News for our Parish Community
eNews
October 21, 2020
Fall Happenings and Congregational Development Opportunities, A Message from The Rev. Laura F. Gettys. Connections and Resilience abound here at Grace-St. Luke’s! We are in our 5-week series of sacred storytelling small groups. Each week these 5 groups meet to engage, reflect, and connect with one another while honoring safety protocols. The feedback and energy have been full of gratitude and hope. And so, with this same enthusiasm and hearing the feedback from the recent congregational development survey, we are planning an outdoor concert at Snowden Field coming up Friday, November 13. Come as you are able to enjoy an evening with musical talents Posey Hedges, Jim Spake, and John Gaskill as they play a “genrebending mix” of tunes from 5-7 p.m. with the field opening at 4:30 p.m. for arrivals and setting up in everyone’s socially distanced chalk area. Details, including the signup link, are below and watch for additional information in future eNews, on Facebook, and on the website. (Follow this link for more from Laura+.)
Take Note: New Highlights
Requiem: The Reverend Senter Cawthon Crook II October 23, 1943 - October 12, 2020
The Rev. Senter Crook, priest at GSL 2005-2008, died on Monday, October 12. Funeral services will be held in person and livestreamed from Calvary Episcopal Church on Senter's birthday, Friday, October 23, at 11 a.m. Due to Covid-19, for in-person attendance there will be strict physical spacing and a maximum limit, and masks are required throughout the service. Details in the obituary. Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Senter. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen. May her soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. Call for Names of Departed Loved Ones for November 1, All Saints’ Day.
The names of those buried from Grace-St. Luke’s Church since All Saints’ Day 2019 will be read aloud and reflected in the worship service leaflet on Sunday, November 1. If you wish to add the names of your departed loved ones from this year or previous years also to be read aloud, you may
email them to Receptionist and Ministry Associate Abby Huber (ahuber@gracestlukes.org) no later than 8 a.m. on Thursday, October 29. Need a lift? Want some good news? Click here for articles and readings that will lift the heart and soul. Balm To Make The Wounded Whole. Listen to a recent recording of There is a balm in Gilead as spiritual food for the journey. Learn more under Worship and Music. Sunday Outdoor Eucharist Time Change, 4 p.m. beginning October 25. Details below under Worship and Music. Getting into Good Trouble, MICAH’s 3rd Annual Public Meeting, October 25. Details below under Social Justice. Sunday Indoor Service to Begin November 1. For more information, see below under Worship and Music. Concert in Snowden Field, November 13. Details below under Community Life. Quick Links. See below for the newly added Quick Links section of the eNews. Ongoing events, less-recent news, and more, explore below: Virtual Offerings, Worship and Music, Stewardship, Christian Formation, Community Life, Outreach, Quick Links, and Social Justice.
Virtual Offerings
Thursday, October 22, Men’s Morning Fellowship, 7 until 7:45 a.m. via ZOOM. Follow this link for what to expect and ZOOM access information. Thursday, October 22, 8 until 8:15 p.m. Compline (Night Prayers) via Facebook Live.
The Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost, October 25, 9:15-9:45 a.m., Dragonfly Collective, The Hospitality Hub & The Hub Hotel with Jarad Bingham, via Facebook and YouTube. Details below under Adult Christian Formation. Morning Service of Prayers, Meditation and Music, October 25, 10:30 a.m. Livestream Service of Morning Prayer including sermon and music via the GSL website and Facebook Live. Sunday, October 25, 5:30-6 p.m. Contemplative Prerecorded Worship via Facebook and YouTube.
Tuesday, October 27, 8 until 8:15 p.m. Compline (Night Prayers) via Facebook Live.
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.
Worship and Music
Sunday Outdoor Eucharist Time Change, 4 p.m. Beginning Sunday, October 25, join us at 4 p.m. for an Outdoor Eucharist on Anchor Hill. Formerly this service was offered at 6 p.m. For more
information and required signup information, follow this link. Worship: Online and In Person, October 25. Sunday morning livestream and in-person worship at 10:30. Limited space is available for in-person worship in order to maintain social distancing requirements. Click here to sign up.
Contemplative Prerecorded Worship, October 25. Sundays at 5:30, join us on Facebook and YouTube. 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. Indoor Service of the Holy Eucharist to Begin November 1. We are thrilled to announce that our first indoor service of Holy Eucharist will be November 1. Advanced signup will be required for a limited number of household groups to attend and virtual offerings will continue indefinitely. For updates, stay tuned to the eNews, social media, and visit www.gracestlukes.org/worship. Balm To Make The Wounded Whole. If you or any people of faith are sad, broken and discouraged by the unreconciled state of the world and life as we know it, scripture and song continually remind us to turn to Jesus as balm for healing and wholeness. There is a balm in Gilead, one of the greatest spirituals based on Jeremiah 8:18-9:1, was sung during GSL October 18 morning and evening worship offerings. Listen here for encouragement. Refrain: There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole. There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul. Stanzas: Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain. But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again. | If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot preach like Paul, you can tell the love of Jesus, and say He died for all. There is a balm in Gilead.
