The Grace Vine April 2015

Rector’s Writ

After we’ve been to church to rejoice and give thanks to God on Easter, many of us enjoy Easter dinner with the family. The smaller children might get to have yet another Easter egg hunt, we get to have a little more chocolate than we’re used to, and we go home happy. Then Monday’s another day, another week. I like the fact that we Episcopalians celebrate Easter for fifty days; the “Great 50 Days” between Easter and . We get to hear in the Sunday readings how appeared to the women who went to the tomb, and how their report that Jesus wasn’t in the tomb was met with ‘terror & amazement.’ We hear how Jesus appears suddenly, mysteriously and greets his disciples, not with disappointment, but with peace; not with fault finding but with faith building visits; and he breathes the Holy Spirit on them. He tells a doubting Thomas something we remember centuries later: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” (John 20:29) He visits disciples when they’re afraid, uncertain and not sure what to do next. He tries to give them a dose of the ordinary, asking in Luke’s , do you have anything here to eat? It’s good that we have seven weeks to hear how Jesus encountered the disciples and how they came away from fear and locked doors and became changed people. The grace and hope we celebrate at Easter is important because the love of God given us in Jesus STILL has the power to change people. The love of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit can’t be contained to one Sunday story or one season in our Church year. It’s an ongoing story, in our church, in our lives, in our journey of faith. One of the big events for us during this Easter season will be the celebration of Grace Church’s 150th Anniversary. Our Open House will be Saturday, April 25th. We will remember and celebrate God’s kind provision, Christ’s grace, and the Spirit’s guidance…past, present, and future. Please invite your family and friends to attend, to explore, to play, and eat with us. We invite all people to join our celebration of the help, blessings, and faithful members God provides for Grace Church. We ask for our Lord’s continued grace and for the faith we need to worship God, serve one another, and walk with God as we begin these next years of the journey.

Easter blessings to you and yours. Carol+ Service and Lay Ministry Schedule If you cannot serve when scheduled, please find a substitute and call the parish office with that person’s name. Thank you for sharing in the liturgical ministry of Grace Church. Sunday, April 5 8:00 &10:00 AM Festive Holy Eucharist Easter Day

Celebrant The Rev. Carol Evans st Deacon The Rev. William Snyder 1 Reading Isaiah 25:6-9 Worship 8:00 Bette Brooks Nancy Lundgren Leaders 10:00 Carolyn Englert Greeters Nancy & Fred Lundgren Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Acolyte TBA nd Coffee Hosts 8:00 Joan & Frank Seman 2 Reading :34-43 10:00 Steve & Susan Merrill Fred Lundgren Altar Guild Nancy Lundgren & Cindy Hoskins Counters Barb Popiel & Fred Lundgren Gospel Mark 16:1-18

Sunday, April 12 8:00 & 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist 2 Easter Celebrant The Rev. Carol Evans st Deacon The Rev. William Snyder 1 Reading :32-35 Worship 8:00 Sally Dier Kathy Summy Leaders 10:00 Nancy Lundgren Greeters Jim & Nancy Ervin Psalm 133 Acolyte Eric Splinter nd Coffee Hosts 8:00 TBA 2 Reading 1 John 1:1—2:2 10:00 John & Mary Jean McDonald Tim Splinter Altar Guild Nancy Lundgren & Cindy Hoskins Counters Barb Popiel & Fred Lundgren Gospel John 20:19-31

Sunday, April 19 8:00 & 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist 3 Easter Celebrant The Rev. Carol Evans st Lay Reader 8:00 Bette Brooks 1 Reading :12-19 10:00 Roberta O’Keefe Croll Greeters Jeff & Lisa Marsh Acolyte Kevin Splinter Psalm 4 Coffee Hosts 8:00 Pat Williams nd 10:00 Lisa, Taylor, & Paige Paxton 2 Reading 1 John 3:1-7 Altar Guild Nancy Lundgren & Cindy Hoskins Jeff Croll Counters Barb Popiel & Fred Lundgren Emeritus Bill Snyder Gospel Luke 24:36b-48

