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Canapes and Conversation
Alan Oyen will be hosting on August 16th from 5-7 pm at 505 S. Prospect Street, phone number 779-214-0120. Bring a friend, a nibble and a beverage to share. Please go down the driveway and turn around before parking on the east side of the street so that the last to arrive will be on the west, next to Alan's house. Those who need assistance may pull into Alan's driveway. All are welcome!
Choir Mini-Retreat
Music Director Robin French invites all choir members and all who might be interested in being part of the choir to attend a mini-retreat at the church on Saturday, August 25 from 9 am - 1 pm.
This will be an opportunity to talk about plans for the months ahead as we begin the fall season and to try out the newly arranged choir area now on the epistle side of the church. (see Rector's Ramblings below).
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I am delighted to announce that our anticipated  changes at Grace are in progress. First of all, Robin French, having just returned from vacation, is now officially taking on her position as Music Director at Grace. This week, our hearty team has joined her in beginning the transformation of the rear of the nave. This is a change required to allow Robin to direct the choir from the organ and the piano. The choir seating and organ have been moved across the aisle to join the piano.Three pews have been moved in the opposite direction where they will soon be bolted into place (meanwhile, they are simply lined up where the choir seats used to be, but should not be used until they are secured into the floor).
Once the pews are secured, the baptismal font and paschal candle will also have their new homes on the pulpit side of the aisle. The sound system will remain in place.
 Then, we have a new Parish Administrator! Her name is Nancy Kenney. She and her husband live here in Galena where they moved about a year ago from Glen Ellyn, Illinois. She will officially begin the week after Labor Day. Meanwhile, there will be some sessions with Frani as she gets the benefit of some expert orientation to our church and its administrative support needs. At this point, it appears that office hours will continue to be Tuesday-Friday mornings, but more information will follow shortly. Meanwhile, please join me in welcoming Nancy. And thank you for your patience with the irregular hours these past few weeks. And a big thanks to Frani for coming in on weekends to take care of the bookkeeping and bulletin printing!
Meanwhile, the Worship Ministries would appreciate your input on  the trial bulletins and leaflets we have been using this month. And also on the revision in Prayers of the People where we are naming new requests and those who are presently undergoing serious treatment or testing, birthdays and anniversaries, and recent deaths. Ongoing prayers are listed in the bulletin (and as an attachment to this e-Blast) along with the request that all of us join the Servants through Prayer in praying these intentions throughout the week.
You may send your comments--favorable, concerns, and suggestions to my e-mail: gracerector@gracegalena.org. Thank you.
See you in church!
Gloria+
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NEWS FROM OUR DIOCESE AND TEC
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BISHOP'S VISITATION
Bishop Lee's Visitation has been rescheduled for Sunday, September 8th. He will visit with St. Paul's Savanna at its service and arrive at Grace in time for our 10:30 service of Holy Eucharist. He will preach and preside as well as receive people into the Episcopal Church.
As this will be his last visitation prior to his scheduled retirement in August 2020, we will have a special coffee hour/lunch and spend our time together in fellowship rather than in asking him
to present a program. He will also meet with the Vestry.
BISHOP SEARCH UPDATE
Several listening sessions have been scheduled across the Diocese to enable churches and members to have input on the profile that will be prepared for potential candidates. Listening sessions will focus on how you see God at work in the diocese, what challenges we face together, and what we seek in our next bishop.
In our Deanery, one will take place on September 7 at St. Peter's in Sycamore, Illnois.
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.
BISHOPS AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE
This group of Episcopal bishops that includes Bp. Lee, has issued a statement in response to last week's mass shootings. These 100 bishops, who came together after the shootings at the Sikh Temple in Wisconsin and Sandy Hook, were brought "together across our differences to demonstrate that we believe in a God of life in the face of death."
The bishops point to the role of "the deadly mix of white supremacy and gun violence that is coming to define our era of American history" as fueling the hatred and anger that lead to mass shootings. They call upon Christians to work to "dismantle the systemic racism that is part of our country's founding narrative...to repudiate white supremacy and white nationalism and embrace humane immigration policies that follow God's command and the Biblical imperative to welcome the stranger in our midst, refuse to participate in scapegoating people with mental illness, a ploy too often used to distract from the urgent yet simple need to enact common sense gun safety measures."
Finally, they say, "Today we are weary of witnessing the slaughter gripping our country. But we
are no less determined to continue speaking, even when it seems our words make no difference; to continue praying in order to gather our strength to act; and to follow Jesus in speaking truth, especially when it seems that truth is out of season." The entire statement can be read here.
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For these Sundays in August, our hymns will be those requested by the congregation, most from our 1982 hymnal, but at least one each week from another source. Thanks to those who submitted requests.
READINGS
Jeremiah 23:23-29: A prophecy against false prophets who make up lies in God's name, compared to God's true word which burns like fire and smashes rock like a hammer.
Psalm 82: This Psalm, picturing a 'council of the gods', has God speaking judgement over the gods of nations who oppress the poor and allow injustice to continue unchecked.
