E-Items: Grace Episcopal Church News

E-Items

May 15, 2013

Grace Episcopal Church

924 Lake Street

Oak Park, IL 60301

www.GraceOakPark.org

Embracing all to become one with Christ.

Quick Links

Grace Staff:

Jonathan Baumgarten, Deacon

Douglas VanHouten, Jr., Parish Administrator

Dennis E. Northway, Parish Musician

Shawn Schreiner, Rector

Other Helpful Links:

May 19th 10:30am Service:

ACOLYTES: Natalia Reniszewski

MC/LEMS: Cherryl Holt; Hansi Kess, Joni Klein, Barbara Larsen

LECTORS: Hansi Kess, Sue Wells

INTERCESSORS: Debbie Edwards, Ade Onayemi

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

BREAD BAKER: Jill Gimesky

USHERS: Flora Green, Stan Kaderbek, Jamaal Bovell, Alex Lippitt

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

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS: 9:00am: Liz Flynn

10:30am: Parish Picnic

May 26th 10:30am Service:

ACOLYTES: Natalia Reniszewski

MC/LEMS: Steve Fanning; Charlie MacDougall, Karen Mensch, Bob Vogler

LECTORS: MaryPat Mauro, Jim Prescott

INTERCESSORS: Lascelles Anderson, Tony Dobrowolski

BREAD BAKER: Jill Gimesky

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

GREETERS: Ade Onayemi, Gloria Rayburn, Jane Shirley

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS: 9:00am: Volunteers needed

10:30am: Susan & John Blair

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

Grace Church Picnic This Sunday, May 19th

Creating a Butterfly Garden and Other Children's Formation News

Concerts @ 6:26 - The Music Begins June 6th

Kick Off Planning Party for Garden Party

Pastoral Notes

Pentecost: Picnicking and Celebrating on May 19th

News from the Community of Congregations

Vicki Garvey on 30 Good Minutes

Reunification With Diocese of Quincy: Upcoming Information Sessions

Upcoming Events

From the Rector

Shawn 2010

A Hidden Jewel

They gather regularly: to worship God, for fellowship, for coffee and treats. Perhaps you have been there or met some of them. They are the Wednesday 7AM Eucharist community. Many of them have been going to this service for years. Meeting in the Parish hall may give the appearance of a casual group, but they are anything but casual in their commitment to God and to Grace Church. It is all about community for them. Week after week they gather to share the good news of Christ and to hear about what is happening in their lives.

Albert Mensah, a retired priest and friend of Grace, tends to be their Presider for the services and I go in several times a year. During Lent I gathered with them each week for the food of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist and in the food that I made and in the food of our lives.

Have you been to that service? You might want to try it out. What better way to start the day!

7AM Eucharist

-Shawn

shawnschreiner@sbcglobal.net

Annual Grace Parish Picnic - May 19

Be sure to join us for the Annual Grace Parish Picnic this Sunday, May 19, immediately following the 10:30AM service. Join the event on our Facebook page, and please invite friends!

More information is at this link.

Children's Formation News

This Sunday marks the final Catechesis class for the year.

Instead of meeting in the atriums, we invite children and their parents (and all others!) to join us immediately after the 9 a.m. service to plant a small Butterfly Garden in front of the Rectory library.

For more, click here.

Concerts @ 6:26
June 6 - August 29, 2013 - Evensong at 6PM; Concert at 6:26PM

Please mark your calendar and plan to join us as you are able throughout the summer for a series of free, 30-minute concerts preceded by Evensong.

A listing of participating musicians is now posted on our website.

Downton Abbey Coming to Grace Church?

What's all the buzz? Did I hear Downton Abbey is coming to Grace Church? Please join us May 29th at 7 pm in the Rector's backyard (Parish Hall if the weather is poor) for a wine and goodies kick-off meeting for Grace Church's Annual Garden Party Tea. Bring a goodie to share and your ideas for a fun evening of sharing and planning. Questions? Please contact Karen-Jo Mensch. RSVP here.

Pastoral Notes

Fred and Carole Barber want you to know that Fred is recovering from back surgery and is doing well. Thanks for all of the prayers.

