2026 Weekly News

Date Posted: January 16, 2026

Religious Life Sunday

Dear Grace Family,

You may remember that last year on the third Sunday after Epiphany we celebrated Religious Life Sunday for the first time. Those of us who practice the Rule of St. Benedict, in celebration of the day, presented the Church with an icon entitled “The Exaltation of the Holy Cross,” which now hangs above the prayer candles in the lower foyer. We also introduced the different groups within Grace’s ministry that have traditions rooted in monasticism, such as our Rule of Life class, the Tuesday night Compline Prayer group, and the Centering Prayer group, just to name a few.

Even having celebrated a Religious Life Sunday, you still may be wondering what this day is all about. So here’s a further explanation:

Religious Life Sunday is a celebration instituted by the 80th Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2022 to honor its monastic communities, as well as the monastic traditions of the Episcopal Church. It’s a day when we acknowledge the reason the Episcopal Church has a reflective and contemplative nature and why studying Sacred Literature and experiencing God in a personal way is an integral part of the Episcopal tradition. In short, the day is meant to honor the influence that monasticism has had on our beloved and sacred traditions and those who keep those traditions alive.

On Sunday, January 25, we at Grace will have a special service which will include portions of Morning Prayer along with the homily and Eucharist. Also, you will hear more about the opportunities we offer that are based on monastic practices helpful to strengthening spiritual “muscles.”

I look forward to our time together.

Blessings!
Sister Genevieve Lynn

Sunday Forum

Over 60 people attended the Sunday Forum last week! On January 18, come shake loose what’s stuck and find your rhythm again! No musical experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to play. We’ll use rhythm, silence, and sound to reconnect with creativity, presence, and one another.

The Sunday Forum meets in the parish hall from 9:30 – 10:30 AM.

Friends of Music Meeting

The Friends of Music annual budget and organizational meeting will be held in the choir room following the 10:45 AM service on Sunday, January 18. All interested parishioners are invited to attend.

Office Closed

The parish office will be closed on Monday, January 19.

Vestry Election

Please see your parish newsletter for a link to the ballot and to learn more about the nominees. Voting closes at noon on Tuesday, January 27.

News on Stuart’s Upcoming Sabbatical

I wanted to share with you all that I will take my sabbatical time during May, June, and July this year. For those who aren’t familiar with a sabbatical, basically, the church gives clergy a summer break every six years. It gives us a time to rest and breathe, as well as focus on an area of spiritual growth for further development. My last sabbatical period fell in the heart of Covid, and we weren’t able to do it fully—no one was able to rest during that time! So, this has been a twelve-year stretch, and I really look forward to a bit of time to breathe. I also look forward to returning recharged as we look toward celebrating our Bicentennial.

My particular focus will be on spiritual imagination, and I’ll continue exploring ways to develop a curriculum that nurtures an imaginative response within congregations. It has become the heart of my vocation, and I’m grateful for the chance to have a sustained focus. I’ll have material lined up for a Fall forum series when I return, with many aspects to share. Our family will travel some, and we’ll take time to rest together as well. I look forward to sharing some preliminary work with you, building on our current Sunday forum conversations that have been incredible.

I’ll share more details as we draw closer to it, but I am always in touch with Bishop Wright and Canon Alicia Schuster Weltner, making sure that the team is supported while I am away, sometimes out of the country. For now, I wanted to share the broad plans with you, with enormous gratitude for the common life we share here at Grace.

Blessings,

Stuart

Important Chancel Shifts for Communion

As you may have read in last week’s parish newsletter, the side rails at the chancel have been removed to help make the flow for Holy Communion easier and safer. Communion is served across the front only, from the center out. When you come up the center aisle, take your place – either standing or kneeling – at the nearest open space on your side. Then return to your pew by the side aisle as always. This shift should make it easier to focus on sharing in the Sacrament, as we decrease the risk for falls and confusion.

COG Preschool 2026-2027 Registration

Registration for the 2026-2027 school year at Children of Grace Preschool opens on Wednesday, January 21 at 8 AM!

Join us next year as we build upon another year of small class sizes, so every child is met where they are academically as well as socially and emotionally. Watch our 3s and Pre-K continue to grow using Frog Street curriculum. Experience the excitement of Pre-K fieldtrips, in-school special programs, monthly story time with the Hall County Library, and so much more. If you or someone you know is looking for a preschool experience, please reach out to Denise & Koleigh. 

COG Registration

Foyers Groups Now Forming

A new round of Foyers groups are forming now. Sign up by Sunday, January 25 if you are interested in participating!

Not sure what “foyers” is? Quite simply, foyers is an opportunity for those who participate to become better acquainted and enjoy each other’s company. Small groups of adults (we’ll aim for groups of 6-8 people) meet in one another’s homes for a simple meal and fellowship. The group rotates homes until everyone in the group has had a chance to host.

Learn More and Sign Up

UNG Faculty Recital

Grace Friends of Music invites you to the University of North Georgia Faculty Recital on Sunday, January 25 at 4 PM.

Benjamin Schoening, baritone
Philip Snyder, guitar
Joanna Kim-Doyle, piano

This recital is open to the public and there is no admission fee. A reception will follow.

Annual Meeting

All parishioners are encouraged to attend the Annual Parish Meeting of Grace Episcopal Church between the services on Sunday, February 1. Join us in the parish hall from 9:30 – 10:30 AM to hear key reports of parish business and enjoy a continental breakfast.

Dates for Your Calendar

Look ahead to upcoming opportunities for prayer, worship, and community!

• January 25 FOM: UNG Faculty Recital
• February 1 Annual Parish Meeting
• February 8 Outdoor Eucharist
• February 17 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
• February 18 Ash Wednesday
• February 21 Lenten Quiet Day

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!