As you know, we recently agreed to participate in the Diocesan program Thrive.  Besides the many congregational development sessions, the vestry and Thrive Team are very excited about this opportunity.  All members of Grace were invited by email early this month to participate in the first step which is to conduct a congregational assessment.  This assessment will provide a clear picture of who we are as a church and what directions are most important for our future. The tool we are using is the Church Assessment Tool (CAT), which will provide key indicators of our congregational health along with areas of challenge and potential growth. It will help us to collect and understand the range of views that exist at Grace and the possibilities, willingness, capacity and energy for moving our ministry into the future.

 

In case you missed the email, you'll find it (and the link to the survey) at this link.  Please be sure that you, your spouse and all young adults and youth living in your home have an opportunity to complete the survey.  INDIVIDUAL INPUT is key to our gaining insight into overall perceptions and experiences. 

Thank you for your willingness to be a part of this congregational assessment and for helping to build Grace's future.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has passed.  Or has it?

 

 

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

 

"I have a dream that one day..."

 

 "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

 

"The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice."

 

"That they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

 

Above are some quotes from Dr. King that were placed on my Facebook page. They are a small sample of some of the most powerful speeches that he gave.

 

I frequently wonder what he would think of our world as it is today. Would he be proud? Worried? Urging us forward? Would he feel that the marches and speeches did what he and others sought to do?

 

Facebook had an article recently that talked about Dr. King being much more than a speaker or marcher. That what he did more than anything was to help black people be able to live in a world without being beaten as they walk down the streets, strangled for being black, kicked out of stores and restaurants, etc.

 

I am not a person of color.  I can not speak from that experience. When I look at our country and our world I see the hope from the seeds that were planted and I see the journey that is still so needed.  Poverty, unemployment, violence, racism are all still so prevalent in our society. We have much work to do.

 

Jesus welcomed all. I pray we will do the same soon.

 

-Shawn

The Grace Church Annual Meeting will take place this Sunday, January 26, 2014 at 9:40AM.  

 

We'll elect vestry members, warden and delegates to Diocesan Convention, hear about a new vision for Coffee Hour and learn more about Thrive.  All are welcome. 

Please watch your email later this week for the 2013 Annual Report and information about those up for election as vestry members and warden.

Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 6:30pm

 

Thanks to the enthusiastic support of the parish, we are unable to accept further reservations for this year. There is a seating limit because of the space needed for our guest Scottish dancers. 

 

Reminder to those who purchased tickets: we invite all guests to recite/sing Burns' poetry - that's the most enjoyable part of the evening. Please click here to let our emcee, Mark Woodworth know (by January 23rd) what poetry you wish to share so he can prepare the program. 

2014 Parish Directories have arrived and may be picked up from the table behind the back pew in the church. 

Kindly take one per household so that all may have one.

Those who requested a boxed set of contribution envelopes for 2014 may pick them up from the table behind the back pew in church.  This will save us substantial mailing costs.  If you are unable to get to church, however, please email me and I'll mail them to you. 

Please recycle any unused envelopes from 2013.  I've done some consolidating of envelope numbers in 2014 so that we are able to order fewer sets, so it's important not to use envelopes from last year.

Thank you,
Douglas VanHouten

At all services the communion bread that we share is made by a small group of parishioners. As their lives change, the group of bakers has gradually changed and new bakers are invited to participate in this lovely ministry. We have an opening or two for new bakers for 2014.  The communion bread is made at home (on your schedule) and brought to the freezer in the kitchen just prior to each baker's assigned month. There is a flat (quick-bread) bread recipe available or small loaves of yeast bread are equally welcome. The months of May and November will need new bakers but assignments may also be rearranged to suit prospective bakers' schedules.  Please contact Lil Hohmann.  

The date of the next Benedictine Experience will be Tuesday, January 28, 2014, from 7 to 9PM.  Please note this is a change from the originally scheduled February 4 date. More information at this link.

All are welcome to join us on Wednesday, February 5, 7:30 PM, at the home of Bets Howland and Dennis Zavac.   

 

We will be finishing John Shelby Spong's book and finalizing what our next book will be. We will discuss chapters 12, 13, and Epilogue (A Final Word) .

 

Concerning our next book, it was suggested that we take a break from Christianity and take a look at Buddhism. At the January discussion meeting, two possible books were discussed - each by highly respected authors known for their ability to communicate Buddhist principles to a western audience.   

The book that was favored is by a Buddhist nun, Pema Chodrin, When Things Fall Apart.

 

The other book was authored by a Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, Living Buddha, Living Christ.

 

We look forward to seeing you and discussing the final chapters of Why Christianity Must Change or Die.

 

If you have questions, or would like to join the group, please click here to contact Bets & Dennis. 

Are you a young person or adult interested in exploring your faith life, learning more about the Episcopal Church, or even taking the next step of your spiritual journey? Or do you know someone who is? Next month Grace will begin a faith formation series, open to all, to explore our place in our scriptures, traditions, and the life of the church. Those who choose may conclude the series in confirmation, reception, or reaffirmation of faith by the Bishop (date to be announced), but interest in these ceremonies is not a prerequisite - all are welcome. Interested people should speak to Shawn Schreiner, Nick Currie or Eric Biddy.  

January 26^th 10:30am Service: