Ecumenical Gatherings
Our congregation knows that the work of God cannot be done by any one person or congregation – God calls us all to be one in Christ and to be in community with one another! We are deeply committed to our ecumenical bonds with our siblings in faith in the Columbia Gorge, and we gather for worship, meals, and study together on a regular basis.
Advent & Lent Midweek Gatherings
During the seasons of Advent and Lent, we partner with our friends from St. Mark’s Episcopal for a midweek evening gathering of a soup supper, scripture study, and evening prayer service. Spirit of Grace hosts these gatherings during Advent, and St. Mark’s hosts during Lent – however, all are invited to pop in and join these evening gatherings, regardless of church membership or affiliation!
Advent Midweek Gathering: Wednesdays in Advent, 5-7pm at Spirit of Grace
Lenten Midweek Gathering: Wednesdays in Lent, 5-7pm at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Monthly Meal
Throughout the year, we partner with our fellow progressive siblings in faith to take turns hosting a gathering we call the “Monthly Meal.” The host church offers a simple meal, leads a scripture or other kind of reflective text study, and leads an evening worship service that highlights the practices of their faith tradition. If you’re looking for a church home in the Columbia Gorge, these monthly gatherings are a great way to get to experience a variety of communities and faith traditions!
The Monthly Meal gathers on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 5-7pm.
Outdoor Ecumenical Summer Worship
Every July, we gather with our friends from Riverside UCC, Bethel UCC, and the Mid-Columbia Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for an annual outdoor worship service down by the Columbia River waterfront! The service is composed of a variety of prayers, readings, reflections, and special music, concluding with an extravagant and abundant potluck lunch!
MLK Celebration Service
Each year we take part in organizing a celebration service to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., recommitting ourselves to the work of bringing about the “Beloved Community” that he proclaimed. This community celebration service is held on MLK day at Riverside Community Church. Other elements of the celebration include a community choir, seminars/discussions, and an abundant community meal for all to share.
Community Thanksgiving Meal
Each year a team of community members comes together to plan a Community Thanksgiving Meal to ensure that all of our neighbors are able to partake in a meal of abundance on this day of gratitude. Spirit of Grace is a proud sponsor of this event, hosted at Riverside Community Church, and participates as part of the planning team.
GEM Monthly Lunch & Learns
GEM is our local ecumenical/interfaith network, connecting communities of faith to community partners so we can work together in our shared values. GEM hosts monthly Lunch & Learn events in the Spirit of Grace Fellowship Room for folks to come and connect with one another and hear from a speaker about a local community organization or project.