The Grace Vine. June Rector s Writ

Transcription

1 The Grace Vine June 2018 Rector s Writ It s not uncommon to hear faithful people refer to our Church family. For those who grew up in an era where everything centered around family, this idea of all people being part of the family of God may take some convincing. It was family you could count on. Family was first. You stood up for them, took care of them, defended, helped, and loved them. Holidays, graduations, birthdays, and such were celebrated with family gatherings and a few close friends. If it s been this way in our time, we might imagine the family loyalties were even more ingrained in the people of Jesus time. Christ recognized that ideal of care, concern, and loyalty expressed in close families. He transformed and expanded the limits of family when he told the crowd: Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother. (Mark 3:35) We hear a definite focus on oneness and unity in the service of Holy Baptism. The Celebrant and people acclaim: There is one Body and one Spirit...one hope in God s call to us; one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism; One God and Father of all. No one has to be excluded from knowing God as Father. We re all part of our Lord s family. Following are portions of A Parent s Prayer, by Angelo Patri. It reminds us of the priorities and values Jesus taught, as well as the need we all have for our Lord s guidance and strength. Beyond all the words, we realize Jesus example of how we re to love children and family of course but ALL of our brothers and sisters in Christ, ALL God s children. Carol+ I have a child to bring up: Help me, Lord, to do this with wisdom, kindness, and good cheer. We have children to bring up: Lord, give us great patience and a long memory. Let me remember the hard places in my own youth, so that I may help when I see them struggling as I struggled then. Let me remember the things that made me glad, lest I forget that a child s laughter is a fountain of life. We have children to bring up: Lord, teach us a love that understands all things. Give your children a heart for gospel values; give them a good mind and willing hands to work out their own happiness and to add to the happiness of others. We have children to bring up: Lord, help us to send them into the world with a mission of service. Strengthen our hearts and minds that we may teach them they are their brother s keeper. Grant that they may serve those who know not the need of service, and not knowing, need it the most. We have children to bring up: So guide and direct us, Lord, that we may do this service to your glory and to our children s happiness. Amen.

2 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, June 3 8:00 &10:00 AM Holy Eucharist 2 Pentecost Worship 8:00 Bette Brooks Leader 10:00 Carolyn Englert Greeters Nancy & Fred Lundgren Acolyte Jeff Marsh Coffee Hosts 8:00 Joan & Frank Seman 10:00 Nancy & Jim Ervin Counters Jeff Croll & TBA Deacon The Rev. William Snyder Wrshp Ldr 8:00 Sally Dier Greeters David Miller & Alex Wroblewski Acolyte TBA Coffee Hosts 8:00 TBA 10:00 Fred & Nancy Lundgren Counters Jeff Croll & TBA 1 st Reading 1 Samuel 3:1-20 Nancy Lundgren Psalm 139:1-5, nd Reading 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 Fred Lundgren Gospel Mark 2:23-3:6 Sunday, June 10 8:00 & 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist 3 Pentecost Worship 8:00 Bette Brooks Leader 10:00 Charles Parsons Greeters Jeff & Lisa Marsh Acolyte Kevin Splinter Coffee Hosts 8:00 TBA 10:00 Cindy Ward & Cathy Potisuk Counters Jeff Croll & TBA 1 st Reading 1 Samuel 8:4-20, 11:14-15 Tim Splinter Psalm nd Reading 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 Charles Parsons Gospel Mark 3:20-35 Sunday, June 17 8:00 & 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist 4 Pentecost 1 st Reading 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 Jeff Croll Psalm 20 2 nd Reading 2 Corinthians 5:6-17 Kathy Summy Gospel Mark 4:26-34 Volunteers Needed for Sundays We re in need of help on Sunday mornings: --greeters (10am) --coffee hosts (8 & 10am) --acolytes (10am, any age strong enough to carry the cross) If you could help, please let the office know, and we ll arrange a tutoring session and get you added to the list. Acolytes can also learn the ropes by pairing with someone for a few times first. Many thanks to those who serve in all these ways. It s an opportunity to be involved in worship and to provide welcoming and fellowship for our parish family and newcomers.

