This past Wednesday evening Grace Church again was the site of a Celebration of Wholeness and Healing featuring traditional laying on of hands for healing, drumming, Reike and other modes of healing.



This Sunday at 10 am, as we do every month, we'll have a more traditional healing service, during which the healing gift of the Holy Spirit will be conveyed through the laying on of hands and prayer. This occurs at the time during the service when we, on other Sundays, receive the Spirit through the blessed bread and wine. 

More and more, we're coming to see how healing, broadly understood, is at the center of Grace Church's work. For example, in our acceptance of all who come to us, we're healing the tragic divisions have that separated people from each other--and from the church.

All our worship seeks to help us learn to love God, neighbor and self--to bridge the gap between us and God; to break down the barriers that divide us; and to soothe the internal conflicts that keep each of us from being the person that God created us to be.

Hawley Todd, who presides over our healing services, has provided outlines for several of the homilies he's presented at our healing services.  They are a great aid to understanding the role that healing has come to play at Grace.  If you click here, you'll see a collection of his writings, starting with the most recent first.  Take a look! 

We asked Hawley Todd how he thought Wednesday's healing service went.  His reply:

It was fantastic.  There was such a tangible expression of love between all the people. I remember at the end when a group was praying for me that I heard one person say, "What a powerful circle of love."

 

Smiles abounded.  We had over 35. I entered the We even had a contingent of Healing Touch folks from Montgomery.

 

I anticipate a few to come on Sunday.

   

Blessings to you - Hawley 

We've received some answers to this question that we've been posing for the past couple of weeks. 

Rachel Searcy says, "We live so far away, but for some reason I keep reading the newsletters and missing Grace.  The church and people had such an impact on me while I was there.  I keep trying to find something closer to home, but I have never found anything that has gave me a feeling like Grace.  Thank you for keeping in touch.  I'd love to come back and join a mass again soon."

Wanda Miller answers, "Comfort and enough light to find my way."

Madeena Nolen:  "For me, a loving community."

Marjorie Shadd: "Loving, supportive community."

Carol Lyon: "Theological freedom and acceptance." Carol has written a more complete answer. Click Grace Church and Me to see it.

Rhonda Sharp:  "People living by the spirit of the law instead of the letter of the law, just as Jesus told us to do.  You don't have to squeeze into one-size-fits-all Christianity like you're squeezing into someone else's clothes that don't fit you.  You can be just who God designed you and is guiding you to be."

Ken Lyon: "Unconditional acceptance--even me!"

Francis Malone's answer was reported last week. She sees Grace Church as a place where a healer can get healed.  We think her answer bears repeating:

I meet Jesus there among the drums and healers

I hear angels singing in the lofts of the church

I am always welcome

I do not have to talk to a person to be healed or welcomed

I feel love there

I am comfortable there

I wish I lived closer to you

I seek shelter from the world in your pews

I love Grace Church

 

What's Grace Church to you? Let us know at eGraceNotes@GraceCollegeHill.org. 

Last week, Wanda Miller reported on this month's successful parolee work day. Richelle Thompson, Director of Communications for the Diocese, asked us to tell her more about this program.  Here's what Mary McLain, Outreach Team co-leader wrote:

  

 

 

For over five years now, parolees have been coming to Grace Church, College Hill, Cincinnati, for a half day each month to do grounds and maintenance work. This is part of a Community Service program through the Ohio Adult Parole Authority. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement: the parolees get Community Service credit and Grace Church gets some badly needed work done. But, for all parties involved, this program has turned out to mean much more than this simple exchange.

 

We heard about this program at a meeting of the College Hill Summit, a meeting of neighborhood leaders. The Citizens on Patrol explained that this would be an opportunity to help people come back into the community as good citizens. They explained that the parolees are mostly sex offenders. Not many organizations can or are willing to work with them, but Grace said, "Sure, we can do that!"

 

We started with clearing brush, litter control, grass cutting, and planting flowers and bushes donated by parishioners. When winter came the work moved inside. Junk got moved and stored, rooms got cleared. Other rooms got painted. From the beginning, after the morning's work was finished, parishioners provided a hot meal. The guys (mostly guys) were especially appreciative of the meal. We thought that was nice but thought nothing more of it until the parole officer explained that for many of them this was the only hot home cooked meal they had all month. We cooked more food. We made sure they could take leftovers with them. We sat and ate together and learned their names. The food provided a common topic of conversation, of what our mothers and grandmothers made for us. They talked of the meals they were able to concoct from canteen offerings and share on the inside. They began to lead the prayers before the meal.

 

We learned what chores they liked and didn't like. They took pride in seeing the flowers they planted come up the next year. One guy was so proud of his work he took a picture to show his friends. When we needed a Sunday school room painted before the first fall Sunday, they worked liked beavers to get it done and wanted to know how the kids liked it. They have stayed beyond their three hours to finish cutting the grass. One especially talented guy fixed the hinges on a donated piano, a faulty valve on the boiler, and built a new base for a water damaged cabinet.

 

We are a small church so their contribution of labor means a lot to us. They help us and we try to help them. What a ministry! 

Absalom Jones was the first African-American priest ordained in the Episcopal Church, in 1804. Read more about him here.

 

 

... John Thayer for his handbell offering this Sunday.

 

... Mary McLain for providing the parolee service day article. 

 

... Fr. Bob Hufford, Fr. David Howard and Hawley Todd, for leading our worship services. 

