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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.
United Churches Christmas Concert
Grace Church's choir will again be part of this festive fundraiser for the Food Pantry on Wednesday, December 28, 7 pm
at St. Michael's Church on Bench Street. If you would like to join the choir, there will be two rehearsals for the combined choir finale at St. Michael's on Tuesdays, November 20 and 27 at 6:30 pm. The Grace choir will rehearse its own contribution to the concert on Saturdays, November 17 and 24 at 10 am at Grace.
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Fr. Jack Schauble Funeral
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The funeral will take place on Friday, November 30th at St. Luke's in Dixon at 11:00am. Condolences may also be sent to Sandra Schauble 405 12th Avenue, Mendota, IL 61342.
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Advent begins the first Sunday in December. Grace Church will prepare for that holy season of preparation for Christmas with an Advent Quiet Day on Saturday, December 8 from 10 am to 3:00 pm. 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. Lunch in the new parish hall is included. The church is located at 107 S Prospect St., Galena IL. There is a $10 suggested donation. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
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Each year, as we are preparing for Thanksgiving, we also send off a delegation to the annual Diocesan Convention. This year, we will participate in the 171st Convention of the Diocese of Chicago on Friday and Saturday, November 16 & 17th, at the Westin Yorktown in Lombard IL. The Grace delegates are Lynn Giles, Elizabeth Ludescher, and Richard Luther. The alternates are Larry Poston, Greg and Karen Serwich. The Rector will attend as will our postulant for the Diaconate, Diane Luther.
The keynote speaker will be Ray Suarez, prominent journalist, author and lifelong Episcopalian. He will discuss a rapidly approaching tipping point--the year 2044, when demographers predict that a majority of Americans will be members of minority groups--and what it means for the church.
The two days will include business sessions where resolutions and reports are considered, workshops on a variety of
useful
topics for our congregations that range from the practical subjects of buildings, grounds, and insurance, to ways of helping our churches to thrive and grow in spiritual vitality to our ways of being the church in a world that needs justice, kindness, and mercy.
There are also opportunities for networking with other
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Bishop in the purple shirt |
congregations. Some are focused on being informational or special interests, while others are basically fellowship and fun. This year, there will be luncheon roundtables, a breakfast for women clergy, and a Friday evening dessert and dancing party where, no doubt, our Bishop will show off his skill in "cutting a rug!" And, for those who like to sing, there is always the "All Y'All Choir" that provides the music for worship on both days! Yes, we practice early each morning. But it is very enjoyable to join people from all over the diocese in lifting our voices to God! You might think that worship in a huge hotel ballroom might be dry or even boring. But you would be wrong! Thanks to our musicians, our deacons, and our bishop--who always inspires us with his address and his sermon, it is spirited and God-filled, leaving us singing as we go back into our own congregations. If you look closely below, the video screen shot shows three of our own! 
I am so grateful to have a full delegation from Grace each year, and to be able to experience the community of faith that is the extraordinary Episcopal Diocese of Chicago!
Please keep the diocese, our bishop, and our delegation in your prayers.
See you in church,
Gloria+
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READINGS:
Daniel 12:1-3: In a time of great trouble, the people whose names are written in God's scroll will be rescued, some being resurrected to life and others to disgrace. But, those who are wise and lead others to righteousness will shine like stars.
Psalm 16: A Psalm in praise of God's protection and blessing, God's instruction and guidance, God's presence and God's ways of life.
Hebrews 10:11-14, (15-18), 19-25: Jesus offered the perfect once-for-all sacrifice and then sat down at God's right hand. He perfected God's people, and now we can enter God's presence with confidence because of our faith, the cleansing of God, and our high priest in God's house. In response we are to hold on to our hope, and motivate each other to acts of love and goodness.
Mark 13:1-8
: As they leave the temple, Jesus' disciples are awed by the size and beauty of the building, but Jesus predicts that it will be destroyed. When the disciples ask for a sign, Jesus warns them about false messiahs who will come, reports of war, earthquakes, and famines. But, these, he explains, are just the beginnings of the end.
In a world in which war and violence are a constant reality, humanity desperately needs to learn two things. First, we need to relinquish our addiction to wealth and power, which inevitably creates both competition and oppression - winners and losers. Second, we need to embrace the Jesus way of "powerless peace", in which we trust in God's justice and love, even when the world seems to be descending into chaos and anarchy. The way of peace is not a "quick-fix" alternative to injustice. Nor is it an apathetic, inactive resignation which accepts reality without trying to change it. It is a painful, sacrificial journey that takes a long view of human history. When peacemaking rises up against violence and injustice, things often get worse, and oppressors and tyrants use greater violence and threats to try and silence the peace and justice making. But, when we remain steadfast in our faith that God is at work in our world, and that God's purposes of justice and peace will continue to overcome violence and oppression, we can absorb the pain, refuse to respond in kind, carry the cross, and ultimately wait until, as inevitably must happen, God's Commonwealth prevails.
