From the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Silent Film Team:

From Parish Musician Dennis Northway

As we approach Thanksgiving Day, we give thanks for the many blessings in our lives - including our faith community at here at Grace Church. Thanks to the engagement and support of many of our members, we've achieved significant short- and long-term goals in 2013, including:  

• Forming a Worship Team that helped us prepare for Holy Week in new and engaging ways,
• Hosting two fund-raising and community-building events (DowntoWn Abbey Garden Party and the silent movie) that help support our budget and give the community a chance to learn about Grace,
• Serving as a witness to the marriages of same-sex couples who were either married at Grace or whose marriages were blessed here,
• Fulfilling Formation and Education opportunities, notably the fund-raising and selection of a new Director of Lifelong Formation and the creation of the Benedictine Spirituality Group,
• Being a place where difficult topics, such as the murder of Trayvon Martin, can be openly discussed, and
• Welcoming 20 potential members at a brunch sponsored by a newly formed Newcomers' Team.       

And there's more.  On an ongoing basis, members of Grace's ministries cook for our West Suburban PADS guests, bring Communion to the homebound, and help support Chicago children in need of school supplies.  Find out more about the kinds of ministries that Grace is involved in at our November 17 Ministry Fair.

We are thankful to part of an energetic, compassionate, and outward-looking congregation.  With the support of Grace's congregation through our 2013-14 pledging campaign, we can build on what we have created this year.

As we switch from central cooling to central heating, we are mindful of the central gospel message of do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

Sarah Hunt, Leslie Atwood and Sue Wells just did some sock shopping for this year's holiday gifts for our PADS guests. 

You can support PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) by volunteering (contact Susan Gosdick) or making a donation.  

Warm your heart, mind and soul. 

Through the Cathedral Shelter Christmas Basket program, Grace Church will supply Christmas gifts for 9 families (approximately 50 individuals total) this year.  

HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE:

• The names and gift requests of the members of Grace's families will be available in the Parish Hall after each service on Sunday, November 10 and Sunday, November 17.  Simply choose a member of one of the families and fill out your name and contact information on the list next to the person's name you have chosen.  You can also contact Heidi Lukas (708-308-0602 or lukash@cso.org) to receive a name and gift requests.
   
• Cathedral Shelter guidelines state that you should plan to spend $25-$30 per person for gifts.  This is only a guideline and, of course, the amount you spend is at your discretion.  Please do not feel obligated to buy everything on the person's list.  We recommend buying two gifts per person - one "practical" item (such as clothing, etc.) and one "fun" item (such as a toy for a child or bubble bath for an adult, etc.).  You may also wish to confer with those Grace members who have chosen members of the same family in order to equalize gifts purchased.
   
• Wrap your gift(s) and clearly mark the outside with the recipient's name and family number.  Please place your gifts in a packing box (left open) so that we can more easily coordinate our packing and delivery to Cathedral Shelter.
   
• Bring your gift(s) to the Parish Hall on Sunday, December 1.  Please note that this is the last day for drop-off; if you need to make arrangements to drop-off sooner than this, please contact Heidi Lukas or Sue Wells.
   
• Volunteers are needed to help load the gifts into Cathedral Shelter's truck on Monday, December 2 (exact time to be confirmed, but probably early to mid-afternoon). If you are available to help, please contact Heidi Lukas or Sue Wells. 

Thank you in advance for your support of this very important program!

Tickets are now on sale for our annual Boars Head Feast presented by the Madrigal Choir of Grace Church.

Come join us for a wonderful evening of an originally-scripted performance in period costume, with music and dance set in the splendor of our nave, magically transformed into your Lord's and Lady's great hall.

Dinner and General Seating tickets are available.

The dates are Friday Dec. 13, 2013 at 7PM and Saturday Dec. 14, 2013 at 7PM.

Dinner is $40 for adults and $30 for students, and General Seating is $15 for adults and $10 for students.

All patrons will receive a $5 discount for attending in renaissance style costume.

Dinner seating is by reservation only and must be made by Sunday Dec. 8th.

General seating is unreserved, and includes dessert and beverage.

Click here for a ticket order form. 

For more information click here to contact Silvano Brugioni, or call him at 708-655-1702. 

On November 15, 2013 the Episcopal Church will host and produce a forum centering on a critical topic for our times: Fifty Years Later: The State of Racism in America. Originating from St. Andrew's Episcopal Cathedral in Jackson, MS (Diocese of Mississippi), the 90-minute ecumenical forum will be live webcast beginning at 1PM Central.

The forum will be moderated by well-known journalist and PBS commentator Ray Suarez. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will keynote the event. Two panel discussions will focus on main themes: Racism in America today - why does it persist? And Racism in America's future - where is there hope for change?

The Anti-Racism Commission in the Diocese of Chicago will be hosting a viewing of the live webcast and luncheon at St. James Commons, 65 E. Huron St., Chicago, from 12:30 - 3:30PM.  All are welcome.  

The Oak Park River Forest Community of Congregations is excited to extend an invitation to our annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service.  

Manya Brachear Pashman, a religion reporter at the Chicago Tribune, is the featured speaker. The service will represent diverse spiritual traditions as the community gathers in worship, finding peace and gratitude for God's many blessings. All community members are welcome and warmly encouraged to attend. After the service, United Lutheran will host a reception with refreshments and fellowship.

A collection will benefit the Holiday Food and Gift Basket Program and the Community of Congregations. Donations of non-perishable food items will also be received for the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry.