News for September 6, Celebrating DOK, Last Writes Book Club, and more
Prayers for Peace
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On Sunday, September 6, we will have a time of prayer during the normal Forum time, 9:30 AM. We will meet in the Chapel. During this time, we will offer prayers for peace and the absence of war. I invite you to join us in this gentle, reflective gathering and join your voice with those of your brothers and sisters.
Please feel free to invite friends and family.
Blessings!
Sister Genevieve Lynn, OSB
Office Closed
The parish office will be closed on Monday, September 7.
Charis Circles
St. Brigid’s School for Imagination, Creativity, and Practice invites you to participate in Charis Circles. The group will meet at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, September 9.
If you want to explore more, or join the group, please email Meg McPeek, Assistant for Formation & Community Life.
Celebrating the Daughters of the King at Grace
On Sunday, August 23, we welcomed nine new members of the Grace chapter of the Daughters of the King: Chaudron Gille, Connie Higgins, Cheryl Kelley, Susan Lahey, Joan Leyton, Stacy Morley, Mallory Nonnemaker, Rachel Pearson, Tracy Troutman.
We also want to take a moment to thank Donna Murray for her tireless work in serving as the chair for our chapter at Grace. She is rotating off as chair and will remain in the DOK to support.
Beth Neidenbach has shared her willingness to rotate on as the new chair for the DOK, working alongside Anita Smith who also helps coordinate the work of the chapter. In addition, the nine new members of the DOK worked with Laura Rives, who has helped establish an evening group for the DOK to continue their work around prayer and formation. I am so grateful for the ongoing presence and intentionality of the DOK, and I look forward to all the ways the Spirit will continue inviting us to share our gifts.
Blessings,
Stuart
Fall Retreat: A Human Being Fully Alive
In uncertain times, it is easy to yield to despair and give up hope that life can be transformed. Yet, we are called to nurture a practice that helps us become people who are fully alive! Come share a special retreat with us from 8:30 – 4:30 on Saturday, September 26.
Through sound, storytelling, contemplative practice, and creative expression, an extraordinary circle of facilitators and guides will lead us in a day designed for renewal, reflection, and connection. Together, we’ll move beyond stress and anxiety to cultivate imagination, unleash creativity, and make space for genuine presence. Whether you are seeking quiet rest, spiritual depth, or creative inspiration, this one day retreat offers space to ground your mind, heart, and spirit.
Workshops are woven together through:
Sound & Rhythm Experience the grounding power of sacred soundscapes with master percussionist River Guerguerian and multi instrumentalist and bandmate Chris Rosser. Together they are the ensemble Free Planet Radio.
Imaginative Ministry, Contemplative Ecology & Creativity Be inspired by insights from Bobbi Patterson, Aimee Bostwick, Rebecca Parker, Courtney Cowart.
Poetry, Words & Meaning Tap into narrative healing with poets Michael Heffernan and Emily Leithauser.
Creative Integration thru Ceremony Explore practical pathways for everyday grounding and resilience with Samantha Krezinski.
Learn more and register by September 20 at the link below.
A Human Being Fully AliveFall Foyers
Foyers groups are forming now. Sign up on our website by Sunday, September 13 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 meet in one another’s homes for a simple meal and fellowship. We’ll aim to create groups of 6-8 people and the groups will rotate homes. Singles are always welcome to sign up for foyers! If you are interested, however, in possibly sharing hosting duties and expense with someone else, please let us know and we will attempt to assign you a “foyer partner.”
Join FoyersWalk in Their Shoes: A Powerful Dementia Awareness Experience
As part of our Outreach Ministry, Grace Episcopal Church is partnering with the Beyond Dementia Coalition to offer the Virtual Dementia Tour® (VDT) on Monday, September 14 between 9 AM and 1 PM.
The tour is an interactive experience designed to increase understanding and empathy for those living with dementia. Whether you are caring for a loved one, know someone affected by dementia, or simply want to learn more, the VDT offers valuable insight into the daily challenges many individuals face.
The experience lasts approximately 20–30 minutes and is available by appointment only. There are 30 appointment slots available. To reserve your time, please contact Stacy Morley.
We hope you’ll join us for this meaningful opportunity to learn, grow, and support our community with greater compassion.
The Two Towers
Consider joining the intergenerational study of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Two Towers on Sundays from 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM this fall.
Led by Father Brandon, Megan Fontenot, and Sr. Genevieve Lynn for readers age 11 and up, this study is designed for folks regardless of age to engage in conversation around Christian themes, symbolism and the work of fantasy. We will begin in the parish hall on Sunday, September 13th and will run through Sunday, October 25th, excluding September 20th.
All are welcome, especially those who were not able to participate in The Fellowship of the Rings study but wanted to. Join us by signing up below if you are interested.
If you were a member of The Fellowship of the Ring study, you do not need to sign up again.
Sign Up to ParticipateWomen’s Salad Supper Gathering
Ladies of Grace, mark your calendars! Join us in the youth room on Wednesday, September 16 at 6 PM for our Women’s Salad Supper — an evening of good food, good company, and good conversation.
We’ll provide a large, tossed salad to share, but if you’d like to add to the spread, we’d love to have it. Bring a side, a dessert, a favorite dish, or simply bring yourself.
We’re keeping the evening relaxed so there’s plenty of time to visit with one another and hear about our upcoming Women’s Retreat in January. Whether you’ve been with us for years or are joining us for the first time, you’re warmly welcome.
Come hungry, come ready to catch up — you won’t want to miss this time together!
Parish Feast Day
We will celebrate our annual parish feast day: the Feast of the Holy Cross on Sunday, September 20. There will be one combined service, a Choral Eucharist, at 10:00 AM followed by a lunch and fellowship in the parish hall.
Parish feast days give a community a focus point in the year to pay closer attention to a key facet and teaching from Jesus’s own life.
Parish Feast Day DetailsNext Outdoor Eucharist: September 27
Our next Outdoor Eucharist service at Grace will be at Linwood Nature Preserve at 8:15 AM on Sunday morning, September 27, linking this Eucharist with the Autumnal Equinox.
All are welcome to come share in this liturgy that explicitly honors how we can integrate our prayers within creation.
Dates for Your Calendar
Look ahead to upcoming opportunities for prayer, worship, and community!
- September 13 Two Towers Study Begins
- September 16 Women’s Salad Supper
- September 20 Parish Feast Day
- September 26 Fall Retreat
- September 27 Outdoor Eucharist
- October 4 Blessing of Animals
- October 6, 13, 20 Last Writes Book Club
- December 6 Confirmation
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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