Grace First Sunday Breakfast Ministry offers a low cost, breakfast fare on the first Sunday of each month from October to May. The menus vary monthly and feature one of the following: pancakes, waffles, French toast. These are most often served with scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, fresh fruit and of course include breakfast beverages. This ministry is coordinated by Bill Audley and his crew of cooks, servers, and cashiers.

Grace in the Desert has been holding Foyer Dinner Groups since 2000; it has been a fantastic way to meet our community and develop friendships. It is hoped that they can begin again early 2022.

Foyer groups are formed at a parish potluck dinner where groups of 8 -10 congregants come together to plan gatherings in their homes or group outings four (4) or five (5) times during the year. WE encourage balancing groups to include people they do not yet know and making sure there are newcomers in each group.

Foyer Groups are special way to meet members of our church community in more intimate settings. It is amazing how varied and interesting our parish is. We also learn how much we have in common as come to Grace for this wonderful Christian community.

If interested in joining a Foyer Group or wanting more information contact: Margie Turner

Grace in the Desert holds a simple hospitality on the second through last Sundays of each month from September through May. Coffee Hour follows the 10:3am service and usually begins at 11:30am and ends at 12:30pm. There is a list of congregants who are willing to sign up and bring simple breakfast items such as coffee cake, croissants, and cobblers, yogurt and juice. Grace provides coffee and water. Often items are left in the freezer and dated and labeled for use at coffee hour. A basket is placed on the table for goodwill offerings to support the ministry and given to the business office. A description of the Hospitality responsibilities is available.

The Men’s Breakfast meets for fellowship and prayer once a month on the 3rd Saturday for an hour from September to May in the Parish Hall. This group has traditionally assisted the Jr. Warden with short term heavy lifting and set up in the Parish Hall or church. In December, both Men’s and Women’ Breakfast host a Christmas Brunch usually on first or second Saturday in December.

The Grace Ministry Fair (formerly called Homecoming) is an annual event that includes all active inward and outward facing ministries authorized by the Vestry. This Ministry meets in September usually a week following the opening of ‘Sunday School’. It is held between both Sunday Services. Those involved include all Vestry authorized ministries and it is a day to celebrate the good works done at Grace in the Desert and to invite newcomers and congregants to become active in our church. Each ministry has responsibility for keeping its ministry up to date on the church website by notifying communications@graceofsummerlin.org

Welcoming new guests to Grace in the Desert calls us to live into our mission “to be a growing and inclusive community of faith.” Our guests are God's weekly gift to us. The challenge of integrating guests into a worship community requires a commitment to making all who enter our sanctuary feel welcome.

A series of tools are employed to accomplish this:

• A member of the newcomers team is available at the beginning of each service to help greeters, helping parishioners with their nametags and giving them a special welcome.
• After the service, team members are at the back to assist clergy in greeting our new members and guests and escorting them to coffee hour.
• Offering introduction to our communication venues.
• Arranging a quarterly newcomer event to welcome the newest group and ask our ministries to speak about their work and present at this event.

The Reading with Grace Book Club (BC) meets on the second Thursday of the month from September to May on Zoom. A book list is established three months ahead of time. The discussion is lead by the person who suggested the title.

1. Communicate with all the members in the Parish through the church communication tools.
2. Coordinate the next lead.
3. Keep a log of the suggested titles.
4. Keep website description of this group up to date.

The Women’s Breakfast meets once a month on the 2^nd Saturday or an hour from September to May in the Parish Hall. In December, both Men’s and Women’ Breakfast host one combined Christmas Brunch usually on first or second Saturday.

1. Communicate with all the women in the Parish through the church communication tools.
2. Request a Food Coordinator for the month and have her recruit woman to bring things for a coordinated breakfast menu. This team does set up and cleanup with help from the members gathered.
3. Provide an agenda for the hour. Opening prayer circle, announcements and upcoming things of interest ask for the Food Coordinator for the next month.. Take your own minutes or appoint someone to do this at each meeting for you.
4. Follow up on anything that is necessary.
5. Keep website description of this group up to date.

Note: It has been a custom to hold in home breakfasts during June, July and August. These have been attended by fewer people. A break for the summer may be advisable. This would be a group decision.

During Advent, there is a combined Men’s & Women’s Brunch, so the breakfast is not held.