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grace episcopal church
galena, illinois
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Twenty-First Sunday of Pentecost
October 17, 2021
Holy Eucharist, 10:30 am
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October 17, 2021
The State of Illinois has officially issued a directive for masking at indoor gatherings for all who are two years old or older regardless of inoculation status. Out of concern for those who cannot yet be vaccinated or whose immune systems are compromised, we respectfully request that you comply and wear a mask indoors that covers your nose and mouth.
Our diocese has requested that each church regularly review the CDC map that has
four stages of COVID risk and make decisions accordingly about safety precautions.
Jo Daviess County's risk factor (and that of the entire state of Illinois) is now in the highest category.
The only other precaution reinstated at this time is to suspend contact during the Peace.
Please be cautious and also be prepared for changes at any time.
Social hour is suspended.
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Ministers of the Service
Members & Guests, Celebrants
Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider
Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
Richard Luther, Lector
Elizabeth Ludescher, Intercessor
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Robin French, Music Director
Nancy Cook, Erben Organist
Lynn Giles, Vestry Coordinator
Debbie Kallback & Maren Coates
Altar Guild
Amy Hardwicke, Greeter
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Rector's Ramblings
One of the things that was surprising--and amazing--to me when I arrived at Grace in 2012 was its Wednesday morning service. Oh, I had participated in mid-week services before, so that was not unusual. But they mostly took place mid-morning, during the noon hour, or late afternoon or early evening. Not at 7:30 am! And they were often sparsely attended.
The first time I presided on a Wednesday, I expected to find just a handful of people gathered in the Chapel. I was stunned to find nearly twenty! And that continued week after week after week. Amazing--both the hour and the number. Of course, there was that post worship experience, too. Breakfast at a local restaurant, usually Victory Cafe.
It might have been my first Wednesday that I arrived just beforet 7:30. As I entered the sacristy, I noticed the total silence and the absence of people. And then, at 7:31 am, I heard a voice. The group had begun Morning Prayer, thinking that I had forgotten to show up. When I appeared in the Chapel door, we seamlessly switched over to Holy Eucharist.
Well, that was impressive! I learned then how LInda Packard, while she served as Interim Rector, had worked with the regular attendees to set up a rota to lead Morning Prayer during the time from when her interim period ended and a new Rector arrived. The willingness of people to sign up as lectors, homilists, and Morning Prayer officiants has continued. We continued to offer lay led Morning Prayer monthly after I came along with lay lectors for the Eucharistic services. Later we added a lay homilist once each month. And the clergy rotated the Presider's job three Wednesdays each month.
Of course, there is also the need to resource the homilists. Alice Maffit does that beautifully, providing the readings and background material on the "saint of the day" each week. Joe Maffit handles the recruitment every quarter or so. Alice and Lynn Giles served as sacristans, preparing the chapel and altar. Now, our Deacon, Diane Luther, does that.
It is a smoothly organized machine! All I have to do is show up when it is my turn. But that is hardly the most impressive part of our Wednesday mornings.
This is a truly fine example of not only corporate worship but of community--people faithfully bonded to God and to one another. And the ministry of all the people! This became especially evident during the months that we could not meet in person. And then, when we had to distance a worship in the church and forego breakfast. When we contemplated returning to the Chapel, there was an instant and unanimous positive vote to return to that more intimate setting.
In my opinion, this is one of the very special aspects of our congregation at Grace Church. If you haven't already tried it, I think you should!
See you in church,
Gloria+
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WEDNESDAY MORNING EUCHARIST |
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Events this Week:
Sunday 10/17
Holy Eucharist 10:30 am online and in-person
Social Hour suspended at this time.
Monday 10/18
Poetry Group 2:00pm
Krista Ginger's Birthday
Rev. Linda & Tony Packard's Anniversary
Tuesday 10/19
Compline online 8:30 pm
Vestry Meeting 3:00pm
Wednesday 10/20
Midweek Worship online and in-person 7:30 am
Morning Study Group on Zoom 10:00 am
Thursday 10/21
Richard Babcock Mem.Yarn Ministry 1:30 pm
Pete Stryker's Birthday
Friday 10/22
Centering Prayer online 9:00 am
Saturday 10/23
Choir Practice 10 am
Important Links:
Office Hours
9:00am-Noon, Tuesday through Friday
Rector Office Hours
10:30am-3:00pm Tuesday through Thursday
Mondays and other times by appointment
ROTA (6-6-21 to 10-31-21)
ROTA (11-7-21 to 4-24-22)
Website: includes a password protected members' portal where most recent Vestry minutes, financials, and Grace Church Directory are found.
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SEARCH COMMITTEE
The Search Committee wants to pass along our profound thanks for the participation of our congregation in completing CAT surveys; slightly more than 80% of you completed and submitted your surveys! This degree of congregational involvement is gratifying and will help us present a very clear picture to prospective candidates of who Grace Church is! Thank you!
