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 Witnessing Wednesday
Yesterday was Giving Tuesday. People across the country were taking time to give thanks (in the form a financial gifts) to the charities and organizations that are near and dear to their/our hearts. I am thinking of today as "Witnessing Wednesday."
Today I am going to spend time sharing what my faith has done in my life and what the Episcopal Church has done for me.
Our family entered our first Episcopal Church on January 6, 1974. We found a small church that was excited about youth, let us ask questions, accepted and wanted our brains and was fairly open to all ages being involved in ministry.
The people at St. Luke's taught me about the love of God and of a Jesus who worked for justice and peace for all. They gave me my wings and gave my faith. The taught me about giving of my money to the church and in glory to God.
I remember turning in my first pledge and being excited that I could give money to a church that loved me. Each year I increased what I was giving. I wanted to give 10% of my income to God and to a place that taught me be who I am.
Tithing is still part of my life. I will be giving $9000 to Grace Church for the support of what we do in our doors and outside.
Today, will continue to share my faith story. How about you?
Peace,
Shawn
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 Thank you to everyone who has turned in pledges for 2016! Please note that your pledges are always welcome, and we will continue to present pledges during the service next Sunday, December 6. You can also make your pledge online by clicking this link.
Gratefully,
Your Stewardship Team |
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Thank you so much to all of you who are participating in this year's Christmas Basket program! Please remember that gifts should be delivered to the Parish Hall this Sunday, December 6. Please bring your wrapped gift(s) in a sturdy, open packing box as they will be combined with other gifts for the family and transported in a delivery truck.
Still interested in participating?ReVive has let us know that they are in need of additional toys for this year's program. If you'd like to participate and can provide a new, unwrapped toy, suitable for any age between 3 and 12, or wish to donate money (and have someone else do the shopping!), please contact Heidi Lukas (lukash@cso.org). Toys should also be brought to the Parish Hall this Sunday, December 6.
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Presented by the Madrigal Choir of Grace
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 Please join us for our annual Christmas performance with beautiful music and amazing food.
Friday, December 11th 7PM
or
Saturday, December 12th 7PM Non-Dinner Seating also available.
Please use our reservation form at this link, call 708-357-7721, or email
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Midwinter's Tales: Sweet Home December This Saturday at Grace
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A benefit for Oak Park Festival Theatre and Prevail / Housing Forward
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 No matter which winter festivals we keep, December calls each us of home to celebrate. We all open our homes and hearts, sharing our bounty and our traditions that mark the fading year and welcome the one ahead. This year's Midwinter's Tales is called Sweet Home December and features the work of such authors as: Kenneth Graham, Anne Lamott, Claude McKay, John O'Donahue, John Steinbeck, James Thurber, and Derek Walcott. Please come in and share the warmth, wit, and wisdom of celebrated authors and composers as they keep their several December feasts.
The production is created and directed by parishioner Belinda Bremner, and parishioners Lascelles Anderson, Tony Dobrowolski and Ade Onayemi are performing.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Doors open with live music at 6:30PM
Program begins at 7PM, followed by a Holiday Reception
Grace Episcopal Church
924 Lake Street
Oak Park, IL 60301
Tickets:
Purchased in advance from www.oakparkfestival.com or the Oak Park Visitors Bureau on Lake Street : $30 General Admission, $25 Seniors, $10 Students, Under 13 FREE. Add $5 when tickets purchased at the door. |
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Christmas Flower Donations
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 If you would like to contribute toward the Christmas Flowers at Grace, in memory or thanksgiving, please click here to donate securely online. Be sure to list how the acknowledgment should appear in the bulletin (e.g., "In memory of Jane Smith by Linda & Bob Jones"). The deadline is December 20 for acknowledgments to appear in the Christmas bulletins. |
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Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 4:00PM
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 A treasured tradition of our church is the beautiful service of Lessons and Carols.
