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A Way Forward
Living in a Christian community is a beautiful and complicated experience. We come to church seeking an experience of God, of Christ, of the Holy and we balance what it means to do that together. What does it look like? What are our needs as individuals and as a community? How do we come together in times that we agree and disagree? What does holy disagreement look like? How do we move forward?
All of these statements, questions, and thoughts are in the forefront of the common life of Grace Church. We have some tensions, hopes and dreams that are being expressed and some that are not.
At the Annual Meeting, I promised that we would begin a process of healing, finding our way forward and visioning. To this end, I want to invite you to meet with me on Sunday, March 13. Come to the Parish Hall at 9:30 or after the 10:30 service. Let's take the next step in sharing with one another.
Peace,
Shawn
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March First Sunday Gathering
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This Sunday, March 6th at 9:30AM
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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. We need 10 bottles of All Purpose Disinfectant Cleaner, 15 boxes of tall trash bags, and 5 brooms. Please email Mary Hope, or sign up at this link. |
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Contemplative Prayer During Lent
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 Thanks be to God through the UTO The United Thank Offering is a long-standing tradition in the Episcopal Church. Placing "thankful coins" in the Blue Box you have at home is also a tradition, one that is rich in spirituality and love. The United Thank Offering, or UTO, began as a part of missionary efforts of the Women's Auxiliary to the Board of Mission in 1889. Their goals that first year were to build a new church in Alaska and to send a woman missionary to Japan. They succeeded in both. Every coin from every Blue Box and Blue Envelope is given away in grants. Every cent you give, representing your thankful prayers today fulfills the dream for tomorrow's life and gives hope to people all over the world. A special UTO collection will be held on Sunday, March 13th. Your money and prayers have built churches, made needed renovations, fed the hungry, clothed the poor, provided shelter for the homeless and have provided care and support for those with physical, mental and emotional problems. You can pick up a UTO envelope in the back of church that morning. Please make your check payable to UTO or United Thank Offering. In our area, your offerings have enabled grants to be given to St. Paul the Redeemer and Messiah-St. Bartholomew, both in Chicago. At St. Paul's, the Supreme Bean, a coffee shop and youth center in the parish hall, provides a safe, healthy, clean and positive space for nearby high school students. Messiah-St. Bartholomew has used the funding to buy computers to start a technical learning center to help underprivileged youth and adults build skills for job readiness. The power of the Blue Box is unlimited. Keep one on the kitchen counter, on your dresser or in the car. It can be personal or shared by the whole family. Drop a coin or two in every day. It can make a difference in your life as well as the person receiving your offerings. |
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 If you would like to contribute toward the flowers that will adorn our sanctuary this Easter, please click this link to donate securely online. The deadline is Sunday, March 20. Thank you! |
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Tuesday, March 8th at 7PM
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Make Room: A Child's Guide to Lent and Easter
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How do we invite our children into the richness of the Lenten season in a way that is appropriate and accessible? Join us in reading Laura Alary's book "Make Room: A Child's Guide to Lent and Easter." Pick up a copy of the Family Discussion Guide this Sunday (in the hallway between the church and parish hall) and order the book at the link below. There may be some church copies remaining for you to borrow.
Make Room: A Child's Guide to Lent and Easter
by Laura Alary by Paraclete Press
Paperback
List Price: $15.99
Our Price: $8.62
Buy Now
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An Evening of Stories & Songs From Old Ireland
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 Come join Gerry Dignan for an evening of Stories & Songs from old Ireland on Tuesday, March 15th at 7:30pm in Grace's Parish Hall. The evening will feature stories of the power of the Fairies, the pishogue, home remedies, the Banshee, (& more!) as told to him by his Great Aunt Ellen, over 40 years ago, in her cottage in the west of Ireland.
Tickets: $12-in-advance/Seniors $15 at the door
To contact Gerry, or to purchase advance tickets:
Email: dignansong@aol.com Ph: 1-815-439-3701
Website: gerrydignan.com
Céad Míle Fáilte - A Hundred Thousand Welcomes!
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Participants in This Sunday's Service
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March 6th 10:30am Service:
MC/LEMS: Steve Fanning; Charlie MacDougall, Jim Redden, Natalie Ratz, Natalia Reniszewski, Phoenix Sullivan
LECTORS: Cathy Tokarski, Megan Wills
INTERCESSORS: Fay Peters, David de Jong
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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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, March 3, 2016 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Handel Week Rehearsal in Church | 2:30 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, March 4, 2016 | | Rector's Day Off | | | SLAA/SAA 12-Step Workshop | 9:05 AM |
Saturday, March 5, 2016 | | SLAA | 8:00 AM | | Handel Week Rehearsal in Church | 9:00 AM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 9:30 AM | | OHS Spring Organ Experience | 1:00 PM |
Sunday, March 6, 2016 | | 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 | | Madrigals Sing at Service | 10:30 AM | | Sung Choral Eucharist | 10:30 AM | | Coffee Hour | 11:45 AM | | 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, March 7, 2016 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | Education for Ministry (EfM) | 7:00 PM |
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 AM | | St. Giles Seder | 3:30 PM | | St. Giles Catechesis, Levels 1, 2 & 3 | 4:00 PM | | A Benedictine Experience | 7:00 PM | | SLAA 12-Step Group | 7:00 PM |
Wednesday, March 9, 2016 | | Wednesday Morning Eucharist | 7:00 AM | | SLAA/SAA Meeting | 9:00 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, March 10, 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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