Next Steps New Member Classes

Grace UMC is a wonderful place to call your church home. Next Steps is a place to ask questions and learn about the history and ministries of Grace UMC, the United Methodist Church, the Bible, and much more.

For folks who are new to Grace UMC, we highly suggest attending our Next Steps Classes. We offer three different Next Steps classes, three times a year. These classes are not required for membership. RSVPs are deeply appreciated so we can make sure we have enough to eat. You can register for any of the Next Steps classes HERE: www.graceumc-stl.org/nextsteps

Next Steps: Methodist Polity | Sunday, April 12th | 11:45am-1:15pm | Parlor

The United Methodist Church is a connectional system with a rich history. To new folks it can be a bit confusing. This class is an opportunity to talk about how our denomination is structured, how the appointment system works, how we create church law, and most importantly, the massive emphasis on lay leadership. Join Rev. Winter Hamilton and Ruth Sulser (Internal Connections Ministry Coordinator) for a simple meal and a dive into the Methodist connection.

Dinners for Eight

Dinners for Eight is meant to improve fellowship and connection between the members of our congregation, to strengthen bonds outside of regular worship, educational faith formation, and mission/social justice activities. Fellowship is the first priority of this ministry! Groups of 6-9 people gather about once a month for a communal meal. After three months or so, groups are shuffled. Visitors, guests, and people just checking out Grace UMC are welcome to attend! To learn more or sign up, visit https://bit.ly/dinners-for-eight

United Methodist Men's Lenten Breakfast

The United Methodist Men are bringing the Lenten Breakfast back! It will be held in Fellowship Hall  on March 28th  beginning at 9am. Thank you to the United Women in Faith for serving the breakfast and to Rev. Mark Harvey who will speak after the breakfast. If you plan to attend, please RSVP at https://forms.gle/JSRqPtKbEy1pTKE9A.

Vacation Bible School 2026: Snowball Mountain Challenge

Children age 2 ½ through rising 6th graders are invited to participate in Grace UMC’s 2026 Vacation Bible School! VBS will be held at our church July 20th to July 23rd (Monday thru Thursday) from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The cost is $25/child (with a maximum cost of $75/family). Lunch will be provided. Scholarships are available for those in need. For more information or to register, visit https://www.graceumc-stl.org/vbs

Lenten Small Group & Sermon Series:  Tell Me Something Good

Sundays | 9:30 am | Feb. 22-Mar. 29 | Wesley Room | Paul Davis & Sarah Watson | 6 Weeks

Tuesdays | 9:00 am | Feb. 24-Mar. 31 | ZOOM (Meeting ID: 853 7465 9253; Passcode: 285541) | Pastor Winter Hamilton | 6 Weeks

Wednesdays | 6:15 pm | Feb. 25-Apr. 1 | Wesley Room & ZOOM (Meeting ID: 876 8959 8467; Passcode: 263146) | Joe Stout | 6 Weeks

Lent was originally a season for new converts to learn and prepare for their baptism on Easter. During that time, they would study what was central to Christianity. This sermon series and small group study, created by A Sanctified Art, considers what was central to Jesus’ life and ministry: radical welcome, love for neighbor, care for the vulnerable, nourishment for the hungry, nonviolence in the face of injustice. At the heart of Jesus’ teachings, we find liberation, love, mercy, and grace—all of which are meant to be very good news for us all. This Lent, let us remember that the good news really is good news. It is joyful—like fine wine saved for celebration. It grows like a mustard seed and smells like perfume poured from an alabaster jar. It tastes like bread passed endlessly through a hungry crowd. It sounds like laughter and feels like mercy. The good news is alive in the world! Click here for more information on Lent at Grace.

Lenten Adult Short Course:  Treasures of Darkness

Sundays | 9:30 am | Feb. 22-Mar. 29 | Parlor & ZOOM  (Meeting ID: 872 2493 4641; Passcode: 552935) | Alison Long | 6 Weeks

This Lent, join Alison Long as she helps us explore treasures of darkness - how the season of Lent can help us understand, process, and journey through feelings of anxiety, sadness, fear, and grief. We'll consider how learning to sit with them - instead of avoiding or rushing through them - allows us to meet God in the places we most associate with being alone. Each class will look at a blend of scripture, reading selections, and hymns and consider questions for discussion and reflection. There is no homework, and all are welcome!

Raising Principled Children in Challenging Times

Sundays | 9:30 am | April 19, April 26, & May 3rd | Parlor | Phyllis Hershey & Ruth Sulser

Attention new/prospective parents: there's a new short course - designed for you! Raising kids in 2026 can be challenging, so meet with other parents of children 0-5 years old to address topics like Teaching Values, How to Talk to Kids, and Teaching Social Justice to Pre-Schoolers. Come to one class or all three, and give yourself the gift of adult conversation and support from your Grace community. This course is co-led by Phyllis Hershey and Ruth Sulser - reach out to either of them or the church office for more information. 