You are invited to join us at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 20th as our Schola Choir sings songs of the season interspersed with readings and carols. We hope to see you there! There is no admission fee and no advance reservations are necessary. |
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Vestry Meetings and Nominations for Vestry, Warden, and 2016 Diocesan Convention Delegates
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The vestry (board) of Grace, meets on the 4th Tuesday of every month. The meetings are open to the community. Our next meeting is Tuesday, November 24th at 7PM in the St. Hilda meeting room on the second floor of the parish house.
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 early 2016 (tentatively on January 31st). If you are interested in serving as either a Vestry member or Warden, please contact Shawn Schreiner or Barbara Larsen.
The nominating committee consists of the following members: Mary Hope Griffin, Sam Love, Chris Sculles, Shawn Schreiner, and Barbara Larsen.
If you have someone you wish to propose for nomination, we ask that you contact Shawn or Barbara 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 three vestry members and one warden. We will also be electing three delegates and three alternates to Diocesan Convention at our Annual Meeting. If you are interested in serving as a delegate, please contact Shawn Schreiner. |
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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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December 6th 10:30am Service:
MC/LEMS: Tony Dobrowolski; Barbara Larsen, Charlie MacDougall, Karen-Jo Mensch, Natalie Ratz, Natalia Reniszewski
LECTORS: Sally Prescott, Tony Dobrowolski
INTERCESSORS: Willie Polite, Cathy Tokarski
ALTAR GUILD: Heather Bovell, Flora Green, Kathy Onayemi, Willie Polite, Sally Prescott, Natalie Ratz, Marie Rock, Jane Shirley, Chuck Tupta
USHERS: James Redden, Flemming Bovell, Linda Reynes, Jim Groll
GREETERS: Stephanie Bailey, Heather Bovell, Paul & Cathy O'Kelly
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| Wednesday, December 2, 2015 | | Wednesday Morning Eucharist | 7:00 AM | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Schola/Scholars Rehearsal | 3:30 PM | | St. Giles Catechesis, Levels 2 & 3 | 6:00 PM | | PADS Overnight Shelter | 7:30 PM |
Thursday, December 3, 2015 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Staff Meeting | 9:30 AM | | Evensong | 6:00 PM | | Healing Prayer Group | 6:30 PM | | Wedding Rehearsal | 6:30 PM | | SAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM | | Adult Choir Rehearsal | 7:30 PM |
Friday, December 4, 2015 | | Rector's Day Off | | | SLAA/SAA 12-Step Workshop | 9:05 AM | | Wedding | 2:00 PM | | Midwinter's Tales Rehearsal | 6:00 PM |
Saturday, December 5, 2015 | | SLAA | 8:00 AM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 9:30 AM | | Midwinter's Tales | 7:00 PM |
Sunday, December 6, 2015 | | The Rite Place - A service for the child in us all | 9:00 AM | | Coffee Hour | 9:30 AM | | First Sundays Intergenerational Gathering | 9:30 AM | | Lectionary Discussion Group | 9:45 AM | | Sung Choral Eucharist | 10:30 AM | | Coffee Hour | 11:45 AM | | R13 / J2A | 12:00 PM | | Boar's Head Staging Rehearsal | 3:30 PM | | St. Giles Advent Family Potluck Celebration | 5:00 PM | | SLAA Women's Group | 5:30 PM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM | | AA 12-Step Group | 8:30 PM |
Monday, December 7, 2015 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Education for Ministry (EfM) | 7:00 PM | | J2A Youth and Parents Meeting | 7:00 PM |
Tuesday, December 8, 2015 | | Revive Christmas Basket Pick-Up | | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | St. Giles Catechesis, Levels 1, 2 & 3 | 4:00 PM | | A Benedictine Experience | 7:00 PM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM |
Wednesday, December 9, 2015 | | Wednesday Morning Eucharist | 7:00 AM | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Schola/Scholars Rehearsal | 3:30 PM | | St. Giles Catechesis, Levels 2 & 3 | 6:00 PM | | PADS Overnight Shelter | 7:30 PM |
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