May 18-24 at Grace
Concert: Ava Pakiam & Cole Anderson
Grace Church Friends of Music welcomes violinist Ava Pakiam, performing with pianist Cole Anderson, on Sunday, May 18 at 4:00 PM. Concert is free; a reception will follow in the parish hall.
Ava will host a pre-concert Q&A conversation in the nave from 3:00 – 3:30 PM. Come meet the artist and learn more about her life, musical preferences, her instrument, professional experiences, and future endeavors.
Ava and Cole will also play the offertory anthem during the 10:45 AM worship service.
Graduate Recognition
Congratulations to our 2025 high school and college graduates! Grace Church looks forward to recognizing graduates during the 10:45 AM service this Sunday, May 18.
See your newsletter for a link to the digital slideshow.
Interested in Learning More About The Franciscan Way?
Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
St. Francis of Assisi
On May 18 at 9:30 in the Parish Hall, we will have a special Forum session led by Charles Helmer, our Third Order Franciscan. This is a follow-up meeting from our April 27 discussion on spiritual practices and experiences. This meeting will be for those interested in learning more about the Franciscan Way – a path of simplicity, peace, and service inspired by St. Francis of Assisi.
Join us to learn about the values and practices that have shaped the Franciscan tradition for centuries, and how they continue to inspire lives of compassion, humility, and joy today. Whether you are simply curious or seeking a deeper sense of purpose, this gathering offers a welcoming space to reflect, connect, and grow.
We look forward to sharing this meaningful journey with you. All are welcome!
Summer Worship Update
The summer months give us an opportunity to explore different angles or approaches in our worship. Last year, you’ll remember that we focused on a special lectionary cycle that emphasized God’s presence in creation. It was a meaningful opportunity to reflect more fully on our embodied lives. This summer, we have another opportunity to go deeper into our practice of faith. Here are two details that will begin on Sunday, June 1.
First, we will use real baked bread during June and July! Carla Kantola has graciously offered to help prime the pump on this, and we will need a small team of people who know how to bake bread to share in a rotation. We’ll offer regular bread as well as a gluten-free option.
As well, we will use local red wines during the Summer to remind us of our rootedness in this place. So, if you have a favorite local wine, feel free to reach out to us. To make sure we have enough, we’ll need two bottles to use for the entire morning.
Each week’s bulletin will include a special note that says “Today’s bread was lovingly made by ___, and the wine is a favorite ____ from ____ vineyard and was given by _____.” This way, everyone can experience another level of how we share in our Eucharistic Celebration. So, if you’d like to help with bread and wine, please reach out!
Secondly, we are planning a special summer sermon series for June and July, “A Summer with the Psalms.” Each week’s sermon will focus on the psalms appointed for the day. This will give us a wonderful opportunity to delve more deeply into this rich resource in our practice of faith. We may look toward adding in reflection questions and resources as well, to make it an even more engaged experience.
So, we look forward to the space that the summer months give us as we continue to give thanks for God’s presence in our lives.
Always,
Stuart
Christian Education
Regular Sunday CE classes are on summer break and will resume September 7.
Staff Singer Openings
The Grace Parish Choir has staff singer openings for bass, mezzo-soprano, and soprano. There are two calls per week at $75 per call – Wednesday rehearsals and one Sunday morning service from September – May. Opportunities for solo work as well. To learn more please email Music Director and Organist Lynn Swanson.
Women’s Book Study
Women of Grace are invited to come share in a summer book study offered by Daughters of the King (DOK) and led by Laura Rives.
In Accidental Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People, New York Times best-selling author, the Reverend Nadia Bolz-Weber invites readers into an encounter with what she calls “a religious but not-so-spiritual life.” Accidental Saints demonstrates what happens when ordinary people share bread and wine, struggle with scripture together, and tell each other the truth about their real lives.
The book group will gather in the Youth Room at 5:30 PM and begin at 6:00 on Thursdays – June 5, 19, July 17, 31, and August 14. The book is available for purchase online.
Special Parish Town Hall Meeting on June 8
I hope you can attend a special Parish Town Hall Meeting on Sunday, June 8, which is Pentecost, during the 9:30 Christian Education hour. We will gather in the parish hall to discuss vital aspects of the parish’s common life.
Given where we are, it is important that we take some time to be aware of the full scope of the parish’s life and ministry, so I’m inviting everyone to come to this very important gathering. We will send additional information out next week as to the topics we will discuss, but I hope you will plan on being there to learn more and engage with your parish community.
Always,
Stuart
Performing Arts Camp
Grace Episcopal Church, in collaboration with Cherokee Bluff Theatre, is thrilled to announce the launch of an exciting summer Performing Arts Camp for rising 3rd to 8th graders. The camp will run in two sessions from June 16-20 and June 23-28 at Grace Church, culminating in live performances at Brenau University’s historic Pearce Auditorium on June 27-28. The camp will showcase a student production of the beloved musical Matilda Jr., based on Roald Dahl’s classic story.
Dates for Your Calendar
Look ahead to upcoming opportunities for prayer, worship, and community!
- May 18 Special Forum
- May 18 Graduate Recognition
- May 18 FOM Concert: Ava Pakiam
- June 5 Women’s Book Study begins
- June 8 Town Hall Meeting
- June 16-20 & 23-28 Performing Arts Camp
- June 18 Summer Solstice Sound Bath
- July 18 Gwinnett Stripers v. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
The Glimpses of Grace Podcast
We invite you to explore the podcast on Spotify (or your podcast app of choice) or here on this website!
This post highlights events and news of the parish. For full news, we invite you to subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter.