E-Blast for Friday, December 5, 2025

The Second Sunday
of Advent
The Feast of
Nicholas of Myra

December 7, 2025

7:45 & 10 a.m.
Communion Service

View as Webpage

Preacher:

The Rev. Steve Keplinger

Sermon:

Discerning for Fun and Prophet

Advent & Christmas Season Services

In-person & Live Streamed

Dec. 7, Advent 2 (7:45 & 10 a.m.)

Feast of St. Nicholas

Dec. 7, Longest Night (5 p.m.)

Dec. 14, Advent 3 (7:45 & 10 a.m.)

Feast of La Virgen de Guadalupe

Dec. 21, Advent 4 (** 10 a.m. only **)

Lessons and Carols

Dec. 24th services as follows:

Children’s Christmas Pageant Service (5:00 p.m.)

Music & Carols (8:30 p.m.)

High Christmas Service (9 p.m.)

Dec. 25, Christmas Day Service (** 10 a.m. only **)

Dec. 28, First Sunday of Christmas Service (7:45 & 10 a.m.)

Service of the Longest Night

Sunday, December 7, 2025, 5:00pm

A Service for Those Who Find This Season Difficult

Formally known as our "Blue Christmas" service. For some, memories of past experiences and the pain of present experiences and situations can become overwhelming. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Eve can be very difficult and a reminder of the challenges in our lives.

Join us for a gentle, calming service of healing and reflection where you will be invited to listen, pray, sing and meditate upon the pain and anguish you may carry. We trust you will find hope and comfort in the discovery that
you are not alone.

MIGRATION MONDAYS AT GRACE ST. PAUL'S

1ST AND 3RD Mondays 2:00 P.M. Bloom Room Migration Ministry
in-person meeting for worship, advocacy and other immigrant support.

2ND AND 4TH Mondays 2:00 P.M. Bloom Room Informal discussion of ways GSP members can support immigrants and others suffering from the draconian policies of our current government.

Upcoming Events:

We are called to a be a compassionate community who welcomes all. Whether you have been directly impacted by immigration or have been relatively untouched personally, this is without a doubt one of the most burning issues facing our country at present.

The GSP Migrant Ministry invites you to join us as we explore the personal stories of individuals in our community and grow our awareness of the bigger picture through prayerful consideration, reviewing documentaries and books and other local resources to increase our knowledge.

Meetings will be held on the second Sunday each month between services in the Bloom Room. We will begin at 9:15am on January 11, February 8, March 8, and April 12.

Additionally, on Sunday, December 14 Artisans Beyond Borders will be sponsoring an exciting opportunity to learn more about the culture of a neighboring country. (See the separate notice)

On February 8, join us in McBride Hall for a Migrant Ministries Resource Fair after the 11:30 am service. Focus will be on local activities and resources.

Look for information to come soon about all these upcoming events and, if you would like to suggest materials for consideration or have input into the selected materials, join us in the Bloom Room on Sunday, December 14 at 9:15 to share your thoughts.

Sunday December 14th after both services in Mcbride Hall:

Wendy from Artisans Beyond Borders will be offering affordable handmade gift items in time for Christmas!

Photo: Artisans Beyond Borders at Tucson's Meet Yourself Festival

Historic Organ Returns to Grace St. Paul's!

An organ with history dating back to 1891 at Grace Church/Tucson is back with us! As our grand organ awaits repair after an electrical storm catastrophe, we now have a little organ with quite a history!

For a fascinating read, go to GSP's new redesigned website: https://www.gsptucson.org/history

Dr. Chuck Dickson gives us a short history of each of the eleven U.S. Presidents who were Episcopalian in this Virtual Education Class: https://bit.ly/4pgFxq3

** PLEASE READ **

While will meet on 12/7, we will NOT meet on 12/21 nor on 1/4.

