grace episcopal church
galena, illinois

Baptism of Our Lord

Holy Eucharist

January 9, 2022 10:30 am

January 9, 2022

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.
Ministers of the Service
Members and Guests, Celebrants
Rev. Thomas Rogers III, Presider
Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
Richard Luther, Lector
Donna Davis, Intercessor

Robin French, Music Director
Nancy Cook, Erben Organist
Charlotte Stryker, Vestry Coordinator
Alice Maffit & Kim Kreiser, Altar Guild
Amy Hardwicke, ​Greeter
HOW TO WATCH GRACE CHURCH ON YouTube:
If you plan to attend a Grace Sunday service online, it’s now available as a live-stream on YouTube. Click on either the red or the green link (buttons) at the top of this eBlast.
(You may have to wait a minute or two for your computer to open its browser and make the connection.)

The RED link gives you a choice of services. You will also see when the next scheduled live-stream will start.
The GREEN link only connects after the streaming has started at the church.

All you need to remember is Red link: go to anytime
Green link: go to when the service starts.

For “early birds” we’ll start the live-streaming at 10:25 am CST.
GRACE JANUARY WORSHIP
1/9/22 Holy Eucharist - Rev. Thomas Rogers III, Presider and Preacher
1/16/22 Holy Eucharist - Rev. Thomas Scott, Presider and Preacher
1/23/22 Holy Eucharist - Rev. Carolyn Keck, Presider and Preacher
1/30/22 Morning Prayer - Debbie Kallback, Leader; Bill Foltz, Homilist
Rev. Thomas (Tommy) Rogers III
We are fortunate to have Rev. Thomas Rogers as our supply priest this Sunday. We who have completed the Spiritual Care Visitor Training, know him to be a kind and encouraging instructor. In addition to being an Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.,Certified Educator, and an Episcopal priest, Rev. Rogers is the Executive Director of Bishop Anderson House. He provides education to students in the Clinical Pastoral Education program at Rush University Medical Center, supports professional chaplains at Stroger Cook County Hospital and provides help and resources to those who volunteer as spiritual care visitors in the Chicago area and beyond.
The Richard Babcock Memorial Yarn Ministry learned the chaplains at Bishop Anderson House give prayer shawls to patients but their supply is running low. So, we are sending prayer shawls back to Chicago with Tommy Rogers. Each shawl bears a tag:
“Made with Love”
LENTEN MEDITATION BOOKLET
It's that time of year again to think about writing a meditation or two for our annual
Lenten Meditation Booklet. Please request an assignment from Carmen at church or via email at fergusoncarmen99@gmail.com.

The deadline this year is Valentine's Day, February 14th. Thanks! And the entire congregation eagerly awaits your thoughts and insights. 
Carmen
MINISTRY OF CARE
Because of the many volunteers willing to help out with calls, rides, errands, meals, etc., the Ministry of Care won’t miss a beat while our search for a new rector is ongoing. 
Please don’t hesitate to contact Bonnielynn Kreiser at 815-777-1468 or 815-291-9005 if you are in need. Also know that our clergy are available to meet your spiritual needs as well.
ALTAR FLOWERS
The Poinsettias are being given away after the service today to anyone who is interested.

The 2022 Flower Chart is on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall.
UNITED CHURCHES OF GALENA

R.I.P. Medical Debt
R.I.P. Medical Debt buys debt to assist families overwhelmed and crippled by medical bills for serious diseases. In the seven years since its inception, more than $5 billion in debt has been forgiven. To learn how this works, please see the article that Jim McCrae has written for his congregation. R.I.P. Info
Our Grace Outreach Ministries and the Congregation have just made our donation of over $3000. The Presbyterian Church and Methodist churches here in Galena gave checks together to support this program.
OUTREACH MINISTRY NEWS
HEIFER PROJECT
Did you know that 821 million people go to bed hungry every night? That is around 1 of every 9 people in the world, and 45% of children under age 5 die each year due to malnutrition. There’s a saying, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for one day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Heifer International provides healthy animals and teaches people how to care for them. 

One of the most important aspects of the Heifer Program is the “Passing of the Gift.” Each person who receives an animal or pair of animals promises to breed the animal and give the first offspring to another family in their village. In this way, an entire village can become self-sufficient food wise by people sharing the gift of what they received. And Heifer International knows no boundaries, providing animals to people all over the world, including the USA. There is still time to give to Heifer.
Please make your check out to Grace Church and put the notation "Heifer” at the bottom. We will be sending our donation to Heifer in the coming week.

DONATION TO EDUCATION IN BANGLADESH

The most recent gift that the Outreach Committee made was to the education program at the largest refugee camp in the world at Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh. It is meant to help the Rohinga refugees from Myanamar teach the children of the camp. Faisal Justin, a young Rohinga poet is our contact.
Upon receipt of our $500, plus expenses of sending money far away, he informed us that the money was used to buy carpets, chairs, blackboards, chalk, pens, pencils, and geometry boxes.

Faisal Justin commented in his thank you letter,
"We could make very much happy to the students by your support. You brought light to their faces and you're a candle of their lives. I think there is no better honour in the world than bringing light in the faces of hopeless children or needy people by the dynamic supports. We all extend our heartfelt gratitude towards you, even this is not enough."
ALTAR CLOTH FOR GLORY PARISH
This Altar cloth was blessed at Grace before being sent.

Letter to Steve Dowe from Archbishop Joseph, Glory Parish:
Dear Chef Steve & Renee,

May joy, peace, grace and love be yours in this Christmas, we are wishing you Merry Christmas and Happy new year. 

On the other hand, on behalf of Renk diocese, Glory Parish and myself we received Altar Cloth and we are very thankful to God and to you with your family for the great gift of Altar Cloth we are highly appreciated the gift. May God bless you abundantly and give you whatever you are wishing. May this Christmas bring fully healing of your wife Renee and Son Matthew.
Every blessing. Thank you.

Your brother in Him,
Archbishop Joseph
FELLOWSHIP NEWS
SOCIAL HOUR SUSPENDED
Coffee and conversation has been suspended due to COVID.
FORMATION NEWS

WEDNESDAY MORNING STUDY GROUP 10:00am on Wednesdays
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. Lately we’ve been studying the Gospel of Luke. Anyone needing a Zoom invitation can contact Greg Serwich (gserwich@gmail.com).
COMPLINE on Zoom 8:30pm on Tuesdays
On Tuesday evenings, at 8:30 pm, Lynn Giles leads 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.
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.
HOLY EUCHARIST- Baptism of Our Lord
Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
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.
Vestry:
Lynn Giles, Senior Warden
Richard Luther, Jr. Warden
Jim Berry, Treasurer
Crystal Mason, Clerk
Staff:
The Rev. Linda Packard, Priest Associate
The Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
Nancy Kenney, Parish Administrator
Robin French, Music Director
Nancy Cook, Erben Organist
Charlotte Stryker: Worship
Elizabeth Ludescher: Communications
Nancy Cook: Outreach
Eric Kallback: Building & Grounds
Crystal Mason: Pastoral Care
Phil Jackman: Fellowship/Parish Life


Grace Episcopal Church Office
107 S. Prospect Street
Galena, IL 61036
815-777-2590