Grace Anglican Church

Are You Seeking Baptism?

2008-04-16T10:49:00.001-04:00

Our next Baptisms are scheduled for Sunday June 8th, 2008. If you are seeking baptism for yourself or a child please contact the parish. You can learn more about baptism at Grace by navigating to the "Belonging" page on this website and clicking on "Baptism" or by calling the church office at 752-6814.

Happy Easter Everyone

2008-03-24T19:05:00.000-04:00

The Lord is Risen indeed. Alleluia!!

Rooms Available in Christian Residence

2008-01-31T09:17:00.002-05:00

Some rooms are still available in the St. Stephen's House Laurier Christian Residence next door to Grace Church. To learn more call 519-752-6814, extension 27 and our student liaison representative will get back to you.

St. Stephen's House Christian Residence is a quiet residential experience for Laurier and Nipissing students .

Grace Church Launches New Congregation

2007-12-29T00:00:00.000-05:00

These are exciting times for the expanding ministry of Grace Church. The parish is in the process of planting a new congregation in our Upper Parish Hall. The new congregation, called "Counterpoint" is an hour of uplifting singing, prayer, teaching and fellowship. The new congregation provides another option for newcomers to the faith to explore the teachings of Jesus and the meaning of Jesus for their lives in contemporary society. The first service for Counterpoint was Sunday September 9th.

Counterpoint meets every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the Upper Parish Hall of Grace Anglican Church. House churches will also gather during the week.

To learn more about Counterpoint, please go to www.counterpointchurch.ca

Welcome to the Electronic Home of Grace Anglican Church, Brantford

2007-09-11T12:25:00.000-04:00

Located at the corner of Albion and West Streets, in inner city Brantford, we are an inclusive congregation of Anglicans exploring what it means to follow Jesus, one day at a time. In our parish life, we strive to follow the prophet Micah’s prescription for daily living. That is: to seek justice, love kindness, and walk in humility with our God.

We hope that you will get a feel for what we are all about by browsing this site. In it you can learn about our worship, our pastoral care and outreach ministries, and opportunities for personal growth through the Christian Education programmes we offer. Our Christian Education page, which you can navigate through our "Spiritual Paths" link, has details of our Bible study and programmes currently being offered or upcoming. We'd love to have you join us!

If you like what you see as you browse, we hope you will check us out in person. You are most welcome to join us at Sunday worship or any other special events. Please come for a “no-strings attached” Sunday visit.

For after hours pastoral emergencies please call:
The Reverend Dave Ponting at 519 - 751-0129

OUR CORE VALUES

2007-03-12T08:51:00.000-04:00

1. In keeping with our Baptismal vows, we will strive in word and action to joyfully proclaim the Good News we find in Jesus Christ. We believe God’s love transforms people.

2. We proclaim and respect the dignity and the value of every human being that walks through our doors. We understand that hospitality is a driving force in our communal life. Everyone has something to offer the community (spiritual gifts to share).

3. We believe in striving for excellence in all our worship. We are called to continually be seeking ways to grow and evolve the worship experience we provide at Grace Church, while holding to our standard of excellence.

4. As stewards of the gifts of God, we strive to steward all resources entrusted to us as a faith community, including the environment. We believe and practice an understanding that our God is a “God of Abundance” in our decision making and corporate life together.

Fire at St. Andrew's United Church

2006-01-25T11:32:00.000-05:00

The people of Grace Church extend their care and concern to the people of St. Andrew's United Church, Brantford following their tragic fire on the evening of January 24th, 2006. We have offered our help in any way and the use of our facilities to the St. Andrew's Board.

Update -
St. Andrew's Methadone Clinic Temporarily Moved to Grace Church
The methadone clinic that had been located at St. Andrew's United will be relocated to Grace Church Upper Parish Hall. Hours of operation for the pharmacy dispensary and doctors will remain the same as at St. Andrew's.
Clinic hours of operation are:
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m.-3:00p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-11:00a.m.

