Grace Happenings: The Week of September 13, 2020

Grace Episcopal Church

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 13, 2020

Birthday

Georgia Hansen

Anniversary

Jason and Nikki Frank

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW!

PARISH HOUSE

Regular hours have resumed. Nancy is available on Tuesday - Friday mornings. I am available Monday by appointment and Tuesday-Thursday. Since the building is still somewhat restricted, please contact us ahead of time if you need to come by.

And masks are essential.

Any ministries that wish to resume meetings or events at the Parish House must contact the rector before scheduling. There are attendance limits to each of the meeting places as well as expectations for masking, maintaining physical distancing and sanitizing the areas following their use. The 1st floor Parish Hall is limited to 15 individuals. The 2nd floor Conference Room and the Chapel each can accommodate no more than 9 people.

The AA groups have resumed their meetings. There are four: Mondays at 10 am; Tuesday and Thursday at 7 pm; and Wednesday at noon.

SUNDAY WORSHIP

Worship continues each Sunday both in-person and online on Zoom. reservations are being received. In-person worship requires advance reservations as we are limited to 25% of our capacity in order to maintain the 6 foot physical distancing.

If you have not yet reserved your spot for Sunday, you will find the link in the sidebar to the right of this article. When you arrive on Sunday at the Parish House door, 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. Pews that are not to be used will be closed off by lengths of ribbon. There will be hand sanitizer stations at the entrance and also at the back of the nave.

For those worshiping at home on Zoom, here is the link to the bulletin that you may download and/or print: BULLETIN. When you log in on Sunday morning, you will be muted except for during the sharing of the peace, birthday and anniversary blessings, and a time of greeting at the end of the service. As usual, the Zoom will be ready for you at 10:20 am.

Here once again are our "Ten 'Commandments'" for re-opening TEN. The full plan that was submitted to the Bishop's office for approval may be found here.

Rector's Ramblings

At last, the search for a new bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago is swinging into high gear! Though the electing convention will not take place until early December, there are many steps that must take place prior to that day. Everything, of course, has been complicated by the pandemic, causing creative approaches to the various preliminaries that usually take place in person.
     The good news is that there are opportunities for involvement of many of us due to the online formats that will be used. For example, the customary "walk-abouts" that bring all of the final candidates to several regions of the Diocese for presentations and questions have required travel--so, those who wished to go would generally attend just the closest one. This year, there will be six separate Zoom webinars. No travel involved, and, anyone who wishes can attend one--or all six.
      This is a rare opportunity to take part in the very important selection of our next spiritual leader and do it with other Episcopalians from all around the Diocese. It is a chance to participate in discernment and prayer for the process, for all of those who have worked for months to do all of the prayerful work that will result in a final slate, for those who are planning each of the events that will not only conclude with an electing convention, but with the celebration of the investiture of the new bishop. And certainly for those who have had to do the leg work to figure out how to adequately cover the bases electronically instead of in person!
      The slate of final candidates is scheduled for announcement on October 5. A seven day petition period will begin that day as well. The six sessions for meeting the candidates will take place Thursday-Saturday each of the first two weekends in November. Daytime and evening sessions will be offered. We will plan to gather information from those who would like to attend but do not have an internet connection. We can easily arrange for small groups to gather at the church (using safe distancing protocols, of course.) So do think about being part of this exciting time!
      If you have questions that you would like to pose to the candidates, please send them to me. Questions that are received will be compiled by the Transition Committee.

See you in church--whether in-person or on Zoom!
Gloria+

This Sunday

READINGS:

Exodus 14:19-31: Moses stretches his hands over the sea and it opens a path for the Israelites to walk on dry ground. Then, as the sun rises and all the people have crossed, he stretches his hands over the sea again, and the waters return to their place, drowning the armies of Egypt.

Psalm 114: A celebration of the earth's response to God's mighty acts, and a call for the earth to tremble before God.

