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May 28, 2014
From the Rector

Shawn Schreiner

Lessons Learned

 

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

 

-Maya Angelou

 

These are words from a very wise woman who left this earth this week. Her wisdom, courage and voice made her a force to be reckoned with. She was gentle and firm. Kind and passionate.  She spoke of her life experiences as a way to impact the greater good of humanity.

 

She has so much to offer all of us.  I say "has" because even though she has died her work and words continue through all of us. May we continue her God-given legacy.

 

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

 

 

-Shawn 

Parish Picnic
Picnic

On Sunday June 8 (Pentecost Sunday), we will be honoring several groups of people:  those recently received or confirmed in the church, interns, acolytes, choir, graduates and those participating in the Rite 13 Liturgy (come to see what that means).

 

So, it is PICNIC time.  We need volunteers to set up, buy food, get drinks ready, cook and clean up.  Weather permitting, we will gather in the garden.  The good news is that we have a couple lighter tables; we will not have to haul out heavy tables.

 

Please contact me if you can help.

-Shawn
Confirmation & Reception
May 31st, 11AM at St. James Cathedral
Episcopal Church Shield

Please join us at the end of this month as we celebrate those renewing their Baptismal commitments in confirmation and reception to the Episcopal Church. Four Grace folks - Helen Thomason, Ty Davis, Judith Hanna, and Tony Riley - will be participating in the ceremony at St. James Cathedral (65 E. Huron St. in Chicago) on May 31st at 11am. We hope you can join us in celebration as they reaffirm their commitment to Christ and this community!

Spring Cleaning & Special Project Day
Saturday, May 31st, 9AM - 4PM
multi-paint-cans.jpg

A Spring Cleaning & Special Project Day is planned for this Saturday, May 31st from 9AM - 4PM.  Volunteers are needed to help clean out several areas of the Parish Hall.  We would like to beautify the Parish Hall by painting some areas, removing carpet & furniture from the teen room and perhaps do some outdoor work if weather permits.  

 

There will be jobs for all skill levels, come for a couple of hours or all day.   

 

Lunch will be provided.

 

-Your Property Committee  

Leslie Atwood, Sharon Harmsworth, Lillian Hohmann, Cliff Hunt, & Mark Woodworth
Tony & Bob's Wedding
This Sunday, June 1, at the 10:30AM service
Tony & Bob Tony Dobrowolski and Bob Vogler invite you to their wedding on Sunday, June 1, 2014, at the 10:30 a.m. service. This is a celebration Tony and Bob want to share with the Grace community since they have been members of Grace almost as long as they've been together. This will be a further witness to their relationship that was first celebrated at Grace as part of the November 17, 1995 Integrity Service. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.
Book Study Group
Wednesday, June 4, 7:30PM

We are looking forward to seeing you for the final discussion of The Essence of Jung's Psychology and Tibetan Buddhism.  Please let us know if you are planning to attend, as this helps us with room set up and beverages and snacks.  

 

We can also discuss reading choices for our next season which would begin in September.  

 

Wednesday, June 4 @7:30 PM
Home of Bets and Dennis
What to read for discussion: (46 pages)
Chapter 4 - Archetypal Symbols
Chapter 5 - Connections, Similarities, Differences
Chapter 6 - Conclusion & Coda 
(We began our reading in April with Chapter 1, and the Epilogue which begins on p.109. You may enjoy re-reading the Epilogue)

 

- Bets and Dennis

CROSSWalk Event on June 8
On June 8 from 3 - 5 pm, people from across the Diocese of Chicago will gather at Messiah & St. Bartholomew's Church (8255 South Dante Avenue, Chicago) for a procession to Avalon Park. Come stand with the young people of Chicago, hear their stories about the impact of violence, and celebrate the summer jobs created by CROSSwalk. Verbal Kwest will perform.

 

Download a flyer here to learn more. Use this form to volunteer. For more information contact Sarah Jordan, CROSSwalk intern.  


CrossWalk Flyer
A Very Special and Important Fundraiser for our Pipe Organ
Screening of a documentary on Charlie Carpenter, followed by a concert by Charlie
Charlie Carpenter

Our beloved pipe organ, built in 1922 is in need of ongoing repair in order to lead our singing of prayer and praise. This year alone, some $13,000 is needed in critical repair of two divisions of the instrument. We are delighted to announce an exciting and fun opportunity, in which you might participate, to support raising money for this necessary project. Our own Charlie Carpenter has been featured in an award-winning film documentary on his life in music by Oak Park-River Forest High School student Cosmo Coffey. We will be screening this 34-minute documentary on Thursday, July 10 beginning at 6:26 p.m., followed by a concert by Charlie and a reception. The program will be offered in support of the repair of our Casavant organ. Admission (pay at the door) to the screening, organ recital and reception is $15 with a discount for students. Donations to the organ fund in addition to the entrance fee are most welcome! Please contact Dennis Northway with questions, and please help spread the word!

 

Can't attend, but want to donate?  Please click below:

 

 

Here is a trailer for the documentary:
Hidden Significance Trailer
Hidden Significance Trailer

Concerts@6:26
Each Summertime Thursday

Grace Episcopal Church will again sponsor the Seventh Season of Concerts@6:26 throughout the summer.  Each Thursday, beginning on June 12, we will sing Evensong beginning at 6:00 p.m.  Then, each Thursday at precisely 6:26 p.m. a thirty-minute recital will be offered in the Gothic-Revival splendor of Grace Episcopal Church at 924 Lake Street.  Half of the concerts offered are by young people, the others by established musicians in the area.  There will be a freewill offering, half of which goes to our outreach programs, including our support of ministries in Renk town in the Sudan. 

 

Series Sponsors are invited!  If you feel you can support this concert series with a donation, or if you would like to underwrite a specific concert, please make out a check to Grace Church with "6:26 sponsorship" in the memo line.  Your generosity will be acknowledged in the program.  Half of our sponsorship will be designated toward outreach, the other half will support the concert series itself.

 

This year we will feature the artistry of Philip Kraus, Baritone; the ensemble Proxxecto Brisas do Mar;  Cacie Willhoft, Adam Gruber, Madeline Woodworth and Dennis Northway, Organ; David Gray and Sally Kidwell, Piano; Allison Rozsa Evans and Sarah Jenks, voice and piano, and our beloved Charlie Carpenter, organ and piano.  This will be a wonderful summer of music making!  Kindly invite your friends.   Please contact Dennis Northway, Parish Musician at 708-386-8036 x. 3 with questions.


Concerts@6:26
Happy Birthday and Auf Wiedersehen, Nancy Smiley!
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This year marks a big birthday for our friend Nancy Smiley and soon Nancy and Alan will be moving out of the area.  What an opportunity for a party!  Join the choir, Dennis Northway,  Sue Wells and Sarah Hunt as we celebrate Nancy's 70th birthday and gather to celebrate Nancy and Alan's time with us!  We will gather in the Parish Hall on Friday, June 13th at 6:30 p.m. for a light-hearted concert and potluck buffet.  All are welcome, please invite family and friends.  Nancy has been a soloist, chorister, Handel Week Board president, Junior and Senior Warden and parishioner at Grace Church for nearly two decades.   Let's thank her for her presence in our community!  We would like to know how many people are coming, so please click here to RSVP to Sue Wells.  Please let her know as well, if you would like to bring an appetizer, side dish or beverage.  If you wish to perform on the concert in Nancy's honor, please click here to contact Dennis Northway.  We hope to see you there!!!

Schola, Madrigal and Adult Choirs on the Road Again!
Choirs of Grace Outreach can take many forms, and for members of our three choirs on Father's Day, June 15, it will take the form of offering a Solemn Choral Evensong for the members of Trinity Episcopal Church in Michigan City, Indiana.  They have called a new Rector, and in celebration, their Senior Warden, Jan Rübsam and her Organist husband, retired Concert Organist, Wolfgang Rübsam have invited their Bishop and our Choir to pray the service of Evensong at 4:00 p.m.  Wolfgang, the most recorded organist in the history of the world, is Dennis Northway's fifth organ teacher.  In celebration of this, four of Dr. Northway's students will play the preludes and postludes, namely our friends Charlie Carpenter, Madeleine Woodworth, Adam Gruber and Kipp Cortez.  There is space on the chartered bus for any Grace parishioners to travel along and they are cordially invited to do so.  There is no cost to join us, and we will leave at approximately 12:45 p.m.  It will be a delightful afternoon.  Please contact Dennis Northway with questions. 
Eric Biddy to be Ordained to the Transitional Diaconate
Eric Biddy Congratulations to our intern Eric Biddy, who will be ordained to the transitional diaconate on Saturday, June 28th.  The service takes place at St. James Cathedral in Chicago at 11AM, and all are welcome. More details will follow.
Participants in Upcoming Sunday Services
June 1st 10:30am Service:

