2026 Weekly News

Date Posted: January 23, 2026

Update on Weekend Services & Events

Dear People of Grace,

Given the weather forecast at this point, here are changes to this weekend’s schedule of services and events.

We have cancelled both in-person services and Christian Education classes on Sunday morning. A service of Morning Prayer will be held on Zoom at 10 AM for those who are able and want to join.

The funeral for Weymon Forrester has been rescheduled for Saturday, January 31 at 2 PM.

The UNG Faculty Recital has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 22 at 4 PM.

As well, it looks like the office will be closed, at least, on Monday. We will need to get a better grasp of the weather to see about further into the week.

Looking at the forecast, we will, of course, pay close attention to the weather for next weekend as well. If need be, we will adjust and make any changes further into the week and send additional updates.

Above all, stay warm and safe. Times like this actually remind us that we are not in absolute control, and there is a strange sense of release in that. We can focus down, perhaps, and relax, doing what we can and being there for one another.

Let us also give thanks for the powerline workers and administrators and coordinators who will work in the coming days, as well as those in healthcare and public safety and services who work so hard to care for the community.

Prayers for all in the coming days.

You can use your Church Life app to stay in touch with the clergy if you need, of course, and we will have a chance to catch up, hopefully, on Sunday morning via Zoom. You can find a link for that on the Grace@Home page.

Many blessings, always,
Stuart

Religious Life Sunday

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, February 1, 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.”

Outdoor Eucharist

Our next outdoor Eucharist is February 8 at 8:15 AM. We are trading the wooded pathways of Linwood Nature Preserve for a more manicured location this time, meeting at The Quinlan Garden behind the Quinlan Visual Arts Center (514 Green Street).

These outdoor services reminded that the divine is just as present with grass under our feet and the sky over our heads as in stained glass sanctuaries. They offer a quiet but powerful shift: a chance to let creation become our chapel, and the sounds of nature accompany our prayers. It’s an invitation to slow down, to listen, and to recognize our shared life with all living things as part of the sacred story.

The service on February 8 will focus our attention on St. Brigid, a key figure in the broader Celtic Christian tradition. St. Brigid of Kildare, in Ireland, believed to be a rough contemporary with St. Patrick, continues to invite a deep focus on the presence of the Spirit in creation, imagined as a burning flame. For a thousand years, the sisters who lived at the shrine in Kildare tended a living flame which symbolized the presence of the Spirit in all life. St. Brigid, as a figure and saint, continues to challenge us to reflect on how we discern the Spirit’s call within all created life.

At the same time, our regular Rite I Holy Eucharist will be offered in the nave at Grace for those who feel most at home in the familiar rhythm of traditional worship. By holding both services concurrently, we aren’t adding anything extra to the schedule—we’re simply creating more space for imagination, connection, and the movement of the Spirit.

Whether you join us outdoors or in the nave, we hope you’ll hear the invitation: to worship deeply, to listen closely, and to wonder at the ways God continues to meet us—in every place and moment.

Franciscan Creation Care Ecology Group Forming

Our parish is exploring the formation of a Franciscan Creation Care Ecology Group to discern potential ecology-based projects that could be supported by interested parishioners. This group will be grounded in Franciscan Creation Care principles, emphasizing reverence for all of God’s creation and responsible stewardship of the earth. The goal of this group is to help our parish respond faithfully to the call to care for our common home. If you are interested in participating, please contact Charles Helmer at: crewecharlesbackup@hotmail.com

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.

Sign Up Deadline for Foyers

This Sunday, January 25, is the deadline to sign up for the next round of Foyers! Sign up on our website 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

The University of North Georgia Faculty Recital has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 22 at 4 PM. This recital is open to the public and there is no admission fee. Come meet the artists at a reception following the concert.

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

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!

• February 1 Annual Parish Meeting
• February 8 Outdoor Eucharist
• February 17 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
• February 18 Ash Wednesday
• February 21 Lenten Day of Silence
• February 22 FOM: UNG Faculty Recital

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!