eNews
News for our Parish Community
November 21, 2019
This Week and Beyond
38th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee (Nov. 22-23) This year, GSL is hosting the diocesan community throughout Church and School spaces. Our parish delegation will be the clergy plus six lay delegates, Grant Adams, Linda Khumalo, Debbie McCanless, Chapman Morrow, Lee Nix, Simon Wadsworth, and three lay alternates, Anna Holtzclaw, Ruthie Lentz, and Bruce Williams. For more information and to attend as a guest, visit https://episwtn.org/2019-convention.
Annual Parish Meeting (Nov. 24) All members and newcomers are invited and encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting of the Parish (9:15-10:15 a.m.) on Sunday, Nov. 24, to undertake key business matters, including the election of the Vestry Class of 2022, parish life highlights since the last annual meeting, review of a 2020 operating budget draft, and a state-of-the-parish address from the rector. The slate of Vestry nominees may be found here: www.gracestlukes.org/news/vestry-nominees2019
Thanksgiving Day Eucharist Join us Thanksgiving morning at 10 a.m. as we worship together and give thanks for all our many blessings. We will be treated to full choir and trumpet. Thanksgiving Day also marks our “birthday” at GSL. Grace and St. Luke’s churches joined for the first combined service on Thanksgiving Day, 1940. Read more about our founding at www.gracestlukes.org/events/thanksgiving-day-service.
Angel Tree (Dec. 1 & 8) You are invited to be a part of this year’s Angel Tree, benefiting the children of Kindred Place, formerly The Exchange Club Family Center. We are thrilled to be able to offer the children it serves new, wrapped toys and books from the GSL community. Adoption Day is Sunday, Dec. 1! Look for volunteers in Trezevant Hall after the 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. services. Can’t make it to church that day? Email Amzie Williams. Please do not take an angel tag without having the adoption recorded by a volunteer; we do not want any lost angels. Collection Day is Sunday, Dec. 8. Bring new, wrapped toys and books to the Lounge. Volunteers will be there after the 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. services to collect items. For more information and to sign up online, please contact Amzie Williams at awilliams@gracestlukes.org or 901-252-6326.
Advent and Christmas Midweek Fellowship and Formation for All Ages Wednesday Evenings, Dec. 4, 11, & 18, 6-7:30 p.m. in Trezevant Hall. For more information, visit www.gracestlukes.org/midweek-evenings Sign up online at tinyurl.com/GSLAdvent Dec. 4: St. Nicholas Festival
Dec. 11: Caroling, Cookies, & Cocoa
Dec. 18: Night of Sacred Storytelling
Advent Lessons and Carols & Festive Party (Dec. 8) Advent Lessons and Carols with The Chancel Choir And The Canterbury Choir: The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols was first celebrated at King’s College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve, 1918. It was an adaptation of a similar service that had been written for the cathedral at Truro in 1880. On Dec. 8 at 5:30 in the evening, the Chancel Choir and Canterbury Choristers will present a service of Advent Lessons and Carols, using readings, carols, and hymns for Advent as we await the coming of the Christ Child. Festive Advent Party with Live Music, Sunday, Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m. In celebration of the Church New Year, all households and guests are invited to gather in Trezevant Hall amid a spread of assorted food and beverages and music by local musicians. Tables for children will be set aside, while childcare for infants and toddlers will be available in the nursery. Stay tuned for more about what you might offer to this holiday kickoff event. Nursery available 5 - 8 p.m..
Public Theology (Dec. 5) All are invited to Public Theology, a GSL monthly formation offering at Celtic Crossing in the Cooper Young neighborhood. We’ll see you Thursday, Dec. 5, 5:30-7 p.m. for navigating Relationships and Chaos during the Holiday Season. The Rev. Ollie V. Rencher and the Rev. Meredith Jane Day will facilitate what is likely to be lively conversation about how individuals and households might healthily approach family and non-family relationships and often busier calendars from Thanksgiving Day into the New Year.
