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grace episcopal church
galena, illinois
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Third Sunday in Advent
December 12, 2021
Morning Prayer, 10:30 am
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December 12, 2021
The State of Illinois has officially issued a directive for masking at indoor gatherings for all who are two years old or older regardless of inoculation status. Out of concern for those who cannot yet be vaccinated or whose immune systems are compromised, we respectfully request that you comply and wear a mask indoors that covers your nose and mouth.
Our diocese has requested that each church regularly review the CDC map that has
four stages of COVID risk and make decisions accordingly about safety precautions.
Jo Daviess County's risk factor (and that of the entire state of Illinois) is now in the highest category.
The only other precaution reinstated at this time is to suspend contact during the Peace.
Please be cautious and also be prepared for changes at any time.
Social hour is suspended.
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Ministers of the Service
Members & Guests, Celebrants
, Preacher
Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon
Steve Coates, Lector
Richard Luther, Intercessor
Debbie Kallback, Lay Homilist
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Robin French, Music Director
Nancy Cook, Erben Organist
Elizabeth Ludescher, Vestry Coordinator
Alice Maffit & Kim Kreiser, Altar Guild
Maren Coates, Greeter
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HOW TO WATCH GRACE CHURCH ON YouTube:
If you plan to attend a Grace Sunday service online, it’s now available as a live-stream on YouTube.
Click on either the red or the green link at the top of this eBlast. (You may have to wait a minute or two for your computer to open its browser and make the connection.)
The RED link gives you a choice of services. You will also see when the next scheduled live-stream will start.
The GREEN link only connects after the streaming has started at the church.
All you need to remember is Red link: go to anytime
Green link: go to when the service starts.
For “early birds” we’ll start the live-streaming at 10:25 am CST.
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MEMBER MOMENT
For Christians, Advent is a season filled with anticipation as we wait for the birth of Jesus. For children, who rightfully concentrate on Christmas morning, this is a magical time of waiting not so patiently, to see what Santa has brought and to be with family. Will Santa bring that special toy and other unexpected treasures? Keeping this magic of Christmas for
children in our lives and children we don’t know is our job. And in doing this some of the magic is restored to us.
Thinking back, my childhood Christmas morning memories are a bit scattered – except for bone. First of all you need to know I was a “Navy brat” – a child within a Navy family. Being in the Navy means relocation as duty stations change. On Christmas morning 1951, when I was five, we were on the road from Millington, Tennessee to Glendale, California. As we
approached Oklahoma City two days before Christmas a heavy snowstorm set in and we pulled into a motel. My anxiety increased as I tried to figure out how Santa would find me in a small, snowed-in motel in the middle of Oklahoma instead of my grandparent’s home
in California. I was skeptical of assurances from my parents that Santa would find me. However, when I woke up early Christmas morning there was a single present on my bed. It was a small box and I removed the wrapping to find a real Gene Autry wristwatch, with a
bouncing pistol instead of a second hand – an unanticipated treasure. Santa had found me! My parents assured me that Santa had delivered other gifts that would soon be opened at my grandparent’s home.
I still have that watch and remember the love of parents in keeping the magic alive.
Richard Luther
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Events this Week:
Sunday 12/12
Holy Eucharist 10:30am online (YouTube)
and in-person
Social Hour is suspended at this time.
Monday 12/13
Poetry Group 2:00pm
Tuesday 12/14
Compline online 8:30pm
Vestry Meeting 3:00pm
Wednesday 12/15
Midweek Worship online and in-person 7:30am
Morning Study Group on Zoom 10:00am
Jim Berry's Birthday
Thursday 12/16
Friday 12/17
Centering Prayer online 9:00 am
Saturday 12/18
Choir Practice 10am
Important Links:
Office Hours
9:00am-Noon, Tuesday through Friday
Sr. Warden Office Hours
The Sr. Warden will have office hours on Thursdays and Fridays from 10am until 2pm.
ROTA (11-7-21 to 4-24-22)
Website: includes a password protected members' portal where most recent Vestry minutes, financials, and Grace Church Directory are found.
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ANNUAL PLEDGE CAMPAIGN
If you did not bring your pledge on Sunday, November 21st, you may put it in the collection plate on Sunday. It would be helpful if all the pledges were received by December 6th.
Thank you!
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A Service Honoring the Life of Andrew McLean
Saturday, December 18
A memorial service for Andrew McLean, husband of Bishop-elect Paula Clark, will be held Saturday, December 18 at 11 am Eastern (10 am Central) at Grace Episcopal Church in Silver Spring, Maryland.
The service will be livestreamed on Grace Episcopal Church's Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Cards may be sent to the bishop-elect at 65 E. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611.
May his soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
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SEARCH COMMITTEE
Small Group conversations are completed. The Search Committee has tabulated all the ideas gathered and will review them at the Vestry Meeting on Dec. 14th.
