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YET ANOTHER UPDATE ON CHURCH & COVID
The more rigorous mitigation rules limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people has now spread to much of our state and to the entire Diocese of Chicago.
IN-PERSON WORSHIP CONTINUES TO BE SUSPENDED. We will still lead worship from the church, with only the Altar Party, musician, and Zoom operator present in the building.
ANYONE SCHEDULED TO SERVE WHO IS NOT COMFORTABLE BEING IN THE CHURCH, PLEASE CONTACT THE CHURCH OFFICE.
For those worshiping at home on Zoom, here is the link to the bulletin that you may download and/or print: BULLETIN. When you log in on Sunday morning, you will be muted except for during the sharing of the peace, birthday and anniversary blessings, and a time of greeting at the end of the service. As usual, the Zoom will be ready for you at 10:20 am.
A note to those using Zoom: if you have downloaded the Zoom app, you should check the version number. There have been some recent updates that will not work for you in an older version. The newest version is 5.4.2.
PARISH HOUSE
Regular hours will continue. Nancy is available on Tuesday - Friday mornings. I am available Monday by appointment and Tuesday-Thursday. In-person meetings are suspended. please contact us ahead of time if you need to come by.
And masks are essential!
Here once again are our "Ten 'Commandments'" for re-opening TEN. The full plan that was submitted to the Bishop's office for approval may be found here.
COMMUNION FOR ZOOM CONGREGATION
Would you be interested in participating in Communion as part of the Zoom as we did on All Saints Sunday?
If you are, you will receive a box with a small white cloth embroidered with a cross to place on the surface in front of you while you participate on Zoom. This is similar to the corporal placed on the altar as it is set with the bread  and wine. You will receive a votive candle and holder which you may light during the service and enough consecrated wafers for a month. There will also be an instruction sheet.
Specific hours will be identified when you may pick up your kit at the church, and until we are able to worship in the church, additional consecrated wafers will be available each month.
The consecrated wafers are holy. It is important that they be treated with reverence during and between services. We ask that you designate a place in your home that is special, for example, a home altar, or with your Prayer Book or Bible.
Please let us know if you are interested in participating in this way as soon as possible, but no later than Friday, November 20. You may respond by emailing: gatherings@gracegalena.org.
We anticipate with joy the time when we can all be safely together again.
Peace and God's blessings,
Gloria+ Deacon Diane
UNITED CHURCHES THANKSGIVING SERVICE
The United Churches will offer its Thanksgiving service online this year. It will be prerecorded and available on the UCG FaceBook page at approximately 2 pm on Sunday, November 22. You may access the service here: UCG
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You have read above, I hope, the extension of our suspension of in-person worship and meetings and our intentions for communion for those who are participating in worship on Zoom. In the early part of the pandemic, when the church building was  closed and worship was taking place in homes, we abstained from communion through using Morning Prayer or The Service of the Word. When we returned to the church, we used a prayer from the Armed Forces Prayer Book for those unable to take communion, but offered communion in one kind for the limited number who came in-person. When it became clear that the situation was going to continue for the immediate future, it seemed unfair that the people at home had just the spiritual communion prayer and watched as those of us worshiping at the church went forward to receive the sacrament. So, after much theological reflection, in October, we prepared for including our Zoom congregation in weekly communion and began to implement that plan. We prepared "kits" for each of those homes and delivered them in time for use on All Saints' Day.
Well, this COVID-19 increase in cases does not respect our plans and timelines. Just then, the governor declared us in Tier 2 mediation, thus limiting our attendance to 10. After counting those who would have roles in leading worship, leaving us with only 3 or 4 spots, we d  ecided to return to online worship for everyone (except those serving each Sunday). So--that meant we had part of the congregation all ready for Zoom communion and the other part without. That is when we chose to distribute consecrated wafers to everyone for All Saints Day. We are now in the process of a longer term remedy. The note above has gone out to the entire congregation, and we are gathering names of those who wish to participate. Kits will be assembled and available for pick-up for all who will be attending worship on Zoom, hopefully in time for worship on the 22nd.
But first, a theological word. A number of churches have tried various ways of providing communion during this time. Examples include drive-through communion or having people use whatever bread and cup they may have at hand as they watch on Zoom or Facebook Live. In some cases, these solutions seemed impractical for us; in others, they appeared theologically questionable.
The Episcopal Church considers the communal aspect of the sacraments to be of major importance. Therefore, anything that seems to be private communion or baptism is strongly discouraged--when it is necessary due to "weighty causes" (BCP p. 409) every attempt is made to emphasize the connection to the full community. Episcopalians also believe in the "real presence" of Christ in the Eucharist, and our liturgies include the consecration and the reverent handling of the elements.
So, in reflecting on an appropriate solution in these "weighty times," we decided that the sense of the community  is maintained in our plan as those on Zoom are participating in real time with the worship leaders, all partaking of the element (just the wafer at this time) together. This is NOT meant for individual or private communion--only for the regularly scheduled Zoom services. Also, though the wafers were consecrated previously, it was within an earlier communal worship service. We have made every effort to maintain reverence with the handling of the elements and how they are reserved between services. Instructions are also provided for how any excess wafers are to be handled. This is not perfect. No doubt, some will find fault with our thinking or hold a different understand of the sacramental theology. We do enjoy a range of experiences and histories. after all. We are, of course, always open to conversation and concerns. Please know that this has come about as a result of deep reflection, prayer, and discussion. And we look forward to the day that we will be able to safely return to worship together in one place.
See you on Zoom! Gloria+
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Diocesan Convention
Worship--Friday, November 20, 7 pm
A simple worship service will be offered to end our week and prepare us for Saturday's convention. It will be pre-recorded and offer music of various genres from talented musicians in our Diocese. There will be a necrology of those who have died since the last Convention.
The service will be live on the Diocese's FaceBook page and YouTube channel. Participants are invited to have a space prepared for worship with a candle, if desired.
Convention--Saturday, November 21 The 183rd Convention of the Diocese will begin on a Zoom webinar at 10 am on the 21st. It is free of charge. The link to the webinar will be available in next week's e-Blast. Voting members will receive the secured link by November 19.
Bishop Candidate Converations
Last chance to meet the candidates is tomorrow, Saturday, November 14. It will take place on Zoom at 12 noon at this link: Bishop Convo
Celebrate Bishop Lee!
Zoom send-off on Saturday, December 5 at 4 pm
Episcopal Diocese of Chicago to join in a celebratory s  end-off for Bishop Jeff Lee and Lisa Lee on Saturday, December 5 at 4 pm via Zoom.
The event will include video greetings from parishioners, clergy and bishops; remarks from Bishop Jeff and Lisa; reflections on his episcopacy; and a festive toast. All are invited to join the virtual farewell celebration using the Zoom link below.
At the end of the celebration, Standing Committee president Anne Jolly will present the Lees with a retirement purse, a longstanding Episcopal tradition and expression of appreciation for his ministry. Those who wish to contribute to the purse are invited to donate by December 1. Gifts made be made online or by check (memo: Bishop's purse) and are tax deductible.
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After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to join the gathering.
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READINGS: Judges 4:1-7: At a time when the Israelites are oppressed by the Canaanite King and his army led by Sisera, Deborah, the prophetess, instructs Barak to assemble an army, and she promises to help him to overpower Sisera.
Psalm 123: A psalm affirming trust and devotion to God, and pleading for God's mercy in the face of the shame and mockery that has been endured. Matthew 25:14-30: Jesus tells a story about a wealthy man who entrusts some of his wealth to his servants. Two of them increase the money, while one simply buries the money & gives it back when the master returns. The master is angry and rejects the third servant, giving his small amount of money to the servant who made the most.
Every community has struggles that need addressing. In every church there are people with great need who long for healing, support and help. In every society there are jobs that require the skills and talents of ordinary people in order for a difference to be made. The challenge this week is not to see church or worship as an escape from our responsibility to act. Rather, if we believe in the coming of Christ - past, now and in future - we cannot avoid the call to put our faith into loving, serving action. This may mean using our wealth to support those who have too little to meet their needs. It may mean offering our time to befriend or serve those who are lonely or shut-in or weak or ill. It may mean using our influence to fight on behalf of the marginalised, voiceless and poor. It may mean using our creativity, our attention or our insight to help someone else heal their lives or relationships. Whatever it may be, we only find life when we step up and do what we can as participants in the world. As we do this, we become those who help to bring the reality of God's reign into being with those around us in our neighbourhoods and churches. If, however, we refuse to contribute and we keep our resources for ourselves, we inevitably find that we lose life's joy and vibrancy, and we end up disconnected and depressed. The good news, though, is that when we do respond and seek to act, we have resources beyond just ourselves, because God and God's people join with us to make a difference in our world. It is also not hard to know where or how to act, because if we just look around us, we will discover opportunities at every turn.