The search committee and the vestry met Thursday evening October 14th with Rev. Andrea Mysen to hear the interpretation of data collected from the CAT surveys. Andrea also spent time going over the Small Group process that will be another opportunity for our congregation to provide information, to help complete the picture of who Grace Church is. The search committee will provide you information about this in the coming week.
Again, from the search committee, a big Thank You for your work on the CAT survey!
Should you have questions about information provided here, or about the search process please call Steve Coates (563.581.6515) or Pete Stryker (312.504.8268) or any member of the Search Committee.
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Rector Search Committee Members
Steve Coates, Pete Stryker, Co-chairs
Greg Anderson
Teresa Burke
Elizabeth Ludescher
Dave Mikelson
Joy VonWolffersdorff
Their contact information is available in the church directory on our website at this link: directory
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WORSHIP MINISTRY NEWS
ALL SAINTS' DAY is coming! Since November 1 falls on a Monday this year, we will observe this Principle Feast Day on Sunday, October 31.
As is customary, we will remember those who have died since All Saints' Day with the tolling of the bell and all others whose names we wish to lift up by lighting candles in their memory.
Please use the sign-up sheets at each entrance for the names of loved ones that we will remember. You are also invited to bring photographs that will be displayed in the chancel on that day.
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ANNUAL PLEDGE CAMPAIGN BEGINS
If you have not yet received a mailing from the Rector about this year's pledge campaign, it is on its way! The theme is "Every Perfect Gift," and a weekly reflection will appear in each Sunday's bulletin relating to that theme. There will also be personal reflections offered by parishioners in Sunday worship on October 17, 24, and November 7. The first will be by Dave Mikelson this Sunday.
The Commitment Sunday this year will be November 21. A letter from the Sr. Warden including a pledge card, will be mailed the week before so that you may bring the Perfect Gift your pledge to church that day to be dedicated to God for the furtherance of ministry at Grace Church. Please use these materials as you prayerfully discern your promise to the church.
This year, the first mailing will also include information for those who must receive Required Minimum Distributions from their IRAs and pension funds. It is possible to direct your pledge from such a distribution, in which case the amount pledged will not be included in your taxable income.
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EPISCOPAL CHURCH & DIOCESAN NEWS
Episcopal Church 2020 Parochial Report data available
Office of Public Affairs 10/6/2021
While the report is often known for the quantitative metrics of average Sunday attendance (ASA) and “pledge and plate” (funds collected through offerings and pledges), the 2020 Parochial Report was changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic to include qualitative data. Congregations were asked narrative questions related to how their mission and ministry were impacted by the pandemic.
“Clergy and lay leaders showed great diligence in responding to the narrative questions,” said Iris DiLeonardo, research and language specialist. “Over 4,000 pages of text were received in response to the narrative questions.”
From the Executive Summary:
- Though all churches encountered significant challenges to during the pandemic, barriers to engagement were not experienced equally across The Episcopal Church. Rather, fault lines of inequality were exacerbated and exposed...The responses suggest that congregations in poor and rural areas; those with limited clergy, staff, and volunteers; and those with aging congregations were especially challenged by the circumstances of the pandemic. Some of the most vulnerable congregations ceased operations altogether.
- Even in the midst of these challenges, however, there is also evidence of innovation and growth. Many churches described novel opportunities for connection and engagement during the pandemic.
- The pandemic challenged many long-standing assumptions about Episcopal identity. When churches were prevented from continuing standard operations, clergy and parishioners were forced to re-evaluate core principles and practices. Many expressed a renewed recognition that the church is “not a building” but rather a people. In a similar vein, responses frequently included comments about desiring to keep the flexibility and creative spirit that the pandemic environment evoked in their church.
“Our 2020 data tells us much about the adaptability and creativity of our congregations, as well as helping to highlight areas of ongoing challenge and opportunities for growth,” said the Rev. Molly James, deputy executive officer of the Generation Convention.
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FELLOWSHIP NEWS
SOCIAL HOUR SUSPENDED
Coffee and conversation has been suspended due to COVID.
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FALL SERIES: CONVERSATIONS ON FAITH WITH
STEVEN CHARLESTON'S LADDER TO THE LIGHT
Ladder to the Light Conversations with the Rector continues on Sundays in the Chapel shortly after the end of worship.
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We are a group that studies spiritual subjects, including the Bible. All are welcome to join us to enhance their knowledge of spirituality and explore how to apply it to their lives. Currently we are studying the Gospel of Luke. Meetings (in the Parish Hall and on Zoom) begin at 10:00 a.m.
(Those in the Parish Hall need to wear a mask.)
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Compline on Zoom
On Tuesday evenings, at 8:30 pm, Lynn Giles will lead a service of Compline. She has been participating in the service that has previously been offered to the Diocese of Chicago by St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn. This service of the Daily Office in our Book of Common Prayer is a brief, contemplative service that is ideal for prayerful letting go of the cares of the day and preparing for a restful night. Find the link button above.
