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I love searching the internet for images for different seasons. These are two that caught my eye for Epiphany. I am wondering what thoughts or images come to your mind when you see these. Do they cause you to have an "Epiphany?"
Perhaps these might cause you to look at your day and your life in new ways:
"Who are you really, wanderer?" -
and the answer you have to give
no matter how dark and cold
the world around you is:
"Maybe I'm a king."
-William Stafford, final lines of "A Story That Could Be True"
What if you weren't so sure you knew who you were? What if, deep inside, deeper than thought or guilt or worry, you told yourself you were a soul in wonder? How would that change the way you live your life? ... We cheat ourselves by identifying with a limited notion of who we are so we can fit in, belong to lives so much smaller than our souls long for us to be.
-Dawna Markova, in I Will Not Die an Unlived Life
May the star that guided the wise folks, guide you in your life and guide God's mission in this place.
-Shawn
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Annual Meeting: Sunday, February 1st
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Come and hear about 2014 and the ministries of Grace. Come together to meet people from all of our services. Come together to build community and to witness the power of the Holy Spirit as we elect vestry members (a board of sorts) and diocesan convention delegates. Come to share your hopes and dreams for God's Church.
We are currently scheduled to meet at 9:45AM on Sunday, February 1, 2015.
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Burns Supper Set For January 24th
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 All are welcome! Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 7:00pm It is 256 years after his birth and those who love a good party with plenty of wit in poetry-reading, a wee bit of the dram and all the traditions of pipes and Scottish dancers will enjoy this toast to the Immortal Memory. Traditional haggis warm reekin' rich with champit tatties and bashed neeps, cock-a-leekie soup, and poached salmon that's on the menu for an elegant, adults-only party. A Burns Supper is nothing less than an almost ancient ritual. Dress is traditionally black tie or kilts (they are rentable) but at least evening clothes with as much plaid as you wish. We invite all guests to recite/sing Burns' poetry - that's the most enjoyable part of the evening. Cost is $40, which includes meal, entertainment and some first-rate single-malt Scotch and other beverages. You are welcome to bring your favorite brand to share. To avoid last minute payments on the evening of the 24th, please reserve your seat with payment by January 22, 2015 using the link below. Please name every guest. Lil Hohmann and Stan Kaderbek will also be happy to accept reservations (with your check, of course) at church coffee hour. FYI, the St. Andrews Society Burns Dinner will take place on January 31st. Reservations are $125 for the same menu and entertainment as the Grace Church event. The dancers are from the same school as our dancers. They usually have a good speaker but no poetry by Burns charmingly read by the talent of Grace Church will be offered. Their location is the Union League Club, which - while more expensive - is no more beautiful than Grace Church! Click here to go to our website, where you may purchase your tickets. Please remember to select the number of tickets you want from the drop-down menu, and then type names of all attendees for whom you are purchasing tickets before clicking "Add to Cart". Thank you! |
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Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 7PM
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The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey D. Lee will ordain Eric Biddy to the sacred order of priests on Tuesday, January 13 at 7 pm at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 545 S. East Avenue, Oak Park. Eric served as our intern. Please RSVP by email or call 708.386.5613. |
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4:30PM Sunday Service Cancelled
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We will no longer be holding a 4:30PM Sunday service. We offered this service to help ease parking at the morning services, however, no one has attended this late afternoon service for the past several weeks.
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January Benedictine Experience Cancelled
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 The Benedictine Experience originally scheduled for January 13th has been cancelled. Please mark your calendar for the February 10, 2015 at 7PM when they'll next gather. |
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Book Study Group to Meet January 7th
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A reminder that the Book Study Group resumes this evening, January 7, at 7:30PM at the home of Bets Howland and Dennis Zavac. We will be discussing the introduction and first 3 chapters of our current book, The Hidden Gospel by Neal Douglas-Klotz. If you have questions, or would like to join this group, click here to contact Bets and Dennis.
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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 62 pledges for 2015 thus far. These 62 pledges total $178,597. In total, 109 of our households pledged for 2014 so we hope to surpass that number for 2015 pledging. In December, the vestry passed the 2015 budget and we are very excited about what we will be presenting. Here are a couple of items: - We are no longer asking the Schola and Madrigal choirs to give income to Grace Church
- The sexton amount was increased a little (Shawn and Douglas are working on getting this position filled as quickly as possible)
- A financial gift has allowed us to increase the hours for the formation position. Due to Nick's schedule this will most likely be a new person assisting with the roles of Christian Formation
- We decreased the amount for fundraising and increased our pledge amount. We have budgeted around $290,000 in pledges. Last year we had an actual pledge amount of $284,000
Your pledges will continue the ministries that God has started in this space. New to Grace and want to understand pledging more? Contact Shawn. Ready to pledge? An online form is at this link. |
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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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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 $325 thanks to all those who have participated thus far.
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Participants in Upcoming Sunday Services
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January 11th 10:30am Service:
MC/LEMS: Sam Love; Julia Thomason, Karen Mensch, Natalie Ratz, James Redden, Sue Wells
LECTORS: Linda Coberly, Sam Love
INTERCESSORS: Tony Dobrowolski, Lil Hohmann
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: Izabella Brugioni
USHERS: Paul Gervais, Jane Shirley
GREETERS: Flora Green, Sarah Hunt, DeLacy Sarantos
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| Wednesday, January 07, 2015 | | Wednesday Morning Eucharist | 7:00 AM | | Warming Center | 8:00 AM | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Schola Rehearsal | 3:30 PM | | Handel Week Chorus Rehearsal | 6:00 PM | | St. Giles Catechesis | 6:00 PM | | Book Study Group | 7:30 PM | | PADS overnight shelter | 7:30 PM |
Thursday, January 08, 2015 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Staff Meeting | 11:30 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, January 09, 2015 | | Rector's Day Off | | | Warming Center | 8:00 AM | | SLAA/SAA 12-Step Workshop | 9:05 AM | | POSA Support Group | 7:00 PM |
Saturday, January 10, 2015 | | St. Giles Catechesis | 9:00 AM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 9:30 AM | | Visitation for Dorothy Barber | 2:00 PM | | Funeral - Dorothy Barber | 3:00 PM |
Sunday, January 11, 2015 | | 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 | | Outreach Committee | 11:45 AM | | G.A.P. Year | 12:00 PM | | Madrigal Rehearsal | 1:30 PM | | Graceful Needlers | 3:00 PM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM | | AA 12-Step Group | 8:30 PM |
Monday, January 12, 2015 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | EfM (Education for Ministry) | 7:00 PM |
Tuesday, January 13, 2015 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | St. Giles Catechesis | 4:00 PM | | Ordination of Eric Biddy | 7:00 PM | | Property Committee | 7:00 PM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM |
Wednesday, January 14, 2015 | | Wednesday Morning Eucharist | 7:00 AM | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Oak Park Clergy Meeting | 12:15 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 |
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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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