Please attend a special conversation with John Cromartie this Sunday, October 30, as he comes to share his thoughts on the work of Howard Thurman. Thurman was a pivotal source of inspiration during the Civil Rights Movement, and his writings continue to speak to the challenges we face today.
We are grateful that John can come offer this introductory space around his work, and he will return at the first of the year for a three-week series on Thurman’s writings as well—all part of an ongoing focus on spiritual imagination in the life of the church today.
The forum will be at 9:30 AM in the Parish Hall, Sunday, October 30.
The outreach committee invites any interested parishioner to attend their next meeting on Monday, October 31 at 12:00 PM in the conference room. The committee coordinates our compassion ministries to the community and the wider world and is entrusted with allocating outreach funding. If you are looking for a place to get plugged in at Grace, or just curious about what the committee does, please feel free to attend!
The Caregiver Support Group, sponsored by Alzheimer’s Association Georgia, will meet in the parlor at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, November 1. Alzheimer’s Association® support groups, conducted by trained facilitators, provide a space for those caring for dementia patients to relieve stress, find comfort, and share resources. The group is open to all. Contact Darlene Hauserman with questions.
Each December Family Promise of Hall County partners with local businesses, churches and volunteers to provide a store full of new toys so families may select gifts for their children at drastically reduced prices. These partnerships enabled Family Promise to offer Christmas support to 133 families and 345 children in 2021. This year the Christmas Promise Store will invite families who are receiving support through the Child Preservation Program (a part of the child welfare system) and Family Treatment Court (a part of the family court system) to shop at the store. These programs strive to keep the family unit together with the intent of avoiding foster care placement.
Grace is once again helping support the Family Promise Christmas Store, which will operate Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10. If you would like to donate toys you can shop directly from the Family Promise Amazon or Target online wish lists OR bring new, unwrapped toys to Grace Church and place them in the collection box in the greeting area no later than November 30. Some volunteer opportunities are also available.
For more information visit the Christmas Promise Store website.
Are you or someone you know facing the holiday season without someone you love? Gainesville First United Methodist will hold a “Surviving Holidays Grief Workshop” on Sunday, November 6 from 3:00 – 5:00 PM. You can learn more and register to attend at gfumc.com/events
We are drawing near to our target date of Sunday, November 6 to gather the pledges for next year’s budget. All Saints’ Day is a wonderful day to make sure we have all discerned how we can support the entire community. Each and every person counts in this community, and our combined intentionality continues to strengthen the entire parish.
To date, we have a total of $713,566 in pledges toward next year’s budget. If you have not had a chance to return your pledge card, you can send it to the office or go online to easily make your pledge as well.
Beginning next week, the vestry will begin making calls to those we have not heard from as a pastoral way to follow up.
Look ahead to upcoming opportunities for prayer, worship, and community!
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