Please plan to join us for a special parish informational meeting on Thursday, September 10 at 6:30 PM. We will gather on Zoom for a time of presentation and information as we discuss this year’s Stewardship ministry, formation updates, and communication platforms. We will also use the “chat” function to gather questions that you may have, finding ways to address those in further newsletter articles.
With so many details in our lives feeling hectic and stressful, we want to do what we can to clearly lay out a framework for prayer, formation, and participation that will give you a meaningful and efficient way to share in the parish’s life.
Look forward to seeing you on Zoom September 10 at 6:30 PM! Check your September 6 newsletter for the link. If you are not able to join us live, we do plan to record the meeting and will make the link available for on demand viewing.
With the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Park going on sabbatical this fall, the Wednesday service for Noonday prayers has moved to Fr. Stuart’s Facebook page. He will host the service there, and it will shared to the Grace Church Facebook page and posted on the Grace@Home page of this website for any who may want to return to the site for their ongoing prayers.
Each week, we will explore the supplemental text Holy Women, Holy Men, which offers weekly and daily commemorations for the saints of our lives–both recent and ancient. The service begins at 12:00 PM and will last about 20 minutes.
Following the recent guidelines from the bishop’s office, I am happy to share that I will begin hosting prayer pilgrimages in the nave for small group, in-person gatherings!
Each Tuesday and Thursday*, beginning September 15, I will be on hand in the nave for small groups of eight to gather for times of prayer. This is a way for us to share in our actual sacred space, and I am very much looking forward to the times we can have together.
In order to coordinate the space, we are using Eventbrite to host registrations. Eight people at a time can sign up for two possible sessions, 2:00 – 2:30 PM or 2:30 – 3:00 PM*. We are limited to two thirty minute sessions for these pilgrimage spaces, and you must register ahead of time so we have a list of who is present for any necessary contact tracing. We will have rocking chairs outside on the narthex patio for those who want to wait and rest until their time opens. As an act of hospitality and care for others, all persons over age two (2) are required to wear a protective face covering at all times when on the Grace Church campus.
The hope of this offering is to have some way to see each other face to face, to share even a brief time of prayer together. Especially during this tumultuous election season, I think it will be very meaningful to take advantage of a time of intentional prayer. We are exploring ways to integrate candles and chant into the space, so it will truly be a space for contemplation and rest for you during the week.
Take a few minutes and see if either Tuesday or Thursday* works for you, and register at the link below to join with me in this time of prayer. It will be great to see you!
* Please email Fr. Stuart if you would be interested in attending prayer pilgrimage sessions if they were offered in the evening.
Prayer Yoga classes will not meet on Monday, September 7.
Formation at Grace continues to find new ways to focus on the spiritual development and Christian education of adults, youth, and children. We invite all members to explore the richness of their faith and grow in a greater awareness of God’s presence in their lives through one or more of our fall formation opportunities.
Bible Study Join Fr. Stuart on Zoom each Tuesday morning to spend time reading Jeremiah and reflecting together.
Compassion Camp is a five session program for families and folks of all ages who want to explore what it means to cultivate compassion for each other, ourselves, and the world.
Parenting with Grace We gather to support one another in our parenting endeavors, and explore different ways to parent with more mindfulness and grace. The group will meet both online and in person, at a day and time to be agreed upon by the group. The format for each month will be: online for all participants, in person (women), in person (men), online (all).
Sacred Ground is a 10-part film and readings based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Parishioners interested in this opportunity will sign up to participate in online small groups.
Compassion Camp is a five session program for families and folks of all ages who want to explore what it means to cultivate compassion for each other, ourselves, and the world.
Children’s Chapel Each week Ms. Cheryl shares stories related to the weekly Bible readings, and prayers from Children’s Chapel. The link to the video recording, as well as other Faith@Home resources are emailed each week. Sign up at the “Register” link below to be added to the list!
Blessed to Bless Youth in grades 6-12 will be using Tim Sean Youmans’ Blessed to Bless: An Introduction to the Bible as our curriculum for Sunday School this fall. This is a systematic study of the Hebrew Scriptures (6th – 9th grades) and Christian Scriptures (10th – 12th grades).
This post highlights some events and news pertinent to the upcoming week.