We kick off the new program year at Grace Church THIS Sunday, August 15! Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults will meet from 9:30-10:30 AM.
During the 10:45 AM worship service, we will bless backpacks and commission our Christian Education teachers. There will also be an opportunity for all educators and school staff, from COG preschool and in our community, to be blessed as they begin the 2021-2022 school year. We appreciate you!
The five years that Will Gotmer has served as our Organist/Director of Music have been filled with growth, excitement, and an eye for detail that has enriched our worship and prayers as a community.
Will’s last day at Grace will be Sunday, August 15. Please stop by the parish hall at 9:15 AM to thank him for his time among us and wish him well at his new parish. There will be cake!
It is undeniable that the way we understand “church” has shifted enormously in the past year. While all of what we experience is still very much grounded in the richness of the broader Christian tradition—and the Anglican tradition in particular—many of the details have changed. Many of us have questions, and we wonder what this means for our personal lives and our common life together. How do we understand what is going on? How can our practice of faith help us make sense of what we are experiencing? Where do we find hope?
Beginning this Sunday, I will help guide a conversation that lays out a sort of “dashboard” for our wider experience. We will look at a few numbers or metrics that help us understand our circumstances, but, more than that, we will spend time reflecting on our stories, noting the common points and areas where we are curious. This past year and a half has challenged us to examine our lives and pay attention to how the Spirit is at work. Yes, there are challenges, but there are also enormous opportunities for grace.
I will work to bring in insights from contemporary conversation partners, colleagues from around the world who are reflecting on this deeper work. We will also look at how the Biblical texts help us navigate the anxieties and uncertainties we face. From here, we will continue on in the fall with a series of conversations around our parish’s life, wondering together about how the Spirit continues to lead us. I hope you’ll make a point of coming to share in these important conversations.
Blessings,
Stuart
Do you have a love for sacred space and little people? Do you like to sing songs and share stories? Then you’ll love being in Children’s Chapel!
We have been busy preparing a special place for children in PreK and Kindergarten to gather for their own worship during the 10:45 Eucharist. Everything is ready, and now we need your help! We need a team of folks who can share in leading chapel. If you’d like to be a part of that team, please contact Cheryl (770-536-0126 or email) for more details.
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