E-Blast for Friday, June 5, 2026

Second Sunday
after Pentecost
Proper 5A

June 7, 2026
7:45 & 10 a.m.

Celebrant:

The Rev. Steve Keplinger

View as Webpage

Calling all musicians!

The Grace St. Paul’s music program seeks to expand and achieve world domination. We think we’d do a better job than the current dominators. If you sing or play an instrument of any kind, we want to hear from you. Please contact Music Director Christina Jarvis at clj@delegation.org or talk to her before or after the 10am service to discuss ways to include you as works best for all devices and desires. Thanks and many blessings!

Memorial Garden Niches

The new Memorial Garden niches are now in place and we encourage you to come by and see them! Now through the end of July, there will be a discount on both single and double niches to help pay for the new walls that were installed earlier this year.

Single Niche
~~$1500~~ → NOW $1300

Double Niche
~~$2100~~ → NOW $1900

If you are in the process of end of life planning or thinking it may be time to start, this is a great opportunity to handle a very important aspect of that. Purchasing a niche in advance will give you peace of mind in knowing your loved ones won't have to handle the logistics while they're grieving. It also provides your loved ones with a place in our beautiful Memorial Garden to visit and pray, share remembrances, and celebrate your life after you've died.

Please reach out to Ricky Salas in the office for more details.
parishadmin@grace-stpauls.org

One of Grace St. Paul’s deep commitments is Migrant Ministry;
welcoming and supporting migrants, and advocating for their human and civil rights. We are called to be a compassionate and welcoming faith community.

Everyone is welcome at our weekly Monday meetings, which are held from 2:00 to 3:30 pm in the Bloom Room. Through education, advocacy, prayer, collaboration with community groups, and by direct support, we promote social justice in our border region.

Migrant Stories through book and film

Join us monthly as we explore the personal stories of individuals in our community, deepening our compassion and knowledge.

Upcoming:

Friday, June 12 at 6pm in McBride Hall
Please join the Migrant Ministry at Grace St Paul in viewing the film
'A Better Life (Una Vida Mejor)'. This Oscar nominated drama is the story of an undocumented gardener living in Los Angeles struggling to support himself and his son and trying to stay safe from gangs and immigration agents while working to give his son opportunities he never had. We will share popcorn and a rousing discussion of this film and other opportunities to learn about migrant issues in Tucson as a part of this evening.

Sunday, June 14 at 9:15 in the Bloom Room
View and discuss a TED talk by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez who grew up in Tucson and remained here after her parents were deported when she was 15 years old

Sunday, July 12 at 9:15 in the Bloom Room
Discuss Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez' memoir 'My Side of the River'
who remained in Tucson to graduate high school.after her parents were deported She then graduated from U of Pennsylvania and is now working in New York.

Have you been enjoying Continuing Revelation of God readings (typically more contemporary poetry and prose) in addition to Hebrew Scripture and Gospel readings in recent GSP Sunday services? Do you have other readings you might wish us to consider? If so, please reach out to Elizabeth Jaeger elizabethjaeger56@gmail.com

Thanks, in advance, for your interest.

IT’S OFFICIAL!!!

GSP Fall Craft Fair 2.0

Thanks to the initial enthusiastic response we received there WILL be a GSP Fall Craft Fair 2.0 on NOVEMBER 15TH after the 10:00 service!! Please mark your calendars!

A big thank you to those who have already decided to donate handcrafted items (or originally authored pieces) to the fair so far. Without you a fair wouldn’t be possible. We still have plenty of space available if you should decide along the way that you would like to join us! We would be happy to welcome you aboard!! Let us know!

More information, details and possibly some requests for help will be forthcoming. So, as Rachel Maddow likes to say: Watch this space!!

Debbie Fricke (frickedeb2@gmail.com)
Anne Sunderland (asunder11@gmail.com)

Co-Chairs of GSP Fall Craft Fair 2.0

Dr. Chuck Dickson presents a study of Bishop Richard of Chichester in his latest virtual adult class: https://bit.ly/4tZvYOM

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 2^nd and 4^th Sundays from 11:45-12:45; please plan to arrive and settle in at 11:40 as we begin with prayer and a period of silence. On 6/14, Diana Hill from the Catalina UMC Good Trouble Action group will join us. And on 6/28, Amanda Villa from Healthcare Rising will present. 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

June 11th, 5pm, in McBride Hall, a service full of prayer and meditation led by Reverend Delle McCormick, followed by an agape meal.