Rector Search Committee Members
Steve Coates & Pete Stryker, Co-chairs
Greg Anderson, Teresa Burke, Elizabeth Ludescher, Dave Mikelson and Joy Von Wolffersdorff
Their contact information is available in the church directory on our website at this link: directory
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MINISTRY OF CARE
Because of the many volunteers willing to help out with calls, rides, errands, meals, etc., the Ministry of Care won’t miss a beat while our search for a new rector is ongoing.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Bonnielynn Kreiser at 815-777-1468 or 815-291-9005 if you are in need. Also know that our clergy are available to meet your spiritual needs
as well.
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POINSETTIA ORDERS
There are sign-up sheets in the Parish Hall entry and in the Narthex for Poinsettia Orders for Christmas. The plants are $15.00 each. Any questions, please call or email Ann Berry.
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UNITED CHURCHES OF GALENA
R.I.P. Medical Debt
Several of our UCG Churches will participate in raising funds for this not-for-profit called R.I.P.Medical Debt that buys debt to assist families overwhelmed and crippled by medical bills for serious diseases. In the seven years since its inception, more than $5 billion in debt has been forgiven. To learn how this works, please see the article that Jim McCrae has written for his congregation. R.I.P. Info
As an Advent project, moneys will be raised by our churches to donate to R.I.P. We already have one $5,000 gift from a member of 1st Presbyterian Church that will turn into $500,000 of debt forgiveness. This may seem too good to be true, but the evidence is clear and compelling.
Our Grace Outreach Ministries have committed to a donation; Gloria has given personally as well as from the Rector's Discretionary Fund. If you wish to donate, a tax-deductible contribution can be made to Grace with "R.I.P. Medical Debt" in the memo line.
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HEIFER PROJECT
Did you know that 821 million people go to bed hungry every night? That is around 1 of every 9 people in the world, and 45% of children under age 5 die each year due to malnutrition. There’s a saying, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for one day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Heifer International provides healthy animals and teaches people how to care for them.
One of the most important aspects of the Heifer Program is the “Passing of the Gift.” Each person who receives an animal or pair of animals promises to breed the animal and give the first offspring to another family in their village. In this way, an entire village can become self-sufficient food wise by people sharing the gift of what they received.
And Heifer International knows no boundaries, providing animals to people all over the world, including the USA. What better way to give a gift of an animal - and a better life for people - than to give it as a gift to someone who has “everything”! When you think about the abundance in your life, please prayerfully consider making a donation to Heifer International this Christmas.
Please make your check out to Grace Church and put the notation "Heifer” at the bottom.
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FELLOWSHIP NEWS
SOCIAL HOUR SUSPENDED
Coffee and conversation has been suspended due to COVID.
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TRAIN ON DISPLAY
Phil & Terri Jackman's N-scale train layout is on display now at Crossroads Community Church, 900 Galena Square Dr., from 4pm to 7pm on Thursdays & Fridays and from
1-5pm on weekends through December 19th.
Canned food donations will be accepted and given to local food pantries.
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FORMATION NEWS
We are a group that studies spiritual subjects, including the Bible. All are welcome to join us to enhance their knowledge of spirituality and explore how to apply it to their lives. Lately we’ve been studying the Gospel of Luke. Anyone needing a Zoom invitation can contact Greg Serwich (gserwich@gmail.com).
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COMPLINE on Zoom 8:30pm on Tuesdays
On Tuesday evenings, at 8:30 pm, Lynn Giles leads 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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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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LESSONS: THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Canticle 9 Isaiah 12:2-6
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:7-18
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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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NOVEMBER
An Episcopal Service of Holy Eucharist 11/7/21,
The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Presider; The Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon; Donna Davis, Intercessor; Carmen Ferguson, Lector; Robin French, Music Director; Lynn Giles, Tech Coordinator
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The Rev. Thomas Scott, Presider; The Rev. Diane Luther, Deacon; Elizabeth Ludescher, Intercessor; Nancy Cook, Lector; Robin French, Music Director; Lynn Giles, Tech Coordinator
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Debbie Kallback, Officiant; Phil Jackman, Lay Homilist, Carol Poston, Lector; Robin French, Music Director; Lynn Giles, Tech Coordinator
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DECEMBER
Tom Van Gelder, Officiant; Rev. Diane Luther, Preacher, Greg Serwich, Lector; Robin French, Music Director; Lynn Giles, Tech Coordinator
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REOPENING CHURCH
Hybrid worship has resumed for both in-person and streaming congregations in line with
Diocesan guidelines and Phase 5 of the State of Illinois COVID recovery.
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Vestry:
Lynn Giles, Senior Warden
Richard Luther, Jr. Warden
Jim Berry, Treasurer
Crystal Mason, Clerk
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Staff:
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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Grace Episcopal Church Office:
107 S. Prospect Street
Galena, IL 61036
815-777-2590
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