Grace Episcopal Mission of Clayton, NC

Worship

Sunday, Summer Worship Schedule

May 25 - September 7 2008

Our worship services take place every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. at our worship site, 10151 US Hwy 70 in Clayton A schedule of worship services is available via our calendar and we encourage you to check on a weekly basis for any last minute changes. The Lectionary Page (opens a new window) provides access to the Episcopal Church USA Eucharistic lessons. Please visit The Lectionary Page to view a liturgical calendar for upcoming weeks.

Grace Episcopal’s

Blessing of the Book Bags

Service of Holy Communion

Sunday, August 24th at 10 a.m.

On this Sunday before school starts we ask each child and young person to bring their own book bags to church to be blessed as we invite God to bless the beginning of the new school year.

We have planned a wonderful fun service that will tickle your funny bone and bring joy to your heart as we give glory to God.

In addition we invite the congregation to share their blessings by bringing food for Grace’s Backpack Buddies food outreach to Cooper School.

Grace Fall Sunday Morning Schedule

Resumes September 14, 2008

From time to time, we hold special services, such as the Blessing of the Animals, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services, and Holy Week services. Once definitive dates are announced, please see our calendar for details.

Holy Baptism

Baptism is the beginning or initiation of a new life n Christ. Through it one becomes a member of the church just as a baby becomes a member of the family by being adopted or born into it. New birth does not mean, at any age, instant spiritual maturity. Those who are baptized and their sponsors are expected to be active members of the church, helping one another to mature in discipleship and to confirm their lives to the teaching of Christ. Baptism is a one time full initiation into the Christian community.

Infant Baptism has its roots in the early church, and preparation focuses on the presenting parents, rather than the child. Godparents need to be baptized adults who will have an active role in nurturing the child in the Christian faith. Adults who have been converted are prepared for baptism by instruction in the content and practice of the Christian faith.

Baptism is always a public event, except in extraordinary circumstances. As much as possible we will observe the Prayer Book Days of Baptism, which include Easter, Pentecost, All Saints, the Baptism of Jesus and the Bishop's visitation. We will not celebrate Baptism in Lent or Advent except for urgent cause. The next calendar dates for Baptism in our congregation will be Sunday, October 12 with the visit of Bishop Gregg at the 10:30 p.m. Service of Holy Communion. If you are interested in scheduling baptism for yourself, your infant or your child please contact our Minister or call the church office at 919-553-2810.

Music

A new season brings new opportunities for new musical experiences in worship. We are ready to begin choirs in a new way to nurture our musical ministry. We would like to establish monthly Sunday afternoon rehearsals for the adult choir.

We will still meet with the preschool children on Sunday mornings at 9:30AM for fifteen minutes and with the K - 5 children for a brief time to keep their musical work going. The adult choir will continue to meet on Sunday mornings at 8:45 for a half hour to go over the music of the day.

This schedule will give us the opportunity to learn more music and develop our musical ministry. Music is such a vital part of our service and we want to offer our best to enhance the worship experience for everyone.

Please join us for a new beginning of a new music ministry.

Learning to Pray!

Our Life in Prayer at Grace for 2008

"Lord teach us to pray..."

Prayer builds our friendship with God. Like any relationship, our relationship with God will develop and grow as we spend quality time on building the friendship.

Prayer was a vital part of Jesus' own ministry (Mark 1: 35). How can we neglect it?

We grow more like the Lord as we spend time with him.

Prayer strengthens us for the spiritual battle.

Through prayer God's power is released in the world, in the Church and in our own lives.

Prayer gives us power for living. We can read about prayer and discuss it endlessly, but unless we actually pray we will never discover the power of prayer. But prayer is not a natural human activity. We are not born (or born again) knowing how to pray. It is something we learn how to do.

We may find that even though we pray frequently and sincerely we are frustrated. We don't get the feeling of inner peace or the results we expect. Praying might work for other people but not for us. We ask ourselves: "Could I be doing something wrong?" Peter Marshall was a pastor and well-known chaplain in the United States Senate. He gave some advice on how to pray and what we might expect from our prayers: "All of us need to touch Christ for some reason or other. First, give God a chance. Take your problem, whatever it may be, to God in prayer. Tell God all about it ... just as if God didn't know a thing. In the telling be honest and sincere. Hold nothing back ... Then the second step is to believe that God will hear you. Remember that God heard the poor woman who touched the hem of His garment. Believe with all your faith that God cares what happens to you. You must believe that. You can't doubt it when you look at the Cross. 'Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.' (Mark 11:24)

Next , you must be willing to wait patiently for the Lord. He does not answer prayer on Sunday afternoon! You may have to wait until Friday. But wait. God is never in a hurry. Then when God speaks to you ... as He will do ... do what God tells you. God may not tell you audibly. You may not hear voices, as did Joan of Arc. You may not see any writing in the sky or have an unusual experience. God could, if He wanted, send you messages in that way, but that is not the usual method. It generally comes through your own conscience ... a sort of growing conviction that such and such a course of action is the one God wants you to take. Or it may be given you in the advice of friends of sound judgment ... those who love you most.

God speaks sometimes through our circumstances and guides us, closing doors as well as opening them. God will let you know what you must do and what you must be. God is waiting for you to touch Him. The hand of faith is enough. Your trembling fingers can reach God as he passes. Reach out your faith ... touch God. God will not ask, 'Who touched me?' God will know."

Daily prayer forms the backbone of our Christian life. Here are some steps you can take:

• Find the time.

• Find the place.

• Plan the time

There is no single right way to pray which suits everyone. Some people use daily Bible reading notes as a framework. Others use a simple outline for prayer called a 'Daily Office' from the Book of Common Prayer. We are all different people and the Lord has his own relationship with each of us. There are different ways of planning a daily prayer time. This is one way, which many have found helpful. Divide your time into three parts:

Preparing

Listening

Talking

Vicar, Wardens, and Vestry Praying for You

The Vicar, Wardens and Vestry as part of their deep believe in the power of prayer will continue their prayer ministry for Grace for 2008. Each of the leadership team will be praying specifically for six households from the congregation each day of the week as part of their daily prayer life. Every three months each vestry member will switch names and pray for another group of six to eight households. As new members join Grace their names will be added to the list of prayers. Each Vestry member for each household in their daily prayer life will use the following prayer. "O eternal God, who sets the solitary in families and fills the hungry with good things, visit. With your grace and favor; knit them together in your love through good times and bad, bless their comings and their goings, give them thankful hearts for their daily bread and for each other, and bring them at the last into your heavenly dwelling place; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Grace Prayer Team

The Grace Prayer Team meets bi-weekly to pray for the congregation during this time of transistion as we explore where our new church home will be located. If you are interested in participating please contact the Vicar at 553-2810.

Confidential Intercessory Prayer Group

The confidential intercessory prayer group will continue its ministry of praying for those who are in crisis or some sort of trouble. Anne Loomis is the chair of this ministry. You may give names of those you would like prayers for to Anne or the Vicar. All prayer requests are kept in strictest confidence.

Healing Prayer Service First Sunday Each Month

We hold a Service of Healing Prayer as part of our regular Sunday morning Service of Holy Communion on the First Sunday of each Month. Immediately following the distribution of communion the Vicar will invite people to come forward to ask for prayers of healing for themselves or others. The congregation will pray a prayer provided in the bulletin as people receive the laying on of hands for healing. "O Lord, our God, who accepts the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen."

Grace Episcopal Mission

Clayton, North Carolina