eGraceNotes from Grace Church November 24 2012


www.GraceCollegeHill.org www.Facebook.com/GraceCollegehill Issue 193, November 24, 2012

A spiritual home where all are welcome; a healing place in a broken world.

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Turn Over a New Leaf

Prior to the year 2000 (the millennial), an artist and former co-worker of mine, Carol Newsome, started a unique global project. She spent hundreds of hours painting a green leaf on 2000 small blocks of wood. On the back was a sticker with the inscription "You have just turned over a new leaf" together with a web address. The blocks were then placed in public spaces throughout the Cincinnati area. They were also distributed to friends and acquaintances of friends who "planted" them in many similar locations around the country and the world. Carol then made the website available to all who were interested and sat back to see what happened. I don't think even she envisioned the impact those leaves would have.

Hundreds of people e-mailed her about how the leaf they found had prompted them to change their attitudes and/or their lives and probably the lives of their families, as well. It was interesting that many of them seemed to be at a turning point in their lives whether they had previously realized it or not. They just needed this incident to make a positive change.

I wonder if that's how people felt when they encountered Jesus or encounter Him today: a totally unexpected moment encouraging change and embracing the love of God and their fellow men. We are here to remind people of that "new leaf" moment in God's kingdom. We can each turn over that leaf for ourselves, as well. When we are inclined to respond to someone with a sharp retort, we can turn it into a conciliatory moment. When someone is trying our patience, we can listen rather than rebuffing them. When a task presents itself, we can say "Here I am". Every day presents a new leaf.

Grace Staples, Outreach Team

Altar Flowers

Our altar flowers this week are donated in honor of the late John Kakande by David and Maria Mukasa.

Last week, our altar was decorated with cornucopiae filled with fruits of the season--a harvest-time thanksgiving.

To donate altar flowers on the Sunday of your choosing, see the sign-up sheet in the church near the upper Belmont entrance. Or call the office. Or donate online here.

Thanks to ...

... Laurie LeClaire for accepting the responsibility of leading the Pastoral Care Team.

... to Ruth Bertram for agreeing to be Grace Church Treasurer.

...Bob Jones and Don Wake for all the work they did to help get ready for the memorial service for David Mukasa's father Saturday evening.

... Grace Staples for coming in to help with Sunday's bulletin.

... Grace Staples, Carol Lyon, Rhonda Sharp, Mary McLain, Judy Handy, and Marjorie Shadd for their contributions to this week's eGraceNotes and Grace Notes.

Recycle Your Artificial Christmas Trees Now!

This year you're finally going to get rid of that old tree taking up room in the attic or the basement! Bring it to Grace Church on Saturday, December 1 or Saturday, December 8 between Noon and 3pm. They will be stored and distributed free to clients of Christ Community in College Hill on December 15 from 10 to 3 while supplies last.

Trees will be accepted in the lower hall near the Small Assembly Room. Also, throw in some decorations you haven't used in years.

Other churches in College Hill are joining in this effort and we're really excited. Help us make it a real success. We'd like to have a lot of trees to give away and not disappoint families. Call Mary McLain 513-541-8509 or Grace Staples 513-251-3538 if you have questions or need a pickup although we would prefer to keep pickups to a minimum because of the cost of gasoline.

THANK YOU from the Outreach Team.

Prayers and Thanksgivings

Prayers for healing are asked for Judy Handy, Rev. Ernestein, Patty Rogers, The Rogers Family, Ken Lyon, Carl, Jackie, Robb Martin, Kim Martin, Melissa, Tara, Paul, The Erik Handy Family, The Darryl Handy Family, The Burlew Family, The Fantetti Family, Harry Shafer, Viola and Bill and Johnny, Lee Hardy, Christine Hicks, Debbie, Chris and Charlie, Derek, Denise, The Visbal Family, Rhonda, The Partin Family, The Sharp Family, The Marshall Family, The Bennett Family, Nadine Renee, Bob, Teresa and Kids, Jo Jo, Jared, Shirley L. Allen, Melissa, David, Theresa Buskirk Neabrey, Merrilee Atkins, Leroy, Carol Lyon, Maree White, Verene and Katrina, Tom, Gayle, Elaine Robinson, Rita Lyon, Maria Mukasa, Anna Keefer, Brenda Armbruster and her family, JB, Christine Zuniga, Tonya, Shonda's Father, Cornell Bryant, Pastor Rita and Family, Karen and Diane, KiKi, Sonia, The Coal Miners and their families who are being laid off, Virginia Chapel, Hurricane Sandy Victims, Bonnie Willenbrink, Kay, Our President and Our Country.

Prayers for "shut-ins," (members and friends who are often not able to attend) are asked for Nancy Hall, Janet Henthorn, Carl Relyea, Mary Jane Showers, Elizabeth Kelly, Jane Strohmeier, Naomi Koester, Elva Gscheidle, Jo Carroll, Anne Henneberg.

To add or subtract from this list, please contact the Church Office (513-541-2415, office@gracecollegehill.org) with the names of the persons to be included on this list. If you email, please place "Prayer Request" in the subject line. Please also indicate whether the name of the prayer recipient is to be listed in the bulletin.

Names remain on the list for about a month. Please let us know if people should be put back on the list.

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.

Pray for Peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has asked for all to "Pray for an end to the conflict, an end to violence and the atrocities, that the needs of the suffering may be supplied, and that peace may prevail." In the bishop's words: "I can think of no better way for the Christian world to prepare for the Advent of the Prince of Peace, and I hope and pray that you will join me in praying during the week leading up to Advent."

We've included an extra intercessory prayer (and dismissal prayer) in this Sunday's bulletin. It's been placed on the last sheet to make it easier for folks to tear off and refer to during the week. We've repeated the prayer here:

Almighty God, maker of all, enemy of none,

we pray to you for the people of Congo,

whose troubles are in your heart and ours,

whose hopes are set in your promises.

Stretch out your arm, your mighty hand,

and touch this wounded land.