eGraceNotes from Grace Church, September 24, 2010

Please join us to discuss the forward planning for Grace Church with the Rev. Derrick Fetz, as well as Mission Council and Common Ministry committee members tomorrow (Saturday) morning from 9:45 am to noon, starting with coffee & donuts. We need your feedback to make Grace's mission a reflection of your ideas and goals.

Please ask others you know in the congregation to attend. The more people present the better the results.

Over 25 members and friends have returned their Common Ministry Surveys (the Gifts, Passions and "What's Grace to You" questionaires). The responses have been tabulated and we're ready to begin using this information to guide planning for Grace's future as a Common Ministry church.

Thanks to ...

... Roger and Belinda Perna and the parolees, who did a beautiful job of taking up the carpet and painting the entire nursery/Sunday School room Thursday. What a difference! It is two shades of blue with lemon yellow trim and doors. also, they bought a very colorful, fun floor lamp complete with "green" bulbs.

... Mary McLain for providing the paint for the nursery.

... Marjorie Shadd for organizating the surprise birthday celebration for Ray Betts last Sunday. He was touched.

... Roger Perna for providing transportation to the recent Common Ministry workshop at Procter, in his new (to him) van.

... Wanda Miller and Marjorie Shadd for providing the common bottles for the after-hours gab-fest at the Common Ministry workshop.

...Our IHN volunteers: Grace Staples, Mary McLain, Madeena and Mike Nolan, Maria Mukasa, Olevia Jackson, Marjorie Shadd-Ismail and Roger Perna.

Bogus Bible Q & A

Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible?
A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once.

Coming Events

Saturday, September 25, 10am to noon: All Parish Common Ministry Meeting.
Saturday, September 25, noon to 2pm: Clean-a-Pew time. Lunch provided.
Sunday, October 3: Sharing Sunday, bring food for the College Hill pantry.

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.

Last Sunday: A "Two-Fer"

Last Sunday's regular worship service was another Celebration of Wholeness and Healing under the direction of Hawley Todd TSSF.

Following the service, Ray Betts was surprised with another celebration--a reception belatedly honoring his 85th birthday.

Thanks to Mary McLain for providing the pictures.

Keep in Your Prayers ...

Prayer Requests

Maureen Back, Al Berghausen, Ruth Bertram, Dean Bryeans, Irene Bryeans, Malcom Daniel, Jean Cavalieri, Phillis Dietz, Jim Edgy, Erik, Alison, Alexis & Nathanael Handy, Joshua, Caleb, Anne & Darryl Handy, Judy & Walter Handy, Polly Hager Family, Kim Hermann, Elizabeth Kelly, Jackie Lewis, Carol Lyon, Kim Martin, Robb Martin, Shelly Martin, Pete Staples, Steve, Barbara Todd, Toussaint Thrower & Family, Karen Van Wagenen.

A web site has been set up to provide information about Jackie Lewis' status. See it here, and remember her in your prayers.

If you need pastoral care or know of someone who does, please call or email the office (513-541-2415, office@gracecollegehill.org). Please keep us informed about about illness, hospital stays, requests for visits, communion, and prayers for special concerns. Help us to serve you.

It's Clean-a-Pew Day at Grace

Following tomorrow's Common Ministry meeting several members will be applying Liquid Gold and elbow grease to the drab & dusty pews in the nave. Join us!

Chuck Bowles will provide a seven-layer salad lunch at about noon and then the fun will begin! Wear work clothes and plan to spruce up one to three pews. We will provide the cleaning supplies.

Pastoral Care Team Forming

Common Ministry is a concept which invites members of the congregation (lay people) to actively participate in the many missions of our Church.

The Pastoral Care Team assists Clergy by serving our parish members and/or the community to nurture their spiritual and human needs in ways that do not require sacramental license.

The Team will consist of persons who wish to give their time and energy to pray specifically for the intentions of persons on our prayer list; to make physical visits and friendly phone calls to people in hospital or homebound; and to provide the Eucharist when requested. We welcome people who have the gift of healing to join the Team and

on special request provide individual healing care.

The Team will expand its mission as more people offer ideas or express service needs.

Perhaps one day we will be able to provide a Spiritual Companioning component to our ministry. Spiritual Companioning is the one-to-one guidance to assist people on their personal journey to live a more God-centered life. If that need is expressed we can

attempt to develop and educational program for people willing to take on that role.

Please your name and number at the Grace Office (513-541-2415, office@gracecollegehill.org) if you wish to consider joining the team. Marjorie Shadd Ismail will call you and answer your questions.

Communications Meeting Outlines Needs and Plans for Meeting Them

At our communication/sharing meeting Saturday morning, the following needs were raised:

Replacement linens of all kinds for the eucharist. Apparently, they are practically in tatters.
Paint for the nursery
Carpet for the nursery

Discussion followed:

Regarding Linens: Marjorie is thinking of asking some Catholic churches she knows. Grace has seen "ads" on the diocesan website making needs known to other parishes who may have closed or have extra items. She would like us to try these avenues before going out and buying expensive new linens. Someone may also be willing to donate an item as a memorial. We just need to make this need known inside and outside the parish.
Regarding Nursery Paint: Mary McLain said today she would purchase paint for the nursery on Monday and hopefully, some of the parolees will be able to do the painting on Thursday. (We had several children this Sunday Morning (Mukasas, Wests, and Blacks) but no active Sunday School. This is a priority!) [Painting was done Thursday!]
Regarding Nursery Carpet: Virginia's son, Touissant Thrower, and a friend may be able to take up and lay carpet in the nursery at the end of the month. Virginia will check with them as to the date they are available. Grace's son, Jeff, has volunteered to help. Grace will call College Hill Presbyterian Church and see where they got their 50 cent carpet squares that they put in last spring.

