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grace episcopal church
galena, illinois
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Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Holy Eucharist, 10:30 am
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CANAPES & CONVERSATIONS
at Pete & Charlotte Stryker's Home
Friday, July 16th from 5:00 - 7:00pm
3 Arcadia Court, Galena
Come over for some food and conversation! Please bring an appetizer or dessert that is easy to serve (i.e. finger foods) and your beverage of choice.
Hope to see you!
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Week of July 18, 2021
Mark your calendars: Sunday, 8/8
Mass in the Grass at LinMar Gardens
(details on food to follow)
RESERVATIONS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED AT GRACE
Most COVID restrictions are lifted and
CONGREGATIONAL SINGING RESUMES WITH MASKS!
Otherwise, masks are optional for those who are vaccinated.
An area is reserved for those who prefer distance.
Communion--wafers only--will be offered at the altar rail.
Social time will be held after worship
with beverages and light refreshments.
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Ministers of the Service
Members & Guests, Celebrants
Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider
Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
Carmen Ferguson, Lector
Donna Davis, Intercessor
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Robin French, Music Director
Nancy Cook, Erben Organist
Richard Luther,Vestry Coord.
Debbie Kallback, Maren Coates,
Altar Guild
Karen Serwich, Greeter
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RECTOR'S RAMBLINGS
I have fallen behind on some of the happenings of the wider Episcopal Church this summer. If you receive the diocesan e-newsletter or the reports from Episcopal News Service, you may have already been informed of these.
The Episcopal Church's Executive Council met virtually at the end of June. According to Episcopal News Service, "themes of racial justice, including the experience of people of color within the Episcopal Church, the persecution of indigenous peoples in North America, and plans to extend and magnify the church's existing truth and reconciliation efforts" dominated its work.
Truth and Reconciliation: Bp. Curry announced the formation of a new churchwide racial truth and reconciliation effort to convene in September to propose resolutions for the 2022 General Convention. He said,
This is an invitation, and an opportunity to do the hard and holy work of love. This is an opportunity to do and to model...for the societies in which we live, what we must do to save our souls from the evils of racism, the evils of supremacy of anybody over anybody else.
The Council received the results of the Racial Audit of Episcopal Leadership that was released in April and shared reactions to its findings. An executive summary may be found in Audit
Indigenous Boarding Schools:The discoveries of unmarked graves at the residential schools in Canada and the need for a better understanding of the Episcopal Church's involvement in its operation of such schools from the 1870s to the mid-20th century was also discussed. On July 12, Bp. Curry and House of Deputies President Gay Clark Jennings released a statement on the indigenous boarding schools:
"We are grieved by recent discoveries of mass graves of Indigenous children on the grounds of former boarding schools, where Indigenous children experienced forced removal from their homes, assimilation and abuse. These acts of cultural genocide sought to erase these children’s identities as God’s beloved children.
We condemn these practices and we mourn the intergenerational trauma that cascades from them. We have heard with sorrow stories of how this history has harmed the families of many Indigenous Episcopalians."
The full statement may be read: Schools
As one response to these troubling problems that affect all of us as we attempt to live as faithful followers of Christ, I shall proceed with my plan for a discussion group on Steven Charleston's book, Ladder to the Light: An Indigenous Elder's meditations on Hope and Courage.
I envision several sessions that will begin sometime after my return from vacation in August. Several people have indicated an interest and more are welcome to join in what I expect will be an informal chat about insights from both Charleston's meditations and our own reflections. More to follow.
is a retired Episcopal bishop and priest, a former seminary dean and professor, an elder in the Choctaw Nation, and a practitioner of Zen Buddhism.
See you in church or on Zoom!
Gloria+
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Events this Week:
Sunday 7/18
Holy Eucharist 10:30 am online and in-person
*Social Hour following the service
James Baran & David Robertson's Anniversary
Monday 7/19
Poetry Group 2:00pm
EfM in person in PH Conference Room 6:30pm
Kathy Shannon's Birthday
Charlotte Kennedy's Birthday
Tuesday 7/20
Vestry Meeting 3:00pm
Compline online 8:30pm
Wednesday 7/21
Midweek Worship online and in-person 7:30 am
Morning Study Group online 10 am
Diane Banas' Birthday
Thursday 7/22
Jennie Fjelde's Birthday
Charlotte & George Kennedy's Anniversary
Friday 7/23
Centering Prayer online 9:00am
Saturday 7/24
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)
Website: includes a password protected members' portal where most recent Vestry minutes, financials, and Grace Church Directory are found.
