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Movie Night
changed to 1st
Sundays, beginning May 5
th
at 6 p.m.
Effective Sunday May 5
th
, Movie Night will be on 1
st
Sundays of the month. The change was made to avoid the abundant scheduling conflicts which occur in and about Galena on Friday nights.
Our next movie will be
Doubt
starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Viola Davis. All of them were nominated for Academy Awards for their stellar performances in this brilliant portrayal of a struggle between the power of self serving clericalism directed against a strong righteous woman inhibited by a vow of obedience.
This movie, like prior Movie Night features, will serve as a catalyst for a fruitful discussion. Bring your own snack if you wish to (quietly) dine during the movie. Coffee and hot water (for tea) will be provided.
United Churches:
Grace Church will host the UCG board meeting on Thursday morning, May 2, from 10 am-noon.
Canapes & Conversations
Larry & Carol Poston will be hosting at their home at 25 Shorewood in the Galena Territory on Friday, May 17th from 5-7pm. Bring a friend, a nibble and a beverage to share. All are welcome!
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Gathered for the lighting of the new fire and Paschal candle.
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And we're off! Preceded by Thurifer and Boat Boy
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Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen, Indeed, Alleluia!
If you have viewed our FaceBook page or website this week, you have already seen these images of our Easter Sunday celebration. Thanks to Lynn Giles and Phil Jackman for their photography!
What a morning it was--a fitting Day of Resurrection in every sense. Even warmer spring weather than expected, a very full church, a number of young people in our procession and altar party, Music,bells, new fire, praise and rejoicing all around!
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Torchbearers, Boat Boy, Banner Bearer and Bell Ringer awaiting procession
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Top left: banner bearer is behind the banner--really! Bell ringer needs some encouragement.
Top right: birthday blessings
Lower left: The Peace of the Risen Christ!
Lower right: Censing the gifts for Communion
This has been a week of partial rest and much thanksgiving. Rev. Linda Packard will preside on the 28th as I bid a good retirement to my friend, mentor, and colleague at St. Luke's Evanston.
See you in church for the rest of the 50 days of Easter,
Gloria+
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READINGS:
Acts 5:27-32:
The apostles, who were previously arrested and were freed from prison by an angel, are arrested again for refusing to stop preaching about Jesus, and when challenged declare that they must obey God rather than human beings.
Psalm 150: The closing song of the Psalter calling God's people - and all creatures - to praise with everything they have, and to express this praise through all kinds of musical instruments.
Revelation 1:4-8: John's introduction to the Revelation, praises Jesus as the resurrected witness, the one who has given us life, and who is God eternal.
John 20:19-31: Thomas, who is not present at the first appearance of Jesus to the disciples, is confronted with the Risen Christ, and invited to put his doubts to rest. He responds by affirming his faith in the Risen One.
Every day we are faced with a challenging choice as Resurrection People: Will our lives be defined and directed by our faith, and the hopeful celebration that flows from it, or by our fear and cynicism, and the self-protection and conflict that arises from it? In every community, every home and every relationship, our clearest witness to Christ's resurrection is not the words we speak, but the extent to which our lives reflect the trust, joy and welcome of Christ. In the same way that the disciples were inspired by their faith in the resurrection to preach in the face of threats, so we can be inspired to befriend strangers and outcasts, to include the marginalised, and to celebrate in the face of war, violence, crime, poverty, dread disease and climate change - not in flippant denialism, but in defiance of pessimism and death, and in faith that God's life cannot be quenched by the forces of injustice, inequality and evil. In the end, if our lives express the same fear, cynicism, negativity and hostility that we see in the world around us, nothing we say about Christ's resurrection will be heard or believed. It is our capacity to love and celebrate in the midst of life's crises that really witnesses to Christ.
The thumbnails
and reflections excerpted from sacredise.com
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Outreach Ministries Update
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Our next Outreach Red Bag endeavor will be to support
Galena's Women and Friends Making a Difference in their drive to provided feminine products for the women in our community in need. On Sunday, May 5th, the bags will be distributed at church. A suggestion list of what items are wanted will be in each bag. Please return the filled bags two weeks later on Sunday, May 19th. Thank you for your generosity.
