Welcoming committee
The Newcomer Ministry welcomes visitors and newcomers and encourages membership in our parish. In the welcoming area in the church, information about our parish community is available, and those interested in joining the community at Grace are invited to fill out welcome cards which will begin the process of membership.
Communications Ministry
The Communications ministry exists to help Grace tell its story. This ministry is responsible for all communications including website projects, informational and promotional materials, announcements, advertising and newsletters.
Stewardship
All that we have is a gift from God. Stewardship is our spontaneous response to grace, affirming our communion with God and each other through concrete acts of generosity. From our experience of compassion, love, gratitude, and concern, the desire to nourish what we value arises in us. An important aspect of our membership in the church is our financial support for its mission, but the vision of Stewardship does not end there. Besides money, we support the church with our time, our skills, our presence at Sunday worship, the Chicken barbecue, and other events. Teaching Sunday School, volunteering on the fix-it-team otherwise known as the properties commission, taking part in welcoming newcomers, singing in the choir, and serving in the liturgy are all forms of stewardship. Finally, all the charitable acts we perform in our homes, workplaces, and lives away from church are gifts to God. This ministry seeks to raise awareness of the wonders that God has done for us, and calls us to responsible use of our time, our talents, and our material resources. We meet the first Thursday of every month at 7 pm.
Faith Formation Ministries (Christian Education)
Faith Formation at Grace seeks to support the people of God in living out their baptismal covenant and expressing their unique calling as followers of Jesus Christ. At Grace Church we are developing an integrated program of education and spiritual formation for all ages, from the nursery through adulthood. Our model for education is catechesis -- the whole process of formation in the Word in the context of sacramental community.
Faith formation for children
The Sunday School curriculum provides a solid foundation in Christian education, enriched with arts and crafts, music and drama. Each child attending any Sunday morning program must be registered by an accompanying parent. Sunday School is available for children from Kindergarten through Grade 6. Childrens' education begins at 9:00 on Sunday morning with childrens’ worship, and more formal classes begin at 9:10.
Grace Church's Vacation Church School program allows our children ages 3 years and up to continue their exploration of the Bible through stories, arts and crafts, music and worship. Each child is given the opportunity to make a personal connection with God's steadfast love and presence.
Nursery Ministry
A child’s first experiences being at “Church” should be a fun, enriching, and safe experience. We seek to promote the values of sharing, honesty, and caring, in an educational environment that allows parents to feel comfortable worshipping or attending other parish functions.
Faith formation for teens
At Grace, our goal is to develop a vibrant commitment in youth to: Christ; the reign of God; the values of God’s reign, discipleship, and mission to the world. We are striving to develop a love for, and understanding of, Scripture; a heart for mission and service; a safe place to meet; and fellowship with other teens. Grace Church offers youth several opportunities for fun, fellowship and service, meeting regularly on Sunday evenings as announced. Over the next year we will be discerning our call as a parish to implement the Jouney to Adulthood program for our Youth. If teens so choose, they can engage in Celebrating the Spirit which is our process of preparing for celebrating the sacrament of Confirmation. Ideally, Confirmation is not a graduation, but rather leads maturing young people into a sense of ministry either within the parish community or an area of service outside of the parish community. And while this is all happening, teens need to gather socially to have fun and be with friends, old and new.
Faith formation for adults
Whatever else it may be, faith is God’s gift. Faith is not something we acquire by any acts of our own initiative. Let’s not think that programs in adult spirituality and faith formation can confer or increase the gift of faith. Our programming creates tools meant to help us respond to God’s gift of faith. Discussions, workshops and retreats bring us together so that we can learn how better to grow into and out of the faith that has been offered to us. And perhaps most importantly, they offer us new opportunities to accompany each other on the spiritual journey.
Adult Forums
The Sunday morning adult forum offers an opportunity for learning and growing in Christian living. Lay persons from within Grace Church, as well as from the community, present many different topics. The Forum is designed to enable and encourage participants to live out their faith in their daily lives.
Education for Ministry (EFM)
EFM is a four-year program on the Bible, theology, and church history, with an emphasis on theological reflection on personal experiences. The program was developed by the School of Theology at the University of the South. Classes are offered from September through June.
Retreats, Quiet Days and Other Events
Retreats, Quiet Days and other events are announced throughout the year. Please watch for announcements in the Sunday Bulletin insert and in Grace Notes.
We are striving to make faith in Jesus Christ come alive in the minds, hearts, and actions of the family. This ministry centers around the home—which is the proper center of the Church, not the building with the cross on top. We seek creative ways to invite family members to know Jesus personally, and see him as a source of comfort and challenge in our daily lives.
