The Grace Vine May 2017 Rector’s Writ The Easter message of new life and redemption remains an unfolding story as we live this earthly journey. It’s a message that reminds us, no matter what difficulties we face in this life, we don’t face them alone. We’re enfolded and upheld by a deep sense of hopefulness; a hope anchored in Christ. Jesus told his disciples that he would return to the Father, and he did. He promised not to leave them (or us) comfortless, and he didn’t. The Easter season ends appropriately enough with Pentecost (June 4th this year), at which time we celebrate again the promised gift of the Holy Spirit to be with all believers and followers of Christ, to lead us in his truth and teachings. The Holy Spirit is guide and comforter, the paraklete (in Greek), or one who walks alongside us. Following are a few hymn verses which help us focus on the joy and hopefulness we celebrate in this holy Easter season and on the gift of the Holy Spirit. “Paschal Lamb, by God appointed, all our sins on thee were laid: by almighty love anointed, thou hast full atonement made. / All thy people are forgiven through the virtue of thy blood: opened is the gate of heaven, reconciled are we with God. / Jesus, hail! enthroned in glory, there for ever to abide; all the heavenly hosts adore thee, seated at thy Father’s side. / There for sinners thou art pleading: there thou dost our place prepare; ever for us interceding, till in glory we appear.” (Hymn #495, vs. 2 & 3, Hail, thou once despised Jesus 1982 Hymnal) “Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, and lighten with celestial fire. / Thou the anointing Spirit art, who dost thy seven fold gifts impart. / Thy blessed unction from above is comfort, life, and fire of love…Keep far our foes, give peace at home: where thou art guide no ill can come. / Teach us to know the Father, Son, and thee, of both, to be but One, / that through the ages all along, this may be our endless song: Praise to thy eternal merit, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (from Hymn #503, 1982 Hymnal) “We thank you, Almighty Father, for that particular expression of your love that is given to us so selflessly by our mothers. May your blessings fill their lives with peace, strength, and gladness on Mother’s Day and every day. Amen.” (Author unknown) A happy Eastertide, happy Pentecost, and happy Mother’s Day 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, May 7 8:00 &10:00 AM Morning Prayer 4 Easter Celebrant The Rev. William Snyder st 1 Reading Acts 2:42:47 Worship 8:00 Bette Brooks Nancy Lundgren Leader 10:00 Carolyn Englert Greeters Nancy & Fred Lundgren Psalm 23 Acolyte Phillip Crouse Altar Guild Nancy Ervin & Cindy Hoskins nd Coffee Hosts 8:00 Joan & Frank Seman 2 Reading 1 Peter 2:19-25 10:00 John & Mary Jean McDonald Fred Lundgren Counters Carolyn Englert & Bette Brooks Church Sch. Courtney Rich Gospel John 10:1-10 Sunday, May 14 8:00 & 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist 5 Easter Mother’s Day Celebrant The Rev. Carol Evans Deacon The Rev. William Snyder 1st Reading Acts 7:55-60 Worship 8:00 Sally Dier Carolyn Englert Leader 10:00 Steve Merrill Greeters Lisa & Jeff Marsh Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 Acolyte Kevin Splinter Altar Guild Nancy Ervin & Cindy Hoskins 2nd Reading 1 Peter 2:2-10 Coffee Hosts 8:00 Spring Breakfast served at 9:00 a.m. Kathy Summy 10:00 Nancy & Jim Ervin Counters Carolyn Englert & Bette Brooks Gospel John 14:1-14 Church Sch. Chris Stickle Sunday, May 21 8:00 & 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist 6 Easter UNITED THANK OFFERING Celebrant The Rev. Carol Evans st 1 Reading Acts 17:22-31 Worship 8:00 Bette Brooks Tim Splinter Leader 10:00 Jane Gear –Jozsa Greeters John & Mary Jean McDonald Psalm 66:7-18 Acolyte Jenna Summy Altar Guild Nancy Ervin & Cindy Hoskins nd Coffee Hosts 8:00 Pat Williams 2 Reading 1 Peter 3:13-22 10:00 Carol Marotta & Cherry Monegan Jeff Croll Counters Bette Brooks & TBA Church Sch. Denise Sheridan Gospel John 14:15-21 Sunday, May 21st Please use the envelopes in the pews and on the table in back of the church to take part in this spring’s ingathering. Any amount will be appreciated. The Unit- ed Thank offering has been part of Grace Church and the National Episcopal Church for many years and with funds collected it enables us to help people from all over the world and in our own communities. Take a box (they are on the table in back of the church), and every time you’re thankful for one of God’s blessings put a coin in the blue box. At the fall in-gathering we will collect those coins. Please be generous. Sunday, May 28 8:00 & 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist with Baptism 7 Easter Celebrant The Rev. Carol Evans Deacon The Rev. William Snyder 1st Reading Acts 1:6-14 Worship 8:00 Sally Dier Jane Gear-Jozsa Leader 10:00 Nancy Lundgren Greeters Nancy & Jim Ervin Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36 Acolyte Jeff Marsh Altar Guild Nancy Ervin & Cindy Hoskins 2nd Reading 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11 Coffee Hosts 8:00 Shirley & Mike Johnson Charles Parsons 10:00 Nancy & Fred Lundgren Counters Bette Brooks & TBA Gospel John 17:1-11 Church Sch. Last Sunday school—Party Sunday, June 4 8:00 & 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist Day of Pentecost Celebrant The Rev. Carol Evans 1st Reading Acts 2:1-21 Worship 8:00 Bette Brooks Nancy Lundgren Leader 10:00 Carolyn Englert Greeters Nancy &Fred Lundgren Psalm 104:25-35, 37 Acolyte Phillip Crouse Altar Guild Marsha Snyder & Cindy Ward 2nd Reading 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 Coffee Hosts 8:00 Joan & Frank Seman Fred Lundgren 10:00 Mary Jean & John McDonald Counters Nancy Lundgren & Dennis Dier Gospel John 20:19-23 “MOTHER’S DAY” SPRING BREAKFAST Sunday, May 14th at 9:00 a.m. Everyone welcome! Baptisms Birthdays Congratulations! 11th Kathy Summy 13th Nancy Lundgren 3rd Carolyn Englert and many happy returns... 18th Amanda Brooks Tim Splinter Beverly Brooks Zack Scibelli 20th Paige Paxton 4th Laurel Brooks 28th Marcia Splinter 6th Charles Parsons 15th Midge Myers Phyllis Shorts 16th Marsha Snyder 22nd Gerry Rich 23rd Eleanor Blank Anniversaries 26th Kenneth Englert 27th Joan Seman 1st Bill & Marsha Snyder Loretta Reigelman 17th Tim & Yuka Lewicki Did You Know?... Our Fund Raising Committee worked so hard this Hera when she can. It’s nice having all these last month. Our thanks to Kay Canan, Carol Marotta, children and youth—the regulars and the new family Cherry Monegan, and Courtney Rich for members—be part of Sunday school, to join us for planning a wonderful luncheon for all of those who Communion, and to be part of our after church attended. The entertainment, Deerfield Dandies, was fellowship as well… so much fun. The meal was prepared with much We’ve been blessed with a wonderful new planning and thought, and the presentation was addition to our church family. Amir and Stefanie lovely. It tasted great, too! The event took place on Amiruzzaman are proud parents of a new baby one of those sunny spring days and everyone had a boy born on March 29th. His name is Aleo Anzo, and really nice time. The members of the committee were he’s one beautiful baby! God’s blessings and our in the midst of making Easter candy during that same congratulations to Amir & Stefanie and Aleo… time period. Every weekend for four weeks they Jim & Nancy Ervin’s granddaughter, Kelly is a made the most incredible candy that was sold to very good basketball player. On their road trip to church members, family, friends, co-workers and to Cincinnati, her traveling team (“Extreme”) won three members of the community. Thanks ladies for the of their four games and now they’ll be off to incredible amount of work you’ve done!! Phil Rich Chicago. Good luck girls!... is also active in the Fund Raising group, and he was Members of the Sit & Stitch group made Twiddle a huge help in buying candy in bulk, running errands, Muffs to donate to local nursing homes. These are getting items off the top kitchen shelves, and “sleeves” or muffs that can be sewn, knitted, or watching over the kids while they helped wrap crocheted, and then embellished with buttons, candy… zippers, ribbon, and beads. These sleeves help Thanks to John McDonald, Mike Johnson, and residents with Alzheimer’s and Senile Dementia as Fred Lundgren for tearing out and replacing dry they give them something to “play” with or wall, then painting the downstairs men’s room. It “twiddle”. Over 30 were made by the Sit & Stitch looks great… group along with other church members and were John Monegan tells us that we have a real distributed by Mary Jean McDonald, Carolyn treasure in our church pews. He thinks they’re made Englert, Shirley & Mike Johnson, and Marsha of American chestnut; a tree that is almost extinct in Snyder, to Longmeadow Care Center and the Ohio. Who knew!... Woodlands. Thanks to everyone who helped with Tim & Marcia Splinter made a trip to this project… Clarkson University in upstate New York to see their Jim Ervin was at Marc’s and he spoke to a son Eric in the play Twelve Angry Men.