Grace Church to Receive Ravens Special History Award from Ravenna Chamber

Reba Cook and Jack Chambers recently informed us that in recognition of Grace’s 150th Anniversary, the Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce will be giving our church their Ravens Special History Award. This will take place at the Chamber of Commerce Annual Ravens Award Reception & Dinner, 5:30pm on April 23rd at the Elk’s Club. Dinner tickets can be reserved for $30 per person until April 16th. It would be great to have some of our members present at this event. Many thanks to the Chamber of Commerce for honoring God and Grace Church with this award. Sunday, February 23 8:00 & 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist 7 Epiphany Celebrant The Rev. Carol Evans st Deacon The Rev. William Snyder 1 Reading Acts 4:5-12 Worship 8:00 Sally Dier Tim Splinter Leader s 10:00 Steve Merrill Greeters John & Mary Jean McDonald Psalm 23 Acolyte Jeff Marsh nd Coffee Hosts 8:00 Midge Meyers 2 Reading 1 John 3:16-24 10:00 Carol Marotta & Gail Richards Carolyn Englert Altar Guild Nancy Lundgren & Cindy Hoskins Counters Barb Popiel & Fred Lundgren Gospel John 10:11-18

Sunday, March 2 8:00 & 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist Last Epiphany Celebrant The Rev. Carol Evans st Worship 8:00 Bette Brooks 1 Reading :26-40 Leaders 10:00 Carolyn Englert Martha Croll Greeters Steve & Susan Merrill Acolyte David Miller Psalm 22:24-30 Coffee Hosts 8:00 Debbie Shorts & Rick Lashley nd 10:00 Jim & Nancy Ervin 2 Reading 1 John 4:7-21 Altar Guild Nancy Ervin & Barb Popiel Jeff Croll Counters Bette Brooks & Steve Merrill Emeritus Kathy Summy Gospel John 15:1-8

Episcopal Church Woman News

The ladies of the E.C.W. met on February 28th. A 9:00 a.m. breakfast was served to the 10 members present by Shirley Johnson, Pat Williams, Mary Jean McDonald and Marsha Snyder.

Among the topics of discussion were:  Fair Share to the Diocese and the Summit Area Mission Council.  We sent $100.00 to the Lillian Vallely Indian School in Idaho.  Easter Candy Sale will not take place this year due to time constraints.  The “Pamper Me” gift basket for the 150th Anniversary will include all the lovely donated gifts plus a $50.00 gift card from a local salon.  A trip to the First Ladies Museum will take place sometime in spring or summer. (When the weather allows.)  A suggestion to invite “God Girls on Wheels” program to Grace Church and have a light tea afterwards.

We all wish you will join us for our next meeting or activity. Did You Know?...

Two of our teenagers are involved in theater Congratulation Julie! … programs. Ravenna High School Junior, Jenna Eric & Tim Splinter spent a weekend in Ada, Summy is taking part in Ravenna Community Ohio at Ohio Northern University checking out Theater’s production of Shrek and has the role of colleges for Eric. They all went down to Case Peter Pan. It’s not the role she wanted but she really Western Reserve University where both Tim and knows how to jump and apparently Peter Pan needs Marcia went to get an official tour there too. to jump (of course he does). But that’s why she got Exciting and scary times… that role. Jenna gave a demonstration of her jumping Kevin Splinter’s HS baseball teams have skills in the parish hall on a Sunday and I must say managed to play 3 out of 7 games dodging the we were impressed. Shrek will take place at Ravenna weather. His JV team lost their opener 13-12 (and High School auditorium on April 10th & 11th at 7:30 only game played so far), but it was a well played p.m. and on April 12th at 2:00 p.m. game with few mistakes for Garfield. Not bad for the And Garfield High School student Eric Splinter first time out on a field for the year. Really, it was is in high school production of The King and I. Eric the first time they were able to get out on an infield and has two songs, and he’s a good singer. The to play!... Grace Church choir knows what a good singer he is Taylor Paxton will graduate from Stow High and just love having Eric and Jenna in our choir – School this year and she’s already enrolled at Akron they add so much to the music and the fun. Try not to University and shadowing at Mercy Hospital and miss any of these production. You can see the The spent time observing operating room and working King and I on Thursday, April 16 & Friday, April 17 with Pediatric Rehabilitation among other things… at 7:00 p.m. or Saturday, April 18th at 2:00 p.m. and Irene & John Machisko loves to play games 7:00 p.m. at Garfield High School theater… but Johnnie’s eye sight isn’t what it used. Their son On some very snowy and cold Wednesday David came from St. Louis to visit and brought a evenings of Lent, Carolyn Englert lead the Lenten very large Sequence game board he made for them. Program; A Grown-Up Lent --When Giving Up Which has really pleased his parents… Chocolate Isn’t Enough. After a light soup supper Babies are a real joy just ask Susan and Steve and lively conversation took place about our Merrill. Mary and J.D. Novak are the proud relationship with God and our responsibilities to parents of Dominik James born on March 18th. others and ourselves. We concluded with Compline. Brother Xavier is so excited about the new baby The members of our congregation that took part in brother and congratulations to Grandma Mechelle this program included: Rev. Carol, Brian & Mary Novak. And Bill Snyder’s niece had a baby this Jane Josza, Judy Canan, Kay Canan, Rachelle month that will be two years younger than her Seiter, Carol Marotta, Fred & Nancy Lundgren, grandson… Shirley & Mike Johnson, Bette Brooks, Marsha & The Retired Men’s Breakfast has been taken over Bill Snyder, Midge Myers, Mechele Novak. Many by women. Some women of our parish meet at the thanks to those who brought soup including Kay Brimfield Steak House along with the men (but at Canan, Bill Snyder, Mary Jane Gear-Jozsa, our own table), so ladies if you want to join us; we Nancy Lundgren, and Rev. Carol... meet the third Thursday of the month at 8:00 a.m… Nancy Lundgren & Sally Dier are really busy Several members of our congregation have been in Gracie’s Back Door – they got a huge “shipment” going through medical issues so please keep the of goodies. You should check it out… following people in your prayers. John McDonald On April 19th Julie Canan will be graduating from Fortis College with a Medical billing degree. Continued on next page... Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