Luna Nova Winter Concert (Dec. 9) The Luna Nova Ensemble will present its 12th Annual Winter Concert at Grace-St. Luke’s on Monday, December 9, at 7:30 p.m. The concert will feature works by J.S. Bach, Guillaume Machaut, Jehan Alain, Johann Mertz, Leo Ornstein. and Grace-St. Luke’s organist Patrick Scott. Performers will be Barrie Cooper (violin), Kelly Herrmann (flute), Nobuko Igarashi (clarinet), Robert Patterson (horn), Leah Cripps (bassoon), Benjamin Minden-Birkenmaier (guitar), and Patrick Scott (organ). Admission is free. A reception will follow in Trezevant Hall.
Christmas Altar Flowers If you would like to make a donation in honor of or in memory of a loved one for Christmas flowers, you may send a check to the church office (1720 Peabody Ave., 38104, ATTN: Lucy Owens) listing the names of those you would like remembered. You can also give us your name(s) and donate online at www.gracestlukes.org/onlinegiving. Follow the “make a donation for altar flowers link.” If received by Dec. 15, these names will be listed in the Christmas leaflets. Dec. 15 is also the deadline for any memorials and honorariums that you would like acknowledged before Christmas.
Outreach
Calvary’s Room in the Inn Clothes Closet Calvary Episcopal Church hosts Room in the Inn on Sunday nights (November-January) and serves over 200 breakfasts to homeless and poor neighbors on Sunday mornings. The community outreach program at Calvary needs donations: Men’s jeans, socks (even single socks), underwear, shoes or sneakers (size 9 or larger for men), sweaters, T-shirts, coats, slacks, warm jackets, rain gear, warm hats and gloves, blankets, sleeping bags, and toiletries. A collection box will be located at the GSL LeMaster entrance lobby for donations to be delivered to Calvary. For more information, visit www.gracestlukes.org/news/room-in-the-inn.
Compassionate Christmas (Dec. 12 and 14) Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church is partnering with Neighborhood Christian Centers, Inc. for a COMPASSIONATE CHRISTMAS. Compassionate Kids Evening of Service offers a unique opportunity for children under the age of 12 and parents to volunteer together. Families assemble 1,500 Christmas Food Baskets that will be distributed to Neighbors In Need during the Christmas Season. Compassionate Christmas Food Baskets volunteers will assist with assembly of 10,000 food baskets for our Neighbors in Need. Each basket will be filled with enough food to feed a family of four for up to four days! Thursday, December 12 / 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. AND Saturday, December 14 (7 – 9 a.m. or 9 – 11 a.m.) Location: 2934 Fleetbrook Dr. Memphis, TN 38116 Sign up to volunteer at ncclife.org/compassionate-christmas. Use the Volunteer form to sign up for your chosen event(s). *NCC is a GSL Outreach Grant Recipient/Servant Ministry Partner. For GSL to fund your $25 suggested donation, contact Outreach Team Member, Ruthie Lentz (rlentz@comcast.net). Download flyer: tinyurl.com/CompassionateChristmasGSL
Athletics
Church Basketball Scorekeeper Needed The church basketball program needs a scorekeeper/clock person for our league basketball games starting Dec. 7. For more information, please contact Christi Authement, GSL Church Athletic Director, at cauthement@gracestlukes.org or 901-252-6325.
Children & Youth
Youth Formation Nov. 24, Rite 13 and J2A, 9:15-10:10 a.m.
High School Prayer Breakfast (9th - 12th Grade), Tuesday, Nov. 26, 7-8 a.m. at Ugly Mug on Poplar. For more information, contact Director of Youth Formation Amzie Williams at awilliams@gracestlukes.org or 901-252-6326.
Children & Youth Classes Sunday morning classes begin at 9:15 a.m. Your November Messenger has all the details. See below for the Sunday schedule.
This Sunday at GSL
Join us for worship, formation, and fellowship on Nov. 24 8 a.m. – Holy Eucharist 8:45 a.m. – Delicious home-cooked breakfast. 9:15 a.m. – Adults: Annual Parish Meeting (the PHF will return Dec. 1) (details above) 9:15 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, SK Location: Atrium I (Green Room) Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: Atrium II 6–9 year olds: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Grade Location: Atrium II (Purple Room) Project Purpose 4th–5th Grade Location: Yellow Room 9:15 a.m. – Christian Formation classes for youth Rite 13 6th–8th Grade Location: Red Room J2A
9th–12th Grade Location: Red Room 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist Following the 10:30 service – Coffee Hour 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).
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