2026 Book Club Selections

The following titles have been chosen for the 2026 Grace UMC Book Club. Anyone can join the Zoom discussions, which are published monthly in The Good News. Only have time for one book? No problem! All are welcome to the discussions, which begin at 7pm on the dates listed below. Facilitators of the discussions also are listed.

April 7 (Election Day) - Theo of Golden by Allen Levi; Facilitator: Ellen Boone

May 5 - Twice by Mitch Albom; Facilitator: Cheryl Lichti

June 2 - Maisy Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear (first in the series); Facilitator: K. Didion

July 7 - The Correspondent by Virginia Evans; Facilitator: TBD

August 4 - Kin by Tayari Jones; Facilitator: Karen Bahow

September 1 - Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile by Aaron Naparstek, Doug Gordon & Sarah Goodyear; Facilitator: Rev. Dori Hudson

October 6 - Whistler by Ann Patchett; Facilitator: Sally Blackwell

November 3 (Election Day) - The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong; Facilitator: Ellen Boone

December 1 - TBD, either The Last American Roadtrip by Sarah Kendzior or Violet is Blueby Anne Shaw Heinrich; Facilitator: Ruth Sulser (These two authors are either a member at Grace or have connections to others who are members.)

Easter at Grace: Community Volunteer Interest

Easter Sunday is April 5th, and we need lots of extra hands for the big day! If you have a smiling face and don't mind staying after worship on Good Friday or arriving before 10:30 worship on Easter Sunday, we'd love your help. Assistance is needed with set up, clean up, cooking, greeting, kids' activities, and more! Please fill out the form at https://forms.gle/jDSioRHTorT3exni9 to save us from calling you personally and twisting your arm to help out. Remember, God loves a cheerful giver but will take a grumpy one too!

All Faith Prayer Candlelight Vigil

The Social Justice Team is planning an All Faith Prayer Candlelight Vigil at our Grace Church Chapel on Friday, March 20th from 3-7pm. This vigil will create a safe space for the congregation and Skinker DeBaliviere community to pray and meditate in response to escalating national and world events. Come for a few moments or as long as you want during that time. All are invited to come to this quiet reverent space of prayer and meditation.

Sunday Morning Hospitality Team

Are you feeling called to serve on Grace UMC’s Sunday Morning Hospitality Team? Serving on the Sunday Morning Hospitality Team is a wonderful way to share the grace and love of God with all who enter our building! This ministry welcomes newcomers to Grace UMC, ensuring all who enter our building on Sunday morning experience the intentionally open and kind spirit of our congregation. There are multiple opportunities to serve on the Sunday Morning Hospitality Team as either a Greeter or an Usher. To learn more about these roles, please visit www.graceumc-stl.org/hospitality. This page includes a sign up sheet, or you can just show up!

Lift Every Voice: Advocacy Scripts from the Social Justice Team

Grace UMC's Social Justice Team has been sending out Lift Every Voice emails to make it easier to make your voice heard on important legislative issues. Each email includes a quick, concise explanation of one concerning issue, a link for more detailed information, a list of names and associated emails/phone numbers of appropriate elected officials, and a pre-written script to use or ignore at your discretion. Click here to sign up and access previous issues.

LGBTQ+ Legislation E-Mail List

Are you an LGBTQ+ person or ally who is frustrated by the many actions of the Missouri Legislature that are crushing trans rights? Your Social Justice Team is offering you an opportunity to join an email group to respond quickly when the legislators try to ram through anti-LGBTQ+ bills with very little input from their constituents. We will watch these bills carefully and let you know when a bill is coming up for testimony.  We will make it as easy as we can to help you learn to call or email the members of committees and your personal representatives. If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your questions or your desire to be added to this list to shelleypropst@gmail.com.

NAMIWalks 2026

Each year, Grace member Jimmy Pace leads a NAMIWalks team to raise awareness and funds for people with mental illness. NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which provides educational tools related to mental health. This year's NAMIWalks will take place on Saturday, May 16th from 9am to 12:30pm, starting at the Tremayne Shelter in Creve Coeur Park (13725 Marine Ave, 63146).

To participate, join Jimmy's team "UnitedStatesoftheMind" or make a donation to help Jimmy reach his $27,000 fundraising goal. If you'd prefer to donate by check, checks can be made out to: NAMI St. Louis, 12125 Woodcrest Exec Dr, Ste 205, St. Louis, MO 63141, EIN: 43-1143899.

LuMin College Ministry: Sunday Nights at the Campus House

Join LuMin College Ministry at LuMin House (7019 Forsyth Blvd.) for Upper Room Worship @ 7:30 pm and Fellowship Gathering @ 8:30pm. No experience necessary. You are welcome. Visit www.lcmstl.org for more information. Contact Pastor Tina, Campus Pastor, at 314-626-3202 or pastorluminstl@gmail.com.

LuMin Weekly Campus House Events

Join us on Fridays at 6pm at LuMin House (7019 Forsyth Blvd.) 

Movie & Chill: Mar 27, Apr 24
Game Night: Apr 10

Craft & Bake: Mar 20, Apr 17