Grace will happily welcome Erik Broeren – excuse me, The Rev. Erik Broeren, newly-minted deacon – to the pulpit at both services on Sunday. We will be the recipients of his first official sermon as an ordained clergyman – an historic moment! Come and congratulate Erik and enjoy his insights!

Grace did an awesome job with the "Souper" Bowl collection for MetMin. We did not collect the 500 cans the kids suggested, but we did collect 266 cans, 21 miscellaneous items and $55. A big thank you to EYC for hauling everything to my car.

Several people told me they forgot and would bring soup next Sunday, so I will be collecting cans of soup again this Sunday (2-12). Metropolitan Ministries thanks all of you who donated. They are very grateful.

Vivian Dodds

Every year, the Episcopal Church designates one Sunday to celebrate the many forms in which theological education takes shape in our tradition. This year, Bishop George is asking our special attention for The University of the South at Sewanee. Not only is the School of Theology at Sewanee home to many of the diocese’s clergy, it also houses and supports Education for Ministry (EfM) and the Beecken Center for Innovative Ministries. In fact, it is hard to imagine life in East Tennessee without the many Sewanee professors that are so closely involved in the many programs of the church. We benefit greatly from our proximity to Sewanee, but we are also one of the owning dioceses of the university. Sewanee is literally our university. Bishop George is asking us to call for a second collection this Sunday in support of Sewanee. Its current capital campaign directly impacts the seminary as it seeks to find funds for a new seminary building near the historic St. Luke’s chapel on the main campus. Your support helps us all to maintain a school that will shape Episcopal clergy and laity for years to come, in our own backyard!  

Erik Broeren

… well, that sounds surreal… how about  “the Epiphany of Pentecost”?? Strangeness aside, Lent is making a beeline in our direction, and there are some opportunities available that will enrich its introspective days.  

Ash Wednesday Services: There will be two services on Ash Wednesday – March 1 – the first at noon and the other at 7:00 p.m. All are encouraged to take part in whichever fits best with the other necessities of the day. The service will include the imposition of ashes and Holy Eucharist. (Because of the timing of the first service, there will be no healing service that day.)  

Stations of the Cross: Observant parishioners will have noticed that the walls of the Nave, usually bare, have recently taken to themselves a number of pictures. These works of art, done by Grace artists over the years, represent various points in Jesus’ journey to Golgotha, known in the church as the Stations of the Cross. This Lent, you are invited to walk the Stations in the Nave with Father Ken and Father Zack on Thursday evenings at 6:00 p.m. The first service will be on Thursday, March 2.

But before Lent, of course, comes Mardi Gras, which Grace will celebrate in style with a pancake supper cooked and served by the Youth on Tuesday, February 28, at 6:00 p.m. in the Undercroft. This festive occasion will feature the traditional Grace(less) Pancake Olympics after supper. Cost for dinner is $5 per person, with a maximum of $20 per family; participation in the games is free to all who dare!

Save the dates!  MANDATORY Brainerd by Grace (B2G) Community Garden seasonal start up meeting 4:00 pm, Sunday, 5 March. Preceded by 2:00 pm work session with Black Gold to fill beds (we bring it; you fill it). General Grace Grounds Work Day Saturday, 11 March, 10:00 - 3:00, RAIN OR SHINE. We will be digging irrigation lines for the Free Garden and both butterfly gardens,  and NEED HELP. Also needed, someone to set up lunch.

Contact Lisa or Kristina if you want a bed in the community garden; we still have one or possibly two -- [email protected].

Information:
  (1) Our grounds and butterfly gardens will be registered in a major attempt to expand pollinator habitat in the Chattanooga Area Pollinator Partnership (CHAPP). The 4000+ species of pollinators are in serious trouble, with collapsing populations due to a variety of reasons. This new program will enlist both ordinary yards in city and country, corporate partners, government agencies, and we even have our eye on the Cherokee National Forest. Come hear about this program Monday night at 6:00 pm at green/spaces on Main Street, during the public meeting of the Tennessee Valley Wild Ones ("saving the earth, one yard at a time"). Kristina Shaneyfelt is helping lead this massive new effort.
  (2) The Master Gardeners of Hamilton County are giving a 'Newcomers/Beginner Gardener' class Tuesday nights through March. Contact the Hamilton County Extension Services to register -- 423. 855-6113.

Registration is now open for the 2017 Thorne Sparkman School of Religion. The Keynote speaker (March 5) will be The Right Rev. Robert C. Wright of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, Classes begin on Wednesday, March 8 and run each Wednesday evening through April 9. Cost of classes is a flat $35 fee; dinners are available for adults at $8 each and children $3 or for $35 for the entire session for adults and $15 for children.  

Classes will be:  

Richard Rohr’s Falling Upward – The Rev. John Talbird
Exploring Misunderstood Scripture in Context – The Rev. Dr. Rebecca Wright
The Making – and Unmaking – of The Other – Chris Watkins
Speaking and Listening in Love – The Revs. Brad Whitacre, Leigh Preston, Quinn Parham The Role of the Church in a Divided World – Stephen Byrum, Ph. D.  

For details or registration, please visit  http://www.lentenschool.org/

The Search and Nominating Committee met on February 3 to begin the next phase of the process. We give thanks for the many people who have asked to join us in discerning who the 5th Bishop of East Tennessee might be - remember, we will recommend between three and five candidates for approval by the Standing Committee.   

This is the silent part of the process. The next time you hear about the election, it will be from the Standing Committee on April 28 as they announce the slate. At that point, we will post all of the biographies, profiles, pictures and answers to our questions submitted by the candidates. The Transition Committee will take over and also post videos of each candidate.  

There are two things you can do, however, in the next two months. The first is to continue to hold us all in prayer. The second is to tell us one thing you would like the 5th Bishop to know about your congregation. There will be a table at Diocesan Convention where delegates can write and post these comments. In addition, anyone may send a comment to us by email at [email protected]. All of the comments will be placed in a book and given to our 5th Bishop.  

So send us those notes. They will act as an introduction to each congregation in our Diocese. Shine your light!

The Bishop Search Committee