Sunday Morning Formation

Second Sunday of Advent, 9:15 a.m. Annual Meeting of the Parish. All members and newcomers are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting of the Parish in person or via Zoom. This one-hour occasion will undertake key business matters, including the election of the Vestry Class of 2025, parish life highlights since the last annual meeting, update on and collection of 2023 annual fund pledges for the finance committee and vestry meetings to adopt a 2023 operating budget before January, and state-of-the-parish remarks from the Senior Warden and the Rector. Details including virtual access, agenda, vestry nominee biographical statements, and the voting process will be maintained at gracestlukes.org/annualmeeting2022.

Third Sunday of Advent, 9:15 a.m. Exploring Scripture, Spirituality, Faith, and Journey with the Rev. Lauren F. Winner. Join Episcopal priest and Duke Divinity School professor Lauren Winner for a lively offering and conversation to take us deeper into the richness of scripture, spirituality, faith, and journey. Winner is a popular author of important papers and books including A Word To Live By, Mudhouse Sabbath, Wearing God, Girl Meets God, and Still. In February 2020 at GSL, Winner reflected on The Imagery of Salt and Light in Scripture and offered a lunch-and-learn on The Impact of Anna Julia Cooper and Frederick Douglass on the American Story. The Rev. Winner will preach at the 8 and 10:30 a.m. liturgies.

Fourth Sunday of Advent, 9:15 a.m. Bring a Bible to Journey through the Advent Gospels with the Clergy. The Fourth Sunday of Advent is a perfect time to gather and closely study the gospel according to Matthew before Christmas. The circuitous gospel route of this Advent oddly has readers starting near the end of the book and ending in the first chapter. Bring a Bible to join the clergy and others for fellowship and sacred time with Matthew 24:36-44; 3:1-12; 11:2-11; 1:18-25 before this year’s Christmas Gospel (John 1:1-14).

Worship 3 p.m. Christmas Pageant with Eucharist; 5 and 9 p.m. Festival Choral Eucharist

The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ: Christmas. Worship 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Hymns (only liturgy of the day). Community Fellowship before and after 10:30 a.m. Formation Hour Offerings suspended until January 8.

The Holy Name of Jesus Community Fellowship before and after 10:30 a.m. liturgy (only liturgy of the day). Formation Hour Offerings suspended until January 8.

The Epiphany, Holy Eucharist, 6 p.m. Holy Eucharist and Burning of the Greens, 6 p.m. The 12 days of Christmas ends by celebrating the manifestation of Christ and his divinity and the coming of the Magi. All are invited to Grace-St. Luke’s Church for a Festival Holy Eucharist and Burning of the Greens with homily and music at 6 p.m. Save your Advent and Christmas wreaths and garland to add to the outdoor fire at the end of the service.

First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Bishop’s Annual Visitation. Conversation with the Bishop, 9:30 – 10 a.m. Join the Rt. Rev. Phoebe A. Roaf for a meaningful conversation on the day when candidates for baptism, confirmation, reception, and reaffirmation will be presented. This is an annual occasion to exchange questions and answers and to reflect on the shared work of the Diocese of West Tennessee, The Episcopal Church, The Anglican Communion, and Grace-St. Luke’s Parish. Bishop Phoebe also will preach at 8 and 10:30 a.m. and with the candidates be honored with a festive reception in Trezevant Hall after the 10:30 liturgy.

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, 9:15 a.m. Reflecting on the Christian Ministry of Martin Luther King, Jr., 9:15-10:15 a.m. Come to Trezevant Hall for a presentation and discussion about Dr. King’s commitment to both human and civil rights. Human rights are inherent to all human beings. Civil rights are personal rights guaranteed and protected by the U.S. Constitution and federal laws enacted by Congress. In Jesus, there is no discrimination, which is why Dr. King and countless others walked by faith and not by sight.

Social Justice Afternoon Tour with Memphis Heritage Tours, 1 – 4 p.m. After lunchtime, observe the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend by joining GSL parishioners and guests in learning about and visiting Memphis lynching sites. Dr. Elaine Turner will shepherd this sacred time together.

Solemn Choral Evensong Observing the Feast of Martin Luther King Jr., 5 p.m. One of the ancient and modern aspects of the Anglican/Episcopal tradition is the beautiful service of Choral Evensong (sung Evening Prayer). This commemorative contemplative liturgy led by a member of the clergy and the choir, with hymns sung by the congregation, is enhanced with the burning of incense and includes three lessons appointed for the feast day (Psalm 77:11-20, Exodus 3:7-12, Luke 6:27-36).

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Eucharist, 11:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music, 11:30 a.m. at GSL. A celebration of the Holy Eucharist is one of the most worthwhile ways for Christians to pause on this day to pray, meditate on the appointed lessons, sing hymns, experience powerful music, and gather around God’s Table to share the “holiest of meals.” GSL offers this spiritual practice of our tradition to the Memphis community as one of the sorts of occasions central to the life of Dr. King and his dream for the human family. Spread the word.

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany, 9:15 a.m. Deepening Our Story of Beloved Community – Grace-St. Luke’s unfolding and ongoing learning of its racial history and equity story.