Pastoral Notices and E-Items: Our Weekly Church News

e-Items

Grace Episcopal Church News

December 10, 2012

www.GraceOakPark.org

Grace Episcopal Church

924 Lake Street

Oak Park, IL 60301

www.GraceOakPark.org

Embracing all to become one with Christ.

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Grace Staff:

Jonathan Baumgarten, Deacon

Douglas VanHouten, Jr., Parish Administrator

Dennis E. Northway, Parish Musician

Shawn Schreiner, Rector

Other Helpful Links:

Participants in Upcoming Sunday Services

December 16^th 10:30am Service:

ACOLYTES: Tim Edwards

MC/LEMS: Mark Woodworth; Nadia Stefko, Walter Thorne, Helen Thomason, Bob Vogler, Sue Wells

LECTORS: John Seaton, Willie Polite

INTERCESSORS: Barbara Larsen, Hansi Kess

ALTAR GUILD: Joan Anderson, Heather Bovell, Carol Dorsey, Flora Green, Hansi Kess, Doug Lucé, Kathy Onayemi, Al Papillon, Willie Polite, Sally Prescott, Natalie Ratz, Marie Rock, Jane Shirley, Mary Ann Urbashich

BREAD BAKER: Nadia Stefko

USHERS: Flora Green, Stan Kaderbek, Alex Lippitt

GREETERS: Cyndy Reynolds, Donna Anderson, Gayle Kelley, Kary Deuel

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS: 9:00am: Liz Flynn

10:30am: Joanne Schochat, Cathy Tokarski

December 23^rd 10:30am Service:

ACOLYTES: Joe Ratz

MC/LEMS: Steve Fanning; Lascelles Anderson, Tony Dobrowolski, Cherryl Holt, Hansi Kess, Natalie Ratz

LECTORS: Debbie Edwards, Ade Onayemi

INTERCESSORS: Greg Colombe, Willie Polite

BREAD BAKER: Nadia Stefko

USHERS: Laura Morgan Day, Sam Love, Alan Harvey, Jim Deuel

GREETERS: Ade Onayemi, Gloria Rayburn, Jane Shirley

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS: 9:00am: Volunteer(s) needed

10:30am: Bill Kerr, Weeks Ringle & Sophie Kerr

December 30^th 10:30am Service:

ACOLYTES: Natalia Reniszewski

MC/LEMS: Cyndy Reynolds; Cherryl Holt, Hansi Kess, Joni Klein

LECTORS: Helen Thomason

INTERCESSORS: Debbie Edwards, David de Jong

BREAD BAKER: Nadia Stefko

USHERS: Benjamin Daramola, Kweku Leighton-Armah

GREETERS: Carol Dorsey, Alice Leighton-Armah

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS: 9:00am: Mauro / Hartzell family

10:30am: Volunteer(s) Needed

e-Items is a weekly publication of Grace Episcopal Church, Oak Park, Illinois.

Article submissions to

Douglas VanHouten via email by each Wednesday 9am.

Thank you!

In This Issue:

Participants in Upcoming Sunday Services

From the Rector

Thanksgiving for Childbirth

Christmas Flower Donations

Baptisms on December 23

Pastoral Notice

Boar's Head Feasts - Get Your Tickets!

Lessons & Carols December 23

Christmas Service Times

Annual Pledge Campaign Update

Nominations for Vestry & Diocesan Convention Delegates

Upcoming Events

From the Rector

Shawn 2010

Many of you know that I have been dealing with an ankle injury for several months and have been waiting for a surgery date. On Wednesday, Dec. 12, I will have outpatient surgery to repair the injured ankle. The surgery will limit my Sunday activities for a few weeks. I expect to be immobile for one week and no weight bearing for six. So you will see me hopping around on crutches or using a walker or motorized scooter for several weeks. Due to the lack of accessibility to my office in the Parish Hall, I will primarily work from my home office. I will not be taking appointments for about a week or so and will not be presiding or preaching for a few weeks. Clayton Thomason has agreed to assist with the services.

