Dear Friends,

I have enjoyed the fun and thoughtfulness that came from the idea of being superheroes in Sunday’s sermon – Peter Parker and Spiderman. We are people of miracle and as we lean in, we may be surprised at all we know and experience. This coming Sunday we will be further informed about this Christian life as ‘superheroes.’ Sunday is our last Sunday in this lectionary year as we near Advent and is referred to as Christ the King Sunday. There are lots of ideas of Kingship, eternal life and destiny provided for us through God’s love and power, and our participation as people of a Kingdom.

As you may have realized, this superhero metaphor is helpful – we are a new creation in Christ, we live forever and nothing can change that – but it breaks down if we hyper focus on it. Our lives are not that simple. Though superheroes life is hard and we struggle. Putting real life next to this metaphor might be disheartening. As I have pondered this a bit I am reminded of the movie Under the Tuscan Sun from a while back. There is a scene where Diane Lane’s character, a recently divorced writer who has relocated to Italy, is trying to figure out how to best approach writing. She is looking for inspiration…what is the one thing? She is musing - which we so often do: What is the one thing that I must do or be about? Her new friend, Fefe, responds with a quote from Federico Fellini. She prefaces with the idea that you are not going to get this if you focus on one thing: finding the one thing. Then the quote: “you have to live spherically, in many directions.” Our journey is personally satisfying and contributes to others as it is about many things, not one thing.

Living spherically in many directions may feel like a counter-intuitive approach to our faith and life. However, we do it all the time, every day – consider just one day in your week and the demands and ‘hats’ you wore. Each day is about so much. The variety of flavors call for varieties of response. We may need time to focus on discipline, rest, asking for help, welcoming circumstances, offering forgiveness, receiving peace and joy and much more as we move through each day. We are about so much, and God is about so much.

This Christian life is one of miracle and connected to our expectations as we live it. We must note expectations are different from effort. This Christian life does not hinge on effort. We are people of grace. People of faith. Thanks be to God. This means we soar as superheroes, pull up our bootstraps as we are able, ask for and receive help and support from one another and bask in revelations of God’s love, grace, and empowerment.

Thanks be to God for this spherical Christian life. May we expect much from our God of extravagant love and power.

Peace,

Lisa+

Collect for Easter Day Book of Common Prayer, p. 282

O God, Stir up in your Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Join Us Sunday!

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

Our Pre-K– 6^th Grade.

Youth Chapel

9:45 - 10:30 a.m. Sunday School for Kindergarten- 5th Grade, in the Sunday School Rooms

Turkey Cookie Sale

(proceeds go to Adopt A Family Project)

Adult Formation | 9:00 a.m. | LaVielle Room 
Sunday - Advent - history & practice

November 30 - Wreath making in Albright.

December 7 - Promise & Repentance

December 14 - Desperation and Hope

December 21 - Preparation and Provision 

Pick up Choir

Our Choir is beginning to sing with our hymns. We invite you, if you have interest in 'trying on’ the choir, to come at 9:40 a.m. to the choir stalls to meet with the choir and our organist. No robing needed. Casual, fun, and contributing to the liturgy as we worship God together.

Children, Youth and Families Corner



There are lots of opportunity for youth and families to get involved in the coming weeks of Advent. See all the details and dates below. If you have any questions please contact Rev. Erin.

November 30, Advent 1

10:00 a.m. -Youth-led Service. Now recruiting for children and youth readers, prayers, ushers, greeters, and coffee hour helpers! Contact Erin SOON if your young people want to help!

Advent Wreath Making after each service. Activity for all ages!

December 7, Advent 2

9:45 - 10:30 a.m. Sunday School for

Kindergarten- 5th Grade, in the Sunday School Rooms.

Mark Your Calendars for Advent

November 30  

Wreath Making and Meaning Making in the Parish Hall after each service.

December 3  
We will have our last Wednesday gathering for dinner and discussion of the book Convictions by Marcus Borg. 6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. (donations for dinner please). We will discuss concepts from this book and you are welcome to join if you have or haven’t read the book. Please RSVP to office@gracekirkwood.org

December 6

Cookie Sale & Jewelry Boutique 9:00 a.m. to noon.

December 7 

Advent 2 Formation Hour: Promise & Repentance. 
St. Nicks Day! Special visitor at the 10:00 a.m. Service.

December 14  

Advent 3 Formation Hour: Desperation & Hope

December 21 
Advent 4 Formation Hour: Preparation & Provision. Let us Go, an Intergenerational Advent evening program everyone of all ages is welcome. 5:00p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Cookie and Jewelry Sale

It’s that cookie time of year again! Our Grace youth are planning the December 6 Cookie Sale at the Grace Cookie and Jewelry Sale. We’re hoping you’ll bake some Christmas-themed cookies for us (six dozen or so). This year, the proceeds will be split between KIRKCARE and KSD NOW Cookie drop off is Friday, December 5, preferably between 6:00 p.m.-8:00p.m.. To SIGN UP, please click here (preferred) or sign up in Albright Hall.

The Grace Jewelry/Christmas Boutique is better than ever and is part of the Holiday Cookie Sale. Please donate jewelry and anything Christmas—from ornaments to tins. Contributions can be dropped off in the box labeled Jewelry/Christmas Boutique in Albright Hall before Sunday, November 30.

Thank you very much for your ongoing support!🎄

Altar Flowers

The following are dates still available for sponsorship: November 30, December 14 and 21.

Help us adorn our worship space by sponsoring altar flowers. Please sign up for a Sunday on the bulletin board in Albright Parish 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

Get Ready! Get Set! Get Knitting!



The time to donate our knitted items is approaching in a few weeks. Get your knitting needles or crochet hooks, or even needles and thread, ready to help us gather a sizable amount of scarves, hats, socks, mittens and gloves. We will donate them at Christmas-time to those who are out in the cold. If you need yarn, there is a huge supply in the LaVielle Room closet. Help yourself. Thanks to all who are helping. If anyone would enjoy a gathering of knitters, to knit and visit, on a regular basis, please get in touch with Susie Reis: susan.s.reis@gmail.com.

Diocese Events

The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 29

November 23, 2025

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 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, November 23

Holy Eucharist 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. / Nave

Coffee Hour following both services in Albright Hall

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

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

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

Tuesday, November 25

Holy Eucharist 12:10 p.m. / Nave

Wednesday, November 26

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

St. Dunstan Handbells  4:00 p.m. / Nave
First Wednesdays (Chapter 5-7) 6:00 p.m. / Lavielle Room

All Saints Handbells 7:15 p.m. / Nave

Thursday, November 27 
Happy Thanksgiving!!

Office Closed

Friday, November 28
Office Closed

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