Please disregard any message that says it is from me  requesting you to purchase gift cards from Amazon (or any other place). If this has happened to you, please report it to Amazon to assist them in their investigation. Also, look carefully at the e-mail address of any suspicious message. The address looked similar to, but was not identical to, my church e-mail address. 

I will never solicit gift cards, cash, or anything else through the e-mail. If funds are ever required to assist those in need, I will ask for donations to Grace Church that will be placed in the Rector's Discretionary Fund.   Gloria+ 

My very first paid position following my ordination as an Episcopal priest (other than as a priest associate on a tiny stipend) was as a very interim parish administrator for my church, St. Luke's in Evanston. I filled in for a couple of months while the rector searched for a permanent administrator. I am reminded of that time right now as I am making certain that some of the weekly tasks here at Grace are completed--and trying really hard not to mess them up too much before we have a new person!

      I am also reminded of how on some days, particularly at the end of the week when the bulletin deadline was looming, my world became one of character and line spacing, fonts and formats. As well as making certain that the weekly calendar in the announcement insert was the same as the one being posted in the church and on the weekly e-Blast. And all the while being alert to e-mails and phone messages about some change or other or a special request from a staff person or church member!

     I had never realized how many moving parts there were in what appeared to be a simple, straight forward and routine task. But every week was different. The prayers or the readings were longer or shorter than the last week, so finite space had to be adjusted without removing or shortening those elements that needed to appear every week. Fortunately, by the time the liturgical season changed, a new person had been hired to navigate the quagmire between Epiphany and Lent.

     I've heard it said that the parish administrator is the most important staff person in a church. I fully believe it to be so, having experienced superbly skilled and personable partners like Frani and like the person who was hired at St. Luke's. I have also experienced those who do not have those qualities. Either they needed to be led and directed and unable to recognize tasks that needed doing or processes that need to be improved. Or, they did not excel at being the first person encountered in the church or the friendly, helpful voice on the phone--or could not juggle multiple tasks and deadlines or multiple "bosses" (as is often the case in a church or other membership organization!). In either case, it was a stark contrast to those who have made my life easier and contributed enormously to the smooth operations of parish life. I have been blessed--and spoiled!

     So, please, if you notice a typo in a bulletin, a mismatch in a rota or calendar, a delay in communications, do mention it. But please be gentle. And pray that we will find another exceptional person who wants to be part of our little community here at Grace!

See you in church!

Gloria+

Genesis 18:20-32

: Abraham bargains with God to try and avert the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and God agrees that if ten righteous people are found, God will spare the city.

Psalm 138: A song of David praising God for God's love, faithfulness and trustworthy promises, and pleading for God's continued protection and care.

Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19): Paul encourages believers to sink their roots deep into Christ and find their completeness in Christ. He reminds us that in Christ our sinful nature was 'circumcised' and we have been raised to new life. So we no longer need to pander to legalism.

Luke 11:1-13: Jesus teaches on prayer, and on the need for persistence in prayer, reminding the disciples that God gives the Holy Spirit to all who ask.

The Gospel reading sets the tone for this week's theme. The call to persistence is clear from Jesus, and it is directly linked with our prayer life - our relationship with God. In a similar way. Abraham's bargaining with God reveals both the value of persistence in our seeking God's resources, and God's persistence in seeking our restoration. Both Psalms offer praise and requests in the assurance of God's faithfulness, and out of a persistent commitment to God's ways. Finally, Paul instructs the believers to stay true to the new life that they have received in Christ, and not be drawn away by legalism or by dramatic visions and stories. If we are to follow Christ and make a difference in the world then it will not be quick, dramatic or constantly changing innovations that will help, but rather - to use the name of one of Eugene Peterson's books - "a long obedience in the same direction." This does not mean we cannot be creativity or adopt new ideas and strategies, but that we remain faithful and committed to Christ and the Gospel proclamation of God's reign, working consistently and persistently to fulfill God's purposes in our world a little more each day.

 

The thumbnails and reflections excerpted from sacredise.com