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 Our eyes have been glued to the news. Some of the images have been quite disturbing. Who can let go of the picture of a tiny child on the beach. Dead. What can we do? What is our responsibility as Christians and citizens of a free country?
Peace,
Shawn
"The situation in Syria continues to evolve. The death and violence that have been wrought on the Syrian people are a humanitarian tragedy of the first order . . . The Episcopal Church and its people continue to pray for the people of Syria, of all religious traditions and none, and we call on the world to help find responses that will result in more abundant life for every citizen of that nation. "
- Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori
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As many of you know, we reached a settlement in the lawsuit related to our parking lot. We have signed a two-month agreement that allows the use of part of our parking lot for construction activity. This agreement will allow the finishing of the development's east wall and will move the construction activity away from our lot and buildings. Please follow this link to see where some alternative parking may be found. We do not have an agreement with the 19th Century Club for alternative parking.
Thanks for your cooperation and patience.
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Grace and St. Luke's: A Partnership
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 This is the first in a series of articles about Grace's relationship with our partner parish in Renk, South Sudan.
For several years, Grace Church and St. Christopher's (the other Episcopal church in Oak Park) have been in a partner relationship with St. Luke's parish in Renk, South Sudan. St. Luke's is part of the Renk diocese in the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan. The Episcopal Church in the Sudans has about 4.5 million members, more than twice the size of the Episcopal Church in the United States. Renk is one of 31 Sudanese dioceses.
Renk is located in Upper Nile State, in the northeastern part of South Sudan, about 25 miles from the border with the northern Republic of Sudan. In fact, Upper Nile State is a panhandle sticking into the middle of the north. The humanitarian needs in South Sudan are particularly acute, and the church is essentially the only reliable provider of social services there. Because of its location, Renk received many refugees during South Sudan's 25 year war of independence, which ended in 2011. St. Luke's is in one of the refugee neighborhoods, and we have contributed funding for several micro enterprises to help the parish become self-sufficient. Other partner parishes in Chicago and Virginia have helped the diocese build schools and health clinics.
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Registration for Children's & Youth Formation
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 Registration for Children's and Youth Formation is up online at this link! This will sign your child up for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd or Journey to Adulthood. We are excited to accompany your child in the great year of programming we have in store! For more information about formation programming come to our Rally Day and Fall Festival on September 20th. |
Rally Day & Fall Festival!
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 Save the Date! Sunday, September 20th will be Grace's inaugural Rally Day and Fall Festival! Come to the parish hall from 9:30 -12:30 to play games, make caramel apples, and find out about opportunities for all ages of Christian Formation for 2015-2016!
Contact Kendall (kendall@graceoakpark.org) if you would like to help host the event. |
Schola Choir rehearsals resume today (3:30 - 5PM for new or younger singers; 4 - 5:30PM for returning or older singers).
Adult Choir rehearsals resume tomorrow. All interested adult singers are welcome. We meet on Thursdays in the Choir Room from 7:30 - 9:00PM.
Madrigal Choir rehearsals resume this Sunday, September 13, from 1:30 - 3PM in the Church.
Please click here to contact Kipp Cortez for more information about any of our choir programs.
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Baird & Warner is celebrating their 160th birthday, and to mark the occasion they are donating $160,000 across 16 local nonprofit organizations, including Housing Forward (formerly West Suburban PADS), the organization Grace partners with to provide shelter for those who are homeless. You can be a part of choosing 16 charities that will each receive $10,000 from a nominated list of 25.
Cast your vote at this link.
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 PADS Cooks: how about joining the fun. If you're new to Grace, or maybe just have a change in your schedule so that you have the 4th Wednesday afternoon of the month free, please consider joining the merry crew who prepare dinner for our PADS guests each month. The time commitment for each of us is minimal, but the joy of preparing really wholesome food just can't be beat. If you're interested, please contact Sue Wells (sue@wells1.com).
