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Annual Events

Friends of Grace Spring Gala

This congregational party, held on the first or second Sunday after Easter, celebrates Grace’s history and ongoing life. Proceeds from ticket sales and a silent auction go to Saving Grace, a special fund set up to maintain and improve Grace’s buildings and grounds. The Potomac Boat Club hosted this year’s gala, and has graciously opened its doors to us for several years. Great music, great food, and a great view over the Potomac, along with good fellowship and a good cause, make this celebration a perennial Grace favorite.

Watch the Upcoming Events page each March or April for information about the Gala.

Bach Festival

The Bach Festival has been held every year in July since 1993. Five recitals featuring superb musicians filled the church with classical music lovers. The Bach Festival is now organized and directed by organist/choir director Francine Maté and was originally created by former organist/choir director Larry Molinaro.

Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events page, beginning in May each year, for information about the upcoming festival. We suggest a donation of $15.00 for each recital.

Taste of Georgetown

Grace Church’s fall festival—The Taste of Georgetown (visit the official site)—usually takes place on the Saturday of Columbus Day weekend.

An annual event, “Taste” offers the opportunity for hundreds of area residents and visitors to sample the unique flavors of Georgetown, participate in family activities, and purchase raffle tickets for excellent prizes donated by local businesses.

The “Taste of Georgetown” brings both members and visitors to the churchyard on a Fall Saturday afternoon to sample food from Georgetown’s popular restaurants while enjoying live music and activities.

For many years Grace Church and the Georgetown Ministry Center (GMC) for the homeless have worked together to organize and staff the event.

In 2004, the Georgetown Partnership—Business Improvement District (“BID”) joined with Grace Church and GMC to present this very special community and family event, and the partnership continues.

The “Taste” needs lots of volunteers to be successful. Contact the Grace office if you can help sell tickets, greet and direct guests and customers, set up and take down tents, tables and food venues, and count and deposit revenues. Volunteers generally receive 2 free tasting tickets, a t-shirt, and discounted parking.

All proceeds from the event are donated to the Georgetown Ministry Center for the homeless.

Check the Upcoming Events page prior to Columbus Day every year for event details.

Annual Parish Retreat

Grace Retreat Presentation (PDF)

Annual Meeting

Grace generally holds its Annual Meeting on the third Sunday of November. At this gathering, the whole congregation receives and considers reports from the church’s various organizations and ministries, as well as a year-to-date financial report with year-end projections. Also, members in good standing vote for representatives to the church’s Vestry (governing board) and for Senior and Junior Warden, the parish’s chief lay officials.

• 2012 Report to the Annual Meeting (PDF)
• 2012 Addendum to the Annual Report (PDF)

Congregation-Based Shelter

The Congregation Based Shelter opened in 1992. Each year in late November/early December, area congregations host the shelter in blocks of a week, providing 10 homeless men and women with dinner and breakfast and a safe and warm place to sleep from 7 pm until 7 am. The shelter guests are screened by Georgetown Ministry Center (GMC) staff and are among the more fragile of their clients. In addition to providing a safe haven from the harsh winter and creating a comfortable, low-demand environment for sometimes service-resistant homeless people, the CBS program seeks to link all residents to the continuum of care, including case management and psychiatric services, thereby encouraging them to make the changes necessary to prevent them from returning to the streets. Parishioners, friends and community volunteers cook and serve dinner each night, engaging in fellowship with the guests. Overnight volunteers, who share the evening meal and assist the paid GMC staff member with breakfast, also are a key part of this program.

Grace hosted the shelter from December 5–19, 2008, thanks to Grace members, friends and neighbors who volunteered their time. The shelter residents slept in the sanctuary and meals were taken in the Rose Room. Contact the Grace office for more information, and to volunteer.

As is previous years, GMC staff works to place shelter residents in transitional or permanent housing following the shelter’s closing.