what our ministries do and ways in which you
can participate. We hope everybody will get involved
in some ministry this year! Lunch will be available
after the 10:30 service (please bring a salad or side
dish) and there will be activities for children, includ-
ing the ever-popular moon bounce.
Sunday School and Youth Group pro-
grams resume the following Sunday,
September 15. Rev. Amanda, our new
Assistant Rector, is looking forward to
meeting so many of our children, youth
and families. Rev. Amanda and Becky Breeden, our
Sunday School Coordinator, have been working very
hard this August to prepare for the upcoming year.
Children and youth bring so much energy and vitality
to our community that we cannot wait for them to
return. And, if you have not yet met Rev. Amanda,
please do introduce yourself!
We will also have a number of programs and clas-
ses for adults who want to explore their faith even
further. On Sunday mornings, we have regular
Adult Forums between the services, beginning at
9:30. Each week, a different speaker will lead us
as we delve into topics of particular interest. Dur-
ing the fall, we will be hearing about the implemen-
tation of Obamacare, current events in the Middle
East, one mother’s commitment to pursuing more
reasonable gun control, and the work of Action in
Montgomery County, just to name
a few topics. It should be a fasci-
nating year of Adult Forums, so
please be keep an eye out for top-
ics that interest you and be sure to
join us.
Early this fall, we will also be having our Questions
of Faith class which will answer the most basic
questions about God, Christianity, and the Church.
If you have some basic questions about faith, this
might just be what you are looking for. During the
winter, the Foundations in Faith class will take
place. This class will explore issues of faith in
more detail and can serve as preparation for any-
one who would like to be confirmed or received
into the Episcopal Church. Both classes will take
(cont. on page 3)
Welcome Reverend Amanda
At the beginning of August, we welcomed the Reverend Amanda Akes, our new Assistant
Rector and her partner Sarah Cardwell to Grace Church. Amanda and Sarah come to us
from Connecticut where they lived for the past two years. Before her ministry at Grace,
Amanda was Assistant Rector at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Glastonbury, CT, where she
focused on youth and adult formation.
As our Assistant Rector, Amanda’s ministry will primarily focus on
children, youth and their families, and young adults. She is passion-
ate about young people, collaborative ministry, and creative ways to
participate in God’s mission. Amanda wants to meet you! Please
introduce yourself and say “hi” when you have a chance. And once
again, welcome Amanda and Sarah, to Grace Church!
Page 2 Grace Notes - September 2013
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Grace Notes
Grace Episcopal Church
1607 Grace Church Road
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Telephone: 301-585-3515
Fax: 301-585-4309
Website:
www.graceepiscopalchurch.org
The Rev. Andrew Walter
Rector
The Rev. Canon
Dr. Michele Hagans
Associate Rector & Chaplain,
Grace Episcopal Day School
The Rev. Amanda Akes
Assistant Rector
Danny Catalanotto
Minister of Music
Beth Boyd
Parish Administrator
Rebecca Breedon
Sunday School Coordinator
Marnie Brown
Communications Coordinator
Gib Baily
Fiscal Officer
Wardens and Vestry
Kathryn Allen, Senior Warden
Aileen Moodie, Junior Warden
Chris Bedal, Paul Brown,
Matt Hardwick, Rebecca Lent,
John Mahler, Laura Parks,
Althea Sherman, Virgil White-
hurst, Raquel Wilson
Grace Notes
The Rev. Andrew Walter
Linda Caleb
ADULT FORUMS IN SEPTEMBER
On Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:15, the Adult Forum offers adults the
opportunity to learn and grow in their faith together. From outside
speakers to guided discussions, the format changes from week to week
as do the topics. This year’s Adult Forums will cover everything from important issues like
health care, gun control and current events in the Middle East to Christian ethics, preaching
and the Anglican Communion. Adult Forum begins on September 22.
Sunday, September 22 The Year Gone By, The Year Ahead
Join Rev. Andrew as he discusses Grace Church life. He will reflect on the past year and all
that we have accomplished, and he will talk about the year ahead. Join us to learn about
everything happening at Grace and ask Rev. Andrew any questions you may have.
Sunday, September 29 Implementing Obamacare
David Helms and Susan Maloney will be with us to discuss the implementation of the
Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. David will review the status of implementing
Obamacare with its extensive expansion in Medicaid and a new Health Insurance Market-
place for individuals and employees of small firms becoming effective on January 1,
2014. Susan will provide an overview of resources available for consumers seeking health
insurance to learn more about options for themselves and their families. The forum will
conclude with a discussion of the challenges ahead for these major new health reforms.
