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A spiritual home where all are welcome; a healing place in a broken world.
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Tonight at 7:30 pm, Remember Jesus' First Commandment--Love Each Other
The Sacred Tridium (3 Great Days) begins this Evening with the Mass of the Lord's Supper. On this day, Maundy Thursday, we also celebrate the Command (Mandatum) of Jesus that we love one another. Two gifts are given which signify Our Lord's own Real Presence amongst us "until He comes again." The first is the Sacrament of His Body and Blood which allows us to taste and see how good the Lord is even though his physical presence (flesh and bones) is no longer with us. The second is the gift of Jesus that we find in the face of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Both of these gifts allow us not to be "comfortless" as people without hope. They bring Jesus face to face in our midst in special and mystical ways. We can call upon Him at any time and He is with us. In the liturgy of the Eucharist, He is there. In the face of our brothers and sisters, He is there---as reflected by the Great Commandment, "Love one another" and by the symbolic washing of the feet one for another. So---relish this night beyond all telling. Relish this reenactment of our salvation history. With calm assurance and blessed trust take part in these great holy days which God gives us in order to be as close to Him as we can possibly be. The Tridium marks the beginning of our triumphant walk with Jesus to the foot of the Cross, the empty tomb, and resurrection glory. A Blessed Pascha (Easter) to all of you, Fr. Bob Hufford+ |
Community Good Friday Service Again at Grace
The Community Good Friday Service will again be held at Grace Episcopal Church from Noon to 3 pm April 6. Preachers from seven College Hill area churches will share their reflections on the passion of our Lord. Ken Lyon will be preaching first. Bill Jenne and Todd O'Neal from the House of Joy are organizing special musical offerings.
This service is organized by the College Hill Ministerium, representing the churches serving the College Hill area. |
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Easter Celebrates New Life
Sunday, our worship begins with words that will now begin our services every Sunday during the Great Fifty Days of Easter: Celebrant: Alleluia! Christ is risen! People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia! We'll be singing the wonderful Easter hymns as we celebrate God's promise of new life to all people. The flowers decorating the church will raise our spirits as well. We'll have two priests celebrating this special Eucharist: Fr. David Howard will the the principal celebrant and Fr. Bob Hufford will be preaching. There will be an Easter Egg hunt for the children after the service. Children, bring your baskets; adults, bring your cameras. What a great day to be in church! |
 Thanks ...
... to all who are putting in extra time and effort this week to make Grace a special place for Holy Week. That would include:
- The Worship Team for planning three very different worship experiences this week,
- The office volunteers for preparing service bulletins for those services,
- Roger Perna for handling the logistics of getting seven different preachers to participate in the Good Friday service,
- The Altar Guild for preparing three very difference services,
- The Flower Guild and those contributing to the flower fund for making Grace especially beautiful for Easter.
- Bob Jones, for being on hand at all times, it seems, keeping Grace clean and bright for all who are coming to us this week.
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Coming Attractions
The online Grace Church Calendar lists most everything we know about that's happening at Grace Church. If something's not listed, or if you see errors, please tell the office (office@gracecollegehill.org). Note especially: - Maundy Thursday Service April 5, 7:30pm
- Community Good Friday Service April 6, Noon to 3 pm. Come when you can, leave when you must.
- Easter April 8, 10 am.
- Healing Service: Celebration of Wholeness and Healing with Prayers, Drumming, Laying on of Hands & Reike, Wednesday, April 11, 7 pm to whenever the drumming stops...
- Sharing Sunday -
1st Sunday of each month - collection of goods/money for the College Hill Food Pantry
- Bible Study - Sundays,
9 AM, Parlor.
- Snack 'n Chat - Every Sunday after service, Small Assembly Room.
- Healing Service - 2nd Wednesday of each month, 7 pm, Grace Church sanctuary.