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THIS SUNDAY, JULY 18-- DEDICATION OF PEPPER FAMILY MEMORIAL GARDEN
Immediately following worship
During the Postlude, the Altar Party and members of the Pepper Family will lead a procession of the congregation to the Pollinating Garden for a liturgy of dedication.
Please keep your bulletins with you, as the liturgy is on its last page.
Many thanks to Charlotte Stryker and Amy Hardwicke for the inspiration and plans for this pollinating garden that features a burst of colors to attract our native birds, butterflies and bees. Our new garden is in honor of The Pepper Family, who have been generous donors to Grace Church for many years and have made our ministries possible.
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SOCIAL HOUR RETURNS
Coffee and conversation returns after the service on Sundays. Simple refreshments like finger foods are preferred. Sign up to
host an upcoming Sunday. There are open dates starting in August. The signup sheet has been posted by the coffeemaker.
Upcoming Hosts:
July 18 -- Bonnielynn & Kim Kreiser
July 25 -- Greg & Karen Serwich
August 1 --
August 8 -- Mass in the Grass
August 15 --
August 22 --
August 29 --
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SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR ARC
The ARC provides many programs for all ages in this community. On of the most needed programs in this community is childcare. As I constantly hear there is a great need for childcare throughout this country.
We are fortunate to have the ARC to provide child care in this community.
This year Outreach will again sponsor a drive to collect school supplies for the ARC 4k program. There will be at least 15 children attending this year.
We ask you to be generous in donating school supplies and money to help the ARC with its mission of helping our children get an early start in their education.
Thank you.
Donna Davis
United Churches of Galena Food Pantry Golf Outing July 27, 2021
The United Churches of Galena Food Pantry will sponsor a golf outing at the Eagle Ridge South Course on Tuesday, July 27, starting at 10 a.m. This is an 18-hole four-person scramble, prizes awarded, lunch provided, with the main objective to have fun. There are several ways you can support this worthy cause; as a player, a donor (individual/business), or as a volunteer on the day of the golf outing.
Registration and payment along with details can be found online here You can also pick up forms at any Eagle Ridge Golf Course, or stop by the Galena Food Pantry, 219 Summit St., between Noon-5 p.m., June 24, July 8, or July 22. Your support will assist with the Galena Food Pantry’s mission “to provide cost-free food for the hungry, while treating all people with dignity, respect, and turning no one away.” Questions? Call 815-656-0789.
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FORMATION AND SPIRITUALITY MINISTRY NEWS |
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EfM UPDATES
EfM stands for Education for Ministry. It is a four-year curriculum developed by the University of the South, Sewanee TN for the education of lay people in the church. The first year focuses on the Hebrew Bible; the second year the New Testament while the third years reviews church history and the fourth year reads contemporary theology and ethics. In addition, as a group, we reflect on theological issues as they relate to our world.
Teresa Burke presented a Ministry Moment on Sunday, June 27explaining what EfM has meant to her. New students may enroll beginning in July to start in October 2020. Tuition is $375/yr., which includes all textbooks. Scholarships are available. There is lots of information about EfM on the website, efm.sewanee.edu. If anyone has questions, Lynn Giles is available at lynngiles@lynngilesphotography.com.
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INTERESTED?
Are you interested in EfM? Or, if you went through EfM in “the old days" with the big binders, are you curious about EfM in the present format?
The current EfM Seminar invites you to join us in a discussion of our interlude book, Hospitable Planet: Faith, Action and Climate Change , written by Stephen A. Jurovics (New York, Morehouse Publishing, 2016). The book is widely available in soft cover or Kindle editions.
Please let us know if you will join our discussion by July 1 so we can finalize the location in the Parish House and send you some preparation material. The session will be held on Monday, July 19 between 6:30 and 8:30 pm. For more information or to register, please email Lynn Giles at elynngiles@gmail.com
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NEW--Compline on Zoom
Beginning on Tuesday evening, July 6 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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ADULT INQUIRER'S CLASS
An Adult Inquirers Class will be offered sometime this summer (dates will be determined by the
schedules of those interested in attending). We will be talking about our identity as Episcopalians, the Book of Common Prayer, a brief history of the Anglican/Episcopal church, our creeds, prayer, Baptism,
Eucharist, the Trinity (don’t come looking for an explanation!), and the Jesus Movement as described by
Presiding Bishop Curry. Attending qualifies you to being received or confirmed in the Episcopal Church, if you choose.