ACOLYTES:Helen Thomason, Joe Ratz, Jack Ratz, Grace Coberly, Isabel Coberly, Natalia Reniszewski, Carter Hartzell, Phoenix Sullivan, Julia Thomason

MC/LEMS: Cyndy Reynolds; Tony Dobrowolski, Bob Vogler, Cherryl Holt

LECTORS: Michael Harper, Robert Allan Smith

INTERCESSORS: Karen Worthington, Daniel Ziegler

ALTAR GUILD: Joan Anderson, Heather Bovell, Scott Garman, Flora Green, Kathy Onayemi, Al Papillon, Willie Polite, Sally Prescott, Natalie Ratz, Marie Rock, Jane Shirley, Chuck Tupta; Mary Ann Urbashich

BREAD BAKER: Emilysue Reichardt

USHERS:

James Redden, Flemming Bovell, Linda Reynes, Jim Groll 

GREETERS: Stephanie Bailey, Heather Bovell, Paul & Cathy O'Kelly, Fred & Carole Barber, Flora Green

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS AFTER 9:00 SERVICE: Anne & Mark Diffenderffer

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS AFTER 10:30 SERVICE: Wedding Reception

 

June 8th 10:30am Service:
ACOLYTES: Olajuwon Osinaike, Isabel Coberly, Natalia Reniszewski, Helen Thomason
MC/LEMS: Cherryl Holt; Natalie Ratz, Charlie MacDougall, Karen Mensch
LECTORS: Deb Postelwait, John Seaton
INTERCESSORS: Linda Coberly, Ade Onayemi
ALTAR GUILD: Joan Anderson, Heather Bovell, Scott Garman, Flora Green, Kathy Onayemi, Al Papillon, Willie Polite, Sally Prescott, Natalie Ratz, Marie Rock, Jane Shirley, Chuck Tupta; Mary Ann Urbashich
BREAD BAKER: Emilysue Reichardt
USHERS: Adrienne Gervais, Jane Shirley, Paul O'Kelly, Cathy O'Kelly
GREETERS: Flora Green, Sarah Hunt, DeLacy Sarantos
COFFEE HOUR HOSTS AFTER 9:00 SERVICE: TBA
COFFEE HOUR HOSTS AFTER 10:30 SERVICE: Parish Picnic

 

Flat Grace in Yellowstone Remember that you can take Flat Grace with you on your travels this summer.  Click here for cut-outs.
This Week at Grace
The full master calendar is at this link.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Wednesday Morning Eucharist

7:00 AM  

SLAA/SAA Meeting

9:00 AM  

 

Thursday, May 29, 2014

SLAA/SAA Meeting

9:00 AM  

Staff Meeting

11:30 AM  

Voice Lessons

2:00 PM  

Evensong

6:00 PM  

Thrive Team Meeting

6:30 PM  

SAA 12-Step Group

7:00 PM  

Sight-Reading Club

7:00 PM  

Adult Choir Practice

7:30 PM  

 

Friday, May 30, 2014

Rector's Day Off

 

SLAA/SAA 12-Step Workshop

9:05 AM  

 

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Spring Clean-Up Work Day

9:00 AM  

Voice Lessons

9:00 AM  

SLAA 12-Step Group

9:30 AM  

Marriage Prep. Meeting

2:00 PM  

Wedding Rehearsal

4:00 PM  

 

Sunday, June 01, 2014

The Rite Place - A service for the child in us all

9:00 AM  

Coffee Hour

9:30 AM  

Sung Choral Eucharist

10:30 AM  

Tony & Bob's wedding

10:30 AM  

Wedding Reception

11:45 AM  

SLAA 12-Step Group

7:15 PM  

AA 12-Step Group

8:30 PM  

 

Monday, June 02, 2014

SLAA/SAA Meeting

9:00 AM  

EfM

7:00 PM  

 

Tuesday, June 03, 2014

SLAA/SAA Meeting

9:00 AM  

Chicago Folks Operetta Rehearsal

7:00 PM  

SLAA 12-Step Group

7:00 PM  

 

Wednesday, June 04, 2014

Wednesday Morning Eucharist

7:00 AM  

SLAA/SAA Meeting

9:00 AM  

Book Study Group

7:30 PM  

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924 Lake Street
Oak Park, Illinois 60301
www.GraceOakPark.org

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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.