Dear Friends,

What a strange and may challenging week it has been! Snow, cold, news headlines and more. In this time of daily living and larger lens awareness we may be struck at the importance of both the mundane and the gravity of events. We are shoveling snow, attending to pipes not bursting, and keeping a gaze on the ‘more’ around us. As we do this, we are reminded that both are important.

Into this mundane and weightiness, we find ourselves in the lectionary last week hearing about conflict and this week we will hear about seeking right relating with God, self, and others. Our Old Testament lesson Sunday is Micah 6:1-8, verse 8 holds a remembrance amid crisis of how to do life: “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.” Heavy lifting and life changing. This “aha” in the passage nudges us further to the integration of faith to happenings around us. What does it look like to bring our faith and news together? Where is the Kingdom of God and what does justice and loving kindness look like? These are not easy questions.

An aspect of integration of faith currently is bringing the news of Alex Pretti’s murder (after just taking in Renee Good’s murder) and our Christian worldview together. There is a plethora of ways to consider murder, life, death, and violence in scripture and throughout history. I would like to suggest a simple lens of reflection in approach. We as humans are made in God’s image. We reflect who God is, show who God is simply by existing. I suggest a part of the horror and overwhelmed response to murder and violence is the reality that every assault on another is an attack on the image of God. When someone dies a violent death a part of the gasp for us, in addition to the person harmed or killed, is some guttural awareness of the significance of God’s image, God, being attacked.

How do we respond? First, we may grieve. Perhaps we slow down – the weather this week helped facilitate this. Perhaps we pray, get a cup of tea, maybe cry or stare at the wall (or shovel snow). We also seek out and respond with others. We are not alone. We bear tragedy together. And we are about the kingdom. We “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.” Carol Dempsey, scholar and author, in writing on this Micah passage, asserts, “justice is a transformative virtue that seeks to establish or restore community, while aiming to balance personal good with the common good.” We grieve, but we act. We build the kingdom of God. Let us consider how to be Kingdom people in this time.

Peace,

Lisa+

Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer p. 823

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Join Us Sunday!

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

Our Pre-K– 6^th Grade.

Adult Formation | 9:00 a.m. | LaVielle Room  

2/1: Annual meeting

2/8: Lent – what then shall we do? 

2/15: Heaven – what do we think?  

2/22: Heaven- what do we know? 
3/1: Heaven - what does it make us want to do?
3/8: Burial and funeral planning 

Children, Youth & Family Corner

• Please pray for Erin and three youth who are on a Winter Youth Retreat with other Episcopal churches this weekend: Felicity, Ben and Lou

• Buy your tickets for the Elegant Italian Dinner, Feb 7th. Youth invited to contact Dianne Casey 314-604-7606 to volunteer for the fundraiser. 

• Sunday School Teacher Meeting - Feb 15 after the 10 a.m. Service

• Feb 15 - All ages welcome to make Manna Bags between services in the Albright Hall!

• "Youth @ Grace" is an evening for 6-12th graders at Grace! A new initiative! Sunday, Feb 15, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Contact Erin to RSVP.

• Tuesday, Feb 17 - all age Pancake Dinner! 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. 

• Wednesday, Feb 18 - Ashes to Go and Ash Wednesday service (7 p.m.), an important kick off to Lent

Manna Bags – Showing Loving Kindness

We hear of God’s provision of manna in the Old Testament when Israel was in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. The people were hungry and manna fell from heaven. The word manna in the Greek literally means, “What is this?” Kind of humorous. They found it. Wondered. Then they ate it and it tasted like honey wafers. God provided for the people in all the ways as they wandered in the wilderness – individually, corporately, supplying food while also nourishing them spiritually.

We at Grace together will pack some manna bags to give away to those needing immediate relief. We see many of these people at stops signs and exit ramps throughout the city. We are seeking to help others – to practice lovingkindness and reach for justice in a small way. We will pack one gallon Ziplock bags on Sunday, February 15^th in between services. Our hope is to have an intergenerational experience to gain a vision for simple and important ways we can help others. These bags once packed will be kept in the foyer of the church and can be picked up to keep in our cars. As we run out, we can restock our cars. We will cyclically need to pack more bags (what a great problem).

For this first time out, we are buying supplies and asking for our donations. We will fill the bags with healthy ready-to-eat snacks: granola or protein bars, ready-to-eat snacks, and water bottles. Additionally, we will pack hygiene products: toothbrushes, baby wipes, ChapStick, tissues. Since we are in the freezing days of winter, we will also seek hand warmers. 

Mark Your Calendars

Annual Meeting

This Sunday, February 1, only one service at 9:00 a.m. see details below.

Grace on the Go

Thursday, February 5, takes us to a place we love, the History Museum. We will take a tour to a place many of us have never heard of Mill Creek: Black Metropolis. It was the rise in St. Louis as a focal point of middle class Black Life. Vashon High School was founded, Jazz and Ragtime music flourished, where many artists like Scott Joplin and Tom Turpin lived. Come see artifacts and find out more about these 454 acres of history.

Tour is $5 each. After the tour we will have lunch at Pietros 11:45 a.m.

