|
|
|
A spiritual home where all are welcome; a healing place in a broken world.
|
|
|
|
Grace Church to Elect Officers at Annual Meeting Next Sunday, February 23
 The Annual Meeting of Grace Episcopal Church will be held Sunday, February 23, 2014, following Sunday worship.
There will be a pot-luck brunch/lunch. Please let Wanda Miller know what you're planning to bring at millerw@fuse.net.
Annual reports by congregation leaders will be given.
Elections will be held to fill several positions. All baptized persons 16 or over who identify Grace as their home congregation and make it their principal place of worship are eligible to vote. If you intend to nominate anyone at the meeting, make sure you have their permission.
The nominating committee (consisting of Roger Perna, Wanda Miller and Hawley Todd) has expressed their intent
to nominate the following:
 Senior Warden (1-year term): Carol Lyon.
-
 Junior Warden (1-year term): David Mukasa.
-
 Mission Program Leader (1-year term): J White. This is a new position with responsibility for the health and growth of the outreach/partnership ministries of Grace Church..
-
 Parish Life Program Leader (1-year term): Roger Perna. This is a new position with responsibility for the health and growth of the Grace Church Congregation and its members.
- Mission Council (three to be elected to 3-year terms): Laurie LeClaire, Roger Perna and Wanda Miller. (Continuing members are Ken Lyon, J White, Bill Jenne, Sam Spade, John Thayer and Ruth Bertram.)
|  |
| |
|  |
For a fuller description of the responsibilities of the above offices, see here or email Ken Lyon at eGraceNotes@gracecollegehill.org.
The Nominating Committee has also expressed their intent to nominate the following:
- Delegates to Diocesan Convention (two to be elected to 2-year terms): Ken Lyon and Sam Spade.
| 
|
| 
|
- Alternate Delegates (two to be elected to 1-year terms): Carol Lyon.
|
|
 Volunteer Opportunities Number Four
Still haven't found the volunteer opportunity that you want to try out?
Perhaps supervising the parolees to upgrade and maintain some of our beautiful building would be satisfying for you. Or perhaps you might just want to help to cook or serve the lunch for the parolees after they have finished their work. Volunteers are especially needed for the third Thursday of February and March. For more information or to volunteer you may call the church office or email Roger Perna at pernas2@zoomtown.com.
And it isn't too late to help with Interfaith Hospitality Network. Positions are still open to host and help play with the children. To volunteer call the church office and someone will get back with you.
Also, sewing and design skills needed to make altar frontal or altar fair linen. E-mail Carol Lyon at Spikelyon@gmail.com.
Thanks to Carol Lyon for this article. |
For People Interested in Exploring Fresh Ways to Worship:PLAY! Praising God in Life and Worship
PLAY is a gathering of people interested in exploring fresh ways to worship. PLAY will offer ideas for fostering creativity, planning non-traditional worship, missional church planting, and how to gather community in new ways through radical hospitality and inspiring liturgy.
Plan will be held February 28-March 1 at Christ Church Cathedral.
If you are interested in learning more about fresh expressions, being part of some inspiring worship, or are just love jazz, you won't want to miss this gathering. PLAY is for everyone, young and old, musicians and artists, lay and ordained, people who love liturgy and those who don't.
Roger Perna, Judy Handy, Carol Lyon and Ken Lyon have already signed up to go. Join them and be part of the conversation about enlivening Grace's worship.
To find out more: praxiscommunities.org/conferences/play
Register by February 23: diosohio.wufoo.com/forms/play/
Questions: Contact the Rev. Jane Gerdsen at Freshexpressions@diosohio.org
|
 Our Presiding Bishop Speaks on LGBT rights
The Episcopal Church has been clear about our expectation that every member of the LGBT community is entitled to the same respect and dignity as any other member of the human family. Our advocacy for oppressed minorities has been vocal and sustained. The current attempts to criminalize LGBT persons and their supporters are the latest in a series, each stage of which has been condemned by this Church, as well as many other religious communities and nations. Our advocacy work continues to build support for the full human rights and dignity of all persons, irrespective of gender, race, national origin, creed, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability or inability. To do less is effectively to repudiate our membership in the human community. No one of God's children is worth less or more than another; none is to be discriminated against because of the way in which she or he has been created. Our common task is to build a society of justice for all, without which there will never be peace on earth. Episcopalians claim that our part in God's mission is to love God fully, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. That means all our neighbors. The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church |
 Altar Flowers
The flowers on the altar next week are given in loving memory of my mother, Cloma Partin, on her birthday, by Rhonda Sharp.
