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 Warming Center Warms Hearts and Bodies
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. (Gospel of Matthew)
"Hey lady, aren't you the Warming Center priest." Or, "Aren't you the Ashes to Go Church." Or, "Thank your church for opening your doors to our group. So many congregations will not let us in."
It is the time of the year where I have all of those encounters. Grace is known for feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and taking care of those who in the eyes of many think they are sick.
What a legacy. I love that we are not just known as the beautiful church or the "Home Alone" church. Instead we make it clear that God has called us to not allow anyone to feel that they are home alone or have no home.
At our vestry (board) meeting, we affirmed our desire to once again open our doors as a Warming Center to the community. Together with the Emergency Preparedness Team of the Village of Oak and the staff of PADS, we will fling wide our doors and let anyone who wants to come in for warmth, food and company.
How can you help? Become the coordinator. Volunteer to drop off food. Volunteer to serve food. Spend a few hours visiting with our guests.
Last year several youth came to visit and play games with our guests. Their parents had to convince them to come home. What a witness to the power of opening our doors and hearts.
The staff will keep you posted on all of the details.
Peace and gratitude,
-Shawn |
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We hope you are praying over and discerning your pledge to Grace for both the 2015 operating budget and the Legacy of Grace building fund. A stewardship email was sent the first week in November, and you'll find it at this link. We have received 30 pledges for 2015 thus far. These 30 pledges total $72,926. In total, 109 households pledged for 2014 so we hope to surpass that number for 2015 pledging. We have received pledges for a Legacy of Grace building fund totaling $6,100 for 2014 and an additional $10,874 for 2015. Ready to pledge? An online form is at this link. |
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Order Your Tickets Today!
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2014 Boar's Head Feasts:
Friday, December 12, 7:00 p.m.
and
Saturday, December 13, 7:00 p.m.
Join us for our annual Boar's Head Feast presented by the Madrigal Choir of Grace Church. You'll enjoy 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.
Reserved Dinner Seating is $40 for adults and $30 for students. General Seating (unreserved seating which includes dessert and beverage) is available - $15 for adults and $10 for students.
All patrons will receive a $5 refund at the door for attending in renaissance-style costume.
To download and print a ticket order form, please click here. No online payments / orders are offered for this event.
For more information, click here to contact Silvano Brugioni. |
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Nominations for Vestry and Diocesan Convention Delegates
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The nomination process for Vestry elections is now underway. Please take some time to consider whether your talents could be offered to Grace Church in this important ministry of leadership. Serving on the Vestry as either a Vestry member or Warden provides a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the future direction of the life of our congregation.
The election will take place at our Annual Parish Meeting in January. If you are interested in serving as either a Vestry member or Warden, please contact Shawn Schreiner or Mark Woodworth.
The nominating committee consists of the following members: Mark Woodworth, Barbara Larsen, Cherryl Holt, Natalie Ratz, Chuck Tupta, and Shawn Schreiner.
If you have someone you wish to propose for nomination, we ask that you contact Shawn or Mark first to verify that the person is eligible and then that person to ensure they wish to be nominated and are willing to serve.
The Vestry is the body within a congregation that, with the clergy, leads the parish. The Vestry:
- helps to discern the vision toward which God is drawing that particular community;
- articulates and communicates the vision;
- holds the community accountable for its realization of that vision;
- stewards of the property and finances of the congregation and
- keeps the mission of the Church and that of the individual congregation clearly before the parish community.
God creates the Church, and invites us to participate in the process. A congregation's leaders are the stewards of that creation and hold it in trust. The congregation has been given the resources needed to do the job God has called it to do. Leaders identify and allocate those resources, enabling the Church to carry out its mission. They also lead the congregation in celebrating and giving thanks for these resources.
To assist you in deciding whether or not to stand for election, the following are some of the requirements for, and expectations of Vestry service:
- All baptized persons of the age of eighteen years and upwards, who regularly attend the public services of the Church in the Parish, and are recognized as members of the Parish by the Rector and at least one of the Wardens, or, if the Rector be not present, by the two Wardens, and whose names appear on the books of the Parish Treasurer as having contributed by pew rent, by pledge, by subscription or otherwise to the funds to meet the expenses or other obligations of the Parish during the six months immediately previous to the Meeting, it being understood that the pledge or obligation for such contributions shall have been incurred prior to the said six months; and in addition declare their willingness to conform to the Doctrine, Discipline and Worship of the Church. (Diocesan Canon)
- Is expected to attend all monthly Vestry meetings and the annual Vestry retreat. If a Vestry member misses three or more meetings within a calendar year, it may be cause for consideration of removal (Parish Guidelines).
We will elect 4 vestry members and one warden. We will also be electing three delegates to Diocesan Convention at our Annual Meeting. If you are interested in serving as a delegate, please contact Shawn Schreiner.
