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News for and about Grace Episcopal Church
| May 7, 2010
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| Bogus Bible Q&A
Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married
Ruth?
A. Ruthless ....of course!
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Dear
Friend,
This Sunday's worship at 10 am will be something different and something special. It's a Celebration of Wholeness and Healing with special intention for Jim Edgy, who has meant so much to Grace over the past several years. Join us! -o-
Who do you know who would be interested getting news about Grace? Click here to send them a copy of this eGraceNotes. -o-
As always, help keep the over 100 recipients of eGraceNotes informed by sending your interesting tidbits along to the editor. |
Sunday: A
Celebration of Wholeness and Healing
This Sunday's 10 am service will be A
Celebration of Wholeness and Healing with special intention for Jim
Edgy. As Organist/Choirmaster and later Parish Administrator, Jim was instrumental in helping Grace Church remain alive and vital during some rough times. The service is adapted from the 2004 Book of Common
Prayer of the Church of Ireland, which is part of the Anglican Communion (see here for that service). Hawley Todd, who has taken the lead in planning the service, reports,
I have talked with Jim at length about the
service. He is grateful for our support
and love. Jim hopes that it will be an
opportunity for us all to grow into a deeper understanding of wholeness and
healing. When we offer our prayers for
others, God is always present with that person. While we might be preoccupied with a
"cure," God's presence and love and grace may be "at work"
in other ways. Jim especially wants God's grace and strength to bless him for a
quality of life as he moves forward.
Please join us this Sunday at Grace. If you are unable to attend, simply by your
intention and prayer, ask God to be present with Jim in whatever ways he most
needs the Holy Spirit.
Jim will be unable to join us this Sunday but I will be
seeing him in the near future to tell him about the service.
MUSE will be providing special music at this service and Bennyce Hamilton will be preaching.
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| Information About Healing Prayer |
Keep in Your Prayers ...
 Jim Edgy, Pete Staples, John (Johnbear) Dunn,
Jack Hart, Anjean Poyer, John Thayer,
Gigi Woode, Toussaint Thrower and family, Ray Harris, Marilyn White, Trevor VanWagenen, Ed Frye, Karen VanWagenen,
Elaine Hughes, Maureen Back, Eloise Pinto, Ruth Bertram, Robert Flemister, Judy
& Walter Handy, Molly, Shelly Martin, Barbara Todd, Kim Martin, Robb
Martin, Dean Bryeans, Chris, Irene
Bryeans, Joshua, Caleb, Anne, and Darryl Handy, Marcus Flemister, Kim Herrmann,
Al Berghausen, Mary Lou Bellows, Jackie Lewis, Mike and family, Chris and
family, Malcolm Daniel, Jean Cavalieri, Shelby Hager and family, Laura Chace,
Erik, Alison, Nathanael and Alexis Handy, Mary Jo, Belinda Hoerst, Steve, Tom, and Mary Ratliff.
Father John Bower and his wife, Louise, Keith, Earl, Lisa Perry. |
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Coming Events
- Sunday, 5/9, 10 am: Celebration of Wholeness and Healing.
- Wednesday, 5/12, 7 pm: Healing Service.
- Sunday, 5/16 at 11:15 am: Gifts Workshop III.
- Wednesday, 5/19 at 6:30 pm: Mission Council.
- Thursday, 5/20 at 6:30 pm: Gifts Workshop III (repeat).
- Thursday, 5/27 at 9 am: Parolee Work Day.
See the Grace Calendar Page for more information and more events.
We try to list every event at Grace in the online calendar to facilitate scheduling. If you know of any meeting that's not listed, please let us know at webmaster@gracecollegehill.org. |
West Family Members Baptized
Three members of the West family were baptized April 25. See more pictures of this happy occasion here. |
Altar Flowers Beautify Worship
There are many
beautiful flowers this time of year that can be used to decorate the
altar. If you would like to give flowers in honor of someone or in memory
of someone the donation the donation is only $35. There is a sign-up sheet on the table by the Belmont door. Or you may call the
church office to let the Flower Guild know which Sunday you would like flowers
and to let the office know in whose honor or memory the flowers are being
donated. The flower fund is designed to be self-sufficient. With your donation, we
can continue to have lovely flowers on the altar. --Carol Lyon, Flower Guild
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Fr. Derrick Fetz Discusses Common Ministry with Mission Council
Fr. Derrick Fetz came to the April 21 Mission Council meeting to discuss Grace's participation in the Diocese's exploration of Common Ministry. As reported in the meeting minutes,
Fr. Fetz invited those present to think and comment about
the change they had seen in their lives and the church. Then, how can we be faithful Christians in a
society that no longer values the church? He suggested returning to the tenets of the early church. God sent Jesus. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit sends us out into the
world.
