By the grace of God, The Right Reverend Robert Christopher Wright, The Bishop of Atlanta, will ordain Brandon Michael Nonnemaker to the Sacred Order of Priests in Christ’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on Saturday, June 24 at 2:00 PM at The Cathedral of St. Philip. All are welcome. watch online
Given where we are with the summer months and with society as a whole regarding Covid and managing our communal health, and given where we are with the desire to continue sharing the chalice or “common cup” on Sunday mornings, we invite people to manage themselves during the Eucharist services.
It is becoming unnavigable only to intinct, or dip, the bread/host when newer folks don’t know instructions or if we forget (which I have). If you feel comfortable taking a small sip from the chalice, you can choose to do so. If you want to continue intincting the host in the wine, you may choose to do so. Or if you only want to take the bread, you are welcome to do that. Several in the parish have a custom of only receiving bread, and that is absolutely fine and has been for centuries.
And thank you for your patience in helping balance all these pieces.
Blessings,
Stuart
The summer series, Dialogues in Creation, continues Wednesday evenings, June 21, and 28, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM in-person in the Parish Hall at Grace and online via Zoom. Email Cynthia or Stuart with questions.
Our next Bicentennial Story has been published. Click below to hear from Tracy & Henry Troutman and learn a little more about the “Women Who Pray” artwork hanging in our greeting area!
ALL members of the parish are invited to add their stories to our collection, whether you’ve been here 30 years or 30 days! Email Cynthia to learn more.
Newcomers to Grace (in the past 3 years or so) are invited to a special luncheon at noon on Sunday, July 9, following the 10:45 service. If you would like to attend please email Fr. Stuart so we can plan for food. If anyone needs nursery care for children 4 and under, please let him know when you email to RSVP. Older children are welcome to join us for lunch.
Do you seek the still small voice of God? Do you seek a more intimate relationship with God? Come and find a way to deepen your relationship with God. The Grace Centering Prayer group and Contemplative Outreach of Atlanta invite you to an Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop in the parish hall at Grace on Wednesday, July 12, 9:15 AM – 3:30 PM.
This workshop is designed to share the method of Centering Prayer and to offer support in making it a part of daily life. It includes themes of Prayer as Relationship, The Method of Centering Prayer, Thoughts and Use of the Sacred Word, and Deepening Our Relationship with God, time in Centering Prayer, and the opportunity to discuss questions.
The presenter is Vernon Dixon, who is a prayerful commissioned Contemplative Outreach presenter. Registration is free and includes light snacks and coffee. Please bring your own sack lunch. If you have questions, please contact Joanna Brunson (COA) or Karen Murphy (Grace Episcopal).
If you have children birth to twelfth grade, we want to hear from you! The Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker joins us at the end of July and we are collecting some information for him that might be of use. We are excited to see how he will partner with all of you to continue to develop our ministries for children, youth, and families. The data will be compiled and given to Brandon+ when he arrives. This information will give him a sense for where our strengths and our places for improvement might be.
The survey will close on June 22 so please take a few minutes over the next week to share your thoughts! The link can be found in the parish newsletter.
Mary+
Mark your calendars for our annual Day in the Mountains & Picnic Lunch at Vogel State Park in Blairsville on Saturday, July 29.
Since 2004 Grace Church has gathered at the end of the summer to enjoy the cooler mountain air next to Trahlyta Lake for lunch, fellowship, and outdoor fun. Located at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest, with an elevation of 2,500 feet, Vogel is a great spot to spend a hot summer day.
Details are coming soon, we hope to see you at Vogel!
Please make plans to attend two special series of our Sunday Forum this summer and fall.
August 6 – 27
Every Sunday in August we will welcome representatives from some of our outreach community partners. Come hear more about the good work that organizations such as Overhead Cover, Children’s Center for Hope & Healing, Center Point, Sacred Roots, and more are doing in Gainesville and Hall county to address issues, promote success, and change lives.
September 10 – October 29
Beginning this August, Fr. Stuart will be teaching the weekly class for Episcopal seminarians at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He will bring key areas from his class syllabus into a partnership conversation at Grace, paying close attention to what we are learning about our common life here as a community, in our local context.
Sunday Forums will meet from 9:30 – 10:30 AM in the parish hall. Mark your calendars now and watch for additional information in upcoming issues of the newsletter.
Episcopal Community Foundation announces four grants to St. Clare’s Episcopal Church (Blairsville), Clubhouse Atlanta (Dunwoody), Emmaus House (Atlanta), and Family Promise of Hall County (Gainesville).
“We are thrilled to support such impactful partnerships with these churches and nonprofit organizations,” said Mary-Kay Boler, Chair of the Board of Directors for ECF. “The Foundation acts on behalf of the generous donors who have contributed towards our outreach grants. We are confident these grant recipients, along with the many churches and community organizations who have received over $5 million to date from ECF, will achieve our shared vision of eliminating poverty and oppression throughout Middle and North Georgia.”
Family Promise of Hall County, in partnership with Grace Episcopal Church, was awarded a capital grant of $25,000 towards completing renovations for Phase 2 of the Homestead, a transitional housing facility which supports families experiencing homelessness through intensive case management, counseling, and education.
Look ahead to upcoming opportunities for prayer, worship, and community!
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