 Mike & Shirley Johnson for all their donations  Carolyn Englert for her work on the Lenten to Gracie’s Back Door. programs.

 Bill Snyder for taking the non-perishable food  Nancy & Fred Lundgren and Sally Dier for all to the Center of Hope their hard work in Gracie’s Back Door.

 Chris Stickle and Nikki Stickle for representing  Jim Ervin keeping the snow cleared on the Grace Church at the Loaves and Fishes. parking lot.

 Pat Williams, Shirley Johnson, Mary Jean  John McDonald for being here whenever there McDonald, and Marsha Snyder for serving is a problem. breakfast to the ECW group.  Barb Popiel for her leadership with the 150th  Jane & Brian Jozsa, Bette Brooke, Midge anniversary committee. Myers, Mechele Novak, Judy Canan, Kay Canan, Rachelle Seiter, Fred & Nancy  Goldie Shriver for her constancy in our Lundgren, Carolyn Englert, Rev. Carol, and nursery. Bill & Marsha Snyder, Mike & Shirley Johnson Please call the office or email us a note if you and Carol Marotta, for participating in the know of any volunteers we need to thank for work, Lenten Programs. donations, or other good deeds.  Nancy & Jim Ervin for all their work with the Hospitality Committee

Birthdays Congratulations!

3rd Sonja Sherwood and many happy returns... 4th Larry Thomas

11th Lane Autry Baptisms

12th Billy T. Johnson 1st Phyllis Shorts Phil Rich 2nd Dennis Dier 13th Kathy Summy Phillip George 18th Olivia Golec 4th Jennifer Golec 20th Sue Ahrens Tracy Shriver 25th Julie Canan 5th Bill Snyder 29th Marcia Splinter 7th Dale Espey Anniversaries 9th Jim Ervin

10th Jamie Popiel 20th Jim & Nancy Ervin 11th Bruce Ahrens

the hospital being checked out with chest pains (all is “Did You Know” continued... well with her – thanks be to God!). Sally Dier is had surgery on his hand--again, Bud Hughes is recovering from lung cancer and Phyllis Shorts has having heart by-pass surgery, Mike Johnson has asked us to keep Bill in our prayers, and those are been diagnosed with prostate cancer, Irene Machisko just the people we know about… has been in the hospital, Bruce Ahrens has had his We are deeply saddened by the death of Tony knee replacement replaced, and Martha Croll was in Worthen. Tony died at home on March 16th with his loving wife Toni and daughter Megan by his side. The Bulletin Board

PARISH HALL DRAPES The twelve pairs of drapes in the parish hall need to be replaced at a cost of $80.00 each. If you are interested in purchasing a pair to help get the parish hall looking nice for the 150th anniversary celebrations, please write a check to Grace Church with “parish hall drapes” and give to John McDonald. Thank you!! 150th Celebration Update Saturday April 25th 10:00-4:00

Bring your family & friends and join us for a day that has something for everyone. We’re relying on several of Grace’s faithful volunteers to help us welcome the community to our 150th Anniversary Open House Celebration. We will have a free lunch, a bake sale, an- tiques on display, several raffle baskets, a 50-50 drawing, a written church history (condensed version), tours of the church, and Gracie’s will be open for business. There will be face painting and games for children and youth; a civil war presentation, and a sea captain to visit as well as good fellowship all day long. Help us celebrate the day!!