Meet at the church at 9:15 if you want a ride, otherwise the 1 hour tour starts at 10:00 a.m.


March 12-13 overnight trip to Leavenworth, KS! Details and sign-sheet in Albright Hall.

Elegant Italian Dinner

Tickets are on sale. Saturday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. all proceeds go to support the youth mission trip. See below to purchase tickets.

Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras
We’ll have our annual Pancake Dinner, Tuesday, February 17, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00p.m. followed by pancake relays with prizes and end with the brief evening prayers of Compline from our prayer book.

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday, February 18

7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. & 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
 “Ashes to Go” in the front circle at the Church

7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday liturgy with imposition of ashes and communion. 

Annual Meeting



Grace Episcopal Church's 167th Annual Meeting is this Sunday, February 1.  Each year as we approach the annual meeting, we must, according to our bylaws, not only announce the annual meeting is coming but also announce nominees for vestry elections as transitions are taking place. As I mentioned before, the vestry has been looking at our bylaws with the intention of updating and providing greater clarity. As we have done this, we have fallen into some wonderful conversations about vestry size. I have also mentioned before there is no prescription through the Episcopal Church nationally or by diocese on what necessitates vestry size. This is discovered by each parish.

Currently we are having three people roll off an 11-member vestry. Our bylaws state the vestry may vary from 3 to 13 members. This allows for discernment in an ongoing way, likely informed by the needs and size of the church, for what the best size for the vestry is to contribute to the management of the church. In our discussions we landed on going back to a size that existed previously: an 8-member vestry. This takes us back to previous practice, but it also continues to allow our current parish size to have more than adequate representation and ability to carry out church management. Additionally, I see a strength of going to this smaller size once again to perhaps alleviate what may be for some a sense of volunteer fatigue. We are lifting our recruitment of volunteers with a heavy time commitment which may allow for some to have breathing room as they have been involved with vestry over the years while also perhaps providing greater energy for volunteering in other directions of ministry in and through the church. What we will be doing as we approach the annual meeting, as we have been talking about and you have seen in the iMessengers is to nominate delegates for diocesan level leadership. You will be hearing more through the nomination committee. Please consider getting involved!

This Sunday we will have one service at 9:00 a.m. followed by the meeting in the parish hall - along with a light breakfast. 

Please note: This meeting is the only all-congregation gathering of the year where we reflect on 2025 and plan for 2026. This includes budget, programming, challenges, and hopes. We hope to see you there! 

Lent possibilities for as formation commitments – Let’s Pick One – Wednesdays in Lent

I have found myself torn in three directions after I quickly moved in one – isn’t that how it goes? I thought it might help to invite you into the options we have. What tugs you this Lent?

We could meet to discuss - There are many difficult things that stir us in lots of directions these days. During Lent we will use a book as a springboard and look at difficulty and conflict in scripture. We will seek to equip ourselves further in listening, handling fear, and anger, while we honor our authenticity and faith

convictions. The book is How to Have That Difficult Conversation by Cloud and Townsend if you are interested in ordering it.

Or – we could take 4 weeks to meet utilizing Hanna Reichel’s book: For Such as Time as This: An Emergency Devotional. This book offers perspective and inspiration. Mariann Edgar Budde describes it as a “daily vitamin for our soul making us stronger.” The book is formatted topically: gathering, listening and responding, communion, and sending. These reflect the movement of our Sunday liturgy.

Or- we could take Wednesdays to discuss Mariann Edgar Budde’s recent work, How we Learn to be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith. This book is described by The Rev. Dr. Kemper as offering “excellent guidelines for helping not just individuals but congregations and communities learn about bravery and courage, especially in time of polarization and transition.” Mariann Edgar Budde is the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D.C. She is a sought-after speaker and writer.

Please talk to me, text me, email me and let me know what tugs you for Lent. I am also open to this group experience meeting over zoom if that makes it more accessible for people.

Thanks for helping us discover our Lenten Journey!

Lisa+

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

A Call for Nursery Volunteers

We are currently recruiting volunteers to help in our nursery during our Sunday Services. This is a wonderful way to serve the families that come to Grace. Please reach out to Lisa or Erin if you are interested in this important role. Please note that all nursery volunteers are required to complete a background check and the Diocesan Safe Church, Safe Communities training.

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!! 

We donated the wonderful items everyone knit at Christmas time. Now it's time to start collecting again! Remember that there is a HUGE quantity of yarn in the Lavielle Room closet, all donated for this purpose. Take what you need and bring us some lovingly made warm items. Thanks to all!

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

February 1, 2026

9:00 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 and the Person to Person Street Ministry to give to the unhoused. Then, when you return to Grace, deposit your bag in the marked box in the parish hall.

This Week at Grace

Sunday, February 1

Holy Eucharist 9:00 a.m. / Nave
Annual Meeting 10:00 a.m. / Albright Hall 
Gloria Deo Handbells 11:20 a.m. / Nave

Tuesday, February 3

Holy Eucharist 9:30 a.m. / Chapel
Graceful Gathering of Women 10:00 a.m. / LaVielle Room


Wednesday, February 4

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, February 5

Morning Prayer 9:30 a.m. / Chapel

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