We are excited to be back in the series in Genesis. This past Sunday, we saw how God is with his people, even when our worlds seem like they are falling apart. To listen to John's sermon, go here.
New Ministry Year Starts on Sunday, September 11: We are looking forward to the start of our Christian Formation Classes for all ages on September 11. We are encouraging all of us to remember God's Promise to always be with us. In light of this promise, we encourage you to prayerfully consider how you might be called to engage, connect, and embrace partnering with Grace church. We are eager to see how the love of God is going to grow in each of us and in this community throughout the year.
Christian Formation Classes for Adults, Children, and Youth. Classes begin on September 11, and run from 9-10 AM. We will meet the first 3 Sundays of each month (4th and 5th Sundays of the month we will not have class.) See calendar on our website for more specific dates.
Adults will have a class in the upstairs chapel on “The Gifts of Anglicanism” which will be loosely based on this book.
We use KidCheck, a secure children check-in system, for all children/youth the first time they visit a class. Walkers through 2nd Graders need to be checked in through KidCheck every week.
Worship Service. NEW this year—parents will drop off their children for the Sermon Time Class at the START of the worship service (unless they were dropped off at Christian Formation hour, those children are welcome to stay through the service) and PARENTS WILL PICK UP their children during Passing of the Peace, which will now take place after the sermon.
Two classes are available during the worship service:
Toddlers (Walkers–3 years, all service long)
Sermon Time (4 years thru 2nd grade, until Passing of the Peace)
Small Groups. Small groups are starting up again in September and October! We are strongly encouraging everyone in the congregation to get involved in one type of small group this year. To find a group, or if you are interested in starting one, please contact our Director of Community Formation, Jamie Afshari jamie@graceseattle.org.
Community Groups. These are groups of 6-12 people that will gather in peoples' homes throughout the week. Groups will share a meal together and join together for Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer. Community Groups are a wonderful way to make meaningful connections with other Christians outside of Sunday mornings.
Growth Groups. These are groups of 3 men or 3 women who commit to walking together for a year and help one another to strengthen and deepen each other's walk with Christ. These groups are designed to be communities where people can be seen and known on a deeper level. This year, each group will start by working through Pete Scazzero's book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.
Community Group Leader Training Palooza 2022: Leaders at Grace are gathering for Community Group training September 9-10. On Friday the 9, we'll gather for a casual dinner at 6pm as we learn and grow together. We'll talk about community and what it means to belong and welcome in a group context, begin to name our unsaid and unmet expectations, as well as what forms discipleship can take in and outside of a community group. Saturday we will meet at the Layne for a light breakfast before Dan Huie leads us in some silent time with Jesus as we lean into the love Christ has for us. We'll end with discussion over lunch. Please email jamie@graceseattle.org to register or with questions.
Growth Group Training: Last year we had a soft launch of growth groups and this year we want to continue to invite more people to join this intentional community. Growth groups are a way to grow in our love for Jesus as we see how much we are loved! These are high commitment discipleship oriented groups of three people that will walk alongside you for a year or more as you ask questions about what it means to flourish under Jesus' care while making a rule of life. John and Jamie will offer a short morning of orientation and training for those who are interested on Saturday morning September 24 at the church office (parking available). Please email jamie@graceseattle.org if you are interested in registering or have questions.
Sexuality and the Church. Grace is blessed to partner with Revoice, whose mission is "To support and encourage gay, lesbian, bisexual, and other same-sex attracted Christians—as well as those who love them—so that all in the Church might be empowered to live in gospel unity while observing the historic Christian doctrine of marriage and sexuality."
The Revoice conference is always a gift, but only comes once a year. Revoice is starting some chapters that help engage the LGBTQ+ Side B community at the local level and we have one starting in Seattle! Contact Dan Huie at dchuie83@gmail.com for information and for location.
Dinners for 7 Fall and Winter Dates: Come join others for fellowship around a dinner table near you! Our new hosts and dates are:
Friday September 23- Morses' home in Renton
Saturday October 22- Spaith's home in Bellevue (Kids welcome- Instructions on sign up form to register children)
Monday November 7- Andrews' home in Northgate
Saturday January 7- Taylor's home in Greenlake Sign up HERE for the spot(s) you need. Questions? Email jamie@graceseattle.org
Connect
Updates to Giving Statements. For 2022, financial giving records will be in Planning Center. More details on how to access your giving for this year will be coming soon. For any questions, please contact Nicole.
Young Adult Group. Brent and Phoebe Williams host a weekly meal to help grow community for those either new to the city or seeking friendship. Anyone who considers themselves "young" or "adult" can join us for lunch in Eastlake on Sundays after church. For those living or working in South Lake Union, downtown, or the University District, it should be a quick bus ride on the 70. Reach out to Brent Williams at brent.williams333@gmail.com for the specific location or if you have any questions.
