 |
|
Sunday, September 11: Rally Day!
September 11th is Rally Day! This will kick off our "Christian Formation Hour" from 9:30-10:15 with classes for all ages!
We hope your whole family will join us either after our 8:45 The Rite Place service, or before the 10:30 liturgy. Here are details:
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd - 9:15 in 2nd floor Atriums. We are proud to be continuing Grace's over twenty-year legacy of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd faith formation for children ages 3-5th grade! Catechesis is inspired by the Montessori principles of education and based on the conviction that each child is already in relationship with God. The program is led by adult "catechists" who wonder with the child about the essentials of our faith. Our three atriums are divided by age and meet every Sunday except the first of the month. On Rally Day, Catechesis will have an Open House! Parents and children are free to come, meet their teachers, get a tour of their atriums, register, and ask any questions.
Our new Adult Forum - 9:30 in the 2nd floor St. Columba Room. We are very excited to debut Grace's new adult formation programming! We will draw on the wealth of resources we have in our community to host topical series on issues relevant to a life of faith today. Topics range from historical theology to the Bible to current social issues. Additionally, look for an ongoing Adult Forum series on the first Sunday of the month, designed especially for those who are busy in choir or leading children's and youth formation the other Sundays. No registration is needed, just show up!
Youth Groups - 9:30 in the 2nd floor Red Room (R13) and 3rd floor Upper Room (J2A). At Grace we have a Middle School youth group (Rite 13: grades 6-8) and High School youth group (J2A: grades 9-12). Our youth program at Grace is a fun and safe community for students to form friendships with peers and adult leaders, and to explore in community their personal and spiritual growth. Our curriculum revolves around the five areas of self, society, sexuality, spirituality, and prayer. In addition to gathering every Sunday except the first of the month, we also meet some evenings for fun events. Show up on the first day, but parental registration is needed.
Please contact Kendall with any questions.
|
|
|
Expanded Sunday Schedule Begins September 11th
The following Sunday Schedule Begins Sunday, September 11 (note the change in starting time for our early service):
8:45 - 9:15 The Rite Place: Kids Do Church (Adults do, too!) A Worship Service designed for children and all in their households
9:15 - 10:15 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (formation for children)
9:15 - 9:30 Transition time (grabbing a cup of coffee, moving to classrooms, etc.)
9:30 - 10:15 Formation for Youth & Adults
10:15 - 10:30 Transition time (finishing up formation opportunities, getting ready for the later Service)
10:30 Worship Service (followed by Coffee Hour)
|
|
|
A Program for Life! Sing!
The Youth Choirs of Grace Episcopal Church Did you know that there is a program that virtually guarantees your child's safe delivery, drug-free, with lifelong friendships, to the first day of college? For over twenty-three years, the Schola and Madrigal choirs of Grace Episcopal Church have offered young people a joyful, nurturing environment in which to learn to sing and find their own voice as well! Under the direction of Parish Musician Dennis Northway, one of America's foremost experts in youth choirs, your young singer will find inside themselves their own
song!
The Schola Choir meets on Wednesdays beginning at 3:30 p.m. and is for singers beginning in grade two through eighth grade. Schola Choir begins on September 7. There is no tuition charge, however there is an administrative fee for which there are scholarships available. During rehearsals they are taught to read music, develop their voices and sing high-quality choral music from around the world! The rehearsals are filled with smiles and infectious joy, and are offered in a safe and pleasant environment.
The Madrigal Choir is a high-school-age choir that meets on Sunday afternoons at 12:30 in the magnificent Gothic-revival sanctuary of Grace Church. Madrigals begins on September 11. This choir is for experienced singers who are already familiar with the basics of musicianship.Together they learn the finest examples of music from the Renaissance in a wide variety of languages and styles. They offer each fall a much-anticipated Boar's Head Feast replete with brass fanfares, pageantry and costumes!
