NEWS FOR OUR PARISH COMMUNITY February 7, 2019
Forward this email to a friend View this email in your browser
Weekly eNews
Inside this Issue (Download pdf here) This Sunday's Schedule
Adult Formation
Parish Hall Forum
Preparing for Sunday
Midweek Evenings @ GSL
Take Note
February Messenger
VBS Survey
Vestry Ministry Areas
Upcoming Events
Daytime Book Group Third Thursday Meredith's Ordination
Women's Retreat
Save the Date Children & Youth
Episcopal Youth Community
Choirs
Adult Formation
Parish Hall Forum: Mysterious Encounters with God from Jacob to the Transfiguration with Dr. Dan Pigg The Bible (Old and New Testaments) record encounters between God and individual humans and whole communities. There is a special class of these encounters that are mysterious in nature. We typically call them “theophanies,” moments when a human encounters God in some way that brings about a transition in the life experience of that person. The stories of Jacob’s wrestling match, Moses’ encounter at the burning bush, Isaiah’s call to prophetic ministry, and the Transfiguration are among some of the most mysterious of these stories. Communities reading or more likely hearing these stories closer in time to those experiences would have recognized how the encounter with the Holy was transformative. How do these encounters with the Holy shape the experiences of faith communities then and now? In essence, what do these stories mean for us today?
Join us in Trezevant Hall for breakfast at 8:45 a.m. followed by the Parish Hall Forum from 9:3010:20.
To view this Sunday's full schedule: see below.
Preparing for Sunday This week's readings: Isaiah 6:1-8 · 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 · Luke 5:1-11 · Psalm 138 www.gracestlukes.org/discover/this-sundays-texts/
Midweek Evenings at GSL: Becoming American (Feb. 13 & 20) Join us Wednesday evening, February 13, 6-7:30 p.m., for the second of the “Becoming American” series hosted by retired Immigration Judge, Charlie Pazar. Each week we explore a different aspect of immigration through film, lecture, and discussion. Light refreshments provided. This week’s topic: “Between Two Worlds: Identity and Acculturation” looks at how immigrants react and adjust to living in a new country and culture, and how they bridge the divide between the traditions and values of their native countries. Episode 1, which we will present is “The Nigerians.”
To sign up to receive the GSL eNews, go to www.gracestlukes.org/news/weekly-enews/.
Upcoming Events
Daytime Book Group (Feb. 14) Our next discussion is February 14 with The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald. This is an open group…no invitation or requirements other than a love of reading. We meet in the Red Room from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring a sack lunch. The group is facilitated by Janie Morris (morrishome1@bellsouth.net) and Carol Ann Mallory (cam2269@aol.com). A list of books for upcoming months may be found at www.gracestlukes.org/events/daytime-book-group.
Ordination to the Priesthood (Feb. 16) 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.
Third Thursday (Feb. 21) Fellowship time with snacks and beverages, dinner that matches the season (think chicken gumbo and bread pudding), and an interesting presentation—that’s what you can expect. Our speakers are Margery and Roger Wolcott who will share their journey from life in the San Francisco bay area to an Episcopal community ministry located near St. Mary’s Cathedral in the medical center of Memphis. Have you ever thought of doing something really different with your life? Come hear their story. Reservations are required ($15 per person). Make yours by
Tuesday, February 19. Call or email Lucy (901-252-6333 or (lowens@gracestlukes.org) or pay online at www.gracestlukes.org/events/third-thursday.
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.
Save These Dates! 39ers, with Adam Nelson. (Feb. 27, noon)
Old-Fashioned Southern Potluck. (Mar. 3, following the 10:30 service)
Details are in your February Messenger ( www.gracestlukes.org/the-messenger).
Take Note
February Messenger www.gracestlukes.org/the-messenger
Inside this issue: 39ers, Altar Gifts, Athletics, Calendar Highlights, Christian Formation, Contemplative Prayer, Daytime Book Group, EYC, Food Pantry Facts, Holy Baptism, Lay Ministers Schedule, Looking Towards Sunday, Membership Updates, Memorials & Honoraria, Meredith's Ordination, Message from the Rector, Organ Concert, Outreach Ministry, School News, Scout Sunday, Third Thursday, VBS Survey, Women's Retreat Please note: For those of you who also get the paper edition of the Messenger, it has been mailed. If you are NOT getting the paper copy and would like to have it mailed to you, please let Lucy know. If you are unable to open the pdf file, updating Adobe Reader will most likely fix the problem. Contact Lucy with any question.
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 Ministry Areas Vestry members communicate and plan proactively with staff persons and team leaders responsible for the ministry area to which she or he has been assigned. Each ministry area (Athletics, Congregational Development, Fellowship, Formation, Outreach & Justice, Pastoral Care, Stewardship, Worship) is composed of one or more teams to carry out its purpose. Grant Adams (Worship), Jimpsie Ayres (Congregational Development), Wight Boggs (Fellowship), Patrick Burnett (Jr. Warden & Youth Formation), Nina Callan (Pastoral Care), Jim Greer (Worship), Linda Khumalo (Worship), Stinson Liles (Outreach & Justice), Julia McDonald (Clerk & Children’s Formation), Murray McKay (Adult Formation), Kurt Patton (Sr. Warden & Athletics), Charlie Pazar (Outreach & Justice), Tom Stephenson (Stewardship), Bev Trojan (Treasurer), Simon Wadsworth (Stewardship), and Gavin Wigginson (Congregational Development) To contact a member of the vestry, email vestry@gracestlukes.org.
Children & Youth
Sunday Morning Classes To view this Sunday's class schedule, see below.
Episcopal Youth Community Feb. 10: Middle School—5-7 p.m. Movie Night @ Malco Studio on the Square. High School— 12-1 p.m. Brunch and Bible in the Red Room. 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. 9:30 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/.