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From Our Sabbatical Priest
Dear Friends: I'm a church nerd! Sundays like our upcoming Kick-Off Sunday make me very happy. I love to see that a summer's worth of reflection, planning and preparation - by both Grace Church staff and community members - is paying off as we begin a new program year. This Sunday, we embrace our Expanded Sunday Schedule, with services at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. We will begin Christian Formation experiences for all ages, with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd meeting at 9:15, and Youth and Adult Formation starting at 9:30; we will commission and bless our Christian Formation leaders at the 10:30 service. We will welcome back our Adult Choir, looking forward to the beauty, richness and depth that they offer in our worship of God. (We will commission and bless our music ministry on the following Sunday, September 18.) We will remember the events of September 11, 2001 with prayer. And after the 10:30 service, as part of Coffee Hour, this year's Pilgrims to Southeast Mexico will offer a presentation on their experience. Join us this Sunday! You will be motivated, inspired, and deeply moved as we embrace a new season of community life together. Faithfully yours, Peter Siwek + Sabbatical Priest |
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Announcing Grace's New Website!
We're all excited about all the wonderful things in store for the fall program programming year debut. In addition, I've completely redesigned our website (GraceOakPark.org) to showcase our ministries, and invite you to check it out (simply click the image below)! While the domain name hasn't changed at all, if you've bookmarked specific pages on the former site, those path names may have changed. -Douglas VanHouten |
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This Sunday, September 11: Rally Day!
September 11th is Rally Day at Grace - the day when all our Christian formation programming begins for the year! There are some exciting changes in store for the year ahead. To bring cohesion and simplicity to our programming, we will be offering a "Christian Formation Hour for All Ages" from 9:30-10:15 (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd will begin at 9:15, directly after the 8:45 service ends). During this time the halls of the second floor of Grace will be filled with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for Children, our two youth groups, and our new Adult Forum speaker series! By placing the Formation Hour in between the Rite Place service (moving to 8:45 on 9/11) and the 10:30 Liturgy, we hope that our religious education opportunities can become a part of everyone's worship routine!
Below, you will find more information on each of the Christian formation programs. If you are unsure, feel free to show up and try it out! Please reach out to Rev. Peter or Kendall with any questions. Parental registration for children and youth can be done in person on Sunday, or you can print off the registration form at this link and bring it with you on Sunday (no online submissions this year - sorry!)
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 filled with beautiful materials for the children to explore. 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 they may have.
Youth Groups - 9:30 in the 2nd floor Red Room (R13) and 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. There will be a presentation by the youth that went on pilgrimage on Rally Day after the 10:30 service!
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. We will begin with a fascinating three-part series on Mystical Theology: Julian of Norwich, Meister Eckhart, and Hildegard of Bingen - led by our own Medieval scholar Steve Fanning! 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!
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This Sunday is the Debut of Our Expanded Sunday Schedule
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)
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This Sunday: A Presentation by Our Youth Pilgrims to Southeast Mexico
Join us on Rally Day, this coming Sunday, September 11th, to hear about the youth Pilgrimage to SE Mexico! We will be sharing photos and stories during coffee hour in the Parish Hall following the 10:30 Liturgy. We are excited to share our journey with you!
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Vestry Nominating Committee. Join us!
Let's talk about the Vestry Nominating Committee.
There are some new expanded guidelines that Vestry has put into place, so that our congregation will know in advance who is running for the Vestry and Warden positions that will be up for election at the next Annual Meeting.
Vestry Guidelines now require us to assemble a Nominating Committee, well in advance of the annual meeting, to assist in recruiting and vetting - with the rector and treasurer - potential Vestry and Warden candidates.
The Nominating Committee is comprised of the Warden and Vestry members whose terms will expire at the next Annual Meeting and up to 3 persons (age 18 or over) from the congregation who are not Vestry members. This is where you come in!
On behalf of the Vestry, we'd like to say that we want you for the Grace Church Nominating Committee! We want you and we need you . . .
We plan to meet at a mutually agreeable time each month, for 1 hr: in October, November and December. The committee will determine the deadline dates for submission of Vestry candidate biographies, assist in the vetting of candidates, and publicize other procedures.
Should you have questions please contact Charles Tupta, Karen-Jo Mensch, Jane Shirley or Joanne Schochat.
If you feel that you are called to participate in this ministry, please do the following:
- Communicate in writing to Douglas VanHouten, our parish administrator, that you wish to be included on the Vestry Nominating Committee. Clicking here to email will be fine!
- Please include in your note whether you regularly attend the 8:45 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. Sunday service.
- We need your written note of interest on or before Sunday, Sept. 18. If you have a cell phone on you, do it now!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
-The Vestry Class of 2016 |
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Concerts@6:26 Wraps Up Its 9th Season!
13 Concerts 23 Performers 423 Attendees 98 at Evensong $529 given to outreach ministries Thursday evenings are special in the Summertime at Grace Church! For nine years people have enjoyed weekly concerts. This year was no exception; Grace Church hosted many members and guests for our annual Summer Evensong and concert program. Profound thanks are due to Adam Gruber, our Evensong officiant and to each and every performer! Thanks are also due to our loyal attendees. Please continue to help spread the word! We look forward to greeting you at our 10th annual series. To end this article we offer a note from a faithful non-member attendee: I would like to thank you for another terrific season of summer concerts at Grace. All of the performers did a fantastic job. Thank you also for extending the schedule for 2 additional weeks so the concerts that were cancelled could be performed. I was very happy the concerts continued until the end of August. It made the season a little longer so it didn't seem to end so quickly. I also think Adam and Charlie did a terrific job of filling in when a concert was cancelled. They are both very fine musicians! I was glad to hear both of them perform an additional concert during the season. I look forward to next year's concerts - the 10th season of concerts at 6:26. It has been a great experience!
- Janet
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Pipe Organ Benefit - Thank you!
And a lovely time was had by all . . .
In my introduction of Charlie Carpenter at his Organ Fundraiser Concert, rescheduled (because of heat) to August 25th at 6:26 p.m., I referred to him as "an Oak Park treasure." If you had the opportunity to hear his concert, I think you would strongly agree with that! His playing was sublime and the audience of over 100 showed enthusiastic support. Special thanks are due to Charlie for his magnificent playing, to Julie Carpenter for her preparations of the reception following, to Bob Vogler and Barbara Larsen for being greeters. I am pleased to report that as of this time, the concert has raised $4,500 towards the restoration of the next portion of our beloved 1922 Casavant Pipe Organ. Profound thanks are also due to you, kind donors, who have made a strong statement of support in this historic instrument and the music ministry it supports. Thanks be to God!
Faithfully,
Dennis Northway, Parish Musician
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Seeking Your Donations to Support Our Programs
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! Kendall Batten Kalantzis, our Director of Christian Formation, has compiled a wish list on Amazon.com. If you'd like to contribute an item on the list, please click here to see what's needed.
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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.
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Free to a Good Home
Our ping pong table needs a new home. Free to anyone who wants it. Must be picked up by new owner (it's on the 3rd floor). Interested? Contact Kendall. |
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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.
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Participants in this Sunday's 10:30 Worship Service
September 11th
MC/LEMS: Mark Woodworth; Cherryl Holt, Karen-Jo Mensch
LECTORS: Hollis Bernstein, Ade Onayemi
INTERCESSORS: Gloria Rayburn, Ted Reichardt
GREETERS: Flora Green, Sarah Hunt, DeLacy Sarantos
USHERS: Paul Gervais, Jane Shirley, Paul O'Kelly, Cathy O'Kelly
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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