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grace episcopal church
galena, illinois
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SUNDAY: THE DAY OF PENTECOST
Red is the color of the day!
Masks are still required--they need not be red.
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Sunday of Pentecost
Sunday May 23, 2021
Ministers of the Service
Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider
Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
Lynn Giles, Lector
Debbie Kallback, Intercessor
Bill Foltz, Thurifer
Billie Bookless, Boat Boy
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Betty & Susan Bookless, Streameres
Debbie Pausz, Acolyte
Robin French, Music Director
Nancy Cook, Erben Organ
Charlotte Stryker, Vestry Coordinator
Ann Berry & Pat Golden, Altar Guild
Amy Hardwicke, Greeter
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RECTOR'S RAMBLINGS
I'm sure you have read or heard the changes made by the CDC and the State of Illinois to COVID masking and distancing requirements. And, you may have also seen some real resistance to rushing. These concerns are mostly for those whose immune systems are compromised, children under age 12 who are not eligible for the vaccine, and--the practical consideration of determining whether all unmasked individual have, indeed, been vaccinated.
Because of this, our diocesan task force has chosen to hold to the adjustments they made two weeks ago--before the CDC and state announcements. These do lighten some of the requirements even though mask and distancing requirements remain for the time being.
You might have noticed that lectors and clergy were able to remove the masks for readings and sermons last week. The kneelers, prayer books, and hymnals have been returned to the pews.
On Sunday, our hymns and service music will once again be part of our worship--though for a while longer, congregational singing will not be permitted. Instead, a quartet from the choir will lead us each week as the congregation is invited to hum along! Small steps, but a start.
We are also beginning to look at the possibility of fellowship events this summer as well as Mass in the Grass, perhaps coffee hour. The biggest obstacle to these is capacity. As long as the six foot distancing is in effect, we are limited. But, hopefully, that will not last much longer.
On May 8, members of the choir caravaned to the homes of singers who have not been able to come back to church. Standing outdoors, in yards or parking lots, they serenaded--the first time the choir had sung together face-to-face in fourteen months! They have resumed in-person rehearsals on Saturday mornings. Their anthem on Pentecost, though, will be of the virtual variety.
It has been so touching to me to see the excitement with which everyone welcomes these small steps toward being together once again. May we face with gratitude these small gifts and with curiosity and wonder the newness that begins to emerge!
See you in church or on Zoom!
Gloria+
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Events this Week:
Sunday 5/23
Steve Dowe's Birthday
Monday 5/24
Poetry Group online 2:00pm
EfM online 6:30pm
Tuesday 5/25
Outreach Meeting 10:00am in-person
Wednesday 5/26
Midweek Worship online and in-person 7:30am
Morning Study Group online 10:30am
Thursday 5/27
RBM Yarn Ministry 1:30pm in-person
Friday 5/28
Centering Prayer online 9:00am
Meri Johnstad's Birthday
Saturday 5/29
Choir rehearsal 10 am in-person
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)
Grace Church Directory
The Grace Church Directory can be obtained on the website with our password on the Nuts & Bolts page Member Portal. Printed copies also available in the Parish Hall entry.
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VESTRY HIGHLIGHTS
At its May 18th meeting, the Vestry met in-person for the first time and:
o selected August 8 as the date of Mass in the Grass that will be held at LinMar Gardens;
o unanimously decided that Grace will continue to provide streaming and online worship and approved the exploration of technology and costs that will permit a longterm solution;
o received a report that the pollinating garden has been planted. This garden will be dedicated to the memory of Richard Pepper, a long time Grace supporter and benefactor.
Members of the Vestry will have a retreat on June 3 in the Parish Hall with the Rev. Linda Packard facilitating.
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ADULT INQUIRER'S CLASS
Our Bishop-elect, Paula Clark will be consecrated on August 28! Prior to her medical emergency she was able to attend our Deanery meeting and talked about her intent to hold deanery-wide services to provide Confirmations, and receive new members to the church. By doing this, those wishing to be received or confirmed would not have to wait for her to visit their parish, which might take two or more years.
Because of this, I will be offering an Adult Inquirers Class 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 does not commit you to being received. You may make that decision after you have completed the class.
This is open to anyone in the church or community, although if there is a large response, those considering reception into the Church will be given priority due to limited space (this is an in-person class). The time commitment is about eight hours. Last time, those taking the class decided to do the whole thing on one Saturday. Other options include but are not limited to two sessions of four hours, or four sessions of two hours. This will be determined by those interested in participating, again with priority to those considering reception.
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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RICHARD PEPPER MEMORIAL GARDEN
Soon there will be a flurry of activity in preparation for a new garden at Grace. It will be located to the right of the church, along the sidewalk leading to our Meditation Garden. This will be a pollinating garden, featuring a burst of colors to attract our native birds, butterflies and bees. Our new garden will be in memory of Richard Pepper, a generous donor to Grace Church.
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UNITED THANK OFFERING
It is the little blue box time again! United Thank Offering Invites Every Episcopalian to:
“Notice the Good Things That Happen Each Day.
Give Thanks to God for Your Blessings.
Make an Offering for Each Blessing.”
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ONE MORE WEEK TO FILL YOUR LITTLE BLUE BOX WITH ALL YOUR THANKSGIVINGS!
The theme for the 2021 grants is:
“Recovering with love and gratitude: An Episcopal response
to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
$450,000 in thank offerings has already been collected in time for the first round of COVID-19 grants. The COVID-19 grants combine some historic traditions for UTO, namely sustaining previous grant winners to ensure that vital ministries continue in addition to funding innovative responses to the pandemic. There was over $700,000 applied for in grants this year. The need has been especially great because of the pandemic. To see some of the projects receiving first round grants click UTO:
Grace has dedicated the month of May for collection of your UTO box. Bring it with you to church or if you are attending church virtually, drop it off when the parish house is open so we can all join grateful Episcopalians around the world making life better for those in need.
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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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ZOOM POETRY GROUP 2:00pm on Mondays
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.
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Wednesday Episcopal service of Holy Eucharist: The Rev Linda Packard, Presider; The Rev Diane Luther, Deacon; Tom VanGelder, Lector/Intercessor and Lynn Giles, Zoom Host.
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Easter 6 5/9/2021: The Rev Dr Gloria Hopewell, Presider; The Rev Diane Luther, Deacon; Donna Davis, Intercessor; Lynn Giles, Lector and Zoom Host; Robin French, Music Director.
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Ascension 5/16/2021: The Rev Linda Packard, Presider; The Rev Dr Gloria Hopewell, Preacher; The Rev Diane Luther, Deacon; Elizabeth Ludescher, Intercessor; Phil Jackman, Lector; Robin French, Music Director; Nancy Cook, Erben Organist; and Greg Serwich, Zoom Host. |
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REOPENING CHURCH (Limited)
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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. MASKS ARE REQUIRED UPON ENTRY.
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.
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.
For those on Zoom:
Please mute yourselves before the Prelude begins and immediately after the Peace.
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.
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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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