Sunday at Grace – Grace Congregational UCC, Rutland, VT

Apr. 10 ~ Good Friday Reflections

*In an effort to keep our community safe, Grace Church services and all musical rehearsals are suspended through March 31st, 2020. Please check back here and the Grace Church Facebook page for alternative online worship experiences.

Other church-sponsored meetings are also cancelled through March 31st. AA will continue to meet. Please contact the church office for more details: 802-775-4301.

We gather to reflect on the themes of Good Friday through poetry and discussion.

When: Good Friday, April 10, 7 p.m.

Where: Grace Church Sanctuary

About: In the early first century Christian church, every Friday was a special day of prayer and fasting. Not until the fourth century did the Friday before Easter become a special observance originally called ‘Great Friday’ or ‘Holy Friday’. But why would this sad day on which Jesus was crucified ever be called ‘Good Friday’. In the early church, the Friday before Easter was referred to as ‘God’s Friday’, and over the years, ‘God’s’ was replaced with ‘Good’. But to this day, many Christians do find a transcendent good in the awful realities of Jesus’ crucifixion. His sacrifice on the cross highlights humanity’s inhumanity to each other. The horror of the crucifixion, in grim juxtaposition to Jesus’ innocence and martyrdom, only serves to magnify that inhumanity. This year, we will explore the dramatic themes of Good Friday through poetry and reflection in the candle-lit beauty of Grace Church Sanctuary. Our hope is that the collective conscience of the human race is inspired to never repeat the cruelty, but increase in justice and love.

Apr. 9 ~ Maundy Thursday Service

Other church-sponsored meetings are also cancelled through March 31st. AA will continue to meet. Please contact the church office for more details: 802-775-4301.

“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

When: Thursday, April 9, 2020 at 7 p.m.

Where: Grace Church Sanctuary

About: Maundy Thursday Service of Communion and Tenebrae
The Sanctuary Choir, Grace SSAA choir and Joyful Noise offer a service of Lessons and Carols for Maundy Thursday. The anthems reflect the Seven Last Words of Christ, which this year will be paralleled with the creation story. The wide variety of anthems include music from Estonia, Ireland and Weston Priory (Vermont).

2020 Lenten Services

Other church-sponsored meetings are also cancelled through March 31st. AA will continue to meet. Please contact the church office for more details: 802-775-4301.

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020
Ash Wednesday Services, 7 AM (Chapel) and 5:30 PM (Sanctuary). Rev. Bob Boutwell officiating. Mark the beginning of Lent with an Ash Wednesday Worship Service as we enter the Lenten discipline through a Service of Prayer and Ashes.

Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020
Women’s Ministries Breakfast and Service of Prayer and Reflection, 8:30 – 10AM, Parlor. Join us as we gather for a time of fellowship and an opportunity for silence, prayer, and preparation as we begin the season of Lent. Breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the service to follow. Rev. Linda Kulas will lead us in this service.

Thursday, April 9, 2020
Maundy Thursday Service, 7-8PM

Friday, April 10, 2020
Good Friday Service, 7-8PM, In the early first century Christian church, every Friday was a special day of prayer and fasting. Not until the fourth century did the Friday before Easter become a special observance originally called ‘Great Friday’ or ‘Holy Friday’. But why would this sad day on which Jesus was crucified ever be called ‘Good Friday’. In the early church, the Friday before Easter was referred to as ‘God’s Friday’, and over the years, ‘God’s’ was replaced with ‘Good’. But to this day, many Christians do find a transcendent good in the awful realities of Jesus’ crucifixion. His sacrifice on the cross highlights humanity’s inhumanity to each other. The horror of the crucifixion, in grim juxtaposition to Jesus’ innocence and martyrdom, only serves to magnify that inhumanity. This year, we will explore the dramatic themes of Good Friday through poetry and reflection in the candle-lit beauty of Grace Church Sanctuary. Our hope is that the collective conscience of the human race is inspired to never repeat the cruelty, but increase in justice and love. Thus we are redeemed.

Sunday, April 5, 2020
Palm Sunday, 8:30AM & 10AM

Sunday, April 12, 2020
Easter, 10AM

Dec. 22 ~ Service of Light in the Midst of Darkness

Chances are, someone you loved dearly has died. Have you found the need and the confidence to speak your beloved’s name with faith and a spirit to hope? It may be the first Christmas without family members or friends who have recently died. A space and time is needed to acknowledge the sadness and grief, but also to be reminded you are not alone. The Service of Light in the Midst of Darkness provides an opportunity to do just that. Join us on Sunday, December 22, at 4 pm in the Grace Church Sanctuary for a time of healing, encouragement hope and inspiration.

