Our Annual Parish Meeting will be held Sunday, January 26 and one matter of business to be addressed will be the election of four new vestry members. The Vestry Nominating Committee will meet in the parlor at 9:30 AM on Sunday, November 17. Meetings of the nominating committee are open to members of the parish. If you have a nomination to make, you are welcome to attend. You may also email vestry nominations to Polly Jones.
Building on our prior weeks of discussions, as we explored prayer and the Christian contemplative tradition, we shared rich conversation about the need to develop a deeper proficiency in our tradition. What language do we use to describe our experiences of God? Our searching for a deeper awareness of God’s presence in our lives? What insights have teachers in the broader Christian tradition offered through the centuries that can help us remain grounded and grow spiritually in our own day and time?
To that end, we will begin a new Thomas Merton class on Sunday, November 17, during the Sunday forum time at 9:30 AM in the Parish Hall. We will use Jon Sweeney’s wonderful resource A Course in Christian Mysticism, which is an edited collection of class lessons that Merton offered the novice monks at Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky. This book should provide us with ample material for a deeper dive into the Christian contemplative tradition. We will weave in opportunities for writing our own spiritual autobiographies and other exercises in this class.
The Gathering Study Group will meet on Sunday, November 17 at 5:00 PM in the Parish Hall. We will begin exploring Christopher Heuertz’s book The Sacred Enneagram.
If you have an opportunity to purchase the book before then, this Gathering will serve as a launching point into discussions that we will pick up in the new year when we meet again on Sunday, February 16 at 5:00 PM. Chris has written an original book as well as a new study guide that promises to be most helpful.
Come eat dinner together on Wednesday, November 20 at 5:30 PM!
Menu: roasted turkey breast, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, salad, rolls, pecan pie
Vegetarian entree: stuffed acorn squash
Children: 1/2 portion regular menu or PBJ, Cookies
Childcare is available for families participating in Wednesday evening activities. Reservations are required and can be made on the same form as meal reservations.
Click here for complete details and to sign up. Reservations are due by Monday at noon.
Does the Universe have a personal message and meaning for me? Come and see how the grandest story of the Universe has answers for your deepest questions. Who am I? What is our home? What is the purpose of my life? Jeff Jones will wrap up this special series following our Wednesday night meal on November 20.
Grace Church would like to use original artwork by children and youth as part of our Bicentennial Celebration. Children (up to 5th grade) are asked to illustrate what LOVE or PRAYER looks like to them. Youth (6th – 12th grade) are asked to illustrate what BELONGING looks like.
Drawing sheets are located at the information table or art can be submitted on a piece of unlined white drawing paper no larger than 11″x14″. Please use colored pencils, paint, crayons, charcoal, pencil, or markers. Don’t forget to include your name and age! Artwork can be turned in to CE teachers or dropped by the parish office by Sunday, November 17.
Grace Church is collecting Thanksgiving groceries (or funds to purchase groceries) for the Salvation Army. Information and a list of needed items can be found here. Please make a contribution or return groceries by Monday, November 18. Thank you for your support!
Join us for an Advent Quiet Day at Grace Church on Saturday, December 14 from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. A variety of activities will be available to help us in the journey through Advent. The cost is $10, which includes lunch. Register online by December 7.
This post highlights some events and news pertinent to the upcoming week. Follow the links below to learn more about what’s happening at Grace Church.