Grace Episcopal Church

Like Eric B, I was here to give a presentation. My presentation happened to be to volunteers from Contra Costa County’s Senior Peer Counseling Program regarding a Youth-​Senior Mentoring Project that I developed in partnership with county staff.
Eric already mentioned the church location, the grounds and the Social Hall. It is a good space for a presentation with an open wall to project a PowerPoint, a large open space suitable for a u-​shaped audience, and lightweight tables and chairs. After our presentation, one of my staff and I discussed how it might be a good location to rent space for some upcoming meetings and trainings. There is ample parking and there is nice indoor and outdoor areas for small and large group activities.
One of the things that I particularly appreciate about the location of the church is the relaxing, quiet environment and beautiful view. We got there early and after setting up I took a moment to walk around the building and snap some photos of the beautiful scenery.

It was pouring rain this morning as I turned into the driveway of Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez. I was here to give a presentation about my Earthwatch experiences to the local Rotary Club. This is the Church that my Site Manager and another professional friend belong. This congregation might also be a suitable option for Gayle as she continues the conversation with her Catholic faith.
The Church itself is on a hill and offers a scenic view of the surrounding hills. The grounds initially throw off kind of a country church with a Mission vibe, and accented by cute little bell tower. I followed the path the Social Hall and was greeted warmly by the Rotarians, including Jill, the Rector of this Church. The plain, friendly, and comfortable functionality of the Social Hall and adjacent kitchen also reminded of the Midwest. The bulletin board pictures of a variety of «church ladies» emphasized the point. I also got a full and delicous breakfast (scrambled eggs, bacon, coffee cake, croissants, apple juice, and coffee) and a lot of community «news» out the deal.
My 25 minute presentation went very well. I was excited about my experiences and it showed. I received lots of questions and compliments. I was also impressed with the community dedication of Rotary (including approval of a Haiti-​related donation) and how relatively interconnected the service club community can be. And some even knew Gayle through such activities as the Tuesday Forum, Citizen’s Institute and CERT.