This is open to anyone in the church or community. Those considering reception will be given priority
(this is an in-person class). The time commitment is about eight hours. If you are interested in this or
would like more information, please contact Rev. Diane Luther at dm20luther@gmail.com, or
call (815) 281-2301.
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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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NOTE TIME CHANGE
Join us to read, ponder, and discuss scripture and its relevance to us. Last week we resumed meeting in person at church. Next Wednesday we’ll begin meeting at 10 a.m. Those unable to participate in person can join by Zoom. (Contact Greg Serwich for a Zoom invitation: gserwich@gmail.com.)
Coming next: the Gospel of Luke.
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WORSHIP:
EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
The vision that Paul describes, of a diverse, inclusive community in which all people are cared for and through which God works in the world, is what we are all called to as Church, and in our families and neighbourhoods. Unfortunately, we too often use God’s name to justify lives and attitudes that are far removed from this vision. Husbands try to justify their bullying of wives and children in God’s name. Pastors try to justify manipulating and controlling their congregations in God’s name. Parents try to justify bullying and controlling their children in God’s name. And Christians try to justify their rejection and abuse of those of other faiths or no faith, of those of different theological perspectives or sexual orientations, and even of those who are different in race, language, or gender, in God’s name. Rather than celebrate the house of God in which all can find a home, we have tried to become door-keepers and draw dividing lines. Rather than fulfil our role as shepherds to those for whom we are responsible, or those with whom we live and worship, we have chosen legalism, pointing fingers, and self-righteousness too often. The call of this week’s Lectionary is to learn to see God’s Spirit within each person, and in our community as a whole, and to embrace the diversity of the community of faith. Then, as a community, we are called to care for and protect the least and the most vulnerable in our families and neighbourhoods. As we seek to follow the Good Shepherd, we are called to live as good shepherds for all we meet and in so doing allow God to build us into a house – a community – of grace and love in which God’s Spirit “lives” and moves.
Jeremiah 23:1-6: A prophecy of judgment on the wicked shepherds of Israel, and a promise that God will gather his remaining flock together and care for them placing over them a caring shepherd, a descendant of David who will be just and righteous.
Psalm 23: David sings of the God who is his Shepherd and who leads him beside still waters, restores his soul, protects him in the valley of the shadow of death, prepares a table for him before his enemies, and provides a place for him in God’s house forever.
Ephesians 2:11-22: Jews and Gentiles together have been reconciled to God in Christ and brought into one community in which the lines of division have been removed by God through Christ’s cross. Now both are part of God’s household, and are built into a temple for God’s Spirit.
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56: When the disciples return from their mission, they tell Jesus about all they have done, and he calls them to rest. But, as they try to withdraw to a quiet place, the crowds follow them and Jesus has compassion on them because they are like sheep without a shepherd. Then, wherever he goes, the people bring the sick to him for healing.
thumbnails and commentary from sacredise.com
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HELP WANTED!:
An apprentice to work with Zoom at Grace Church.
This is an important part of our Worship Ministry, and more people are needed to keep our live online services coming! It may seem very complicated, but those of us who have been handling it for nearly a year now all had to start from very basic computer skills and learn "on the job." If we have a small team, the responsibilities can be rotated, making it easier for all of us--and making it possible to explore better ways to assure the best audio and visual experience for those worshiping in person and those online.
Please contact Lynn Giles if interested and for more information.
lynngiles@lynngilesphotography.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 Service of Holy Eucharist: The Rev Dr Gloria Hopewell, Presider; The Rev Diane Luther, Deacon; Richard Luther, Lector; Lynn Giles. Zoom Host.
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An Episcopal service of Holy Eucharist 7/4/21: The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider; The Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon; Debbie Kallback, Intercessor; Steve Coates, Lector; Robin French, Music Director; Nancy Cook, Erben Organist; Greg Serwich, Zoom Host. |
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An Episcopal Service of Holy Eucharist: The Rev. Linda Packard, Presider; The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Preacher; The Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon; Elizabeth Ludescher, Intercessor; Greg Serwich, Lector; Robin French, Music Director; 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
Richard Luther, 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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