Grace Place
Episcopal Church of Chicago
founded 1851
637 S. Dearborn St Chicago 60605
v 312-922-1426 f 312-922-7119
info@gracechicago.org /
www. gracechicago.org



The 7th Sunday of Easter May 20 A.D. 2012 – The NATO Summit -

Three Worship Opportunities Each Sunday
at 8 AM (Quiet), 10 AM (Music), 7:30 PM (Quiet, with Music / last meeting on May 20)

The Mission of Grace Church:

Live in Community, Grow in Christ, Serve the World

The Mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago:

Grow the Church, Form the Faithful, Change the World

Our Liturgical and Formation Theme in 2012:
The Gifts of God for the People of God:
We are a gift to God and to one another.

• Our presider this morning is Ted Curtis, Rector of Grace Place Church, and our preacher is Jim McKnight, assisting priest.

• Welcome to Grace Church! We are very glad you are here. All are invited to receive communion at God’s altar here. Although there are customary postures such as standing in Episcopal worship, you are invited to sit at any point, according to your needs and comfort. A restroom is located to the left of the altar along the windows, or off the large room on the street level. If you would like to receive a gluten-free communion wafer, please notify the usher. If for any reason you do not wish to receive one of the elements of communion (the bread or the wine) please signify that intention by keeping your hands gently folded on your chest.

• We worship each Sunday at 8 (quiet service), 10 AM (with music) [and 7:30 PM (quiet service, with music; September to May)]

• Sunday School for our young people as announced.
• Sunday School for adults most Sundays after 10 AM Coffee
• You are invited following the 8 AM service to join in a pay-as-you-go coffee/breakfast together at Blackie’s (corner of Polk and Clark).
• Please come downstairs after the 10 AM service for Coffee/Tea/Juice Hour.

• We gather each Wednesday until the Second Coming. . .
12:15- 12:45 Scripture and Sacrament (a group exploration of one of the Scriptures for the up-coming Sunday, sharing a simple Holy Communion)

6:00 - 7:00 PM Grace’s Centering Prayer group

• We gather each Thursday evening [September-May] from 6:15 – 7:25 PM for Scripture@Grace, a study of the scriptures aimed at transforming our lives.

• SPECIAL TREAT FOR ‘NATO’ SUNDAY: War, Military Service and the “Just War”: A survey of the evidence from the early church. At adult formation today Rector Ted will lead us in an exploration of the earliest Christian positions on these topics. You may be surprised what we learn! c. 11:30 – 12:15.

• Adult Formation c 11:30 – 12:15 PM June 3:

Spirituality And Community: How does one respond to the oft-heard these days statement "I'm spiritual but not religious"? A four minute video on the subject has gone viral and with good reason. We'll view it, then discuss how it reflects, or doesn't reflect, our own experience and understanding. Facilitated by H.D.

• Scripture@Grace scripture study Thursday May 24 study of the Parables of Jesus. Perhaps Jesus’ most memorable words are those of his short, pithy, unsettling stories about forgiveness, mercy, being right with God, loving your neighbor. 6 PM bring your sack supper; 6:20 – 7:30 study.

READY TO COOK WITH A GREAT NEW LOOK!

At long last we are in sight of the new pantry-kitchen for Grace Place! Projects to be completed:

Pantry = $70K / Brickwork - $11K / Exterior/interior signage and Website: $12K

Total - $93K

Cash on Hand - $67K

TOTAL WE NEED TO RAISE - $26K

Two generous donors have agreed to match all contributions up to $15K

As of this date we have received cash and pledges for $11,246!

PLEASE GIVE NOW SO WE START CONSTRUCTION

WITH ALL CASH ON HAND!

More information on the usher’s table. Mobile phones give here:

Taizé Pilgrimage of Trust

25-28 May 2012 at DePaul University

Spend Memorial Day weekend with thousands of others aged 18 – 35.

Crossing borders to share together in simplicity. Praying with the beauty of Taizé songs.

Becoming people of trust and solidarity.

Register online by April 30 taizechicago2012.eventbrite.com

Living in Community

• Prayers for the NATO Alliance, for the soldiers of that alliance who are deployed around Europe; for all protestors of true heart and passion advocating for other way for western democracies to extend freedom and justice to all people rather than through expensive organized violence; for Shawna’s father in law living with a very difficult diagnosis; for all who have commended themselves to our prayers; for the Felten Family moved to the D.C. and the Clayburgh Family moved to Pasadena California; for Gaile and the discernment committee meeting with her about ordained service in the church (Craig, Sarah, Sara, Jim (chair); for the under and un-employed; for our Saturday morning Breakfast guests and for the dozens of volunteers who make this heroic ministry happen every week; for birthdays in May of Meredith (1), Mark (5), Michelle (5), [Dan and Cherina Anniversary (8)], Pat (13), Art (17), Albert (18), Marilynn (23), [Tom and Gia Anniversary (23)], [Tracy and Shawna Anniversary (26)], Gia (30), [Marilynn and Jerry Anniversary (30)].

• Let's work together to make Grace Church a welcoming place for our youngest members! We are in the processes of creating a consistent Sunday School and would love you to help out. We're looking for anybody that would be interested in co-leading Sunday School during the first half of the 10 a.m. service. You'll be working with one other co-leader, and your commitment will be rotating, hopefully once per month to one every six weeks or so. If you are interested in leading Sunday School or doing anything else to provide a welcoming, friendly, exciting experience for our young ones, please contact Jackie.

• At their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday April 9 our vestry PRAYED for their time together; APPROVED fundraising for our final capital projects; APPROVED a contractor to proceed with the kitchen/pantry rehab after certain questions from the Vestry are answered; APPROVED the design and money for the new exterior banners to be hung before the NATO meeting; APPROVED draft plans for Rector Ted’s sabbatical leave in October and November; HEARD a report from Deacon Sue about the restarting healing ministry in the parish; REFLECTED on their time together in this meeting.

• Parking: Grace rents the parking spaces nestled around Jones College Prep (Harrison and South Plymouth Court) marked PERMIT PARKING OR VISITOR PARKING. Do not park in the spaces marked “I-Go Car” or the handicapped space (unless you have the credentials to do so). We have white laminated parking passes on the usher’s table for display on your front dashboard under the window. These spaces are for your use on Sunday morning between 7:30am and 2:30pm and for evening worship events as announced.

Growing in Christ

• The Women's Group of Grace Church meets the second Saturdays of the month at members’ homes. If you plan to come or would like more information please contact the church office.

Serving in the World
• Grace serves 150 Sandwiches and Picnic Sacks [and soup in the winter months] in support of the Night Ministry – every second Wednesday of the month we gather from 5 – 6:30 to prepare sandwiches and created lunch sacks with cookie, chips, drink and fruit in them. We take them to Humboldt Park, to rendezvous with the Night Ministry van, on the second Thursday of each month, 6 – 8 PM. See Marilynn.

• Community Breakfast, every Saturday morning, 8-10 AM, at GracePlace, organized by the dedicated volunteers of Chicago Temple / First United Methodist Church – over 100 neighbors come to this meal every Saturday. Volunteers are always needed. See Robert.