Grace A to Z
Below is a glossary of information as it relates to Grace Episcopal Church. For more information on any topic or to get involved at Grace, please contact our Rector, The Rev. Stephen Schneider at .
Acolytes
The Guild of Acolytes consists of both youth and adult members who assist with the worship services, assisting the celebrant at the altar and as torchbearers. Acolytes may also serve as crucifers.
Advent St. Nicholas Party
The Advent St. Nicholas Party helps children and their families to have fun together as they explore the meaning of Advent and the true meaning of the Christmas season.
Altar Guild
Altar Guild members serve on teams to help prepare the church, the sacred vessels, the linens and the vestments for worship services. This can be a meditative, spiritual discipline of the hands and heart.
Auction
The Grace Memorial Community Center Auction as it is officially known, is a fun gala dinner and the main fundraiser for the outreach and community ministries of Grace Memorial Community Center.
Bell Choir
The Bell Choir has the benefit of Grace Memorial’s Petit and Fritsen Dutch handbells, on which they prepare bell peals, learn anthems and liturgical accompaniments under the direction of music director Susan Jensen.
Bible Workbench or Bible Basics
The Bible Workbench or Bible Basics takes place every Sunday morning at 9:00 am and is a study of our weekly lectionary readings (the Scripture lessons assigned for the day). Discussion can be sacred, safe, serious and spirited with particular attention given to the influence and power of scripture in our everyday lives.
The Benedictine Way
The study of the Rule of Benedict takes place at Grace on Wednesday evenings preceded by Evening Prayer at 6:00 pm. The study may also include a light supper. The Rule is over 1,500 years old and yet is applicable to a wide variety issues we face today. Benedictine spirituality offers possibilities for a balanced view and approach to living and walking the Christian life.
Buildings and Grounds Committee
The Buildings and Grounds Committee is responsible for the good stewardship and care of the buildings and grounds of Grace Memorial.
Catechumenate
Catechumenate encourages deep engagement with the Gospel, our baptismal covenant, discipleship, and ministry. From Advent through the Day of Pentecost, catechumens study, pray, eat and laugh together. The Catechumenate is an important step in an individual journey of faith and discernment of personal ministry; it is necessary as preparation for adult baptism or confirmation.
Christmas Pageant
The Christmas Pageant involves an opportunity for children to tell the nativity story to the congregation at the 4:00 pm Christmas Eve service. The pageant serves as both Gospel and Homily at this service. Creative and dedicated youth and adults serve as coordinators and in other roles. Guidance and support are provided.
Church School
Children’s Church School, for children in Preschool through Grade 5, meets every Sunday, year round, for the first half of the 10:00 am service. Using the Godly Play (PreK through 1st Grade) and Seasons of the Spirit (2nd Grade through 5th Grade) curriculum, this ministry relies on an active and large set of volunteers:
Coffee Hour
Coffee Hour might be termed a “second sacrament” of Sunday morning. The Coffee Hour follows the 10:00 am Eucharist and is an opportunity for parish members, friends and visitors to share a time of refreshment and informal conversation.
Coffee Ministry
Grace makes fair traded coffee available for purchase at the Sunday Coffee Hour and during the week through the Parish Office. Purchasing Land of a Thousand Hills (working with farmers in Rwanda, Kenya and Haiti) or Bishop’s Blend (working in partnership with Episcopal Relief and Development) coffees provides a simple way to help change the world through a shopping practice and at the same time support our Friday Community Dinners.
Companion Parish
Companion Parish is a partnership relationship between Grace Memorial and Trinity Cathedral in Monrovia, Liberia. The Cathedral has been a beacon of hope in a country recovering from civil war. It also allows Grace Parish members to forge direct connections to another part of the Anglican Communion.
Coventry Choir
Coventry Choir, under the direction of Susan Jensen, leads the congregation in liturgical and special music for the season from September to June.
Daughters of the King
Daughters of the King is an order for women (lay and ordained) in the Episcopal Church, who pledge themselves to a life-long program of prayer, service and evangelism, dedicated to the spread of Christ’s Kingdom and the strengthening of the spiritual life of her parish. With an active group at Grace the Daughters periodically sponsors discernment classes and engage in service projects.
Discernment Committee
The Discernment Committee assists parishioners who feel God may be calling them to a major change in their life’s work.
Emergency Food Ministry
Hungry people know they can come to Grace and receive a generous and nutritious sack lunch. The Emergency Food Ministry is made possible by donations of food by members and friends of the Grace community.
Episcopal Church Women
Episcopal Church Women is the sponsor of the Holiday Art Faire & Bazaar, which funds parish and outreach projects large and small. The “Women of Grace” also assist with other projects in the church, including St. Mary’s Guild and hospitality.
Episcopal Public Policy Network
The Episcopal Public Policy Network is a vehicle for making a difference in the world through faith-formed political action.
