Movie Night, is Sunday at 6:00 pm La Vie En Rose

Our next feature is a biopic about the legendary singer Edith Piaf, the "Little Sparrow", whose voice is synonymous with Paris and France. The adult Piaf is played by Marion Cotillard who won the 2007 Golden Globe and Academy Award for best actress. Her spell binding acting was made all the more mesmerizing by the make-up, which also earned that year's Academy Award.

Here's the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trVijPJNRyw 

 

and Roger Ebert's four star review. (Spoiler alert: Ebert reveals the major plot developments; but it will prepare you for the emotional challenge of witnessing Piaf's life.):

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/la-vie-en-rose-2007

 

As usual, showtime will 6 p.m. at the Grace Church Parish Hall, 107 S. Prospect St. in Galena. All are welcome, including guests, and guests of guests. Feel free to bring a beverage, snack or popcorn to munch during the movie. A discussion will follow.

World Day of Prayer -- Friday, March 6

 Through the annual WDP service, women from around the world come together for a common day of prayer and action, celebrating their common beliefs, and working together to promote justice and equality for all women. In Galena,  women from the Methodist church will be joined by those from First Presbyterian, Grace Episcopal, Lord of Love Lutheran. St. Mary Catholic, St. Matthew Lutheran, St. Michael Catholic and Westminster Presbyterian congregations. Each year a different country writes the program, and this year the women of Zimbabwe ask all women to "Rise! Take Your Mat and Walk". 

    Join Galena congregations at noon at the Methodist Church. located at 125. S. Bench Street. for the service and lunch following.

On Saturday, June 20, 2020, there will be a convention to elect the next Bishop of the Diocese of Chicago. Grace Church may register three voting delegates plus one alternate (who will attend only if one of the three delegates is unable to attend). In advance of the Convention, there will be a walk-about of the diocese. The candidates will travel around the diocese so all the delegates will have a chance to listen to and perhaps meet them. Grace Church delegates will probably have to travel to Rockford for this event. If you wish to be considered by the Vestry as a delegate or alternate, please contact Lynn Giles (text/call 815-757-2011 or email lynngiles @lynngilesphotography.com)

Dubuque Rescue Mission meal! We served 90 people and it was very much appreciated.. Grace Church is blessed with generous members who spent time in the the Parish House kitchen preparing the main entrees the day ahead, (Ann Berry, Donna Davis, Teresa Burke, Cathie Elsbree, and Terri Jackman); who baked dessert brownies/bars (Mary Foltz, Ann Berry, Kathy Shannon, Charlotte Stryker, Lynn Giles and Diane Banas); and who prepped and served the meal at the Rescue Mission (Tom Van Gelder, Al and Cathie Elsbree, Deb Pausz, Terri Jackman, and Carmen Ferguson). You are truly a wonderful group!             -Karlyn Van Gelder

 

Magdalene House Chicago is a new recipient of outreach funds this year. $1,000 has been given to assist in the establishment of this first Chicago/Illinois area site that is part of a Nashville, Tennessee ministry founded and lead by The Rev. Becca Stevens, an Episcopal priest. These homes work to transition women who have been trafficked into stable and sustainable lives. Please watch this spot for a more detailed description of this ministry by Diane Luther. 

The Next Theological Thriller Does God consign sinners to hell, or do we choose hell ourselves? That question is one of many raised by Charles Williams's dark theological thriller, Descent into Hell, arguably his most accomplished work of fiction.

 

Williams (18 86-1945), along with C. S. Lewis and J. R. Tolkien, was one of the Oxford group known as the Inklings. Like Lewis in particular, Williams' fiction skirts the boundaries of realism, in an amalgam of theology, myth, and a recognizable English landscape with human characters like ourselves. Our group read the first of his novels, War in Heaven, over a year ago, and with this one we will, if interest is sufficient, turn to the last as a Lenten "read."  

 

Rather than schedule an event and hoping someone will come, I am asking this time that those of you who would like to participate signify your interest to me, either in person at church or coffee hour, or by e-mail ( lsposton@uic.edu ).  I will then survey your available dates and times, and check back with you once more before ordering copies. Please let me hear from you no later than Saturday, February 22.

It's all the buzz. Choeur d'hommes de l"Auvignon, a men's choir from southwest France, is coming to perform at the Galena Festival of the Performing Arts on July 10th (and sing in worship on July 12th) 2020. The organizing committee is looking for host families to house our guests for their 5 night stay. We are hoping to find housing for them in homes that are within walking distance of downtown Galena. This will give our travelers some freedom to explore on their own. They will be kept entertained as lots of activities are being planned that you as hosts may or may not want to join into.  Ask Bonnielynn Kreiser for more information and for the Host Family Inventory/ Application to fill out if you have any interest. Fill one out anyway even if you have to drive into town from your home - we may need you! Contact information is: 815-291-9005 (cell), 815-777-1468 (home), or skreiser@aol.com.