3 Sunday, June 24 8:00 & 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist 5 Pentecost Deacon The Rev. William Snyder Worship 8:00 Sally Dier Leader 10:00 Nancy Lundgren Greeters Nancy & Jim Ervin Acolyte Phillip Crouse Coffee Hosts 8:00 Part Williams 10:00 Carol Marotta, Doris Whipple & Gail Richards Counters Jeff Croll & TBA Worship 8:00 Bette Brooks Leader 10:00 Carolyn Englert Greeters Nancy &Fred Lundgren Acolyte TBA Coffee Hosts 8:00 TBA 10:00 Marsha & Bill Snyder 4th of July Hot Dog Luncheon Counters Fred Lundgren & Midge Myers 1 st Reading 1 Samuel 17:1a, 4-11,19-23, Martha Croll Psalm 9: nd Reading 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 Carolyn Englert Gospel Mark 4:35-41 Sunday, July 1 8:00 & 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist 6 Pentecost 1 st Reading 2 Samuel 1:1, Nancy Lundgren Psalm nd Reading 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 Fred Lundgren Gospel Mark 5:21-43 Request for Donations Since we re withdrawing Beatty Funds only for covering our budget deficit, the Designated Funds (Building & Grounds, Parish Life, and Christian Ed) have been impacted and are running low. We re blessed that our members are generous about giving beyond their pledge when there s a need. Since Beatty Funds covered these areas for years, many people aren t aware that we need to provide support funds for these. The vestry wants to let people know that your donations to any of these areas Building & Grounds, Parish Life, Christian Ed would be welcome and appreciated. Please include a note, indicating the area you would like your donation used or if no preference, just indicate designated funds. It will be directed to one of the three areas where it s most needed. The vestry and rector thank you for your prayers, participation, and for all you give and do to support Grace Church. Acolytes Schedule Check these dates now so we can make any changes before we publish next month: 7/8 Jeff 7/15 TBA 7/22 Kevin 7/29 Phil 8/5 TBA Tim@splinterfactions.net Marcia@splinterfactions.net

