News for October 5: Outdoor Service and An Afternoon with Mozart on October 26
Special Outdoor Service on October 26
In an effort to imagine different ways to worship that connect our hearts with God’s presence in creation, we will offer a special creation-centered Eucharist, drawing on the Celtic Tradition within Anglicanism, at Linwood Nature Center on Sunday, October 26 at 8:15 AM.
We will actually have two concurrent services that morning, one at Linwood and one in the nave at Grace with our traditional Rite I Holy Eucharist service. We continue to listen for ways that the Spirit invites us to share our gifts and use our imaginations, and structuring the services this way doesn’t “add anything more” to anyone’s schedule. But it opens up a space for people to imagine and worship in a way that is even more embodied, recognizing our common life in creation. Look for more information in subsequent newsletters!
October is Volunteer Blitz Month
The Outreach Committee has designated October as Volunteer Blitz Month at Grace Church!
The Outreach Committee would like to see just how many hours our congregation gives back to our community. From now until November 2, we need your help collecting our volunteering hours. We encourage you to log hours via the online form or a paper form at the information station at church.
If you are already volunteering somewhere regularly, make sure to log these hours. If not, the Outreach Committee can supply a list of places where you might volunteer and a contact person at each agency to reach out to.
THE CHALLENGE: Let’s spend October letting our actions prove our words!!
“We are Grace, grounded in faith and relentless in compassion.”
Francis of Assisi
St. Francis’ feast day is observed on October 4. You may have noticed that we have several areas around Grace Church dedicated to him. We have a stained-glass window in the Nave, a large portrait of him in the Parlor, a lovely garden outside the greeting area, and an icon located in the Chapel.
So what is it about this saint that makes him cherished by so many? To find out the answers to this question and so many more, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi
An Afternoon of Mozart
Grace Church Friends of Music opens its 2025-2026 season with An Afternoon of Mozart on Sunday, October 26 at 4:00 PM.
Coronation Mass K317
Eine kleine Nachtmusik K525
Exsultate, jubilate K165
Grace Parish Choir
Cumberland Chamber Orchestra
Lynn Swanson, Music Director & Conductor
Arietha Lockhart, soprano
Aliyah Auerbach, mezzo-soprano
Steve Brailsford, tenor
Benjamin Schoening, bass
Concert is free and open to the community. A reception will follow in the parish hall.
All Saints’ Day
As part of the liturgy during both services on November 2, we will read the names of all those from our Grace community who have died. If you wish to remember loved ones, please share those names, using the online form linked below, no later than Sunday, October 26.
Caregiver Support Group
The Caregiver Support Group, sponsored by Alzheimer’s Association Georgia, meets in the parlor at 5:30 PM on the first Tuesday of the month. Their next meeting is October 7.
Alzheimer’s Association® support groups, conducted by trained facilitators, provide a space for those caring for dementia patients to relieve stress, find comfort, and share resources. The group is open to all. Contact Charlene DeWitt with questions.
Stewardship 2026: A Practice of Gratitude
Each year, the parish community makes a commitment to live into God’s call for our lives, and we embody this participation in our operating budget.
This year’s stewardship focus is on gratitude. Honestly, each year’s focus is grounded in gratitude, but for these next couple years, we thought it made sense to be intentional about how we orient ourselves as the Body of Christ in this particular part of the world. God calls us to offer ourselves, “our souls and our bodies” as the Eucharistic Prayer says, and our offering nurtures our awareness of God’s presence in our lives.
Our stewardship campaign will conclude on November 2, which is All Saints Sunday. A pledge form will be mailed to member households and extra copies made available at the church. You also have the option to submit your pledge for 2026 electronically below. Thank you for your presence here—and thanks be to God for the blessings of our lives.
2026 Women’s Retreat It’s Time to Register!
Our mission statement proclaims that “Grace is a congregation in communion with all that is in God, seen and unseen…led by the example of Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit to support each other through prayer, formation, worship and service.” What does that look like for each one of us, today? In this place? With everything that’s going on in our world? What nourishes and inspires us? How do we hear God’s calling after all these years of trying to be faithful? How are we called to respond at this time in our lives? What does discipleship look like now?
Come join us in Montreat as Becca Stevens leads us in an exploration of Discipleship in the Fifth Dimension; A wild space to ask ourselves again, ‘what’s next’?
Who All women of Grace and friends
What Winter Women’s retreat featuring Becca Stevens
When January 16 – 18, 2026
Where Montreat Retreat and Conference Center, Montreat. NC
Why Because we all need a time for fellowship with friends, old and new, and a chance to rest, renew, and be inspired and encouraged!
Get all the details and reserve your space at the link below. We hope you’ll join us!
Participation Volunteers Needed
As we prepare for upcoming parish events and look ahead to our joyful bicentennial celebrations, we invite you to share your time and talents. Volunteers are needed to assist with event setup, planning, and other important details that help bring our community together. Your involvement will not only support the success of these events but also allow you to be a part of this special milestone in our parish’s history. If you are willing to lend a hand, please contact the church office—we would love to have you join in this meaningful work.
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 meets in room 126 of The Grace Center.
Youth age 14-18 meets 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!
- October 26 Outdoor Eucharist
- October 26 Mozart’s Coronation Mass
- November 2 All Saints’ Day with Midtown Brass
- 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!
This post highlights events and news of the parish. For full news, we invite you to subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter.