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 November 11, Veterans Day
This year is the 100th anniversary of the end of the "war to end all wars," WWI.
Even as we pray for war and conflict to cease, let us hold in our prayers all who have served in the Armed Forces, those who gave their lives, those who were --and are--injured, and all whose
sacrifices have made it possible for us to live and worship as we choose.
Pledge Ingathering and Consecration
will be Sunday, November 18th. A letter including a pledge card is in the mail to each household. Please review the material and prayerfully decide how you are called to support the mission and ministry of Grace Church.
Bring your pledge card on the 1
8th!
Extra copies of the mailings are available in the office.
St. Andrew's Day Celebration
is also coming up Sunday, November 18th. There will be kilts, bagpipes, and a special coffee hour of Scottish goodies!
Thanksgiving Worship
Join us in giving thanks for all of God's blessings on Thanksgiving morning. At 9:30 am, we gather in the Chapel for a simple service of Eucharist and familiar Thanksgiving hymns.
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We have just a very brief moment, after the celebrations of the past two weeks, to catch our breath. But just a brief moment, as we are on the threshold of the holiday period. As Thanksgiving approaches, I hope your quiet moments will include deep thanks to God for our rich harvest at Grace. The seeds were planted, fed, and tended, and now, we have an abundance fruit to be shared! What a blessing we have been given with our new building! And what an opportunity to use it in ways that further God's realm! It has already paid off when we see those in our own congregation present for our fellowship and formation events who have previously been unable to navigate the treacherous path across the street. What a joy to witness this!
And that is just the beginning. Who else can we invite and welcome? Who else might we invite to participate in the life of the parish, to seek and to question in our formation programs, to worship and pray in the rhythm of the church year coming to a close and beginning again with its sounds, its colors, its stories? And who can we encounter beyond our building?
Yet again, we have heard the stories of members as to why Grace is such an important part of their lives. We are shy about telling these things beyond our walls. Let alone talking about our faith! So, I ask the same questions as last week:
There are more special occasions coming up at Grace as we come closer to the holiday season. Won't you share these with friends and neighbors who do not have a church community? People who are new to Galena, perhaps? Those who are alone or going through life transitions? Maybe they would enjoy that bagpipes and Scottish dishes on November 18. Or a quiet place to give thanks on Thanksgiving morning at 9:30 am. Our Advent Quiet Day on December 8. Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve.... So many opportunities to invite and welcome, and share the Way of Love!
See you in church,
Gloria+
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READINGS:
1 Kings 17:8-16: God instructs Elijah to go and stay with a widow from Zarepath and her son. When he asks her for food, she says she only has a little oil and flour, which she and her son will eat before they die. Elijah assures her that, if she makes him a small loaf first, the oil and flour will not run out. She does what he asks, and their food does not run out.
Psalm 146: A psalm encouraging praise and trust in God's care, justice, and rule, and warning against trust in human leadership.
Hebrews 9:24-28: Christ entered into heaven, offering himself once as the sacrifice for human sin. Then, he will appear a second time to save those who wait for him.
Mark 12:38-44: Jesus warns against the legal experts who seek honour, and who cheat poor widows and show off with long prayers. Then he comments on a poor widow who places a small offering in the collection box, saying that she has put in more than anyone else, because she has given out of her poverty.
The Scriptures for this week all examine the dynamics between those who are powerful from a human perspective and those who are poor and weak, but who trust in God. Elijah the powerful prophet, finds security and provision at the hands of a poor widow. Psalm 146 warns against placing too much trust in human leadership. In Hebrews, Christ is shown as both priest and sacrifice, who offers himself in order to save his people, while, in Mark, the religious leaders, who should be sacrificing for the sake of others, are rather using their position for self-aggrandisement and corruption. The message is clear - human power is limited, often corrupt and ultimately fails those who trust in it. God's care, protection and justice is sure and eternal, and through the self-offering of Christ, all people can find security within the grace of God. The challenge is to ensure we place our trust in the right place, while also endeavouring to be faithful and righteous in whatever power or leadership we may exercise.
