Greetings!
Every year around this time, we pause to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. Even if our path seems bumpy or foggy, we look for the good that surrounds us: It is a sign of God's grace.
As we begin the process of calling an interim rector (and eventually, a permanent rector) to lead our community, let us recognize that this is a special opportunity to love and serve God and one another more deeply. The things we do together over the next few years will affect Grace Church far into the future. Every one of us has an important role to play, a role that we can discover on the way and, with God's help, find fulfilling.
Grace Church needs you today
. Your gifts of time, talent, and treasure really make a difference. The vitality of our community depends on your generous financial support as well as your gifts of time and energy. Will you join us in making a commitment to Grace?
Why do we love Grace Church?
Over the summer, members of the vestry and the stewardship team pondered some questions about our church. The initial responses reveal an overwhelming sense of love. What would you add?
- Grace is a very generous congregation that is not uncomfortable about their need to know God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in a deeper way.
- Our music is outstanding and constitutes a significant outreach to the wider community.
- Grace members are prayerful in a number of ways.
- Our children's music programs truly make a difference in the lives of so many young people.
- The strength of Grace Church is its diverse congregation. We have a safe place to deal with important challenges in our society, especially racism and social justice. Our approach to these challenges is shaped by our belief in God and the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
People also named other ways Grace Church makes a difference in people's lives, both here at home and farther away. Grace's support of organizations such as PADS/Housing Forward and St. Luke's, our partner parish in Renk, Sudan, is deeply appreciated. The parishioner-led Black History Month Luncheon, which has provided generous support to local needs and to our companion Diocese of Renk, is yet another reason people love Grace.
2016 In Review
During 2016, thanks to the support of people like you, the congregation was able to complete several projects to preserve and protect our beautiful church building, including:
- Replacing the roof on the parish house
- Replacing the range in the kitchen
- Installing energy-efficient exterior lighting
- Retiling the floor and painting the men's room, refinishing the doors to the men's room and to the parish hall, and updating and painting the former acolyte room and the vesting room on the second floor, thanks to parishioners Lillian Hohmann and Geoffrey Roupas
Your support also makes the following ongoing programs possible, among others:
- Each Wednesday evening from September to May, the parish hosts PADS/Housing Forward, with parishioners offering hot meals and a safe place to sleep for homeless neighbors.
- The parish hosts several 12-step and self-help program groups weekly, as well as seasonal chess camps, the annual Handel Week, and other events that serve the community around us.
- Our new weekly adult formation program, which includes monthly "Big Picture Bible Study" sessions led by Fr. Peter and weekly lay-led presentations.
- Youth formation, including Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for younger children and J2A for tweens and teens, now enjoys a full hour each week, thanks to parishioners' generosity in adjusting the Sunday morning schedule. Your support has also made it possible for Grace Church to recruit catechists and fund their training and certification.
- A growing number of young adults enjoy the regular activities of the 20s-30s group.
- Education for Ministry saw two adults graduate from the four-year program in the spring. This term, 11 learners and two mentors meet weekly to grow in knowledge and faith. The monthly Benedictine Experience and Book Study Group also offer opportunities for spiritual growth.
Also in 2016, our parish administrator, Douglas VanHouten, redesigned the parish's website, www.graceoakpark.org, making this important part of Grace's hospitality even more attractive and useful.
The music ministry of Grace continues to touch hearts and souls. In November, parish musician Dr. Dennis Northway led the Grace Choir in his new Requiem, composed during his sabbatical last year. The Schola youth choir is celebrating its 22nd season this year. In December, thanks to your support and the assistance of many volunteers and staff, the Madrigals will continue the beloved tradition of presenting the Boar's Head Feast.
Finally, parishioners came together during November to begin a deep and thoughtful discussion of the leadership transition at Grace. This is the first of many steps we will be taking together to build trust and strengthen the bonds between and among the members of the congregation, its lay leaders, and its clergy.
Our Clergy and Staff
Our clergy and lay staff are highly trained professionals who empower our ministry, thanks to your faithful support.
- We are grateful to the Rev. Peter Siwek, who has served us as our priest since April. Soon, Grace Church will call an interim rector who will guide us through a prayerful process of congregational "re-formation" that will lead to our calling a permanent rector.
- Our parish musician, Dr. Dennis Northway, has served Grace devotedly for more than 22 years. In addition to leading the Adult Choir, the Schola children's choir, the Madrigals teen choir, and other music and dance groups that enhance our worship, he keeps Grace in the public spotlight by leading the Handel Week Festival each winter and the 6:26 concerts each summer.
- Our parish administrator, Douglas VanHouten, has been tending to the business affairs of Grace Church for 17 years. He takes care of parish communications, including the website and Facebook page, finance, facilities rental, and scheduling.
- Our director of Christian formation, Kendall Batten Kalantzis, now in her second year, has strengthened the volunteer network supporting children's formation and launched the weekly Sunday adult forums.
- Our sexton, Zac Lowing, also in his second year, works hard to keep our beautiful church gleaming.
Why Pledge?
Episcopalians in the United States support their parishes with their pledges. Unlike congregations in some other denominations or traditions, Episcopal parishes are not financially supported by their dioceses or other sources; Episcopal parishes are solely supported by their parishioners.
A pledge to Grace Church is a promise to share our blessings with our brothers and sisters and friends and neighbors through our faith community. Making our pledge allows us to reflect on the ways that we, as individuals and as a community, can share some of what God has given us. Our pledges also make it possible for Grace to plan for worship, outreach, formation, staffing, and property upkeep through the year ahead. Your pledge, then, is a promise to yourself, to the faith community of Grace Church, and to our community at large.
Determining Your Pledge to Grace
How much to give? That answer is completely up to you. As you think about your pledge for 2017, please prayerfully consider "proportional giving." In other words, think about what percentage of your annual income you might offer to God by supporting the ongoing ministries of Grace Church.
If this is your first time pledging - thank you! You will discover that this form of regular giving is a spiritual practice that will bear fruit in many ways, no matter what amount you choose to pledge.
If you are renewing your pledge, please prayerfully consider whether you could increase your pledge by $5, $10, or $20 per week. For some of us, that might be a stretch right now. But for some others, that increase might be easier to handle this year than in the past.
And as you make your pledge, no matter what amount you choose, please remember that every dollar will go a long way toward supporting Grace's ministries throughout the year. You might think that your individual or family pledge can't possibly make a real difference in the life of Grace Church. But it does! And it will continue to bless you, Grace Church, and our community for years to come.
How to Make and Fulfill Your Pledge
Pledge forms will be gathered and blessed on Sunday, December 11, 2016.
You may also download a pledge form at this link, and mail it to the address printed on the form. Thank you!
In gratitude,
Your Stewardship Team