Both choirs go on tour every year. Recently the Madrigal choir sang at St. Mary Magdalene church in Toronto, and the Schola choir led worship in St. Paul's Cathedral in Detroit. Tours have taken them throughout the East and Midwest! They have sung at Washington National Cathedral, Boston's Trinity Church Copley Square and New York's St. John the Divine.
Want to know more? Contact Dennis Northway, at 773.351.2501 or at denden1958@runbox.com or at the church at 708.386.8036.
I've been singing at Grace since I was three years old, so it's virtually impossible for me to imagine life without choir. Anyone who knows me can confirm this. Music has become a part of my identity, just as the great friends and mentors I've accumulated through choir have become a part of my family. I'd be an entirely different person without these experiences, and I wouldn't give them up for anything in the world. Grace Coberly
|
My three children have all participated in Grace's youth choirs from an early age through high school. Making high quality music with other young people has brought them joy, improved their musicianship, and helped them to find their voice in the world. Being in choir also provides a unique way for children to develop their own sense of spirituality. Mary Hope Griffin, Ph.D.
|
|
|
|
Calling All Donors and Crafters
We are excited that we'll be using more rooms than ever on the second floor of Grace during our Formation Hour! Now, we greatly appreciate your help in furnishing and supplying them! Please email Kendall about anything you can contribute. (We'd love to have as much in place by Rally Day, Sept 11th, as possible, but we will gratefully accept items into the fall.)
List of needs:
- Rugs for Catechesis and adult formation room
- Artwork for adult formation room and J2A room
- Two small coffee tables for J2A and office
- Comfy chairs for J2A room
- Lots of NRSV Bibles, one KJV Bible, and one CEB
- Wooden child sized lectern for Catechesis (6-9 year olds, about 3 feet)
- Globe for Catechesis
- Colorful biblical Atlas for Catechesis (x2)
- Religious or picture-focused magazines (like National Geographic) for Catechesis
- Risen Christ standing crucifix for Catechesis
- Tall basket for Catechesis (about 2 feet tall, to hold small rolled up rugs)
- Plants
- Colored pencils
- Watercolor paints and brushes
- Unscented candles
- Window Air Conditioning Unit
- Wall Clock for J2A room
|
|
Your Donation is Warmly Invited
Our hardworking Property Committee is at it again! After 59 years, it is time to replace the kitchen range with one that does not need frequent costly repairs and is energy efficient and user friendly. We have decided to buy a brand new stove, a 21st century model which will meet the needs of Grace Church for years to come. The PADS Cooks in particular are very excited because cooking meals for 60+ guests has often been a challenge with ovens that either didn't work or weren't at the correct temperatures.
Naturally, commercial stoves aren't cheap, but much of the money has already been donated. We are within about $500 of covering the costs of the new range and its installation. If you would like to donate towards this project, please make a donation with "new stove" in the memo line of your check. We thank you and the future members of Grace Church will thank you, too.
|
|
|
September 18: Young Adults (20s/30s) Gathering!
We'll gather at 5:00PM on Sunday, September 18th at Connolly's Irish Pub in Oak Park!
All are welcome! Join us as we plan for the year ahead.
|
|
Participants in this Sunday's 10:30 Worship Service
September 4th
MC/LEMS: Steve Fanning; Karen-Jo Mensch, Julia Thomason
LECTORS: Barbara Larsen, Steven Kvaal
INTERCESSORS: Linda Coberly, Jacob Lessing
GREETERS: Stephanie Bailey, Heather Bovell, Paul & Cathy O'Kelly
USHERS: James Redden, Flemming Bovell, Linda Reynes, Jim Groll
ALTAR GUILD: Heather Bovell, Flora Green, Kathy Onayemi, Willie Polite, Sally Prescott, Natalie Ratz, Marie Rock, Jane Shirley, Chuck Tupta
|
|
Attention Amazon.com Shoppers!
|
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. |
|
This Week at Grace
Our full master calendar is always available online at this link. Events this week are found at this link. |
|
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.
|
Grace Episcopal Church | 924 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301
Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
