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Radical Welcome or Outrageous Hospitality
Back in 2004, when I first came to Grace Church, I kept encountering one of our homeless guests. He came to church, stopped by the office, begged for money, scared people, sometimes was close to being violent, wrestled with addictions, got in our faces, and made many of us uncomfortable. We struggled with what to do and how to respond. Most of us wanted to support him. Some of us what to kick him out and never let him back in.
Week after week, and month after month, and year after year, we learned to set some boundaries about appropriate behaviors: who to ask for money (one of the clergy), how to talk to others, how not to scare people. He would now say that we loved him into transformation and that we are his family. Transformed so much that he asked to be baptized here.
Our friend and parishioner brought us close to Christ and taught us how to love someone who seemed different than any of us. He helped us to strive to be our best selves with him and with others.
He is now, and always was, one of us. We now have others who come to us in similar situations and with similar behaviors. When people ask what to do, I say, "Remember our friend 'J,' remember what he has done for us and how he has been transformed. Let's be that with others."
From time to time you may come into the Church or Parish Hall and wonder why some people are helping with cleaning or resting at a table. Know that they are intentionally being welcomed in with similar love and boundaries that have been given to those before them. Not sure that someone is supposed to be here? Check with staff.
"J" has taught me to grow into the uncomfortableness of being present with strangers. He has taught me to be very careful in judging someone. He has been a "Christ" to me.
May we be that way to all who come through our doors. Jesus did tell us to love one another.
Peace,
Shawn
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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. A piece by Margaret Burroughs, celebrated African America artist, will be among the items auctioned. 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. |
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Contemplative Prayer During Lent
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Outreach Committee to Meet
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The Outreach Committee will meet at 9:30am, Sunday, February 21st in the St. Hilda Room. Please bring your calendars so we can schedule our meetings through June. Also, on the agenda is a review of our finances, the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry requests, the Crop Walk request, a request from Brent House, and report on the Renk, Sudan request for a PA system. All parishioners are welcome to attend this meeting or to submit ideas for our work. Please contact Sally Prescott or Karen-Jo Mensch with any questions.
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LED - The Bulbs of Spring Stewardship
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 Early this year, our administrator happened upon unheard of prices on LED bulbs and knew the prices wouldn't last long, so with the blessing of the property committee we made the investment and purchased the bulbs. We have now replaced most of the incandescent and CFL light bulbs in the building (except for the sanctuary) with LED bulbs, replacing between 60- and 200-watt bulbs with 9.5-watt bulbs. In the first two months alone, we have realized savings of $382 on our electric bills. Our investment in the bulbs was less than $100. They have a very long life span (22 years at 3 hours use per day) and burn cool, unlike other types of bulbs which waste much of their energy as heat. In addition, the light is brighter as it's more concentrated. We look forward to lower electricity bills in the years ahead. |
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March First Sunday Gathering
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 For our March First Sunday Gathering, we are making cleaning buckets for people moving into the Heartland Alliance's new affordable housing. These new residents are formerly homeless families. More information about this group is at this link. We are seeking donations of supplies to fill the cleaning buckets. Please sign up at this link. |
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Annual Meeting Follow-Up Conversations
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Many of you have asked about whether we will come together as a community to be in conversations that help us move forward from some of the congregational brokenness and conflicts from the last few years.
Please watch for details about a parish meeting where we will spend time together and talk and work towards healing in our community.
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Sunday, February 28th at 9:30AM
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 On Sunday, February 28th join us for a glimpse into the space, methodology, and values of our children's formation program at Grace.
Everyone is welcome: parents and kids who currently attend, occasionally attend, or those who are curious about the program. We will meet outside the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atriums on the 2nd floor at 9:30AM.
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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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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 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 |
Friday, February 19, 2016 | | Rector's Day Off | | | SLAA/SAA 12-Step Workshop | 9:05 AM |
Saturday, February 20, 2016 | | Rite 13 Youth Food Pantry Service Morning | 8:15 AM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 9:30 AM | | J2A Youth Food Pantry Service Morning | 10:15 AM | | Handel Week Concert | 7:30 PM |
Sunday, February 21, 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 | | Lectionary Discussion Group | 9:45 AM | | Sung Choral Eucharist | 10:30 AM | | Black History Month Luncheon | 11:45 AM | | Madrigals Rehearsal | 1:30 PM | | SLAA Women's Group | 5:30 PM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM | | AA 12-Step Group | 8:30 PM |
Monday, February 22, 2016 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Education for Ministry (EfM) | 7:00 PM | | Catechesis Level Meeting | 7:30 PM |
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | St. Giles Catechesis, Levels 1, 2 & 3 | 4:00 PM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM | | Vestry Meeting | 7:00 PM |
Wednesday, February 24, 2016 | | Wednesday Morning Eucharist | 7:00 AM | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Staff Meeting | 10:30 AM | | Kitchen Reserved for Grace PADS Cooks | 3:00 PM | | Schola/Scholars Rehearsal | 3:30 PM | | St. Giles Catechesis, Levels 2 & 3 | 6:00 PM | | Grace Staffs PADS Shelter | 6:30 PM | | Centering Prayer Discussion | 7:00 PM | | Contemplative Prayer | 7:30 PM | | PADS Overnight Shelter | 7:30 PM |
Thursday, February 25, 2016 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Evensong | 6:00 PM | | SAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM | | Adult Choir Rehearsal | 7:30 PM |
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