Grace Episcopal Church   
Sunday, February 17, 2019
6th Sunday after the Epiphany
in observance of Black History Month 
10:30 am

 
 
 
Birthdays:
Jae Hezlep
Elizabeth Ludescher 
Coming Right Up! 
  CANAPES AND CONVERSATION-Feb . 15 
 
Steve & Maren Coates will be hosting at the PARISH HOUSE adjacent to the church on Friday, February 15th from 5-7pm. Bring a friend, a nibble and a beverage to share. All are welcome!
 
If you are interested in hosting in November, please e-mail Cathie Elsbree  at elsbreecaal@yahoo.com
 
Black History Month
   
February is Black History Month. Sunday, February 17th, Grace Church will celebrate this part of our history with special music, and with food at the morning's social hour appropriate for the occasion.  
 
Grace Church is co-sponsoring the Galena Historical Society's is special program later the same afternoon at 2:00 PM at the Elks Club, on the history of African-Americans in Galena. We need to remember this part of our American History, and the impact of slavery and its aftermath on our country's culture. The co-sponsorship is possible with a grant from the Grace Outreach Ministries.   
 
The Way of Love: An Epiphany Opportunity
Please consider joining during the Epiphany season, this study of the "Way of Love." Even if you were unable to attend previous sessions, you are welcome to join in at any time.   In each of our meetings, there will be prayer, check-in, discussion, practicing the Way of L ove, check-out, and worship.
 
We meet on Tuesday afternoons, from 2:00 - 3:30,  concluding March 5.  
 
Lenten Meditation Booklets
Last chance to turn in your Lenten Meditation assignments! The deadline for submission to Carmen Ferguson or Diann Marsh is February 22nd by email or February 24th at church.
 
Rector's Ramblings 
Many of us woke on Thursday morning to the following news from Bishop Lee. I, for one, am sad that his time as our bishop (the only bishop under whom I have served!) will come to an end in 1 1/2 years.
Excerpts from the press release follow and Bp. Lee's full letter to the diocese may be foundhere

Bishop Jeffrey D. Lee announced today that he will retire as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago in August 2020, and called for the election of his successor.
"When I reflect on the work we have done together, I am most grateful for our shared success in focusing the work of my staff and the diocese's leaders on congregational vitality," Lee wrote in a letter to the diocese. "As you have often heard me say, the only excuse for something like a diocese is to foster thriving congregations in local communities using the best data and resources we can muster. Together, through prayer and song and fierce conversations, we have accomplished that cultural shift, and it is bearing fruit across our region."
Lee was ordained in February 2008 to lead a diocese that comprises 33,000 people in more than 120 congregations northern and west central Illinois. His tenure included the reunification of the Dioceses of Chicago and Quincy and a major renovation of St. James Commons, the diocesan headquarters in downtown Chicago, that created a venue for retreats and meetings called the Nicholas Center.
Under Lee, the diocese conducted an examination of the legacy of slavery in its common life, and supported the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender queer Christians in the sacramental and ministerial life of the church and policies to stem the tide of gun violence in the region and across the country. Through advocacy and personal support, members of the diocese also worked against the persecution and marginalization of immigrants and refugees....
"As we travel together toward the place where our paths will diverge, I will cherish each remaining opportunity to celebrate the sacraments with you and to pray together for a time of transition filled with hope and trust in God's never-failing goodness," Lee wrote.
 
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey D. Lee
Bishop of Chicago

I have so valued his wisdom, compassion, and caring leadership and colleagiality and am grateful that we will still have some time to learn from him--including our Visitation scheduled for Sunday, September 15. If you have ever considered being confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church, this might just be your opportunity!

