E-Blast for February 26, 2021

The Way Forward

February 03, 2021

By The Rt. Rev. Jennifer A. Reddall, Bishop of Arizona

On Saturday, February 27, 2021, Dr. Catherine Meeks will be leading an online presentation and discussion for the Diocese of Arizona on "Racial Healing and the Way Forward in the Era of Pandemics."

Dr. Meeks is the Founding Executive Director of the Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing in Atlanta, GA. She is also an author who has published seven books including her recently co-authored book, Passionate for Justice, Ida B. Wells -- A Prophet for Our Times which was released in September 2019 and her edited book Living Into God's Dream: Dismantling Racism in America which focuses on racial healing and reconciliation, published in 2016.

Dr. Meeks’ work and her passionate approach to racial healing mirrors the focus of the Sacred Ground sessions that are being offered across the diocese. This seminar will be offered from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., with a one half-hour break for lunch at 12:30 p.m. Register for Dr. Meeks’ presentation at https://www.azdiocese.org/digital_faith/events/3184881

This event is co-sponsored by two long-standing ministries of our Diocese:

Spirituality for the Second Half of Life Ministry and the Anti-Racism Committee. I am so grateful to them, particularly the Rev. Ann Johnson, for making the connection to Dr. Meeks and setting up this opportunity for members across our Diocese. I look forward to seeing many of you online at the event.

LIVESTREAMING CHURCH on SUNDAY, 10 A.M.

Children and Family Sunday School - Sunday 9:15 AM

Please click here for more information.

https://zoom.us/j/98113913984?pwd=SzFCK0FJY2ZJdDhPQXhSMjZid1Z5dz09

Meeting ID: 981 1391 3984

Passcode: 301134

for bulletins: GSPtucson.org/bulletins

livestream the Sunday 10:00 AM service:

Facebook has changed it's design, so it's a little easier to find our video on Sunday at 10:00!

Go to www.TinyURL.com/GSPVirtual any time after 9:50, and scroll down. It's likely you will immediately find the service with this week's service bulletin (or if the prelude has begun, you'll see the church). If this doesn't work, you can go to the menu called "More" and click on "Live."

High quality recorded Sunday Worship - Sunday about 7 PM

www.tinyurl.com/gspvids

New to GSP?

Have you recently discovered Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church? Would you like to know more about our beloved community?

Please fill out our Visitor Card at

www.tinyurl.com/gspvisitor

Live Stream Instructions - Please click here.
Altar Flowers - Please click here to find out how to request flowers.
GSP has a YouTube channel! - Please click here for more info.
How to Support Immigrants - Please click here.
Just Coffee - Please click here.

Come Join GSP's Anti-Racism

Study Group

Next meeting will be March 24

4th Wednesday - 4:30 – 5:30 pm

In response to GSP's vision of social justice, the church's “anti-racism to ally” group has been endeavoring to live into its vision through focusing on social justice. The group has focused on writings regarding racism and white privilege, and aims to "move from anti-racism to ally." Our goal is to develop a deep understanding of how "white privilege" is defined, how it affects people of color, and the rest of us, in so many ways. How can we transform this deeply rooted dynamic into one that empowers people of color and ourselves in ways that bring us all more closely together? How can we eliminate the manifestations of white privilege and systemic racism that remain so prevalent today? How can we address and redirect often-unconscious assumptions, words, actions and behaviors associated with white privilege?

To be put on the list to receive materials, to get zoom information on our monthly zoom meeting, or if you have any questions, please contact Rev. Chris, Jill McCollum, Barbara Morehouse, or Peggy Scott through the church office, 520-327-6857

Hello GSP friends,

The Buildings and Grounds Committee is being re-established to tend to all the work that needs to be done for upkeep and refreshing of GSP's buildings and grounds. We have a lot of work to catch up on and your willing spirits and labor are needed. Please respond to [email protected].

Thanks,

Angel Wang, Jr. Warden

"Reading of the Green"

The Grace St. Paul’s Players is holding its regular First Friday Play Reading on March 5, at 7 p.m. on Zoom (of course). There will be a mixture of short scripts to be read featuring Irish plays and playwrights. Included in the mix is a delightful piece, "Holiday", by a member of the playreading group, Elaine Powers, and the Irish classic "Spreading the News" by Lady Gregory.

People who wish to read should RSVP to Nanalee Raphael by midnight Tuesday, March 2. Parts will then be assigned prior to the reading. All plays will be suitable for all humans ages 14 and above. Scripts will be emailed to all participants – readers and audience - on the Wednesday before the reading, along with the Zoom sign-in information. All are encouraged to attend. Roles may not be available for everyone, but audience members are always welcome!

*Wearing of the Green is optional.

The GSP Migrant Ministry is closely following President Biden's immigration announcements. We warmly embrace the nine executive actions he has already taken and look forward to the day when asylum applicants just south of our border will be allowed to enter the U.S. and present their cases to the U.S. government. Until then, all of the shelters on the Mexican side of the border continue to need our support. Grace St. Paul's Church is home to Valarie James, the founder of Bordando Esperanza, Embroidering Hope, one of the most dynamic and creative programs.

When Valarie asked what inspires the embroidery of Selene Maldonado, the on-site coordinator in Nogales, she stated pointedly: What I am, what I have lived, and what I like. The 31-year-old mother of three is vulnerable and strong in equal measure, and what she has lived through – the attempted murder of her husband, the father of her three children – is enough trauma for her and her kids for a lifetime. For Selene, thrown into forced migration, ripped and torn from all she knows, the act of embroidering, slow and steady, is a restoration of the soul.

Just days ago, Bordando Esperanza was written up on the Episcopal Migration Ministry website and in This is Tucson. Check it out!

https://episcopalmigrationministries.org/artisans-beyond-borders-at-the-u-s-mexico-port-of-entry-supporting-family-faith/

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=This+is+Tucson

KIDS CAMP

We are entering into 2021 with hope and planning for a week-long summer camp for kids at GSP!

Calling all volunteers!

In order to move forward with planning, Jessica needs to know who is comfortable volunteering. If we do not have enough volunteers, we cannot move forward with an in-person camp.

A few things to help with your decision:

*all volunteers will undergo a background check and need to take Safeguarding training

*a lot of camp will likely be outside in June

*you need to be available Monday-Friday, 8:30am-12:30pm

Email Jessica if you are interested in learning more.

Calling all families!

Jessica wants to know who is comfortable coming to camp.

Families, please email her your thoughts on if you would send your child/children in-person outside, in-person inside, in-person combo inside/outside, online, or not this year at all.

[email protected].

Thank you!

*Please rest assured that if we deem it not safe to run camp, we won't do it. This is simply to gage interest for volunteering and participation. Thank you.

Video Opportunity for kids and youth!

In Sunday School recently, Jessica asked the kids to describe God. Their answers were amazing: "God is everything" and "God is the Universe" and "God helps us to forgive".

This sparked an idea---we want to make a video for the parish and post it on the website and facebook for the community to see who we are.

If you are interested in being part of this (remember this is for kids and youth!), please send Jessica a short clip that's less than 15 seconds (filmed on your phone is fine but please hold your phone in the landscape position).

You may send one clip for each question below.

I want you to answer this question, "What is God?"

I want you to respond to this: "Describe GSP."

Jessica will compile these together into one video.

Please send them in to [email protected] by March 1.

Thank you!