Prayer Vigil of Sorts: One of the traditions that happens at Grace, when folks ask, is a Prayer Vigil. Because we have a 7AM Eucharist on Wednesdays, I invite those of you wishing to come together to attend the 7AM service. Want to pray at home or at work? Check this link for a vigil service.

Pastoral care: Cherryl Holt, one of our lay chaplains, will be on call to handle any emergencies that may come up from Dec. 12 - 19. After that date, I will be receiving the calls and determining whether I can assist you or whether to have one of the many clergy and lay folks who have volunteered to assist respond to your requests.

Sarah Hunt has very kindly offered to arrange food for us. Please contact her if you would like to offer to provide a meal.

Loaner items needed: Does anyone have an electric wheelchair or motorized scooter that I might borrow for a couple of months? This would assist a lot with my ability to get around our building.

Vicki and I thank you for your prayers.

-Shawn

shawnschreiner@sbcglobal.net

Thanksgiving for Childbirth

Marcy and Chris Lepley, former members of Grace, are pleased to announce the arrival of their baby boy.

Baby Lepley

Christmas Flower Donations

If you'd like to contribute toward Christmas flowers, in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving, please click the link below. Christmas flowers that will adorn the church are funded solely by your donations. Thank you! All donations must be received by Sunday, December 16 for an acknowledgment to appear in the Christmas bulletin insert.

Baptisms on Sunday, December 23

Congratulations to those being baptized on Sunday, December 23, at the 9AM service:

Griffin Donald Meersman
Addison Ashley Guo Schott
Reagan Starr Ping Schott

Pastoral Notice

Grace parishioner Bob Vogler will be having hip replacement surgery on December 26. Please keep Bob & Tony in prayer.

A vigil service is at this link.

Boar's Head Feasts - December 14 & 15

Plan to join us for the 2012 Boar's Head Feasts, presented by the Madrigals of Grace Church.

December 14 and 15, 7PM

Order tickets and get more information at this link.

Lessons & Carols

Please mark your calendar for Sunday, December 23, 2012, for Lessons & Carols at 4:00 p.m.

Read more here.

Pledge Campaign Update

As of December 10, 2012, we have received 46 pledge cards for 2013. These pledges total $129,855. 105 households pledged in 2012. A full summary of pledges received to date is at this link.

If you would like to submit a pledge for 2013, you'll find a pledge form at this link.

Nominations for Vestry & Diocesan Convention Delegates

The nomination process for Vestry elections is now underway. Please take some time to consider whether your talents could be offered to Grace Church in this important ministry of leadership. Serving on the Vestry as either a Vestry member or Warden provides a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the future direction of the life of our congregation.

The election will take place at our Annual Parish Meeting in January. If you are interested in serving as either a Vestry member or Warden, please email or call Shawn Schreiner or Mark Woodworth.

The nominating committee consists of the following members: Liz Flynn, Mark Woodworth, Jim Deuel, Silvano Brugioni, Cathy Tokarski, Shawn Schreiner and one non-vestry member.

If you have someone you wish to propose for nomination, we ask that you contact that person first to ensure they wish to be nominated and are willing to serve.

The Vestry is the body within a congregation that, with the clergy, leads the parish. The Vestry:

helps to discern the vision toward which God is drawing that particular community;
articulates and communicates the vision;
holds the community accountable for its realization of that vision; and
keeps the mission of the Church and that of the individual congregation clearly before the parish community.

God creates the Church, and invites us to participate in the process. A congregation's leaders are the stewards of that creation and hold it in trust. The congregation has been given the resources needed to do the job God has called it to do. Leaders identify and allocate those resources, enabling the Church to carry out its mission. They also lead the congregation in celebrating and giving thanks for these resources.