See you in church!
Gloria+
Preparation for Sunday  
READINGS:
Cursed are those who trust in human strength and turn away from God. They live in barrenness with no hope. But those who trust in God are like trees planted near a river. They have green leaves and bear lots of fruit. The human heart is deceitful and wicked and God searches all hearts and motives, rewarding people according to their actions.
Psalm 1: Those who do not follow the ways of the wicked are blessed. They delight in God's law and they are like trees along a riverbank bearing fruit and prospering in all they do. The wicked are worthless and will be judged. God watches over the righteous but the wicked will be destroyed.
1 Corinthians 15:12-20: Some Corinthians say there is no resurrection. Paul points out that this means that then not even Christ has been resurrected, which means their faith is useless and believers are most to be pitied. But Christ has been raised and is the first of a great harvest.
Luke 6:17-26: Jesus preaches to the crowds, in Luke's version of the Beatitudes. Those who are poor, hungry, and who weep, and are persecuted are blessed, while those who are rich, prosperous, laughing, and praised by the crowds are facing great sorrow.
 
It can be very tempting to turn the choice in today's readings into a simple decision for or against Jesus. It could be a simple evangelical message that seeks a "decision for Christ" and brings people into the church. But to reduce today's message to this overly simple choice would be to do a great injustice to the Scriptures. We could choose, rather to offer a more nuanced and challenging choice. Not just a choice for Jesus, but a choice that calls us to choose what kind of Jesus we will follow. Will we make Jesus simply a good man who worked for the good of his society, and make following him simply about being good people? Or do we offer a Jesus who connects us to the God who is the source of life, beauty, truth and goodness in the world, who offers us a future hope of a resurrection life that fills the cosmos, and who also calls us to engage daily in the tough work of living with kindness, compassion, justice, peace, generosity, and love now? When we speak of blessing and curses, do we present them as God's actions, coming from outside of our human reality, and imposed on us by a distant deity? Or do we present them as consequences of how we live now with one another, and as the results of trusting that God's way really is the best way to move the entire universe a little closer each day to experiencing the fullness of resurrection life? I hope that we will have the courage to present the Gospel choice that is deeply challenging, transformative, and practical, while also being deeply spiritual and aware of the eternal purpose of God.

The thumbnails and reflections excerpted from sacredise.com
Worship Ministry News  
 ALTAR GUILD
There are many openings on the flower chart for the coming year.  Don't forget to sign-up for your special date.
 
SAVE THE DATES!
CURRENT AND POTENTIAL LECTORS 
Ronn Toebaas will lead a Lector Workshop on March 9 at 2:00 pm. This will be for all current lectors and those wishing to become lectors. If you are unavailable on that date, a make-up date of March 18 at 7:00 pm has been set.  Please let Terri Jackman know which date you will attend by e-mailing her at terri.jackman@gmail.com .
Formation & Spirituality Notes 
Grace Movie Night, beginning February 22nd
Christ encouraged his disciples and, through them, us to look for the Kingdom of God in our earthly kingdoms, principalities, communities and lives. (Thankfully, nobody said the search can't be entertaining!)
 
Starting February 22nd, each 4th Friday of the month we'll be having a movie night in the Parish Hall, beginning at 6 p.m., to be followed by a discussion. For our "premier event", we'll be going back to the 1962 movie production of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize winning book: "To Kill a Mockingbird", starring Gregory Peck in an Oscar winning performance as Atticus Finch. Here are some insightful excerpts from a film review by Ed McNulty (writing for "Read the Spirit"):
 
Both the book and the film deserve all the praise and respect that they have garnered through the years. What a wonderful opportunity the film offers people of faith to explore such topics as racism, courage, nonviolence and most of all, integrity. And I should also add, they present us with one of the most admirable Christ figures of all time."
 
We'll put on the coffee and hot water for tea. Bring your own snacks and/or evening meal. Movie Nights are free and open to all. Bring your family and friends!
Cooking with God's Bounty 
Strawberry Basil Margarita
(Think summer...)


