News for August 16: Art Exhibit & Children’s Nature Hour, Wells Meeting, and more
Art Exhibit & Children’s Nature Hour
Presented by the Redbud Project
Grace Episcopal Church will host the Nature Art Exhibit of the Redbud Project on Sunday, August 16, in the Parish Hall. This exhibit is in appreciation for the parish’s support of community conservation efforts of Redbud and the mission to spread awareness and protect the unique natural habitats within Hall County and especially in Gainesville.
Opening Reception – 4:00 to 6:00 PM
The reception will feature selected paintings and photographs of native plants, pollinators, birds, and trees—elements that sustain the Cycle of Life and the ecological balance of our region. Works by local artists and photographers will be exhibited in the parish hall off the St. Francis Garden. We will also be previewing the planned relocation of the Redbud Project Native Plant Conservatory and highlight new nature trails designed to expand “Green Space for Health of Humans and Habitats.”
Children’s Nature Hour – 9:30 – 10:30 AM
Children are invited to explore the interconnected life cycles of plants, insects, birds, and humans. Through colorful illustrations, a bird-themed story, and a hands-on plant activity, young learners will discover how closely these groups’ life cycles are intertwined revealing how caring for nature helps nature care for us.
All are welcome to attend these special programs celebrating the beauty and importance of our local natural world. Refreshments will be served.
Wells Residency & Parish Pilgrimage
As part of Grace’s Bicentennial Celebration, the parish choir has been invited to a weeklong residency at the Wells Cathedral in England, July 18 – 26, 2027. There are a limited number of openings for non-singing parishioners to be part of this nine-day tour filled with Evensongs and a Sung Eucharist at the 850-year-old Cathedral in the heart of Somerset.
A brief information meeting is planned on Sunday, August 16. Join Lynn and Stuart in the parish hall following the 10:45 AM service to ask questions and learn more about this unique opportunity.
You can also click here for additional information and to register your interest. Registering your interest is not a commitment to participate; it simply helps us gauge the level of interest within the parish. If demand exceeds the number of available spaces, reservations may be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Wells Choir Residency & Parish PilgrimageChildren’s Chapel
Children’s Chapel is back! Younger children, ages 3 (by September 1) through 2nd grade, are invited to participate each Sunday during the first half of 10:45 AM service.
Children’s Chapel is an opportunity for little ones to learn about worship and helps them 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 basic Bible stories.
Children begin the 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.
Food Pantry
Gainesville Hall County Food Pantry is in need of 3 items:
- canned beans (black beans, red beans, pinto beans etc)
- canned diced tomatoes
- box macaroni and cheese
If you can help with any amount of any of these items, will you pick up a Grace donation bag at church on Sunday? You may return it to the front office or to a collection box in the parish hall. We will be collecting August 2-23.
Fall Foyers
Foyers groups are forming now. Sign up on our website by Sunday, September 13 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 meet in one another’s homes for a simple meal and fellowship. We’ll aim to create groups of 6-8 people and the groups will rotate homes. Singles are always welcome to sign up for foyers! If you are interested, however, in possibly sharing hosting duties and expense with someone else, please let us know and we will attempt to assign you a “foyer partner.”
Join FoyersWalk in Their Shoes: A Powerful Dementia Awareness Experience
As part of our Outreach Ministry, Grace Episcopal Church is partnering with the Beyond Dementia Coalition to offer the Virtual Dementia Tour® (VDT) on Monday, September 14 between 9 AM and 1 PM.
The tour is an interactive experience designed to increase understanding and empathy for those living with dementia. Whether you are caring for a loved one, know someone affected by dementia, or simply want to learn more, the VDT offers valuable insight into the daily challenges many individuals face.
The experience lasts approximately 20–30 minutes and is available by appointment only. There are 30 appointment slots available. To reserve your time, please contact Stacy Morley.
We hope you’ll join us for this meaningful opportunity to learn, grow, and support our community with greater compassion.
The Two Towers
Consider joining the intergenerational study of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Two Towers on Sundays from 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM this fall.
Led by Father Brandon, Megan Fontenot, and Sr. Genevieve Lynn for readers age 11 and up, this study is designed for folks regardless of age to engage in conversation around Christian themes, symbolism and the work of fantasy. We will begin in the parish hall on Sunday, September 13th and will run through Sunday, October 25th, excluding September 20th.
All are welcome, especially those who were not able to participate in The Fellowship of the Rings study but wanted to. Join us by signing up below if you are interested.
If you were a member of The Fellowship of the Ring study, you do not need to sign up again.
Sign Up to ParticipateDates for Your Calendar
Look ahead to upcoming opportunities for prayer, worship, and community!
- August 16 Art Exhibit & Children’s Nature Hour
- September 9 Prayer Yoga begins
- September 9 Charis Circles
- September 13 Two Towers Study Begins
- September 20 Parish Feast Day
- September 26 Fall Retreat
- September 27 Outdoor Eucharist
- October 4 Blessing of Animals
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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