Romans 14:1-12: Each believer works out how faith is to be lived for themselves and must decide between them and God how to practice their faith. Therefore, as people of faith we are not to judge one another, but to celebrate each one's commitment to living out their faith before God.

Matthew 18:21-35: Jesus tells a story about a man who is forgiven a huge debt, but then refuses a small debt which is owed to him. When the master, to whom he owed his debt, hears about it, he is angry that the man did not show others the same mercy he received, and he instructs that the man be imprisoned until he has paid back his debt in full.

How are the words "peace" and "forgiveness" relevant in a world of war, crime, corruption and religious conflict? Last week's focus on resisting evil raises the challenge of how to stand against injustice and destruction without becoming what we resist. This week provides a strong answer to that challenge. In the last few months the world has seen war, terrorism and judgement on a massive scale. But, perhaps more disturbing, has been the discrimination, prejudice, stereotyping, vengefulness and violence breeding more violence that has followed close behind. In the face of all this, the call to forgive is more than just a call to deal with hurt feelings. It is a radical call for peacemaking, for ending the cycle of violence, and for refusing to exact retribution even on those who hurt us.This call for forgiveness goes against our angry, human quest for "justice" and "retribution", it does not satisfy or heal us of the deep wounds that enemies have inflicted on us. But, it does ensure that we do not make the hurt worse, for ourselves or others or for our world. It does ensure that healing can come. And it does challenge us to take the difficult, but transforming call of the Gospel seriously.

Thumbprints and commentaries from:

sacredise.com

Diocesan Convention

SEEKING DELEGATES!

This year three members of Grace will be able to represent Grace as delegates without leaving the comforts of home. The 83rd Diocesan Convention will be held virtually on Saturday, November 21. Please contact Gloria Hopewell, Greg Serwich or Lynn Giles soon for more information, if interested. The delegates will be approved by the Vestry at their September meeting.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Lynn Giles

Formation Ministry News

DISMANTLING THE DOCTRINE OF DISCOVERY,

REDISCOVERING OUR NEIGHBORS--PART 2

(RSVP no later than Friday, September 18!)

A series of conversations offered by Steve Barg., Director of the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, beginning Saturday, October 3, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., sponsored by the Christian Formation Ministry.

(RSVP no later than Friday, September 18)

Last week's E-Blast, in introducing this program, offered a preliminary explanation of the "Doctrine of Discovery" as it has affected both Native Americans (and indeed, indigenous people around the globe) and the predominantly white, European settlers who first came into direct contact with them. We alluded briefly to the fact that inasmuch as the doctrine is rooted in ideas of Christian (and by implication racial) superiority, various denominations have been complicit in missionary work which, though not necessarily intended to be repressive, was often deaf to the Native American cultures it was attempting to supplant.

The Episcopal Church was among those groups involved in mission schools in the late 19th and early 20th centuries which focused on mainstreaming Native Americans to function in a majority white culture. In more recent years, however, the Church has re-visioned its relationship with tribal communities through resolutions at General Convention and the 2012 pastoral letter of the former Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori on the Doctrine of Discovery. More recently Pope Francis, in his pastoral encyclical Laudato Si' (2015) has acknowledged the contributions of indigenous spirituality to our understanding what "care for our common home" really entails.

A goal of our coming together on this set of issues is to see whether and how we at Grace Church can be part of this endeavor in Joe Daviess County, with its rich history of Native American presence.

To register, for either the in-person or Zoom option, for the upcoming October 3 session, go to:

https://reopen.church/r/T5dy083Z

Registration for the initial in-person parish hall session is limited to fifteen persons including speaker and moderator, with priority going to Grace parishioners. After Friday, September 18, any remaining places at the in-person session will be made available to interested persons in the larger Galena church community. Because of the technical problems in showing a film simultaneously on site and by Zoom, those persons electing to attend by Zoom will be given a direct link to the film, which they can watch at home at a time of their choosing.

