Ken Lyon, Editor
eGraceNotes@GraceCollegeHill.org

Get a head start on planning your summer. Information about camping at Procter Center is now posted.  See a schedule in the most recent Summer Camp edition of the DSO Youth Newsletter.

If you (or someone you know) might want to spend the 2012 summer at the Procter Center as a Camp Counselor working with youth of all ages from across the diocese, then click here for more information.  

 

Time Committment: June 9 - August 6  

  

Scholarships Available.  Senior Warden Roger Perna reports that we have received a contribution of $150 to help send kids to Procter camps this summer. We need to identify who we want to send. The 2011 costs were $200-$220 per camper. If you'd like to contribute to this fund, click here, or send a check, specifying "Procter Camp" in the memo.

 

Grace Church did a great job hosting homeless people for Interfaith Hospitality Network at the First UCC Church on Glenview on a Friday night earlier this month. We had 14 homeless adults and children with us that night plus all our helpers. Mary McLain was the dinner host and Jackie McCray was our overnight host.

 

All week a couple of kids with special needs had made life difficult for both the guest families and the volunteers. Knowing that, we brought our best volunteers with us: Madeena Nolan came with her husband Mike, her son, David and his wife Tammy plus a couple of grandkids. We also had Camile Boykins (J's goddaughter). The kids had so much attention they didn't need to act out to get more. The folks at UCC said it was the best night they had had all week.

 

We also served a wonderful dinner! We had meatloaf and gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, fresh fruit salad, an apple cherry crisp and cornbread - all homemade by Roger, Virginia, Olivia (Marjorie's neighbor) and Mary. Marjorie and her neighbor Olivia served dinner and cleaned up. Marjorie recruited Olivia when Albertha and De came down sick. One kid, a 13-year-old six-foot kid ate almost half of Roger's potatoes by himself!  

One thing that made me especially proud was that every part of our hosting was interracial--our food preparers, our servers, our kid volunteers and our dinner and overnight hosts. I think we demonstrated to our guest families (also interracial) by our way of being together, that this was not an odd event but who we are--we didn't plan this, we didn't have to.

 

Thanks for Mary McLain for this article.  

 

... Mary McLain for the wonderful article about those who helped Grace Church host Interfaith Hospitality Network earlier this month.  See her report here.

 

... everyone who supported Episcopal Relief and Development.  

 

... everyone who made donations to Christ's Community in College Hill during the holiday season.

  

... Marjorie Shadd for the article "Top Five Deathbed Regrets" in last week's eGraceNotes. Fr. Bob Hufford wrote:  "What a timely article on the thoughts and wishes people have as they are nearing death---it is something all of us need to be aware of and make the necessary changes now while there is still time left.  Thank you for sharing the five deathbed regrets.  I know, for myself, this article has made a great deal of sense and I know what I need to do in order not to have regrets when it is is too late.  I hope that others feel the same way as I do about what you had to say!"  

 

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 sign the Grace Flower Donation Sheet on the front table (near the piano in the church), or make your donation online here. The requested donation is $35, however, there is a special Flower Box for smaller amounts that can be combined to provide a Sunday arrangement.

 

These donations are the only source of funding for our altar flowers. One option for stretching these dollars is for the Flower Guild to purchase and use only greens (at a lower cost) for some Sundays, in addition to the Sundays during Lent.

 

Unfortunately, at least until we find other solutions, for those Sundays when there are no funds, there can be no flowers/greens.

 

Please share any ideas you may have to address this situation with the Flower Guild chair, Carol Lyon (513-542-2941,spikelyon@gmail.com). 

 

From Jackie Millay, who is conducting a series of Quantum Touch workshops at Grace:

 

Having completed the second of four classes, I am excited with how this workshop series is going. The participants are deepening their connection with their own innate healer within.

 

Questions, comments, and discussions are well-heard, thought-provoking, and have provided a pleasant forum for weaving our way through the ever-expanding wonders of this energetic modality.

 

One participant, Gwynne Gabbard states, "The class Jackie Millay is facilitating on Quantum Touch at Grace Episcopal Church is really good. The DVDs are well made...I am using the techniques we are learning, and I am glad to have this opportunity to add more healing training. Thanks to all who have made this possible."

 

Combining different breathing techniques with a focused, full-bodied sweep of the ever present universal love energy during breakout practice session has led to "oohs" and "aahs", astonished looks, and the growing awareness of our own powerful potentiality.

 

When I learned of what Jesus said, "All I can do ~~ you can do ~~ and more," I took that as a invitation from the divine to explore. Quantum Touch is one avenue to enjoy as part of that amazing adventure into caring for others with "the extraordinary healing power of your love."

 

May we all discover the abundance of love that we are.

 

Blessings, Jackie Millay

 

Again, many thanks to all who have made this workshop series' possible.

 

Read more about this workshop in a previous eGraceNotes article. 

 

In this Franciscan Retreat, Fr. John Quigley, OFM, will lead you through reflective discussions of our evolving images of God; how God responds to our specific needs for assistance, sustenance and identity; how the incarnation was always part of God's plan for creation as an expression of Gods love for us and his desire for authentic intimacy with us, and how beauty is the path into God's life.  

 

The retreat will be held February 10-12, 2012. The commuter rate is $100 (includes lunch). The cost for travelers is $225 for a single room, private bath and all meals. It will be held at the Transfiguration Spirituality Center, 495 Albion Avenue, Cincinnati (Glendale), Ohio. To register, contact Toni or Faith at (513) 772-0211 or  

ctretreats @gmail.com.  

 

Father John Quigley, OFM, is a Franciscan Friar and ordained priest, an accomplished public speaker and a talented artist. He began his pastoral/preaching ministry in 1974 as co-leader of the New Jerusalem Community (Cincinnati) with Richard Rohr. He also spent more than twenty years working abroad for international peace, justice and human rights. Read more about him here.  

