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grace episcopal church
galena, illinois
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Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Holy Eucharist, 10:30 am
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Week of July 11, 2021
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.
THIS SUNDAY: HEALING PRAYERS IN THE CHAPEL
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Ministers of the Service
Members & Guests, Celebrants
Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider
Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
Greg Serwich, Lector
Elizabeth Ludescher, Intercessor
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Robin French, Music Director
Nancy Cook, Erben Organist
Richard Luther,Vestry Coordin-
ator
Alice Maffit & Kim Kreiser,
Altar Guild
Charlotte Stryker, Greeter
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RECTOR'S RAMBLINGS
A brand new study was just published by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) that indicates that mainline Protestant churches membership (including Episcopal churches) now exceeds that of evangelical churches. It also predicts that young people will be more likely, in the future, to join mainline rather than evangelical churches. Before we jump for joy, or say "I told you so," we must note that unaffiliated people still outnumber each of the other categories.
People are unaffiliated for many reasons. They may have been wounded by a church through exclusion or judgment or abuse. They may have found a lack of authenticity in how church members live out their faith and their communal life. They may not have been introduced to church at all or don't see any value in what the institutional church has to offer. They may not believe in a higher power or feel they can have a spiritual life without the church or its people.
I think the following wisdom is pertinent to those of us who do claim to be people of faith. It is a reminder of our common humanity though we have differences; the possibility of unity in diversity in the pursuit of common goals. At some point in our spiritual journey,
we are called to to make an affirmation of faith: Do we believe we are all the same? Do we believe we are in this climb together? Are we willing to help one another, no matter what it takes, to reach our goal together?
If our answer rises from the rugged individualism of imaginary differences and endless competition, we will never move beyond the idea of communities as chessboards on which we all play for our own advantage. But if our response comes from individuality expressed in diversity, then our communities will be extended families, sources of shared support, and bearers of a common vision.
This is an excerpt from a new book by Steven Charleston, Ladder to the Light: An Indigenous Elder's meditations on Hope and Courage. Charleston 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.
I am presently reading this book--slowly. Savoring it because there is so much wisdom packed into each paragraph that one can barely take it in. Some of you may read his daily meditations on social media. This book arranges those Facebook messages, what he calls "spirit messages," and adds commentary on faith, blessing, hope, community, action, truth, renewal, and transformation. It combines native wisdom, Christian thought, and the spirit of other religious traditions into a "way out of darkness and into the light" of a community of reconciliation and renewal.
It would be a great book for discussion--not a one-off, but a number of sessions to do it justice. If there is anyone intrigued by this, I will be delighted to set it up in the time I have remaining at Grace Church. Just send me a text or an e-mail!
See you in church or on Zoom!
Gloria+
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Events this Week:
Sunday 7/11
Holy Eucharist 10:30 am online and in-person
*Social Hour following the service
Eleanor Boehler's Birthday
Monday 7/12
Executive Committee Meeting 10 am
Poetry Group 2:00pm
EfM in person in PH Conference Room 6:30pm
Tuesday 7/13
Compline online 8:30pm
Al Elsbree's Birthday
Wednesday 7/14
Midweek Worship online and in-person 7:30 am
Morning Study Group online 10 am
Thursday 7/15
Formation Ministries in-person 10 am
Diann Marsh's Birthday
Friday 7/16
Centering Prayer online 9:00am
Canapes and Conversations 5:00-7:00 pm at
Pete & Charlotte Stryker's home
Saturday 7/17
Crystal Mason's Birthday
Jamie Johnstad's Birthday
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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NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 18-- DEDICATION OF PEPPER FAMILY MEMORIAL GARDEN
Immediately following worship.
Stop by to see the plantings of annuals located to the right of the church, along the sidewalk leading to our Meditation Garden. This is a pollinating garden, featuring a burst of colors to attract our native birds, butterflies and bees. Our new garden will be in honor of The Pepper Family, generous donors to Grace Church. Members of the Pepper family will join us for worship and the dedication.
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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.
CANAPES & CONVERSATION
Pete and Charlotte Stryker will host Canapes & Conversation on Friday July16th from 5:00 to 7:00pm.
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SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR ARC
Although it feels as if school just ended for the summer, kids will soon be returning to school.
After having a decreased enrollment last year, the ARC will have at least 15 preschoolers this year.
Once again, Outreach will be collecting school supplies and money for the ARC through the month of July. We feel the need to show our appreciation for all that the ARC does for the children in our community. There will be a basket in the Narthex in which to put the school supplies.
We thank you for your generosity in helping to educate the young people in the community.
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
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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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:
SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
The big challenge of following Christ in our daily lives and our local situations is that we are all both “power” and “prophet”. We all exercise authority in some situations, whether as parents, pastors or community leaders, and we all have times when we may be called to challenge those who are in authority over us in the interests of justice. In some situations we may even find ourselves playing both roles as we wrestle with our responsibility as leaders and our commitment to the principles of God’s Reign – especially when the two aren’t easily compatible. When it comes to dealing with power, two principles can always guide us at least to some extent. The first is to understand God’s purposes, as described in Ephesians, and our place in it, allowing our belonging in God’s family to become our primary identity. Then, the second principle, is to ensure that, whatever power or influence we may exert, it is always with reference to and in submission to, God’s higher authority. In this way, even when we make mistakes or wrong decisions, we, and those with whom we live and work, can rest in the knowledge that our hearts were right.
Amos 7:12-15: King Amaziah tries to command Amos to stop prophesying, but Amos, who makes no claim to be a prophet, tells the king that God took him from caring for his flock and instructed him to prophesy.
Psalm 85:8-13: God speaks peace to his faithful people and God’s salvation is close to those who honour God; God gives good things to those who walk in righteousness.
Ephesians 1:3-14: God has blessed God’s people in Christ, choosing us to be holy and to be adopted as God’s children, and bringing us forgiveness through Christ, in whom we have also received an inheritance. God has given us the Holy Spirit as a down payment on this inheritance.
Mark 6:14-29: When Herod hears about Jesus, he thinks John the Baptist, whom he had beheaded at the request of his daughter (under influence of her mother), has come back to life. After John’s disciples hear of John’s death, they take his body and lay it in a tomb.
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 Morning Prayer 7/7/2: Eric and Debbie Kallback, Officiants/Homilist; 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 6/28/21: The Rev Dr Gloria Hopewell, Presider; The Rev Diane Luther, Deacon; Elizabeth Ludescher, Intercessor; Nancy Cook, Lector and Erben Organist; 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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