We may grieve the loss of some
aspects of our church life but we have the opportunity to celebrate new
things. He added, "The church is the last
place we want to change but every church in America needs to change. Fifteen percent of any group of people can
facilitate change. It may mean we have to prioritize Common Ministry workshops
rather than attend or sponsor something else."
Next steps for Grace Church will be:
- Create
a clear meaning, mission and purpose.
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Identify
what makes Grace Church unique.
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What
are our gifts - our collective soul?
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What
are our connective communities? Our
passion outside? Partnering groups?
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Create
and train Mission and Formation team to make the pastoral connection with
congregation and community.
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Create
a Mission and Ministry action plan to give clear direction and not fragment our
efforts and energy.
In answer to a question, he reiterated that the Mission
Council would always be the authority in approving action and governing the
ongoing operation of the church under the authority of the Bishop. The Mission and Formation Team would be the
planners and recruit the "doers" with the approval of Council. Fr. Fetz will make himself available to make
a presentation to the congregation at a future date. In the meantime, anyone is welcome to e-mail
him at derrick.fetz@gmail.com.
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| Thanks from the Bowers
Many
thanks to all the Grace Church family for your love and prayers over the time
of Fr. John's hospitalization. He has now been home for nearly two weeks and is
doing well.
Please keep praying that he will continue to react well to the new
medication and remain well. He'd better! He's booked almost solid from now
through the end of the summer with Sunday supply work, including some Sundays
at Grace Church.
Blessings,
Fr.
John and Louise Bower
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Buildings & Grounds News
Utility Costs Down Significantly. Grace's utility bill for this heating season is down 28% vs. a year
ago--$9,400 vs $13,000 for the same period a year ago. While some of the
reduction is due to lower gas prices, most of it is due to the use of
new high-efficiency furnaces in the education wing.
This $3,500
savings doesn't give us more money to spend this year, the 2010 budget
assumed that our utility bills would be lower by about this amount. The
good news is that the predicted lower costs is actually happening.
Railing Repaired. The railing leading to the front doors, which was apparently run over by a vehicle just before Easter, has been repaired at a cost of $960, $460 of which was covered by insurance. We still need to put a final coat of paint on the new railing, and our other railings are showing some need for new paint as well. Volunteers?
New Lawnmower Needed. We have an urgent need for a durable
lawnmower. Senior Warden David Mukasa says, "I would like to have a collection to buy a mower rather than solicit
a used one because although the donors are well intended, the lawnmowers
have been a headache." Contributions will be gladly accepted.
Outside "Curb Appeal" Gets Attention. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous member, we have contracted with TruGreen to apply weedkiller and fertilizer to our lawns this Summer. The first application was made this week. Earlier, we contracted with Christ Community in College Hill's "Clean & Green" crew to come out to rake leaves and pick up limbs and trash. Even earlier, Tina Larkin and Raymond Ochar did some serious mulching, dividing, replanting and pruning in the garden beds near the lower Belmont door. Just before Easter, Mary McLain planted some beautiful posies in the planters at our front door. Thanks to all who keep Grace Church lookin' good! |
Sunday Service Schedule Posted
People have expessed interest in knowing what's coming, worship-wise, on future Sundays. We have augmented the Volunteer Schedule with all known information about what future services will be and who will be participating. You can see the schedule here. If you know of changes or additions to this schedule, or if you have questions, please contact the office at office@gracecollegehill.org or 513-541-2415.
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| Organist Arrangements Finalized
Jonathan Tan and
Kenneth Blue have agreed to share the organist position and its salary. This agreement gives them scheduling flexibility while assuring Grace that we have organist support for all services that need it.
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Walk with Mothers of Homicide Victims Saturday
Walk for
Peace along side mothers who lost sons and daughters to homicide. Support
them in their fight against violence in our community.
When: Saturday, May 8,
2010 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm.
2 pm: Walk will
begin at Southern Baptist Church, 3556
Reading Road Cincinnati, OH 45229.
3 pm: Walk
will end at The Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 3655
Harvey Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45229.
3:30 pm-4:30 pm: Refreshments, dialogue, prayer and support for Mothers
at The
Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 3655
Harvey Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45229.
Thanks to Marjorie Shadd for forwarding this information. |
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We have added two articles about healing prayer to the 