Our yearly planning meeting and "tea party" will be Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 1:30PM in the Parish Hall at Grace. Thanks to all the PADS Cooks as we start our 11th year together.
-Sue Wells
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Outreach Committee to Meet
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The next meeting of the Outreach Committee is scheduled for September 13th at 9:30am in the back of the Parish Hall. All are welcome to join us. Questions? Please contact Sally Prescott or Karen-Jo Mensch.
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14th Annual LemonAid Stand
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Friday, September 11, 2015 3-7PM
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LemonAid was established in 2002 in memory of the September 11th attacks. The neighbors on 700 Bonnie Brae in River Forest, Illinois felt called to remember this day by doing something positive in the community. It was decided to hold a lemonade stand with proceeds going to a local charity benefiting children. More than eighty Bonnie Brae residents, mostly kids, participate one way or another to the organization and success of LemonAid. To date LemonAid has donated more than $100,000 to local children's charities.
We hope you'll support LemonAid 2015, which will benefit NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and PACTT (Parents Allied with Children and Teachers for Tomorrow).
This Friday, 9/11 from 3-7 pm, please bring your spare change & stop by 700 Bonnie Brae, River Forest, for a refreshing cup of lemonade & tons of fun!
Want to help, but cannot attend?
Donate online or send checks made out to "LemonAid" to:
755 Bonnie Brae, River Forest, IL 60305
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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.
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Participants in This Sunday's 10:30 Service
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Participants in September 13th 10:30am Service:
MC/LEMS: Cyndy Reynolds; Phoenix Sullivan, Julia Thomason, Tony Dobrowolski, Cherryl Holt, Barbara Larsen
LECTORS: Grace Coberly, Sam Love
INTERCESSORS: Marilyn Wardle, John Seaton
ALTAR GUILD: Heather Bovell, Flora Green, Kathy Onayemi, Willie Polite, Sally Prescott, Natalie Ratz, Marie Rock, Jane Shirley, Chuck Tupta
BREAD BAKER: The Lucé Family
USHERS: Paul Gervais, Jane Shirley, Paul O'Kelly, Cathy O'Kelly
GREETERS: Flora Green, Sarah Hunt, DeLacy Sarantos
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| Wednesday, September 9, 2015 | | Wednesday Morning Eucharist | 7:00 AM | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Schola/Scholars Rehearsal | 3:30 PM | | Book Study Group | 7:30 PM |
Thursday, September 10, 2015 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Staff Meeting | 9:30 AM | | Evensong | 6:00 PM | | SAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM | | Adult Choir Rehearsal | 7:30 PM |
Friday, September 11, 2015 |
| | | Rector's Day Off | | | SLAA/SAA 12-Step Workshop | 9:05 AM | | POSA Support Group | 7:00 PM |
Saturday, September 12, 2015 | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 9:30 AM |
Sunday, September 13, 2015 | | The Rite Place - A service for the child in us all | 9:00 AM | | Coffee Hour | 9:30 AM | | Outreach Committee | 9:30 AM | | Lectionary Discussion Group | 9:45 AM | | Sung Choral Eucharist | 10:30 AM | | Coffee Hour | 11:45 AM | | Madrigals Rehearsal | 1:30 PM | | Graceful Needlers | 3:00 PM | | SLAA Women's Group | 5:30 PM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM | | AA 12-Step Group | 8:30 PM |
Monday, September 14, 2015 | | Landscape Maintenance | | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Education for Ministry (EfM) | 7:00 PM |
Tuesday, September 15, 2015 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | PADS Cooks Meeting | 1:30 PM | | Property Committee Meeting | 7:00 PM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM |
Wednesday, September 16, 2015 | | Wednesday Morning Eucharist | 7:00 AM | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Schola/Scholars Rehearsal | 3:30 PM | | Special Vestry Meeting | 7:00 PM | | PADS Overnight Shelter | 7:30 PM |
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