[In a world that seems increasingly chaotic and broken, many of us feel helpless and afraid. We may question what we can do to make a difference. To build collective courage, in this space we will share examples of how individual members of GEC are practicing the way of Jesus, in private action or in the public arena. How might you find inspiration and hope in the small steps others are taking?]

"Not voting is not a protest. It is a surrender." - Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General

"Voting is a great way to put your faith and values into action. It is never too early to start making your plan to vote." -submitted by Joe L.

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Tags: Faith in action, Voting

Friends,

Yesterday, Dave Larson preached a powerful sermon that wrestled with his 'childhood preachers' and their focus on sin. Unpacking the Genesis story of temptation and the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, Dave shared that "this isn't a story about sin. It's a story about love." Listen here.

That love is real good news - not just for our relationship with God but for our relationship with our neighbors. So many of us have been praying, demonstrating, feeding and protecting our neighbors, and joining in other forms of political action in response to Operation Metro Surge. That operation, which purports to be over, has definitely not actually ended: ICE, CBP, and other federal organizations have moved operations into the suburbs, changed tactics, and gone underground compared to a few weeks ago. The news media may have moved on, but our neighbors and friends who felt targeted before would be right to wonder if they are yet safe to go to work, to the grocery store, to doctor's appointments. Volunteers are wondering when and how to taper off.

As much as we'd like the situation to be definitively over, there is going to be a 'long tail' of residual effects, compounded by the lost trust in official communications.

As those impacts linger, what will it look like for our city and our state to 'recover?' All of us will be asking this question in the coming days.

I'd love to hear from you on this question: What does healing (or even just getting back to normal) look like when the harm might be continuing in a new form? As individuals, as a congregation, as a wider civic community? What resources do we need to tap into to practice the way of Jesus in this season?

If you have thoughts to share, hit 'reply' and let me know. If you give me permission to share your words, I'll include in next week's email.

With love,
Susan+


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Lent 2026 at Grace: The Welcoming Prayer
The Welcoming Prayer is an embodied, contemplative practice that helps us enter the present moment, in the presence of God.

Here's what it boils down to:
I let go of my desire
for security, affection, and control,
and I embrace this moment just as it is.

As we navigate the extraordinary challenges of these days in Minnesota and across the country, the Welcoming Prayer can be a powerful tool to help us ground ourselves in God’s loving embrace so that we can respond, rather than react, to the instability and uncertainty around us.

Once you’ve learned the practice, it can be a tool to connect with your body, your soul, and your faith anywhere you go, in any moment, no matter what you’re feeling. Find out more.

Tags: Rev Susan, Recovery, neighbors, Healing

Friends,

The Welcoming Prayer often evokes strong feelings in me, and likely many of you.

Here's what it boils down to:
I let go of my desire
for security, affection, and control,
and I embrace this moment just as it is.

Woof. Frankly: Security, affection, and control are things I'd prefer to hang on to all the time. This prayer is uncomfortable.

We all want to feel safe, to feel loved, and to feel like we have some control over our lives. We take all kinds of steps in pursuit -- so much so that we can easily find ourselves chasing security or affection or control or all three in destructive ways. As the Rev. Anna Broadbent-Evelyn said in her homily yesterday: sometimes things get in the way of our relationship with God, our source, and we need to shuv, repent, return to God.

The Welcoming Prayer grows out of the deep roots of the Christian contemplative tradition, inviting us to become more aware of the Holy Spirit's work in us in the midst of fear, loneliness, and loss of control. Letting go of the ways we chase those false idols, we can say yes to following the Way of Jesus.

In this season of Lent, I invite you to try on the Welcoming Prayer. It isn't comfortable; it is a way to have an honest connection with God in the midst of the incredible instability of life in these times in this place. Get all the information you need and register now here.

With love,
Susan+


Transfiguration Drama!
Last Sunday, members of Grace of all ages presented a drama for us — bringing life to the story of the Transfiguration. You can watch here.

A big thank-you to all those who participated, especially Liz Athorn and Louise Robinson who pulled it all together!

Tags: Rev Susan, Prayer, welcome, Return, Lent

[ In a world that seems increasingly chaotic and broken, many of us feel helpless and afraid. We may question what we can do to make a difference. To build collective courage, in this space we will share examples of how individual members of GEC are practicing the way of Jesus, in private action or in the public arena. How might you find inspiration and hope in the small steps others are taking? ]

"This year I took the opportunity to participate in the Minnesota precinct caucus process. Although not the first time for me it’s actually been about 20 years since I last attended one. What I saw this year was incredible."

