Grace Notes: October 4, Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

TIME AWAY...IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK

Dear Friends, I am happy to be back in the office. I'm getting good reports from my time away. Big thanks to Michael for celebrating and preaching last Sunday. The container refurbishment project advanced with fresh white paint on the exterior. Looks great! I arrived to see a guy up in one of our palms clipping away. The Fire Department will take us off their list. I know there are other things I should note and people to thank, but that's all I have at this time of writing. Always, always, I am grateful to the faithful community of Grace who show up and do what needs to be done.

The clergy conference was good. Bishop Susan's fireside chat and other diocesan reports updated us on the strategic plan, which is nearing completion. I think we'll hear more at convention in November. Bishop Susan left early to attend the House of Bishops' retreat at Camp Allen in Texas. I attended a parish retreat at Camp Allen during our years in College Station when John taught at Texas A & M. It's hot and humid out there. But the great news is that the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. Sarah Mullally, attended. I hope Bishop Susan got to meet her. Our conference presenter was excellent — what I got to hear...

Okay, nothing is perfect. Right? I was attacked and lacerated by a bathroom door lock just after lunch and right before Eucharist on Tuesday. So, I spent that afternoon at the ER in Temecula. Our own kindly Canon Gwynn drove me and waited with me all afternoon so I could get the cut glued down. That was after dripping blood down the retreat center hallway. Several angels came to my rescue. At the ER, I was tended by a very nice young doc with a great bedside manner, especially for an ER doc. My friend Cindy drove me home Wednesday morning as I just didn't have the energy to return for the last morning session.

All is good. The cut is healing well. I found this great new type of Band-Aid that is nearly invisible and claims to aid healing. By the time you see me there, hopefully, there will be nothing much to see.

My sister, Connie, and I had fun the remainder of her visit. And after I left her at the Southwest curbside check-in Sunday morning, I was ready to rest for the rest of my staycation. Home sweet home, as my cousin Judy likes to say. Don't we all want our vacations to end there?

And now I'm back. Grace, sweet Grace.

In Christ's love,

Nancy+

Upcoming Services & Book Studies

Sunday, October 4, 2026

8:30 a.m. — Spoken Holy Eucharist

9:30 a.m. — Godly Play & Spiritual Fishers

10:00 a.m. — Holy Eucharist with music
(The 10:00 a.m. service is live-streamed on YouTube)

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

4:00 p.m. — To Love as God Loves Book Study via Zoom

ZOOM LINK

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Healing Service with Eucharist

10:00 a.m.

Bible Study

10:45 — 11:30 a.m.

We will be studying the previous Sunday's lessons.

Thursday, October 8, 2026

Contemplative Prayer Group

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

In the Sanctuary.

(Service information can also be found on our website.)

Sunday Volunteers

Weekly readings can be found on the Lectionary Calendar website. During the Season after Pentecost (Ordinary Times), we read from Track Two.

Meal Train

If anyone needs meals or you need help with the Meal Train sign-up, email Shoshana Aguilar at shoshana.aguilar@gmail.com.

Flowers for Sunday are provided by the Altar Guild in dedication to Georgia Schulz for her loving care for all.

Altar flower sign-up sheets are available on the Nursery bulletin board in the Coach House and can be dedicated in honor of or in memory of a special person or occasion. The recommended donation is $40. There are still empty spots available!

We Pray For...

For the special needs and concerns of this congregation, we pray especially for William E., Tammy L., Michael S., Doris, Corey, Mirasol, Everett, Jenny, Megan, Bill C., Heidi, Don W., Elizabeth H., Ted & Carole.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil. In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Episcopal Schools Celebration and the Dioceses of Province VIII: Alaska, Arizona, California, Eastern Oregon, El Camino Real, Hawaii, Idaho, Los Angeles, Micronesia, Navajoland, Nevada, Northern California, Olympia, San Diego, San Joaquin, Spokane, Taiwan, Utah, and Western Oregon. In the Military Cycle of Prayer, we pray for Beachmaster Unit One (BMU 1), Naval Amphibious Base Coronado.

Prayer List & Ministry

Please contact Pam Wheatland to add a name to the prayer list. Names will be on the list for four weeks and/or ongoing by request. If you are interested in being a part of the Prayer Ministry, please contact Pam Wheatland to be added.

Grace will be at the Harvest Festival!

Grace will have a booth at the San Marcos Fall Festival in the North City area across from the university, and we need volunteers! If you are interested in manning the booth, please contact the office. Volunteer spots are only for one hour. We will be giving out freebies and letting people know about our church! Go here for information on the Harvest Festival.

Hospitality this Sunday Needs Help

The majority of Team One will be at the Women's Retreat, and our Sexton is out of town, so they need help! Please bring something to eat and help with the cleanup if possible. The table set up is being taken care of on Friday.

Blessing of the Animals on October 18

Join us Sunday, October 18 at both services for our Blessing of the Animals! All creatures — furry, feathered, or otherwise — are welcome to receive a blessing alongside their people. The service will be outdoors, so dress accordingly.

Humanity Showers

During October, the Outreach Committee will collect items from the Humanity Showers wish list. Humanity Showers is a homeless outreach hosted weekly at local churches to provide for a variety of basic needs, including Showers, clothing, and food. Please join us in supporting this servant ministry! There will be a basket in the church to drop off your items.

Faithful Response to Homelessness

Homelessness in San Diego County is growing. The Diocese has set aside Sunday, October 11 as Homelessness Sunday. In response, the collection plate on that day will be donated to Episcopal Community Services. Please be generous to help those in need.

Emergency Contact Information on Realm

We now have the ability to add an emergency contact person and phone number to your profile on Realm. Go here for instructions.

Please contact the office if you are not on Realm or need assistance logging in.

Walking With Mary

What began as an Advent resource created for the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego is about to reach people far beyond our diocese. Walking with Mary, the three-week Advent formation program created by the Rev. Jacob Robling, Teresa Hixson, and Charlette Preslar, has been selected by Forward Movement for publication.

Beginning in November 2026, Walking with Mary will be available as a free download, with both a Leader & Participant Guide and presentation slides available in English and Spanish. Forward Movement is also hosting a three-session live Zoom experience on December 1, 8, and 15, led by the curriculum’s creators, Charlette Preslar, Teresa Hixon, and the Rev. Jacob Robling. Read More

Disney Cabaret Night at St. Bart's

Bring the whole family to Disney Cabaret Night at St. Bart’s (16275 Pomerado Rd, Poway) on October 11 at 4:00 PM, featuring the amazing voices of our St. Bart’s music community! This family-friendly event is free (donations are welcome).

Resources to Prepare for El Niño

El Niño conditions can bring periods of heavy rain, flooding, mudslides, power outages, and travel disruptions across Southern California and Arizona. Congregations and households can prepare now by clearing gutters and drainage areas, checking roofs and trees, reviewing emergency plans, protecting important records, and making sure basic emergency supplies are ready. Go here for practical suggestions from the EDSD Property Committee.

There are more announcements in the weekly EDSD Newsletter. If you don't already get the newsletter, sign up here or click on the link below to see the latest news.

Diocesan News