Lent, Holy Week, and Easter 2021 at GSL

Meditation and Prayer to Observe a Holy Lent and Prepare for Easter: In addition to worship and formation offerings on Sundays and Wednesdays and special events for Holy Week through Easter Day, this year Grace-St. Luke’s provides Lenten meditation booklets Steadfast Love: Inspiration from Henri J. M. Nouwen (peek inside) for households to obtain via mail or pickup from the church office or pickup on Sundays when present for worship. We also recommend to enrich journeys offerings such as the weekly virtual series “Come, Pray” of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist (ssje.org) and/or subscription to the Lenten Meditations from Episcopal Relief & Development (www.episcopalrelief.org/church-in-action/lent).

Meditate on the Text of "Light in Deepest Night" for Lenten Preaching Series and Music

Take-away packets of ashes and Steadfast Love devotional booklets will be available for pick up from GSL by those who are able to attend the 10:30 a.m. service, and will be available after worship on Sundays at the Church Offices entrance door for pick up from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

First Sunday in Lent, February 21
The Rev. Laura F. Gettys has served at Grace-St. Luke’s as Associate Rector since July 2020 after service in the Dioceses of West Tennessee (Memphis: St. Mary's Cathedral), Mississippi, Virginia, Washington, and North Carolina.

Second Sunday in Lent, February 28
The Rev. Dr. Stuart Hoke serves as volunteer Priest Associate at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Little Rock, Arkansas after serving congregations as a parish priest in the Episcopal Dioceses of Oklahoma, Texas, and New York.

Third Sunday in Lent, March 7
The Rev. Ollie V. Rencher has served at Grace-St. Luke’s as Rector since July 2018 after service in the Episcopal Dioceses of North Carolina, West Tennessee (Memphis: Church of the Holy Communion), and Mississippi.

Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 14
The Rev. Anne S. Carriere has served at Grace-St. Luke’s as Priest Associate since October 2019 after serving in the Episcopal Dioceses of Arkansas and West Tennessee (Memphis: Church of the Holy Apostles, Grace-St. Luke's).

Fifth Sunday in Lent, March 21
The Rev. F. M. “Buddy” Stallings retired as Rector of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in New York City in 2015. Since retiring, he has served as the Interim Rector at Calvary Church in Memphis preaches occasionally in various parishes. He currently resides in Jackson, Mississippi.

These services will be in person (sign up required the week before the service) and livestreamed on gracestlukes.org/live, facebook.com/gracestlukes/live, and youtube.com/gracestlukes.

From 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. on Sundays, tune in via Facebook, gracestlukes.org/live, and if prerecorded on YouTube as well.

• Feb 21: The Beauty of What Remains: How Our Greatest Fear Becomes Our Greatest Gift with Rabbi Micah Greenstein
• Feb 28: Closing the Divide: Navigating a Culture Divided with Dean Randy Hollerith of Washington National Cathedral 
• Mar 7: Jesus, Politics, and Faith Journeys with Memphis Journalist Otis Sanford and the Rev. Ollie V. Rencher
• Mar 14: Conversation about In A Colorful Place: Seasoned Opinion About Memphis, About Home, About Life with authors Dan Conaway and Otis Sanford
• Mar 21: The Church Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow with the Rev. Renee Miller
• Mar 28: Jesus the Radical: Reflections by the Rev. Ollie V. Rencher
• Apr 4: Practice Resurrection: A Memoir of Work, Doubt, Discernment, and Moments of Grace

The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace by Jack Kornfield

This four-week series begins with a conversation about the common misunderstandings and difference between forgiveness and reconciliation and is followed by an exploration of each chapter: forgiveness, lovingkindness, peace. The book is described as an invitation both to remember the transforming power of forgiveness and lovingkindness and that no matter where you are and what you face, within your heart peace is possible.

Zoom Discussions: Wednesdays, February 24, March 3, 10, 17, 6–7 p.m. 
Facilitators: Anne Ayres, The Rev. Ollie V. Rencher
Sign up: tinyurl.com/GSLReadingTogetherForgiveness

March 14 at 5:30 p.m. will be a Lenten Evensong with more reflective and meditative music for the season of Lent, including the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis of Thomas Tallis. This service will be in person and livestreamed. Signup for in person attendance will be available soon.  The service will be livestreamed at www.gracestlukes.org/live, facebook.com/gracestlukes/live and youtube.com/gracestlukes.

Bible Study: Spiritual Encouragement Through Philippians, March 24 & 31

March 24: Being Formed in the Image of the Christ: Living with Resilience toward Sanctification in Paul’s “Letter to the Philippians” 

When Paul wrote his letter to the church in Philippi, he was in prison. Rather than seeing his current circumstances as a hindrance, he transformed his understanding to finding God’s grace and the benefits to the community in chapters 1 and 2. How does Paul help us in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic to live toward our sanctification and our mission to share the good news through word and deed?  

March 31: Living into New Traditions: Finding Unity Within the Community in Philippi and Memphis

In chapters 3 and 4 of his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul reflects on his own identity and assigns new values to his place within the Jesus Community. He also shows how important it is for that community to be united in love and purpose. How do his reflections on tradition and community help us in understanding our own place and time?

Zoom Discussions: Wednesdays, March 24 and 31, 6–7 p.m.
Facilitator: Dr. Dan Pigg
Sign up: tinyurl.com/GSLPhilippiansBibleStudy

10:30 a.m. Liturgy of Blessing of The Palms and Procession with Music

5:30–6:15 p.m.  The GSL musicians and clergy will provide a Lenten Meditation based on the writings of Julian of Norwich. Aaron David Miller has compiled her readings and set them to music and included some as spoken meditations in a work titled, “Light in Deepest Night.” This prerecorded service will be available as a live premiere on gracestlukes.org/live, facebook.com/gracestlukes, youtube.com/gracestlukes. | Text for "Light in Deepest Night"

Sign-up link for 10:30 a.m. in person service will be available the week before. 

Noon-12:30 p.m., Noonday Prayer with Meditation from “Steadfast Love: Inspiration from Henri J. M. Nouwen” 

6–6:45 p.m. Solemn Liturgy and the Stripping, Washing, and Anointing of the Altar with Music followed by In-Home Overnight Prayer Vigil 

Parishioners are encouraged to set aside one hour at home and light a candle to commemorate the invitation from Jesus for followers to “watch and pray” with him on the night before his crucifixion. The Reserved Sacrament will be encircled on the GSL Chapel Altar by greenery to signify a garden; a priest will end the vigil at 7:30 a.m. with Virtual Prayers for Good Friday via Facebook Live.

7:30–8 a.m. Virtual Prayers for Good Friday via Facebook Live

Noon–12:45 p.m. Solemn Liturgy with Meditations & Music

1–1:30 p.m. Virtual Walking the Stations of the Cross led by the clergy via Facebook Live

6–6:45 p.m. Virtual Music: “Light in Deepest Night” for Choir and Organ via Facebook Live

Sign-up link for in person services will be available the week before.  Virtual services will be streamed at gracestlukes.org/live, facebook.com/gracestlukes/live, and youtube.com/gracestlukes.

7 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter

Sign-up link for in person worshipwill be available the week before.  Service will be livestreamed at gracestlukes.org/live, facebook.com/gracestlukes/live, and youtube.com/gracestlukes.

10:30 a.m. Festival Worship with Music 

5:30 p.m. No service offered; resumes April 11

10:30 a.m. Worship with Music

5:30 p.m. Eastertide Concert of Trumpet and Organ