Grace Episcopal Church   
 
March 10, 2019
1st Sunday in Lent
                         10:30 am
 
 
 
 
Coming Right Up! 

Movie Night 6 pm on Friday, March 8th  
 "Good Night, and Good Luck" will begin at 6 in the Parish House: In the mid-1950's Edward R. Murrow and his producer, Fred Friendly, help bring an end to the tyranny of the blacklist and the House Un-American Activities Committee's anti-Communist hearings. With the platform provided by his CBS News program "See It Now," Murrow challenges Joseph McCarthy on his claims that hundreds of avowed Communists are working covertly as Soviet spies in the U.S. government, among other allegations, and that they have the power to destroy lives and careers. It was a threat to the United States and the Constitution that some of us recall. Here's the trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv4s0w 
 
It's a brown bag/bring your own snack event. Coffee and hot water for tea will be provided. Spirited discussion will follow the film.  
Invite people you know to enjoy this free event and meet the rest of us movie buffs.

 
CURRENT AND POTENTIAL LECTOR TRAINING 
Ronn Toebaas will lead a Lector Workshop on March 9 at 2:00 pm. This will be for all current lectors and those wishing to become lectors. If you are unavailable on that date, a make-up date of March 18 at 7:00 pm has been set.  Please let Terri Jackman know which date you will attend by e-mailing her at
 
Lenten Soup and Supper Begins Tuesday, March 12
All sessions will take place at Galena United Methodist Church with the soup supper at 6pm and discussion at 6:45pm. The first session will be:  "Jerusalem: Risking Reputation," hosted by Revs. Hopewell & McKay.  See the full description below under "Formation Ministries."
  
Canapes & Conversations
will be hosted by Al & Cathie Elsbree on March 15th in the Parish Hall with a special presentation by Steve Dowe on the History & Geography of South Sudan and Grace Church's relationship with the Diocese of Renk. Please bring a friend, a nibble and a beverage to share. All are welcome!
Rector's Ramblings 
Since March 1, Grace Church has already engaged in some deeply meaningful acts of worship and liturgy. Last week, we joined other churches at Lord of Love to celebrate World Day of Prayer, this time with a service prepared by the Women of Slovakia. Each year, the service includes stories from women's lives along with prayers and songs.

On the 6th, we entered into Lent with our two Ash Wednesday services. In the morning, the chapel was filled for the spoken service of Eucharist with the imposition of ashes. In the evening, the choir joined us. And in between, Alan Oyen and I went out into the community to distribute ashes in our own version of "Ashes to Go." We visited Galena Stauss nursing home and adult day care where both residents and staff received ashes. We also visited our parishioners at Prairie Ridge. The people we touched were a mixture of lifelong churched folk who could no longer get to a service, health care workers whose work schedules prevented them from attending their own churches, and some new to the faith. Several had never received ashes before. 

In a video message recorded while visiting Episcopal Relief & Development work sites in Puerto Rico, Bishop Jeff Lee invites us
to engage in a Lenten practice that helps us become the people of hope God is calling us to be.  

March 1, 2019 
March 1, 2019

I invite you, too, to include worship at Grace Church as part of your Lenten spiritual practice as we accompany Jesus through his final days of earthly ministry to Jerusalem and his Passion. May we each experience, in our own lives, the joys, the teachings, and the companionship that followers shared with Jesus, so that we, too, might be prepared to carry on his love and mercy.

See you in church!
Gloria+
Preparation for Sunday  
As we move into Lent, it is tempting to make services solemn and dark, to preach hellfire and brimstone and to focus on all the evil in the world that we must oppose.  However, there is also a lot to inspire celebration and joy. This first week in Lent offers us an invitation to a life of abundance - found in the practice of spiritual disciplines and in the freedom of taking responsibility for our own light and darkness. And it assures us of God's care and protection throughout.
     We move to the Rite I Penitential form this season, entering in silence, and on the first Sunday only, chant the Great Litany in procession.

