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SE Mexico Celebrations CANCELLED
Celebration Eucharist on 11/16 and Canapes and Conversation on 11/19 for Bishop Benito and Bishop Julio, the newly consecrated Bishop of Southeast Mexico, have been cancelled. Bishop Benito's renewal of his Visa cannot take place in time for his visit to our Diocese.
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Going the Wrong Way - Planes, Trains & Automobiles (5/10) Movie CLIP (1987) HD |
Movie Night November 10
Grace Movie Night, 6 pm,
Sunday November 10th:
"Planes, Trains & Automobiles"
In preparation for travel to join family this month for that heavy Thanksgiving dinner, as well as, immediate satisfaction of a yearning for comic relief, we're offering lite fare. It's the 1987 John Hughes comedy starring Steve Martin and John Candy... a comedic demonstration of Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will." It's also a lesson in learning to love a boisterous neighbor, such as, Dell Griffith.
All who enjoy a good movie are welcome, including guests and, guests of guests. Anyone may bring a beverage, snack or popcorn to munch during the movie.
Pledge Campaign In-Gathering November 17
You should have received a mailing from the Senior Warden containing a pledge card for 2020 and some information about recent Grace Church giving. Please prayerfully consider your pledge to the church and, on Sunday, November 17, please bring your completed pledge card to church with you.
The pledges will be gathered and dedicated to God for our ministry and mission in the coming year. If you will not be in church that day, feel free to drop your card off or mail it to the church office.
Thanksgiving Celebrations
Yes, holiday time is coming close. This year, there will be two opportunities to give thanks to God for our blessings at Grace Church.
Thanksgiving Day
: Our usual informal morning chapel service of prayer, reflection, Thanksgiving hymns, and communion at 9:30 am. Come while the turkey is cooking or before you head out over the river and through the woods....
Sunday, November 24: It is our turn to host the community at the annual United Churches of Galena Thanksgiving Ecumenical Service. We will do so at 4 pm on Sunday afternoon with a Thanksgiving vesper service of candlelight, hymns, and prayers. More information will be forthcoming.
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Shining the Light Stewardship Campaign
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Making a Difference...Now
Today's gospel is yet another story of someone thinking they have cleverly trapped Jesus with what seems to be a no-win hypothetical. Since the Sadducees didn't believe in resurrection, they were actually asking, "If there really is life after death, how's it going to work?" Not unlike many of us when we are struggling with faith, the Sadducees bogged themselves down in the minutia of logistical complexities and, in the process, the very truth they were seeking eluded them.
Their hypothetical situation referred to Levirate Marriage - the obligation of a man to marry the childless widow of his brother in order to produce a child. I truly love my brother-in-law, but if something were to happen to my husband, the idea of marrying and having a child with him is ... well, just gross. But I don't live in ancient biblical times. And back then, women couldn't own property or even have an income. We were dependent on men for our very survival. Without a husband or a son, a woman was in serious, life-threatening trouble. Levirate Marriage was a way of taking care of widows.
The Sadducees ask, "If seven brothers each marry the same widow and all seven die, whose wife will she be in heaven?" Jesus answers, "Those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage."
Jesus wasn't saying we won't love our spouses in heaven, but instead, he was telling the Sadducees they were missing the point. They needed to do what was necessary to take care of one another here on earth and not worry about the logistics of heaven - God's got that under control.
We are called to make a difference now, here on earth - to look after and care for the widows of our time - the poor, the vulnerable, the disenfranchised, and the forgotten. We are called not only to be God's hands in the world but also to shine our light brightly where there is a need so others may join us.
Tammy E. Pallot is the Chair of the Commission on Stewardship for the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, where she shares the joy of stewardship as a consultant to parishes and as a guest speaker at workshops, retreats, and various other events. When she is not traveling for stewardship, Tammy attends St. Francis Episcopal Church in Macon, Georgia.
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| I am so grateful for being given the opportunity to take the past six weeks' sabbatical and for the lovely welcome back--and delicious cake!
There are so many memories of this brief time and stories to tell about the places I visited, the people I met, and just the plain old time of relaxation without deadlines and undone tasks to worry about.
It may seem like a "busman's holiday," but one of the favorite parts was the ability to attend a variety of church services, mostly as
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| All Saints Chicago Day of the Dead and Rector Farewell |
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a member of the congregation. It is a rare pleasure when serving a church on most Sunday mornings. This time, I experienced endings: a colleague's final service before moving on to a bishop's position in another diocese; the final service of a church closing after 130 years; and a requiem mass at our cathedral for Bp. Montgomery.