David Helms directs the LMI Center for Health Reform and Susan Maloney serves is Director of Policy, Planning and Communications for the HHS Office of Adolescent Health. David and Susan have been parishioners at Grace Church for many years and are also former Day School parents.
As you may recall, back in May, the Vestry voted unani-
mously to move forward with a capital campaign, through
which we will raise the financial resources to address the
much needed work in our church building. During the past
two months, we have been working very closely with our campaign consultant, planning
and preparing, laying the groundwork for the upcoming campaign.
We have formed a Capital Campaign Committee which will oversee every aspect of the
campaign, and I happy to announce that the committee will be co-chaired by Steve Dean
and Virgil Whitehurst and include Linda Caleb, Matt Hardwick, Jennifer Porter, Amy
Miller, Aileen Moodie and Judy Whalley.
At the same time, we have been developing plans for the work which will be done to the
undercroft, kitchen and downstairs bathrooms as part of the campaign, and exactly how
much that work will cost. Dan Amundson and Laura Parks have been leading these ef-
forts, working alongside a number of parishioners, soliciting their ideas and input. As we
move through the fall, we will continue to provide updates on our progress as we move
towards launching the capital campaign sometime during this program year.
Page 3 Grace Notes - September 2013
Welcome Back to Sunday School
"I am so excited to be at Grace and to begin this new year of minis-try with you! I have heard such WONDERFUL things about Sunday School and all the people who participate in it. I’m eager to pray and play with you and see what God is up to in your lives! Let the fun begin!"
Rev. Amanda
We will welcome our children into the Chalice Year of our Episco-
pal Children’s Curriculum when we gather for our first Sunday
School of the program year on Sept. 15.
We will focus our study this year on the sacrament of Christ’s
body and blood that we share during communion. In keeping
with our theme, we will host several educational events for par-
ents and children that focus on this sacred meal. We will also
continue to host Baptism training and other topics throughout
the year.
What can you expect to be the same?
Most of our teachers will be returning this year. Thank You!
We will continue to host coffee hour each Sunday for par-
ents. Yay!
We will host chapel beginning at 10 a.m. where we gather in
song and praise as families.
We will still join parents at the Peace.
We will celebrate our special events, holidays and obser-
vances in special ways designed for children. These will in-
clude Ministry Sunday, Harvest Dinner, and St. Francis
Blessing of the Animals.
What will be different?
You will see a new face! Rev. Amanda Akes will lead our
children’s programs. Welcome Amanda!
We will work to revive our Dia de los Muertos celebration
this year with special activities. We’ll be looking for volun-
teers.
We are trying to increase our cadre of teachers so that we
have more flexibility for any given teacher. If you think you
can commit to one Sunday a month, please contact Mrs.
Becky at [email protected]
We are likely to reformat Advent wreath making to encom-
pass the whole Parish. We tried combining it with a Sunday
School activity last year during “Winter Garden” and ran
into some hitches. We’ll be reaching out to some of the
folks who had excellent suggestions to help guide us.
Our Playground Committee has firmed up their recommen-
dation and will be working on the support and implementa-
tion of that plan for the coming year.
We will host several parent-focused forums through the
year designed to unite us in our common joys and chal-
lenges. We hope to have guest speakers for some of the-
se.
We look forward to seeing you in our midst and welcome your
prayers and support for our children’s programs. We embody
crowd sourcing at Grace. There is no possibility that we could
provide the programs we do for our children without you!
Thank you and welcome to the Chalice Year.
place on Sundays immediately after the 10:30 service. Best of
all, lunch will be served so you can have a bite to eat while learn-
ing and growing in faith.
September also brings a return of our highly
regarded Music Program. Our children’s pro-
gram and adult choir both resume, and don’t
forget about our Music at Grace series. The first
concert , “A Musical History of Afro Americans
Through Song and the Spirit “, will take place on Sunday, October
6 at 5:00 pm. We will welcome back the Alexander Cooper pro-
ject, featuring renowned percussionist Leon Alexander and vocal-
ist Nicole Minor.
