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News
for and about Grace Episcopal Church
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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.
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.
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Notes
on This Sunday's Readings for the Second Sunday in
Advent
 Today
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. |
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Keep
in Your Prayers ...
 Please
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
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Here's
Your Invitation to Grace's 2008 Holiday Party
Click the picture to see an animated version with
music.
Click here
to RSVP.
Thanks to Tammy
Robertson for putting together this neat invitation.
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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.
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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
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.
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Queen
City Rainbow Band Again Presents Free Holiday Concert
at Grace
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.
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Coming
Events
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!
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