7:00 p.m. - 35-minute contemplative prayer service

It is timely that, in our common lives in Christ and in relationship with Bishop Joseph Garang and the people of Renk Diocese, the Diocese of Chicago comes together at St. James Cathedral on Sunday, April 27 at 4:00 PM, to pray for peace in South Sudan.

We come together because people we know are suffering due to the vicious power struggle in the youngest country in the world, South Sudan. On December 15 fighting broke out between government and rebel forces, wreaking havoc in villages, killing innocent people, separating children from families as they ran, causing devastating starvation and disease to spread -- 30,000 killed, 2 million refugees, 4 million starving people since that fateful day in December.

Our companion diocese, Renk, under the leadership of Bishop Joseph, became a destination for internally displaced people seeking refuge, food, shelter, a sense of safety. This influx put a tremendous burden on the host community.  While the fighting has not come to Renk, it has moved to other parts of the Diocese -- Melut, Maban, Paloch, which is under threat right now being in close proximity to oil fields. We know these people! I met them myself when accompanying the Media Team to Renk Diocese in 2009.

Bishop Joseph will be in the Midwest to participate on April 26th in the consecration as Bishop of our own Matt Gunter, former Rector of St. Barnabas in Glen Ellyn which is in partnership with Maban. And on April 27, a diocesan-wide prayer vigil for peace in South Sudan is planned at St. James Cathedral.  Bishop Joseph will be with us and will bring a message of thanksgiving to us from his people for keeping Renk calm, and for peace and reconciliation to replace guns and mistrust.

As partners in Christ with our brothers and sisters in Renk, as Resurrection people who believe all things are possible in God, what better way to join together in prayer on the first Sunday of Easter, living into our Baptismal Covenant, bearing witness to the salvation of the Risen Lord, who suffered, died, and rose for all.

Will you be there? I will!

Your brother in Christ,

Jeff Lee

Bishop of Chicago 

The Sunday lectionary discussion group will not meet on Easter Sunday. All are welcome when we resume meeting in the Parish Hall at 9:45 on Sunday, April 27! Questions?  Contact Eric Biddy.  

Madeleine Woodworth Senior Recital: This spring, Madeleine Woodworth will be graduating from the Chicago Academy for the Arts (CAA). On Saturday, May 3, she will play her senior organ recital on the historic, recently-renovated Casavant organ at St. John Cantius Church (across the alley from CAA), 825 N. Carpenter St., Chicago, IL 60642. Madeleine's recital is also featured as the final event of the season for the Chicago-Midwest Chapter of the Organ Historical Society. The recital starts at 1:00 pm and lasts about an hour, with a reception following. This event is free and open to the public, and we would be especially delighted to have Grace parishioners in attendance. Responses are not required, but would be helpful in planning the reception. Please direct responses and questions to Randi Woodworth.