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4000 Miles
Come see this warm hearted play about the relationship between a grandmother and her grandson, featuring our very own Pat Terry. August 21st at 7pm at the Galena Center for the Arts. There is a suggested $8 donation.
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Spending many hours alone in the car on a road trip across three states presents lots of time for the mind to wander--and wonder. I wish I could capture some of the more brilliant (!) thoughts and insights that have gone through my head. But, alas, after entering into the hustle and bustle of life with my two grandsons, they have either vanished or no longer seemed so brilliant.
One thing that caught my attention this year was some unusual advertising on I-80 at the outskirts of North Platte, Nebraska--both entering and leaving this community. Perhaps some of you have seen this. In a number of spots along the highway are mixing containers from cement trucks. They are white with only a logo and name in red. Nothing else. No description of what the company does, no phone number, e-mail address, or website. The logo is eye catching but does not, to this outsider at least, give any indication of what the product or service might be. The cement mixer might indicate some kind of construction, but that could be a variety of things.
Well, the wonders of Google brought me these images as well as a website, Facebook page and many other resources about Paulsen's offerings, so my curiosity was satisfied.
My wondering, though, had more to do with the vehicle used for advertising. Its uniqueness might well make someone curious and, perhaps, enough so to go to Google. It did for me, even though I am not in the market for anything related to cement.
My interest is in the possibility that the Paulsen brand is so well known as to speak for itself. Without a tagline. Without a logo that explicitly communicates what it is about. Now that I know, I can see what might be interlocking bricks. But at first glance, to this clergy person, it could have been a stylized cross with interlocking ministries. Or many other things, depending on the observer.
This may have piqued my interest because I have encountered a number of churchy articles about branding lately. And even more about rebranding by churches who are seeking to refine or change their image. So, I was wondering about our Episcopal Church's new initiatives around "The Way of Love," "Reclaiming Jesus," "Beloved Community" along with the various graphic messages that accompany them. I was also thinking about our own Grace Church newish logo incorporated into our new website as well as the other ways we are trying to project a consistent and cohesive message to the public.
It would be wonderful to find a perfect image that speaks for itself the way the Paulsen cement mixers seem to do--at least to locals who have some knowledge of the company and its reputation. On the other hand, outsiders wouldn't get it.
Clearly, there are some visual images that are universally recognized--the golden arches. Hood or grill ornaments on cars. The Olympic rings. The NBC peacock. And these images carry with them peoples' experiences and attitudes--and hopefully, what the organization stands for. And large, large sums of money are spent trying to get just the right design, colors, and feel.
I am not looking to change our logo--I think it looks good, and we need to live into the website for a time. But I would hope we would give some thought to the images and messages that we offer to the community--through our visuals and also through our presence as a people of faith in our particular time and place. So that our visual identification comes to reflect our ways of being and our actions
in peoples
minds
. May all that we portray in who we are and what we do speak of welcome and openness, and the way of love and respect.
See you in church!
Gloria+
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The word for this week is wisdom. Sometimes we view wisdom as akin to intelligence, as an intellectual capacity, but the readings this week move us into a whole different experience of wisdom as something that is gained through intimate union with God in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and that is lived in simple but practical ways in our daily lives.
READINGS
Proverbs 9:1-6: Wisdom has built her house and she invites all who lack wisdom to come to her table, eat her food and drink her wine, abandon their foolishness and find understanding.
Psalm 34:9-14: Those who honour God lack nothing, and God is honoured by those who do not speak evil or lies, who do good and seek peace.
Ephesians 5:15-20: Paul encourages the Ephesian Christians to live wisely and in the power of God's Spirit that fills them, and to encourage one another through songs and through worship and thanksgiving to God.
John 6:51-58: Jesus continues proclaiming that he is the Bread of Life, inviting the people to eat his flesh and drink his blood as true food and drink. Those who do this will live, he promises, unlike those who died even after eating the bread in the wilderness.
If the Lectionary is to be believed this week, wisdom is found by uniting ourselves with Christ, by "eating his flesh and drinking his blood", by taking his presence and purpose into ourselves, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. This requires two movements in our daily living. Firstly, we need to recapture the discipline of daily spiritual practice - prayer, Scripture reading and Christlike action Secondly, we need to allow our union with Christ to overflow into lives of gracious, generous, gentle, and humble living. It is when we commit to union with God and to living from God's wisdom, that we are able to bring the life of Christ into our homes, our churches, our neighbourhoods and our communities. This means rejecting many of the values of our society - instant gratification and consumerism, accumulation and rampant individualism, protectionism and the avoidance of diversity. It also means learning to live in the same self-giving way that Jesus did, for when we all learn to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others, we discover the wisdom and life that we all are able to enjoy together. The quest for wisdom, then, is not just about how we think, but about how we live, and it is only in union with God and in the strength of God's Spirit that we can hope to embrace this life.
The thumbnails
come from sacredise.com,
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Formation Ministries News
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Theological Thrillers
We are now unveiling our 2018-2019 season. This fall will be devoted to C. S. Lewis's "space trilogy" (three interplanetary novels with a theological theme), with Larry Poston and Mary Lou Smith as discussion leaders. We'll take time out with a session on a little-read long story ("The Escaped Cock") by D. H. Lawrence, Bill Boehler leading the discussion. Drop in and out of the season as you wish but plan to do the reading whenever you do come. Opening session is on C. S. Lewis's novel,
Out of the Silent Planet,
on Saturday, September 20, 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the parish hall.
For further information on the fall schedule, click here, or ask Larry Poston (
[email protected]
) for a copy of the year's plans. Winter and spring meetings have not yet been scheduled.