Nominations are now open for vacancies on Mission Council. We will vote for new Mission Council members at the Annual Meeting on Feb. 12th. Any member in good standing may nominate themselves or you may nominate someone you believe would be a good leader. Please get permission from your nominee before submitting her/his name. Submit nominations to Mary McLain, Chair of the Nominating Committee (maryemclain55@gmail.com, 513-541-8509).

Each Sunday at 9 am the Lectionary Bible Study discusses the day's Scripture lessons. Please make an effort to attend; we want to make this study a viable part of our adult formation program. We will have plenty of copies of the Bible to read from; you are encouraged to bring your own Bible, if you have one.  

Please bring a little snack or some juice to share at Snack 'n Chat after the services. Volunteers to help with clean up afterwards are also appreciated.

 

The Diocese of Southern Ohio is asking all the member churches to join the Rebuild Our Church Campaign to help in the effort to rebuild the Episcopal cathedral in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which was completely demolished by the earthquake of 2010. Bishop Breidenthal has dedicated $30,000 from the Procter fund and is hoping that all the churches in the Diocese can join together and raise the same amount. The Diocese will match, dollar for dollar, any amount over that goal. If you wish to help, please write a check payable to Rebuild our Church and put it in the offering plate. We will forward it on to the diocese office. This campaign will continue until the sixth Sunday after Epiphany, February 12.  Read more about it here.

The GreenFaith Certification Program is a nationally-recognized two-year program which helps congregations "green" their worship, education, facilities and outreach. It is guaranteed to reduce religious facilities' operating costs and helps congregations attract new members. Tuition subsidies are available for the May 1, 2012 application deadline. To learn more about the Certification Program and the tuition subsidies see here.  

 

Music Live at Lunch, Christ Church Cathedral's weekly concert series, will feature Alok Narayana, Traditional Tabla music of India on January 24 and Brass Classique on January 31. These free concerts are presented on Tuesday at 12:10 PM. Patrons may bring their lunch or buy one at the cathedral for $5. All performances are in the Centennial Chapel unless listed as being in the cathedral nave. Christ Church Cathedral is located at 318 E. Fourth Street, downtown Cincinnati. For more information, call 513-621-1817.

 

Interim Dean Ronald Delbene and the Membership Committee of Christ Church Cathedral cordially invite you to Snow Ball 2012, Friday, January 27. A reception will be held at 7 PM; dinner and dancing will begin at 8 PM and last until Midnight. The Ball will be held at The Undercroft at Christ Church Cathedral, Fourth and Sycamore Streets Downtown. The suggested donation is $40 per person. Event will include valet parking and a silent auction.

 

Explorers' Day (a new version of "Ministry Day") is for those exploring a call to the diaconate or the priesthood who have been in significant conversation with their clergy person about their vocation. This year it will be held Saturday, February 4 from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at the Procter Center. The deadline to register is January 20. For more information, contact the Rev. Charlotte Collins Reed at
charlotte@christ-in-springfield.org.

The Episcopal Church Foundation is pleased to announce that the 2012 application process for the ECF Fellowship Partners Program is now open. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is March 15, 2012. To learn more about the ECF Fellowship Partners Program, please visit the ECF website.  

Camper Scamper is a 5K race to benefit camp scholarships at Procter Center. This year it will be held on May 19 at 10 AM at 11235 SR 38, London, OH 43140. The cost is $15. Participants will receive a t-shirt and lunch. Register here.  

 

The Market Stand at Gabriel's Place will be open June through October 2012 at 3618 Reading Road, Cincinnati. Activities that support the creation of access to affordable fresh food such as cooking demonstrations, health information, recipes and other fun ways to learn about food will be provided. For more information, contact Leslie Stevenson at 513-421-0311 or gabrielsplace.vista@gmail.com.

 

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

 

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.

 

Over the years the Choir Room has become the repository for many treasures.  There are quite of few that need to be returned to their rightful homes.  Please check the round table toward the back of the room to see if any of the items belong to you. There is also a box of lost and found items in the church office. In addition, there is a marvelous collection of antique books on a shelf. If anyone has a source that could repair the books please let Marjorie Shadd know. Some books need to be cleaned, others may need to be recovered. Thanks. 

Here is the Sunday Service volunteer schedule for the next two Sundays. If you're scheduled and can't make it, find a substitute and let the webmaster know so the schedule can be updated. You can see the whole schedule and list of participants here.
If you'd like to serve in any capacity, contact Judy Handy (jhandy23@cinci.rr.com).

January 22: Celebration of Wholeness and Healing

• Officiant: Hawley Todd, TSSF
• Keyboards: Bill Jenne
• Acolyte: Matthias Mukasa
• Healing Minister (lead): J White
• Lector: Maria Mukasa
• Prayers of the People: Mary McLain
• Offering Counter: John Thayer
• Usher: David Mukasa
• Altar Guild: Lisa Perry, Tammy Robertson
• Flower Guild: Carol Lyon
• 9am Adult Bible Study: Ken Lyon
• Sunday School: Roger Perna

January 29: Eucharist II

• Celebrant: Fr. Bob Hufford
• Keyboards: Bill Jenne
• Acolyte: Jamanuel Thrower
• Healing Minister (lead): J White
• Chalice: Ken Lyon
• Lector:Judy Handy
• Prayers of the People: Carol Lyon
• Offering Counter: Roger Perna
• Usher: Phyllis Mukasa
• Altar Guild: Carol Lyon, Wanda Miller
• Flower Guild: Chuck Bowles
• 9am Adult Bible Study: Ken Lyon
• Sunday School: Virginia Chapel

Reminder: 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.