"Reporting reveals Minnesota precinct caucuses on February 3, 2026, saw a significant, historic increase in attendance for both DFL and Republican parties across the state, exceeding typical midterm turnout with many first-time attendees. High engagement was driven by local and national issues, resulting in packed, standing-room-only locations. It was encouraging to see this at my own caucus location in Minneapolis. We ran out of chairs."

"The political process is one way that we can put our faith and values into action. I was encouraged to see such participation with my own eyes. Coming soon: voting in primary elections!" --submitted by Joe L.

Tags: politics, Voting, Faith in action

This Lent, join us in a simple daily prayer practice.
The Welcoming Prayer is an embodied, contemplative practice that helps us be with what is happening in the present moment, in the presence of God. Once you’ve learned the practice, it can be a tool to connect with your body, your soul, and your faith anywhere you go, in any moment, no matter what you’re feeling. As we navigate the extraordinary challenges of these days in Minnesota and across the country, the Welcoming Prayer can be a powerful tool to help us ground ourselves in God’s loving embrace so that we can respond, rather than react, to the instability and uncertainty around us.

What’s the Welcoming Prayer?
From ContemplativeOutreach.org:

The Welcoming Prayer is a method of consenting to God’s presence and action in our physical and emotional reactions to events and situations in daily life. The purpose of the Welcoming Prayer is to deepen our relationship with God through consenting in the ordinary activities of our day — “consent-on-the-go.”

How to Practice the Welcoming Prayer:
Three basic movements
1: Feel and sink into what you are experiencing this moment in your body.
2: “Welcome” what you are experiencing this moment in your body as an opportunity to consent to the Divine Indwelling.
3: Let go by saying “I let go of my desire for security, affection, control and embrace this moment as it is.”

To join in:
—Get the booklet (includes 40 short meditations, one for each day in Lent.)
Print copies available at church starting on February 15
Encourage you to get the digital download here
Open the file in the ‘books’ app on your device so that it will save your page/progress from day to day.
—Set aside 5 - 10 minutes each day to read from the booklet and engage with the practice
—Register here to join in a weekly zoom call to reflect on the practice. Tuesdays, beginning February 17, at noon. Anyone can drop in at any time, and if you’re able to make this part of your weekly schedule, you’ll find a kind and curious community of folks practicing together.

Lenten Devotions for All Ages
Another option for you this Lent: journey with Jesus through short, meaningful daily devotions written by Latino leaders from across the Episcopal Church. Available in English and Spanish, the reflections invite readers of all ages to explore God’s Word, shared burdens, and hope in Christ. With discussion questions included, it’s a wonderful resource for individuals, families, and intergenerational groups to share together. Pick up your copy in the Commons!

A prayer for all of us as we enter this season:
God of wandering and wonder, you lead your people through trackless places
And speak in the hush between wind and sand.
Guide us this Lent through deserts of our own hearts, that we may find the springs you have planted there
and walk the path that leads to life, through Christ our Way and our shelter. Amen.
—Many thanks to Bonita LaDuca for writing this prayer and this season’s Prayers of the People.

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Tags: Prayer, contemplative, welcome, control

Acknowledging the good you already have in your life
Is the foundation for abundance.
—Eckhart Tolle

When we started our stewardship campaign last year, we hoped to achieve an 11% increase in annual giving for 2026. We were really amazed by your response—a 15% increase! But that wasn’t the end of giving for the year. Our conversations in the fall around Our Money Story generated some energy about other donations.

In November and December, we received FOUR anonymous, unsolicited additional gifts:

• one to get us over the hump of a key immediate property project (making the balcony suitable for seating on Christmas. Go up and take a look some Sunday.),
• $5,000 to improve A/V (which is already underway so that the mics don’t cut out and we’ll be able to live stream services),
• $20,000 to do improvements to our Commons (a refresh to make the space more welcoming and useful. More information will follow about this in the next few months.),
• and another $10k for “whatever the rector needs.”

This is so amazing! We are truly blessed here at Grace. Please join us in thanks to God for these gifts and the wonderful community which we continue to create.

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Tags: abundance, stewardship, Finances