Jim Edgy died Tuesday afternoon.

 

A memorial choral evensong service will be held on Jim's behalf on Tuesday, November 23, at 6 pm in the Christ Church Cathedral nave. Bishop Tom Breidenthal will preside. A reception in the Rose Window walkway will immediately follow the service.

 

He will be missed by his partner of 35 years, Robert Lee, and his sister, Jane Edgy, and many others who knew and loved him. 

 

Jim Edgy served Grace Church over ten years as organist-choirmaster and for part of that time as parish administrator, when his dedicated service contributed in great part to Grace Church's survival during a difficult time. You can see some pictures of Jim taken during his service at Grace here.

Diagnosed with ALS last year, Jim ended his service at Grace and returned to his home church, Christ Church Cathedral. 

Jim's open approach to his dying made his last year an important ministry to those around him. In a message to Grace earlier this year, he said, in part,  " ... I am very fortunate that I have had a great life both personally and professionally and lived an active, and I hope, productive life until last October when I left Grace. But my emphasis has always been on quality, not quantity, so during whatever time I have left I will do the best I can to make it meaningful. ..." See his whole message here.

One friend said of Jim,

"We can't really think of Jim first as an organist, although each time I see him, part of the conversation always turns to organ, which he does love. But that picture of him up on the scaffold says volumes, doesn't it--do whatever needs to be done.

 

Jim's life and his process of leaving it are all about appreciation. How much joy there is in that! He was at church on Sunday morning, and was worn out just sitting there, yet afterwards he spent a couple precious minutes talking, introducing me to someone to make sure that she and I had the beginnings of appreciating each other."

 

In previous years, Jim worked in arts administration. He served as the executive director of both the Kentucky Arts Commission and the Ohio Arts Council. He was deputy chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts, and served as the executive director of the Cincinnati Ballet, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Ballet and assistant director of the Cincinnati Art Museum.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Cincinnati, Christ Church Cathedral Friends of Music, any arts organization he has worked for, or the ALS Association of Cincinnati. If you wish, you may make your gift in Jim's honor via Grace Church's donation page, specifying where you want the gift to go.

• Sunday, November 21: Bake Sale after church by the Sunday School.
• Monday, November 22, 6 pm: Prayer & Meditation Group.
• Tuesday, November 23, 6pm: Jim Edgy Memorial Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral.
• Friday, November 26, 11:30 am: Prayer & Meditation Group.
• Sunday, November 28: First Sunday of Advent.
• Sunday, January 2, 10 am: Bishop Breidenthal visitation.
  

 Advent.

During advent the altar is adorned with greens. This lets our mind rest as it prepares for Christmas. The suggested donation for greens is $35.

Christmas.

Christmas is ushered in with poinsettias and other large arrangements on the altars. Share the joy of beautifying the nave and sanctuary with a donation towards the flowers.

You may give these flowers in memory of a loved one, in honor of a loved one or in thanksgving.

Suggested donation for the main altar flowers is $50, for the peace chapel offer is $25. Suggested donations for the poinsettias that surround the altar and other parts of the church is $15-$25.

Please sign up at the table by the Belmont door or call the church office, or make your contribution online at Grace's new online giving page here.

The flowers need to be ordered early to get the best selection. Let us know your intention as soon as possible.

The leaders of the newly constituted Mission & Formation Team met earlier this week under the co-leadership of  Carol Lyon and Hawley Todd. At this, their first meeting, they brainstormed ideas for pursuing the goals set for them by Mission Council, namely:

• Increase participation and inclusion of those seeking God within the ministries of Grace church.
• Develop and practice ways of bringing deeper spirituality and healing into the lives of our parishioners and our neighbors.

Now it's up to the teams to develop their plans. If you'd like to participate in this exciting work, contact any of the team leaders.

• Christian Formation led by Ken Lyon and Roger Perna
• Evangelism/Membership led by J. White
• Outreach led by Mary McLain and Grace Staples
• Pastoral Care led by Marjorie Shadd
• Worship led by Judy Handy

 Anyone can post to the Grace Church Facebook page, and anyone can see what's posted there, so let's use our page to spread the word about about Grace. As things happen at Grace, or as you have thoughts about Grace, post 'em!

 

Our delegates to the annual convention of the Diocese of Southern Ohio were Grace Staples and Mary McLain. Hawley Todd attended as well.

 

Here are some of the actions taken by the diocesan convention held this past weekend:

• elected Ariel Miller, Don Reed, Debbie Stokes, and Kay Sturm as lay deputies to General Convention; and
• elected Bill Carroll, Jane Gerdsen, Paula Jackson, and Dick Schisler as clergy deputies;
• adopted a planning process to involve all the diocese in developing an operating budget for 2012;
• defeated a resolution changing the method of filling clergy vacancies in congregations;
• adopted resolutions aligning our diocesan canons to conform to the new provisions of Title IV of the national canons;
• dissolved the union of the diocese with the congregation of Holy Spirit, Forest Park;
• initiated steps for moving into a companion relationship with the Diocese of Liberia;
• adopted a resolution calling for diocesan witness with and for immigrants in Southern Ohio;
• adopted a resolution on criminal justice reform;
• adopted a resolution regarding public-sector funding for food and nutrition;
• learned that Episcopal Community Services Foundation has raised over $100,000 for gifts to service projects in our congregations;
• heard from Bishop. Price of his work in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and his likely retirement at the end of 2012, as he continues to assist 29 congregations in that  diocese all the while having 20+ visitations in So. Ohio;
• learned of new directions for Procter Camp and Conference Center and the imminent arrival of its new director, Ms Chris Tokarz

Mark your calendars and prepare to invite your friends to our first Sunday worship of the new year.

We're starting off the new year on January 2 with a visit from Bishop Breidenthal himself. 

Junior Warden Wanda Miller promises a brunch fit for a Bishop following our 10 am service. 

Interfaith Hospitality Network is seeking gently used rain gear for adults and children such as: umbrellas, raincoats, ponchos, and boots.  If you have items to donate see Grace Staples.

 

Christ Church Cathedral Presents Hildegard of Bingen and the Living Light, a one-woman play written and performed by international mezzo soprano Linn Maxwell, on Friday, December 3, at 7 pm.

The performance is free and open to the public, but a good will offering will be collected to benefit Cincinnati area charities that serve the needs of women.

For more information go here.

The choir needs more members for Advent Sundays and Christmas Eve. Please let any choir member know if you are willing.