• Management
• Building Our Community
• Reaching Out

Three short-term task forces were formed to analyze each function and recommend changes at the January 16 Mission Council meeting.  

• Management: Chuck Bowles, Wanda Miller & Judy Handy.
• Building Community: Carol Lyon, Roger Perna, & J White
• Reaching Out: Grace Staples, Bill Jenne, & Ken Lyon

The task forces will be looking at each of these areas with an eye to coming up with ways to improve the health of the function and/or reduce the amount of energy needed. They will eagerly welcome others who want to help between now and January and will be soliciting help from outside resources as needed. 

The October Congregational Meeting had identified the amount of energy being put into various Grace Church functions. At this meeting, they began to define what each function would look like in a healthy church, and then graded Grace Church on each function on a 1 to 3 scale.

Function                       Energy      Score

Management              75       1.7

Worship                 42       2.1

Building Our Community  40       1.4

Facilities              27       1.7

Finance                 15       1.3

Reaching Out            13       1.4

Pastoral Care           14       2.0  

As is usual with such meetings, it's difficult to communicate what the terms used in this short summary actually mean.  Thus, readers are encouraged to contact any of the people mentioned above with their questions or comments. If you need help contacting anyone, please contact the office (513-541-2415, office@gracecollegehill.org). 

Winners of the wRite Stuff communications competition were awarded the first-ever gold, silver and bronze quill awards for excellence in communication in a ceremony held at diocesan convention. In the electronic newsletter division, eGraceNotes was awarded the highest level "Gold Quill" award in both categories in which awards were given: "Best of Show" and "Overall Excellence in Design."

The wRite Stuff competition was developed not just to award good examples of writing and design but also to lift up communication in our congregations as a tool for the Gospel. Communicating the Word of God is the central mission of the Church, and a more communicative Church means a more missionary and pastoral Church.

In this first-ever competition, 95 entries in 12 categories were submitted by 16 different congregations from around the diocese. The categories covered both print and electronic newsletters produced in the 2010-2011 program year (September 2010 until June 2011).

Judges were recruited from dioceses, schools and congregations across the U.S., the Episcopal Church Center and Forward Movement Publications.      

About eGraceNotes 

eGraceNotes was first published to a very small subscriber list in  April, 2006. It contained two articles: "Rumors of Our Demise Are Greatly Exaggerated" by Senior Warden John Thayer and "Greetings from Fr. Howard," who was then joining us as priest-in-charge. The 146 issues that follow document the rebirth of Grace Church as a common ministry congregation with expectations for continued renewal of health, God willing. eGraceNotes now goes to 164 subscribers. You can see that first issue here, and an index to all issues here. 

Editor Ken Lyon is pleased with the recognition that this award brings to the Grace Church community. He's happy to have had the College Hill eNewsletter, which he started a year earlier, to practice on before starting eGraceNotes. He credits Roger Speer much of the credit for the current design, which is based on Grace Church's website, which Roger designed.  

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.

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

Eliza liked it too, as I am sure she will tell you, and it is so unusual that she will go to a church, so it was great that perhaps it changed her perceptions of what can go on in a church. Ditto for Dell! 

• ... Rhonda Sharp for taking the initiative to put that Community Services list together.  
•  ... Roger Perna and Bob Smith for picking up all those yams from Aldi's for the Thanksgiving baskets.
• ... Carol Lyon, Chuck Bowles and Ken Lyon for leading two Congregational Meetings.
• ... Hawley Todd for leading our healing services. 

• We need someone to lead Bible Study in the parlor at 9am on November 27. (Ken, Roger and Hawley are all unavailable). Leading the study is easier than you might think. Ken will provide a list of questions to ask, and the group can look up the answers in the source materials we have available. Here's your chance! Let Ken Lyon know.

• Since Chuck Bowles will be leaving for new digs in Atlanta in the near future, we will need volunteers to replace him on Altar Guild and Flower Guild. Please contact Chuck Bowles at bowles1453@aol.com  if you are interested. Chuck will train you before he leaves.

• Calling all Musicians: Any folks wishing to lend their talents to becoming music leaders for the congregation (even if not for every week) should speak with our organist, Bill Jenne.

• Yams, Anyone? Grace Church members have contributed $161.00 so far toward the $258 purchase of eight cases of yams for the Christ's Community of College Hill Thanksgiving baskets. These baskets will be distributed to 200 households.  We will continue to welcome donations through the holiday. We will notify you as soon possible what will be needed for Christmas Food Boxes.   

• The seventh annual Advent Carol Service will be offered by Ascension and Holy Trinity, Wyoming, on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 5pm.  Sung in procession, this beautiful liturgical exercise is a highlight of the Advent season.  All are welcome and tickets are not required. Ascension & Holy Trinity is located at 334 Burns Avenue in the historic Wyoming area of Cincinnati. Call 513.821.5341 for more information.   

• 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. Let the office know of your interest for training dates. 

• The Interfaith Hospitality Network: Grace Church is serving Serving on Friday, 11/25/11. If you have food to deliver, please bring between 4:30 and 5 P.M. ready to serve. 

• The Worship Service Volunteer Schedule through the end of the year is posted here. If you're listed and can't serve on your appointed date, please find a replacement and let the webmaster know. If you'd like to be added to the rotation in any area, please contact Worship Team Leader Judy Handy 513-681-5829, jhandy23@cinci.rr.com).   

• Softer seats, anyone? Junior Warden Wanda Miller has found a great deal on cushioned chairs to replace some of our old metal folding chairs. She's hoping that perhaps each family could purchase two chairs, but of course, would appreciate any donation. The cost is $19.97 each + tax = $21.27 - two chairs would be $42.32 at Sams' Club. If you are interested (even if you don't have a membership) please speak with Wanda. Thanks very much!

• Flowers on the altar beautify our worship and can memorialize or honor important people in our lives. You can sign up to give altar flowers here, or on a signup sheet near the upper Belmont entrance, or you can let the office know your wishes. $35 is the usual cost of flowers.

Anonymous HIV Testing will be offered by the St. John Free HIV Testing Program supported by the Northern Kentucky Health Department at the Church in room 201 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Please use the accessible entrance off the parking lot.

For directions and more information visit www.StJohnChurch.net. Contact The Reverend Keith M. Haithcock at 859.261.2066, ext. 202 or Pastor@StJohnChurch.net.