I feel the earth move under my feet

 

Earthquake or demolition. Both shake you up a little. Make you feel a little bit like the ground may not hold you. They are loud. Disruptive. Hard to concentrate circumstances.

 

Watching the tearing down of the old parking garage and feeling the building shaking, is a little bit unnerving. It is easier to work without the distractions. Or is it.

 

Years ago I learned that ministry and life are both filled with distractive life lessons. Some of the most profound moments in my life have been when something interrupted my routine/s.

 

I wonder what those lessons might be with the new building going up and the moving of the ground. Might I have a new view from my office? Will I be encountering people that I have never met before? Will we be practicing a different kind of radical hospitality by offering greeters in the parking lot and meetings with other business people in our area? How many distracting moments might I and we have as we walk down the street and chat with the folks who are watching what is happening in our corner of the world? Will we rise to the occasion of having to change some every day patterns so that we work together with the many groups that use the spaces at Grace?

 

Change and earth-shaking moments can be tough. Scary. Unnerving. Filled with hope and new dreams.

 

I find myself adding all kinds of different prayers to my life: for the workers, for the new vendors, for the people who may move in the building, for those whose lives are being inconvenienced in order to welcome in the new and . . .

 

May God move the earth under my feet so that I may be open to the new opportunities to encounter God in the known and unknown!

-Shawn

Please Note: Due to scheduling difficulties with the facilitator, we will be moving this Forum to a new date. This date will be announced by next week.

Plan to join me in a conversation as I share results from the CAT survey (Congregational Assessment Tool) and my thoughts on what they have to say to us.  

 

-Shawn 

Our next discussion is Wednesday, November 5, at 7:30 PM, at the home of Bets Howland and Dennis Zavac.

 

We will finish the book, Exploring Reality, and discuss the final chapters 7 - 10 (51 pages).

 

Following the November gathering, our next book discussion will be on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at 7:30 PM. We will be reading The Hidden Gospel, by Neil Douglas-Klotz. Kindly click below to order so that Grace will receive a portion of the revenue. 

The next scheduled date for baptism is Sunday, November 2, 2014. 

If you are interested in being baptized, or having your child(ren) baptized, please contact Shawn.

All are invited to Harvest Fair: A Gathering of Artisans at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, 1072 Ridge Ave., Elk Grove Village, IL on November 15, Noon to 6PM, and November 16, 11AM to 2PM.  This fair seeks to remind artists of the value of their contribution to the world, and will feature local artisans selling their handmade wares.  The fair was founded and is being organized by our own Douglas VanHouten.  If you create handmade art of any kind, consider being a vendor at the sale.  A vendor inquiry form is at this link. The Harvest Fair Facebook page is at this link.

Join use on Halloween at 7:00 p.m. for a screening of the incredible science-fiction film Metropolis accompanied by Theatre Organist Virtuoso David Rhodes! Admission (pay at the door only) is $20, or $10 if you come in costume. Popcorn and beverages will be available. 

 

More information is available on our website, at this link.

Please join us at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2014, for an Evensong commemorating the feast of All Souls including the choir's praying of the Fauré Requiem.  

More information is on our website, at this link. 

If you shop at Amazon, please use the link below to access Amazon.com.  Grace will then get a percentage of any purchases made.  It's a painless way to help Grace and costs you nothing.  FYI, we never see who buys what. We've already raised over $130 thanks to all those who have participated thus far.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Wednesday Morning Eucharist	7:00 AM
SLAA/SAA Meeting	9:00 AM
Kitchen reserved for Grace PADS cooks	3:00 PM
Schola Rehearsal	3:30 PM
Handel Week Chorus Rehearsal	6:00 PM
St. Giles Catechesis	6:00 PM
Grace staffs PADS shelter	6:30 PM
PADS overnight shelter	7:30 PM
Thursday, October 23, 2014
SLAA/SAA Meeting	9:00 AM
Staff Meeting	11:00 AM
Evensong	6:00 PM
SAA 12-Step Group	7:00 PM
Sight Reading Club	7:00 PM
Adult Choir Rehearsal	7:30 PM
Friday, October 24, 2014
Rector's Day Off
SLAA/SAA 12-Step Workshop	9:05 AM
POSA Support Group	7:00 PM
Saturday, October 25, 2014
St. Giles Catechesis	9:00 AM
SLAA 12-Step Group	9:30 AM
Sunday, October 26, 2014
The Rite Place - A service for the child in us all	9:00 AM
Coffee Hour	9:30 AM
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) LEVEL 1	9:35 AM
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) LEVEL 2	9:35 AM
Rector's Forum: Results of CAT	9:35 AM
Lectionary Discussion Group	9:45 AM
Sung Choral Eucharist	10:30 AM
Coffee Hour	11:45 AM
Rector's Forum: Results of CAT	11:45 AM
J2A Youth Group	12:00 PM
Madrigal Rehearsal	1:30 PM
GAP Year Service Project	2:00 PM
Sunday Afternoon Service	4:30 PM
SLAA 12-Step Group	7:00 PM
AA 12-Step Group	8:30 PM
Monday, October 27, 2014
SLAA/SAA Meeting	9:00 AM
EfM (Education for Ministry)	7:00 PM
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
SLAA/SAA Meeting	9:00 AM
J2A Dinner Gathering	5:00 PM
SLAA 12-Step Group	7:00 PM
Healing Song Circle	7:30 PM
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Wednesday Morning Eucharist	7:00 AM
SLAA/SAA Meeting	9:00 AM
Schola Rehearsal	3:30 PM
PADS overnight shelter	7:30 PM