News for November 2: The Feast of All Saints’, Food Pantry Drive, and more
The Feast of All Saints’
All Saints’ Day, one of the seven principal feasts of The Episcopal Church, is a day to remember the saints, known and unknown.
Grace Church will welcome Midtown Festival Brass to help lead our music at the 10:45 AM service on November 2. Wear your most colorful attire and bring a white handkerchief or napkin to wave during the New Orleans style second line procession, as we celebrate and honor the lives of all those who have gone before us!
As part of the liturgy during both services, we will read the names of all those from our Grace community who have died, as well as the names of friends and loved ones that were submitted by parishioners over the last several weeks.
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. collect for All Saints’ Day
Time Change This Sunday!
Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00 AM on Sunday, November 2. Be sure your clocks are set back one hour!
Stewardship Ingathering November 2
Each year, we work to gather our pledges for the coming year’s budget, and this gives the Finance Committee ample time to look at the initial draft of the budget. I wanted to write and thank everyone who has sent in their pledge so far. The dedication of this parish is inspiring.
At this point, the vestry will begin making follow up calls for those who pledged last year but who have not submitted one for this cycle. As well, as I laid out in my earlier video, I will work to call those who have not made a previous pledge, to work together on a true baseline for the life of this parish—especially as we do our planning for the Bicentennial Celebrations.
Again, thank you to the entire parish for the faithful dedication you embody!
Blessings,
Stuart
Volunteer Blitz Month Update
Volunteer Blitz Month continues until November 2! If you are already volunteering somewhere regularly, please log these hours via the online form or a paper form at the information station at church. If not, try one of the agencies on this list.
THE CHALLENGE: Let’s spend October letting our actions prove our words!!
“We are Grace, grounded in faith and relentless in compassion.”
Food Pantry
In 1973, Grace Episcopal Church, First United Methodist Church, St. Paul United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, and First Baptist Church recognized a need to provide food assistance to the community. From these efforts, the Gainesville Hall Community Food Pantry was established. Now, 50 years later, we have continued to operate with the support of the five churches, their parishioners, and wonderful community volunteers. Our mission is to serve individuals in need of food. We coordinate volunteer efforts among all five churches to offer food to families in need twice a week. Each month we serve approximately 200 clients, and the need is growing.
During this month honoring gratitude, Grace will be collecting canned foods for the Food Pantry. Bags will be available at church beginning November 2. Bags may be returned to the church office or outside the parish hall. Items requested are: canned fruit, green vegetables, corn, 3.5 oz cans of tuna, pasta noodles and empty egg cartons. Please give as you are able.
EYC Friendsgiving
Our Episcopal Youth Community will gather for fun and fellowship on Sunday, November 9 from 5-7 PM in the Youth Room.
Sound Bath
We will gather in the nave on Wednesday, November 12 at 6:30 PM for meditation, stillness, and healing with Rebecca Turk. We will begin our time together by reading a poem, linking the rich meditation of the sound bath with the ongoing Charis Circle meditation.
We know that everyone can benefit from a time of reflection and deep meditation, and all are welcome to participate—and bring a friend to share the experience with.
For the most restful experience, bring your yoga mat, a blanket, and any bolster or pillow you prefer and experience the sound bath resting in Savasana. You may also choose to experience it sitting in the pews, and you’re welcome to bring a cushion or pillow to make you more comfortable.
The November 12 sound bath at Grace is free and open to the community.
Thanksgiving Potluck
Bring your favorite Thanksgiving side dish or dessert to share and join us in the parish hall on Tuesday, November 18 at 6:00 PM. Grace Church will provide turkey and drinks. We’ll enjoy a feast and each other’s company as we give thanks for all the blessings in our lives. We will close our fellowship together with compline before heading out into this season of reflection and gratitude!
For planning purposes, please sign up online before noon on Thursday, November 13.
We’d love to share images that make you feel thankful and blessed. There is a spot on the sign up form for you to submit images (ex: your family, your garden, your pets, your favorite view, your favorite drawing or painting, etc) for a slideshow that will run during the potluck.
One Night Volunteer Opportunity
Atlanta Botanical Garden Gainesville is having their inaugural holiday light display Gainesville Glows: Lanterns and Lights this year. Grace Church has signed up to provide 14-15 volunteers to greet garden guests to this lighted woodland the evening of November 30. If you’d like to join the volunteer group from Grace please contact Trish Andrews at tandrews@atlantabg.org or 470-834-1999. Volunteers should be at least 18 and are welcome to explore the show when not on shift!
Interested in Being Confirmed?
A Diocesan Confirmation service for Confirmation will be held at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta on December 7. Please contact Fr. Stuart or Fr. Brandon if you are interested in being confirmed at that service.
2026 Women’s Retreat It’s Time to Register!
The women of Grace Church will enjoy a weekend of rejoicing, reflection, and renewal from Friday, January 16 to Sunday, January 18, 2026. at the Montreat Retreat and Conference Center in Montreat, North Carolina. Come join us as Becca Stevens leads us in an exploration of Discipleship in the Fifth Dimension; A wild space to ask ourselves again, ‘what’s next’?
Get all the details and reserve your space at the link below. We hope you’ll join us!
Christian Education
Children
Godly Play I (3-6 years old) meets in room 109 of The Grace Center.
Godly Play II (7-9 years old) meets in room 111 of The Grace Center.
Youth
Youth age 10-13 meet in room 126 of The Grace Center.
Youth age 14-18 meet in room 115 of The Grace Center.
Adults
The Sunday Forum meets in the parish hall.
Parenting with Grace meets in the conference room.
Dates for Your Calendar
Look ahead to upcoming opportunities for prayer, worship, and community!
- November 12 Sound Bath
- November 18 Thanksgiving Potluck
- November 23 Georgia Boy Choir leads music at worship
- November 26 & 27 Parish Office Closed
- November 30 Advent Wreath Making
- December 7 Advent Lessons & Carols
- December 7 Diocesan Confirmation
- December 13 Patrick Kelley Memorial Blood Drive
- December 14 5th Annual Messiah Sing Along
- December 17 Christmas Caroling
- January 16-18 Women’s Retreat
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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