4 Did You Know?... The Rich family, Courtney, Gerry, Maggie, & Sammy (Phil stayed home to work) went to Washington DC last month. Gerry and Maggie are members of the Chappelle s drum and flag group that marched in the Cherry Blossom Parade. While there they visited the Washington, Lincoln, Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Monuments along with the Pentagon. Sammy especially enjoyed himself and was eager to share where he went and what he saw We received a note from Phyllis Shorts. She shared said she was getting ready for a family cruise to celebrate her 90 th birthday and was looking forward to having ten family members join her for a week long Caribbean cruise in honor of this happy occasion. Hope they all had fun!... Taylor Paxton graduated from Kent State Police Academy this May and has already been hired by the Monroe Falls Police Department. That job search sure didn t take long! Congratulations, Taylor!... We are delighted to have our snow birds back from Florida; Dan & Lynn Francois returned just in time for a nice change in our weather. Did they bring it with them? Maybe!!... Barb Popiel traveled to North Carolina and spent time with her daughter Michelle and new granddaughter Hannah. She s amazed what a good baby Hannah is and also very excited that Michelle wanted her baptized here at Grace on June 10th. Hope you re here to celebrate with Barb, Michelle and Dave, and Hannah Marcia and Tim Splinter will have their last child leave for college in the fall. Kevin will graduate this year from James A Garfield High School, and I might add he s at the top of his class!! His rain hampered baseball season ran two weeks long, but he earned a Gold Glove at catcher from the newspaper and Honorable Mention in the All Conference Team voting! He will be off for Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois this fall and earned some great scholarships. Congratulations to you, Kevin!! Their son Eric just finished his second year at Clarkson University in upstate New York. Eric was home from college for a few weeks then back to school where he has a 10 week paid research internship with the same professor he worked with last year. Marcia and Tim may find the empty nest syndrome to be a real change of pace, as those of you who ve sent kids off to college know. WHERE does that time go?!?!... Jim & Nancy Ervin s granddaughter Emily is on a traveling basketball team from Ravenna, the Extreme, and they have been in Chicago, and will be headed for Cincinnati and Washington DC. Emily is a very good player and is one of the top scorers on her team. Little sister McKinsey tried her hand at basketball and got a concussion for all her efforts. Maybe in a few more years Kensy---but don t give up!!... Thanks to our Christian Education teachers, Sue Ahrens, Courtney Rich, Carol Marotta, and Carolyn Englert for a good year. Thanks for all your work and dedication to our children. They won t forget you Thanks to Nancy Ervin for once again planning and organizing our spring breakfast on Mother s Day. And thanks to all those who made egg bakes: Nancy Ervin, Cindy Ward, Cathy Potisuk, Nancy Lundgren, and Marsha Snyder. Carolyn Englert and Cindy Hoskins provided juice, Barb Popiel and Shirley Johnson brought muffins and Janet Hughes bought pancake mix. It does take a village. Thanks, ladies The choir will be taking their summer break, and we want to thank them for all the wonderful music they provided. We especially want to thank organist Tim Lewicki, and choir director Martha Croll and of course the members of the choir: Jeff Croll, Phillip Crouse, Marcia &Tim Splinter (and when he s home Eric Splinter has pitched in to sing, too), Kathy Summy, and Marsha Snyder. We re small but mighty and we DO make joyful noise unto the Lord!!... Dennis Dier is recovering from shoulder surgery. We re happy that he s doing well and healing quickly Rick Lashley and Debbie Shorts were very excited about their latest travel plans; they re leaving for Ireland and Scotland for a long summer tour with several places to visit in mind. What a way to experience the history and the beauty of that entire area. We ll see you when you get back and hope you both have a great time!!... Safeguarding God s Children program was offered by Carolyn Englert to our Christian Education department here at Grace. Seven people are now certified through the Diocese: Maggy Rich, Courtney Rich, Linda Zisk, Sue Ahrens, Shirley Johnson, & Martha Croll from Grace and Sally Goodall & Faith Oglesby from St. John s, Cuyahoga Fall also attended On May 20 th we celebrated Pentecost with a cake and reception in the parish hall. Thanks to Nancy & Jim Ervin for setting up. Rev. Carol also thanked all the choir, Sunday school teachers and students, and congratulated our graduates on Pentecost Our organist Tim Lewicki was traveling with his wife Yuka and son Joji, and several members of his family to Japan. His two weeks away from church made for very interesting music. Our Allen organ has record & play back features, so Tim played through and recorded all the hymns and anthems, and Martha had to click the right buttons, as well as direct the choir, but it worked! For the next Sunday Martha Croll played her guitar. That also worked!!

5 Volunteering at the Akron/Canton Foodbank This Outreach Project was brought up at the Vestry meeting. 4th of July Luncheon Everyone is invited to join us for the 4th of July hot dog lunch held here at Grace on Sunday, July 1st after the 10:00 a.m. service. We will be serving hot dogs, watermelon, chips, and brownies. If anyone is interested in helping out at the A/C Foodbank: sorting food, packing food, etc. please sign up on the sheet in the Parish Hall. 6, 8,10 or more volunteers would be great. Then we will come up with a date that suits us. Volunteer projects available the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 5:00-7:00pm or most Saturdays from 8:30-11:30. This could become a yearly Day of Caring for Grace?? So please consider helping with this great volunteer opportunity. Thank You Barb Popiel Birthdays 8th Eric Splinter 9th Cindy Hoskins 10th Emily Ahrens Burt Stover 11th Georgia Golec 12th Chris Ahrens 15th Sally Dier Ryan Burky 18th June Marks 21st Carol Evans 22nd Cathy Potisuk 25th Maynard Evans 26th Fred Ahrens Taylor Paxton Jenna Summy 28th Jeff Croll Baptisms 2nd Olivia Golic 7th Judy Watkins Tim Splinter 8th Kara Simonson MacAlah Simonson Lynn Ann Zimmerman 22nd Fred Lundgren? Kenneth Englert Carolyn Englert Rodney Stickle Chris Stickle Congratulations! and many happy returns... Anniversaries 3rd Keith & Janice Lallathin 7th Maynard & Carol Evans 9th Amir & Stephanie Amirazzaman 24th Carol & Eric Marotta 27th Frank & Joan Seman

