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December 5, 2008
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Dear Friend,

You can give the gift of a free copy of this issue of eGraceNotes to a friend who might otherwise not see it.  Once they see it, they can decide whether or not they want to get their own subscription. 

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In the past, we've published eGraceNotes a couple of times a month. We're now going to publish weekly, in time to provide readers with information about what's coming up Sunday and in the immediate future.

Be sure to check out the Grace Church Calendar to see what else is happening at Grace.
Notes on This Sunday's Readings for the Second Sunday in Advent

Advent II WreathToday is the first of the two Advent Sundays centered on the ministry of John the Baptist as the Forerunner of the Messiah.

You can read this Sunday's lessons here

In the Gospel lesson, we hear Mark's account of the beginning of John's ministry and message. John is described as the last of the Old Testament prophets and the one who embodied the role foreseen by Isaiah as the messenger to prepare the way for the coming of the Christ. He used the traditional Jewish ceremony of renewal and repentance--Baptism--but promises that the One who is coming will immerse people in the Spirit of God.

Our first reading is the passage from Isaiah quoted by Mark concerning John the Baptist. This comes from the time of the end of the Jewish people's exile in Babylon and was an exhortation to them to return to the land of promise now that they had been freed by the Persian king, Cyrus. This second exodus is filled with the promise of God's love and care for the people.

The second reading, from Peter's second letter, looks toward the end of time. The writer is concerned with how we live in this time in anticipation for the time to come when the Day of the Lord will be revealed.

We live in the time in between Christ's first Advent and his second coming, and we gather in the Eucharist as people immersed by Baptism into God's Spirit. We are called not only to celebrate God's presence as our Shepherd but also to be messengers who, like John, announce the coming of God's kingdom. We do this by proclaiming the Word, by celebration of God's sacramental presence, and by lives of peace and growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.
Keep in Your Prayers ...

Prayer RequestsPlease keep these people in your prayers for their special needs: Marie Speziale, Tom Mitchell, Ruth Bertram, Joyce Markham; Estel; Mrs. Matthews; Judy Handy, Shelly Martin, Susan Dewbrey, Deb Gamble, Barbara Todd; Kim Martin, Robb Martin; Florence and Bob Poyer; Dean Bryeans, Mary Hall, Chris; Irene Bryeans; Joshua, Caleb, Anne, and Darryl Handy; Marcus Flemister; Bo; Kim Herrmann, Al Berghausen; Teri; Mary Lou Bellows; Jackie Lewis.
With Much Sadness

It is with deep regret and much sadness that we tell you that Donald Lynn Poyer II has left us today and will be in a better place.  His body has been found.

We will head to West Palm in the morning.  Kathy will join us. We will let everyone know of arrangements once we get there. 

Thank you for your prayers, your thoughts, and continue to pray for us throughout this unfortunate journey.

Much love,
Florence and Bob Poyer
December 4, 2008
Here's Your Invitation to Grace's 2008 Holiday Party

Click the picture to see an animated version with music.

Holiday Party Invitation

Click here to RSVP.

Thanks to Tammy Robertson for putting together this neat invitation.
 
New Orleans Mission Trip Leaves December 14, Taking Vicar

A Southern State Community College van will head for Louisiana on December 14, filled with students, staff, faculty and other volunteers to work with the Office of Disaster Response run by the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana.

The Rev. Carol Callahan has recruited a team of ten volunteers, the "Katrina Busters," who will spend the week of December 14 doing whatever the Disaster Response team has in store for them. In addition to SSC staff, The Katrina Busters group includes Robert Craig, Michael Vofshefski and Carl Beckman from St. Mary Magdalene, Maineville, The Rev. Tim Borah from Church of Our Saviour, Cincinnati, and the Rev. Ernestine Flemister from Grace Church, Cincinnati.

Let Ernestein know if you are interested in participating in or supporting this trip.
Gift Suggestion: 

Do you have someone who has everything and is difficult to find a gift for?  Give a gift to Grace Church in that persons name.  You can stipulate the use according to the interest of the person, i.e. for building renovation, for missions, for outreach, for the music program or Sunday School.  And don't forget your own special Christmas Gift to Grace Church at this very special time of the year.
The Bishop is Coming to Baptize, Confirm or Receive.

