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Monday
| Prayer Group
12:10 p.m., Chapel
Everyone welcome. Prayers in both English and Spanish.
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Tuesday
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Food Pantry Open 10 - 11a.m.
(Spanish-speakers) Food Pantry Open 1 - 3 p.m.
(English-speakers) |
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Wednesday
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12:10 p.m.
7 days to Book Group!
Next Wednesday's Book Group has been moved to Frank and Mary Ann Cook's place. Come along and share in the discussion of Take this Bread by Sara Miles. Whether you've read the book or not, it's bound to be a filling evening - gluten free!
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Thursday
| Choir Rehearsal
7:15 p.m., Choir Room
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Friday
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Got your racing shoes ready?
The Annual Grace Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Races is around the bend Tuesday, February 21. Check out the Grace in Lent page for all the delicious details.
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Saturday
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A.A. Meets
6 - 7 p.m., A.A. Room
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Sunday
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8 a.m.
Holy Eucharist, Rite I
9:40 a.m.
Family Gathering Time - a time for music and song before children go to Godly Play (Meets in the lower level under the church.)
10 a.m.
Godly Play
(Ages 4-10)
10 a.m.
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
(No Adult Formation this week. A new two-week series resumes again on February 26 and March 4 with "In the Shoes of...a Monastic.")
Grace Youth Field Trip
to the Children's Museum!
Kids meet in the library after the 10 a.m. service and we'll have a little lunch before heading out! After the fun, pick up will be in the Guild Hall at 3:30p.m. Chaperones provided.
11:45 a.m.
Healing Prayer Group
A.A. Room
Check it out!
Noon
Worship (In Spanish)
5 p.m.
St. Francis House
Campus Ministry @ Grace
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
Followed by a meal in the Guild Hall.
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This Week at Grace
February 13 - 19 |
Live and In Person!
In a typical week approximately 140 people read this publication. Considering the mailing goes out to about 355 people, that's a pretty good open rate. E-marketing gurus go ga-ga for statistics like these. It's happy news to report that Grace has a very active and dedicated online readership, growing by about 2-3 new-comers every month.
What has been interesting to observe in this process is the feedback. Some weeks I receive a flurry of e-mails from enthusiastic readers wanting to share a response to topics posted. The piece by Father Jonathan on "Welcoming the Stranger" generated honest admissions from church-goers I felt could have benefited the growth of this congregation if shared. These thoughtful comments and ideas made me wonder how much more engaging it would be if we created an online format where readers would be able to continue a dialog with one another, instead of with me alone.
Yet it's a tricky thing this brave new virtual world. While part of me praises the effortlessness of social media in keeping whatever it is we are encouraging at the top of the mind, the other part of me feels religious organizations can have the slickest, most interactive online presence this side of the Mississippi, but if we aren't careful to keep our main focus on bringing people face-to-face in meaningful fellowship and worship, as part of the very real bricks and mortar of the church, we're missing the mark.
"Face to the computer, back to the world," as a good friend always reminds me. Online religious blogs and forums, while at times are thought-provoking and educational, are in my experience ineffective if they don't at some point call us to action away from our desks and mobile devices; if they don't call us to learn and minister together. One can sit and write and read all day long, but the real trifecta of ministry always occurs in the flesh - whether in worship, at a beside, or over a cup of coffee. I imagine Jesus' effectiveness in his ministry was the result of a lot more walking and talking than scrolling.
This past Saturday, the Episcopal Church Women's Luncheon was a fine example of such real-time-walking-and-talking-interactions. While the women ate-up a much-needed opportunity to catch-up with one another, the men (many of whom are the main cooks at their homes) enjoyed showcasing their love of all things culinary for a larger audience. About half of the men had a counterpart on the other side of the kitchen doors and the other half were simply there because they enjoy the chance to serve and cut-up in the kitchen - in more ways than one.
 | Terry, John, and Roger share a laugh.
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"We're glad to be back in the kitchen this year." notes server Pat Pollock, "We really enjoy it."
And I really enjoyed it too. I was able to sit down, relax, have a conversation with several women I've been meaning to get to know better, and learn about what's happening in the world of Grace and in the world at large. After a delicious meal served during a presentation by the Liberian Assistance Program, my table-mate and I had a thoughtful conversation about ministering to those in need over seas and those right here in our own midst. At the end of the luncheon, my only regret was not being able to have in-depth conversations with everyone in the room. It reminded me of the importance of being vigilant in finding ways to get together more often.
For the past few weeks the staff of Grace have been discussing how to do just that: to create a variety of opportunities for members and members-to-be to simply enjoy one another's company; to develop platforms for interaction that build relationships and strengthen our ties to each other and our call to care for this congregation we call our home.
As a diverse set of people with diverse perspectives, the joy of creating multiple ways to build community outside of worship comes in increasing the likelihood that one of these outings, events, or fellowship times, will hit the right note of participation motivation.
From a Mallard's game, to social-advocacy events, movie night, or even learning how to curl, as Jesus shares through Matthew, "wherever two or more are gathered in my name, I am there."
It doesn't get any more real than that.
- Jody
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In God's Service
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Can you smell that coffee brewing? Coffee Hour hosts are needed on Feb. 26. We have a couple of open dates in March (11 and 25) as well. Contact Corrie to make it all happen. The February ROTA is thanks to you! Do you revel in the wonder of the Eucharist? Additional Eucharistic Ministers are needed for the monthly ROTA roster. If you would like to learn more about servicing as an EM, please contact Carol Smith. Vestry on Call
If you have any questions, joys or concerns,
please feel free to contact:
Mary Ann Cook
macook@charter.net or (608) 238-6974
Linda Newman
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