Dear Grace family,  

The joy of resurrection that we celebrated on Easter can give way to a Monday morning and a week that feels just as normal as ever. Or, as hopeless as ever. Where is the beauty of the empty tomb, now? How do I reconcile the choir’s songs, the renewal of my baptismal vows, the seeing of friends and family – with my mad dash for work, for children who may or may not have strep throat (they don’t, as it turns out), and the mundane and outrageous that show up at least by Tuesday. In a sentence – where is the resurrection now?  

Perhaps the real question is, Where is Jesus now?, and such exciting things will be explored in the following weeks when we watch Jesus show up in the locked room and at the seashore. But as for my life, and the life of my family – where? And how? This takes more attention to detail, and what is prayer or the spiritual life if not the practice of listening to the details of our average day?  

In lieu of extravagant Easter baskets this year, we chose instead to gift our children with what every child wants on Easter morning – a compost bin. This was the best illustration I could come up with of what resurrection means, on a day to day basis. We crack eggs to make a cake or to scramble, we peel carrots and potatoes, and we dump the leftovers of our coffee grounds into a tumbling black bin. These our scraps, the leftovers, the would-be-rubbish, take some time resting and breaking down. We throw a few worms in there to speed up the process. And as the sun hits the edges and warms its insides, the old food turns into rich and nutrient dense soil. I look forward to next spring, when these our old dinners and celebrations will be sprinkled on top of our garden beds, becoming, of course, the most perfect context for seeds of brand new food to grow.  

You know how this works – it’s Gardening 101 and Faith 101. Heather Zydek writes, “To most folks, piles of rotting food scraps and decaying yard waste may conjure images of death and decay. But if you think about it, composting is really about turning death into life. And in this sense, it is a kind of icon of the resurrection and the ultimate reminder of God’s grace.”  

As Mary saw Jesus resurrected in a garden and a graveyard, may we too see resurrection in the places we look that seem to reek with hopelessness and death. What for you is decaying that you wish to see resurrected into new life? What have you thrown out that is actually meant for the holy compost bin? 

Life and grace to you this Easter season,  

Rev. Erin 

Choir and Altar Guild

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Choir and Altar Guild for their faithful service during Holy Week and Easter. Your dedication, whether through music or the preparation of our altar and nave, enriched these sacred days. We are truly grateful for your devotion to the church community!

Join Us Sunday!

Sunday School | 9:45 a.m. | Lower Level

Our Pre-K– 6^th Grade.

Adult Formation | 9:00 a.m. | Library 

4/19: Documents & Decision Seminar - see below
4/26: Resurrection - why do I care?

Mark Your Calendars

Documents & Decisions Seminar

Sunday, April 19 at 9:00 a.m. “Understanding basic estate planning techniques and what is right for you,” will be presented by Commerce Bank. Commerce Trust manages our Endowment Funds, and the presenter is Brian Vomun, Senior Vice President, Commerce, Trust Company. Included in the discussion: wills, trust, power of attorney, healthcare directives, and what happens if we do not have a will or trust. Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD’s) and Individual Retirement Account (IRA's) will be included in the discussion.  

Grace on the Go! 
April 21 we will meet at KPAC, 210 East Monroe, 63122, for one of their coffee concerts, performer Erin Bode, known for her Folksy, Jazzy, and Pop music. The concert starts at 10:30, but doors open at 9:30 with free coffee and donuts.

The tickets are $20 paid beforehand, placed in a special envelope located by the sign up sheet and then put in the box by the mailboxes. Lunch is at Cafe Provençal 12:30.

 Manna Bags

Join us at another Manna bag packing event for unhoused St. Louisans between services on May 17 in Albright Hall. Bring your own contributions of snacks and/or personal care items, or simply help us pack Grace's items. Please email Stephanie Prewitt at stephanienolte@yahoo.com for more information.  

Children, Youth and Families

• Formation offered this Sunday for K-5, 9:45 - 10:30 a.m. In the lower level
  
• Youth @ Grace this Sunday! 5:00-6:30 p.m., in Youth Room. RSVP is helpful but not required! Come hungry - we'll have dinner, play games, do Bible study and compline. Welcome to all 6th-12th graders! Bring a friend! Youth @ Grace is also on May 10th, with more regular dates starting in September. 

Rite of Reconciliation/Confession

The clergy are available for confession. Please contact The Rev. Lisa or The Rev. Erin directly to make an appt. There is an assuring and comforting Rite of Reconciliation in our Book of Common Prayer. “The Reconciliation of a Penitent is available for all who desire it. It is not restricted to times of sickness. Confessions may be heard anytime and anywhere” (p. 446). Beautifully, clergy approach hearing confession as not normally a matter of subsequent discussion and with morally absolute secrecy. 

Altar Flowers

Help us adorn our worship space by sponsoring altar flowers. Please sign up for a Sunday on the bulletin board in Albright Hall. Your donation can be made in memory of a loved one or in celebration of a special occasion. Please contact Kirkwood Florist for payment. (314) 965-8440

Coffee Hour

The Sign Up Genius for Coffee Hour is now posted online. There are lots of empty spaces that need filling for people to host Coffee Hour. Check it out!

Alert Knitters!! 

Hi, Great Knitters!! You have donated quite a collection of beautiful items for donation. Keep it coming. We can produce some wonderful hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, etc. for those who are out in the cold. If anyone would like to get together for a knitting group, sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board just above the basket. Remember there is plenty of yarn to use in the closet in the LaVielle Room.

Second Sunday of Easter

April 12, 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.

Hunger Barrel Items Needed

Please remember our neighbors in need. Drop your non-perishable food items in Grace’s red hunger barrel in the narthex each Sunday. Your donations are distributed through food pantries at KirkCare and Trinity Episcopal Church.

You can collect these unused items for Trinity Food Pantry. Then, when you return to Grace, deposit your bag in the marked box in the parish hall.

This Week at Grace

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

Choir Practice 7:00 p.m. / Choir Room


Sunday, April 12

Holy Eucharist 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. / Nave
Coffee hour following each Service

Gloria Deo Handbells 11:20 a.m. / Nave

Tuesday, April 14

Holy Eucharist 9:30 a.m. / Chapel

Book Group 10:00 a.m. / LaVielle Room

Wednesday, April 15

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

St. Dunstan Handbells  4:00 p.m. / Nave

All Saints Handbells 7:15 p.m. / Nave 

Thursday, April 16

Morning Prayer 9:30 a.m. / Chapel

Choir Practice 7:00 p.m. / Choir room

Our Prayer list requests and updates should be e-mailed to the parish office. Names will be left on the prayer list for one month unless the parish office is notified.

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.

Quick Links:

Grace Church Website

Grace Church Photo Gallery

Grace Church Prayer List

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

The Episcopal Church

The Anglican Communion

Episcopal News Service

Grace Episcopal Church

514 East Argonne Drive

314-821-1806  

http://www.gracekirkwood.org