Stewardship: Time, Talent, Treasure
Resilience and Connection Through Giving Many thanks to all of you who’ve made your pledge to Grace-St. Luke’s for 2021. For those of you who haven’t, there’s still time! Your pledge to our parish (simply an estimate of what you plan to give in 2021) helps us plan programs, support ministries, and budget for church expenses. As a pledging community, all of our ministries are funded entirely by the financial commitments from you, our parishioners. Your support is essential and so appreciated!
Please visit www.gracestlukes.org/pledge to make your pledge today as an investment in life at Grace-St. Luke’s.
Christian Formation Adults.
Just Mercy, GSL Reading Together, Zoom Discussions. During the month of October, all have been invited to read Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson, and join the ZOOM discussions. The final two discussions are this evening, October 21, & Wednesday, October 28, 6-6:45 p.m. For signup details and more, visit www.gracestlukes.org/gslreadingtogether.
Dragonfly Collective, The Hospitality Hub & The Hub Hotel with Jarad Bingham, Sunday, October 25. 9:15-9:45 a.m. via Facebook and YouTube. Dragonfly Collective’s mission of simplifying the flow of philanthropic capital to energize solutions for the common good recently assisted the Hospitality Hub with opening the Hub Hotel. The Hub Hotel is the first-of-its-kind transitional shelter where women experiencing homelessness can safely practice social distancing. Join the clergy for a conversation with Dragonfly principal Jarad Bingham about the development group and its community impact. Looking Ahead: Sunday, November 1, 9:15 a.m. Online - Exploring The Saints Through Poetry with The Rev. Katherine M. Bush. Check out the exciting fall lineup of Sunday Formation offerings and more: visit www.gracestlukes.org/adult-formation. Youth.
Confirmation Class meeting from 11-11:45 a.m. Halloween Special EYC for Middle School and High School will meet outside of the Red Door on LeMaster. MS: 4-5 p.m.; HS: 5-6 p.m. For questions about Youth Formation, contact Amzie Williams. Note: Click image to enlarge. Children.
All children are invited to participate in the 20-minute virtual Prayer Table for conversation, songs, stories, and prayer via Zoom after the 10:30 service. Zoom links are sent to the Children's Formation email list on Saturdays. If you'd like to have a Prayer Table kit for your family, contact Sharon Campbell, director of Children’s Formation.
Midtown Drive-Thru Trunk & Treat on Saturday, October 31! Trunk AND Treat 2020 is ON! GSL is teaming up with five other midtown congregations to offer a progressive, drive-thru Trunk & Treat on Saturday, Oct. 31. All families are welcome! GSL needs decorated trunks in our circle drive and lots of NUT-FREE candy. Details available here.
Community Life
Concert in Snowden Field, November 13. GSL Parishioners, Grab your blankets, chairs, picnics, and masks, and GET OUT OF THE HOUSE! Come enjoy the musical talents of Posey Hedges, Jim Spake, and John Gaskill as they play a genre-bending mix of tunes for your listening pleasure with fellow GSL parishioners in Snowden Field on Friday, November 13, from 5-7 p.m. There will be designated areas for you and your group to sit that will be big enough to spread your blanket and kick back while being socially distanced from your fellow attendees. Please sign up soon as space is limited to 50 households/groups. Please bring what you plan to eat or drink as there will not be any food or drink options offered for purchase. Restrooms will be available. Masks are required. We look forward to seeing you soon! Have You Signed Up for Realm Connect? Don't forget to sign up for Realm Connect, a browser-based application that also has a handy smartphone app. It is an interactive tool designed to integrate members, ministries, and groups. The member directory is in Realm! You can update your own profile, keep in touch with others, stay involved in groups, manage pledges and giving, and more. Visit www.gracestlukes.org/realm for more information.
Social Justice
Getting into Good Trouble, MICAH’s 3rd Annual Public Meeting. The Social Justice Committee invites Grace-St. Luke’s to Getting into Good Trouble, MICAH’s 3rd Annual Public Meeting, Sunday October 25, at 4 p.m. Before COVID19, this was an annual gathering of all members and interested parties to join together to push for a more just and equitable Memphis. It was also a time to be in community with our brothers and sisters who want to help advance Memphis, in shared good spirit. The Annual Meeting is serious business mixed with much fun and laughter, seeing old friends, and getting to know the stranger sitting next to you, and making new friends. The feeling of good will and optimism for the future of Memphis is contagious. However, that meeting is not available to us this year, but yes, we can join in virtually! In fact it is an opportunity to have more people join us, as we are not restricted by the number of seats available in the given church venue. Follow this link for details.
Outreach
Servant Ministry Partner Memphis Child Advocacy Center is holding a virtual Chefs’ Celebrity Gala from 25 October-1 November. “A Week of Giving” will help ensure critical services continue for kids and families in crisis, through the pandemic and beyond. You can help kids find safety, healing, and hope for the future after experiencing the trauma of sexual abuse and other severe abuse. The Gala is free. You can learn ways you can support their essential services, see video stories of healing and gratitude from the CAC staff and gala supporters. An online auction will feature “Staycation” Baskets and other great items to bid on. A distinct Chefs’ Celebrity Gala Teddy Bear, available for a suggested donation of $250 or more, can bring comfort to you or a loved one at home while helping a child at the CAC. Sign up here.
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