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Another Community Discussion Planned for July 31: Expanded Sunday Schedule Development and Details
On Sunday, July 17, we held a community conversation after the 10:30 service about an expanded Sunday Schedule. At the center of the conversation was how an Adult Formation experience could enrich the Grace community. The following expanded schedule is what we explored (note the changes in service times):
- 8:45 - 9:15.....Children's Service
- 9:15 - 9:30.....Transition time (grabbing a cup of coffee, moving to classrooms, etc.)
- 9:30 - 10:30.....A solid hour of Formation opportunities for both Children and Adults
- 10:30 - 10:45.....Transition time (finishing up formation opportunities, getting ready for the later Service)
- 10:45.....Later Service (followed by Coffee Hour)
We received helpful and constructive feedback from a group of about 45 parishioners. People named benefits and concerns about the time changes. The group saw the need for more structured Adult Formation, and noted the diversity of personal schedules, both on Sundays and during the week. At the end of our session, we asked for a show of hands on how we should proceed. 5-6 folks were not in favor of the expanded schedule, 5-6 folks were strongly in favor, and the significant majority was interested in exploring more.
An important next step is to develop the content of a tentative fall Adult Formation program. Therefore, Formation Director Kendall Batten Kalantzis has been working on potential fall Adult Formation opportunities, offerings and presenters. We would like to share these exciting possibilities with the Grace community on Sunday, July 31, after the 10:30 service. Our community's engagement and responses at this meeting will give us a stronger sense of how we should proceed with our expanded Sunday schedule initiative. |
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Adult Formation Planning Meeting
There is an interest in revived Adult Formation opportunities at Grace. We want to create places to think, pray, and reflect on God and our lives of faith together. But we need your ideas, gifts, and help to make it a reality! Come join the Adult Formation Planning Meeting on Sunday, August 14th at 12:15 in the Red Room (2nd floor of the Parish House) ready to listen, share, and get to work! Questions? Click here to contact Kendall. |
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Pipe Organ Fundraiser Concert by Charlie Carpenter
We hope you'll join us for Charlie Carpenter's recital in our Concerts@6:26 series. This recital - originally scheduled for July 21st and offered as a fundraiser for the ongoing repair and restoration of our pipe organ - has been rescheduled to Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 6:26PM.We know you'll enjoy this entertaining event with a very worthwhile cause. There is a suggested donation of $15 for adults and $8 for students.
We'd love your help in publicizing this concert. Please consider sharing our Facebook event.
More information may be found at this link.
If you're not able to attend, but would like to donate, kindly use the button below:
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Last Sunday's Sermon
Fr. Peter Siwek's sermon for Sunday, July 17th is available online at this link. |
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Seeking Catechist Nominations
Children's formation at Grace is in the midst of an important transition. As our long partnership with St. Giles comes to a close, we are devoting extra attention to preparing our parish for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in the fall. While Kendall and others are working hard to prepare the spaces and acquire materials for the children, all of this is dependent on the presence of committed Catechists! These are the folks who sit with children and help them discover the love of God. We are calling on the Grace community to nominate parishioners who they believe would be a good fit for this important ministry. We are seeking folks who have spent at least a year in the community, who are prayerful, kind, and willing to commit to Sunday mornings and training. You do not need to be a teacher by profession to be a wonderful Catechist. Many Catechists find that leading Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is extraordinarily enriching for their own spiritual lives. Those nominated will go through a discernment conversation with Kendall and current Catechists.
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Concerts@6:26 Series Extended Through August 25th
You are invited to Grace each Thursday through August 25th when we will sing Evensong at 6:00 p.m., followed at precisely 6:26 p.m. with a thirty-minute recital. There will be a freewill offering, half of which goes to our outreach programs.
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Another Ministry of Fun Event Planned!
We had such a great time seeing Pygmalion in July, that the Ministry of Fun is inviting you to join us on Saturday, August 13 to see the Festival Theater's presentation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew featuring Tony Dobrowolski. We'll meet around 7:15 at Austin Gardens. Tickets are just $20 each (group price) and we'll have beverages and treat bags...different treats this time! These are always fun evenings...the plays are always great and so is the fellowship! Please let Sue Wells (sue@wells1.com) know you plan to come, and give her your money -- cash or check made out to Sue Wells -- by August 10. Hope you can come!
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Participant's in This Sunday's Worship Service
July 24th 10:30AM Service: MC/LEMS: Cherryl Holt; Lascelles Anderson, Karen-Jo Mensch LECTORS: Jen Cantrell, Jacob Lessing INTERCESSORS: David de Jong, Sally Prescott GREETERS: Ade Onayemi, Gloria Rayburn, Jane Shirley USHERS: Laura Morgan Day, Tony Riley, Peter Patterson ALTAR GUILD: Heather Bovell, Flora Green, Kathy Onayemi, Willie Polite, Sally Prescott, Natalie Ratz, Marie Rock, Jane Shirley, Chuck Tupta
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Attention Amazon.com Shoppers!
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Shopping at Amazon.com? By clicking this link to get to Amazon's home page, Grace will receive a percentage of revenue from 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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This Week at Grace
Our full master calendar is always available online at this link. Events this week are found at this link. |
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Our Mission:
Grace Church seeks to bring God's love and Christ's teaching to all people, to become a passionately involved, intentional Christian community, to support the spiritual journey of each person, and to work toward reconciliation, peace, and justice in our world.
Our Core Values:
-Reach out to support our neighbors locally and worldwide as we seek to obey God's command to love our neighbors as ourselves.
-Encourage and support spiritual growth in all people while respecting that each person is at a different point in his or her spiritual journey.
-Work to be ever more present to and caring for each member of the Grace community and to be fully welcoming to all who enter Grace's doors.
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Grace Episcopal Church | 924 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301
Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.
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