Collection counters—Collection counters count and deposit the weekend and any special church collections. There are teams of two people who meet usually Sunday morning from 11-12. Teams rotate each week.
Finance-- Parishioners with expertise in areas of finance serve in various capacities from capital development, stewardship, to building and maintenance planning. The committee makes recommendations to the vestry concerning all aspects of financial and budget matters. It prepares the annual budget for approval by the council, prepares the annual financial report to the parish. Typically meetings are held once a month.
Memorial Garden—Parishioners interested in gardening, work with our landscape design in the ongoing development and upkeep of the grounds at Grace Church.
Properties—People with experience in architecture, carpentry, construction, drywall, painting, plumbing and other related skills help plan for the future of our buildings and maintain Grace’s present buildings.
Our various parish outreach ministries discern the needs of persons in the parish and wider community, especially the poor, and identify resources and programming to meet these needs enlisting the active cooperation of parishioners. These ministries strive to fulfill the justice dimension of scripture and our church tradition acknowledging that every Christian is called to service and to work for justice.
Holiday Ministries—This ministry organizes and coordinates parish-wide Christmas gifts for the benefit of families in need. Tags are made and distributed five to six weeks before each holiday. Gifts are collected, sorted according to charity, and sent to their destinations.
P.E.A.C.E., Inc (People’s equal action and community effort) - Grace church proudly supports P.E.A.C.E., a county program which provides programs and services to families in need that they may become self-sufficient. In particular, we house, at Grace church, a Head Start program, which helps children, ages 3 to 5, achieve their full potential by providing early childhood development, health, family services and other support to participants and their families.
Refugee and Family Assistance Ministry—This ministry endeavors to tend to the welfare of refugee families. We visit the family; help orient them to their new surroundings, and culture. We provide food, pastoral care, and whatever is needed. We also raise money for the various needs of the family.
Samaritan Center Ministry—This ministry plans and serves lunch for a local soup kitchen. The purpose is to bring parishioners and families together while serving God’s poor and hungry. This ministry typically provides lunch at the Samaritan center four times per year.
Threads of Love—Threads of Love is an outreach sewing ministry that strives to provide for some of the physical needs of tiny infants, while showing God's love to the babies' parents and families. Threads of Love, through the effort and support of dedicated parishioners, provides clothing, blankets and other handmade articles for tiny premature and sick infants. We desire to show God's love to the parents and loved ones of these babies in their time of uncertainty. Perhaps those who are experiencing incomprehensible pain may know a peace and serenity that extends beyond the situation. We want to simply be there to bring the unsaid message of God's presence and His infinite love and compassion.
In order to answer the question, “What would Jesus do?” it is probably advisable to ask the question, “What did Jesus do?” Clearly there are myriad possible answers to this question, but for our purposes, one of the most simple answers is that Jesus accompanied and was present to people who were in need, hurt or alone. It is in this spirit that the Pastoral Care committee of Grace Church invites you to consider joining us in our efforts to “Do what Jesus did” --- be a companion to one another on the journey!
Caring Ministries—Caring ministers are people of prayer called to share in Christ’s healing mission by providing for care of the sick, elderly, or shut-ins. This care takes the form of writing notes and cards and when needed, providing meals.
Stephen Ministry—Stephen Ministry equips lay persons for effective and lasting caregiving, and ensures that quality follow-up care is available for as long as it is needed.
Through this ministry, our church is able to: provide quality care to more members; mobilize lay persons to be partners in caring ministry; enable the entire congregation to own responsibility for Christian caregiving instead of considering it solely the "priest’s job"; build healthy and healing relationships among church members; and care for those in the community who are not yet members but who look to the congregation for pastoral care. Training is offered on an ongoing basis at Grace church.
Coffee Hour
Coffee Hour is the principal occasion for members of the congregation to meet each other socially. It is held every week following the 8:00 and the 10:00 a.m. Sunday services. Both coffee hours are held in the welcoming area. At the greeter table is an array of information that outlines the life of our parish community.
These outgoing and dedicated individuals are Grace Church’s front line in our ministry of hospitality, welcoming visitors and offering assistance and information. At Coffee Hour the greeters staff the table, providing newcomers with ways to be incorporated into the community. Volunteers usually serve on a monthly rotation at each of the main Sunday services and are available for special events.
20s/30s @ Grace
20s/30s is a ministry of social, spiritual, and service-oriented activities to those in or near their twenties and thirties who are single, partnered, divorced, or married with or without children. The group encourages sharing of common life concerns and Christian fellowship Our community is ever-expanding, so we welcome all interested persons! Come join in one or two activities and let someone know you’d like to join our e-mail list, so we can get acquainted. Our group is varied, interesting, and “interested” in community activities—made up of folks just starting out and juggling bills, rent, work and play in our early 20s to those of us well seasoned in life’s hurdles and blessings—singles, parents and couples—all are welcome. We gather together once a month.
