Worship Schedule

Sunday 8:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I
nave
Sunday 10:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II
nave & online: Facebook/website
Tuesday 8:00 p.m. Compline
online: Zoom
Wednesday 12:00 p.m. Eucharist
chapel

Sunday, October 27
ONE service at 10:00 a.m.

Sunday mornings at Grace

Find Us

The Grace Church nave is located at the corner of Washington Street and Boulevard in Gainesville, Georgia.

The parish office, open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, is located at 422 Brenau Avenue. Come to the red door that faces Brenau Avenue and ring the bell for access.

Mailing Address: 422 Brenau Avenue, Gainesville, GA 30501
Phone: 770-536-0126

Driving Directions & Parking

Email Clergy & Staff

Order of Service

The Service of Holy Eucharist below will feel very familiar to you; although there have been necessary changes made given our particular circumstances. During these pandemic days, we find ourselves in such a space of heightened awareness: we experience God’s love present with us in remarkable ways in our shared suffering and uncertainty, and we recognize the often tense and even frustrating feelings of waiting. These days are the epitome of the “already and not yet” that we speak of when we reflect on the coming of God’s Kin-dom of peace and love. In this way, both the familiarity and the distinctiveness of this liturgy is authentic to who we are as a gathered community.

A Service of Holy Eucharist
Under Special Circumstances

No printed bulletins will be passed out at church. You may access this order of service on a mobile device during the service; however, you may wish to save a copy of the page for offline viewing, outdoor wifi access on campus is spotty. If you prefer to print your own copy, you can download a .pdf file.

The Word of God

The people standing, the Celebrant says
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People    And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

The Celebrant says
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Gloria

The People say together:
Glory to God in the highest,
    and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
    we worship you, we give you thanks,
    we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
    have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
    receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
    Jesus Christ,
    with the Holy Spirit,
    in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Collect of the Day

The Celebrant says to the people
The Lord be with you.
People          And also with you.
Celebrant    Let us pray.

The Old Testament Lesson

Celebrant    The Word of the Lord.
People         Thanks be to God.

A Reading of the 23rd Psalm

Since we will not have paper bulletins, we will share the 23rd Psalm for a while, paying close attention to the way these familiar words resonate in our hearts in these days.

The Gospel Reading

Then, all standing, the Deacon or a Priest reads the Gospel, first saying
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to  _____________ .
People    Glory to you, Lord Christ.

After the Gospel, the Reader says
The Gospel of the Lord.
People    Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon

The Nicene Creed

The people standing, as they are able, say together

We believe in one God,
    the Father, the Almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth,
    of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
    the only Son of God,
    eternally begotten of the Father,
    God from God, Light from Light,
    true God from true God,
    begotten, not made,
    of one Being with the Father.
    Through him all things were made.
    For us and for our salvation
        he came down from heaven:
    by the power of the Holy Spirit
        he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
        and was made man.
    For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
        he suffered death and was buried.
        On the third day he rose again
            in accordance with the Scriptures;
        he ascended into heaven
            and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
    He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
        and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
    who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
    With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
    He has spoken through the Prophets.
    We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
    We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
    We look for the resurrection of the dead,
        and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Prayers of the People

After each petition, the people are invited to respond to the phrase “Lord, in your mercy,” with “Hear our prayer.”

Confession of Sin

Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

The Absolution

The Peace

During these very unusual times, when we are practicing physical distancing, we are invited to honor one another’s health by honoring one another’s space.  Let us take a minute to look around at the faces near us.  You may want to wave or bow, or say hello, as we share the peace of Christ with our community. 
All stand. The Celebrant says to the people
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People    And also with you.

The Holy Communion

During these very unusual times, we find ourselves struggling to find meaning, looking for a sense of ‘normalcy’ that can offer us an anchor point in the midst of so much uncertainty.  The Church has faced many times of uncertainty before, even with regard to limits on receiving Communion as a gathered community.  The long-standing tradition of the Church has been that Communion in one kind is understood as a complete faithful Holy Communion.  Because of health reasons, people have often found themselves unable to receive either bread or wine at various points.  So, in these days, we will receive only the bread, even as we celebrate Christ’s full Presence with us as a parish.  Our prayer today will be an amended form of our traditional Eucharistic liturgy.

In addition, the bread we consecrate today will be placed aside to be used at the next service, making sure that any risk of contamination is mitigated as much as possible.

Eucharistic Prayer A

The people remain standing. The Celebrant faces them and says
The Lord be with you.
People          And also with you.
Celebrant    Lift up your hearts.
People         We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant    Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People         It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Celebrant and People
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
    Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    Hosanna in the highest.

The people stand or kneel, then the Celebrant continues
Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

As we give thanks in these days for Christ’s Presence with us, we remember the sacrifice of his Body and Blood.

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Celebrant and People
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

The Celebrant continues
We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts. Sanctify this by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom. All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer

The Fraction

Celebrant:   Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People:         Therefore, let us keep the feast.

The clergy will bring the host to you.  Please remain in your station, and extend your hands.  We will place the host in your hands.  Simply raise your mask to consume the bread and replace your mask afterward.

Postcommunion Prayers

Eternal God, heavenly Father,
you have graciously accepted us as living members
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
and you have fed us with spiritual food
in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.
Send us now into the world in peace,
and grant us strength and courage
to love and serve you
with gladness and singleness of heart;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessing and Dismissal

Connect with Us

Join Our Email List