The mission of GSP Faith in Action is to offer personal and spiritual support for those of us who are struggling in the current political climate and to encourage faith-filled and appropriate actions as individuals and in collaboration with other groups. We meet in the Bloom Room on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month from 12-1; please plan to arrive and settle in at 11:55 as we begin with prayer and a period of silence. You are most welcome to join us and/or ask to be placed on our email list. For more information,

contact Elizabeth Jaeger, elizabethjaeger56@gmail.com

Soul Sisters Saturday

Retreat with The Rev. Dr. Delle McCormick

This is not a “Be Happy. Don’t Worry” retreat but rather a “Where do you find joy in your life today?” And “What practices and strategies encourage joy as a spiritual practice?”

Rev. Delle has taught and led retreats in various settings throughout Mexico and the US. In this retreat, she will weave together a Gospel story of a woman’s healing and return to her God-given potential with CAPACITAR* Healing and Transforming Trauma practices, and InterPlay** techniques for finding joy as spiritual practice.

If you need a paper copy of the registration form, please contact Diana.

We look forward to Celebrating Life Together in Community with you!
Soul Sisters Team

If you would like to sign up for a volunteer role to support the Joseph’s Pantry Christmas Party: Please click here to sign up for a volunteer role! This includes set-up, day-of support, and meal preparation. Many hands make light work!

We have also set up an Amazon Wishlist if you would like to contribute items for the giftbags but are unable to get to the tree tags in person.

Grace St. Paul’s “Nurturing the Grieving Heart”
A Virtual Soul Support Group

Six Fridays, January 16^rd – February 20th, 2026
4:00 - 5:30 PM – via ZOOM

Nurturing the Grieving Heart- A Soul Support Group will be a safe place to explore our grief experiences and the potential for spiritual transformation. This group is process-based with guided meditations, prayer, short readings, and opportunities to share our experience, strength, and hope within a supportive environment. Those with all kinds of grief experiences are welcome.

This group will meet on Zoom for six weeks on Friday afternoons from
4 - 5:30 pm starting January 16th, 2026 through February 20^th, 2026.
It will be team-led by two GSP faith leaders.
Your sharing will be confidential, and materials will be provided.

Please call the Church Office at 520-327-6857 to pre-register.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact
Pastor Delle McCormick at 520-204-6295 or revdellemc@gmail.com

-Thursday, December 11th, 5pm, in McBride Hall, Spirit Now service led by Reverend Delle McCormick (includes agape meal).

-Thursday, December 18th, 5pm, Zoom-only service led by Chris Eastoe from Tasmania
(zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/948146775).

-Thursday, December 25th: NO SERVICE (CHRISTMAS)

We’ve heard from church members that they’d like a smaller venue – Spirit Now’s answering that call … our services are held in the Chancel, in McBride Hall, or on Zoom, and are building blocks for the larger church to get together and share faith practices in smaller groups. It’s a more intimate place to read and reflect about our thoughts, our church, our communities, and our world.

If you’d like to receive announcements regarding Spirit Now’s services direct to your email, please contact Kim at moanatucson@gmail.com

Every Friday from 12:15pm - 1:30pm in the Bloom Room

Our Centering Prayer group continues to meet every Friday at 12:15 in the Bloom Room for the shared practice of Centering Prayer. Our membership includes people from other faith traditions as well as many GSP parishioners.

The practice of Centering Prayer can be done alone by anyone anywhere, but our members find that being together (even in silence) really makes a difference. Our group is open to all who are in need of some quiet, dedicated time to rest in the presence of God in this busy and uneasy world.

Blessings,

Sara Heitshu scheitshu@gmail.com

Early Invitation:

2026
Giving and Receiving Campaign

Do you wonder if you missed something? Grace St. Paul’s has traditionally conducted a campaign in the autumn to invite people to estimate their donations for the following calendar year.

If that’s your preference, you may complete the Estimate of Giving brochure available in the Narthex, or you may use a form on the church’s web site at https://www.gsptucson.org/donations.

Your early participation in the ‘soft kickoff’ of our 2026 campaign will help us establish momentum to launch the full-scale campaign in mid-January. Whether you make your Estimate of Giving now or in the winter, you are encouraged to give a regular proportion of your income throughout the year. Then, each time you receive income, you are encouraged to set aside your donation to the church before paying regular expenses. This ‘First Fruits’ practice connects us to a centuries-old community of faith – people living out their commitment to do God’s will by giving in response to God’s generous gifts and blessings.