Softball
Each spring, members form the Grace Church softball team to compete in the church league of Baldwinsville. All are welcome to participate and cheer.
Foyers
Foyers is a collection of small groups of adults who get together in one another’s homes for dinner. The philosophy of “Foyers” is that we do not really know each other until we have broken bread together. In becoming a part of Foyers, we make new acquaintances and know our present ones better. Names are randomly drawn and put into small groups of 6-8 people. We encourage newcomers to sign up! Each member of a group hosts the other members for dinner is his/her own home. The dinners are supposed to be very simple and served simply, so the emphasis is on conversation rather than on the host’s wealth, possessions or culinary ability. Foyers are a great opportunity for fellowship.
Parish life
Annual and ongoing events provide opportunities for fellowship and service. These include the Chicken barbecue—an annual fundraiser; a Senior harvest dinner; meals, picnics and many other events. Parish life meets for monthly planning on the third Thursday of the month from 7-9pm.
Worship is the foundation of our commitment to Jesus Christ and the center of life at Grace Church. We celebrate Eucharist (Holy Communion) twice on Sundays. Morning prayer takes place in the chapel on Wednesday through Friday. Special services are offered during Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Advent, and Christmas, and at various other times during the year.
Altar Guild
The Altar is the center of the Church’s life and is the major concern of Altar Guilds. The Altar Guild is a group of very dedicated people who make it their loving commitment to ensure that the Altar, the vessels, linens, and candles are ready for each service. It is a very satisfying and comforting ministry. We generally work in pairs for each weekend. For major services, weddings, holidays and funerals we usually have three or more working together. We have a complete guide covering all information needed to perform this service and training is provided by the Altar Guild Directress.
Altar Flowers
Altar Flowers are given by parishioners as an expression of gratitude to God for special events in their lives such as births, marriages or anniversaries, in general thanksgiving or in memory of persons who have died. After Sunday worship, the flowers are taken to parish shut-ins and hospital patients. Those wishing to give flowers may sign up on the calendar in the welcoming area or call the parish office.
Acolytes
Acolytes assist in the Liturgy by leading the procession into the church and the recessional at the close of the liturgy. They also assist the priest at the altar with the setting of the table and preparation of the gifts. The ministry of acolyte is open to grades 8 and up.
Ushers
Ushers assist during our worship welcoming and seating people. They are responsible for taking up the collection. They are scheduled once a months according to the number of active ushers.
Greeters
Greeters arrive at weekend liturgies 15 to 20 minutes early and stand at the entrance to welcome everyone. At the conclusion of worship, they again stand at the entrance and engage newcomers in conversation and assist with any questions they might have about our ministries at Grace. Greeters may choose between our two Sunday morning liturgies. Schedules are prepared monthly.
Lectors
Lectors proclaim the “Word of God” at weekend and special liturgies. Lectors are responsible for the Old Testament and Epistle readings at Sunday services. They also participate in special services at Christmas and during Holy Week, including the reading of the Passion Gospel and the readings at the Great Vigil. A strong, articulate voice is required. A training session is required as well as attendance at bi-annual lector meetings. Lectors are scheduled once every four to six weeks at the liturgy of your choice.
Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs and LEVs)
The purpose of Eucharistic ministers is to assist in distributing Holy Communion. Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs) are chalice bearers who assist in this ministry. Lay Eucharistic Visitors (LEVs) are chalice bearers who are called to the special ministry of carrying the consecrated bread and wine from the Eucharist to homebound parishioners. There is a required training session for both. Eucharistic ministers are scheduled about once each month according to the number of active LEMs.
Oblation Bearers
Parishioners are encouraged to present the elements of bread and wine on behalf of the congregation at the 8:00 am and 10:00 AM Sunday services. Ushers ask different parishioners to serve as oblation bearers each week.
Music Ministries
Parishioners of all ages are invited to share your love of music with others in the music ministry by singing and or playing musical instruments at parish worship services. Anyone who loves music is warmly invited to call the music ministries director or see him after worship.
Choir
The Grace Choir is a cross-generational choir—teenagers and adults—We sing regularly at the 10:00 AM Choral Eucharist. Repertoire includes music from all styles, and singers learn music theory during the course of rehearsals. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Handbell Choirs.
Grace Church boasts two handbell choirs, Les Belles, and The Bells of Grace. The choirs meet on Tuesday afternoon and Thursday evenings, respectively.