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Advent Contemplative Services Return This Year
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Join us on Thursdays during Advent: December 4, 11 & 18 at 7PM
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Join Us For Advent Wreath Making
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Sunday, November 30 after both morning services
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 Advent Wreaths return! Join us after both services on Sunday, November 30th to celebrate the first week of Advent with a fun activity for all ages. Advent Wreaths, with their four candles, help us to commemorate the season of waiting that leads us to the birth of Christ at Christmas, and the ritual of lighting a candle for each of the season's four weeks is an invitation to prayer and contemplation as we wait for the coming of God. We'll have the usual materials - greens, bases, candles, etc. - as well as some prayerful materials you can take home to use alongside your wreaths. If you have materials (especially bases or candleholders) leftover from previous years, or have some creative ideas of your own (hint: Nick Currie uses empty beer bottles for candleholders), please bring them! |
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The THRIVE Team (group that is participating in the congregational vitality program with many other congregations) will be presenting three sessions/conversations about what we're learning and how it relates to the survey we took and our vision and hopes for Grace. Join us on Sunday mornings after both morning services on December 7, 14 and 21, as well as the Sundays in Lent. Note: On December 7, we'll only meet after the 9AM service. More details to follow. P.S. You can learn more about Thrive at this link. |
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ReVive (formerly Cathedral Shelter) Christmas Basket Program Seeking Donations & Help
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 Working on your Christmas shopping list? Please don't forget to add
one more special name . . .
Through the ReVive Center for Housing and Healing (formerly Cathedral Shelter) Christmas Basket program, Grace Church will supply Christmas gifts for 5 seniors and 13 families (a total of 50 individuals) 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 16 and Sunday, November 23. 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; or, consider sponsoring an entire family (Grace's families this year range from two to five members). You can also contact Heidi Lukas (708-308-0602 or lukash@cso.org) to receive a name(s) and gift requests.
- ReVive 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 ReVive Center.
- Bring your gift(s) to the Parish Hall on Sunday, December 7. 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 ReVive's truck on Tuesday, December 9 (exact time to be confirmed). 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!
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Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
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Please consider attending the Community of Congregations' Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 23 at 7PM. This year's service is at West Suburban Temple Har Zion in River Forest.
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Attention Amazon Shoppers
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Support Grace while you shop!
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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.
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Participants in Upcoming Sunday Services
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November 23rd 10:30am Service:
MC/LEMS: Steve Fanning; Julia Thomason, James Redden, Bob Vogler, Tony Dobrowolski
LECTORS: Ade Onayemi, Gloria Rayburn
INTERCESSORS: Barbara Larsen, Cliff Hunt
ALTAR GUILD: Joan Anderson, Heather Bovell, Flora Green, Kathy Onayemi, Al Papillon, Willie Polite, Sally Prescott, Natalie Ratz, Marie Rock, Jane Shirley, Chuck Tupta; Mary Ann Urbashich
BREAD BAKER: Sarah Hunt
USHERS: Laura Morgan Day, Sam Love, Donna Anderson
GREETERS: Ade Onayemi, Gloria Rayburn, Jane Shirley
COFFEE HOUR HOSTS AFTER 9:00 SERVICE: Marilyn Wardle, beverages
COFFEE HOUR HOSTS AFTER 10:30 SERVICE: Marilyn Wardle, beverages
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| Wednesday, November 19, 2014 | | Wednesday Morning Eucharist | 7:00 AM | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | St. Giles Catechist Training | 2:00 PM | | Schola Rehearsal | 3:30 PM | | Handel Week Chorus Rehearsal | 6:00 PM | | St. Giles Catechesis | 6:00 PM | | PADS overnight shelter | 7:30 PM |
Thursday, November 20, 2014 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Staff Meeting | 11:30 AM | | Evensong | 6:00 PM | | Healing Prayer Group | 6:30 PM | | SAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM | | Sight Reading Club | 7:00 PM | | Adult Choir Rehearsal | 7:30 PM |
Friday, November 21, 2014 | | Diocesan Convention | | | Rector's Day Off | | | SLAA/SAA 12-Step Workshop | 9:05 AM |
Saturday, November 22, 2014 | | Diocesan Convention | | | St. Giles Catechesis | 9:00 AM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 9:30 AM |
Sunday, November 23, 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 | | Lectionary Discussion Group | 9:45 AM | | Sung Choral Eucharist | 10:30 AM | | Coffee Hour | 11:45 AM | | J2A Youth Group | 12:00 PM | | Madrigal Rehearsal | 1:30 PM | | Sunday Afternoon Service | 4:30 PM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM | | AA 12-Step Group | 8:30 PM |
Monday, November 24, 2014 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | EfM (Education for Ministry) | 7:00 PM | | CGS Level Meeting | 7:30 PM |
Tuesday, November 25, 2014 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM | | Healing Song Circle | 7:30 PM |
Wednesday, November 26, 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 | | Grace staffs PADS shelter | 6:30 PM | | PADS overnight shelter | 7:30 PM |
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Grace Episcopal Church 924 Lake Street Oak Park, Illinois 60301 708-386-8036 www.GraceOakPark.org 
Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved.
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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.
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