 

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.  

Christ's Community in College Hill writes: We are preparing for 2012 Summer Day camp.  We are asking all College Hill churches if they have any college students that would be interested in being a youth leader this summer. This would require them to attend a training camp June 3 to June 10 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN. Transportation will be provided. Camp will start June 11. We would like to have them submit resumes to CCCH by March 30th.  Please have them email their resumes to  ccch@fuse.net or mail them to 5819 Salvia Ave, 45224. This is a paid position. We are looking for 15 interns. If there are any questions, please contact Ralph or Lisa @ 541-0303.  

 

 

A Community Intergroup Seder (celebrating freedom for all people) led by Rabbi Matthew Kraus, Director of Undergraduate Studies and Hebrew Program Department of Judaic Studies, University of Cincinnati, will be held Thursday, March 15, from 12 noon to 1:30 pm at the Mayerson Jewish Community Center, 8485 Ridge Road, Amberley.  A tour of the sanctuary of Rockdale Temple follows the seder.  Register online at www.ajc.org/cincinnatiseder2012. Adults $14, High school students $7  Questions:  email cincinnati@ajc.org or call 513-621-4020.

 

The Queen City Rainbow Band, which rehearses at Grace weekly, announces that a subset of the band, the Mo-Tones, will be playing big band music at the Cabaret on Race Street on Saturday, February 18. Read all about it here.

 

Even though it's Winter, there's lots going on at Procter Center. Read their most recent newsletter here. 

St James (Westwood) Celebrates New Ministry. The vestry and people of St. James will welcome The Rev. Jim Strader as the parish's 5th Rector on Feb. 18th @ 4 pm. Read all about it here.

Worship Bulletin Changes.  We know it is seldom possible to address all needs and requests, for all people, all the time. However, we regularly make format and content changes to our worship bulletin in an attempt to do just that, as well as to "use our resources rightly". As always, we rely upon and appreciate your feedback. Direct your ideas to Judy Handy (jhandy23@cinci.rr.com, 513-681-5829).

 

Marjorie Shadd and Carol Lyon and are discussing resuming the silent prayer sessions attempted early last year. We envision these as guided sessions which will use themes, or varying approaches to meditation. When the prayer period is completed we will discuss the experience to learn what is most helpful to participants. The sessions will be facilited by members taking turns. 
 

Sessions are tentatively scheduled for noon on the first Wednesday of the month. Contact Marjorie (513-853-0991, shaddma@gmail.com) for more information.  

Here is the worship volunteer schedule for February. See the whole schedule and list of participants here.

If you're scheduled and can't make it, find a substitute and let Ken Lyon (webmaster@gracecollegehill.org, 513-542-2941) know so the schedule can be updated. 

Sunday Service Volunteers are needed in all volunteer positions. We will provide training as needed. We are a Common Ministry Parish - everyone is encouraged to serve. Contact Judy Handy (jhandy23@cinci.rr.com, 513-681-5829).     

February 12: Celebration of Wholeness and Healing

• Officiant: Hawley Todd, TSSF
• Keyboards: Bill Jenne
• Acolyte: Jamanuel Thrower
• Healing Minister (lead): J White
• Lector: Ken Lyon
• Litany of Healing: John Thayer
• Offering Counter: Roger Perna
• Usher: Wanda Miller
• Altar Guild: Chuck Bowles, Maureen Back
• Flower Guild: Wanda Miller
• 9am Adult Bible Study: Ken Lyon
• Sunday School: Maria Mukasa

February 19: Eucharist II

• Celebrant: The Rev. Susan Lehman
• Keyboards: Bill Jenne
• Acolyte: Mathias Mukasa
• Healing Minister (lead): J White
• Chalice: Carol Lyon
• Lector: John Thayer
• Prayers of the People: Tammy Robertson
• Offering Counter: John Thayer
• Usher: David Mukasa
• Altar Guild: Lisa Perry, Tammy Robertson
• Flower Guild: Chuck Bowles
• 9am Adult Bible Study: Ken Lyon
• Sunday School: Virginia Chapel

February 22, Noon: Ash Wednesday Eucharist II

• Celebrant: Fr. David Howard
• Acolyte: Ken Lyon
• Chalice: Ken Lyon
• Lector:Mary McLain
• Prayers of the People: Mary McLain
• Offering Counter: Roger Perna
• Usher: Mary McLain
• Altar Guild: Lisa Perry, Tammy Robertson
• Flower Guild: Chuck Bowles

February 22, 7 PM: Ash Wednesday Eucharist II

• Celebrant: Fr. Bob Hufford
• Acolyte: Jamanuel Thrower
• Chalice: John Thayer
• Lector: Maria Mukasa
• Prayers of the People: Maria Mukasa
• Offering Counter: John Thayer
• Usher: Wanda Miller
• Altar Guild: Lisa Perry, Tammy Robertson

February 26: Eucharist II

• Celebrant: Fr. Bob Hufford
• Keyboards: Bill Jenne
• Acolyte: Mathias Mukasa
• Healing Minister (lead): J White
• Chalice: Wanda Miller
• Lector: Tammy Robertson
• Prayers of the People: Phyllis Mukasa
• Offering Counter: Roger Perna
• Usher: David Mukasa
• Altar Guild: Carol Lyon, Wanda Miller
• Flower Guild: Wanda Miller
• 9am Adult Bible Study: Ken Lyon
• Sunday School: Roger Perna