Soul School

While most of our regular Soul School programs will continue to meet, our seasonal/special programming at Soul School is taking its annual summer break, and it's the perfect time to give thanks and praise to the fabulous and inspiring duo of Patty Molloy and Mickie Stowell - true "Soul Sisters" — who are stepping down as co-conveners of Soul School. Patty and Mickie coordinated "Tuesdays with Grace" the past three-plus years, bringing us inspirational speakers and presentations to enhance and enliven our faith journeys. They also coordinated special Soul School programs such as the writing workshops with Nora Gallagher, ensuring that all the logistics were care for so that guests felt welcomed, cared for, and fed - literally and spiritually. Next time you see Patty and Mickie, please thank them for their dedication and hard work to make Tuesdays at Grace one of the highlights of Soul School. And, if you or someone you know is interested in helping to coordinate Soul School programs in the future, please contact Rhonda Manville.

Ongoing Soul School Programs

Wednesday Bible Study Group
Eucharist and a study and discussion of scriptures led by Bill Harper at 10:30 am each Wednesday - Candee Heald, 206.842.9997

“Early Readers” Women’s Book Group.
Are you curious about the Book Group? Considering whether you'd like to participate? Come the 3rd Sunday in September, bring a poem to share if you like, but most importantly come to talk about the kinds of books you'd enjoy reading and discussing with other Grace women. For more information contact Dallas Young or Patty Molloy.

Knitting into the Mystery
Open to all, this group will resume meeting on Mondays, beginning September 8th, in the Grace sanctuary at 10 am - Beulah Downing.

Spiritual Discernment

"I didn’t know what to say,
my mouth could not speak, my
ears could not hear,
and something ignited in my soul
fever or unremembered wings
and I went my own way deciphering
that burning fire…"    La Poesie, Neruda

Sometimes, the weight of the world bears down upon us, with questions unanswered about a new step we know we are facing. Spiritual Discernment is a process where an individual meets with "Discerners" who are trained to listen, and to ask open-ended questions that will lead you, to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in discovering an answer.

When you are interested, you may contact one of the people at Grace who is trained in the process of "Holy Listening." At an agreed upon time, a group of three or four discerns will meet with you listen to your concern, your question or your focus. After a time of prayerful silence they will ask questions designed NOT to guide or to give you advice, but to open you to options and perspectives you may not have seen before. Discerners are there to "live the questions" with you, as you walk toward clarity and direction.

Sometimes the answer rests in the room and as the mist clears in a participant's mind, he or she sees and understands the direction more clearly. Other times, a participant leaves this process feeling less burdened, and with more insight, even if the answer is not yet made available. In any case, the participant may decide to meet with the group again. Always, the meetings are entirely confidential.

No concern is too trivial, or too heavy to bring forward. If you are interested, speak to one of the people who are trained in this gentle process, or contact Beulah Downing - 206.780.8008.