Dear Friends,

As we approach our celebration of St Francis Day on Sunday, I have been enjoying looking at Francis’ life and commitments. Francis’ life reflects a steady reverence expressed through decisive action. As a young man, he served as a soldier and spent a year as a prisoner of war—an experience that changed his life. He became ill during his captivity, and while recovering, he had a vision calling him to a “new kind of knighthood.” He then devoted intentional time to solitude and prayer.

Francis’ life may inform us – he was in a time of upheaval politically, socially, and through sickness, physically. A response, maybe one of many, was to turn to solitude and prayer. A form of prayer either alone or corporately that can be helpful to us when we suffer and things are hard around us politically or socially can be Centering Prayer. Centering prayer is an approach to silent meditation that Thomas Keating, a Trappist Monk (i.e., committed to silence) labeled in the 1970’s.

Centering Prayer emphasizes letting go of thoughts, feelings, and images to open the mind and heart to divine action. It is a Christian contemplative tradition. There are a few guidelines for Centering Prayer that are simple and helpful. The first is to choose a sacred word or a phrase. This is something that can be repeated as needed as a signal, a reminder of what we are doing. The suggestion for approaching Centering Prayer is to sit comfortably with your eyes closed and silently speak your sacred word. As we sit there are four tethers:

Resist no thought,

Retain no thought,

React to no thought,

Return to your secret word.

What is beautiful about this is that we may become aware of what is on our minds or what we are feeling. And we start over (and over) using our sacred word. A part of what is so helpful about centering prayer is that it is not a time of solving anything or making a to do list or even praying about anything - it is the discipline of letting go and coming to understand what is occupying our mind and heart as we sit in God’s presence.

So, probably a little sideways, as we consider Saint Francis let us consider the fruitfulness of contemplation, of creation around us and discover the more of God and ourselves.

Peace,

Lisa+

A Prayer attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, p. 833

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Join Us Sunday!

Sunday School | 9:55 a.m. | Lower Level

Our Pre-K– 6^th Grade

Adult Formation | 9:00 a.m. | Albright Hall

No formation hour this week
October 11 - Spirituality 101

Mark your Calendars

Hands On Kirkwood

This Saturday, October 3. Grace is hosting lunch for all volunteers from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. If you would like to volunteer as a greet, host and set up and clean up please contact Rev. Erin.

Confirmation and Reaffirmation Prep 
This Sunday, October 4 & 18 after 10:00 a.m. Service in the LaVielle Room. Adults and Youth welcome

St. Francis Day and Blessing of the Animals 
This Sunday, October 4, 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - All animals are welcome to our drive-thru blessing in the circle drive of the church! With pup cups!

Children are invited to bring their stuffed animal friends to morning services to be blessed.

Trunk or Treat 
 Sunday, October 25th, you are invited to our an Trunk or Treat event at Grace, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. rain or shine! There is a sign up sheet in Albright Hall to host a trunk and there is a tote for candy donations. Our evening together includes dinner, pumpkin carving, and finishes with a Trunk or Treat event in the parking lot. For all ages! This is a perfect opportunity to bring your friends and family. Send questions to Erin!

Diocesan Convention

Saturday, November 14th is our annual convention, all are invited to our Saturday offerings. There will be a worship service, lunch, and workshops. Our convocation, Emery Washington, is providing leadership for the worship service: torch bearers, readers, ushers, hosts, intercessors. Please consider coming to the day and signing to participate with the link below.

Sign up for fall 2026 coffee hour - 10:00 a.m. service

Children, Youth and Families

• Sunday School is available from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., in the lower level classrooms, for K-5th grade. 

• Our nursery is available during our 10:00 a.m. Service for newborns - preschoolers.

• YAG (Youth at Grace) is on the first three Sundays of the month, 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. in the Youth Room. YAG is for all middle and high school students (6th - 12^th grade). This week (10/4) - please arrive at 4:30 pm if you want to help with Pet Blessings!

• I am currently now recruiting 5 - 6 youth to help with Hands On Kirkwood lunch set up and clean up this Saturday, October 3rd. Will be roughly 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Please contact me soon to book your spot!

• Please make sure to grab our program year brochure for all things children, youth and family related - dates, time, and lots of information!

• 10/4 - Volunteers Team Meeting (for children and youth roles) in the Youth Room after the 10:00 a.m. Service. 

• Looking ahead - Please invite your friends to join us for our epic Trunk or Treat evening, 10/26, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Sign up to host a trunk or drop off candy donations in Albright Hall!

• **Are you wondering how to support our children and youth program? Please reach out to Erin to see how you can help!

If you are a family at Grace with babies, children or youth, please take some time to get on Erin's Family E-News which comes out weekly!
 Email erin.pickersgill@gracekirkwood.org

Knitting Ministry

It's time to start knitting again!!! We are getting close to the time we donate our knitted goods (hats, scarves, mittens, etc. - all sizes) to those who need to keep warm in the winter. Please put your finished goods in the basket on the black cart by the bulletin board in the parish hall. Thanks for your beautiful work and your time.

-The Knitting Committee

All are welcome by Kirkwood Social Justice Coalition to their Immigration Justice Summit on October 6 at Kirkwood United Methodist Church.

Saint Francis of Assisi

October 4, 2026

8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.



You may also join us at 10 a.m. through Facebook @GraceChurchKirkwood

or on our webpage at www.GraceKirkwood.org

Nursery Sunday hours are 8:45 a.m until 11:15 a.m. each Sunday.

Thursday, October 1
Morning Prayer 9:30 a.m. / Chapel 


Sunday, October 4
Holy Eucharist 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. / Nave

Blessing of stuffed animals during the 10:00 a.m. Service

Coffee hour following both services

Sunday School (K-5) 10:00-10:30 a.m. / Lower level

Confirmation and Reaffirmation Prep after 10:00 a.m. Service / LaVielle Room

Gloria Deo Handbell Rehearsal 11:15 a.m. / Nave

Drive-thru Blessing of the Animals 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. / Circle Drive

Youth at Grace 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. / Youth Room


Tuesday, October 6

Holy Eucharist 9:30 a.m. / Chapel
Grace on the Go – see above for details

Wednesday, October 7

Men's Breakfast 8:00 a.m. / Spencer's Grill

St. Dunstan Handbell Rehearsal 4:15 p.m. / Nave

All Saints Handbell Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. / Nave


Thursday, October 8

Morning Prayer 9:30 a.m. / Chapel

Mission Statement

Wherever you are on your spiritual journey,

Grace Church welcomes you as we follow Jesus together through a life of worship, love, and action.

Our Core Values

Worship: We believe worship is the heart of the church, shaping and connecting us with one another and God. In our Christ-centered worship and sacrament, we learn and grow spiritually.

Love: We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, where each person is seen, heard, valued, and accepted.

Action: Service within and beyond our parish enriches our faith, strengthens our community, and keeps us relevant as we spread the word of God.

The iMessenger is a weekly publication of Grace Church. If you have information you would like included, please contact the church office by Wednesday before noon.

 Office@GraceKirkwood.org 

Grace Episcopal Church

514 East Argonne Drive

314-821-1806  

www.gracekirkwood.org