Annual Meeting--Sunday, January 27th   

 

This year, elections include electing a new Junior Warden as the Senior Warden's two year term has come to a close. The Nominating Committee's slate that will be presented to the membership by the Vestry is:

Greg Serwich, Senior Warden 

Lynn Giles, Junior Warden

Elizabeth Ludescher and Charlotte Stryker, Vestry  

 

The Way of Love: An Epiphany Opportunity

Please consider joining during the Epiphany season, this study of the "Way of Love." Even if you were unable to attend previous sessions, you are welcome to join in at any time.   In each of our meetings, there will be prayer, check-in, discussion, practicing the Way of L ove, check-out, and worship.

 

We meet on Tuesday afternoons, from 2:00 - 3:30,  concluding March 5.  

 

Lenten Meditation Booklets

The Lenten Meditation booklet is being prepared and everyone has a chance to participate.  You can receive an envelope with instructions and assigned readings after church on Sunday or you could phone if you're not planning on being in church.  The deadline for submissions is February 22 in church or February 24th by email. Carmen Ferguson and Diann Marsh are editing this years' booklet and you can phone either one to request an assignment.  Carmen 815 777 2309 or Diann 815 777 8984.  

 

Grace Movie Night, beginning February 22nd

Christ encouraged his disciples and, through them, us to look for the Kingdom of God in our earthly kingdoms, principalities, communities and lives. (Thankfully, nobody said the search can't be entertaining!)

 

Starting February 22nd, each 4th Friday of the month we'll be having a movie night in the Parish Hall, beginning at 6 p.m., to be followed by a discussion. For our "premier event", we'll be going back to the 1962 movie production of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize winning book: "To Kill a Mockingbird", starring Gregory Peck in an Oscar winning performance as Atticus Finch. Here are some insightful excerpts from a film review by Ed McNulty (writing for "Read the Spirit"):

 

Both the book and the film deserve all the praise and respect that they have garnered through the years. What a wonderful opportunity the film offers people of faith to explore such topics as racism, courage, nonviolence and most of all, integrity. And I should also add, they present us with one of the most admirable Christ figures of all time."

 

More details will follow. 

This Sunday, being Annual Meeting Sunday, our worship ends in a different manner. As all that we do in church, whether it be worship or learning or even the business of the congregation is centered in Christ and our faith, we try to emphasize the wholeness of our work. We do this by placing our meeting within the framework of worship. Therefore, the meeting will begin at the conclusion of Holy Communion, and the Blessing and Dismissal will take place after the adjournment of the meeting. Most of this will take place in the nave, but as the final report will be given using our new wide screen TV, we will move to the Parish Hall for the final act.

READINGS:

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a: Paul teaches that the Christian community is like a body with many parts. Each has a gift, and each must use their unique gift for the benefit of the "Body of Christ".

Luke 4:14-21: Jesus reads from Isaiah's scroll about God's anointing for ministry, and God's liberating work through God's anointed. Then, he claims this prophecy for himself.

In a world that can sometimes seem so random, this week in Epiphany gives us a vision of purpose. God's purpose - God's message - was read from the book of the law by Ezra to God's people. It is proclaimed, as the Psalmist declares, through all of creation. And it was the guiding force in Jesus' life and ministry. As he began his work, he proclaimed as his mandate the words of Isaiah's prophecy - God's saving and liberating "Jubilee" purpose. Now, as those who follow Christ, we are called, individually and together, to fulfil Christ's purpose, in our world and in our time. To do this, God has gifted each of us, and called us to work together as one Body, as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 12. Hearing God's word, allowing it to call and direct us, and working together as a body, a called community - these are the elements of this week's theme.