DON'T FORGET! There will be NO worship at Grace on October 7. We will celebrate World Communion Sunday with friends from four Galena churches. As in previous years, the service will begin at 10:15 am at the Galena Center for the Arts, lower level. Refreshments will follow.

 

Rides to Vote

If anyone one needs a ride to the court house for either early voting or their polling place on November 6th, election day, please contact one of the following: Al or Cathie Elsbree 815-777-2469, Georgia Hansen 312-771-4946, or Bonnielynn Kreiser 815-777-1468.

Many, many thanks for this birthday bouquet! Its presentation during last Sunday's birthday blessings was quite a surprise! For some reason, I had not even begun to think of my approaching birthday. Perhaps it was due to the jet lag after my recent trip to France. Or maybe because there have been so many birthdays, and the years fly by so quickly these days! Anyway, the flowers have brightened my life this week as I have tried to regain my "normal" rhythm after two weeks of a very different kind of living, at least in terms of schedule, activity, and the extra energy it takes to communicate without common language.

     What a treat it was to spend time with the French people who visited Galena last October. I did not spend a great deal of time with them. I did not host anyone in my house, but I did greet them when they used our Parish House for their meetings and English lessons. So the chance to get to know them better was quite special.  

      We saw stunning sights--of medieval villages and castles,  churches and museums. We cruised on rivers and canals, and sampled the regional cuisine and wines. We studied French in the mornings and toured in the afternoons and/or evenings. Then, the last few days, we had some time on our own, and people scattered to various places from mountains to seas in southwest France and in Spain.

      Speaking of churches and museums: one thing broke my heart. There were so very many churches open to the public, some medi eval, others neo-gothic, but all lovely in their own ways. Yet very few hold any services any longer. Those that do seem to have few or alternat e among different sites. Some have been turned into muse ums or restaurants. And one, s till with bright and vivid walls and stained glass windows, and a shining pulpit mounted above the nave, is now an antique store filled with upscale furniture and decorative

       And in a dark hallway outside, there was a pile of fabric that turned out to be discarded vestments and altar hangings. I ended up buying a chasable--a "fiddleback" that isn't unknown in the Episcopal Church but certainly not commonly seen. Maybe I will have an opportunity to wear it some time!  In honor of the faithful who built and worshiped in these churches.

 

See you in church,

Gloria+      

The Rev. Jim McCrea, pastor at 1st Presbyterian Church will be the preach at our World Communion celebration on Sunday. I have been advised that he will not be preaching from the lectionary. I am providing the regular readings, however, for any readers who may use this column as an individual study or prayer practice.

READINGS

Genesis 2:18-24: God seeks to provide a companion for the man, so he brings all the animals for the man to name, but no companion is found. Then God creates woman, and the man celebrates her, as one like himself.

Psalm 8: God is majestic, yet notices human beings, making them just a little lower than the angels and putting them over all of creation as God's stewards.

Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12: God has spoken, as never before, through Jesus Christ, who was made a little lower than angels for a time in order to lead human beings - whom he calls sisters and brothers - to salvation.

Mark 10:2-16: The religious leaders challenge Jesus on whether it is acceptable to divorce one's wife. Jesus says that the law allowed it only because of our hard hearts, but that if someone divorces and remarries, they commit adultery. Then, when the disciples scold those who bring children to Jesus to be blessed, Jesus stops them and tells them that God's kingdom belongs to those who are like children, and that if we don't welcome children, we cannot be part of God's Reign.

Human beings are not created to live alone, but for connection, community and relationship. Our relationships are not just with one another, but with the God who created us as well. But, all of these relationships are destroyed when we become unfaithful, or we when we allow our commitments to be weakened or broken by life's turmoil, or by our own hardness of heart. But, when we remain faithful, our relationships become the place where we experience the grace and salvation of God, and where the Reign of God is dramatically revealed.

The thumbnails and reflections come from sacredise.com,

THE RECTOR and OUTREACH MINISTRIES have received a special invitation to the Celebration of Companion Relationship with Diocese of Renk on Saturday, October 27 at St. Michael's, Barrington. In addition to the celebration of the diocesan partnership, Grace Church will be recognized for its 15 year relationship with Glory Parish!   

 

It would be wonderful to have a group of Grace folk join me in attending this event. And, I would also love to have any of your stories about the parish partnership as it goes back several years before my time at Grace. Here is the scoop:

   

On October 27 from 10 am to 1 pm, Bishop Lee and Bishop Joseph Garang Atem of the Diocese of Renk in the Episcopal Church of South Sudan will host a celebration of the partnership between the two dioceses at  St. Michael's Episcopal Church  in Barrington.

 

Beverages and pastries will be provided in the m orning and lunch will be served at noon. The event is free and open to the public;  please use this link to RSVP by October 20 . For more information email Jackie Kraus  or call the St. Michael's office at 847.381.2323.

 

Please let me know if you would be interested in attending with me!

  

Gloria+