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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Formation Ministries News
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Theological
Thrillers
The last meeting of 2018 is scheduled for Saturday, December 1, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the parish hall. We will be discussing the last novel in the C. S. Lewis novel space trilogy,
That Hideous Strength
. As has been the case throughout this sequence, you do not have to have read the previous novels, but this time around Larry would like to send around a guide that will help in preparing for discussion, so it is important for him to know who is coming. If we do not hear from you, we'll assume you aren't planning to come this time around.
WEDNESDAY MORNING STUDY GROUP
The group will not meet the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and will resume
on Wednesday, November 28th at 10:30am in the new Parish Hall. All are welcome!
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I would ask than anyone who used the old parish house for any programs please check over the weekend to be sure you have marked anything / everything that needs to be moved to the new parish hall. We do not want to toss anything we should keep and do not want to keep anything we should toss. The house needs to get cleaned out so it can be sold.
If anyone has a good place for the old stack chairs to go, please let me know. I will be glad to open the house so they can be picked up.
In order to keep the flat space parking open for folks with handicap stickers (3 spaces) and those with mobility issues (4 spaces), on busy weekday meeting days, choir practice Saturdays, and of course Sundays, please keep the flat space parking open for folks with handicap stickers and those with mobility issues. We all parked on the street for decades. We now have a parking lot but it is not big enough for all of us. Let's please be sure it can help the folks who need it. If not a busy meeting day or choir practice day, use the open flat spaces with a smile.
Pete Stryker
Cell 312 504 8268
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Elizabeth Honeycutt reminds us that "all things large and grandiose" elicit awe and admiration from us.
....But God is not any more present in our beautiful cathedrals than he is in our small churches. He is just as present at St. Augustine's in Homer, Alaska, among a small handful of faithful parishioners. He is just as present with a handful of volunteers with St. Isidore's Abundant Harvest food truck, where thousands are fed each year in North Houston. He is just as present with our work with the homeless and trafficking victims, ministries not always contained by four walls and a roof, but where two or three are gathered together. God is present in nursing homes, church missions in strip centers, in school chapels, and on military bases. God is not limited to a worship schedule, a day of the week, or the spatial confines of high, holy places.
King Solomon encapsulated that in 1 Kings 8:27, where he said, "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house I have built!" And Jesus reminds us of this in our Gospel: When we wrap ourselves up in the worship of anything other than God, we will be led astray.
For reflection ...
- In what places do you feel closest to God?
- For many of us, our idols aren't limited to persons or buildings. What do you fixate on that distracts you from God?
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Cooking with God's Bounty
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Corn Casserole
Ingredients
- 8 oz. Cream Cheese
- 4 Tbsp butter
- 1/3 Cup milk
- 4 Cups of corn (18 oz.bag of frozen corn, thawed OR-15 oz. cans, drained).
- 1 Cup Pepper Jack OR Sharp Cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Pre heat oven to 350 and grease an 8×8 inch baking dish and set aside.
In a pot melt together cream cheese and butter over low heat.
Add milk and stir until mixture is smooth.
Add corn and salt and pepper. Mix well.
Add mixture to greased baking dish and sprinkle with the shredded cheese.
Bake uncovered 20-25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Let set 5 minutes before serving.
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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 18, 2018
Sunday Morning Eucharist
26th Sunday after Pentecost
10:30am
For quick reference, find Sunday's readings by clicking here:
The Lectionary
Ministers of the
Service:
Lector:
Joe Maffit
1st Chalicist:
Bill Foltz
Cathie Elsbree
Acolyte:
Elizabeth Ludescher
Vestry Coordinator:
Anita Sands
Greeter:
Amy Hardwicke
Altar Guild:
Pam Mailk & Debbie Kallback
Presider: Rev.Linda Packard
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell
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Last Sunday after Pentecost
November 18, 2018
Eucharistic readings
Psalm 93
Revelation 1:4b-8
John 18:33-37
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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 (No mtg. 11/21)
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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. **
11/18 - Choir-St. Andrews
11/25 - Thanksgiving Leftover Potluck
12/2 - Banas
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-All Saints Sunday |
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Grace Galena Sermon
25th after Pentecost |
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