-Thursday, June 18th, 5pm, by Zoom-only, Chris Eastoe leading a service on the theme of “Prayer: some reflections in the context of recent politics”
(zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/948146775).

-Thursday, June 25th, 5pm, in McBride Hall, Communion service led by Father Allen.

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

Urge Arizona Lawmakers to Fund Extreme Heat Relief Efforts

Arizona is at risk of losing critical life-saving heat-relief infrastructure in 2027. Communities across the state have relied on pandemic-era relief funding to mount heat relief efforts. Those funds will expire at the end of 2026.

Communities put these investments to work, expanding cooling and heat respite centers, transportation assistance, outreach teams, and emergency heat response systems. They are responding to the tragic deaths of hundreds of Arizonans each summer. Extreme heat is one of the leading weather-related causes of death in Arizona. More than 900 Arizonans died from heat-related causes in both 2023 and 2024. These deaths impacted housed and unhoused individuals alike, including seniors, outdoor workers, families, medically vulnerable residents, and people living without reliable cooling.

We need Arizona leaders to act now and support dedicated Extreme Heat Mitigation funding in the FY2027 Arizona State Budget.

$4.2 million for Cooling Centers and Heat Relief Infrastructure
$3.7 million for Heat Relief Training
$1.5 million for Statewide Heat Call Center Operations
$500,000 for Critical Transportation Services
$130,000 for Statewide Heat Surveillance and Data Systems

Please contact Lawmakers to Support Funding for Extreme Heat Mitigation in the FY2027 Arizona Budget.

Share your stories and experiences with extreme heat.
Tell them why heat relief matters in your community.
Thank Governor Hobbs for proposing Extreme Heat Mitigation in the budget.
Urge legislators to include Extreme Heat Mitigation in the final budget.

Contact Governor Hobbs

Find Your Legislators

We all face the challenge of extreme heat. By acting together and urging lasting investment in mitigation and coordinated response, we safeguard lives and strengthen Arizona’s resilience. Thank you for making Arizona safe and stronger.

Any questions can be directed to Dale Ann Petersen at:
Daleann.Petersen @gmail.com

Desert Voices, Tucson’s premier LGBTQIA+ and Ally Chorus is proud to make our debut at the historic Fox Theatre THIS SUNDAY! June 7, 2026. Under the leadership of Dr. James Higgs, Desert Voices will perform a program of popular hits, historical works and new arrangements by songwriters, artists, composers and arrangers from the LGTBQIA+ community. Join us for a musical journey "Love Out Loud" celebrating love, authenticity and self-expression.

Tickets to our annual pride month concert are $29 and are available for purchase at the Fox Theater box office or online at foxtucson.com.
A special discount for our friends at Grace St. Paul's - use the discount code "DVFOX" when you check out to get 20% off!

Founded in 1988, Desert Voices is a nonprofit corporation committed to promoting the ongoing and positive gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender presence in our community. The chorus is comprised of over 120 LGBTQIA+ members singing together with one voice. We welcome all voices regardless of age, gender, race, creed, sexuality, or gender identity or expression. Since Desert Voices began its journey, our voices have been heard in performances all throughout Arizona and at Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA) Festivals.

More information about Desert Voices is available at desertvoices.org

Questions can be directed to DesertVoicesTucsonChorus@gmail.com

Monsoon and Moonlight

A Fundraising Event for THE HOMING PROJECT

WHEN: July 25

TIME: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

WHERE: 311 E. 7th St, Tucson, AZ (Near Corbetts)

WHAT IS IT?

A fundraiser for THE HOMING PROJECT (www.theHomingProject.org) They are building mini homes for the unsheltered in Tucson, AZ!

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

ALL money made will go to THE HOMING PROJECT to launch their first mini community.

A fun evening with a Market, Silent Auction, Food, Music & something COOL to do on a HOT summer night! We will have a card-making table where the community can make cards for free for the new residents. Leading the activity is professional paper crafter, designer, and instructor: Rachel Ann Johnson
Music by Elisabeth Blin (French guitarist) 6-7 pm

Denise Lane and Tammy West duo from 7-8pm

To submit art for the auction, please obtain a donation form from the parish office.
All donations must be submitted by July 18.
PLEASE DO NOT BRING ART DONATIONS TO THE PARISH OFFICE.
There is a donation contact on the form to schedule a pickup.