Soup for the Soul Dinners
The Soup for the Soul program offered by St. Andrew's has been hosted by Grace since the fire. Soup for the Soul returned to St. Andrew's in August 2007. Check at St. Andrews for times and days of operation. The Grace Church Daily Bread dinners on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. remain at Grace Church. Thanks to the people of St. Andrews for the gift of allowing us to share in this important ministry.

Confirmation Planned for May 7, 2006

2006-01-08T12:29:00.000-05:00

We are pleased to announce that Bishop Bruce Howe will be confirming candidates from this deanery on Sunday May 7th at 3:00 p.m. in a deanery-wide service scheduled for St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Brantford. Grace Church will be holding confirmation classes beginning in late February and running approximately six weeks.

Anyone interested in seeking confirmation should attend an evening information session in the Grace Church fireside room on Thursday February 2nd at 7:00 p.m. At that meeting we will be discussing course content and planning the schedule for the learning sessions.

Arrangements are being made for special confirmation preparation for any adults seeking confirmation or who would like to make an adult re-affirmation of faith.

For more information, please speak to the rector or phone the church office at 752-6814

February 3rd P.A. Day Moved to Faith Lutheran Church

2006-01-07T09:34:00.000-05:00

NEWSFLASH: THIS P.D. DAY HAS BEEN MOVED TO FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH AT THE CORNER OF BRANT AVE. AND CHURCH ST. Thanks to the people of Faith Lutheran for hosting this event. It has been moved to make room for the Methadone clinic at Grace Church. Your children will still be spending the day with the Grace Church volunteers they know.

At Grace Church we're parents too. We know P. A. Days can be tough on parents with work obligations. We are here to help.

Friday February 3rd, 2006 is the date of Grace Church's next P.A. Day program. A fun-filled and activity-packed day will take place at the church. Children from the ages of 4-10 are invited to spend the day with adult and youth leaders from the church and the community, at no cost.

Snacks and lunch are provided. Children need to come dressed for outdoor play as we will be outside during part of the day. If there is snow, remember boots and indoor shoes. Children should arrive by 9:00 a.m. with their permission slip signed and enter by the Pearl St. ramp door. Come up to the Upper Parish Hall Board Room to sign your child(ren) in.

Children must be met by a responsible adult at 3:30 p.m. in the Upper Hall. Call the church at 752-6814 to pre-register and save a spot for your child. Spaces are limited to 40 children so call early! A registration form is also available by dropping by the church office during business hours from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m..

Special December Worship Services

2005-10-20T13:20:00.000-04:00

Lessons and Carols Service followed by reception in St. Stephen's House
Sunday December 18th - 7 p.m.

Annual Seniors and Shut-Ins Christmas Service
Wednesday December 21st, 11 a.m.
Luncheon to follow in upper parish hall
Transportation available - call the church office at 752-6814

Blue Christmas Service
Wednesday December 21st, 7:30 p.m.
A service for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one or broken relationships

Christmas Eve Services
Saturday December 24th
Family Service with Children's emphasis 4:30 p.m.
Choral Eucharist 7:30 p.m.
Reception from 9 - 10 p.m. with Carol singing at 10 p.m.
Candlelight Service and Eucharist 10:30 p.m.

Christmas Day Service
Sunday December 25th 10:00 a.m. (one service only)
Holy Eucharist

Note:
We will also meet at our regular worship service times on Sunday mornings, December 4th, 11th, and 18th (see Service times elsewhere on this website)

Blessing of Animals Service Held at Grace Church

2005-10-05T18:52:00.000-04:00

On St. Francis of Assisi Day, Tuesday October 4th a Blessing of Animals service was held at Grace Anglican Church.

The service included songs, a reading of the story of creation, and prayers of thanksgiving to God for the gift of animals. Then the new priest at Grace Church blessed over twenty-five d0mestic pets that were there with their owners.