Thumbprints and commentaries from:
sacredise.com
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This week's giving campaign reflection:
Risking our lives to find them
By The Rev. Chris Harris
These are some of the big questions of life, and many of
 us begin to wrestle with them as we reach middle age and beyond. The best-selling book The Second Mountain, by David Brooks, suggests that we come to these questions most urgently when the "first mountain" of our life fails us either because we discover it to be ultimately unfulfilling (such as a life focused on financial success or career goals) or when it crumbles beneath our feet (as the result of a divorce or a life-changing health crisis).
According to Brooks, most of us don't come looking for the "second mountain" of our lives until we've been thrown off the first somehow. Until then, when life is still going our way, we don't have the eyes to see or the ears to hear. But when we finally are forced off our perches, we have the chance to discover for ourselves what Jesus has tried to tell us all along - that meaning and purpose come not from our accomplishments, our perfect families, or even perfect health, but by risking all that we are and all that we have for the sake of others.
If you are someone looking for the second mountain of your life, the question at the heart of our Gospel this week offers all the directions we need: How will I risk the gifts I've been given, to do the work God is calling me to do? Notice that the story turns on risk. Playing it safe, worrying about ourselves and what others will say about us, is the first mountain all over again. And a life of tepid generosity, one that is constrained by fear and our need for control, leaves us languishing in the valley. Unless we are willing to risk it all for the sake of others - to take a leap into a Faith-Filled Generosity - we never reach the summit of a truly abundant life.
Chris Harris is Associate Rector of Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He serves on the board of the Episcopal Network for Stewardship and the steering team for Invite-Welcome-Connect, a national evangelism ministry, and is creator of Living Wi$ley , a faith and personal finance ministry.
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MESSAGE FROM CHRISTIAN FORMATION
We are still requesting responses to the questionnaire sent out to those participating in
The Christian Formation Ministry needs a solid information base to make recommendations about future programs and their mode of delivery. Click
or, if you wish, drop them at the church office or in the church mailbox. Snail mail is also an option.
Wednesday Morning Study Group
An insult that cannot be forgiven, not even for eternity?!!
You're gonna want to avoid that one! Join us to study, ponder and discuss St. Mark's Gospel. We gather safely Wednesday mornings on Zoom, 10:30 - 11:30. Contact Greg Serwich for an invitation.
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.
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The Latest from Bishop Joseph
Dear Donna M David,
Grace and peace, thank you for asking the progress of parish building. The work was stopped almost for a Month because of flooding, but now its resumed with some challenges the Windows and doors will finish this week and we will send the full report of building including expenditures and what remains to be finish.
We thank God and friends of Grace Church for great work they did in Renk diocese.
I am attaching some church's new photos.
Blessing
+ Joseph
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Worship and Ministry in the Midst of COVID-19!
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Pentecost Season Worship
Sunday services will begin at our usual 10:30 time on Zoom. They will also be recorded and uploaded as quickly as possible for those unable to participate on Zoom. The uploads will appear on the church's Facebook page, @FullyGrace and on the Grace website.
Wednesday morning services are also now only on Zoom. Bible Study and Centering Prayer are also on Zoom each week. If you would like to add your name to any of these participant lists, please e-mail the church office.
Ministry of Care
Here at Grace, The Ministry of Care has organized regular phone and e-mail contact with our most vulnerable members. If you are in need of assistance, or pick-up and delivery of prescriptions or emergency supplies, please contact Bonnielynn Kreiser. Also contact her if you are able to help out. And, of course, your clergy are available by phone, text, and e-mail to provide pastoral care,
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Vestry Liaisons
Vestry Liaisons' primary purpose is to assure two-way communications between the various ministries and the Vestry, to represent the ministries for resources or policy issues, and to support their events and activities.