United Churches Food Pantry Needs
If you are not already a Food Pantry volunteer, might you consider it? Some of the long term volunteers are wishing to retire. So, there are opportunities available for the 2nd and 4th Thursday distributions (you may sign up for one or both). The
volunteer coordinator is Celeste Mancini at
c_mancini317@sbcglobal.net.
Galena River Sampling Update
Your Grace Episcopal Environmental Committee supported our Galena River sampling project (sampling took place in August of 2017 and May of 2018), and I'm hoping you can share the presentation information below with them - an opportunity to see the results of your/their contribution. Thanks, again, to you and to the committee!
From 5 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17th at the Galena City Hall, scientists from the University of Illinois will be presenting on the water quality sampling they have been doing in Jo Daviess County. Sam Panno, Principal Scientist at the Illinois State Geological Survey and Walt Kelly, Groundwater Science Section Head at the Illinois State Water Survey, will summarize their work sampling springs, wells and the Galena River and explain what we can learn from the results. For questions, please contact Beth Baranski at 563/580-6192 or beth@bhms-arch.com
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Inviting
At its April 16 meeting, the Grace Church Vestry reviewed a goal-setting worksheet prepared on the basis of discussions at the March Vestry retreat, with particular focus on how to increase exposure to Grace through personal invitations to events and activities. The Vestry has placed a high - perhaps its highest -- priority on making this a welcoming and inclusive parish. A first step will be to ask Vestry liaisons to the various Church ministries (Outreach, Christian Formation, and so forth) to review how their projects and sponsored events can maximize the participation of interested parties. Liaisons will be asked to report back to the Vestry at the June meeting.
Transitions
The intention of Pat Terry to step down as choir director later this year has necessitated planning the future of the music program at Grace, in close consultation with musicians and other members. Another transition is better described as an interim: the need to plan for Gloria Hopewell's upcoming sabbatical as rector.... And we are still transitioning to our new building, drawing on advice from others with respect to the installation of artwork, furnishings, maintenance of stained glass windows, and a multi-functional approach to the new space. The Vestry is continuing to monitor these developments and will be reporting in more detail in the weeks ahead.
Resources
Treasurer Richard Luther reported on a modest but welcome balance of income over expenses in March. The full Treasurer's report will posted on the church website and in the parish hall across from the entrance to the lift and can be consulted by interested parishioners.
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Bishop Search Committee 
On Monday, April 22, the Standing Committee of the diocese opened applications for lay leaders and clergy to serve on the Search & Nomination Committee for the Thirteenth Bishop of Chicago. Applications are due by May 3, and the Standing Committee expects to announce the members of the committee on May 22.
Appointment to the 13 person team is open to both lay members and clergy who are able to commit an averages of 10 hours per week for 9 months to this effort that will include at least two weekend retreats as well as having the ability to communicate by e-mail and video meetings. Those interested must submit applications. The Standing Committee will make the selection.
A special Election Convention has been scheduled for June 20, 2020. Diocesan Convention delegates appointed or elected by each parish for the 2019 Convention will also serve at the special convention. That is because the November Convention will not be adjourned but recessed until reconvened in June.
Details along with the application area available on the diocesan website.
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Four of our Ministry of Care Visitors will take part in the first Bishop Anderson House Online Spiritual Care Visitor Training program beginning on
May 4 at Emmanuel Church, Rockford.
In addition to this one day retreat and workshop session, they will spend
six months completing online modules and undertaking practical experience and supervision.
Bishop Anderson House has long provided this kind of lay chaplaincy training but this is the first hybrid program that can be done through online and distance learning.
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1776
The Grand Opera House in conjunction with the Dubuque Corale will be presenting an All-Female Cast, Semi-Staged Concert of "1776" at the Grand on May 4 at 7:30 pm and May 5 at 2:00 pm. Terri Jackman is a member of the cast. Tickets are $20, but you can purchase 2 for the price of 1 until Friday, April 25. Call the Grand Box Office or order on-line.
Grace Church will host three events in May:
May 2: The United Churches of Galena Board Meeting at 10 am in the Fellowship Hall.
May 16: The Rockford Deanery of the Diocese of Chicago at 10 am in the Fellowship Hall.