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Restoring Lives through Eastertide Chocolate
In the joy of Easter, you can restore lives all over Southern Ohio through supporting the Episcopal Community Service Foundation's upcoming Chocolate Fest. All proceeds of this blissful Eastertide event go into community ministry grants to Episcopal churches in this diocese. Here are two recent examples of the many lives restored:
- The man who emerged from poverty through mentoring at Partners in Hope in Troy, and developed the new Hope Blend for a local café, with the proceeds benefitting to the great ministries at Partners in Hope.
- The young mother in Piqua who gave up drugs, turned her life over to Christ, and is now striving to support her children through a legitimate job as a nurse's aide. Donations to ECSF help the St. James Pantry to provide her family food so she can use her $9/hr wages to meet $600 a month in rent.
Here's how YOU can restore lives:
- Bid on our silent auction which goes live Easter Monday at BiddingForGood/ECSFsouthernohio, or
- Make an online contribution to ECSF at ECSFsouthernohio.org, or
- Come to Chocolate Fest April 21 from 2 to 4 pm at beautiful Trinity Church at 76 E. Main Street in Newark, Ohio, where the ECW are preparing an awesome party! For only $10 (order tickets at ECSF's website or just come) you can taste all of the scrumptious recipes being prepared by awesome holy bakers, see the great auction items, and have a heavenly time.
Do Good. Eat Chocolate!
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Support Asked for Epiphany Weekend for Young Inmates
 Last Sunday, Laurie LeClaire, who recently began attending Grace Church, told us about Epiphany Ministries, a Christian ministry to prison inmates. Her Epiphany group ministers to 27 young ladies ages 18-26 at the Dayton correctional Institute. Many of these ladies have have never had a birthday celebration or felt loved.
This ecumenical group of volunteers is planning a a 3-day weekend for their inmates similar to Walk to Emmaus, Christ Renews His Parish, or Vio De Christo, with the objective of offering an experience of God's unconditional love. The weekend will include talks on prayer, love, and forgiveness. The the ladies will be showered with food from outside the prison, birthday celebrations, forgiveness ceremonies and gifts of bibles and crosses for those who desire them.
Laurie is asking members and friends of Grace Church to pray for these people during the Epiphany weekend on April 20,21,22. The names those who are praying will be put on strips of paper and used to make a wreath which wraps around the room. The ladies will be told that this represents the people on the outside who are praying for them. This is an awesome display of love that touches the girls.
Laurie is also asking people to write letters of encouragement which will be presented on the third day of the weekend, so that each of the the ladies will receive a bundle of letters from complete strangers. This makes for a day of thanksgiving, rejoicing and love.
Donations of $5 to cover the cost of a meal for an inmate are also welcome.
Laurie will bring signup sheets to church during her next visit. You can also submit your name by email to Laurie at llafemme@hotmail.com, and you can make a contribution on the website here.
You can read more about Epiphany Ministries at epiphanyministry.com. |
Prayer Requests
 Please keep these people in your prayers for their special needs: Tom, Madeena and Michael, Missy, Paula's Family, Hadiya, Scott, Ruth, Doug, Susan, Marjorie, Rhonda Partin-Sharp, The Partin & Sharp Family, Angie and LaMont, The Bennett Family, Rita, Nadine Renee, Rick, Bob, Jared, Teresa, Elizabeth Kelly, Carl, Lee Hardy, Tara, Paul, Shari, Rev. Ernestein, The Erik Handy Family, The Darryl Handy Family, Albertha, Dee, The Burlew Family, The Fantetti Family, Harry Shafer, Viola and Bill, Ethan, Paul and Ashley, Angie and Johnny, Joshua, Amber, Chris, Debbie, Cris and Charlie. Please remember these members and friends who are not often able to come to Grace in person: Mary Lou Bellows, Nancy Hall, Maureen Back, Carl Relyea, Mary Jane Showers, Jane Strohmeier, Naomi Koester, Elva Gscheidle, Mary Ratliff, Jo Carroll, Anne Henneberg. Please contact the Church Office (513-541-2415, office@gracecollegehill.org) with the names of the persons you wish to remain in our prayers. If you email, please place "Prayer Reqest" in the subject line. Please also indicate whether the name of the prayer recipient is to be listed in the bulletin. Pastoral Care
If you need pastoral care or know of someone who does, please call or email the office (513-541-2415, office@gracecollegehill.org). Keep us informed about about illness, hospital stays, requests for visits, communion, and prayers for special concerns.
