 | A Center for Spirituality and Healing. |
| | | Saturday, March 14, 2015 |
| Did You Miss Us?
Our last eGraceNotes was exactly a month ago. We try to publish every week, but your editor got caught up in learning to be Grace Treasurer, as well as recovering the office computer from a crashed hard drive.
We'll see how thing go from now on....
Ken |
| February's Annual Meeting Delivers a Meal and Fun While Getting Its Work Done
As promised, February's Annual Meeting included a fine lunch served on real china, some fun, elections, and reports. It also included awards and other kudos given to individual contributors. 
You can see more pictures here: Note especially the Hokey-Pokey led by J White! Elections: - Senior Warden Carol Lyon and Junior Warden David Mukasa were re-elected to serve another 1-year term in these positions.
- Jacquelyn McCray, Hawley Todd and Candace Moxley were elected to 3-year Mission Council terms. Ruth Bertram, John Thayer, Laurie LeClaire, Wanda Miller and Roger Perna continue to serve their terms.
- Outreach Program Leader J White and Parish Life Program Leader Roger Perna were re-elected to another 1 year term in these positions.
- Roger Perna was elected to serve a 2-year term as delegate to the Diocesan Convention. Ken Lyon is serving out his 2-year term. Wanda Miller and Candace Moxley were elected as alternates, to serve if needed.
Reports: - Senior Warden Carol Lyon presented her report on the State of Grace orally and in writing, and written reports from all areas were distributed. If you'd like a copy, just let me know.
- he picture the reports present is of a church that is active and vital. Our facility is in use virtually every day for programs initiated by Grace Church and over a dozen partner organizations. The building, which is our largest budget item, has been maintained. Regular Sunday worship continues. Our main challenge, says Carol, "is to attract more people to the love of God at Grace Church. ... What actions can we as individuals and the body of Christ take to invite people to be a part of Grace?... I propose to make this next year one of growth in people and spirit."
 Recognition: Senior Warden Carol Lyon presented some awards:
- Mary McLain was presented with a lifetime achievement award for her over 30 years involvement at Grace, in which she has served in almost every position available.
- J White was recognized for her invaluable contribution to building Grace's partnerships with other organizations. It was said that we need to get her a cot here at church, given that she's here most all the time.
- udy Handy was recognized for chairing the Worship Team and for planning virtually every Sunday's worship for many years.
- Ruth Bertram was recognized for her devoted work as Treasurer-another invisible job that requires a lot of focus and continual attention (as the current Treasurer will attest).
- Rhonda Sharp was recognized in absentia for her work as Office Coordinator, in which she has not only contributed many hours of her time, but has also created an administrative procedures book that helps all the office volutneers know what they're doing.
- Ken Lyon was recognized for his contribution as Communications guru for helping articulate the Grace Church vision to a broad audience. And for helping the Senior Warden.
- Long-time acolytes Mathias Mukasa, Maria Mukasa and newcomer Aiden Maxfield were thanked for their contribution to our worship services.
Junior Warden David Mukasa held up two people for special recognition: - Hawley Todd for his continuing work to make the spirituality and healing in general and the healing services specifically an integral and important part of Grace Church's contribution to the community.
- Carol Lyon for her leadership as Senior Warden over the past year.
John Thayer reminded us that next year marks the 150th anniversary of Grace Church. |
| Mark Your Calendar
Grace Church's Maundy Thursday service will be a shared service with St. Stephens at St. Stephens Church, starting with a soup supper at 6pm and a service at 7pm, the Rev. Anne Warrington Wilson presiding. St. Stephens is located at 9191 Daly Rd. The Celebration of Wholeness and Healing this month is the 3rd (next) Wednesday at 7pm. Always a GREAT mix of healing energies. Reiki, Crystals, Healing Touch, chit chat, friends, a talk by Hawley Todd and drumming led by Bob Laake. Come for healing and/or to share your healing love and joy with the community. Grace continues to host a free Community Dinner every Wednesday from 5pm to 7pm. All are invited to share in food and fellowship. 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, 513-541-2415). See Grace Church worship services and participants' assignments here. |
 Selected Short Subjects
Our record is intact--this year we didn't cancel any Grace Church public event on account of weather. Interestingly, our Sunday attendance and the turnout at our weekly Community Dinner didn't decrease appreciably on bad weather days. Apparently people are hungry for spiritual and caloric nourishment no matter what the weather. Of course, if coming to church would present a danger to yourself or others, you should stay home. *** We need help doing a little cleanup after Snack 'n Chat Sunday mornings. If you're at Snack 'n Chat, please check to see if your help is needed cleaning up afterwards. It'll only take a few minutes, and will set a good example for others using the kitchen. *** If cleanup isn't your cuppa tea, we could also use some help looking at alternative energy suppliers for Grace Church. in 2014, we spent $25,000 on energy--over 20% of our total budget. The Cathedral says they save 10% with an alternative supplier. If you can help, contact Treasurer Ken Lyon (513-382-6401, treasurer@gracecollegehill.org).