The thumbnails
and reflections excerpted from sacredise.com
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Worship Ministries Updates
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Altar Guild
A sign-up sheet for the Christmas poinsettias will be in the Narthex through December 2nd. The cost will be $15. Donations for the greens on the altar would also be appreciated. Also, the 2019 Flower Chart is on the bulletin board. Please choose a date to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or a loved one.
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Celebration of Partners of the Diocese of Renk Churches
The Dioces
e of Chicago and eight of its churches that have partner
parishes
in South Sudan were honored by Bishop Joseph at St. Michael's in Barrington on October 20th. As we heard from Bp. Joseph when he joined us in Galena earlier, there is some positive movement toward peace that may help in support that is sustainable. For several years, it has necessarily gone toward basic subsistence for the large numbers of refugees and returnees needing food and shelter. The happy news of people returning to Renk means that our partner, Glory Parish is overflowing its worship space. The church building, itself, is at risk of collapse.
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Formations Ministries News
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ADVENT QUIET DAY
The new year is upon us! Advent begins the first Sunday in December, and we are preparing for that holy season by an Advent Quiet Day December 8 in the chapel from 10 to 3:00. Our leader will be Sr. Bobbi Bussan, the Director of Benet House Retreat Center at St. Mary Monastery in Rock Island. A native of Galena, she says "My roots will always be in Galena. . .where I first knew God was going to be a centerpiece of my life." An experienced retreat leader with all ages (from elementary students to adults), she works with homeless women and children and has a passion for Benedictine spirituality. In addition to the opportunity to learn about Centering Prayer, the day will include: brief talks, discussion, and plenty of opportunity for journaling or quiet.
WEDNESDAY MORNING STUDY GROUP
The Wednesday Bible group has embarked on a study of the prophet Amos this coming Wednesday, November 7, at 10:30 a.m., in the new parish hall. All are welcome! Contact Larry Poston in church this Sunday or by e-mail (
lsposton@jcwifi.com
) if you want the handout for the first session.
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 It was not a pleasant day last Sunday for outdoor celebr ations. Nevertheless, there was a recommittal of the relocated ashes of those individuals who were previously inurned in the Resurrection Garden. Most of the liturgy took place in the new Parish House, out of the rain and wind. Yet some brave souls joined the presider and thurifer as the plots were censed.
The following, reverently placed in the new Garden, have been blessed.
| Robert Weber-1980
Lowell Spencer-1981
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Wilma O'Grady-2003
Doris McDermott-1998 |
| William Devine-1983 |
Austin McDermott-2000 |
| Ruth Herringer-1985 |
Victoria Wakefield-2000 |
| Edson Page-1987 |
Viola Edwards-2000 |
| Ruth Martin-1987 |
Sue Hall-2009 |
| Earl Lind-1990 |
Ralph Hall-2009 |
| Willa Ullman-1987 |
Steven Kreiser-2011 |
| William Ullman-1995 |
Lester Johnson-2011 |
| Lloyd Brett-1987 |
Georgia Thurman-2013 |
| Mary Margaret Brett-1992 |
Edwin Thurman |
| Harold Haman-1988 |
Carl Edwards-2016 |
| James Stahl-1993 |
Levon Jackman-2016 |
| Edward Darnell-1993 |
Warren Jackman-2016 |
| James O'Grady-1994 |
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From the hands and prayers of our sisters and brothers
in Christ in many places, and here at Grace Church,
where the remains of these loved ones have formerly rested,
we have received them for reburial. May God comfort all who mourn and strengthen our bonds of love in the body of Christ.
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Our author for our TENS pledge appeal resource this week, Cathy Clement, from All Saints Pasadena talks of surprising gifts from children as "Unexpected Messengers of Jesus" and relates these to our Scripture this coming Sunday:
Widows have always been the most vulnerable to poverty, and so the Bible takes particular care to provide for them - to keep them connected to their husband's family (v. 19); to protect them from predatory clergy (v. 40), and not to be neglected but to be visited and honored.