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Worship Service Volunteers
Here is the worship volunteer schedule through the end of April. The whole schedule is available on our website ( gracecollegehill.org). 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). April 5: Maundy Thursday, 7:30 pm, Eucharist II
- Celebrant: Fr. Bob Hufford
- Keyboards: Bill Jenne
- Acolyte: Ken Lyon
- Healing Minister (lead): J White
- Chalice: Carol Lyon
- Lector: Carol Lyon
- Prayers of the People: John Thayer
- Offering Counter: Roger Perna
- Usher: David Mukasa
- Altar Guild: Chuck Bowles, Jackie McCray
- Flower Guild: Chuck Bowles
April 6: Community Good Friday Service, Noon to 3 pm
- Preaching: Ken Lyon, 6 others
- Keyboards: Bill Jenne
- Ushers: Wanda Miller, Mary McLain
- Altar Guild: Chuck Bowles, Jackie McCray
- Flower Guild: Chuck Bowles
- Offering Counter: John Thayer
April 8: Easter Sunday, Eucharist II
- Celebrant: Fr. David Howard
- Preacher: Fr. Bob Hufford
- Keyboards: Bill Jenne
- Acolyte: Mathias Mukasa, Jamanuel Thrower
- Healing Minister (lead): J White
- Lector: Grace Staples
- Prayers of the People: Maria Mukasa
- Offering Counter: Roger Perna
- Ushers: David Mukasa, Phyllis Mukasa
- Altar Guild: Chuck Bowles, Maureen Back
- Flower Guild: Wanda Miller
- 9am Adult Bible Study: Ken Lyon
- Sunday School: Roger Perna
April 15: Eucharist IIApril 15: Eucharist II
- Celebrant: Susan Lehman
- Keyboards: Bill Jenne
- Acolyte: Mathias Mukasa
- Healing Minister (lead): J White
- Chalice: Ken Lyon
- Lector: John Thayer
- Prayers of the People: Judy Handy
- Offering Counter: John Thayer
- Usher: Mary McLain
- Altar Guild: Lisa Perry, Tammy Robertson
- Flower Guild: Carol Lyon
- 9am Adult Bible Study: Ken Lyon
- Sunday School: Grace Staples
April 22: Eucharist II
- Celebrant: Fr. David Howard
- Keyboards: Bill Jenne
- Acolyte: Jammanuel Thrower
- Healing Minister (lead): J White
- Chalice: Carol Lyon
- Lector: Maria Mukasa
- Prayers of the People: Phyllis Mukasa
- Offering Counter: Roger Perna
- Usher: Wanda Miller
- Altar Guild: Carol Lyon, Wanda Miller
- Flower Guild: Chuck Bowles
- 9am Adult Bible Study: Ken Lyon
- Sunday School: Maria Mukasa
April 29: Celebration of Wholeness and Healing
- Officiant: Hawley Todd, TSSF
- Keyboards: Bill Jenne
- Acolyte: Mathias Mukasa
- Healing Minister (lead): J White
- Lector: Tammy Robertson
- Litany of Healing: Mary McLain
- Offering Counter: John Thayer
- Usher: David Mukasa
- Altar Guild: Chuck Bowles, Jackie McCray
- Flower Guild: Wanda Miller
- 9am Adult Bible Study: Ken Lyon
- Sunday School: Virginia Chapel
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