Ingredients
  • 1/2 pint fresh strawberries
  • 1/2 c. blanco tequila
  • 1.5 oz. Cointreau
  • 1 lime juiced (about an ounce)
  • 1 tbsp honey raw if you have it
  • 2-3 basil sprigs
  • ice
  • kosher salt
Instructions
On the Rocks
  1. Pour about 1/4 cup of kosher salt onto a small side plate. Rub the juiced lime rhine around the edge of two rocks glasses, then dip each glass into the plate of salt to rim the edges. Fill each glass with crushed ice or several ice cubs.
  2. Place the strawberries, tequila, cointreau, lime juice and honey into a blender. Blend thoroughly on high until the strawberries are pulverized. Finely chop the basil and place into the bottom of a decanter or cocktail shaker. Muddle the basil to release the flavors and oils. Pour the blended margarita ingredients into the decanter along with the muddle basil and stir vigorously to incorporate. Pour into salted, iced glasses and serve immediately.
Frozen
  1. Pour about 1/4 cup of kosher salt onto a small side plate. Rub the juiced lime rhine around the edge of two rocks glasses, then dip each glass into the plate of salt.
  2. Place the strawberries, basil, tequila, cointreau, lime juice, honey and a few handfuls of ice (6-8 cubses) into a blender. Blend thoroughly on high until the strawberries, basil, and ice are pulverized. Pour into the salted glasses and serve immediately.

Leadership  
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:            TBA
         
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             
                     Junior Warden, Lynn Giles
                     R ichard Luther, Treasurer                    
                     Open, Clerk      
                     
Rect or :                          The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell           

Parish Ad ministrator:     Fräni Beadle  
O rganist/Pianist:            Robin French, Nancy Cook        
Choir Director:               Pat Terry    
This Sunday 
In This Issue
Title
Coming Right Up!
Taking Note of This Sunday
Next Sunday's Readings
Grace's Prayer List
Meetings this Week
Choir Schedule
Calendar
Ministry of Care
Ministry of Care
Boring Details
February 17, 2019
Sunday Morning  
Epiphany 6    
10:30am 
 
For quick reference, find Sunday's readings by clicking here:
The Lectionary

Ministers of the
Service:
Lector:
Greg Serwich
1st Chalicist:
Bill Foltz
2nd Chalicist: 
Karlyn Van Gelder
Acolyte:
Elizabeth Ludescher
Vestry Coordinator:
Bonnielynn Kreiser
Greeter: Karen Serwich
Altar Guild: Pam Malik & Debbie Kallback
Presider:  
The Very Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell

Next Sunday's
Readings: 
Epiphany 7
February 24, 2019
Eucharistic readings
for your own study:   
 
Genesis 45:3-11,15   
Psalm 37:1-12,41-42 
1 Corinthians 15:35-38
Luke 6:27-38
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."
Meetings this Week 
Wednesday Events  
7:30 am
Midweek Morning Eucharist
 
8:10 am
Community Breakfast at Victory Café   
 
Cursillo Reunion  
St. Francis Room
 
10:30 am
Morning Bible Study Parish House
All are welcome!
Grace's Choir Practice
Wednesdays at 7pm
Saturdays at 10am
Looking Ahead 
For current and upcoming events, download a copy of the calendar with this link:    
February  OR check out the goog le
calendar on the new website
Sunday Social Hour Hosts
** If you put out trash, please put in a secure trash can. Thanks to all for your cooperation. **
 

2/17 - Black History 
2/24 - Van Gelder/Elsbree 
 
R eminder for hosts:
Napkins and plates are provided. Use what you need from our pantry under the coffee maker.  Remember: Keep it simple. We usually have about 35-40 attending.
Also, do not forget to turn off stove/oven, lights, take out trash, and lock the door. 

  **Coffee schedule sign up is on the bulletin board in the Parish House.**
Formation Schedule  
You can now get information on Formation Ministries directly from the new Grace website at the following links: Children and Youth Adults
Spiritual Practices

Ministry of Care 
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

Sermons and e-Blasts 
 
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 request. 
 
 
 
Grace Galena Sermon 4th after Epiphany 
Grace Galena Sermon 4th after Epiphany
    
 
 
Grace Galena Sermon 5th after Epiphany 2019
Grace Galena Sermon 5th after Epiphany 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   The Rev Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Rector
Cell Phone:  773-988-3497

Grace Episcopal Church Office:
107 S. Prospect Street
Galena, IL 61036
815-777-2590