eNews for July 15, 2020

News for our Parish Community

eNews

July 15, 2020

Prayer Matters.

Now more than ever, it seems like adults, youth and children are praying and even sharing more openly about this important practice. Prayer is one way to navigate this everchanging and anxious season of life as it has been essential in the past. In Deep Peace: Healing In Our Lives, J. Ellen Nunnally reflects on “the prayer of Jesus” to remind that one must stay the course of praying regardless of style, when, or length. There is only one prayer that Jesus actually taught his disciples, the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-12, Luke 11:2-4). Imagine the transformation from beloved children of God offering this common prayer at the break, noon, eve, and end of the day. Considering Jesus’ customs, practice, and teaching, “what stands out are his own practice of silence and the depth of his prayer; his steadfast trust that God will provide, whatever the circumstances; his strong belief in forgiveness and reconciliation; and his expectant watch for the approaching kingdom. His deep silence in the night gives him the strength to heal, to teach, and to preach, in the new kingdom of heaven on earth.” Prayer mattered to Jesus, our Way. May it always be so for us as we seek daily to follow Him. - The Rev. Ollie V. Rencher, Rector Explore and engage life at GSL and invite others for the journey! Our Vision is to be a thriving community of hope, belonging, and healing through worship, parish life, and service, and who rejoices in the love of Jesus to transform the world.

Virtual Offerings

Thursday, July 16, Men’s Morning Fellowship, 7 until 7:45 a.m. via ZOOM. Hosted weekly by Doug Duncan and the Rev. Ollie V. Rencher, all men may join at any time. Follow this link for what to expect and ZOOM access information.

Thursday, July 16, 8 until 8:15 p.m. Compline (Night Prayers) via Facebook Live.

The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, July 19, 10:30 a.m. Livestream Service of Morning Prayer including sermon and music via the GSL website and Facebook Live.

The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, July 19, 5:30 p.m, Musical Moments in July: A concert of MORE favorite vocal solos by some of GSL's staff singers on Facebook Live and YouTube Live.

Tuesday, July 21, 8 until 8:15 p.m. Compline (Night Prayers) via Facebook Live. Christian Formation Offerings. Stay tuned for plans being explored by the clergy, staff, and formation leadership for summer and beyond.

Event Details. For important details about each of these and more, follow this link to Virtual Offerings and watch for the Friday Looking Ahead eNews.

Take Note

ZOOM Meet-and-Greet Events with The Rev. Laura F. Gettys. As a way to welcome our associate rector, Laura+, sign up for one of the following small group 30-minute events via ZOOM: Thursday, July 16, Noon; Friday, July 17, 4 p.m.; or Sunday, July 19, Noon. Visit www.gracestlukes.org/news/zoom-meet-and-greet-with-laura for more information.

GSL Privacy Policy. Please take a minute to read anew or refresh your memory about GSL's Privacy Policy which was adopted in 2019. The policy includes an option to opt out of photos being shared on our website, social media, etc. among other aspects of privacy.

The Messenger Magazine.

Follow this link for the June-July issue of The Messenger. The next issue will be released in August with information about what to expect in the later summer and fall months of life at GSL: worship, formation, congregational life, outreach, social justice, and more.

Friday Looking Ahead eNews. Watch for an email at 6 a.m. on Fridays about what to expect on the upcoming Sunday including worship service leaflet access, what’s ahead for the coming week, and any important messages from clergy, staff, and ministry area lay leaders.

Worship and Music

Worship: Online and In-Person. Join us via livestream or in-person on Sunday mornings at 10:30 as the clergy and musicians lead worship services. Limited space is available for inperson worship and sign up is required. Click here to sign up for Sunday, July 19. Compline (Night Prayers) is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. via Facebook Live. Visit www.gracestlukes.org/worship for more about worship, and to explore past and upcoming services, follow this link.

Musical Moments in July: Sundays 5:30 to 6 p.m.

For the month of July, join us for short Sunday recitals at 5:30 p.m. on Facebook and YouTube Live. We began our series July 5 with music for trumpet and organ, followed by GSL staff singer favorites on July 12. You will be treated to more vocal solos by our GSL staff singers on July 19, everything from hymns to Broadway. And the final recital will be a solo organ recital by GSL’s Director of Music, Dr. Patrick A. Scott. Videos of each livestream offering will also be posted on www.gracestlukes.org/events/musicalmoments-in-july/. Spread the word and tune in.