You can donate a bouquet of flowers on the altar on any Sunday in honor of or in memory of anyone. The suggested donation is only $35. Virtually all the Sundays between new and December are available. Just sign on the flower sheet by the door or call the church office or email spikelyon@gmail.com or donate online at gracecollegehill.org.
|
 Thanks to ...
... Roger Perna for taking responsibility for the 9am Bible Study in Ken Lyon's absence.
... to the people, especially Larry, who helped with all the shifting, etc. to make everything as wonderful as possible for the ChiKung workshop this past Saturday, from Jackie Millay.
... everyone who helped in any way with the Community Dinner and Prayer Offerings, from the Tuesday night food preparation, to set up, serving, visiting with attendees, praying with people in the parlor, to clean up or any other way you might have offered assistance. Your help is appreciated.
... Hawley Todd from Rhonda Sharp. I have done a lot of spiritual healing since I first started coming to Grace Church, and the many conversations I have had with Hawley during that healing process are the main reason.
... Candace Moxley for the work she has been doing to help with the Community Dinners and with the office work. Thank you for getting involved so quickly and being such a big help to various areas in the church.
... everyone who helped with planning, set up and clean up for the World Sound Healing Concert Saturday.
Even though everyone who does something special may not be recognized each week (although we do try), we are aware of how hard members of this congregation work together to keep this church going. Most of the work done in this church is by volunteers, so thank you to every one in this congregation for keeping our dream of Grace Church alive by your consistent contributions. None of us could do it without all of us working together.
|
 Selected Short Subjects
The Episcopal Community Service Foundation has awarded Grace Church $2000 to help support the free Community Dinners on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Jackie Millay points out that Grace Church no longer has a working CD player. There are 3 different versions of Radio/Tape/CD players at Church, yet none of them has a functional CD component. Is it possible that you have an old player that works that you'd be willing to donate to the Church, or perhaps you could fix one of ours?We will be working with a new Parole Officer on Parolee Community Service Day the third Thursday of every month. Jennifer Wynn is leaving for a new assignment closer to her home, and Yvette Felton is our new officer.
Members of the College Hill community have posted a survey about the need for a grocery store in College Hill. 800 surveys have been filled out and now only 200 more people need to take the survey to get 1000. If you're at all interested in the subject, you can take it online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CollegeHillGrocery or go to the The College Hill Coffee Company, College Hill Presbyterian Church or the College Hill Rec center and fill out a paper survey. The College Hill Community Potluck is coming February 21 starting at 5:30pm. It'll be held at the College Hill Presbyterian Church, and is a great chance to meet residents of our neighborhood.
A new Grace Church directory is now available, complements of the office volunteers under the leadership of Rhonda Sharp. Get your copy by calling or emailing the office at office@gracecollegehill.org or 513-541-2415. Specify email or snailmail. |
We Don't Know Much
Your editor found this little devotional to be thought-provoking. Perhaps you will, too.
"We are . . . perplexed, but not driven to despair." - 2 Corinthians 4:8
A friend's mother died recently. Flipping through sympathy cards I came across a vaguely "spiritual" quote from the astronomer Pierre Laplace: "What we know is not much. What we do not know is immense." Given the context it seemed like a stupid thing to say. Where's the comfort?
Yet, I have to confess that Laplace captures my own faith quite well. I'm convinced that those who follow Jesus don't know a whole lot about God. Jesus is God's ultimate revelation, but he speaks in riddles. He beguiles. He retains God's mystery. Jesus is hard to understand.
This can be frustrating. But the alternative would be much worse. To know something completely is to control it. Any time humanity saps the mystery of an object we subject it to our own ends. The result it always trouble. From the secrets of the atom to the cheapest way to farm a chicken, we take existence, squeeze the mystery from it and wreak havoc in the process. So imagine the horror that we would unleash were we able to master God. Perhaps we are protected by Christ's riddling.