To assist you in deciding whether or not to stand for election, the following are some of the requirements for, and expectations of Vestry service:

Must be at least eighteen years of age and a pledging member of the Parish;
Is expected to attend all monthly Vestry meetings and the annual Vestry retreat. If a Vestry member misses three or more meetings within a calendar year, it may be cause for consideration of removal (Parish Guidelines).
Is expected to attend the regular worship of the Parish

We will elect 3 vestry members, one warden and one youth representative who is at least 16 (voice and no vote).

We will also be electing three delegates to Diocesan Convention at our Annual Meeting. If you are interested in serving as a delegate, please contact Shawn Schreiner.

Upcoming Events

(Full calendar is at this link)

Monday, December 10, 2012
Early Birds' Boot Camp	6:00 AM
SLAA/SAA Meeting	9:00 AM
EfM (Education for Ministry)	7:00 PM
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Early Birds' Boot Camp	6:00 AM
St. Giles Catechesis (LH)	4:00 PM
St. Giles Catechesis (MC)	4:00 PM
St. Giles Catechesis (JC)	6:00 PM
Healing Song Circle	7:00 PM
SLAA 12-Step Group	7:00 PM
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Wednesday Morning Eucharist	7:00 AM
SLAA/SAA Meeting	9:00 AM
Schola Rehearsal	3:30 PM
St. Giles Catechesis (JC)	6:00 PM
St. Giles Catechesis (MC)	6:00 PM
Uncorking Theology	7:00 PM
PADS Overnight Shelter	7:30 PM
Thursday, December 13, 2012
SLAA/SAA Meeting	9:00 AM
Voice Lessons	3:00 PM
Evensong	6:00 PM
SAA 12-Step Group	7:00 PM
Sight-Reading Club	7:00 PM
Adult Choir Practice	7:30 PM
Friday, December 14, 2012
Rector's Day Off
Early Birds' Boot Camp	6:00 AM
SLAA/SAA 12-Step Workshop	9:05 AM
Boar's Head Feast	7:00 PM
Saturday, December 15, 2012
St. Giles Catechesis (LH)	9:00 AM
St. Giles Catechesis (MC)	9:00 AM
SLAA 12-Step Group	9:30 AM
Voice Lessons	10:00 AM
Annual Greeters' Party	6:30 PM
Boar's Head Feast	7:00 PM
Sunday, December 16, 2012
The Rite Place - A service for the child in us all	9:00 AM
Coffee Hour	9:30 AM
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd	9:35 AM
Sung Choral Eucharist	10:30 AM
Coffee Hour	11:45 AM
Rite 13	12:00 PM
Confirm Not Conform	12:15 PM
Madrigal Rehearsal	3:30 PM
SLAA 12-Step Group	7:15 PM
AA 12-Step Group	8:30 PM
Monday, December 17, 2012
Advent Circle Garden Set Up in Church Crossing
Early Birds' Boot Camp	6:00 AM
SLAA/SAA Meeting	9:00 AM
EfM (Education for Ministry)	7:00 PM
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Advent Circle Garden Set Up in Church Crossing
Early Birds' Boot Camp	6:00 AM
St. Giles Catechesis (LH)	4:00 PM
St. Giles Catechesis (MC)	4:00 PM
St. Giles Catechesis (JC)	6:00 PM
SLAA 12-Step Group	7:00 PM
Vestry Meeting	7:00 PM

Our Mission:
Grace Church seeks to bring God's love and Christ's teaching to all people, to become a passionately involved, intentional Christian community, to support the spiritual journey of each person, and to work toward reconciliation, peace, and justice in our world.

Our Core Values:
-Reach out to support our neighbors locally and worldwide as we seek to obey God's command to love our neighbors as ourselves.

-Encourage and support spiritual growth in all people while respecting that each person is at a different point in his or her spiritual journey.

-Work to be ever more present to and caring for each member of the Grace community and to be fully welcoming to all who enter Grace's doors.

Note: Previous issues of
Grace News Email may be found on our website

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