I was involved in beginnings, too, especially my participation as
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Grace Freeport Installation |
Dean at the installation of the new rector at Grace Freeport and at a first afternoon Jazz Vesper service, a gentle and soothing time of prayer with piano and bass. I enjoyed visiting a Sunday morning mass at a church in the Old Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago, one I had wished to visit for a long while.
Then, of course, there were the masses in Spain. Our group worshiped at the Spanish Reformed Episcopal Cathedral in Madrid and then had two more masses throughout the week--one in a private chapel on a lovely family-owned estate in Arzua prior to evening cocktails and music on the grounds followed by a sumptuous meal of the largest pan of paella i ever saw! Finally, on our last day, we had our own mass in a Roman Catholic church not far from the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela (which is under construction). The first mass in Madrid was very special.
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Episcopal Cathedral Madrid
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The bishop of Spain invited all the clergy in the group to vest and be at the altar with him and with the Bp. of Northern Indiana. Of course, we had to scramble around to find vestments that fit us--which is why you see me in a red cassock. The black ones were mostly designed
for very tall men!
Bp. Carlos remained with us for the entire week of our tours from Madrid to Compostela. Bp. Sparks accompanied the walking pilgrims on the 100k camino.
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| St. James Chicago Requiem |
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In addition to the basic joy of worshiping together, I came away with renewed appreciation of our rich liturgical tradition--and the variety of wa
ys that is expressed. It can be soaring and splendid with "smells and bells" and an organ that makes your heart thump. It can be cozy and intimate. It can have a formal and dignified beauty or a joyful and friendly warmth. All of these held together by the shape of the prayer book liturgy, the timeless words we pray and sing, and the bread and wine that we share. Whether in English or Spanish, spoken or chanted. And all of these can be life giving and filled with the Spirit.
See you in church,
Gloria+
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Job 19:23-27a: Job affirms his faith that God will ultimately defend, justify and restore him, in spite of the accusations of his friends.
Psalm 17:1-9: A prayer for God's protection and justification based on the innocence and obdeience of the one praying.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17: Paul addresses the rumour-mongering and fear of the church, assuring them of God's love and salvation, and their secure hope in Christ.
Luke 20:27-38: Jesus is confronted by the Sadducees about life after death, using the story of a woman who, through Levirate marriage, is married to seven brothers consecutively. He responds with an affirmation of resurrection, proclaiming that God is the God of he living, not of the dead.
While the promise of an afterlife has sometimes been used as an excuse for oppression or a reason to keep away from engagement in justice issues in the world, the truth is that the hope we have in Christ is more often a motivator to work toward that hope in this life. If our work to bring about a more peaceful, equitable society has no hope of success - which is the case if it depends only on us - then we will ultimately find ourselves growing cynical and disheartened, and falling into a "if you can't beat them, join them" view. If, however, we can nurture our faith in God's purposes, God's life and God's resurrection, we find hope. Our efforts are not ours alone, but are inspired and empowered by God's Spirit, and at some point - even if only in a distant future - the work we do now will result in the world of which we dream. And, further, the life we live and to which we contribute now, lives on beyond the grave. So, what we do does matter, and every small act of mercy, compassion and defense of the most vulnerable is a manifestation of God's life. We are participants in God's work of resurrecting the universe! Once we allow this truth to sink into our souls, we begin to engage the world's systems from a different, less desperate, more confident and compassionate place. Ultimately, in all of the world's most effective activists this irrepressible hope is visible. As followers of Christ, how much more should this hope characterise us?
Thumbnails and commentary from sacredise.com
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The Kindness Rocks Project
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Creating Kindness and Compassion
The Kindness Rocks Project, founded by Megan Murphy, is based on the profound truth that one message at the right moment can change someone's day, their outlook and indeed, their whole life. The messages on these thoughtful pebbles are all signposts for someone to find at exactly the right time. Come join us on Thursday, November 14th, 2:30-4:30pm at Grace Church. Call the church office 815-777-2590 to reserve your spot.
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Famous First Ladies, the Power behind the Power!
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Back by popular demand...with an added dash of White House Christmas history...Famous First Ladies, the Power behind the Power! Which first lady was a taxidermist, spoke Chinese and gave out toy firetrucks at the White House Christmas party? Who rode a surf board, gambled and sneaked away from the Secret Service? Who was known for entertaining and saving a famous painting? Whose brother hid a Christmas tree in a closet and carried a snake in her purse? Just a hint of the stories. Nov.16, 3pm the ballroom at the DeSoto Hotel. $15 includes dessert and coffee or tea. Reservations suggested. 815-777-0090.