And while you are saving dates, be sure to mark down Saturday,
October 26 as that is the night of our Harvest Dinner. The dinner
is one of the truly special events at Grace. It provides an oppor-
tunity to share a meal and to enjoy the fellowship
of this incredible community, as we give thanks
for the abundance blessings bestowed upon us
as individuals and as a parish. The band, Souler
Power, will return to provide music and dancing.
Watch your mail for more specific information
about the Harvest Dinner at the beginning of September.
This is a preview of just some of the things happening at Grace
this year. We haven’t even touched on the many ways Grace
Church reaches out to serve those in need. These ministries
can always use a few more hands. So, join us on for Ministry
Sunday on Sunday, September 8 to learn about the different
ways you can get involved. We can’t wait to see you!
New Program Year Begins, cont.
Page 4 Grace Notes - September 2013
Calling All Youth Your friendly new Assistant Rector, Rev. Amanda here inviting you to participate in Youth Group! I’m super excited to
kick-off this new year! In the few weeks that I’ve been at Grace I’ve heard excellent things about the Youth Group. I’ve
learned that this is a group where God, friendship, fun, and curiosity matter. These aspects will continue to take top pri-
ority as we begin a new year of ministry together.
Youth group is a community where all youth, grades 6-12 are welcome! We’ll use Scripture, pop culture, art, physical
activity, fun and prayer to explore our spirituality and to build community. Youth Group takes seriously the need to deal
with what is real for young people and honors each individual’s journey. This year Youth Group seeks to:
Encourage Teens in the Christian Faith
Empower Youth to Build Community
Engage in Mission and Outreach Opportunities
Guide Teens in Discovering and Developing Their Spiritual Gifts
Empower Adults to Serve as Spiritual Companions to Young People
Registration for Youth Group begins on Sunday, Sept. 8. Youth Group will meet for the first time on Sunday, Sept. 15.
All youth, grades 6-12 are welcome and encouraged to attend! Middle School Youth Group (grades 6-8th) meets from
4:00-5:30. High School Youth Group (grades 9-12th) meets from 5:00-6:30. Any questions, comments, ideas? Contact
me, Rev. Amanda at [email protected].
We’re geared up and ready to get started for an all new choir
season packed with new things and lots of new music makers
too.
First of all, Leon is coming back. Leon Alexander is a percus-
sionist, a master of the steel drum, and one
of the most interesting musical minds I’ve
ever met. What’s great for us is that he
views the opportunity to play here as the
chance to put together something he’s real-
ly interested in creating, something that
simply cannot find expression in the myriad of other venues and
projects that he’s involved in.
Leon says he wants to explore, “the rhythm and vibe of Brazil
(Samba), Cuba (Mambo, Danzon), the Dominican Republic
(Merengue), and New Orleans (Jazz and Second Line) added to
great Spirituals to tell the story of the Spiritual in a whole new
way in a performance setting.” Leon gives us more with all the
top players he brings than our concert series could ever com-
pensate him for, but it’s something he really wants to do, so I
hope everyone will consider coming out to hear what this fasci-
nating artist has to say.
In addition:
Our adult choir will undoubtedly sing a spectacular Rutter
Requiem this fall;
Amahl and the Night Visitors is back for it’s third year;
Grace will host a children’s choir festival for kids from all
over the area with none other than Bruce Neswick as our
clinician. Bruce was the founding director of the National
Cathedral Girl’s Choir, and his other accomplishments are
too numerous to even start to detail in a short article. This
will be a rare opportunity for our choristers to work with an
artist of his stature, and;
I’m just tickled to tell you that the Blue Sky Puppet Theatre
will be back this season with an even bigger production for
our youngest members too.
I can’t remember when we’ve had so many exciting things
planned to do. If you ever thought about being a part of the
music ministry, this would be an ideal season to join in….we’d
love to welcome you!
Danny Catalanotto
Minister of Music
Music Ministry - Anything but Standing Still!
Page 5 Grace Notes - September 2013
A Very Special Birthday Offering
A long standing tradition at Grace Church has been the weekly
offering of food at the altar, where it is blessed and later distrib-
uted to a local food pantry. Grace Church has donated nearly
70,000 items of food over the last 45 years, an average of 30
items per week.
