Our Ministries

Grace Church has a large, vibrant music ministry.  All are warmly welcome to participate.

More about our Music Ministry

At Grace Church, we work to provide opportunities for children and their families to:

• Experience a sense of belonging as part of the community of faith.
• See themselves as children of God and part of the larger community of God’s people.
• Be nurtured in their love for God and their love for neighbor.
• To learn what it means to live a life of faith as a follower of Jesus Christ.

Sunday School:  Children Kindergarten to 6th grade are invited to leave worship after “Time For All God’s Children” to attend Growing With Grace for Kids (Sunday School) for fun activities and Bible stories.  Let’s learn together!

Wiggle Corner: The Wiggle Corner, located in the southwest corner of the Sanctuary, provides more space for you and your little one during 10 am worship services. We invite you to enjoy the quiet toys, coloring table and pillows to sit on.  Feel free to borrow items to bring back to your pew during worship.  Kindly return them at the end of the service.  

Toddler Room: The Toddler Room, located downstairs in the Education Wing, is open from 9:45 to 11:15 am every Sunday.  It is staffed by two individuals that are background checked and trained in basic safety for children.  

Contact Us About Confirmation Class

Hospitality Time: Join us Sundays after 10 am worship service in the Fellowship Hall or on the Center Street patio for coffee, juice, snacks and conversation.

Women’s Game Night: Women of Grace and friends meet every 4th Tuesday of the month for some fun and friendly competition. There are a few snacks provided. Eat dinner before you come or bring your meal and drink with you. If you have a favorite game to share or a friend that wants to join, then bring them along, too. Come for all or part of the time. See you there! No need to RSVP.

Men o’ Grace: Tuesday evenings at 7 pm (dates vary) Males over the age of 17 are invited to join us in the Lounge for Men o’ Grace group. Come as you are, no homework, yes acceptance and support.

Men’s Lunch: Every Wednesday at noon men are invited to meet for lunch at Sugar and Spice in Mendon. Come for conversation and a tasty meal. Separate checks are provided to allow for easier payment. On the last Wednesday of the month, the meal is open to everyone.

Women’s Circle: Women’s Circle meets the 1st Saturday of the month in the Parlor for a time to relax, connect and get to know each other better. Drop in anytime for a few minutes or stay the whole two hours. Come as you are. There will be coffee!

Women’s Let’s Do Lunch: (dates vary)

Bible Study: The group meets every Wednesday morning at 9:30 am.

Green Team: Meets the 1st Sunday of the month; The Green Team is a group of Christian church members that believe in the stewardship of the environment as a primary responsibility expected by God toward the sustainable future of humanity.

Learning With Grace: The group meets throughout the year to provide meaningful and accurate information regarding the issues surrounding us. They look to understand the call of the Holy Spirit in their discussion. They invite and encourage all who are able to join in this spiritual journey.

Mission and Service: The Mission and Service Committee is tasked with strategic and thoughtful distribution of annual funds which are designated for their use from the general church budget. Their goal is to support essential organizations on the local, national and global levels. They also aim to provide emergency funds when sudden needs arise. They meet once a month for two-hours to accommodate the schedules of their committee members.

Prayer Ministry: The group meets every Wednesday morning from 8:00 – 9:00 am.  They gather to pray each week for others, be they church members, neighbors, friends, co-workers, community members, and friends of Grace Church who may have moved away from the Rutland area or Vermont.

Prayers Shawl Ministry: The group meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 9:30 am in the Parlor. They are always looking for more folks to join the group. They meet for about an hour to knit, crochet and pray. They have yarn, needles and patterns if you need them. Just learning? They will be happy to teach you. Join them for fellowship and conversation.

Women’s Ministries: Women’s Ministries support non-profits like Rutland Dismas, NewStory Center, Open Door Mission, Rutland Free Clinic, Community Cupboard, Rutland Neighbors, Bridge 2 Rutland, Church World Service and HEAL.

Home Communion: Home communion is available to anyone that requests it.  Please contact the church office to connect with a Deacon and the Pastoral Minister.

Pastoral Care / Care Team: The Care Team is made up of congregational members and the Pastoral Minister; and meets monthly to coordinate and extend care to church members who are in the hospital, nursing home, homebound or otherwise needing extra support from their church family.

Worship Services at Home: Join our services from home via our online worship link.

Online Worship

Grace Church supports a variety of local non-profits in the Rutland Region and beyond.  Click on the individual links to learn more about the organizations:

• AA: Grace Church provides space for 13 separate AA meetings Monday – Friday, check the link for AA Meetings in Rutland and their locations.
• Bridge to Rutland:  (B2R) A group of Rutland County residents working to bring asylum-seekers to Vermont and to support them once they’re here.
• BROC Community Action: BROC Community Action is a dynamic, efficient, and effective local organization serving Vermonter’s in the counties of Rutland and Bennington. We provide assistance to people in crisis and a sustainable path forward.
• HEAL: HEAL is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization in Kenya committed to raising our world, one child at a time. HEAL recognizes that poverty and disease have forced innocent children to live in unbearable conditions. HEAL seeks to design and implement progressive models for orphanages that encompass HEAL: Health, Education, Ample Nutrition and Love.  HEAL was founded by their Executive Director, Jennifer Musick Wright, who is a Grace Church member.
• NewStory Center: NewStory Center works to end the cycle of violence through support, education, prevention, and collaboration with individuals and communities throughout Rutland County.
• Rutland City Rescue / Open Door Mission: The Open Door Mission is a Thrift Store, Soup Kitchen, Veteran Shelter, and Homeless Shelter located in Rutland, VT. They accept donations of in-date food, clean clothing, linens, housewares and furniture.
• Rutland Community Cupboard:  The Community Cupboard is accessible to those that are food insecure and for those that are shopping on behalf of someone struggling with food insecurity. Individuals or families may utilize the Cupboard once a week if needed.
• Rutland Neighbors [formally known as Companions In Wholeness]:  Rutland Neighbors is a  social agency that offers a holistic approach to assisting people who are experiencing homelessness, struggling with food insecurity, or living in poverty.
• Rutland County Health Partners: Rutland County Health Partners is located in Rutland, VT. We provide access to our medical, dental and mental health clinics. It is also the location of our staff offices. Sometimes we can offer services within our rural communities.
• Spirituality in Recovery: A recovery group led by Rabbi Ellie Shemtov, the group is a 12-step group based on the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. Spirituality in Recovery meets in the Grace Church Lounge every Thursday, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm.
• Women’s / Men’s Dismas Houses: The mission of Dismas of Vermont, Inc. is to reconcile former prisoners with society and society with former prisoners.

We are an Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ and we welcome all people without regard to age, race, economic condition, disability, or sexual orientation.

More about Open and Affirming in the UCC