"We Don't Know Much" isn't going to replace "God is Still Speaking" any time soon, but the world needs Christians who are wise enough to be perplexed. I was wrong. That card was right. It isn't the first thing I'd tell a grieving friend, but the truth is beautiful: what we don't know is immense indeed.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for perplexing us with your immensity. Amen.
About the author: Matt Fitzgerald is the Senior Pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Chicago, IL. Thanks to Charlie Parker for sharing this.
|
Prayers and Thanksgivings
 Prayers for healing are asked for Rev. Ernestein, Patty Rogers, The Rogers Family, (Sarah and Joe Rogers - Patty's parents), Carl, Jackie, Robb Martin, Kim Martin, Melissa, Jordan and Brandie, Bill and Viola, Lee Hardy, Christine Hicks, Derek, Rhonda Sharp, The Partin Family, Mitchell, Bob Jones and Family., D.L. Merrilee Atkins, Verene and Katrina, Anna Keefer, The Coal Miners and their families who are being laid off, Virginia Chapel, Our President and Our Country, Sam Spade, Bill Jenne, Kathy Wills, East Price Hill and The Lauck Family, Don Wake, Patience and her family, Albertha Howard and DeConte Howard, Amandita Sullivan, Horistine, Eugenia and Kenneth, Jacque, Johnny, Lexi Woeste, Emily and Caleb, Earl and Ann, Drew Gibson, JB (Jo), John, Alan Weinrich's Family, all people touched by cancer, Peter Harten, Cathleen, Lisa, Sunny, Judy and Freddy, David and Carol Rossman, Marissa Aleaander, Skip, Jane Strohmeier, Phillis Dietz, The Thrower Family, Anthony, Pastor Rita and Deacon Cornell Bryant and Family, Vincent Leu, Naomi and Gwynne Gabbard, Jim, Steve, Cloma and Estil, John Thayer, David, Jessica Veach, Jay Garland and Family, Mike Webster, Nick Lisi, Callie, Hattie and Ann, Judy Handy, Cyndi Miller, Laura Hubrick (Phillis Dietz' daughter), Madeena Nolan, Gwynne and Naomi Gabbard, Marilyn, Marla, Mae Armstead, The Garland Family--Teresa, Debbie and Jay, Maree White, Viola, Irma, Debbie and the Shafer Family, Sherry Ridgeway, Susanne, Gwynne. Prayers are asked for members often not able to come to church: Elizabeth Kelly, Janet Henthorn, Mary Jane Showers, Naomi Koester, Elva Gscheidle, Jo Carroll, Anne Henneberg, Phillis Dietz. 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. |
Coming Attractions
The online Grace Church Calendar lists most everything we know about that's happening at Grace Church. Here's a snapshot of about a week's worth of the online calendar as of today. If something's not listed, or if you see errors, please tell the office (office@gracecollegehill.org, 513-541-2415). |
Worship Service Schedule & Participants
Most of this schedule is new! Check it out and mark your calendars! Here is the service schedule as of today. 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 Participants are needed in all volunteer positions. We will provide training as needed. We are a Common Ministry Parish--everyone is encouraged to serve. Contact Ken Lyon ( webmaster@gracecollegehill.org ) if you'd like to participate in any of these positions. The up-to-date schedule is available on our website ( gracecollegehill.org). Sunday, February 23: Eucharist II
- Celebrant: The Rev. David Z. Howard
- Keyboards: Bill Jenne
- Crucifer: Mathias Mukasa
