Christmas Eve Service

December 24, 2022



5:30 pm CST

Festal Candlelight Christ Mass

Due to fluctuations in the level of COVID infections in Jo Daviess County,

masks are suggested, but still optional,



Ministers of the Service



Celebrants - Members and Guests

Presider - Rev. Linda Packard

Deacon - Rev. Diane Luther

LLector - Nancy Cook

Intercessor - Donna Davis

Altar Guild - Maren Coates & Debbie Kallback

Vestry Coordinator - Carl Davis

Greeter - Amy Hardwicke

CAROL SING

Sunday, December 25

10:30 am

This service will be all music

An opportunity to sing your favorite hymns

A time to listen to instrumental seasonal music

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.

December 23, 2022

Dear Friends:

 Tomorrow at our Christmas Eve services, as we read the familiar lessons and sing the familiar songs, we will proclaim a message that is deeply countercultural: God is with us.

God is with us not just on one holy night when the shepherds gather around the manger, or when the Magi follow the star to Bethlehem. Whenever and wherever we think about Emmanuel, God is with us, and it’s a holy night. 

 This promise is not just a one-time, Christmas specific offer. It is a 24/7, 365 day-a-year proposition that, as Christians, we can all believe in and live by to strengthen ourselves, regardless of our circumstances. In my own life, I stand on this message!

God is with us despite the harrowing times we’re in. As we contend with increasing food and gas prices and rising mortgage rates, God is with us. During chaotic pre-Christmas shopping, wrapping, decorating, and cooking, God is with us. Through the senseless epidemic of gun violence on our streets and in our schools, God is with us. While conflict and war rage in Ukraine, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Haiti, God is with us. God is always with us, in times of exceeding exaltation and depressing despair. All the time.

When we know this in our hearts, we can withstand the loss and change that the world forces on us so relentlessly. We have staying power, against all odds, to do what Jesus taught—to heal the sick, feed the hungry, and welcome the stranger. When we believe that the Prince of Peace came down at Christmas to live and die as one of us, and be raised again on the third day, our lives are transformed.

Beloved, Emmanuel—God with us—walks with us this Christmas and forever.

Christmas peace and blessings, 

Bishop Paula Clark

image: “Emmanuel” by the Rt. Rev. Shannon MacVean-Brown, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont

 ‌ 

UPCOMING GRACE WORSHIP SCHEDULE

12/24/22 Christmas Eve - Rev. Linda Packard

12/25/22 Carol Sing followed by Wassail Social Hour

01/01/23 Morning Prayer - Thom Dennis & Debbie Pausz

01/08/23 Eucharist - Rev. Carolyn Keck

2023 PLEDGES

A heartfelt thank you from the Vestry for all the pledges of support for the ministries of Grace.



(On the other hand, if you have not yet turned in your pledge card, please do so by the end of the year. If you need another card, cards and envelopes are available at both entrances to the church.)

OUTREACH MINISTRY

HEIFER PROJECT It's Advent! For over 20 years, Grace Church has supported Heifer International, a charity that provides animals and training to people everywhere to end poverty and hunger, create sustainable futures, empower women, improve the environment and strengthen communities. Please ask Carmen Ferguson or Karlyn Van Gelder for a gift card if you would like to give someone on your Christmas list the gift of helping to end hunger. Please make checks payable to Grace Church and note "Heifer" in the memo line.

GLORY PARISH. Glory Parish is now not just offering spiritual activities and worship, but is supporting development in the area. The Church is a landmark and a place for the community to solve the problems of peace and reconciliation among the people of God. The people say, “God loves them and that is why the Church is built in their area.” The area now has electricity because of the church which benefits the secondary (high school) students so they can study at night. The remaining parts of the church project which are unfinished are: 1. Painting inside and outside the church, 2. Furniture (additional chairs), 3. Ceiling board. Contributions may be made to Grace Church with GLORY PARISH on the check’s memo line.

MEMBER MOMENT

by Terri Jackman

I first arrived at Grace Church during the winter of 1994. I was having difficulty in my marriage and needed a change. The day I first arrived was Lessons and Carols. I sat in back and sang the familiar carols, trying to sing the alto part, although there was no choir to help. After the service, as I was about to leave, a woman in front of me turned around and told me I had a lovely voice. She invited me to come back again. That woman was Lynn Giles. I had sung in many a choir starting back in high school and continuing through two Catholic parishes in Dubuque.

When Pat Terry started our Choir in 1995, I was excited to join in the singing. It was something I missed. The choir has been a part of my journey in faith as I struggled with self-confidence. I may seem self-confident to most people, but my first marriage was a marriage of control by my husband. Choirs and theater were my outlets.

I still sometimes struggle with these feelings of low self esteem, but the members of Grace Church have helped me so much by being accepting and welcoming to me. I am grateful to every one of you. 

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

MINISTRY OF CARE

Grace Church continues to offer pastoral care to its community. Many volunteers are available for rides to doctor appointments (or elsewhere), providing meals, picking up prescriptions, or providing other small services when someone is unwell or unable to do so for themselves.

Call Bonnielynn Kreiser at 815-291-9005 to coordinate the helping hands when needed. Our clergy are also available for spiritual aid.

SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATE

The opening for the position of Rector at Grace Church is posted on the Diocesan website. We will be notified by the Diocese of candidates whose interest and background they think will be a good match for Grace.

By clicking on this  link , you will see the text of an ad currently running in the Episcopal News Service.

CHRISTIAN FORMATION NEWS

COMPLINE ON ZOOM 8:30pm on Tuesdays

On Tuesday evenings, at 8:30 pm, Lynn Giles leads an interactive service of Compline. 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.

WEDNESDAY MORNING STUDY GROUP 10:00am on Wednesdays

We are a group that studies spiritual subjects, including the Bible. Everyone is welcome to join us to enhance your knowledge of spirituality and explore how to apply it to their life. We’re currently studying the Gospel of Luke. Meetings (in the Parish Hall conference room and on Zoom) begin at 10:00 a.m.

The Zoom link is active when the group is in session.

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 the Zoom password and a description of these types of prayer. The Zoom link button is near the top of this eblast.

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.

To the Members of Grace Church

In accordance with the accepted practice of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Chicago, the Vestry is recommending that the Senior and Junior Wardens continue to serve until such time as a new Rector has been called, installed, and has a few months in to get acclimated to our congregation. They have both agreed to do so. This will be formally recommended at the next annual meeting, unless there are objections from the congregation. Vestry members will continue to rotate out as their terms of service expire. We urge anyone having thoughts, questions or concerns about this recommendation should speak to any Vestry member. Grace Vestry

Christmas Eve

    December 24, 2022

Vestry:

Lynn Giles, Senior Warden

Richard Luther, Jr. Warden

Jim Berry, Treasurer

Crystal Mason, Clerk

Nancy Cook: Outreach

Phil Jackman: Fellowship/Parish Life

Eric Kallbac: Building & Grounds

Crystal Mason: Pastoral Care

Carl Davis: Finance

Amy Hardwicke: Worship

Staff:

The Rev. Linda Packard, Priest Associate

The Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon

Kris Egan, Parish Administrator

Robin French, Music Director

Nancy Cook, Erben Organist