Book Club. Stephanie Pommer leads our book club for Grace. The next book is The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings. Future titles include: The Good Rain: Across Time & Terrain in the Pacific Northwest by Timothy Egan, and Little Eyes by Samantha Schweblin. To join, email Stephanie at stephanie@graceseattle.org.
GraceLife Distribution List. GraceLife (gracelifeseattle@googlegroups.com) is an email group designed to foster spontaneous generosity and hospitality among anyone and everyone who regularly attends Grace. The distribution list allows anyone who signs up to send out an email to the larger group. It is designed to be used to let others know about a party you’d like to invite others to join, a game night you’d like to host, a request to borrow something, a post to give goods away, a need you’d like to ask for help from the larger group, etc. If you are interested in joining, please email Nicole.
Listening Prayer (Lectio Divina) at The Layne. A small group that meets with the intention of building a community around the Word of God. We are currently praying through Scripture that is focused on heaven. For more information about Listening Prayer go to www.soulcareseattle.com. Meetings are at 7pm at The Layne. RSVP to Shelly Morse at shelly@soulcareseattle.com if you plan to attend a meeting: September 22; October 27; November 17; December 14; January 26; February 16; March 23; April 20; May 18.
Half-day Retreat schedule at the Layne.(Saturdays, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM) 2022: September 24, Oct 1, Oct 22, Nov 19, Dec 3, Dec 10 2023: Jan 14, Jan 28, Feb 11, Feb 25th, March 4, March 18, April 8, April 22, May 6, May 20
These retreats are available to those who would like to experience silence & prayer in community. You will start, and end, as a larger group, but then you will have personal time to do any of the following: contemplate the prayers and writings that are given to you, walk in the beautiful parks around The Layne, or rest on the porch or other areas in the house. We want to invite you to join us - even make a practice of joining us - as we face together the fears of solitude, stillness, and silence and say "yes" to Jesus' invitation to rest - to be at peace, and know yourself as his beloved.
Weekend Silent Retreats. November 4-6, 2022 and February 24 – 26, 2023
The weekend Silent Retreat tradition continues! These retreats are our opportunity to rest in the beauty and quiet of Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center, to seek the face of God, and find yourselves held in Jesus' loving gaze. This is good for the soul. Really good! Participants will meet one-on-one with our retreat leaders on Saturday and Sunday as a way to check in, see how the retreat is going, and to provide prayer materials for your retreat. There are trails nearby, amazing views of Puget Sound, warm fireplaces, and your own bedroom/bathroom for your privacy and relaxation.
"God never tires of giving, nor can He exhaust His mercies. Let us not tire of receiving." St Teresa of Avila
Register early as space is limited and often fills up! We have 8 spots available Cost: $250.00 Scholarships are available Deadlines: For November 4-6, 2022 – please register by October 16 2022 For February 24-26, 2023 – register anytime, but no later than February 4 2023 To register: Email Nicole@graceseattle.org; For questions: Email: renee@graceseattle.org
Serve
MinistrySafe Training for all Child and Youth Volunteers. For all our child and youth volunteers (and to anyone interested in volunteering) and all leaders at Grace, the Diocese of C4SO requires we all participate in Sexual Abuse Awareness Training. This is available to us from our Diocese for free through MinstrySafe where a personalized link to the training videos and quiz is available. If you are a children's volunteer or leader at Grace and have not yet received a personalized link to participate in this training, please email Miss Linn (linn@graceseattle.org.) We need to have completed the videos by the end of September. Thank you!
Livestream Tech Volunteers Needed. Andy Maier, who has faithfully led our livestream efforts, will be taking some much-needed paternity leave at the end fo the month. In order to keep our livestream available every week, we are in immediate need of several volunteers. It's a great crew and a wonderful way to serve the church. Please contact Jess for more information.
Breakfast Sandwiches for Unsheltered Teens at New Horizons. New Horizons Ministries has a request of partnership for Grace Church Seattle.
“We are looking for small groups to prepare breakfast sandwiches once a week. Ideally, a group would come in on a Monday or Tuesday morning (9:30 AM – 1:00 PM) for 2- 3 hours. They would prepare 80 – 100 breakfast sandwiches, pack them, and then put them in the freezer and refrigerator. We are looking to start making the breakfast sandwiches in April.”
We are asking groups to provide the eggs, cheese, sausage patties, and English muffins. New Horizons would provide all the spices for groups to use. Volunteers must have their Washington State Food Handler’s Permit, ($10 fee). The Serving the City team is working to also partner with other churches for this effort. If you have any interest or questions, please email Rebecca Ifland at rebecca@graceseattle.org.
New Horizons Youth Shelter has an opportunity for meals to be prepared and delivered once or twice a month for the youth that utilizes their services. Prepared meals would need to feed 40 youth (teenaged to young 20-year-olds) in family-style containers. If you are interested in supporting this opportunity please reach out to Rebecca Ifland at rebecca@graceseattle.org.
Blessings to you, Grace Office
Weekly Calendar at a Glance Sun 9/11, Christian Formation - 9AM; Worship - 10:15 AM