Happy Halloween! We wish everyone a safe Halloween filled with fun, family, and plenty of treats. As we welcome November, don’t forget that Daylight Saving Time comes to an end this weekend. Remember to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday night and enjoy the extra hour of sleep!

Dear Friends,

I wanted to write about two new things we are adding to our regular offerings at Grace. I mentioned these during announcements last Sunday. Our hope is to contribute to our formation, while also offering more direct information and allowing for more conversation.

Beginning this Sunday, we will start having a Rector’s Forum on each first Sunday of the month. These will, like our Summer Sunday Conversations did over the summer, take place in the parish hall. We hope you make plans to join us. We also want to announce on the second Tuesday of the month we will offer anointing with oil and prayers for healing at our 9:30 a.m. spoken Holy Eucharist service in the chapel downstairs.

Anointing with oil is a meaningful action. We are coming to God and God is coming to us. We respond in need to God as we come and the oil is a sacramental symbol God’s healing grace the Holy Spirit’s presence. Remember a sacrament is something familiar God uses to show God’s self to us or transform us. This is not a sacrament, but it does use something blessed and familiar as a means of grace – showing us God’s presence and power to heal: sacramental or sacrament-ish. Additionally, in this brief spoken service (30-40 minutes) in lieu of the prayers of the people we will offer The Litany for Healing from the Book of Occasional Services, an authorized companion volume to the Book of Common Prayer. Its latest edition was 2022. This is a brief and meaningful litany covering all the kinds of aspects of help and healing we need as humans.

Our lives are always full of challenges and surprises; life is often hard and our days are full personally, nationally, and globally with a lot to process. These stops in the week – each Tuesday the Holy Eucharist, the first Tuesday Eucharist with healing prayers and anointing, Thursday morning prayer – each at 9:30 a.m. in the chapel - may be a buoy of spiritual connection as we seek to hold the connection to God and one another, we find on Sunday mornings.

Consider joining or creating another strategy in your schedule to connect to God and others during the week – it makes all the difference.

Peace,

Lisa

Closing Collect Litany of Healing Book of Occasional Services

Open us to your healing power, O God. We entrust ourselves to your care, knowing that you are doing for us and for all the world far better things than we can ask or imagine. With you as our companion and guide, strengthen us to hope for all that is good, and to fear no evil. For your love is stronger than death, and your faithfulness reaches to the heavens; and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Charitable Giving 


There are many ways to make gifts to charities, from the typical means of giving cash, writing a check or putting it on a credit card. But there are a number of ways to make charitable gifts that might be more tax efficient. Over the next several weeks we will cover a number of such strategies.

Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from an IRA – This strategy is only available to individuals that are 70 ½ years old or older and have an IRA account. A QCD is a direct, tax free transfer of funds from an IRA (funds must go straight from your IRA to the charity) to a qualified charitable organization. For 2026, the maximum annual QCD limit is $111,000 per individual to qualified charitable organizations. You will not be able to itemize a QCD as a charitable deduction on your tax return, but if you have reached the age for Required Minium Distributions, a QCD counts toward fulfilling that annual requirement.



Please review with your professional advisor which charitable giving strategy might be best for your situation. There might be dollar limits to the strategies that should be discussed with your professional advisor. If you need further information please contact Tim Engelbrecht our treasurer.

Horizons, formerly SPROG honors Sandi Adams

Sandi Adams was presented with the William "Bill" Jones Legacy Award from Horizons at the annual Horizons gala/fundraiser at Greenbriar Country Club last Thursday.

The award recognizes Sandi's many years of service as a volunteer, contributor, and board member to Horizons and the lasting positive effect she has had on the lives of underserved children and youth within the Kirkwood R-7 School District area. 

We are so grateful for Sandi & John Adams and all they contribute to Grace and beyond.

Join Us Sunday!

Birthday and Anniversary Blessings - during both services.

Blessing Our Knitting

This coming Sunday, being All Saints Day, is the Sunday we are blessing all the beautiful and warm knitted items that so many have contributed to our Knitting Ministry. The talent and generosity of many will be on display on the Communion rail for both services. Thank you to all who participated, either by actually creating the hats, gloves and scarves, or by donating the yarn for others to use.

This year the pieces will be going to Kirk Care for their holiday “market” to help people stay warm over the winter. We will start again right away to make things for next year. You can find all the yarn you need in the closet in the LaVielle Room at the end of the hall. Thank you again for your hard work and beautiful crafting!

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

Our Pre-K– 6^th Grade

Adult Formation | 9:00 a.m. | Alrbight Hall
This Sunday is the first Sunday of Rector's Forum

My heart is bursting with gratitude for all the time and work you put in to make our Trunk or Treat 2026 event absolutely AMAZING! 

Thank you for not just bringing your stunning trunks, but for bringing your joy, welcome, and sense of fun and community. Many new families felt the warm welcome of our Grace community. We have much to be grateful for. We are already looking forward to next year! -Erin

Mark your Calendars

Grace on The Go

In honor of the Veterans, we are visiting the WWII National Memorial of Military Accent in Grafton, Thursday, November 5. The Mayor will speak to us about the Memorial at the Visitor Center and then take a little walk to see the Memorial. The visitors center also has some interesting local artifacts.

Lunch will be at Pierre Marquette lodge. They are known for their fried chicken. There are other items offered, of course. 😉

For some of those who are adventurous, you could cross two ferries when you come home otherwise you reverse the route you came out on.

Bishops Visit

Sunday, November 22, one service at 10:00 a.m. - Bishop will meet with Vestry at 8:30 a.m. in LaVielle Room, all are welcome. Bishop to meet with Confirmands at 9:15 am in the Library.

Advent Wreath Making

Sunday, November 22, in Albright Hall at 9:00 a.m. and after combined 10:00 a.m. Service. All are welcome.

Diocesan Convention

Saturday, November 14th is our annual convention. All are invited to our Saturday offerings.

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

Children, Youth and Families

• Thank you for an amazing Trunk or Treat event! 

• Sunday School is available every Sunday from 10:00 - 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 - 6:30 p.m. in the Youth Room. YAG is for all middle and high school students (6th - 12^th grade). This week (11/1)) we will have an exciting evening with games, dinner, discussion and prayer, with a special celebration for All Saints Day!

• Looking ahead: All Age Advent Wreath Making - Sunday, November 22nd, between services in Albright Hall. Cookie & Jewelry Sale - Saturday morning, December 5th, with volunteer opportunities for youth on 12/4 and 12/5. 

• 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

Walking the Mourners Path 
Begins week of November 9th


Walking the Mourners Path is an 8-week small group workshop based Christian grief program. Grief comes from loss in a variety of ways. Loss or separation may be through death, change of relationship, job, housing, finances among other situations or circumstances. We grieve in our now because we love. Grief is love in the now our separation. This group will seek to meet for 8 consecutive weeks while seeking to accommodate schedules.

Contact Lisa by email, text, or phone if you are interested in participating or have any questions: lisa.corry@gracekirkwood.org or 978.590.8382

All Saints' Day

November 1, 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 29
Morning Prayer 9:30 a.m. / Chapel

Sunday, November 1
Holy Eucharist 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. / Nave

Coffee hour following both services
Formation hour 9:00 a.m. / Albright Hall - Rector's Forum

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

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

Youth at Grace 5:00 p.m. / Youth Room


Tuesday, November 3

Holy Eucharist 9:30 a.m. / Chapel - Healing Prayers & Anointing

Wednesday, November 4

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, November 5

Morning Prayer 9:30 a.m. / Chapel
Grace on The Go

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