Please bring your RAFFLE BASKETS to church Sunday March 29th or asap after that date. If it needs wrapped there are volunteers to handle that. Please type a list of the items in your basket or Barb can do that for you.

Please bring your BAKE SALE goodies to church EARLY on Friday April 24 so they can be priced, bagged or boxed. If you would like to help with this please let Barb or Nancy Ervin know.

Any ANTIQUE ITEMS you plan on having displayed please bring them by 8:30-9:00 AM on the day of the event. Please have your name on them & note any info you would like to share about your item(s). You will be responsible for picking up your items after the event.

GRACIES will be open on Saturday April 25th.

VOLUNTEERS if you can, please be at the church 8:30-9:00 AM the day of the event.

We will need help with SETTING UP on Friday April 24th and CLEANING UP after 4:00 on Saturday the 25th. Sign up sheets are in the parish hall on Sundays.

Remind your friends, family, neighbors, etc. about this event. We hope it will be a great success.

The 150th committee members THANK YOU for your support. Fathers (and Mothers) and Friends By Bette Brooks They lived not only in ages past; there are hundreds of thousands still. The world is bright with the joyous who love to do Jesus' will.

Joseph Barsabbas

Talk about the ultimate also-ran! He was not one of the original twelve disciples and when the remaining eleven cast lots to replace , he lost. But this believer did not disappear, although his name never appeared again in any of the canonical books of the . We know that he had been a follower of Jesus from the beginning of His public ministry at the baptism by John. And he had continued as a member of the larger company of followers even to the time when Jesus was crucified. But then, nothing—just like it is with so many of the disciples too. So what is “known” about is sacred tradition.

Further identification of Joseph is uncertain but he is usually numbered among the Seventy early church leaders mentioned in Luke’s Gospel, although none of the group is named. Some scholars think he is also known as Justus and that “Judas called Barsabbas” in Acts is his brother. Other scholars think was not a real person but rather a character created to represent all the believers who were not chosen to be one of the twelve.

Another sacred tradition holds that Joseph Barsabbas/Justus became of where he died a during the persecutions carried out by the Emperor in AD 68. Other traditions hold that he was imprisoned by Nero for professing his faith but that upon a vision of the newly martyred Paul appearing to the emperor, he ordered Joseph/Justus’s immediate release.

Are we sure about any of this? No. Again, we just do not know. But as with the apostle Matthias from last month, we owe much to the many nameless men and women who spread the message of Christ throughout the known world. This faith has been handed down to us. What an inheritance! April The Grace Vine 2015 Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 •10-2 Gracie’s •7pm Maundy •7pm Good •9:30am Holy Back Door Thusrday Service Friday Service Saturday Service •6pm Healing Service with Eucharist

5 Easter 6 7 8 9 10 11 •8am HE •10-2 Gracie’s •9am Coffee Back Door •9:45 Ch. Ed. •10am HE •11:15 Coffee & Easter Egg Hunt 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Easter 2 •1-3pm Sit •10-2 Gracie’s •8am Retired •8am HE & Stitch Back Door Men’s Breakfast •9am Coffee •7pm Vestry •7:30pm Choir •9:45 Ch. Ed. Meeting Practice •10am HE •11:15 Coffee 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Easter 3 •10-2 Gracie’s •7:30pm Choir •10-4 150th •8am HE Back Door Practice Anniversary •9am Coffee Celebration •9:45 Ch. Ed. •10am HE •11:15 Coffee 26 27 28 29 30 Easter 4 •1-3pm Sit •10-2 Gracie’s •7:30pm Choir •8am HE & Stitch Back Door Practice •9am Coffee •9:45 Ch. Ed. •10am HE •11:15 Coffee

(2016) Marotta Carol

(2016) Novak Michele

(2016) Popiel Barb

(2015) Seman Frank

(2015) Merrill Steve

(2015) Lundgren Fred

(2014) Myers Midge

(2014) McDonald John

(2014) Cook Reba

Church Episcopal Grace of Vestry The

[email protected] Email:

www.graceravenna.org Site: Web

3443 - 296 - 330 Phone:

Choirmaster — Croll Martha

Organist — Lewicki Tim

Secretary — Snyder Marsha

Snyder William Rev. The

Rector — Evans Carol Rev. The

Ravenna of Church Episcopal Grace

Grace Episcopal Church 250 W. Cedar St. Ravenna OH 44266