May 17: The Chicago Athaneum's poetry reading by the winner of the first James Gates Percival Prize for literature in the church from 3-5 pm. Open to the public.
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Vestry Liaisons
V
estry Liaisons' primary purpose is to assure two-way communications between the various ministries and the
Vestry,
to represent the ministries for resources
or
policy issues, and to
support
their
events
an
d activities.
Worship:
Rector
Building and Grounds: Greg Serwich (Sr. Warden 2018-2020)
Worship Committee: Charlotte Stryker (class of 2022)
Formation and Spirituality: Elizabeth Ludescher (class of 2022)
Fellowship & Hospitality: Anita Sands (class of 2021)
Pastoral Care/LEMs: Bonnielynn Kreiser (class of 2020)
Outreach:
Tony Packard (class of 2021)
Communications: Larry Poston (class of 2020)
Governance: Wardens & Rector
Officers: Greg Serwich, Senior Warden
Lynn Giles, Junior Warden,
Richard Luther, Treasurer
Diann Marsh, Clerk
The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Rector
Parish Administrator: Fräni Beadle
Organist/Pianist: Robin French, Nancy Cook
Choir Director: Pat Terry
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For quick reference, find Sunday's readings by clicking here:
The Lectionary
Ministers of the
Service:
Lector:
Lynn Giles
1st Chalicist:
Bill Foltz
Karlyn Van Gelder
Acolyte:
Elizabeth Ludescher
Vestry Coordinator:
Anita Sands
Greeter:
Cathie Elsbree
Altar Guild:
Charlotte Stryker & Pat Golden
LEM:
Tom & Karlyn Van Gelder
Presider:
Rev. Linda Packard
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Easter 3
May 5, 2019
Eucharistic readings
for your own study:
Revelation 5:11-14
Psalm 30
Acts 9:1-6
John 21:1-19
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For a current prayer list, click on the following link:
Grace Prayer List
The
Request For Prayers notebook is in the Narthex/ Entrance area of the Church. Please feel free to request prayers for yourself or others at any time by filling out a form or contacting the office by either phone or email. May we first and always be "a people of prayer."
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7:30 am
Midweek Morning Prayer
8:10 am
Community Breakfast at Victory Café
Cursillo Reunion
St. Francis Room
Morning Bible Study Parish House
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| Wednesdays at 7pm
Saturdays at 10am
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For current and
upcoming events, download a copy of the calendar with this link:
May OR check out the goog
le
calendar on the new website
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4/28 - Potluck
5/5 - Available
R
eminder for hosts:
Napkins and plates
are provided. Use
what you need from
our pantry
.
Remember: Keep it simple. We usually have about 35-40 attending.
**Coffee schedule sign up is on the bulletin board in the Parish House.**
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You can now get information on Formation Ministries directly from the new Grace website at the following links: Children and Youth Adults
Spiritual Practices
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If you are in need of assistance while ill or recovering: meals, transportation, visits, please contact the
Ministry of Care
facilitators:
o Carol Poston
o Charlotte Kennedy who can assist you and connect you with parishioners who have trained and commited to this ministry that includes Parish Visitors, Meals, Rides, as well as the ongoing Servants through Prayer, LEMs, and the Greeting Card ministry.
Ministry of Care Leadership
Team:
Facilitators : Carol Poston, Charlotte Kennedy
Clergy Advisors: Gloria Hopewell, Linda Packard
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DEADLINES !
News and prayer requests:
Sunday
Bulletin --
Wed. end of day.
e-Blast:
Thursday noon.
Anniversaries and Birthdays
Have your celebrations been missed in our bulletins?
Send to Frani.
Thank y
ou!
News and Photos
f
or e-Blast!
People
want to know
what's going on at Grace! T
here are places
here for your
event,
program, or
interesting
tidbit.
Comments on this e-Blast may be sent here.
Audio files of sermons are posted on the Grace Church website as well as in the next week's e-Blast. They also may be found on the church's FB page.
Paper copies are available upon re
quest.
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| Grace Galena Sermon Palm Sunday 2019 |
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| Grace Church Sermon Lent 5C 2019 |
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| Grace Galena Lent 4C 2019 Sermon |
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