grace episcopal church
galena, illinois
Week of April 4, 2021
Easter Sunday
Sunday April 4, 2021

Ministers of the Service
Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider
Rev. Linda Packard, Assisting Priest
Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
Terri Jackman, Lector
Deb Pausz, Intercessor
Robin French, Music Director
Nancy Cook, Erben Organ
Eric Kallback, Vestry Coordinator
Ann Berry & Amy Hardwicke,
Altar Guild
Charlotte Stryker, Greeter
HOLY WEEK & EASTER PLANS
As of this moment, Friday afternoon, Easter Sunday spots in the church are filled. There are still a few spaces in the Parish Hall where the service will be broadcast on the wide screen television. Use the rsvp link above to claim one of these. There are also spaces available for this evening's Good Friday liturgy.

On Easter Sunday, if you choose to be outdoors for the lighting of the new fire at 10:30, please plan to observe the distancing and masking. Instead, you may choose to wait inside in the designated pews.


The Schedule

Good Friday -- April 2, 7 pm
Liturgy of the Passion with Veneration of the Cross and Communion from the reserved sacrament

On Good Friday, an offering will be received that is designated by our Presiding Bishop for the Diocese of Jerusalem each year. Baskets for offerings will be at each doorway, as plates will not be passed.

Easter Sunday -- April 4, 10:30 am
Lighting of the Paschal Candle from the New Fire, and the Festal Eucharist of Easter Day.
RECTOR'S RAMBLINGS
It has been so exciting to be able to worship together this Holy Week, and I look forward to Easter Day. I am only sad that the limitations of attendance do not permit everyone to be together in person. But we can at least see one another online!
One of the highligths of Holy Week for me has been the annual clergy gathering on Holy Tuesday where we reaffirm our ordination vows and bless the holy oils to be used in our services.
It traditionally takes place in the Cathedral--impossible, of course, this year. Instead, we gathered on--you guessed it--Zoom with Bishop-Elect Paula Clark for worship and time of reflection. The vow renewal will take place later this spring in the different deaneries.
I know that many of you have received your vaccination or scheduled to do so. Please continue to be patient and careful a while longer.
Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as an act of love and hospitality. For us, in a pandemic, refraining from touch, wearing masks, and avoiding unsafe gatherings is a different way for each of us to show our love for one another.--to love as Jesus loves.

See you in church or on Zoom!
Gloria+
Bp. Curry's Easter Message
______________________________________

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






Events this Week:
Monday 4/5
Poetry Group online 2:00pm
EfM online 6:30pm

Tuesday 4/6

Wednesday 4/7
Midweek Worship online and
in-person 7:30am
Morning Study Group online 10:30am

Thursday 4/8
UCG meeting 10:30am
RBM Yarn Ministry online 1:30pm
Lenten Zoom 'n' Study online 6:30pm

Friday 4/9
Centering Prayer online 9:00am
Altar Guild
The Altar Guild would like to acknowledge that Maren Coates has joined the group.

Flowers in Church
The Easter Flowers were donated by the Altar Guild as it was easier at this time to handle it that way. There are many openings on the flower chart to donate flowers. April is full, but the remaining months have many open Sundays.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR GLORY PARISH!

$8000 donated so far! Won't you add yours?
Give now to have your donation doubled!

FROM THIS TO THIS!
Word of the week for Glory Parish: 
REGISTER - Those who give of their abundance to those in need.

Remember you have until April 18th 
to REGIFT.
In 2019, the Vestry of Grace Church generously agreed to fund a new church for Glory Parish in South Sudan with a $50,000 donation. At that time, it was felt it should be enough to build the new church. But due to inflation, flooding, having to smuggle building supplies and enlarging the church, the costs increased. The construction cost was $56,500.

The new church still needs electricity, plaster, paint and furniture.

Outreach has committed $2000 and the Vestry pledged $3000, and will match up to $5000 from other donors. We are offering the members of Grace Church, YOU, an opportunity to prayerfully consider how you may be able to work toward completing this church.