Thanks to many, as usual, it looks like we can get moving on these things.

Grace Staples

Prayer & Meditation Group Forming

Marjorie Shadd writes:

Morning Prayer in a small group during Lent was very meaningful to me.

Please consider if any of you would like to do a non-structured 30-minute session of prayer and meditation to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in Common Ministry in ways that will expand our congregation.

By non-structured prayer I mean whoever wishes would speak their thoughts for just a few minutes and then help us center for a quiet period allowing us to meditate. Because were are all so busy it may mean only 2-3 people could attend on a given day. Perhaps we could pick one week day for a noon meeting for those of us who aren't employed during the day and then a session one evening for people not free day hours.

Several people have already expressed interest in forming this group, so it looks like a "go." Let Marjorie know (shaddma@gmail.com, 513-853-0991) of your interest so an optimal time can be selected.

Sunday Service Schedule & Participants Posted

The Sunday service schedule showing volunteers has been posted here. If you are willing to be a service volunteer, please let the office know. If you are listed for a day you cannot serve, please find a substitute and let the office know of the change.

e-Connections from the Diocese Is Coming Your Way ...

... unless you opt out.

The Diocese of Southern publishes e-Connections, an enewsletter similar to eGraceNotes. This regular (short) electronic newsletter is sent as needed with information about Diocese of Southern Ohio events, public policy issues and notices from the bishop. We have found this to be an interesting source of news about what's happening at the Diocese and in other churches around the Diocese.

Your editor has agreed to give the Diocese the eGraceNotes subscription list so that you can receive e-Connections. If you do not want to receive e-Connections, you have two options:

Email egracenotes@gracecollegehill.org now and tell us that you don't want to receive e-Connections.
Wait until you receive an issue of e-Connections, and if you don't want to receive more, simply click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of e-Connections and you'll be immediately unsubscribed.

Diocese Sponsors Best Practices Workshop

The Commission on Congregational Life invites congregations to the Best Practices, a congregational development workshop that will provide results-driven strategies that will strengthen congregations.

The Rev. Tom Ehrich will be returning by popular demand to discuss in more depth the metrics for congregational awareness and membership development. Communications director Richelle Thompson and the Rev. Ehrich will also present new information on communication strategies for congregations.

All recipients of 2010 COCL grants are required to attend, and other congregations are encouraged.

The Best Practices workshop will be held Saturday, October 16 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Procter Center. Registation is required and space is limited. Deadline for registration is October 8 at noon.

For conference questions, email the Rev Canon John Johanssen or call 800.582.1712 ext 104. For registration questions, email Jane Dupke Curry or call 800.582.1712, ext 130.

Stewardship Campaign Underway

The theme of our 2011 stewardship campaign is "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow." We are reminding ourselves that everything we have has come from God, and we are asking each other to make our personal and financial resources available to thank and praise him by carrying on his work here at Grace Church.

We will be having "Stewardship Moments" each Sunday between now and the end of our campaign. Our estimated giving cards will be distributed on October 3, and we will conclude with our "Stewardship Celebration Sunday" with potluck luncheon on October 17.

Our goal is 100% pledging participation from the congregation, with no pledge too small--or too large. We want everyone to come along with us on our stewardship journery.

Roger Perna.

The Bishop is Coming! The Bishop is Coming!

Bishop Breidenthal himself is scheduled to visit Grace Church on Sunday, January 2, a great way to start off the new year. Mark your calendars so you don't miss meeting this interesting man.

Are You a Member of Grace Church? Do You Want to Be?

Joining Grace Church is easy. Simply let us know you want to be a member, and we'll enroll you as a member. If you are a member of another church, we will submit a request to them to transfer your membership.

Becoming a member of the Episcopal Church is easy, too. We expect all Episcopalians to be Baptized. Any baptism in the name of the trinity and with water is valid. Nothing more is required to participate in the life of the church. If you want to be baptized, contact us to make arrangements.

If you wish to make a public, adult, affirmation of faith, you may choose to be Confirmed at the next bishop's visitation. If you were already Confirmed in a church in the apostolic succession, you would instead be Received. Bishop Briedenthal is coming in January. Let us know your wishes.

Further, you always have the option of publicly reaffirming your baptismal vows, even after confirmation, if you so choose--this is a highly personal matter; not in any way required. Just let us know and we'll arrange for that to happen.

Finally, we even have a service for a person who wishes to make or renew a commitment to the service of Christ in the world, either in general terms, or upon undertaking some special responsibility. Again, just let us know your wishes.

Wondering what happens at any of these services?

For the Prayer Book Baptism service, see here.
For the Prayer Book Confirmation/Reception/Reaffirmation service, see here.
For the Prayer Book Form of Commitment to Christian Service, see here.

College Hill Christian Church Welcomes New Pastor

Alan Weber began his pastoral ministry at the College Hill Christian Church on September 5. Previously, he was an associate pastor at the Fairfield Church of Christ. His wife Jean is a technical services librarian at the Cincinnati Christian University. They have two children, Wendee and Wade.

Thanks to Sally Gustafson and Glenn Casteel for this information.

eGraceNotes is published every week or two or three. 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.