Christian Education classes will not meet on Sunday, February 20. Instead, parishioners of all ages are invited to gather for fellowship and breakfast in the parish hall from 9:30 – 10:30 AM! We’ll enjoy mini pastries, fresh seasonal fruit, and breakfast casseroles: spinach and cheese, sausage and bacon, hash brown and veggie.
The youth of Grace (middle and high schoolers) cordially invite all members of the parish to the return of the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday, March 1 at 5:30 PM in the Parish Hall. We will have the meal catered (bacon, sausage, grits, biscuits, pancakes, and dessert) but the youth and the youth leaders will be serving, welcoming, and cleaning up afterwards. This fundraiser helps support pilgrimage, so tips will be welcomed and much appreciated!
So, please join us for this party with plenty of butter and fat and sugar before you put it all away on Wednesday morning to begin your Lenten devotion.
Reservations are required. Cost is: free for children up to 5th grade, $5 for youth (6th – 12th grade) and $10 for adults. Sign up on our website no later than 5:00 PM on Thursday, February 24.
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 2, with an invitation to observe a holy Lent. After what feels like two full years of Lent, during this season we thought Lent might be a good time to focus on Wellness and Wholeness. How are we taking care of our hearts? Our minds? Our bodies? And our souls? Are we able to offer our best selves to God and our neighbor? Where do we need a little TLC?
This year’s Lent resource kits will focus on wellness and wholeness with readings, tools, reflection prompts and activities you might try. It will also highlight ministries at Grace that support wellness and wholeness in ourselves and in the community around us. We’ll have special materials available for families with children. So that we know now many kits to prepare, please sign up to reserve yours at the link below. Kits will be available for pick up beginning Sunday, February 27.
The theme for COG’s Spring Fling fundraiser is Kids at Art! Do you know, or are YOU, an artist (painter, potter, sculptor, weaver, designer, architect, musician, actor, dancer, photographer) who would be willing to donate to our silent auction? Donations are tax deductible, and we send a letter of thanks once Spring Fling ends. We would like to have items by February 25. Feel free to call 770-536-9088 or email Meg or Liz if you would like to donate or have questions. COG will also promote each person’s donation on our website and include links, as appropriate, to highlight local artists or businesses.
We cannot have our Spring Fling without the generous support of our parents, Grace parishioners, and the community as a whole. This year, as our theme suggests, we are excited to focus on promoting all the wonderful art in Gainesville/Hall County. Thank you for all you do to support our children and teachers!
At long last, Family Promise has received their Certificate of Occupancy for overnight guests in the newly renovated Homestead at 3606 McEver Road in Oakwood. They welcomed the first of three initial families on January 25. As a result, member churches have been scheduled to provide meal support as in the past, except that we will now serve meals at the Homestead instead of at each home church.
Our first week to help out will be February 20 – 27. Family Promise is asking each church to provide dinner on Monday, Wednesday and Friday night and also eat with the families. They would like us to utilize their new kitchen as much as possible at the request of the Health Department. We have also been asked to provide breakfast, lunch and snack items for our week. More on this part later. Right now they have 10 people in the program.
Please let Tricia McDuff know if you can help with dinner for any of our three days–Monday, Wednesday or Friday, the week of February 20 and if you can stay and eat with the families. It would be nice to have teams of 2 or 3 volunteers for each dinner.
Registration is now open for our Lenten Retreat with Rev. Mary Demmler! Join us at Grace on Saturday, March 12 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM for conversation, sharing, and even a little cooking as we explore the prayers and meditations that naturally flow when we practice mindfulness in the kitchen.
Look ahead to upcoming opportunities for prayer, worship, and community!
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