Grace is perhaps the most diverse congregation in the diocese; socioeconomically, racially, culturally, gender, educationally, professionally, in sexual orientation, and age (although most of our members are older). The wonderful thing about this diversity that we are “naturally” welcoming and accepting of everyone that chooses to allow us to worship with in on any given Sunday.
Grace has a small, but mighty choir and a paid choir/music director that includes a variety of worship music from traditional, black spirituals, to more modern hymns. We have been planning a Beatles Eucharist. We also support Grace Notes, a chime choir.
Our worship includes traditional rites as well as the celebration of Black History Month and Pride Month. For Pride Month this year we hosted an outdoor Eucharist for the welcoming of the LGBTQAI Community and an exhibit from the Shower of Stoles Project. During the Season of Advent, we offered Advent Musical Meditations provided by the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus, Appalachian String and Hammer Dulcimer, Steel Drum or Pan, featuring Ted Canning, percussionist and Teaching Artist RIT and the Panloco Steel Band.
The Season of Lent is also a special time for us, as we feature an art exhibit in the nave in place of the traditional Stations of the Cross. One year the theme was nature photography and last year, it was Seeing God in the Ordinary, an original art exhibit by a local transgendered artist (her words, not mine). In addition to the excellent art, she offered a night of reflection on each piece and hosted the community at large.
We have a regional youth group made up of 4 differ churches from Scottsville, Avon, and Chili.
Grace is one of those diamonds that expresses itself as a small village church, where you are welcome regardless.
