eNews for January 23, 2019

NEWS FOR OUR PARISH COMMUNITY January 24, 2019

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Weekly eNews

Inside this Issue (Download pdf here) This Sunday's Schedule

Adult Formation

Parish Hall Forum

Contemplative Prayer

Preparing for Sunday

Children & Youth

Spring Soccer

Episcopal Youth Community

Choirs

Take Note

Pastoral Notice

VBS Survey

Catechesis Procession

Vestry Minutes

Upcoming Events

Meredith's Ordination

Women's Retreat

Adult Formation

Parish Hall Forum: A Vision for Grace St. Luke's with the Rev. Ollie Rencher and Vestry The Rev. Ollie V. Rencher, Rector, and members of the Vestry will reflect on the exciting new year and season in life at Grace-St. Luke’s. The conversation will include highlights from the recent Vestry Retreat, reflections on a developing parish vision statement and the adoption of a 2019 operating budget to support our mission, and the release of the Winter-Spring 2019 calendar of formation, worship, and fellowship offerings.

To view this Sunday's full schedule: see below.

Monthly Contemplative Prayer Group Join a small group of committed contemplatives as they meet each month for a time of intentional prayer and silence. This group is self-led and participates in a variety of prayer practices: Lectio Divina, Mindfulness, Centering Prayer, and Ignatian Spirituality. Meetings are from 9:00-9:30 a.m. on the last Sunday of each month in Room 212 (across from McClure Hall in the Evans Building). Our first meeting is Jan. 27. All are welcome!

Preparing for Sunday This week's readings: Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10 · 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a · Luke 4:14-21 · Psalm 19 www.gracestlukes.org/discover/this-sundays-texts/

Take Note

Pastoral Notice: Requiem | Jim Alexander (March 23, 1928– January 20, 2019) Former GSL member, James “Jim” Burton Alexander died in Charlotte, North Carolina. A requiem liturgy will be offered at The Lord’s Chapel at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis on Friday, February 1, at 10:00 a.m.

Memorials may be offered to Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Jim. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your flock, a sinner of your own redeeming.

Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

Catechesis Children’s Procession Virtually all of the work that children encounter in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium aims to help the child more fully participate in the Life of the Church. From quiet time at the prayer table, learning the articles of the Mass, and identifying liturgical seasons, to exploring Biblical geography and the books of the Bible, the Atrium is rich with materials and lessons that deepen the child’s connection to God, and their worship experience.

Welcoming our Catechesis children into the sanctuary, as they process with the gifts, adds new depth to this experience. It more formally acknowledges our children’s presence, and the importance of their time in the Atrium. We thank you for being a part of this moment to focus on our children and their faith formation, and helping to nurture their greater sense of belonging in our worship service.

Please Fill Out Our survey Dear GSL Parish Family, Vacation Bible School is one of our most valued Children’s Formation offerings, and as its director, I’m eager to explore possible updates to this program so it might better serve our parish.

Please take a moment to complete this 2-minute, anonymous survey about VBS: https://tinyurl.com/GSLVBSSurvey.

Whether you’re the parent of a VBS-aged child, or a parishioner who might enjoy volunteering with VBS, or if you just have observations you’d like to share, your feedback is important and ensures the needs of this unique faith community are at the forefront of our planning.

Thanks so much for your time, and for helping to make VBS 2019 our best one yet!

–Sharon Campbell

Vestry Minutes The Vestry Minutes are now available for download for December 18, 2018, and January 4, 2019, by following these links: December, January.

To sign up to receive the GSL eNews, go to www.gracestlukes.org/news/weekly-enews/.

Upcoming Events

Ordination to the Priesthood By the Grace of God and with the consent of the people, the Right Reverend Don E. Johnson, Third Bishop of West Tennessee, will ordain Meredith Jane Day to the Sacred Order of Priests in Christ’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on Saturday, February 16, at 10:30 a.m. at Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Your prayers and presence are requested.

