News for September 28: Volunteer Month Has Begun, Blessing of Animals, and more
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.”
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 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 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.