6 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 saints who love to do Jesus' will. Alban, First Martyr of Britain June 22 There is little factual information relative to Alban. We are not sure if this man actually existed; however, the story of his martyrdom is the stuff of legends and he is venerated by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. There were probably already Christians in the British Isles during the first century. However, Alban is the first recorded Christian martyr. His date of death varies, depending on the source, from 209 to 304! According to the legend, Alban was a Roman soldier and as such, a pagan. He gave shelter to and hid a Christian priest who was fleeing arrest. Over the next few days, Alban listened to the priest s teachings and his prayers and was converted. When officers came to search for the priest, Alban dressed in the priest s robe and met them at the door. Mistaken for the priest, he was arrested. He refused to renounce his new faith and was beheaded. He thus became the first Christian martyr in Britain. The second martyr was the executioner who was supposed to kill him. But when the executioner heard Alban s testimony, he became a Christian on the spot and refused to kill him. The third martyr was the priest who, when he learned that Alban had been arrested in his place, hurried to the court in the hope of saving Alban by turning himself in. The place of these three martyrdoms is near the site of St. Alban s Cathedral today. This spot near Holywell Hill, St. Albans, has been the site of veneration for centuries. The Venerable Bede mentions a church there, dedicated to Alban. Later, a Benedictine abbey and monastery were established there but were probably destroyed by the Danes. The Normans rebuilt the structures and by the end of the Middle Ages, St. Albans ranked as the premier abbey in England. The church, once associated with the abbey, now serves as the Cathedral of the Diocese of St. Albans. And our own Washington National Cathedral is located beside one of 4 mission churches in the DC area dedicated to St. Alban. The hill on which it is located is named Mt. St. Alban. Prayer: Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Alban triumphed over suffering and was faithful even unto death: Grant to us, who now remember him with thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with him the crow of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

7 June The Grace Vine Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat 2 Pentecost 8am HE 9am Coffee 10am HE 11:15 Coffee 3 Pentecost 8am HE 9am Coffee 10am HE & Baptism 11:15 Coffee 4 Pentecost Father s Day 8am HE 9am Coffee 10am HE 11:15 Coffee 5 Pentecost 8am HE 9am Coffee 10am HE 11:15 Coffee pm Sit & Stitch 7pm Summit MAC meeting at Grace 7pm Vestry Meeting 1-3pm Sit & Stitch Gracie s Back Door 10-2 Gracie s Back Door Gracie s Back Door Gracie s Back Door pm Discernment Meeting 21 8am Breakfast Club at Brimfield Steak House

8 Grace Episcopal Church of Ravenna The Rev. Carol Evans Rector The Rev. William Snyder Marsha Snyder Secretary Tim Lewicki Organist Martha Croll Choirmaster Phone: Web Site: The Vestry of Grace Episcopal Church Phillip Crouse(2018) Jeff Croll(2018) Dennis Dier(2018) Nancy Lundgren(2019) Carol Marrota(2019) Rick Taylor(2019) Midge Meyers(2020) Fred Lundgren(2020) Barb Popiel(2020) Grace Episcopal Church 250 W. Cedar St. Ravenna OH 44266