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 A Lenten Practice for Grace
from the Grace Church Worship CommitteeFor centuries, believers have found spiritual nourishment in three Lenten practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Consistent with all of these is a sense of prayerfulness and a separation from the eventfulness of our daily life.
As one manifestation of this separateness in Lent, Grace's worship committee hopes to support your Lenten practice of prayer by moving the announcements of events outside worship from the midpoint of the Sunday service to the printed Grace Notes newsletter we receive with our bulletins.
The Book of Common Prayer does not specify when (or even whether) announcements of events outside worship may be made during worship. Our custom of making announcements is just that - a custom, not a requirement. We hope this seasonal change will be beneficial to our shared life of prayer.
If you have an announcement, please email Douglas the brief text by Wednesday at 8AM for inclusion in the following Sunday's Grace Notes. Spoken announcements from the lectern will resume after Easter.
For more information, please see worship committee co-chairs Shawn Schreiner, Rector, Charles Wells or Linda Coberly, committee members Tony Dobrowolski, Barbara Larsen, Karen-Jo Mensch, Kim Osinaike, Audrey Riley, Bob Vogler, Dennis Northway, Jon Baumgarten, and Kendall Batten Kalantzis.
Prayers of the People
For the Lenten season we will be implementing a change in the Prayers of the People. Instead of one intercessor reading the list of names of people for whom we pray, the list will be divided into four parts and distributed to four members of the assembly who will read the names on their lists at the same time. In this way, we will honor requests for prayer in a communal way.
These four lists will be passed out by the MC. If you do not choose to be one of the four intercessors, please tell the MC, who will be happy to ask someone else. Any questions about this trial change may be addressed to the members of the Worship Committee. Flowing streams
Lent has been a time of reflection on the sacrament of baptism since its beginnings. During Lent, Grace Church will echo this tradition with the soft sound of flowing water from our baptismal font. "For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams" (Deuteronomy 8:7a).
Stations
Around the church are several stations where you can pause and pray. We invite you to pray at these stations during services and at any point during the week.
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Memorial Service For The Rev. Michael Johnston
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Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 2PM at Grace, Oak Park
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 Grace Church, Oak Park will hold a Memorial Service for The Rev. Dr. Michael A. Johnston, former Rector of Grace Church, on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.
A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.
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Contemplative Prayer During Lent
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You Are Invited to the Black History Month Luncheon
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Sunday, February 21, 2016 following the 10:30 service
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 Grace Church community and friends are invited to the annual Black History Month Luncheon on Sunday, February 21, immediately following the 10:30 service. The event features the cuisines of Africa, the Caribbean and the American South. There will also be an exciting silent auction with items generously donated by Grace Church members, including tickets to the Celebratory Handel, opera tickets and much, much more. Funds raised this year will go to support St. Lawrence Hall's Music Therapy program for at-risk children. The luncheon is a communal gift to which many people have contributed. Your generous free will offering will be much appreciated. |
 Would you like to learn more about the saints? Do you have a competitive spirit? Click here to join the program called, "Lent Madness." It is a great way to learn some history and have a lot of fun. Each day during Lent, two saints compete for your attention and your vote. Which one will you pick? |
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Update on the Parking Lot Matter
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As construction on the high-rise at Lake & Forest continues, the Vestry is seeking the developers' assurance that its reconstruction of our parking lot complies with the terms of the settlement agreement. Various tests have been performed, and there remains a question whether appropriate construction methods and materials were used. We have requested more information, only some of which has been provided to us. While we continue to be in conversation with the contractor, the Vestry has asked that the Cook County Circuit Court continue its jurisdiction for the purpose of making sure that the settlement agreement, including appropriate restoration of the parking lot, is followed by all parties.
The Vestry is interested in ensuring that the parking lot is durable for a reasonable period of time, as per the settlement agreement. The Vestry met on Feb. 4, with the Grace's engineer, Stan Kaderbek, and the Assistant Chancellor for the Diocese, Paul Keller, Esq., to discuss and identify our options. At this point we are asking for additional information from the contractor and negotiating their request for additional test-sampling of the lot. The Vestry will inform you of developments.