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MEDITATIVE PRAYER 9:00am on 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.
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WORSHIP:
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
In the upside-down (or right-side up) Reign of God, greatness is defined very differently from the power, fame and fortune criteria that is used by most human systems. Unfortunately, even we who claim to follow Jesus struggle with this essential truth of the Gospel. Yet, when we are faced with the Great Creator who willingly becomes a humble human man, we cannot avoid the call of God to the greatness of service and sacrifice.
Job 38:1-7, 34-41: God answers Job, questioning where he was when God created the earth, who orders the clouds and lightning and can create rain, and who provides food for wild animals and birds.
Psalm 104:1-9,24,35c: In praise of God’s glory and majesty, for the way God established the earth and commanded the waters, and for the way God has filled the earth with God’s creation.
Hebrews 5:1-10: High priests offer gifts and sacrifices on behalf of the people and deals with them gently, because he is aware of his own weakness. In the same way, Jesus was appointed by God, and offered prayer for his life to God, who saved him. Now he offers salvation to those who trust him.
Mark 10:35-45: James and John ask Jesus to be allowed to sit at his right and left when Jesus enters glory. Then after assuring them that they will share in his suffering, Jesus teaches all the disciples that those who want to be great among his disciples must be the servant of all, just as Jesus came to serve and not be served.
In a world of reality television, it’s tempting to define greatness, even in the church, by the world’s terms. When we’ve “succeeded” – amassed lots of money or recognition or influence – then we consider ourselves great, and if we haven’t managed to do this, we try to find ways to get it right. But, in this quest for universal exceptionalism, we’ve lost our souls, and the knowledge of true greatness. We’ve forgotten how significant it is for a struggling single mother to raise children to be responsible and generous. We’ve forgotten how powerful the influence of an attentive parent or grandparent can be. We’ve forgotten what a difference small acts of kindness and service can make to our neighbourhoods and communities. We’ve even forgotten that the quest to be great in God’s Reign can lead to the same competitiveness that the disciples experienced – even to the extent that we compare who is the “servingest” of us all! Yet, the ultimate test of greatness is when greatness becomes irrelevant – when we no longer care about how we’re seen, or what we’ve achieved, and we begin to live as humble, sacrificial servants simply because it’s the right thing to do, and it’s one of the best ways to contribute to the healing of the world. Ironically, it’s the moment we stop seeking greatness or defining ourselves by the quest for greatness that we become authentic followers of Christ, and that’s when we become truly great, according to God’s standard.
thumbnails and commentary from sacredise.com
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ZOOM POETRY GROUP 2:00pm on Mondays
A Zoom Poetry meeting from Grace Church has been organized and meets Mondays at 2:00pm. This is not specifically a Grace ministry, but a number of Grace members and friends are part of it If you are interested, write Carol Poston at poston@sxu.edu or call her at 815-777-0220.
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An Episcopal Wednesday service of Holy Eucharist: The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider; The Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon; Richard Luther, Lector and Homilist; Lynn Giles, Zoom Host.
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An Episcopal service of Holy Eucharist 9/26/21: The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider; Debbie Kallback, Intercessor; Nancy Cook, Lector and Erben Organist; Robin French, Music Director; Lynn Giles, Zoom Host. |
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An Episcopal Service of Holy Eucharist 10/3/21, "The Higher Law" The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider; The Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon; Debbie Pausz, Intercessor; Terri Jackman, Lector; Robin French, Music Director; Nancy Cook, Erben Organist; Lynn Giles, Zoom Host. |
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Hybrid worship has resumed for both in-person and Zoom congregations in line with Diocesan guidelines and Phase 5 of the State of Illinois COVID recovery.
For those present in the Church:
Please put your smartphone or other device in airplane mode so that our
internet capacity is reserved for our online streaming.
Don't forget to wear your mask if you intend to sing!
For those on Zoom:
Please mute yourselves before the Prelude begins and immediately after the Peace. This prevents other participants on Zoom from being distracted by conversation
and background noise.
Those who will join us on Zoom will receive the usual e-mail invitation with a link to the day's bulletin.
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Vestry:
Lynn Giles, Senior Warden
Richard Luther, Jr. Warden
Jim Berry, Treasurer
Crystal Mason, Clerk
The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Rector
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Staff:
The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Rector
The Rev. Linda Packard, Priest Associate
The Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
Nancy Kenney, Parish Administrator
Robin French, Music Director
Nancy Cook, Erben Organist
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Charlotte Stryker: Worship
Elizabeth Ludescher: Communications
Nancy Cook: Outreach
Eric Kallback: Building & Grounds
Crystal Mason: Pastoral Care
Phil Jackman: Fellowship/Parish Life
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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
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