Some Celebrate – Some Grieve – All Remember

When: December 22 at 4 pm
Where: Grace Church Sanctuary

Dec. 8 ~ Handel’s Messiah

All are welcome to the annual Rutland Area Chorus’ performance of Handel’s Messiah at Grace Church, Rutland.

When: December 8, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Where: Grace Church Sanctuary

We are located on the corner of Court and West. For parking, enter our lot from
West Street. Street parking is also available on Court Street.

The handicap entrance may be accessed through the north side portico of Grace Church via the parking lot. The elevator is located in the central part of the building.

About: The Rutland Area Chorus will present Handel’s Messiah on December 8 at 3:30 and 7 p.m. All are invited to this wonderful annual celebration of the coming of the Messiah! The concert will also feature O Sing Unto the Lord by renaissance composer, Henry Purcell, and the winning work of the Grace Church Composition Competition, O Emmanuel by Michael Sitton. Dr Sitton, Dean of the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY, describes his work:

‘O Emmanuel is a setting of a text based on the Advent “O Antiphons,” for mixed choir, chamber orchestra, a solo quartet employed to sing an unaccompanied recurring refrain. It is a predominantly lyrical setting, with a quiet opening and closing, and encompasses a variety of moods and textures reflecting each verse of the text. Instrumental support is primarily provided by string ensemble, with additional support and added color from organ and timpani. A pair of oboes are featured both as solo instruments and for occasional doubling and obbligato material. While the text clearly ties to the Advent tradition and to Hebrew and Christian scriptures, the content is largely nonsectarian in its thrust and speaks to universal aspirations of hope and longing.’

Nov. 17 ~ Jazz Sunday

We are excited to welcome back the Onion River Jazz Band!

When: November 17 at 10 am

Where: Grace Church Sanctuary

About: We are excited to welcome back the Onion River Jazz Band to lead our 10 am morning worship on November 17th. They will accompany the Sanctuary Choir as well as offer upbeat hymns and songs. The handbell choir will also play a gospel medley. Invite a friend to Grace Church to experience this exciting contemporary style of worship.

Nov. 3 ~ Songs of Faith for All Saints

Join us on All Saints’ Day for a celebration of lives of those that have died this past year.

When: Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019 at 7 p.m.

Where: Grace Church Sanctuary

About: Under the direction of Dr Sherrill Blodget, Grace Church Sanctuary Choir and the Castleton University Chorale will offer Gwyneth Walker’s cantata, Songs of Faith, for choir, soloists, organ and brass. During this time, we will remember those who have died through music, poetry and prayer.

Oct. 20 ~ Champlain Philharmonic Orchestra at Grace

Grace Church welcomes Champlain Philharmonic Orchestra

When: Sunday, October 20 at 4 p.m.

Where: Grace Church Sanctuary, 8 Court St., Rutland, VT. We are located on the corner of Court and West. For parking, enter our lot from West Street. Street parking is also available on Court Street. The handicap entrance may be accessed through the north side portico of Grace Church via the parking lot. The elevator is located in the central part of the building.

About: We welcome the Champlain Philharmonic Orchestra and their director, Matthew LaRocca, to Grace Church as part of the CPO’s Fall Season. Tickets will be sold at the door for $15 (general), $10 (seniors) and $5 (students). The program will include Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, Copland’s ‘Rodeo’ and William Grant Still’s ‘Wood Notes’.

Sept. 29 ~ Immigration and Michaelmas

Join us for this event on Immigration sponsored by the Spiritual Growth Committee. In lieu of our Aug. 18 date, we will be meeting on September 29, 2019.

Immigration and Michaelmas!

When: Sunday, September 29, 2019 after our 10am worship service.

Where: Fellowship Hall

About: What is Michaelmas, and what does it have to do with our immigration work? It’s an ancient Christian holiday that celebrates the Archangel Michael defeating evil in the world! Join us for a Potluck luncheon discussion about Grace Church’s next steps with the wider Rutland community – what would it take to sponsor one or more families in Rutland? During this time, we will also have crafts/card-making to send to our brothers and sisters on the Border.

*A free-will offering will be collected for those working with detainees at the Border.

Apr. 28 ~ Spring Hymn Sing

Spring Hymn Sing – April 28 at 4pm

Please join us in the Grace Church Sanctuary to sing seasonal hymns. Baritone, David Castonguay, will perform The Five Mystical Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams accompanied by Alastair Stout. A reception will follow in the Parlor.