Hebrews 11:29-12:2: A reminder of the "great cloud of witnesses" - people of faith who suffered for their message and stayed committed to God through great trial and heartache - who surround us. They encourage us to stay firm, and follow Christ - the one who endured the cross - faithfully.
Luke 12:49-56: Jesus grieves his coming suffering, recognising the conflict that will arise over his message, and challenging people to discern the true nature of the time they live in, in the same way that they interpret the weather.
Every Christ-following community and individual is faced, daily, with a choice. We can choose to adopt an 'escapist' faith, ignoring the pain of the world while waiting for heavenly bliss after we die, or we can do the work of listening, watching and understanding our societies and neighbourhoods, and the times in which we live. We can prophecy what is easy, comfortable and expedient for us - what requires little sacrifice and work, what makes us feel good, but changes little - or we can draw attention to the signs of injustice among us, we can call out corruption and exploitation, and we can hold ourselves and our leaders accountable to care for the marginalised and vulnerable. Ultimately, if we take the latter course, we will face the suffering of getting involved, for we will have to actually do something about the issues we expose. We will also, inevitably, face the aggression and threats of those who are invested in the status quo. We will find ourselves upsetting the peace, and being labelled "divisive", "rabble-rousers" and other names. The question is whether we have the conviction and courage to follow the great cloud of witnesses in service of God's reign, or not. This is a choice we will face every single day.
The thumbnails
and reflections excerpted from sacredise.com
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Formation News -- Inviting Opportunity
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The Grace EfM Group is set for the 2019-2020 year and there is room for additional members. Have you thought about starting EfM? Maybe this is the year to do it.
Did you start EfM somewhere else, perhaps in the old format?
Maybe this is the year to continue. It's even possible to retak
e one of the years in the new format.
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Outreach Ministries Update
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ARC School Supply Collection
2019 ARC SCHOOL SUPPLIES RECEIVED
The ARC wants to give you a great big thank you for all the contributions. Remember if you want to see the product of these donations, Dave Decker will present a private tour at the date of our choosing. The sign up calendar is in the entryway of the Paris
h Hall. Please remember to sign up. Again, thank you for your great generosity.
1
2 Water color paint sets 31 Artist brushes
7 boxes (24) crayons
1 box (24) colored pencils
4 pkg adhesive letters 1 pkg (8) pencils
1 pkg (25) tinsel stems
1 pkg glitter tape 3 pkg (4) glue sticks
2 pkg (8) watercolor paints 17 Fiskars scissors
6 rolls Scotch tape
1 bottle white board care
12 bottles of glue
6 pkg wet wipes
1 pkg (14) glitters shakers 28 dry erase markers 1 Fiskars sharpener
2 pkg (6) chalk markers 5 pkg (30) Kleenex
5 2" folders
I pkg (21) sharpie pens 13 pkg (10) markers
8 pkg (80) Kleenex
560 sheets construction 8 pkg (144) Kleenex 4 reams copy paper
paper
Cash donations of $75.00
were received in addition to a $500 gift from the Outreach funds.
Riverbend Mobile Food Pantry
will be in Galena once again on Saturday, September 7. Food will be distributed at Crossroads Community Church beginning at 10:30 am. Volunteers are always needed and should plan to arrive at 10 am.
NOTE FROM JIM McCRAE, UCG BOARD PRESIDENT
To the United Churches:
You will remember that Jerry Howard of the Chamber of Commerce did a presentation to the United Churches in May, looking for volunteers to serve in the Chamber's funnel cake booth at Country Fair this fall in exchange for a share of the profits. The Chamber is still seeking additional volunteers, so please get the word out to your congregations. This could be a relatively easy fundraiser for you.
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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 2018-2020)
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 Coordinator
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For quick reference, find Sunday's readings by clicking here:
The Lectionary
Ministers of the
Service:
Lector:
Carol Poston
1st Chalicist:
Diane Luther
Greg Serwich
Acolyte:
Richard Luther
Vestry Coordinator:
Larry Poston
Altar Guild:
Pam Malik & Debbie Kallback
LEM:
Greg & Karen Serwich
Presider:
The Very Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell
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Pentecost 11
10:30am
August 25, 2019
Eucharistic readings
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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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*Cursillo & Bible Study are on summer
break and resume
after Labor Day.*
Sunday
8:30 am
Formation Ministries
Tuesday
9:00 am Vestry
Wednesday Events
7:30 am
Midweek Eucharist
8:10 am
Community Breakfast at Victory Café
9:30 am
Outreach Ministries
Saturday
9 am-1 pm
All are welcome!
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The choir is on recess for the month of August.
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For current and
upcoming events, download a copy of the calendar with this link: August
OR check out the goog
le
calendar on the website
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8/18-
8/25-Hansen/Beadle
9/1-
9/8--Vestry/Bishop's Visitation
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 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 re
quest.
NEW:
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| Grace Galena Mass in the Grass 6th after Pentecost 2019 |
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| Grace Galena 8th after 2019 Sermon |
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| Grace Galena 9th after Pentecost 2019 Sermon |
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