Eucharistic Ministers
Eucharistic Ministers are laypersons, licensed by the Bishop, who offer the chalice during Communion.
Eucharistic Visitors
Eucharistic Ministers are laypersons, licensed by the Bishop, who bring the Eucharistic elements to homebound parishioners.
Findlay Library
The Findlay Library serves as an educational resource to the parish. The library includes religious classics, reference works and more recent books for those exploring questions of faith.
First Sundays
First Sunday is a day for children of all ages – Pre-K through the 5th grade. First Sunday builds upon our highly successful Grace Art Camp by introducing children to a Biblical story as part of a 9:00 am Eucharist. Following this family-friendly service, families will have an opportunity to explore and discover for themselves new meanings and understandings of the Christian story through a variety of art studio and service experiences.
Friday Community Dinner
The Friday Community Dinner is an outreach of the parish, serving home-cooked meals to the hungry of our community, in an atmosphere of gracious hospitality.
Gardening Guild
Parishioners who love to dig around in the dirt, love to prune, plant, grow and watch flowers flourish bring their creative ministry to the Grace Gardening Guild. Members can take on as little or much of the care of our Grace grounds as they like, working together or alone.
Grace Foundation
The Grace Memorial Episcopal Church Foundation solicits, manages and distributes gifts of money to Grace Memorial Episcopal Church and Grace Institute. The Foundation also provides educational resources to assist members and friends of Grace with planned giving and the stewardship of money.
Godly Play
Godly Play teaches children the art of using religious language – parable, sacred story, silence and liturgical action – helping them become more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives.
Global Grace
Global Grace is the name for the Global outreach ministry of the parish and Grace Institute (see Grace Institute). It offers educational forums, special projects (such as the Grace Global Marketplace) and mission service opportunities.
Grace Gallery
The Grace Gallery offers artists an opportunity to exhibit recent works in the parish house for a two-month showing.
Grace Institute
Grace Institute is a non-profit corporation affiliated with Grace Memorial Episcopal Church that conducts Grace Art Camp, Bridges to Understanding and Peace Camp, year-round art classes, and other programs to creatively engage with the issues of urban Portland.
Grace Youth
Grace youth participate in the Way to Live (an Episcopal program directed to teen life and faith formation). Youth are also offered many opportunities for service. These include serving as acolytes and lectors at the 10:00 am Eucharist, assisting with the First Sunday program, as well as participating in service projects at Grace and in the wider Portland community. Grace youth seek out and embrace summer service projects on a local, national or global basis.
Guild of St. Mary
In the Guild of St. Mary prayerful intentions and sewing or knitting skills become instruments of grace and connection to others through this group ministry that makes quilts and blankets for those who need them.
Healing Prayer Ministers
Prayer teams from the Healing Prayer Ministry offer individual healing prayers at the 10:00 am Sunday Eucharist, special services of healing, and in home, hospital or care facility settings.
Holiday Art Faire & Bazaar
The Holiday Art Faire & Bazaar is a multi-faceted event that combines a contemporary arts boutique featuring many of our talented Grace Parish extended-family artists with a traditional holiday bazaar with its hospitality, handcrafted gift items and holiday foods. Proceeds fund special needs at Grace and outreach projects. The event is held annually on the second Saturday in December.
Intercessors
Intercessors lead the Prayers of the People at worship services.
Labyrinth Guild
The Labyrinth Guild makes available to Grace and the wider community this popular and ancient Christian tool of meditative prayer, including scheduled walks throughout the year and a special New Years Day Walk for Peace.
Lectors
Lectors read the lessons from Scripture at worship services. Schedules are prepared approximately every three months, and training is provided.
Middle School Youth
A Rite 13 program (a preparation for full incorporation into the life and witness of the church) is offered at Grace to Middle School age youth every two to three years. The next Rite 13 program is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2012.
Nursery
During the 10:00 am Sunday morning service, a Grace staff member or parent volunteer provides nursery care for infants up to age three.
Prayer Chain
The Prayer Chain is a group of parishioners who pray daily for individuals who request prayers.
Prayer Shawls
Prayer shawls are knit (or crocheted) with intentional prayers. Most are given to individuals who are seriously ill, in transition, or grieving, to those who are out of work and seeking employment, and also to people who just need a reminder that they are being prayed for by their faith community.
This nationally-recognized ministry to sex workers is a joint ministry of several Episcopal parishes on the East side of Portland, and is physically located at Sts. Peter & Paul Episcopal Church on 82nd Avenue. Various skills are needed, and training is provided.
Ushers
Ushers are ministries of hospitality who represent the “welcome of Jesus” to guests, visitors and long-time parishioners alike.
Water Initiative
The Water Initiative at Grace links our baptism by water to the global stewardship of water resources.