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UCG Community Christmas Concert
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The days are shorter and Frosty has already visited us. As we make plans to prepare for the winter and the upcoming Advent season, be sure to plan for the United Churches of Galena Community Christmas Concert that will take place at 7:00pm on Wednesday, December 4th, at St. Michael's Catholic Church.
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Richard Babcock Memorial Yarn and Blanket Ministries
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The Richard Babcock Memorial Yarn Ministry has weekly knitting/crocheting sessions on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. at the home of Kathy Shannon,301 S Prospect St. All are welcome. Yarn and needles are available for beginners.
The Blanket Ministry will meet again on Thursday, November 14th from 9:30-12:30 to continue working on blankets for Shelter Care Ministries.
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The Wednesday Study Group will be having its regular meeting at 10:30am next Wednesday, November 6th, in the upstairs conference room of the Parish Hall. We will continue our discussion of the first book of Maccabees, in the Apocrypha. Texts of the Apocrypha are available in the library or online, if your Bible does not contain it. All are welcome to attend. Previous attendance is not necessary.
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All Saints' Chili Luncheon
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A hearty thanks to everyone who contributed to the All Saints Chili Luncheon! To all who brought chili, salad, bread and cornbread; to all who helped set up and clean up; and, for the delicious cake! Thanks!
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NEWS FROM OUR DIOCESE AND TEC
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Electing Convention Scheduled for June 20
St. James Cathedral in Chicago
The Special Convention for the Election of the Thirteenth Bishop of Chicago is scheduled to take place on June 20, 2020 at St. James Cathedral in Chicago. At the convention, clergy and lay delegates will cast ballots in accordance with the constitution and canons of the diocese.
A slate of candidates for bishop will be presented to the diocese in April. After the slate is announced, additional candidates may be added to the slate by petition. Before the electing convention, people across the diocese will have the opportunity to meet the candidates in forums called walkabouts.
The Standing Committee will announce more information about the electing convention, including the delegate certification process, soon.
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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 2019-2021)
Worship Committee: Charlotte Stryker (class of 2022)
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
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
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November 10, 2019
Sunday Morning
Pentecost 22
10:30am
For quick reference, find Sunday's readings by clicking here:
The Lectionary
Ministers of the
Service:
Presider:
Rev.Gloria Hopewell
Lector:
Carment Ferguson
1st Chalicist:
Bill Boehler
2nd Chalicist:
Bonnielynn Kreiser
Acolyte:
Molly Beadle
Vestry Coordinator:
Elizabeth Ludescher
Altar Guild:
Alice Maffit &
Frani Beadle
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Pentecost 23
November 17, 2019
10:30am
Eucharistic readings
for your own study:
Isaiah 65:17-25
Canticle 9
2 Thessalonians
3:6-13
Luke 21:5-19
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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."
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Monday Events
9:30am
Executive Committee
Tuesday Events
Wednesday Events
7:30 am
Mid-Week Eucharist
8:10 am
Community Breakfast at Victory Café
9:30 am
Cursillo Group
9:30
Outreach Committee
10:00
Altar Guild
10:30 am
Study Group
Thursday Events
8:30am
9:30am-Noon
Blanket Ministry
1:30 pm
Knitting Ministry
6:30 pm
EfM
All are welcome!
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Choir rehearsals are at 10am on Saturdays.
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For current and
upcoming events,
check out the goog
le
calendar on the website
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11/10 -
Carmen Ferguson
Charlotte Kennedy
"Flexitarian Lunch"
11/17 -
11/24 -
Choir
12/1 -
Kim & Bonnielynn
Kreiser
R
eminder for hosts:
Napkins and plates
are provided. Use
what you need from
our pantry
.
Remember: Keep it simple. We usually have about 35-40 attending.
**Coffee schedule sign up is on the bulletin board in the Parish House.**
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You can now get information on Formation Ministries directly from the new Grace website at the following links: Children and Youth Adults
Spiritual Practices
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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
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DEADLINES !
News and prayer requests:
Sunday
Bulletin:
Wed. end of day.
e-Blast:
Thursday noon.
Anniversaries and Birthdays
Have yours been missed in our bulletins?
Send to Nancy.
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 re
quest.
NEW:
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| Grace Galena Sermon 11th after Pentecost 2019 |
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Bonnie Perry, Bishop-elect of Michigan
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Bps. Griswold and
Purcell at Bp. Montgomery's Funeral |
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