***
Next Dimension Family Worship Center has moved to a building of their own at 6640 Montgomery Road in Kennedy Heights. *** The Diocese has a new web site at diosohio.org. It looks pretty good and it's intended to make it a lot easier to find things. Check it out! *** Free Spring Family Science Night is coming at LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Center, on Friday, April 10 at 6:30pm. It's close to Grace--just one block east on Hillcrest Road, and then a block South on Lanius Lane. The Wizard of the Woods is back again and ready to take you on a twilight outdoor adventure. Continue your exciting evening in the nature center with a make-it-take-it science creation for spring. Dress for the weather, a short hike is part of the program. Reservations are required by April 8, 2015. Free Program. For more information or to reserve your spot, call (513)542-2909 or email Jason Watson atjason.watson@cincinnati-oh.gov. *** The furnace that heats the Small Assembly Room has quit working and will apparently take a while to fix. Happily the other six furnaces are still working. *** Aaron Fleming is offering a free gentle yoga class for those of us who are older and/or are not so flexible on Tuesday, April 14 from 4:30 to 5:45pm. The new 7-week class will start the following week. Contact Aaron via collegehillyoga.com. |
Q uote to Ponder
"Aim at the sun, you may not reach it: but your arrow will fly higher than if aimed at an object on a level with yourself." Thanks to Carol Lyon for contributing this quote from the Quotations of Joel Hawes. |
 Retreat for Youth at Procter Center The diocesan youth department will host a spiritual retreat for youth in the diocese, similar to our Genesis and Exodus retreats in years past. This retreat will focus on what the youth want, particularly where we feel God calling us. We will let the youth attending this retreat help mold and shape the spiritual experience they are looking for. We will have worship opportunities, time for reflection and fellowship, tons of singing, games and fun in a wonderful community. We are hoping to provide a space for youth to grow closer to God in a safe and fun environment. The retreat will be held April 10 through 12 for grades 6 through 12. The cost is $40, and scholarships are available on request. Register here. |
 Altar Flowers Altar flowers on March 15 are donated by John Thayer in loving memory of his mother Helaine and his sister Christine. Altar flowers on March 29 are donated by Virginia and Calvin Chapel in celebration of 26 years of marriage. Altar flowers on April 19 are donated by Rhonda Partin Sharp in loving memory of her father Estil Partin on his heavenly birthday. Altar flowers on April 26 are donated by Rhonda Partin Sharp in loving memory of her father Estil Partin on his April 27 birthday. If you would like to donate for altar flowers on any Sunday, please sign the Flower Sheet by the Belmont door or call the church office or email spikelyon@gmail.com or donate online at gracecollegehill.org. |
Come With Us to the Best Practices Conference at Procter  The Diocese's Commission on Congregational Life's 2015 Best Practices Conference, "Fierce Conversations," will be held Saturday, March 21 from 9am to 4pm at Procter Center. They say, "Use Fierce Conversations to engage in more productive relationships and create an organizational culture where candor and curiosity are the expectation."
Congregations who receive CoCL grants (Grace Church received s grant of $10,000 this year) are expected to attend. In my experience, these "best practices" conferences have often provided valuable nuggets, either in the presentations themselves, and/or through conversations with other attendees. And the conversations as we ridepool to and from the conference are also often quite valuable. There is no cost and a nice lunch is provided. Registration is required. If you want to attend, let Ken Lyon (513-382-6401, webmaster@gracecollegehill.org) know and he'll register us all. Carpools should leave the church at 7:15am. Let me know if you can drive or if you want to ridepool. |
 Thanks to ... ... Gary Armstrong for playing flute to glorify God at the Ash Wednesday service. ... members of Hawley Todd's Education for Ministry classes for donating over $3000 to be used to replace the windows in the parlor. We look forward to a less drafty room. ... the office volunteer team. It can be hard with a different volunteer in the office each day, but we work well enough together, communicate well and get along so well that we just make it work week after week. ... Ken Lyon for taking a week out to recover the office computer from a hard drive crash. ... Carol Lyon and Hawley Todd from Rhonda Sharp. I came to the Episcopal Church a little over three years ago from another denomination that was very different, so it has been a lot to learn. Hawley has stood by me as a spiritual guide/mentor almost since day one, and Carol has helped me so much with processes and procedures since she took over as Senior Warden. If you want to thank anyone in the congregation for something they did week (leading the meditation in the Friday Prayer and Meditation group, going above and beyond on a routine responsibility, donating food or cooking for the Community Dinner, etc.) then please send that thank you to Ken Lyon (eGraceNotes@gracecollegehill.org) or the office (office@gracecollegehill.org), so they can be recognized. |
 Prayers and Thanksgivings
Virginia Chapel asks for prayers for daughter Darise and other students at Miami University, who are grieving over the death of a fellow student, who was murdered recently.
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, Rhonda and D.L. Sharp, The Partin Family, Maree White, Our President and Our Country, Albertha Howard and DeConte Howard, Christian, Peter Hawkins, Judy Handy, Madeena Nolan, Gwynne and Naomi Gabbard, Mae Armstead, James McNabb, Paul, Katharine Thayer, Grace Moore, Stella Parker, Jim and Nancy Vath, Darryl, Anne, Caleb, and Joshua Handy, Father Hufford, Father Ray Betts and Mary McLain, Ken Lyon, Cyndi Miller, Gene, Wilson, David Malis, Jo Carroll, Dean Gail Greenwell, Beth Hall, Geraldine Stallworth, Earl Sharp, Virginia Chapel and Family, MaryAnn Chappelear, Jane Davis, Kiki, and Desmond. Prayers are asked for members often not able to come to church: Elizabeth Kelly, Janet Henthorn, Naomi Koester, Elva Gscheidle, Jo Carroll, Anne Henneberg, Raymond Betts. 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. |
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