On Sunday, July 21, you may have noticed that the food offering
was brought to the altar, not by the ushers, but by a Grace fami-
ly, Kaia Lenhart and Jennifer Ray, and their children Joshua and
Jayla. There was a very special reason for this. The day before,
Joshua and Jayla celebrated their birthdays with a
party where children were asked to bring donations to
the food pantry instead of birthday presents. It was a
fun party, and Joshua and Jayla’s friends brought over
300 items of food to the party. Jen and Kaia tell how
this came about:
“Every July, we celebrate our children’s birthdays with
an outdoor barbeque and waterslide event in our yard
with family and friends. Joshua and Jayla were born
two years and two weeks apart and enjoy our tradition of having
a small, family celebration for each of them on their actual birth-
days, and a larger, shared event for the two of them. As we be-
gan planning for this summer’s party, Kaia and I looked around
the house and noted that our kids have more than enough toys
to play with, thanks in large part to generous hand-me-downs
from friends with older kids.
“As parents, we try to instill in our children a sense of gratitude
every day for the numerous blessings in our lives, a sense of
compassion and the importance of serving others, and mindful-
ness to think beyond ourselves and consider the lives of oth-
ers. We proposed an idea to Joshua and Jayla – what if this year,
instead of bringing gifts to the big birthday celebration, they
asked our guests to bring food for people and families who are
homeless and/or hungry?
“The reason: Our children have become increasingly concerned
about people they see on the street or people asking for money
on a sidewalk. They often ask us questions – how did they be-
come homeless? Where do they go for shelter and food, is there
something we could do? Could we give them some of
our money? Frequently, we do give someone a dollar or
two, telling them that we hope that helps for today…
though we tell our kids that it isn’t enough. We try to
answer their questions about homelessness and pov-
erty, and talk to Joshua and Jayla about the ways
through which we can help people even more – by giv-
ing through our church and other organizations that
help families struggling in poverty, through volunteer
work, through prayer, and by doing what we can to support sys-
tems and policies that help families overcome poverty or avoid it
all together.
“And so, when we proposed this birthday idea – Joshua and Jayla
were very excited and immediately said YES. It felt good to know
that in the midst of celebrating their 6th and 4th birthdays, their
gifts would be for others. And they were so very proud to carry
their baskets to the altar on Sunday! ”
Kaia Lenhard & Jenn Ray
Ministry Sunday and Stewardship
Did you know that the Stewardship Committee is responsible
for Ministry Sunday each year? That’s because as good stew-
ards, we realize that all we have is a gift from God and that
we are called to share all our gifts, not just our treasure, with
others. By giving of ourselves and supporting the mission
and ministries of Grace Church, we increase the gifts and
blessings already bestowed upon us.
This spirit of Stewardship encourages us to live our lives as
disciples of Jesus and to share our gifts of Time, Talent and
Treasure – out of gratitude rather than obligation. We or-
ganize Ministry Sunday so that everyone can explore mean-
ingful ways in which to use their gifts and talents in service
to others, and offer this prayer as you discern where your
gifts can best be used.
The Stewardship Committee
My church is composed of people like me. I help make it what it is. It will be friendly, if I am friendly. Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them. It will do great work, if I work. It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver. It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship, if I invite and bring them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, and a church with a noble spirit, if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these same things. Therefore Lord, I ask for the strength and courage that I may dedi-cate myself to playing my part in being all the things that I want my church to be. Amen.
Page 6 Grace Notes - September 2013
I'm a daughter -- obviously, right? But I'm
also a Daughter, as in a Daughter of the
King. In fact, I'm a proud member of "Neema"
Chapter (that's Swahili for "Grace'-- get
it?). No, we're not some weird Elvis fan club,
although you could be forgiven for thinking that. The Order of the
Daughters of the King -- our official name -- is a lay order of the
Episcopal Church devoted to prayer and good works.
Founded in 1885 by Margaret J. Franklin and her women's bible
study class at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in New York City,
the first Daughters sought to put prayer foremost in their work for
Christ. Over the next 128 years, that's what the Order has been
primarily known for -- putting prayer first as we discern our calls
from God and Christ.
The Order's motto sums it up:
For His Sake...
I am but one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
What I can do, I ought to do.
What I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.
Lord, what will you have me do?
Sounds very earnest and intimidating, doesn't it? Kind of like
Dana Carvey's "Church Lady" without the humor. It's OK, I under-
stand. That's how I first viewed DOK too. I watched in awe three
years ago as the white-suited, big-hatted Sister-Daughters -- from
another church -- inducted Grace's first class into the DOK, revi-
talizing our moribund chapter. And then I pretty much forgot
about the DOK.
And then my husband got cancer.
