Transition Updates

Date Posted: April 20, 2006
Subject is: Letter from the Rector
Message is:

Dear Family and Friends of Grace Church

Yesterday, Easter Sunday, was our last day in our historic campus. Many of us walked out of the symbolic tomb and put our hand to the plow.

Our last Sunday was appropriately glorious. Our attendance of 1,156 was the second largest single-day attendance ever. We baptized 17 children and adults, the most baptisms ever on a single day.

There were many tears and much enthusiasm about our new adventure at Orange Park High School (OPHS). So far over 850 people have signed on as members of Grace Church (Anglican). OPHS seats up to 700 so we should be okay–unless everyone shows up at once.

In addition to the Festival Eucharist service held at 10:00 at OPHS, we will also offer a 1928 Prayer Book Service at 8:00 Sunday mornings in our Ministry Annex, next door to our office. You can find us at 2141 Loch Rane Blvd., Suite 120, just behind "Big Lots."

After the 11:05 service yesterday, about 50 people stuck around for one final "parish meeting," a chance to tie up final details, say final good-byes to a facility that has served us so well for so long, and talk about the future.

Sam

Transition Updates

Date Posted: April 25, 2006
Subject is: Update from Sam
Message is:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Our first Sunday in our new worship spaces (Orange Park High School at 10:00 am and our office conference room at 8:00) were a smashing success. I am not given to hyperbolic rhetoric, but it was grand.

As our average attendance at our Sunday morning, 7:30 am, 1928 BCP service had been 26 for the first part of this year, it was encouraging that 22 people showed up for the service at our office's conference room. The setting was far from regal or even churchly, but it was a terrific time of fellowship and worship in the classical Anglican tradition.

At 10:00, we had our first service at Orange Park High School. It was a great celebration with 604 people in attendance, using up virtually every chair in the place. Despite a few technical glitches (considering the enormity of the task, they were very minor) the worship came off wonderfully. I heard many grateful comments about the work done by the dozens, if not hundreds, of volunteers who began work at 6:45 am to set up for the service.

Next week we go from strength to strength, as we add our revamped, refocused, and relocated Mars Hill Fellowship to the line up. This new outreach ministry will feature a coffee-house type atmosphere and will meet at Buzzy's Cafe at College and 220. Sundays at 5:30. Seating is limited, food and wine will be available after the "service," so only come if you are open to a new kind of outreach ministry.

Then, on May 3, we will resume our Wednesday Night services of Prayer, Praise and Healing. We will meet at 6:30 pm in the Moosehaven chapel, at the center of the Moosehaven campus. Look for the signs as you enter through the front gate off of Highway 17.

We continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ at Grace Episcopal Church and watch for God to work His will in and through them.

In the meantime, God bless us everyone.

Sam