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Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs)
There will be a short meeting for Lay Eucharistic Ministers in the chapel immediately after church on Sunday, August 19, 2018. Our agenda will be a review of our current practices and suggestions for changes/improvements. Contact Bonnielynn Kreiser (815-777-1468) with any questions.
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Furniture Ministry
On Sunday, August 19, Steve Barg will present a Mission Moment on the Furniture Ministry that is sponsored by the Galena Rotary chapter and supported by the Grace Outreach Ministries.
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Good week for progress:
Outside work will finished for the most part next week when the window over the stair landing is delivered, installed and then the siding and battens will be put on that section. At least S&R told me the window would be delivered net week. Drain by back door has been enlarged to help handle the deluge rains that seem to be more normal that unusual. "Construction doors" have been put on back of floor one and two to cut down the rain coming in. They are NOT the final doors. I took at look at them and was about to come unhinged, so to speak. They told me they are just temps. Whew.
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Board and batten look with lower window frames |
Trying to get the gothic window frames to deliver if they can be separated from the rest of the window reconstruction. If we can get those in place, they can finish the trim in that area.
Inside this week has been insulation, dry wall, mudding, more electrical work. Details on details getting done.
Had two visits with S&R this week - visit on Tuesday
was to explain doors needed inside building, Visit 2 today was to re-explain doors needed. (Yes, Larry, S&R is challenged by their own lack of communication).
Believe AC units are all connected and Carl is working on the controls.
Stop in on Sunday if you can. Fun to see the progress.
Thanks a
ll.
Pete Stryker
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Vestry Liaisons
V
estry Liaisons' primary purpose is to assure two-way communications between the various groups and the
Vestry,
to represent the groups for resources
or
policy issues, and to
support
their
events
an
d activities.
Worship:
Rector
Building and Grounds:
Pete Stryker (Sr. Warden 2017-2019)
Worship Committee: Pam Malik
(class of 2019)
Formation and Spirituality:
Greg Serwich (Jr. Warden 2018-2019)
Fellowship &
Hospitality: Anita Sands (class of 2021)
Pastoral Care/
LEMs: Bonnielynn Kreiser
(class of 2020)
Outreach:
Tony Packard (class of 2021)
Deb Pausz (class of 2019)
Communications: Larry Poston (class of 2020)
Governance: Wardens & Rector
Officers:
Pete Stryker, Senior Warden
Greg Serwich, Junior Warden
R
ichard Luther, Treasurer
Elizabeth Ludescher, Clerk
Rect
or
: The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell
Administrative Asst.: Fräni Beadle
Organist/Pianist: Robin French, Nancy Cook
Choir Director: Pat Terry
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Grace Galena Sermon
10th after Pentecost |
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| Grace Galena Sermon 11th after Pentecost |
The sermon audios along with recent archives can also be accessed on the new Grace website under the worship tab or here at: sermons
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August 19, 2018
Sunday Morning Eucharist
13th Sunday after Pentecost
For quick reference, find Sunday's readings by clicking here:
The Lectionary
Ministers of the Service:
Lector:
Steve Coates
1st Chalicist:
Bill Foltz
Karlyn Van Gelder
Acolyte:
Donna Davis
Vestry Coordinator:
Anita Sands
Greeter:
Amy Hardwicke
Altar Guild:
Pam Malik & Diann Marsh
Presider: Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell
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14th after Pentecost
August 26, 2018
Eucharistic readings
Psalm 34:15-22
Ephesians 6:10-20
John 6:56-69
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For a current prayer list, click on the following link:
Grace Prayer List
The
Request For Prayers notebook is in the Narthex/ Entrance area of the Church. Please feel free to request prayers for yourself or others at any time by filling out a form or contacting the office by either phone or email. May we first and always be "a people of prayer."
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7:30 am
Midweek Morning Eucharist
8:10 am
Community Breakfast at Victory Café
Cursillo Reunion
St. Francis Room
Morning Bible Study Parish House (No meetings in August)
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| Wednesdays at 7pm
Saturdays at 10am
(Choir practice will resume in September)
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For current and
upcoming events, download a copy of the calendar with this link:
August OR check out the goog
le
calendar on the new website
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Copies of sermons and e-Blasts are available on the Narthex table.
Comments on this e-Blast may be sent here
Sermons are
often posted as audio files on the rector's Facebook page.
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**
If you put out trash, please put in a secure trash can.
Thanks to all for your cooperation. **
8/19 - Davis
9/2 - Available
9/9 - Available
R
eminder for hosts:
Napkins and plates
are provided. Use
what you need from
our pantry to the right
of the coffee maker.
Remember: Keep it simple. We usually have about 20-25 attending.
**Coffee schedule sign up is in the Parish House kitchen.**
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You can now get information on Formation Ministries directly from the new Grace website at the following links: Children and Youth Adults
Spiritual Practices
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If you are in need of assistance while ill or recovering: meals, transportation, visits, please contact the
Ministry of Care
facilitators:
o Carol Poston
o Charlotte Kennedy who can assist you and connect you with parishioners who have trained and commited to this ministry that includes Parish Visitors, Meals, Rides, as well as the ongoing Servants through Prayer, LEMs, and the Greeting Card ministry.
Ministry of Care Leadership
Team:
Facilitators : Carol Poston, Charlotte Kennedy
Clergy Advisors: Gloria Hopewell, Linda Packard
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DEADLINES !
News and prayer requests:
Sunday
Bulletin --
Wed. end of day.
e-Blast:
Thursday noon.
Anniversaries and Birthdays
Have your celebrations been missed in our bulletins?
Send to Frani.
Thank y
ou!
News and Photos
f
or e-Blast!
People
want to know
what's going on at Grace! T
here are places
here for your
event,
program, or
interesting tidbit.
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