Actually, it started a little earlier than that.
In February 2012, my phone buzzed me awake early one morn-
ing with an urgent text message from an old friend. It said, very
simply, "Pray for my kid, Trace."
Needless to say, I was alarmed. I immediately texted her back,
reassuring her that she and her family were in my prayers and
asking for details. Long story short, everything worked out, but
the incident reminded me that when the Horror descends -- as it
will, for all of us -- we all need to know we're not alone.
Jump forward to August 2012. My husband Jim came home
from a doctor's appointment one night and gave me the high sign
that he needed to talk to me outside, away from the kids. When I
got to the back porch he said, "I have cancer."
Well. I don't really remember the rest of what he said after
that. What I do remember is the utter fear, the isolation, the
panic and the sense that whatever else I did, I Had To Keep Eve-
rything Under Control, because we had to go back in the house
and tell the kids that Daddy had cancer, but that it was going to
be all right.
But I couldn't do that by myself. So I was all over -- and I do
mean ALL OVER -- Facebook, my social network of choice, asking
for prayers and support from all my Facebook peeps. Many of
you reading this are my Facebook peeps, and you answered my
cries heroically, so let me say, again, thank you.
Matthew 6:6 says,
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when
thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret;
and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee open-
ly.
The verse implies that prayer should be solitary, a quiet
thing. Often, we pray the hardest when we feel weakest, when
we are most conscious of our solitary being, and for me at least,
it feels like my prayers hang in the ether. I never seem to get
that particular pony, and I have wondered...Is there really anyone
out there?
This time, I got my pony. A year later, Jim is cancer-free and has
been able -- so far -- to avoid the additional surgery, radiation and
chemo we were told to expect. Now, I can't say for sure that God
chose to answer our prayers when others go apparently unan-
swered. I can't believe that disease, murder, senseless death,
rapine and unfathomable avariciousness are "part of God's plan,"
as some would have it; but I know that knowing so many people
were praying for us, for a good outcome, buoyed me and buoyed
Jim more than we can ever say.
Such a small thing, to remember someone in a prayer. Such a
small thing to hold a family in one's heart, a short memo in the
head, a tweet to God, as it were.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
What I can do, I ought to do.
Last September, at Grace's annual "Ministry Sunday," where we
choose our volunteer ministries for the program year, I signed up
for Daughters of the King. Because I can pray, and nobody
should feel alone.
For His Sake,
Tracey Henley
"Neema" Chapter
The Order of the Daughters of the King
Daughters of the King - Why I Am a Daughter
Page 7 Grace Notes - September 2013
Homeless Ministry - Important Changes Ahead
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”
John 13: 34-35 As many of your fellow parishioners will tell you, the Grace
Church Homeless Ministry is one of the greatest opportunities
you and your whole family have to show your love of others by
helping those most in need. We gather on the first Saturday of
each month to make soup and sandwiches for our homeless
brothers and sisters on the streets of Washington DC. The food,
clothing and graceful smiles are delivered by a group of dedicat-
ed volunteers in the Grace Van. This rewarding ministry is open
to people of all ages – bring the entire family! And this is also a
great way to earn Community Service Hours that are required for
high school graduation. Finally, the Homeless Ministry is a won-
derful way for newcomers and old timers of our church family to
get to know your fellow parishioners, whether over a table laden
with sandwiches or during those rides downtown in the van.
New Schedule/logistics: A few changes are being implemented
for the Fall Quarter (October, November and December).
First, as the days become shorter in the fall, we will switch our
schedule to two hours earlier so that the team going downtown
can be home before dark. Our soup maker will start cooking at
10 am, and other volunteers will start making sandwiches at 11
am. We will then load the van and head downtown around
12:30, for a return by 4 pm.
10 am – Soup maker arrives and starts soup/beverage
preparations (Note: shopping must be completed by Satur-
day morning 10 am).
11 am – Sandwich making and van loading begins
12:30 pm – Team heads downtown in the Grace Van for
food and smile distribution
3:30-4:00 pm – Van returns to Grace for unloading and
clean-up
Again, note that this new schedule starts with our first fall
Homeless Ministry on October 5th..
Logistical Changes: for the supplies each month, we will have a
few items ordered on the internet as they are no longer availa-
ble at COSTCO. I will adjust the shopping list accordingly. Also,
we will ask the Sunday School children to gather up toiletries
and clean, gently used socks once a month and bring them to
Sunday School on the last Sunday of each month.