READINGS:
Deuteronomy 26:1-11: Instructions to bring the first produce from each crop as a thanksgiving offering to God, and a recognition of God's care, provision and liberation of God's people in the past and the present.
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16: A psalm celebrating God's care and protection of those who dwell in God, and make God's presence their safe refuge.
Romans 10:8b-13: The message of faith in Christ that ensures that we will never be disgraced, because all who call on God's name are saved.
Luke 4:1-13: Jesus is tempted by the devil in the wilderness. He is challenged to turn stones into food, to jump from the top of the temple, and to gain all the world's wealth and glory by bowing to the tempter. But, he resists, using God's word as his guide.

There are so many things at issue in this week's readings, and similarly in our lives today: issues of identity; issues of security; issues of power; issues of appetite and consumption. It is out of these issues - and the knowledge that it is only "under the shadow of God's wing" that we can hope to face them satisfactorily - that the three Lenten disciplines emerge - fasting (to confront our consumption and appetites); giving of time, abilities and resources (to confront our love of power and pride); prayer (to confront our self-dependence and security issues). As individuals, and as faith communities, embracing these practices - not just in Lent - is the easiest way to confront the evil within and without. As Mother Teresa famously said: "It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness."

The thumbnails and reflections excerpted from sacredise.com
Administrator's Notes 
Notwithstanding our new parking lot, parking still is at a premium on Sundays. Last Sunday, three cars took up two parking spaces each by parking out of the designated space lines on the street. Hence, three cars had to be parked farther from the church, making for a longer, colder, more dangerous walk back to the church. The moral of this story: Park unto others as you would have them park unto you.
Outreach Ministries Update 
UNITED CHURCHES OF GALENA FOOD PANTRY

The next River Bend Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry will take place on March 23rd at Cross Roads Community Church. Volunteers are always needed. Come at 10 am to volunteer. Food recipients register beginning at 10:15 and distribution begins at 11.

Formation Ministries  
LENTEN SOUP AND STUDY SERIES
Imagine "Entering the Passion of Jesus" with a Jewish scholar! For six Tuesday evenings we will delve into this study by Amy Jill Levine, Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. All sessions will take place at Galena United Methodist Church with the soup supper at 6pm and discussion at 6:45pm. Please sign up and join us!
       
March 12     Jerusalem: Risking Reputation
Hosted by Revs. Hopewell & McKay
March 19     The Temple: Risking Righteous Anger
Hosted by First Presbyterian Church
March 26    Teachings: Risking Challenge
Hosted by Westminster Presbyterian Church
April 2         The First Dinner: Risking Rejection
Hosted by Lord of Love Lutheran Church
April 9         The Last Supper: Risking the Loss of Friends
 Hosted by Grace Episcopal Church
April 16        Gethsemane: Risking Temptation
Hosted by Galena United Methodist Church
Cooking with God's Bounty 
   
Ingredients
  • 4-5 pound corned beef brisket
  • 2 onions , peeled and quartered
  • 4 garlic cloves , whole
  • 1 green cabbage , cut into 4-8 wedges
  • 8-12 small to medium potatoes , whole
  • 6-8 carrots , peeled and cut in half
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • water
Instructions
  • Place corned beef brisket, onions and garlic cloves into a pot large enough to hold all the ingredients. If the corned beef has a separate seasoning packet, include that in the pot as well.
  • Add water, enough to cover the brisket and even try and add plenty that would cover the cabbage, potatoes and carrots when they are added to the pot.
  • Bring to a low boil and cook for 2 hours.
  • Add remaining ingredients. If necessary, add more water to cover all the vegetables.
  • Bring back to a low boil and cook for 1 more hour or until all the vegetables are tender.
Leadership  
Vestry Liaisons

V estry Liaisons' primary purpose is to assure two-way communications between the various ministries and the  Vestry,  to represent the ministries for resources or  policy issues, and to  support  their  events  an d activities.