Clergy: red stoles.

Reception following.

Nursery available 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

2019 Women’s Retreat (Feb. 22-24) Saying Yes to Joy: The Rev. Amy George, associate rector at Grace St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, will again be our wise and witty guide as we consider “joy.” Where is it? What is it? Who is it? This concept resonates deeply as we all yearn in different ways for the essence of “joy.” For more information and to register, visit www.gracestlukes.org/events/womensretreat.

Children & Youth

Sunday Morning Classes To view this Sunday's class schedule, see below.

Spring Soccer GSL Church sponsors a Spring Soccer Program for JK–4th Grades. It’s a 6 game “mini-season” running March 29–May 18. The season is designed to continue soccer skill development during the spring. We strive to keep teams together from the previous fall and no assessments are needed. Due to the spring soccer participation numbers, we are not able to keep all previous fall teams exactly the same. So, for ONE year, we plan for teams (fall and spring) to remain the same.

By design, a Parent Liaison helps coordinate and direct this program. Please email Christi at cauthement@gracestlukes.org, or call 901-252-6325 if interested in volunteering for this position.

Spring Soccer Registration is January 1-31 and can be accessed through the GSL Church website at www.gracestlukes.org/spring-soccer. Please refer to the website listed above for ALL information regarding Spring Soccer. Registration fills up quickly, so please register soon.

Episcopal Youth Community Jan. 27: High School–12-1 p.m. Brunch & Bible @ GSL in the Red Room.

Middle School–5-6:30 p.m. Bowling.

Biscuits and Bible: This Wednesday morning Bible study is a favorite for our Middle School students. We meet from 6:45-7:45 a.m. to explore the Gospel for the week and its relevance to our lives. Breakfast is provided, and all are welcome, regardless of church or school attendance (early pick-up is available for non-GSL students).

Email Addison Combs (acombs@gracestlukes.org) for more information.

Children's Choirs GSL’s two youth choirs, St. Cecilia Choir and Canterbury Choir, rehearse on Wednesdays. Rehearsal times are 4:30–5 p.m. for St. Cecilia Choir (for boys and girls in SK–2nd grade) and 5–6 p.m. for Canterbury Choir (for boys and girls in grades 3–6). Both choirs meet in the choir room at GSL and are under the direction of Music Associate Debbie Smith. For more information or to register your child, contact Debbie at 901-299-9313 or email her at dsmith@gracestlukes.org.

This Sunday at GSL

Join us for worship, formation, and fellowship.

8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist 8:45 a.m. – Delicious home-cooked breakfast.

9:00 a.m. – Monthly Contemplative Prayer Group (details above) 9:30 a.m. – Christian Formation classes for adults (details above)

9:30 a.m. – Christian Formation classes for children Nursery

Infant Room (Newborn–Walking) Toddler Room (Walking–Potty Training) Little Lambs Room (Potty Training–Atrium Ready) Location: Church Nursery with the Nursery Staff Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: Atrium I 3–6 year olds: Pre–K, JK and SK Location: Atrium I (Green Room) Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: Atrium II 6–9 year olds: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Grade Location: Atrium II (Purple Room) Project Purpose 4th–5th Grade Location: Yellow Room 9:30 a.m. – Christian Formation classes for youth Rite 13

6th–8th Grade Location: Red Room J2A

9th–12th Grade Location: Room 212 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist Following the 10:30 service – Coffee Hour in Trezevant Hall Nursery – The nursery is available from 7:30 a.m. through the end of the 10:30 service 5:30 p.m. – Holy Eucharist Episcopal Youth Community (details above).

More about Christian Formation at GSL

Children: www.gracestlukes.org/sunday-school

Youth: www.gracestlukes.org/youth-formation

Adults: www.gracestlukes.org/sunday-morning/

To sign up to receive the GSL eNews, go to www.gracestlukes.org/news/weekly-enews/.