Fall Quarter volunteers: I am happy to say we already have a
few volunteers signed up for the key activities. However, we
are looking for more volunteers for the Fall Season – can you
serve just one Saturday this year? Here are the opportunities
available for you and your family to serve:
Fall Teams:
October 5th
Shopper:
Soup/Beverage maker: Marsha O
Driver:
November 2
Shopper: Pam D
Soup/beverage maker: Marsha O
Driver:
December 7th
Shopper:
Soup/beverage maker: Marsha O
Driver:
Thanks again for your loving and generous spirit in serving
those in need. If you have any questions about the Homeless
M i n i s t r y , p l e a s e c o n t a c t R e b e c c a L e n t
([email protected], cell 301-254-8930). Look forward
to seeing you on September 8th for our Ministry Sunday Cele-
bration as well!
TRANSITIONS
Baptized
Logan William Kelley
Rowan Noelle Washington
Sarah Katherine Ball
Departed
Ann Weimer, August 5, 2013
Tom Wolz, August 14, 2013
Jane Moody Wood, founding headmaster for Grace Epis-
copal Day School, died on August 22, 2013. Jane began
the day school as a nursery program held in the Parish
Hall. She oversaw the expansion of the school through
the sixth grade between 1969 and 1974, as well as the
leasing of the Kensington campus in 1983. Jane retired
in 1986, after serving as head of school for 25 years.
Page 8 Grace Notes - September 2013
Postcards, Pork and Pennyworth - Something in Common?
Perhaps you are a long-time reader of “Grace Notes,” or perhaps
you are reading this issue for the first time after picking up a copy
as a visitor on “Ministry Sunday.” Just what is the Pennyworth
ministry all about? And what in the world does Pennyworth have
to do with postcards and pork?
To get right to the point - the Pennyworth Thrift Store is a long-
standing ministry launched in the 1950s by church women who
distributed truckloads of gently used clothing to families in need.
Today, at 949 Bonifant Street in downtown Silver Spring, the tra-
dition continues of providing quality merchandise at a bargain
price to the community at large - with tremendous benefits to the
community, the church, and the environment!
Pennyworth is also one of several Grace ministries that operate
year-round. The shop is run by a dedicated cadre of volunteers
who maintain store hours from Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. - plus Friday evening hours once a month for part of the year.
Volunteers also sort, clean and price the seemingly endless bags
of donations that come in every week. A Board of Directors - elect-
ed from volunteers - meets once a month.
As summer winds down, a big pat on the back must go to store
manager Marilyn Seitz for juggling volunteers’ vacation schedules
to keep the store open for business all summer. And vacation
they did! Pennyworth volunteers have come back this summer
from trips to North Carolina, France, Texas, New
York City, England -- and many other places. More
than a few of them packed suitcases with items
found while sorting or working - and purchased
with the volunteer’s 50 percent discount!
So that explains postcards, now what about the pork?
The delicious answer was found at the fourth annual Grace
Church Pig Roast on Aug. 17. Once again, Pennyworth volun-
teers opened the doors of Grace House to set up the
“Portable Pennyworth” - with a nice selection of back-to-
school clothing and supplies as well as household items and
toys. Shoppers could feast on barbeque and bargains galore!
In the months to come, Pennyworth volunteers will begin to
gear up for the Grace Church Christmas Bazaar. We’ll also be
participating in various community events in our Bonifant
Street-Fenton Avenue “village.” We love to welcome new vol-
unteers. Take a look at our bulletin board in the Undercroft
for pictures and phone numbers, or stop by the store.
We’d like to add your postcard to our collection!
Scenes from the Annual Pig Roast
Grace Episcopal Day School
Page 9 Grace Notes - September 2013
Page 10 Grace Notes - September 2013
Fiscal Report
I hope that everyone has had a good summer. I am writing this
report on Sunday afternoon, August 25th. I don’t normally preface
my reports this way, but the timing of this report is unusual be-
cause August is the only month this year when the last Sunday of
the month and the deadline for my monthly report both come
before the last pay date of the month. As a result, the deficit of
<$51,174.17> seen as of this afternoon is actually approximate-
ly $10,000.00 below the actual deficit to be seen at the end of
August. The projected deficit for the end of August, approximate-
ly <$61,100.00> is $13,000.00 higher than the deficit of
<$48,100.00> projected for the end of August 2013 in the bal-
anced budget scenario approved by the Vestry for 2013. The
very high level of the deficit projected to be seen at the end of
August 2013 reflects a combination of the following two factors –
(1) the total of 18 pay dates seen through the end of August (one
more than the total of 17 pay dates that would normally be seen
during this eight-month period); and (2) the annual insurance
premiums totaling approximately $21,000.00 are invoiced during
the July/August period (August this year). So, having gotten
through this period, we project that the deficit will begin to de-
crease beginning in September. Because the decrease at the
end of August is higher than the deficit projected to be seen for
this period, it appears that a significant deficit could be seen in
the operating budget for the end of the year.