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 Young Adults at Fatduck! Join the 20s/30s groups of Grace and St. Christopher's at Fatduck Tavern in Forest Park at 5pm on Sunday, February 28th. All are welcome (including kids)! Check out the Facebook Group "Grace Oak Park 20s/30s" or connect with Kendall for more information. |
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Our Rector Shawn Schreiner's Upcoming Sabbatical
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A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE ON SABBATICALS
The word sabbatical is drawn from Sabbath. The Hebrew word for Sabbath means to "close or rest" and is connected with the last day of Creation when God rested. (Genesis 2:3) God both models and commands Sabbath rest for his people. "Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy." (Exodus 20:8-11)
Jesus affirmed the importance of rest saying, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27-28) The Biblical example of Jesus' own frequent withdrawal to a quiet place to meditate, pray and be renewed is a model. In His ministry, the constant demands of people led Jesus to step away on a regular basis.
See also: Genesis 1 and 2; Exodus 20:8-11, 23:10-12; Leviticus 25:1-7 (Sabbatical Year), 24:8-25 (Year of Jubilee); Psalm 23; and Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
WHY IS A SABBATICAL IMPORTANT?
Roy Oswald, Alban Institute, suggests that the rapid change and complexity of congregational life and ministry raises the need of sabbatical rest and renewal every four to seven years. Continual spiritual growth facilitated by periods of rest and renewal is vital toward being an effective minister.
A ministry sabbatical is not an extended vacation nor is it an academic sabbatical that normally involves extensive study. A ministry sabbatical is a release from the routine of the call for the physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual well-being of the ministry leader.
For me this sabbatical will be a time of:
- Rekindling the sense of calling
- Growing in one's knowledge and love of God and Jesus
- Deep healing
- Deepening my spiritual life
- Renewal and refreshment
- It is also a time for Grace to rediscover our own resources for lay leadership within the congregation and to be itself renewed as a result of the sabbatical.
Some of the potential themes of this time:
- Anglican Worship and Evangelism for the 21st Century: Exploring the fullness of Anglican worship in this country and potentially in the United Kingdom and other locations.
- Social Justice for all: What does the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's have to teach us about racial equality, religious tolerance and justice for all?
- Celtic Spirituality, early Christian beginnings and the life of prayer today: Spending time on the Island of Iona for spiritual reflection and renewal.
- Personal Healing, Reconciliation and Hope: What are the places within myself that need to be washed anew? Where do I need to forgive myself and others?
- Rest and Reflection on the priesthood and my priesthood: What have I learned in these, almost 25 years of ordained ministry? What are my hopes and dreams for the future?
Upon return:
Sabbaticals bring great interior work and learnings. Upon my return, I will share my insights during forums, through writing of articles, in conversations, and in my preaching.
Coverage:
We are in the process of hiring a priest for 20 hours a week coverage.
The sabbatical will begin in early April and end in late August.
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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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| Thursday, February 11, 2016 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Water Meter Upgrade | 11:00 AM | | Evensong | 6:00 PM | | SAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM | | Adult Choir Rehearsal | 7:30 PM |
Friday, February 12, 2016 | | Rector's Day Off | | | SLAA/SAA 12-Step Workshop | 9:05 AM | | Handel Week Rehearsal in Church | 2:30 PM | | POSA Support Group | 7:00 PM |
Saturday, February 13, 2016 | | Handel Week Rehearsal in Church | 9:30 AM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 9:30 AM | | Memorial Service for Michael Johnston | 2:00 PM |
Sunday, February 14, 2016 | | The Rite Place - A service for the child in us all | 9:00 AM | | Catechesis of the Good Shepherd / Encounter | 9:30 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 | | R13 / J2A | 12:00 PM | | Handel Week Concert | 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, February 15, 2016 | | Parish Offices Closed | | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Education for Ministry (EfM) | 7:00 PM |
Tuesday, February 16, 2016 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | St. Giles Catechesis, Levels 1, 2 & 3 | 4:00 PM | | Property Committee Meeting | 7:00 PM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM |
Wednesday, February 17, 2016 | | Wednesday Morning Eucharist | 7:00 AM | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Handel Week Rehearsal in Church | 10:00 AM | | Staff Meeting | 10:30 AM | | Schola/Scholars Rehearsal | 3:30 PM | | St. Giles Catechesis, Levels 2 & 3 | 6:00 PM | | Centering Prayer Discussion | 7:00 PM | | Contemplative Prayer | 7:30 PM | | PADS Overnight Shelter | 7:30 PM |
Thursday, February 18, 2016 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Handel Week Rehearsal in Church | 1:00 PM | | Evensong | 6:00 PM | | Healing Prayer Group | 6:30 PM | | SAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM | | Adult Choir Rehearsal | 7:30 PM |
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