E-Blast for Friday, May 1, 2026

The Fifth Sunday After Easter

May 3, 2026
7:45 & 10 a.m.

Celebrant:

The Rev. Steve Keplinger

Sermon Title:

Democracy or Theocracy?

View as Webpage

New Rector Search Committee Announced

We are pleased to announce the membership of the New Rector Search Committee, which was approved by the Vestry last month:

Martha Whitaker, Chair

Cinder Halstead

Elizabeth Pullen

Bruce Anderson

Peggy Scott

Kim Braun

Steve Brown

The committee reflects the rich diversity of our parish community — from cradle Episcopalians with deep roots at GSP, to those who have come to us from other faith traditions, to newer members of our congregation. Together, they bring a broad range of perspectives and experiences to this important work.

The committee has already begun meeting to review the notes from GSP's Day of Discovery and will soon begin drafting our Parish Profile.

Questions may be directed to Martha Whitaker, Search Committee Chair, at: mplwhitaker@gmail.com

Join your Grace St. Paul's friends and fellow parishioners for a ballgame at Hi Corbett Park, Saturday May 9th, 6pm game time, UofA vs Univ of Houston. This is the last home series of the season. We're not doing the pre-game gathering like last year (the picnic ramada is not reservable), but we will secure a group of seats together and just enjoy cheering on the Wildcats.

Group tix are $6pp -- the ultimate cheap date!
Email Don & Pat to secure your spot:
don.a.gates@gmail.com | jpatricej@gmail.com

Memorial Day is the time we set aside to honor those men and women who wore the uniforms of our armed services and never got to take off that uniform.
It is a day to balance the joy of our current freedoms with a sober respect for the cost at which they were purchased. It is an act of collective gratitude for those who gave up their futures so that others could have theirs.

Honoring those within GSP who have lost loved ones in service is deeply personal and we want to share as a community on Memorial Day. Our hope is to move the holiday from a national concept to a supportive, shared experience among neighbors and friends.

If you have lost a friend, relative, child, sibling, or spouse in the military and would like to submit their name, relationship, branch of service and which conflict they were lost in we will add them to a Memorial page to be printed in the Bulletin on Sunday May 24.

Submissions must be in no later than Monday, May 18th.

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:
‘Undeterred’ May 8th from 6-8pm in McBride Hall

A documentary about Arivaca, AZ and their interactions with Border Patrol, which initiated the sanctuary city movement. Paula Miller, who lived through this time, will share some of her memories from this movement.

Sunday, May 12 at 9:15 am in the Bloom Room
Discuss Solito, by local author Javier Zamora. This is his memoir written from the viewpoint of his 9-year-old self about his migrant journey from
El Salvador

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.

DESPERATELY NEEDED:
SUMMER VOLUNTEERS & GROCERY BAGS

Summer is a rough time for many, but especially the unhoused. Yes friends, we are seeing a huge increase to the population as many have lost their food stamps and that number continues to rise. We have been running out of food by 10:30am consistently.

Could I ask for you each to pick up a few ramen noodle packages and/or an extra canned vegetable for the red donation bin at the side of the church entrance?

If you don’t use your plastic grocery bags, please save them and place in the bin as well. They are a valuable commodity as we go through 150 of them 3 times a week!

Many of our volunteers are winter visitors, and every summer we are desperate to fill our volunteer calendar, coordinated by Connie Ingram. Even if you can do it just once, we are looking for people on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday from 9am-12pm; if you can only commit to 2 hours, our rush is roughly 9-10:30am. Social services is also a vital part of our outreach and we need volunteers there as well. Training is provided.

We are very grateful that our peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and bagels are packed by others with the exception of Thursdays; this occurs from 9-11am in our church kitchen. This is another volunteer opportunity if the hustle and bustle of our active JP Café days are not for you.

If you are able to drive at night, the bread ministry needs help on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 7pm. This would involve picking up bread from Beyond Bread on Campbell and Ft Lowell then delivering it back to the church. So fun for all ages!!

Details on each role will be provided. Thank you for considering volunteering.

Gratefully Rev Gary Cyr, Director of Social Justice in Action

Contact gary.cyr@grace-stpauls.org or 520-327-657

Or Connie Ingram volunteer coordinator

520-490-6230 or Cjones634@yahoo.com

Dream Interpretation Group

Thursday May 7th 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

GSP invites you to participate in a Dream Interpretation Meeting hosted by Peter Woods and Patricia Donahue. The group will work with individuals who are willing to share a dream, and explore how to interpret the dream images. This may help the Dreamer(s) find meaning and direction from their dream(s).

If you have any questions please contact Peter Woods at pcwoods24@gmail.com or (520) 404-9015

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

She will respond to let you know about the process. Thanks, in advance, for your interest.

Dr. Chuck Dickson explains why Grace St. Paul's Julian Chapel is named after the anchoress, mystic, and theologian, Julian of Norwich, and why she is honored by the Church in his latest Virtual Adult Ed. class: https://bit.ly/3OwUQOn

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 2nd and 4th 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.
At the 5/10 meeting, Elizabeth Jaeger will speak about her work as a restorative justice conference facilitator, including ways for those who might be interested to get training for this work. At the 5/26 meeting, Daniel Peterson-Snyder from St. Michael’s and All Angels Episcopal Church will talk about the work of his church’s Social Action Committee. You are most welcome to join us and/or ask to be placed on our email list.

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

-Thursday, May 7th, 5pm, in the Chancel, a service in the Taizé tradition with the theme “Air in Motion: Breath and Wind” led by Deacon Nancy.

-Thursday, May 14th, 5pm, in McBride Hall, a service full of prayer and meditation led by Reverend Delle McCormick, followed by an agape meal.

-Thursday, May 21st, 5pm, by Zoom-only, Kim Braun leading a service on the theme “Breathwork” (zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/948146775).

-Thursday, May 28th, 5pm, in McBride Hall, Communion service led by Father Allen.

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