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grace episcopal church
galena, illinois
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Sunday March 14, 2021
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Ministers of the Service
Rev. LInda Packard, Presider
Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Preacher
Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
Carmen Ferguson, Lector
Donna Davis, Intercessor
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Robin French, Music Director
Nancy Cook, Erben Organ
Phil Jackman, Vestry Coordinator
Debbie Kallback, Altar Guild
Charlotte Stryker, Greeter
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All Holy Week services will be offered in-person and on Zoom. We are awaiting a possible update to our COVID restriction guidelines from the diocese after which details may be finalized. Meanwhile, it is very important that you make your reservations for these services. Use the same link as above for Sundays.
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The Schedule (more details to follow)
Palm Sunday--March 28, 10:30 am
Weather permitting, a safely distanced palm procession with Eucharist.
Maundy Thursday -- April 1, 7 pm
Foot Washing, Communion, Stripping of Altar and Reposition of Sacrament to the “Garden of Repose”
Good Friday -- April 2, 7 pm
Liturgy of the Passion with Veneration of the Cross and Communion from the reserved sacrament
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INNOVATION. A word I've been seeing around a lot lately in my churchwide communications, Facebook threads, and podcast offerings. It is, of course, directed toward all that we have been called upon to do during what is now a full week of pandemic adjustments. A trip back to my computer archives the other day reminded me--not entirely pleasantly--of our first weeks of online worship. We have come a long way, and now that we are in full hybrid mode, I expect that there will be more adjustment to come as hybrid becomes a longer term way of life for us and other congregations.
In my personal life, a rather amusing story of innovation. I left Galena on Sunday for an expected two days in Chicago to celebrate my younger son's birthday. Almost exactly half way, my exhaust system decided to crash and drag along the pavement. As I was about to crawl underneath, duct tape in hand, a very nice man came to my aid. We searched the car for some kind of wire with which to temporarily secure the exhaust pipe. The only thing I had was a string of Christmas tree lights. So, that is what he used. And by some miracle, the plastic did not melt on the final 1 1/2 of my trip, so I made it--though rather noisily. Innovation.
Now, as we move forward to Holy Week, I really do need your feedback. So far, most who have responded are those who have already returned to in-person church. Please, please take a moment to check into this survey below if you have not done so. Simply click on the yellow bar that best represents your thoughts. (I can't seem to change the text color on the bars--each just says "Select.") Thank you for helping us plan.
See you in church or on Zoom!
Gloria+
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When will I return to the church building?
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After I have had my vaccinations
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After herd immunity is reached
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Just occasionally; I like worshiping from home
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Important Links:
Office Hours
9:00am-Noon, Tuesday through Friday
Rector Office Hours
10:30am-3:00pm Tuesday through Thursday
Mondays and other times by appointment
Events this Week:
Monday 3/15
Poetry Group online 2:00pm
EfM online 6:30pm
Tuesday 3/16
Vestry Meeting online 9:00am
Wednesday 3/17
Midweek Worship online and
in-person 7:30am
Morning Study Group online 10:30am
Thursday 3/18
Ministry of Care online 10:00 am
RBM Yarn Ministry online 1:30pm
Lenten Zoom 'n' Study online 6:30pm
Friday 3/19
Centering Prayer online 9:00am
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From Episcopal News Service
The Episcopal Church, in partnership with RenewalWorks, a ministry of Forward Movement, is offering My Way of Love, a free, eight-week email series that provides personalized suggestions for spiritual growth based on the seven practices of the Way of Love. Each email in the series includes ideas on how to pray, engage with scripture, and practice the Way of Love regularly. ““It uses the RenewalWorks individual spiritual inventory and links it with the Way of Love to provide a practical and meaningful spiritual growth plan for Episcopalians.
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LENTEN WORSHIP and PROGRAMS
LENT 4 Worship
READINGS:
Numbers 21:4-9: The people of Israel complain about being in the desert because there is no food or water and they don’t like the food God has provided. Then a plague of snakes attacks them and they ask for forgiveness and salvation. God instructs Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole so that anyone who is bitten by a snake can look at the bronze snake and be healed.
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22: A song of praise for God who punished those who, in their foolishness disobeyed and rebelled, but who forgave and saved them when they called out to God.
Ephesians 2:1-10: Though we once followed the ways of the world and were dead in our sins, deserving judgement like anyone else, God saved us through Christ, as an act of grace that we did not earn. But God has created us to do good works in Christ.