So, after Jesus reminds us of these provisions, he takes a seat and watches. The widow puts in "two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on.'"
What would Jesus say to us? Well, I think I've already heard him when a young boy gave away his birthday presents and when a little girl brought me her piggy bank. In seeking to know what Jesus would say I just have to pay better attention to the acts of generosity around me that are THE WORD OF THE LORD I too often fail to hear.
For reflection ...
❖ What acts of generosity in your life came from unex- pected sources?
❖ How have they called you to your own acts of unex- pected generosity?
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Cooking with God's Bounty
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Italian Pesto Sliders
Ingredients
- 24 slider rolls cut in half, but not pulled apart
- 1 cup pesto
- 2 vine ripened tomatoes sliced thin
- 3/4 pound Sun Dried Tomato Jennie-O Turkey
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8 oz butter melted (see note)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
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Spray a 9 by 13 inch pan with cooking spray and add the bottom half of the slider rolls as one grouping.
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Spread the pesto over the bottom layer. Add a layer of sliced tomatoes. Then add the turkey and cheese and top with the top half of the slider rolls.
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Combine the melted butter and the Italian seasoning. Spread over the top of the slider rolls.
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Bake covered with aluminum foil for 15 to 20 minutes and then uncovered for five minutes or until the sliders are golden brown.
Notes
This is a lot of butter to put on top of the sliders, but it makes them so delicious. Feel free to cut back to 4 ounces.
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Vestry Liaisons
V
estry Liaisons' primary purpose is to assure two-way communications between the various groups and the
Vestry,
to represent the groups for resources
or
policy issues, and to
support
their
events
an
d activities.
Worship:
Rector
Building and Grounds:
Pete Stryker (Sr. Warden 2017-2019)
Worship Committee: Pam Malik
(class of 2019)
Formation and Spirituality:
Greg Serwich (Jr. Warden 2018-2019)
Fellowship &
Hospitality: Anita Sands (class of 2021)
Pastoral Care/
LEMs: Bonnielynn Kreiser
(class of 2020)
Outreach:
Tony Packard (class of 2021)
Deb Pausz (class of 2019)
Communications: Larry Poston (class of 2020)
Governance: Wardens & Rector
Officers:
Pete Stryker, Senior Warden
Greg Serwich, Junior Warden
R
ichard Luther, Treasurer
Elizabeth Ludescher, Clerk
Rect
or
: The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell
Ad
ministrative Asst.: Fräni Beadle
O
rganist/Pianist: Robin French, Nancy Cook
Choir Director: Pat Terry
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November 11, 2018
Sunday Morning Eucharist
25th Sunday after Pentecost
10:30am
For quick reference, find Sunday's readings by clicking here:
The Lectionary
Ministers of the
Service:
Lector:
Carol Poston
1st Chalicist:
Diane Luther
Karlyn Van Gelder
Acolyte:
Deb Pausz
Vestry Coordinator:
Larry Poston
Greeter:
Diann Marsh
Altar Guild:
Alice Maffit & Frani Beadle
Presider: Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell
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25th Sunday after Pentecost
November 11, 2018
Eucharistic readings
Psalm 146
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44
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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 Eucharist
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:
November OR check out the goog
le
calendar on the new website
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Copies of sermons and e-Blasts are available on the Narthex table.
Comments on this e-Blast may be sent here
Sermons are
often posted as audio files on the rector's Facebook page.
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**
If you put out trash, please put in a secure trash can.
Thanks to all for your cooperation. **
11/11 - Beadle/Malik
11/18 - Choir-St. Andrews
11/25 - Thanksgiving Leftover Potluck
R
eminder for hosts:
Napkins and plates
are provided. Use
what you need from
our pantry to the right
of the coffee maker.
Remember: Keep it simple. We usually have about 20-25 attending.
**Coffee schedule sign up is in the Parish House kitchen.**
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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.
Audio files, along with recent archived sermons may be found in the "Worship" tab of the Grace Church website or at this link:
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| Grace Galena Sermon 10/28/2108 |
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| Grace Galena Sermon-All Saints Sunday |
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