Grace’s Reverend Dave Ponting, says that St. Francis is the patron saint of animals. This service is always one of the highlights of the church year for him. “It’s certainly the service I do that is the most fun, though it can get noisy and chaotic. In the past, I’ve been asked to bless dogs, cats, budgies, hamsters, gerbils, snakes, canaries, turtles, and goldfish. This year it was a flying squirrel, which I learned is not a rodent but a marsupial.” One year on St. Francis Day, while he was serving in Jarvis, Ontario, Reverend Ponting had a group of St. John’s Ambulance dog handlers all show up with their dogs for the service. The dogs were part of a therapeutic program that specialized in visits to hospitals, nursing homes and children who were shut in. “It was a sacred moment, blessing the dogs for that very special ministry,” Ponting recalls.

“I once blessed a male ferret whose 10 year old owner had named Xena the Warrior Princess”, Ponting says chuckling at the fond memory. A good friend and fellow priest once wrote a short story about an incident where a cat got loose at a Blessing of Animals service and killed a little girl’s pet canary right there in the church. Ponting laughs as he recalled the miraculous plot line. “In the story the exasperated priest picks up the mortally challenged bird and, covering it with his palm, he says a prayer, and to his incredulous surprise, the bird is resurrected.”

That was fiction. At Grace Church, the annual service is a chance to say thanks to God for the very real special bond and love we have with our small, furry friends. Reverend Ponting indicated that the Blessing of Animals service will be an annual event at Grace Church

Lecture Series: Faith and Citizenship in a Pluralistic World

2005-09-11T15:21:00.000-04:00

Grace Church presents a two evening lecture series on contemporary issues in Church and Society. Lectures will be held at Grace Church in the Upper Parish Hall.

Wednesday November 16th, 2005 – 8:00 p.m.
Speaker: Dr. Robin Lathangue, Ph.D (Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia), Contemporary Studies, Religion and Culture, Laurier Brantford.
Followed by Wine and Cheese and conversation with the speaker.

Thursday November 17th, 2005 - 8:00 p.m.
Speaker: Dr. Peter Farrugia, D. Phil (Oxford University, England), Contemporary Studies and History, Laurier Brantford.
Followed by Wine and Cheese and a panel with questions and conversation with both speakers.

Synopsis
Some scholars would argue that the Age of Christendom is dead. We live in a pluralistic society where Christianity no longer influences public institutions as it once did. Many forget that Canada was founded on principles of faith and that God is explicitly mentioned in the Preamble to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Questions remain: Do people of faith have a responsibility to participate in the public realm? How should faith inform politics and public policy? Recent developments in the United States - where the “religious right” is accused of commandeering the Republican Party, the Presidency and, most recently, appointments to the Supreme Court - have made this a topical issue. What is happening in Canada, and how should Canadians of faith seek to live out their citizenship? Our speakers will provide some historical perspectives and suggest a way forward for thinking, caring Christians.

Prayer Vigil for Peace in Caledonia - Wednesday May 24th - 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

2005-08-23T09:50:00.000-04:00

With the state of emergency in effect in the town of Caledonia and tensions running very high, we at Grace Church are concerned that violence between residents of Caledonia and members of Six Nations has become a part of the conflict. The residents of Caledonia deserve their town back and the people of the Six Nations have been lied to enough by successive governments down through the years and deserve redress. We call upon the government to do what is necessary to end this stand-off before the violence escalates even further and people on both sides are put in more serious risk.

It is also a time to pray for peace as provinical premier Dalton McGinty and lead negotiator Mr. David Peterson call for calm.

On Wednesday May 24th from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Grace Anglican Church is holding a Peace Prayer Vigil in the church. We are inviting people throughtout Brantford and the surrounding area to join us throughout the day to pray for a peaceful resolution to the situation in Caledonia. Please come and pray with us. As a Christian community we witness to our firm belief that prayer works.

A PRAYER FOR PEACE
Gracious God, it is your will to hold both heaven and earth in a single peace. Let your great love shine on the people of Caledonia and the Six Nations. Give wisdom to the negotiators on both sides of this dispute. Give them a will for peace and a sense of urgency to resolve this issue quickly before more people are hurt. Grant, O Lord, to both sides peace and a just resolution to this stand-off. Bring peace O Lord – peace among nations, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts; we ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

For more information call the Reverend Dave Ponting in the church office at 752-1829.