July 19: More Staff Singer favorites July 26: Patrick A. Scott, organ

Christian Formation

Virtual VBS 2020: Compassion Camp.

Week Three (July 13) of Compassion Camp shows us how compassion helps us love ourselves.

Loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is recognizing how God loves us. If we can love ourselves in this same way, we are better able to practice one of Jesus’ most important commandments: Love your neighbor as yourself.

At story time, we’re reading a book called The Golden Rule. It’s about those exact words, love your neighbor as yourself, and how they are found in not just our own faith tradition, but in virtually every other one in the world! The Golden Rule highlights many variations of these words, showing us that we can take many paths, yet we all strive for the same thing. We say the Golden Rule is “golden” because it’s so valuable to us as we seek to live and love like our faith calls us to do.

Follow this link for more on Compassion Camp 2020 Week 3.

Thanks to all our Compassion Campers for being part of this special experience!

Adults. Explore Virtual Offerings for current learning opportunities. Please note: plans for later summer and fall months are being designed by the clergy-staff team working with formation and congregational development ministry leaders.

Youth Schedule.

Wednesday, July 15, Noon: Noonday Prayer on Insta Live @gsl.youth.

Friday, July 17, 6 p.m.: Compline on Insta Live @gsl.youth.

If you are interested in participating in GSL youth activities, please email Amzie Williams at awilliams@gracestlukes.org.

Children: For information about current and summer plans for households with young children, contact Director of Children’s Formation Sharon Campbell and join the Children’s Formation Facebook page.

Meanwhile, explore Faith at Home and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for a variety of creative ways to engage children in this new season for the Church.

Community Life

REALM Connect: Calling All GSL Households to Register by Sunday, July 19. In this long season of physical distancing, contact by the clergystaff team with parishioners as well as ways for parishioners to connect with one another are essential. REALM, our secure membership platform is very important and equipped with many features: update profile including contact information changes; upload individual or household photo; sign-up for ministry teams and events; manage financial giving; and message others based on self-determined confidentiality settings. Visit www.gracestlukes.org/realm or contact Receptionist and Ministry Associate Abby Huber (ahuber@gracestlukes.org, 901-252-6336) for assistance. Thanks in advance for your registration!

Pastoral Care: Sharing and Responding to Concerns. To alert the clergy of a pastoral matter concerning yourself or a parishioner, including any medical procedures, contact the clergy confidentially via 901-252-6320 or pastoralcare@gracestlukes.org. For hospitalizations or emergencies concerning a member, contact the 24/7 Clergy-on-Call phone line at 901-2526334. This is the best way to communicate pastoral needs and ensure a prompt response from the clergy.

Prayer List and Prayer Requests. To submit a prayer request for the Prayer List, you may contact Parish House Receptionist & Ministry Associate Abby Huber (ahuber@gracestlukes.org, 901-252-6336) or complete the online Prayer Request Form (www.gracestlukes.org/prayerrequest). Names of persons, who have given consent for names to be printed, will be listed for one month, unless a longer period is requested. While certain concerns may be confidential between the clergy and the individual, others may not be. If you are wondering about an individual, please contact the individual directly or a member of the clergy. Intercessions are offered daily by the clergy and lay pastoral care ministers and reflected in the worship service leaflet.

MOVING IN FAITH: Wellness Initiative. Our Moving In Faith Challenge has come to an end. For six weeks participants' weekly exercise minutes have been tracked and it’s been amazing to see the progression of each individual's minutes and increased endurance from week to week. The weekly scriptures and inspirational quotes encouraged individuals to reach their personal goals. This has been a team effort, not just against their own teammates but also against other churches, and it definitely got their competitive fire going and helped them dig even deeper. It certainly didn’t hurt that this group of competitors wanted to claim the title of the 2020 MIF Challenge Winners! For top team and individual points winners and other highlights of the MIF initiative, follow this link: www.gracestlukes.org/news/moving-in-faith.

GSL Fall Sports Registration. GSL plans to participate in the traditional ESCRA League Fall Sports Program. The GSL Church JK-4th grades fall sports registration is open and can be accessed online at www.gracestlukes.org/youthsoccerandfootball. Remember to register promptly because teams do fill up quickly. In case we are unable to offer the traditional ESCRA League fall sports programs due to COVID-19 and the CDC guidelines, we are prepared to provide a quality alternative soccer program for JK-4th grades. This program will be led by certified instructors and will focus on skill development, individual competition, and fun play. The season dates will coincide with the ESCRA season and run September through November. Each person’s safety and well-being are our priorities and the Grace-St. Luke’s Church leadership team will continue to monitor the pandemic. We look forward to resuming our youth fall sports programs in some capacity as soon as we can. Contact Christi Authement for more info.