The Bible in numerous places states the importance of light. Because of your generosity the lights will be coming on in Glory Parish this year.
              
Bishop Joseph estimated that the cost of electrical power was $5,675. You have generously contributed more than that! So we can now start on the plastering and painting phase of the plan.
              
Contributions can be made up to April 18th.
 
Thank you for all you have done to fulfill our covenant with Glory Parish.

Contributions can be made by check with Glory Parish or Renk noted in the memo line
Or a Qualified Charitable Distribution can be made from your RMD. This will decrease your taxable income and may even save you some money for your 2021 taxes. Check with your financial advisor for details.

The Outreach Committee thanks you for your generosity in this very worthwhile cause.
EASTER SUNDAY WORSHIP
Easter Festival Eucharist

READINGS:
Isaiah 25:6-9: God will create a feast for all people, will swallow up death, and will wipe away all tears. All people will celebrate that God has saved them.
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24: A psalm of celebration and thanksgiving for God’s salvation, affirming that the psalmist will not die, but will live, and rejoicing that the rejected stone has become the main foundation stone.
Acts 10:34-43: Peter preaches about the way God does not show favouritism, but welcomes and saves all, reflecting on his witness to the resurrection of Jesus, and the forgiveness that is available to all who believe in Christ.
Mark 16:1-8: The two Mary’s and Salome go to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body, but they find the stone rolled away and a young man in a white robe tells them that Jesus is risen, and instructs them to go and tell the disciples. The women leave the tomb afraid.
At 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday April 7th the Study Group will meet online to complete the Grace Lenten Meditations and, time permitting, resume the study of the Gospel of Mark. All are welcome to join. 

Contact Greg Serwich (gserwich@gmail.com) for a Zoom invitation.
This group meets on Zoom at 10:30 am each Wednesday.
MEDITATIVE PRAYER 9:00am 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.
ZOOM POETRY GROUP
A Zoom Poetry meeting from Grace Church has been organized and meets online on 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.
RECENT LITURGIES
Maundy Thursday: Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider; Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon; Elizabeht Ludeschher, Intercessor; Phil Jackman, Lector; Robin French, Music Director; Lynn Giles, Zoom Host.

Palm Sunday 3/28/2021: Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider, Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon; Debbie Kallback, Intercessor; Richard Luther, Lector; Robin French, Music Director; Nancy Cook, Erben Organist; Greg Serwich, Zoom Host.
Lenten Wednesday Stations of the Cross and Eucharist 3/31/2021: Officiant: The Rev. Linda Packard; Readers: Phil and Terri Jackman
Reopening Church (Limited)
Hybrid worship has resumed for both in-person and Zoom congregations. Since our region is in Phase 4 of the State of Illinois COVID recovery, we are able to offer 21 spaces in the nave with a maximum of 32 people. Each space can accommodate one single or a couple who live in the same household.

For those wishing to attend in-person, reservations are required. You may reserve by going to reserve.

If you are assigned to an Altar Party role where you will be sitting in the Chancel, you need not reserve. All others, such as lectors, musicians, vestry coordinators, greeters, and altar guild do need to reserve.

On Sunday morning, you will come to the Parish House door where a Greeter will check your name(s) off on a list and admit you to the building where you will proceed into the nave to find an empty seat that is designated by a bulletin.
Please review this summary of COVID precautions in worship:  10 COMMANDMENTS

Pews that are not to be used are closed off by lengths of ribbon. There are hand sanitizer stations at the entrance and also at the back of the nave.

Those who will join us on Zoom will receive the usual e-mail invitation with a link to the day's bulletin.
Vestry:
Lynn Giles, Senior Warden
Richard Luther, Jr. Warden
Richard Luther, Treasurer
Crystal Mason, Clerk
The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Rector
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
Charlotte Stryker: Worship
Elizabeth Ludescher: Communications
Nancy Cook: Outreach
Eric Kallback: Building & Grounds
Crystal Mason: Pastoral Care
Phil Jackman: Fellowship/Parish Life
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