Eight graduates from Grace Church's two Education for Ministry classes will be honored at Sunday's worship service. These people have completed a four-year course of study from the University of the South at Sewanee that covers the basics of a seminary education. Under Mentor Hawley Todd's leadership, they met weekly for 30+ weeks a year and now have a pretty good understanding of Hebrew Scripture, Christian Testament, Church History and Modern Theologians. More importantly, they have learned, through a process called Theological Reflection, to integrate the subject material with their own lives. For most graduates, EfM is a journey that enhances their lives and their faith in often urprising ways.

The graduates were drawn to Grace's EfM classes from several churches in the area: Grace Church, St. Paul's UCC on Old Blue Rock, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Stephen's and St. James, in addition to one not affiliated with any church. They are:  Roger Perna,  Wanda Miller,  Charlie Parker, Bill Hatley, Paul Gahn, Margaret Knapp, Chris Carey and Bill Hahn.

A reception will be held for the graduates and their family and friends in the Great Hall following the service.

Sunday's service will be a Celebration of Wholeness and Healing, a service we do on Sunday mornings about once a month. Officiant Hawley Todd explains the rationale for having a healing service as the principle service on Sunday morning thus:

Healing is the process of becoming the person God created us to be. Wholeness and healing happen as we invite God's presence into our lives. Prayers for healing are simply putting oneself in an attitude and position where one is open to receive God deeper into one's life. Healing is holistic. It involves the body, emotions, mind, and spirit of a person. And not only that, it involves all of one's relationships with others and creation. With that understanding of healing, we can see that Eucharist is also a healing service. Both services focus on healing the wounds that separate us from God, from each other, and that exist within ourselves.

 

Thus, coming to the rail for healing prayers in this service has much the same function as coming for the elements in the Eucharistic service.

The final meeting of the current Diocesan Common Ministry project will be held at Procter Conference Center on July 9 from 10 am to 2:45 pm.  Each Common Ministry Church's church will share their experience with the program, which should make this a valuable learning time for us.  All involved or interested people are invited.

Free lunch will be served. Let the office (office@gracecollegehill.org, 513-541-2415) know if you'd like to go. Ride pools will be organized if needed.

Enewsletters like this are nice, but they're one-way and occasional. If you'd like to interact electronically with Grace members and friends, or be kept uptodate in real time, we have a couple of ways to do that. 

• Grace's Facebook Page allows anyone who has "liked" that page to post their own comments and respond to others' posts. Click here to go to see our page. Currently, about 90 people are following the posts on that page.
• The GraceLeaders Email List consists of most of the volunteers involved at Grace (about 30). We use this mailing list to communicate on an ongoing basis via a single email address (graceleaders@gracecollegehill.org).  If you'd like to be added to this mailing list, just email webmaster@gracecollegehill.org. You don't have to be a "leader" to be on this list; just interested and potentially involved. 

• ... Hawley Todd for leading Sunday's service, for mentoring Grace's two EfM classes, and for leading the monthly Healing service on the second Wednesday of every month.  
• ...  Leah Scott, owner of Cincy Balloons LLC, for providing the beautiful balloons last Sunday, that enhanced our space in the sanctuary and Great Hall. 
• ... Carol and Ken Lyon for the flowers on the altar this Sunday. 

We're sure that we've left out many of the people who deserve our thanks. Let us know who we've missed by clicking eGraceNotes@GraceCollegeHill.org.

• Please make sure to be here next Sunday to wish our organist, Jonathan Tan, well, as he leaves to begin a new teaching position in Australia.  June 26th will be his last service with us until the Advent season.
• Pictures of last Sunday's Pentecost service are now online. Take a look, here. 
• We're getting closer to actually repairing the roof. The bids need to be evaluated and the insurance company and the Diocese contacted to arrange funding to supplement the approximately $10,000 already contributed or pledged by members and friends.
• We've posted some new pictures of members and friends in the Grace Church Picture Directory. Ken Lyon brings his camera to church most Sundays. If you're not in our album or if you'd like a "retake," just ask. 
• Mission Council is considering a proposal to host a day care center. A committee headed by Chuck Bowles is developing a contract with the provider. Possible displacement of groups by the day care program will be handled by the appropriate committees and the wardens. Work will be expedited on a new Small Assembly Room across from the Sunday School room.
• Mission Council has given the go-ahead to air condition the Great Hall. 
• Altar flowers are funded through your donations. The suggested amount is $35. You can donate for flowers on our Donation Page, or you can sign the Flower Donation Sheet on the table by the Belmont Door. There is a special flower box for smaller donations that can be combined to provide a Sunday arrangement.  

Sunday Service Volunteers are needed in all positions including choir members, Sunday School teachers and sitters. Training is offered for acolytes, Eucharistic Visitors and Chalice Bearers.

We are a Common Ministry Parish - everyone is encouraged to serve. Please let the office know of your interest for training dates.

The current schedule of services and volunteers is posted here.