News for August 17: Join the Choir, Charis Circles, and more
Join the Parish Choir
We’d love to have you be a part of the Grace Choir this season. Previous choral experience is helpful. Our first rehearsal is Wednesday, August 20. A Welcome Back Gathering begins at 6:15 PM in the Greeting Area with a few snacks and drinks. Rehearsal will follow at 6:45 PM in the Choir Room.
We are especially looking forward to welcoming new tenors and basses. Rehearsal is every Wednesday, 7-9 PM. The Grace Choir sings for the 10:45 AM Sunday Eucharist. Supported by Friends of Music, we will perform Mozart’s Coronation Mass with orchestra in late October, host our 5th annual Messiah Sing Along on December 14, present a concert on Christmas Eve at 9:30 PM preceding the 10 PM Mass, and offer a choral evensong in March.
Music Director & Organist Lynn Swanson would love to answer any questions you may have. Visit our YouTube channel to hear past performances.
Sunday Forum
Come share in a tour of the newly renovated campus on August 17. We will begin at 9:30 AM in the Parish Hall for an overview and then move around the campus to highlight various areas. Newer parishioners are highly encouraged to attend!
Children’s Chapel
Children’s Chapel is back! This opportunity helps little ones (age 3 – 2nd grade) learn about worship and make the transition to “big” Church. Using music and Montessori-style lessons, children learn about our liturgical cycle, explore the elements of worship, and learn Bible stories.
Children begin the 10:45 AM service in the Nave with their families, and are blessed and released to Children’s Chapel, and rejoin their families in the main service at the Peace.
Join the Brass Guild
The Brass Guild keeps the altar accoutrements sparkling. Each week one of us spends about an hour polishing alms basins, candle sticks, vases, and the missal stand. We also keep an eye on the processional cross, baptismal pitcher, chapel pew nameplates, and brass inserts on various podiums, polishing as needed. We take turns: each member is on duty for a month, then off for two months. Supplies – towels, polish, gloves – are provided, and are kept in the sacristy.
Charis Circles at Grace
The School for Prayer and Spiritual Practice at Grace Church invites you to participate in interspiritual conversations and practice. We are partnering with the Charis Foundation for New Monasticism and Interspirituality in New Mexico to offer this intentional space of shared meditation and conversation.
The Charis Circle format builds on the rich teachings of Centering Prayer, using guided, contemplative conversation to nurture a deeper appreciation of one another’s spiritual path. All who gather in the circle can find themselves challenged to practice their faith more deeply, learning from others whose spiritual practice may be familiar or completely different from their own. In these tense days, we are reminded how important it is to engage more deeply in conversations across religious lines, as we seek to understand one another and work toward building a more compassionate community. These circles can offer a way to move beyond the shorthand and catchphrases that we so often rely on.
We offer both in-person and online formats for Charis Circles to meet, and we want to be as flexible as possible. The group meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM starting Wednesday, September 10.
If you want to explore more, or join the group, please email:
Meg McPeek, Assistant for Formation & Community Life
Men’s Ministry: Thirsty Third Tuesday
The T3 men’s group will meet at Cork It (118 Main St SW) on the Gainesville square at 7 PM on Tuesday, August 19. Bring ideas for discussion topics that interest you, and join us for some pub theology.
Christian Education
Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults will meet from 9:30 – 10:30 AM.
Children
Godly Play I (3-6 years old) meets in room 109 of The Grace Center.
Godly Play II (7-9 years old) meets in room 111 of The Grace Center.
Youth
Youth age 10-13 will meet in room 126 of The Grace Center.
Youth age 14-18 will meet in room 115 of The Grace Center.
Adults
The Sunday Forum will meet in the parish hall.
Parenting with Grace will meet in the conference room.
Dates for Your Calendar
Look ahead to upcoming opportunities for prayer, worship, and community!
- August 20 Choir Rehearsals Begin
- September 10 Charis Circles Begin
- September 14 Parish Feast Day & Luncheon
- September 14 EYC Gathering
- September 28 Blessing of Animals
- October 26 Mozart’s Coronation Mass
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!
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