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grace episcopal church
galena, illinois
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Sunday February 28, 2021
Second Sunday in Lent
Ministers of the Service
Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider
Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
Terri Jackman, Lector
RIchard Luther, Intercessor
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Robin French, Music Director
Nancy Cook, Erben Organ
Elizabeth Ludescher, Vestry Coordinator
Charlotte Stryker, Altar Guild
Amy Hardwicke, Greeter
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BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES:
Joann Mikelson, Molly Beadle, Jason Frank and Maren Coates
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I hope everyone is. enjoying this spring-like break from the polar vortex! The dripping of melting icicles is music to my ears! Along with the brilliant sun and blue sky.
Savoring this day took me back to a February Thursday nine years ago. It was anything but springlike. In fact, the forecasts were rather dire--what could be a major storm was on its way. I was scheduled to drive from Chicago to Galena to meet with the Grace pastoral search committee for an interview. After several concerned phone calls, we decided that I would set out on the three hour drive and see what happened. If the storm arrived soon, I would turn around and head back home.
I made it to Galena without incident. It wasn't a particularly pretty drive--that February grayness with stark, bare trees, and just a bit of snow covering the stubby fields, a threatening gray sky.
And then, I drove through Stockton and down that hill just west of town where the scenery is transformed into hills and valleys and winding roads. Even in February, a breathtaking view. And my spirits soared!
Last night, I lead the Lenten Study session. It was about listening for God to speak in our lives. And, how God speaks, not only through scripture, but through nature, the arts, our reason and experiences, and through our interactions with other people.
Well, on that February day in 2012, God spoke to me through that drive into the driftless region, through the steaming mug of coffee immediately put into my hand at the meeting at Perry Street Brasserie, through the laughter and serious conversation in the interview, the tour of the church building and grounds, and at lunch afterwards. All too soon, I was sent on my way to get ahead of the storm.
God spoke and I heard. So did the pastoral search committee, I believe. I am so glad we decided to see what would happen!
See you in church or on Zoom!
Gloria+
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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 3/1
Poetry Group online 2:00pm
EfM online 6:30pm
Tuesday 3/2
Wednesday 3/3
Midweek Worship online and
in-person 7:30am
Morning Study Group online 10:30am
Thursday 3/4
UCG Meeting online 10:30am
RBM Yarn Ministry online 1:30pm
Friday 3/5
Centering Prayer online 9:00am
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LENTEN WORSHIP and PROGRAMS
LENT 2 Worship
READINGS:
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16: God promises Abram and Sarai that they will be parents of many nations, that they will be blessed with many descendants and that kings will come from them. Therefore God changes Abram’s name to Abraham, and Sarai’s name to Sarah – Princess.
Psalm 22:23-31: God is praised and celebrated because God cares and provides for the oppressed, and all nations will come to worship God, both poor and prosperous, healthy and those close to death.
Romans 4:13-25: Abraham did not receive God’s promise through obeying the law, but through faith, and this faith was considered to be his righteousness – his approval by God. In the same way, when we place our faith in Christ, who died and was raised, it is considered our righteousness – our approval by God.
Mark 8:31-38: Jesus predicts his death, but Peter objects. Jesus, then reprimands Peter, and tells all his followers that they must take up their crosses and follow him, not trying to save their lives, but willingly giving them up for the sake of the Gospel.
The primary theme of the Rector's sermons on Lenten Sundays this year will be the covenants between God and God's people from the Hebrew Scriptures.
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ZOOM 'n' STUDY on Thursday Evenings
The Logistics: The program begins each Thursday at 6:30 pm. There will also be an optional "chat time" beginning at 6 pm. An invitation with the link will be sent out early in the week.
The Study: The book and video series will be The Walk by Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, one of the fastest growing, most highly visible churches in the country. He says:
I wrote this book to be a simple guide for the Christian life written for ordinary people whose faith is sometimes messy. It is written for those who wish to follow Jesus, to experience more of God in their lives, and to grow to become the people God wants them to be.
It is this idea of walking with Jesus that ...is a simple way of thinking about our Christian life. We are followers of Jesus. We are seeking to learn from him, to emulate him, to go where he wants us to go, to do what he wants us to do, and to walk on the journey of life with him.
March 4: "Serve: Here I Am, Lord, Send Me," Rev. Jim McCrea, Leader
March 11, 18, & 25: "Give" "Share" and "Five Practices from the Cross," TBD
The book is readily available online both as a hardcover or e-book.
Here are two sources:
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WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
Dear Friends and Members of United Churches of Galena congregations,
We are pleased to announce that the March 5th World Day of Prayer Service will be viewable online by Facebook Live Streaming and via recording on the St Matthew Website.
To view the World Day of Prayer Facebook Live video:
Log-in to your personal Facebook account; then,
Slightly before 1 PM Friday afternoon, click on the following Facebook Live video link.
The service recording will be viewable any time after 3:30 PM on Friday.
Click on this link to view the World Day of Prayer service recorded video:
God bless you and thank you all!
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Beginning February 24th we will be discussing our reaction(s) to the previous seven days' (Wednesday to Tuesday) meditations from our
Grace Lenten Meditations Booklet: what resonated with you, why, further elaborations and related concepts that came to mind, etc.
This group meets on Zoom at 10:30 am each Wednesday.
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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.
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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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SINSINAWA PROGRAMS ON NATIVE AMERICAN TOPICS
Effigy Mounds – Wednesday, March 10 – 7-8 p.m. CST – an interview with David Barland-Liles -- Effigy Mounds National Monument contains more than 200 earth mounds, the highest concentration of mounds in the world, some as old as 2500 years. In this interview, Barland-Liles will discuss the magic of the effigy mounds, the history of the land, the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act, his building relationships with Native Nations, and the investigation he led into a much-publicized federal crime that happened on site.
Ho-Chunk History , Past Present and Future – Tuesday, March 16 – 7-8 p.m. CST – William “Naawacekgize” Quackenbush, member of the Deer Clan and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, will speak about the continual presence of the Ho-Chunk in the Driftless Area.
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First Sunday of Lent
Acolyte/Intercessor Elizabeth Ludescher stepping off in Great Litany with the newly A restored and repaired processional cross
Wednesday Morning in Lent
Officiant Lynn Giles leading Morning Prayer
Ash Wednesday
One of three services of Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes offered at Grace.
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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.
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.
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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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