Worship:                               Rector                        
Building and Grounds:        
Greg Serwich (Sr. Warden 2018-2020)   
Worship Committee:            Charlotte Stryker (class of 2022)
        
Formation
and Spirituality:
   Elizabeth Ludescher (class of 2022)  
 
Fellowship & Hospitality:     Anita Sands (class of 2021)                 
Pastoral Care/ LEMs:           Bonnielynn Kreiser (class of 2020)  
Outreach:                             Tony Packard (class of 2021)     
Communications:                 Larry Poston (class of 2020)
      
Governance:                        Wardens & Rector 

Officers:                Greg Serwich, Senior Warden             
                     Junior Warden, Lynn Giles
                     R ichard Luther, Treasurer                    
                     Diann Marsh, Clerk      
                     
Rect or :                          The Rev. Dr. Gloria Hopewell           

Parish Ad ministrator:     Fräni Beadle  
O rganist/Pianist:            Robin French, Nancy Cook        
Choir Director:               Pat Terry     
 
 
 
 
 
This Sunday 
In This Issue
Title
Coming Right Up!
Taking Note of This Sunday
Next Sunday's Readings
Grace's Prayer List
Meetings this Week
Choir Schedule
Calendar
Ministry of Care
Ministry of Care
Boring Details
March 10, 2019
Sunday Morning  
Lent 1     
10:30am 
 
For quick reference, find Sunday's readings by clicking here:
The Lectionary

Ministers of the
Service:
Lector:
Greg Serwich
1st Chalicist:
Elizabeth Ludescher
2nd Chalicist: 
Karlyn Van Gelder
Acolyte:
Molly Beadle
Vestry Coordinator:
?
Greeter: Karen Serwich
Altar Guild: Alice Maffit & Fräni Beadle
Presider:  
The Very Rev. Gloria Hopewell

Next Sunday's
Readings: 
Lent 2
March 17, 2019
Eucharistic readings
for your own study:   
 
Genesis 15:1-12,17-18    
Psalm 27   
Philippians 3:17-4:1 
Luke 13:31-35
Grace's Prayer List
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."
Meetings this Week 
Parish House Art Group
Tuesday, 12:30 pm

Ministry of Care
Tuesday, 2 pm
 
Wednesday Events  
7:30 am
Midweek Morning Prayer
 
8:10 am
Community Breakfast at Victory Café   
 
Cursillo Reunion  
St. Francis Room
 
10:30 am
Morning Bible Study Parish House
All are welcome!
Grace's Choir Practice
Wednesdays at 7pm
Saturdays at 10am
Looking Ahead 
For current and upcoming events, download a copy of the calendar with this link:    
March  OR check out the goog le
calendar on the new website
Sunday Social Hour Hosts
** If you put out trash, please put in a secure trash can. Thanks to all for your cooperation. **
 

3/10 - Banas
3/17 - Berry
3/24 - Beadle  
 
R eminder for hosts:
Napkins and plates are provided. Use what you need from our pantry under the coffee maker.  Remember: Keep it simple. We usually have about 35-40 attending.
Also, do not forget to turn off stove/oven, lights, take out trash, and lock the door. 

  **Coffee schedule sign up is on the bulletin board in the Parish House.**
Formation Schedule  
You can now get information on Formation Ministries directly from the new Grace website at the following links: Children and Youth Adults
Spiritual Practices

Ministry of Care 
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

Sermons and e-Blasts 
 
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.   Comments on this e-Blast may be sent here.
   
Audio files of sermons are posted on the Grace Church website as well as in the next week's e-Blast. They also may be found on the church's FB page. 
Paper copies are available upon request. 
 
   
 
Grace Galena Sermon 7th after Epiphany 2019 
Grace Galena Sermon 7th after Epiphany 2019

Grace Galena Sermon Transfiguration 2019 
Grace Galena Sermon Transfiguration 2019


 
   The Rev Dr. Gloria Hopewell, Rector
Cell Phone:  773-988-3497

Grace Episcopal Church Office:
107 S. Prospect Street
Galena, IL 61036
815-777-2590