- Server: Roger Perna
- Torches: Roger Perna, Anthony Canady
- Gospel Bearer: Mariah Mukasa
- Healing Ministers (leads): J White & Hawley Todd
- Chalice: Ken Lyon
- Lector: Tammy Robertson
- Prayers of the People: Judy Handy
- Offering Counters: Ruth Bertram, Roger Perna
- Usher: Wanda Miller
- Altar Guild: Carol Lyon
- Flower Guild: Carol Lyon
- 9am Adult Bible Study: Ken Lyon
Sunday, March 2: Ante-Communion
- Celebrant: Ken Lyon
- Keyboards: Bill Jenne
- Crucifer: Anthony Canady
- Torches: Mariah Mukasa, Mathias Mukasa
- Gospel Bearer: Roger Perna
- Healing Ministers (leads): J White & Hawley Todd
- Lector: Mary McLain
- Prayers of the People: John Thayer
- Offering Counters: Carol Lyon, John Thayer
- Usher: Phyllis Mukasa
- Altar Guild: Wanda Miller
- Flower Guild: Wanda Miller
- 9am Adult Bible Study: Ken Lyon
Ash Wednesday, March 5: Eucharist II with Imposition of Ashes (time TBA)
- Celebrant: The Rev. Susan Lehman
- Acolyte: Ken Lyon
- Chalice: Ken Lyon
- Lector: Judy Handy
- Prayer of the People: Roger Perna
- Counters: Ken Lyon, Ruth Bertram
- Usher: Mary McLain
- Altar Guild: Carol Lyon
- Flower Guild: Carol Lyon
Sunday, March 9: Eucharist II
- Celebrant: The Rev. Susan Lehman
- Keyboards: Bill Jenne
- Crucifer: Roger Perna
- Server: Mariah Mukasa
- Gospel Bearer: Mariah Mukasa
- Healing Ministers (leads): J White & Hawley Todd
- Chalice: Carol Lyon
- Lector: Ken Lyon
- Prayers of the People: Mary McLain
- Offering Counters: Roger Perna, Carol Lyon
- Usher: David Mukasa
- Altar Guild: Jacquelyn McCray
- Flower Guild: Wanda Miller
- 9am Adult Bible Study: Ken Lyon
Wednesday, March 12, 7pm: Celebration of Wholeness and Healing
- Officiant: Hawley Todd, TSSF
- Lead Drummers: Bob Laake, Rich Spirit
- Ministers of Healing: Hawley Todd TSSF, J White, Gwynne Gabbard, Amy Wehr,
Sam Spade, Bill Jenne, Colleen Kerns, Fran Malone, Jackie Millay, Matt Peffly, Sherri Elmore, Tammy Robertson, Teri Dettone, Tina Todd, Laurie LeClaire
Sunday, March 16: Celebration of Wholeness and Healing
- Officiant: Hawley Todd, TSSF
- Keyboards: Bill Jenne
- Handbells: John Thayer
- Acolyte: Anthony Canady
- Lector: Charlie Parker
- Litany of Healing: Gwynne Gabbard
- Healing Ministers (leads): J White & Hawley Todd
- Offering Counters: John Thayer, Ken Lyon
- Usher: Wanda Miller
- Flower Guild: Carol Lyon
- 9am Adult Bible Study: Ken Lyon
Sunday, March 23: Eucharist II
- Celebrant: The Rev. Susan Lehman
- Keyboards: Bill Jenne
- Crucifer: Ken Lyon
- Server: Anthony Canady
- Gospel Bearer: Anthony Canady
- Healing Ministers (leads): J White & Hawley Todd
- Chalice: Wanda Miller
- Lector: Roger Perna
- Prayers of the People: Tammy Robertson
- Offering Counters: Ruth Bertram, Roger Perna
- Usher: Ruth Bertram
- Altar Guild: Wanda Miller
- Flower Guild: Wanda Miller
- 9am Adult Bible Study: Ken Lyon
Sunday, March 30: Eucharist II
- Celebrant: The Rev. Susan Lehman
- Keyboards: Bill Jenne
- Crucifer: Mathias Mukasa
- Server: Mariah Mukasa
- Gospel Bearer: Mariah Mukasa
- Healing Ministers (leads): J White & Hawley Todd
- Chalice: John Thayer
- Lector: Maria Mukasa
- Prayers of the People: Ken Lyon
- Offering Counters: Carol Lyon, John Thayer
- Usher: Phyllis Mukasa
- Altar Guild: Carol Lyon
- Flower Guild: Carol Lyon
- 9am Adult Bible Study: Ken Lyon
|
|
|
|
|