If you or someone you know is interested in being baptized, confirmed, or received into the Episcopal Church during Bishop Briedenthal's visitation January 5, please see the Vicar.
Needed 

Altar Flowers.
  Those wishing to give money for flowers for the altars may sign up on the sheet on the piano or let Jim Edgy (office@gracecollegehill.org, 513-541-2415) know. The donation is $35 per week to assist Grace Church in its work.
    Dec 14    Needed
    Dec 21    Needed
    Dec 24, 25    Christmas Flowers   (see sign up sheet on piano.)

Coffee Hour Hosts/Hostesses. The sign up sheet is on the piano. If you are physically unable to host but would be willing to provide the items for the coffee hour, let the office know.
    Dec 21    Needed
Healthy Thoughts: Home for the Holidays
The holiday season is a special time when families gather together, sharing old memories and creating new ones. It gives us the chance to reconnect with seldom seen relatives and friends. This time provides an opportunity to see how your folks are doing and begin a conversation about any concerns you might have. Here are some signs to look for:

· Difficulty managing medications
· Unsteady while walking
· Decline in personal cleanliness
· Change in judgement/personality
· Reluctance to leave the house
· Trouble performing daily housekeeping tasks
· Unexplained weight loss
· Unpaid bills or unopened mail
· Increased forgetfulness

If the changes seem significant consider talking with them about contacting their physician, their parish health nurse, or the local Council on Aging for advice.

Another option is a new geriatric care management service available through Episcopal Retirement Homes called Living Well Senior Solutions. Professional care managers like LWSS provide a baseline assessment of your loved one and their situation, followed by recommendations to live successfully at home. They coordinate resources and provide comprehensive care management for seniors to keep them independent, healthy, and safe. The coordination may include companions, home health nurses, physician involvement, handyman services, transition services, legal resources, concierge services and much more.

LWSS is an ally with you and your parents, managing the care for your loved one when you can't be there. For more information please call Peggy Slade-Sowders at 513-561-0222 or visit LivingWellSeniorSolutions.com.
Buy Gifts at 10,000 Villages; Benefit IHN

Absalom Jones

Benefit the Interfaith Hospitality Network by buying beautiful gifts Sunday from noon to 4 pm at 10,000 Villages, 2011 Madison Rd. (in the O'Bryonville neighborhood). Twenty percent of all purchases made during that time will benefit Interfaith Hospitality Network if you mention IHN.
Queen City Rainbow Band Again Presents Free Holiday Concert at Grace

Queen City Rainbow Band Holiday Concert

The Queen City Rainbow Bands return to Grace on Sunday, December 14, for their second annual Holiday Concert. Don't miss this holiday-spirited performance of Cincinnati's only GLBT/Allies Band. The Queen City Rainbow Bands (both concert and jazz formations) will perform at 5:00 pm.
 
The concert and jazz bands will delight you with familiar holiday music, contemporary concert band pieces, and a unique treat: jazzy-hot versions of holiday tunes. The music is chosen especially to get the audience's holiday season "off and running" in grand spirit.
 
The concert is free and open to the public; all are welcome.

The band practices on most Wednesdays at Grace Church. New musicians of all abilities are welcome to join the band anytime of the year. For more information about this concert or about the band, visit www.qcrb.org, or call Megan (513-594-6962) or Fred (513-559-9987).

We need some help with the reception for the concert.  If you can make some cookies for the event and bring them to church that morning, we will be most appreciative.
Coming Events

Grace Church Calendar

In the coming week:
  • Hip-Hop Service, Saturday, December 6, 5 pm.
  • Choir Practice, Sunday, December 7, 9 am.
  • Eucharist Rite II, Sunday, December 7, 10 am, followed by coffee hour. Bring food and toiletry donations for Christ's Community in College Hill.
  • Mission Council Meeting, Wednesday, December 10, 5 pm.
  • Healing Service with Drumming and Reike, Wednesday, December 10, 7 pm.
  • Choir Practice, Thursday, December 11, 7 pm.

Mark your calendar for these special events:
  • Rainbow Band Holiday Concert December 14, 5 pm.
  • Christmas Eve Service, December 24, 10 pm.
  • Christmas Day Service, December 25, 10 am.
  • Parish Christmas Dinner Dance December 27, 7 pm.
  • Bishop Breidenthal Visitation, January 5.
  • Annual Meeting January 26.

And see the Grace Church Calendar for uptodate information on meetings and services at at Grace.  There's more there than you might imagine!
 
eGraceNotes is published weekly whenever possible. 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