The financial trends seen during the first seven (7) months of
2013 continued to be seen during August. Total expenses con-
tinued to remain very much under control during the first eight (8)
months of the year. As discussed previously, a total of approxi-
mately $708,500.00 is projected to be disbursed in 2013, based
on the total of $458,794.92 disbursed through today. This pro-
jected disbursement total of $708,500.00 is $10,000.00 above
the allowance of $698,500.00 provided in the balanced budget
approved by the Vestry for 2013. This increase in expenses is
essentially offset by the increase in matching gifts (corporate gifts
matching pledges and other gifts made to Grace) being received
this year, and has been approved by the Vestry. The increase in
expenses essentially reflects a combination of the following two
factors –
1) the effort made at the beginning of 2013, but after the
budget was approved, to increase all clergy compensation pack-
ages to equal Diocesan scale (including the related pension con-
tribution costs); and
2) the two-week extension granted to the former Assistant
Rector to extend her period of compensation through the second
week of July.
As outlined previously, the deficit projected to be seen in the op-
erating budget at the end of 2013 essentially projects a shortfall
projected to be seen in the three primary categories of pledge-
related income and gifts – (1) pledge income; (2) “no pledge”
income; and (3) “plate” offerings. The largest shortfall is project-
ed to be seen in the area of pledge giving. Through the end of
August (since the last Sunday in August has been included in
this calculation this total reflects total pledge income for the
first eight months of 2013), a total of $325,027.62 was re-
ceived – while this total was $6,570.65 above the comparable
pledge income total for the first eight (8) months of 2013, it
was $24,272.38 below the budget estimate for pledge income
for the first eight (8) months of this year. Putting this variance
into perspective, pledges for 2013 totaled $560,006.62, an
increase of $40,091.12 (7.7%) over the comparable total of
$519,915.50, while the eight-month total of $325,027.62 was
only $6,570.65 (2.1%) over the comparable eight-month total
of a year ago. The overall deficit projected for 2013 as it re-
lates to pledge income reflects the dependence of the church
operating budget on the receipt of pledge income. Based on
seasonally adjusted trends, a shortfall of approximately
$19,000.00 is projected to be seen in pledge income receipts
in 2013. An additional shortfall of approximately $4,000.00 is
projected in the combined total of “no pledge” contributions
(gifts made by those attending Grace regularly but not making a
pledge to the parish) and “plate” offerings (loose cash placed in
the alms basins on Sunday morning and gifts from newcomers
and others not included in our church data base). The com-
bined shortfall of approximately $23,000.00 in these three (3)
areas essentially accounts for the total shortfall of approximate-
ly $26,000.00 now projected to be seen in the church operat-
ing budget in 2013.
At this time, the Rector has instructed all ministry leaders to
monitor program spending to ensure that both that essential
program requirements are funded and that savings are
achieved in all areas that do not affect essential ministry
needs. Given the timing in the fiscal year and because of the
significant portion of the church operating budget allocated to
the cost of staff salaries and benefits, it is not possible nor real-
ly practical to make sufficient reductions in the last four (4)
months of this calendar year to offset this shortfall. As a result,
it appears that a draw-down of endowment fund principal will
be required to cover any shortfall in pledge giving seen this
year. Drawing down endowment fund principal reduces the
endowment fund earnings available to be transferred to the
operating budget in future years. Essentially, deficits in the
church operating budget in the current year result in reductions
in the church operating budgets in future years to the degree
that these reductions are not made up by additional pledge
gifts. It is hoped that an emphasis on prudent expenditures of
funds and an effort to bring pledge payment income back into
balance will result in a reduced deficit in this year.
As always, if anyone has any questions regarding the financial
reports of the church, please feel free to contact me.
Gib Baily
Fiscal Officer