John 3:14-21: As the snake was lifted up on a pole in the desert, so Christ is to be lifted up so that all who seek to be saved may look to him. God sent him into the world to save, not condemn, but those who love darkness rather than light are already condemned, because they want to keep their actions hidden and not have them exposed.
The primary theme of the Rector's sermons on Lenten Sundays this year will be the covenants between God and God's people from the Hebrew Scriptures.
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ZOOM 'n' STUDY on Thursday Evenings
The Logistics: The program begins each Thursday at 6:30 pm. There will also be an optional "chat time" beginning at 6 pm. An invitation with the link will be sent out early in the week.
The Study: The book and video series will be The Walk by Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, one of the fastest growing, most highly visible churches in the country. He says:
March 18: "Share" Hosted by Grace Episcopal Church
March 25: "Five Practices from the Cross" Hosted by Galena United Methodist
Church
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Beginning February 24th we will be discussing our reaction(s) to the previous seven days' (Wednesday to Tuesday) meditations from our
Grace Lenten Meditations Booklet: what resonated with you, why, further elaborations and related concepts that came to mind, etc.
This group meets on Zoom at 10:30 am each Wednesday.
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MEDITATIVE PRAYER 9:00am Fridays
Looking for a way to improve your prayer life, to open your heart, mind and soul to the Holy Spirit? Consider joining the Centering Prayer Group Friday mornings for about forty minutes of meditative prayer: twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by Lectio Divina.
Contact Greg Serwich (gserwich@gmail.com) for a Zoom invitation which includes a description of these types of prayer.
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ZOOM POETRY GROUP
A Zoom Poetry meeting from Grace Church has been organized and meets online on Mondays at 2:00pm. This is not specifically a Grace ministry, but a number of Grace members and friends are part of it If you are interested, write Carol Poston at poston@sxu.edu
or call her at 815-777-0220.
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SINSINAWA PROGRAM ON NATIVE AMERICAN TOPICS
Ho-Chunk History , Past Present and Future – Tuesday, March 16 – 7-8 p.m. CST –
William “Naawacekgize” Quackenbush, member of the Deer Clan and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, will speak about the continual presence of the Ho-Chunk in the Driftless Area.
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3rd Sunday of Lent 3/7/2021: Penitential Order: Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider, Rev. Deacon Diane Luther, Preacher; Bill Foltz, Intercessor; Greg Serwich, Lector
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Second Sunday of Lent- 2/28/2021-Penitential Order: Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider, Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon; Terri Jackman, Lector; Richard Luther, Intercessor
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Lenten Wednesday Eucharist 3/3/2021: Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider, Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon; Tom VanGelder, Intercessor/Lector
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Reopening Church (Limited)
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Hybrid worship has resumed for both in-person and Zoom congregations. Since our region is in Phase 4 of the State of Illinois COVID recovery, we are able to offer 21 spaces in the nave with a maximum of 32 people. Each space can accommodate one single or a couple who live in the same household.
For those wishing to attend in-person, reservations are required. You may reserve by going to reserve.
If you are assigned to an Altar Party role where you will be sitting in the Chancel, you need not reserve. All others, such as lectors, musicians, vestry coordinators, greeters, and altar guild do need to reserve.
On Sunday morning, you will come to the Parish House door where a Greeter will check your name(s) off on a list and admit you to the building where you will proceed into the nave to find an empty seat that is designated by a bulletin.
Please review this summary of COVID precautions in worship: 10 COMMANDMENTS
Pews that are not to be used are closed off by lengths of ribbon. There are hand sanitizer stations at the entrance and also at the back of the nave.
Those who will join us on Zoom will receive the usual e-mail invitation with a link to the day's bulletin.
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Vestry:
Lynn Giles, Senior Warden
Richard Luther, Jr. Warden
Richard Luther, Treasurer
Crystal Mason, Clerk
The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Rector
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Staff:
The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Rector
The Rev. Linda Packard, Priest Associate
The Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
Nancy Kenney, Parish Administrator
Robin French, Music Director
Nancy Cook, Erben Organist
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Charlotte Stryker: Worship
Elizabeth Ludescher: Communications
Nancy Cook: Outreach
Eric Kallback: Building & Grounds
Crystal Mason: Pastoral Care
Phil Jackman: Fellowship/Parish Life
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