Wednesday Morning Study Group

Communal Bible Study affords an enjoyable and fulfilling way to grow spiritually and exchange insights with fellow parishioners, especially during the pandemic. We currently are studying the Gospel of Matthew. All are welcome Wednesday mornings, 10:30 - 11:30. Contact Greg Serwich for a Zoom invitation.

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.

For more information, please contact Lynn Giles at 815-757-2011 or lynngiles@lynngilesphotography.com.

Worship and Ministry in the Midst of COVID-19!

Pentecost Season Worship

Sunday services will begin at our usual 10:30 time at church and on Zoom. They will also be recorded and uploaded as quickly as possible for those unable to participate on Zoom. The uploads will appear on the church's Facebook page, @FullyGrace and on the Grace website.

Wednesday morning services are also now in-person in the church and on Zoom. Bible Study and Centering Prayer are also on Zoom each week. If you would like to add your name to any of these participant lists, please e-mail the church office.

Ministry of Care

Here at Grace, The Ministry of Care has organized regular phone and e-mail contact with our most vulnerable members. If you are in need of assistance,or pick-up and delivery of prescriptions or emergency supplies, please contact Bonnielynn Kreiser. Also contact her if you are able to help out. And, of course, your clergy are available by phone, text, and e-mail to provide pastoral care,

Outreach Ministries

BREAKING NEWS!

Members of Grace Church are responsible for a serious problem here in Galena!

What could we have done, you ask? Out of gratitude for our

many blessings, we have filled our UTO boxes with so much change that our community has seen a significant shortage in coinage! We can solve this problem!

Starting this Sunday, please bring your full and overflowing UTO boxes to church. There will be a box in the Parish House in which to put them! There will also be a new UTO box for you to take.

But wait, you say, some of us are not coming to church,

how can we turn in our boxes? Call Teri Jackman at

815-281-0485 to make arrangements for her to come

to your house and pick up your box. Be sure to thank her for her service to Grace and Galena!

Current list of needs for needy in Galena:

(although money can always be used)

cleaning supplies

baby wipes

feminine products

size 6 diapers

laundry detergent

outdoor toys for kids (all ages)

toilet paper

paper towels

cleaning sponges

fresh fruit (strawberries, bananas, grapes are popular)

Anything can be dropped off on the porch of

704 Park Avenue, Galena . Thank you!

Women and Friends Make a Difference

Leadership

Vestry Liaisons

Vestry 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 and activities.

Worship: The Very Rev.Gloria Hopewell, Rector

Building and Grounds: Greg Serwich (Sr. Warden 2019-2021)
Worship Committee:    Charlotte Stryker (class of 2022)
Formation and Spirituality:   Elizabeth Ludescher (class of 2022)

Fellowship & Hospitality: Anita Sands (class of 2021)

Ministry of Care/LEMs: Nancy Cook (class of 2023)

Outreach: Tony Packard (class of 2021)

Communications: Eric Kallback(class of 2023)

Governance: Wardens & Rector

Officers: Greg Serwich, Senior Warden

Lynn Giles, Junior Warden,

Richard Luther, Treasurer

Diann Marsh, Clerk
The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Rector

Staff: Robin French, Director of Music

Nancy Cook, Erben Organist

Nancy Kenney, Parish Administrator

Chris Ludescher, Nursery Attendant

The Rev. Linda Packard, Priest Associate

The Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon

This Sunday

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 13, 2020

Zoom Worship-10:30 am

Meeting ID: 824 2178 3266

Sunday's Bulletin

Reservation for in-person worship:

reserve

For quick reference, find Sunday's readings by clicking here:

Ministers of the Service:

Presider: Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell

Deacon: Rev. Diane Luther

Lector: Richard Luther

Intercessor: Deb Pausz

Vestry Coordinator: Tony Packard

Pianist: Robin French

Greeter: Amy Hardwicke

Next Sunday's Readings:

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 20, 2020

Grace's Prayer List

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."