Whether you find yourself longing for the warmth of summer, September is here with the signs of fall. We're feeling the cooler temperature, seeing leaves beginning to change, and noticing even the smell in the air is different. With September comes the shift from summer into full-school mode for many, including our church family life.

Fall sports and activities give us life and help us to experience delight. You may be sporting new backpacks or shoes and so you're feeling the excitement of a new academic year. Fall for Families at Grace will be inviting us to engage our senses in and out of our church building. Each month we will offer a Family Fellowship Event aimed to create the time and space to be community together. In September, we will swim at the Cross's pool and play outdoor games. In October, we hope to visit Loving Acres farm. In November, we will play games and make and share meal together.

You will notice new Worship Bags featuring our church logo hanging near each entrance into worship. These will be filled with Worship Enrichment for children to use during our services. The aim of these is that they are returned at the end of each week to be used again and again. If you or your child wants your own bag to fill, we will be offering these for purchase.

Looking ahead, please know that there will be integrated approaches to our Welcome Table gatherings on Wednesday nights, music, art, and story filling our Sunday School hour for our PreK+Kindergarden Class and 2nd-5th grade Class. We hope to see everyone joining into the gatherings and fellowship activities we've planned. AND all are welcome. If you long to play like a child, come. If you want to explore the world through being present to our families, come.

While some of our faith traditions continue, new spaces to engage our hands in mission and ministry will begin to take shape. It's an exciting time for our Families and wider church Family at Grace Baptist Church. Let us love and serve the Lord as one.

peace. light.
Rev. Suzanne L. Vinson