eGraceNotes from Grace Church
News for and about Grace Episcopal Church
November 6, 2008
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Dear Friend,

Your editor and wife Carol worshipped at Holy Trinity Anglican Episcopal Church in Oaxaca the past two Sundays. The first Sunday, we were visitors; the second, your editor was part of the service, delivering the homily.  This church, part of the Anglican Church of Mexico, is currently without a priest, and divides Sunday worship responsibilities among the 15 or so lay people who attend on a Sunday-by-Sunday basis. This includes responsibility for reading a modified Eucharist service and distributing Communion elements previous blessed by a priest. You can see some pictures of the church starting here.

Learn more and see what else is happening at Grace at on the Grace Church Calendar.

Stewardship Campaign Moving Forward
As of November 3, 23 people have pledged to give a total of $49,586 to Grace Church in 2009.   We are well on our way to exceeding last year's total of 41 pledges and $68,000. 

We have identified 27 potential additional pledgers who pledged last year or are regular Grace attendees, but who have not yet pledged this year. When they join those who have already pledged, we will demonstrate to the Diocese the we have a viable congregation that is moving in a forward direction. 

If you have not sent in your estimated giving yet, please do so as soon as possible. If you have not yet received an estimated giving form, or have mislaid yours, please let us know at 513-541-2415 or office@gracecollegehill.org.

Let us show that Grace is a church on the move into the future.
Stir the Pot Series Off to a Good Start

Our first event in the Stir the Pot series had approximately 40 people in attendance, an excellent discussion on how faith informs our practices in politics, and a wonderful reception following. 

Special thanks are due to Belinda and Roger Perna, Mary McLain, Tammy Robertson, and Lisa Perry.  And our thanks goes to the entire committee that worked on this event.  Make sure you plan to attend the next one on November 23. See below for more about this interesting program.
For the Bible Tells Me So PosterFor the Bible Tells Me So To Be Shown at Grace

For the Bible Tells Me So, a film discussing what the Bible really says about homosexuality, will be shown at Grace Church on Sunday, November 23, at 4:30 pm.  The film will be followed by a panel discussion and a light supper of soup and home made bread. 

The film is being co-sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, LGBTS Interfaith Clergy Network, and Integrity of Greater Cincinnati.  Child care will be provided.  There is no charge for the event although donations in support of the series will be accepted.

This is the second in Grace Church's series of films and discussions in a series called "Stir the Pot", as it attempts to bring together people on all sides of various serious issues that face us.   Future events concern the rise of Islam, the environment, slavery, and aging.

For the Bible Tells Me So traces the lives of several gay and lesbian persons, giving their home backgrounds, the issues they faced in accepting and being accepted as a gay/lesbian person by themselves, their family, their church, and others.  The comments of many leading theologians and ministers on both sides of the debate are informative and enlightening in assisting and promoting understanding of the various ways people come to their beliefs about this subject.

All are encouraged to see the effective and provocative film.
News of Former Parishioners
Jo Carroll writes to say, "I want to inform those who might remember Charlie Rice, a former member of Grace Church and assistant to Bishop Thompson, that he died October 17, 2008 @ 9:30 pm.  He suffered from multiple sclerosis.  He was buried from St. Thomas Roman Catholic Church in Ft. Thomas KY."

We also understand that former Warden Deacon Laura Chace is recovering at home from surgery.

10,000 Villages Benefits IHN
IHN LogoLooking for great and unique holiday gifts?  Want to help Cincinnati homeless families and lift families from poverty around the globe?  Be sure to visit 10,000 Villages at 2011 Madison Rd. (in the O'Bryonville neighborhood) on Sunday, December 7, from noon to 4 pm.  Twenty percent of all purchases made during that time will benefit Interfaith Hospitality Network if you mention IHN.

All items at 10,000 Villages are hand-made in 3rd world villages and part of the proceeds return to them.  Items range from inexpensive and fun finger puppets to beautiful sculpture and baskets. 

Grace Church is a supporting congregation for IHN, which feeds, houses and provides social services to homeless families throughout the year.  Please mark your calendar for this 3-fold gift shopping!  (For more information contact Grace Staples at 513-251-3538.)
Give Your Unneeded Furniture a New Life

New Life Furniture Logo

We have the following from New Life Furniture.

"We serve families that have overcome homelessness and/or fled an abusive situation.  We pick up gently used furniture from donors and deliver directly to our families in need.  We currently have 30 families on our waiting list that are in need of furniture.  If you have any items to donate to make their apartments feel more like a home, please contact Holly at 513-582-9053 or Tim at 513-600-3286.
 
"You can also look at our website to see what we accept and more to learn more.    Many thanks and our blessings to you and your congregation."

eGraceNotes is published a couple of times a month, more or less. Our primary purpose is to help keep members and friends of Grace Church up-to-date on what's happening at Grace.

While we try our best to represent the Grace Church congregation, opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of anyone other than the editor (and perhaps not even his!).

The content of eGraceNotes depends on what news is provided us. Thus, the fact that something appears or doesn't appear in eGraceNotes is more likely a matter of whether or not someone provided information to publish rather than editorial bias. Send news that you think would be interesting to eGraceNotes@GraceCollegeHill.org.

Photos in eGraceNotes are often edited to remove extraneous material.

Ken Lyon, Editor.
Grace Episcopal Church | Phone: 513-541-2415 | 5501 Hamilton Avenue at Belmont Avenue | College Hill (Cincinnati) | OH | 45224