Worship: The Very Rev.Gloria Hopewell, Rector
Building and Grounds: Greg Serwich (Sr. Warden 2019-2021)
Worship Committee: Charlotte Stryker (class of 2022)
Formation and Spirituality: Elizabeth Ludescher (class of 2022)
Fellowship & Hospitality: Anita Sands (class of 2021)
Ministry of Care/LEMs: Nancy Cook (class of 2023)
Outreach: Tony Packard (class of 2021)
Communications: Eric Kallback(class of 2023) Governance: Wardens & Rector
Officers: Greg Serwich, Senior Warden
Lynn Giles, Junior Warden,
Richard Luther, Treasurer
Diann Marsh, Clerk The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Rector
Staff: Robin French, Director of Music Nancy Cook, Erben Organist Nancy Kenney, Parish Administrator
Chris Ludescher, Nursery Attendant
The Rev. Linda Packard, Priest Associate
The Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
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Twenty-Fourth Sunday
after Pentecost
November 15, 2020
Zoom Worship-10:30 am
Meeting ID: 824 2178 3266
For quick reference, find Sunday's readings by clicking here:
Judges 4:1-7
Psalm 123
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Matthew 25:14-30
Ministers of the Service:
Presider: Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell
Deacon: Rev. Diane Luther
Lector: Greg Serwich
Intercessor: Deb Pausz
Vestry Coordinator: Eric Kallback
Music Director: Robin French
Greeter: Maren Coates
Altar Guild: Debbie Kallback
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Christ the King Sunday
November 22, 2020
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For a current prayer list, click on the following link:
Grace Prayer List
The Request For Prayers notebook is in the Narthex/ Entrance area of the Church. Please feel free to request prayers for yourself or others at any time by filling out a form or contacting the office by either phone or email. May we first and always be "a people of prayer."
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Events This Week:
Sunday
Twenty-Fourth Sunday
after Pentecost
Holy Eucharist 10:30am
ONLINE ONLY on Zoom
Monday
Zoom Poetry Meeting
2:00pm online
Tuesday
Vestry Committee Meeting
9:00am online
Holy Eucharist* 7:30am on Zoom
Bible Study** online 10:30am
Thursday
Worship Ministry 8:30am online
Ministry of Care 1:00pm online
Friday
Meditative Prayer** online 9:00am
Saturday
To receive an invitation with the link to online events, please contact Gloria at
gracerector@
gracegalena.org
or **Greg Serwich at gserwich@gmail.com All are welcome! |
For current and upcoming events, check out the Google
calendar on the website
Calendar
Link to most current directory here:
Link to August - December 2020
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You can now get information on Formation Ministries directly from the new Grace website at the following links:
Children and Youth Adults
Spiritual Practices
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If you are in need of assistance while ill or recovering: meals, transportation, visits, please contact the Ministry of Care Facilitators who can assist you
and connect you with parishioners who have trained and committed to this ministry that includes Parish Visitors, Meals, Rides, as well as the ongoing Servants through Prayer, LEMs, and the Greeting Card ministry.
Ministry of Care Leadership Team: Facilitators : Bonnielynn Kreiser
Terri Jackman
Clergy Advisors:
Gloria Hopewell,
Linda Packard
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DEADLINES!
News and prayer requests:
Sunday Bulletin:
Wed. end of day.
e-Blast:
Thursday noon.
Anniversaries and Birthdays
Have yours been missed in our bulletins? Send to Nancy. Thank you!
News and Photos
for e-Blast!
People want to know what's going on at Grace! There are places here for your event, program, or interesting tidbit. Comments on this e-Blast may be sent here.
Audio files of sermons are posted on the Grace Church website as well as in the next week's e-Blast. Paper copies are available upon request.
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| | Grace Episcopal Church, Galena IL Wednesday 11 11 2020 |
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| | Grace Episcopal Church Sunday Eucharist 11-8-2020 |
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| | Grace Episcopal Church, Galena IL, Wednesday 11-04-20 |
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| | Grace Church Galena All Saints 2020 |
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| | Grace Galena Sunday Eucharist 10 25 2020 |
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| | Grace Galena Wednesday Eucharist 10 21 2020 |
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| | Grace Galena Sunday Eucharist 10 18 2020 |
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| | Grace Episcopal Church, Galena IL Morning Prayer 10-14-20 |
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| Grace Galena Sunday Eucharist
10 11 20 |
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| Grace Entry Video with Music
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| | Virtual Chapel with Compline |
2020-21 Giving Campaign
NOVENA SERVICES
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| | Season of Prayer: For an Election Novena #2 10-28-2020 |
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| | Grace Church Galena IL, A Season of Prayer: For an Election 11-3-2020 |
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| | Grace Episcopal Church Galena IL, A Season of Prayer: For an Election, 11-4- 2020 |
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