Racial Healing Journey Resources. The Episcopal Church provides rich resources for addressing racism, racialized violence, reconciliation, healing and justice. Individuals and households may explore www.episcopalchurch.org/responding-to-racist-violence and visit the new “racial healing” portal at www.gracestlukes.org/discover. The GSL Racial Healing Committee of the Social Justice Team also is working to provide helpful information and a variety of resources for one’s spiritual formation work on this complex aspect of the human family.

The Blessing of Your Support. The Rector, Wardens and Vestry are glad that parishioners continue to practice self-care as well as care for others during this season of physical distancing. Your sacred offerings of time, talent, and treasure are keeping GSL strong and sustainable. Each financial gift support our weekly administration and operations, worship offerings, clergy-staff team personnel, and congregational life You may visit gracestlukes.org/onlinegiving, text GSLChurch ALMS to 73256 to give to ALMS, text GSLChurch PLEDGE to 73256 to give to 2020 PLEDGE, mail offerings to the church office, or contact Parish Administrator Linda Stine (lstine@gracestlukes.org, 901-252-6324).

Outreach and Social Justice

Living Grace School Supply Drive starts July 19.

Let’s come together as we keep our distance! The Outreach Committee is holding a school supplies drive to support one of our Servant Ministry Partners. Living Grace Memphis provides an individualized college and career readiness program, scholarships that encourage innovation and service, school supplies and toiletries, grooming services, and healthcare referrals. Clients are among the city's most vulnerable population – children who are underserved and experiencing homelessness. Regardless of how classes are held this year, our neighbors will still require school supplies. Please support Living Grace by donating the items listed in the link below.

Collection baskets will be inside on Sundays during the 10:30 a.m. service and outside during More Than A Meal (MTAM) on Sundays, July 19, 26, and August 2 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. You can even take advantage of Tennessee’s Tax Holiday (July 31-August 2) for school supplies!

Follow this link to learn more about this Outreach initiative and how you can get involved.

Outreach Grant Applications.

Summer greetings to all! Your Outreach Committee has completed and published new grant application procedures.

Please help us spread the word so we may have a healthy competition for our outreach grants this year. Particulars are in the grant application posted on the GSL website, but we are basically seeking servant ministry partner agencies whose mission fits into one of our focus areas: feed/clothe/shelter the needy; care for the sick; healing brokenness in the world. The major change for this year is that we will award one “impact” grant of $7,500 in each of those categories and one “major” grant of $5,000 in each category.

Procedurally, we now have a grant subcommittee screening applications before the whole committee votes.

Applications are open now by emailing a completed application located on the Community Grants web page to outreach@gracestlukes.org. Deadline is 31 August with awards planned to be completed by November. Questions can also be sent to that address.

Thanks for your help in sharing this good news! .

Dorothy Day House Update.

Volunteering at Dorothy Day is still on hold due to COVID-19, but needs still remain to help the families served. You can help out by purchasing items at Amazon from their wishlist (similar to a wedding registry). Every little bit helps! The wishlist gets posted to their social media (Instagram and Facebook) on Wednesdays. Follow this link to their Wednesday Wishlist.

Grace-St. Luke’s Partners with MICAH (Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope).

The Clergy, Wardens and Vestry are pleased to announce the start of a new partnership with MICAH. This exciting initiative serves to further the Church’s Mission to restore all people to unity and the GSL Vision to be a thriving community of hope, belonging, and healing through worship, parish life, and service, and who rejoices in the love of Jesus to transform the world. To learn more about MICAH, follow this link.

Stay tuned for next steps about our partnership from the evolving GSLMICAH Core Team.

Stay Informed

Visit gracestlukes.org to subscribe to the parish eNews to receive weekly, seasonal, and emergency pastoral notices from the clergy or other leaders. Visit episwtn.org to subscribe to the West Tennessee Diocesan Communicator, and for access to beyond-local news from The Episcopal Church, visit episcopalnewsservice.org. Spread the word about these key communication platforms.

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