On May 1 Lillian Wells was born into the world. She is the daughter of Raquel and Christian Wells. Sister to Evelyn and Ryan. Granddaughter of Charles and Sue Wells.

Pentecost - Picnicking and Celebrating on May 19th

EfM (Education for Ministry)

Several Grace folks are graduating from the program this year and we will give them their certificates on May 19 during the 10:30AM service. Have you completed the course yourself? Come and join in congratulating them.

Bishop Anderson House Chaplains

Many Grace folks have competed this great training program. All of you are invited to welcome Al as one of our newest Pastoral Care Team members. All Bishop Anderson House Chaplains are invited to come forward for prayer during the 10:30 service.

New to Grace?

We celebrate you as well and hope that you will come to church and to the picnic.

Common Call
News from the Community of Congregations

The newsletter from the Oak Park & River Forest Community of Congregations is out. You'll find it at this link.

Vicki Garvey on 30 Good Minutes

For those who missed it, here is a video, recently replayed on 30 Good Minutes, featuring Vicki Garvey, Associate for Lifelong Christian Formation for the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, and a member of Grace.

A Reflection by Vicki Garvey - God the Doter - PG5307

Reunification With Diocese of Quincy: Upcoming Information Sessions

On June 8, the 175th Convention of the Diocese of Chicago, which first met in November 2012, will reconvene at St. James Cathedral to consider the proposed reunification with the Episcopal Diocese of Quincy. This meeting is in accordance with Resolution A-175, which was unanimously passed in November. It affirms the Diocese of Chicago's intent to pursue reunification with Quincy and directing the bishop, with the advice and consent of the Standing Committee, to seek approval of the Quincy Reunion Agreement.

In May, members of the diocese are invited to attend an information session to learn more about the proposed reunification of the Episcopal Dioceses of Chicago and Quincy.

Sessions will be held from 6:30-8:30 pm as follows:

May 15 - Church of the Transfiguration, Palos Park
May 20 (changed from May 17) - St. James Commons, Chicago
May 29 - St. James, West Dundee

Light refreshments will be served. Register online.

Questions?

Please talk with Diocesan Director of Operations Courtney Reid at 312.751.6725 or via email.

Upcoming Events

(Full calendar is at this link)

Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Wednesday Morning Eucharist	7:00 AM
SLAA/SAA Meeting	9:00 AM
Schola Rehearsal	3:30 PM
Thursday, May 16, 2013
SLAA/SAA Meeting	9:00 AM
Staff Meeting	11:30 AM
Voice Lessons	2:00 PM
Evensong	6:00 PM
Healing Prayer Group	6:30 PM
SAA 12-Step Group	7:00 PM
Sight-Reading Club	7:00 PM
Adult Choir Practice	7:30 PM
Friday, May 17, 2013
Rector's Day Off
SLAA/SAA 12-Step Workshop	9:05 AM
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Voice Lessons	9:00 AM
1st Anniversary Celebration & Thanksgiving Service for Mrs. Catherine Mensah	9:30 AM
SLAA 12-Step Group	9:30 AM
Reception	1:00 PM
Sunday, May 19, 2013
The Rite Place - A service for the child in us all	9:00 AM
Coffee Hour	9:30 AM
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd - Creating a Butterfly Garden (Last Session of the Program Year)	9:35 AM
Sung Choral Eucharist	10:30 AM
Coffee Hour	11:45 AM
Annual Grace Church Picnic	12:00 PM
Rite 13	12:00 PM
Madrigal Rehearsal	3:30 PM
SLAA 12-Step Group	7:15 PM
AA 12-Step Group	8:30 PM
Monday, May 20, 2013
SLAA/SAA Meeting	9:00 AM
Voice Lessons	2:00 PM
EfM (Education for Ministry)	7:00 PM
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Chicago Folks Operetta Rehearsal	6:30 PM
SLAA 12-Step Group	7:00 PM
Vestry Meeting	7:00 PM
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Wednesday Morning Eucharist	7:00 AM
SLAA/SAA Meeting	9:00 AM
Schola Rehearsal	3:30 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

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