News for September 21: Blessing of Animals, Vestry Update, and more
Blessing of Animals
Grace Episcopal Church invites you and your pets to a Blessing of Animals on Sunday, September 28 from 4:00-5:00 PM.
Held each year in observance of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, the service provides not only an opportunity for our pets to be blessed, but also for us to give thanks for the many blessings we receive through our pets and other animals.
Weather permitting, we will gather on the Brenau lawn. Pets/domestic animals of all shapes and sizes are welcome, but please provide the appropriate restraint for any animal you bring. Owners are responsible for pet waste. In the event of rain, simply drive through the Grace Church covered driveway along Boulevard to receive a blessing!
Be sure to capture a photo of your pet with the special angel wing backdrop, painted for the event by Quinlan art teacher Meaghan Grant. If posting on social media, tag @gecgainesville, or send your photo to Jennifer Williams for a chance to be featured on the church’s instagram! We can’t wait to see all the cute pet pictures.
Those who attend are invited to bring a donation for the Humane Society. In addition to monetary donations, in-kind items on HSNEGA’s “Wish List” and gift cards to local grocery stores, office supply stores, pet stores or Amazon, Walmart, Sam’s Club, or Target are always welcome, as well, to purchase needed supplies.
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 for 2026 begins Sunday, September 14, our parish feast day, and 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.
Vestry Update
I wanted to share with you that Darlene and David Hauserman have moved back to Ohio, close to their family. Darlene was elected to the vestry to begin a three-year term this year. We will miss their presence at Grace, and we are grateful for all the work they have done with our outreach teams in particular.
Pursuant to our by-laws, the vestry looks to the others who stood for election in the past year and votes for a parishioner to serve the remainder of the term of a resigned vestry seat. Jeff Whalen has graciously agreed to serve the remainder of this term, and I am thankful for his willingness. I am thankful for Jeff and Margaret and all they have done to share their gifts with this community.
Blessings,
Stuart
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 September 28 – November 2, we need your help collecting our volunteering hours. We will ask you to log hours via an 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.”
Four Good Reasons to Volunteer
Mental and Emotional Health are supported by volunteering. It reduces stress, improves mood and boosts self esteem. Contributing to something meaningful will help you feel more confident and purposeful
Improves your Physical Health Studies show that people who volunteer tend to live longer due to less stress, improved mobility and increased social connection.
Social Benefits Volunteering combats loneliness, improves communication and interpersonal skills and builds connections as mentor, helper and friend.
A Sense of Purpose and Meaning are achieved knowing you’re contributing to something bigger than yourself and deepens your sense of purpose. It is a reconnection with what matters most as a human being.
Christian Education
Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults will meet from 9:30 – 10:30 AM most Sundays until May 3. Classes will NOT meet on November 30.
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!
- September 28 Blessing of Animals
- 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 30 Advent Wreath Making
- December 14 5th Annual Messiah Sing Along
- 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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