The "Passions" workshop on May 20 was the last workshop in the first series of Common Ministry workshops at Grace. In this series of workshops, we identified the gifts of the people who were most influential in our lives, then went on to identify our own gifts and the issues we're most passionate about.

Participants report that they not only valued learning more about themselves, they especially appreciated learning more about other Grace members and friends. These workshops are turning out to be a community-building opportunity.

What's Next?

We now begin to identify the gifts and passions of Grace Church as a community.  Our first workshop on this subject will be held after church on June 13 and will be repeated on Thursday, June 24, at 6:30 pm. We haven't come up with just the right title for this workshop yet, but "What's Grace Church to You?" has been suggested.

The Diocese is sponsoring Common Ministry training for Grace leaders and potential leaders at Procter Conference Center on July 10. We will be encouraging as many members of Grace as possible to attend this training, so more than just a few can take part in discerning Grace's future.

In August, on the 22nd following worship and again on the 26th at 6:30 pm, we have scheduled a Community workshop to learn more about the communities we serve.

Alert eyes will note that a new prayer, written by the Common Ministry committee, has been added to our Sunday worship:

Thanks to Wanda Miller for this great quote.

 

 

• Wednesday, June 9, 7 pm: Healing Service--Celebration of Wholeness and Healing with Prayers, Drumming, Laying on of Hands & Reike.
• Sunday, June 13, following worship: Grace Gifts workshop.
• Thursday, June 24, 9 am: Parolee work day.
  
• Thursday, June 24, 6:30 pm: Grace Gifts workshop.
  

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.

 

... all the people who turned out Thursday morning to work with the parolees to cut brush and otherwise clean up the parking lot area. It looks a lot better now thanks to you-all. Tony Denbo provided vigorous leadership. Other volunteers included Brian Gish, Ken Lyon, Roger Perna, Bob Jones, David Mukasa, Wanda Miller, Florence Poyer, Grace Staples and Eddie Hausfeld. 

The next parolee work day will be June 24. Join us!

A memorial service for long time Grace Church member Ralph Galloway was held at Grace Saturday.  Mr. Galloway died earlier in the week. Formerly a College Hill resident, he had been living at Evergreen Retirement Community in recent years.

Former Warden Galloway returned to Grace for a visit just a year ago at Pentecost. 

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

Father John Bower wrote on Monday, May 24:
It was a pleasure to have Father Bower back to celebrate Pentecost with us last Sunday.

 

EFM combines the traditional functions of fellowship group and Bible study with a method of theological reflection designed to tap into our creative, metaphorical and mythical ways of thinking, to help us make conscious connections between our faith traditions and the "post-religious" world we find ourselves in today. A group of six to twelve participants, led by a trained mentor, meets weekly for 36 three hour meetings in the course of a year. The course is a four year program but participants commit to one year at a time.

EfM features:

For complete information about EfM, click here.

For contact information and to download a list of fall clases in the diocese, click here.

Mission Council sent the following letter to the Gay Chamber of Commerce, who has picked up responsibility for scheduling the annual Cincinnati Pride Festival and Parade. 

Virginia Chapel wonders if anyone has a rocking chair of some sort to donate to our nursery/preschool room. 

We've published another issue of the Grace Directory. You can pick up your copy in the church.  If you'd like a copy mailed to you, please contact the office (513-541-2415, office@gracecollegehill.org).

We plan to issue yet another update in the near future, so do let us know of any changes that should be made.

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.

The Queen City Rainbow Band, which practices weekly at Grace, will provide music at Wesleyan Cemetery in Northside for a Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 31, at 1 pm.
 
The observance is sponsored by the Northside-College Hill Kiwanis. Wesleyan Cemetery is the final resting place of veterans who date back as far as the Civil War, according to Jan Holland, club president. In addition to the performance by the Rainbow Band, the event will feature a lighting ceremony, a MIA/POW service and speakers.

"It's a nice, comforting event," said Holland, who encourages parents to bring their children to the service. "So many young kids don't understand what our forefathers went through in order that we might have what we have now. They found for what we have and who we are."

The cemetery is located at 4003 Colerain Avenue.

...are 18 years of age or older.

...want to learn how to become effective leaders in congregations, on vestries and Bishop's committees, and on diocesan committees and commissions.

...want to acquire the background information to facilitate responsible decision making in the church.

...want their volunteer commitments and leadership to be grounded in scripture, prayer, and the Anglican tradition of lay ministry.

...feel called to offer themselves in leadership.

...want to represent the Anglican position helpfully in ecumenical and interfaith cooperative efforts.

...want increasingly to understand and exercise the ministry which is theirs as baptized Christians in our Episcopal Church.

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.

John Thayer has written a report on the state of music at Grace Church. The report presents a good picture of our music program's past, its current status, and makes recommendations for future beneficial changes.

You can read the report here. John would appreciate hearing your comments.

Show your colors! We have acquired a supply of Episcopal Church stickers for any and all to put on their car, their window, their door, or wherever.  They are free for the taking on tables near the entrances to the church.