Grace notes March 2015

Palm Sunday, 2012

OUR TEAM

OFFICE OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Bay GreenHill COMMUNICATIONS ADMINISTRATOR Hope Johnstone FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR Anne Jones INTERN Mark Harris

CHILDREN 9 A.M. CHILDREN’S CHAPEL COORDINATOR Ben Bergstrom GODLY PLAY DIRECTOR Meredith Bergstrom KITCHEN AND NURSERY COORDINATOR Angie Chaney 11 A.M. CHILDREN’S CHAPEL COORDINATOR Travis Chaney

MUSIC ASSISTANT CHOIRMASTER Liesl Dromi DIRECTOR OF MUSIC & ORGANIST Dr. Jan Wubbena CHILDREN’S CHOIR SCHOOL DIRECTOR Terri Wubbena

MINISTRIES Altar Guild Outreach Episcopal Peace Fellowship / G.A.P.P. Meals on Wheels Prayer Chain

VESTRY Traci Letellier, Sr. Warden Rob Lambert, Jr. Warden Jayme Amonsen Andy Bossler Ben Hill Matt Hostler Amanda Orcutt Shelley Simmons Robert Smith Mike Moss, Treasurer Hope Johnstone, Clerk

COMMITTEES Building & Grounds Christian Formation Community Life Finance Hospitality Outreach Stewardship Strategic Planning Welcoming / Incorporation Worship

Stan McKinnon RECTOR

stan@gracesiloam.org

Larry R. Benfield BISHOP

bishopbenfield@mac.com

Lora Walsh CURATE

lora@gracesiloam.org

SUN Holy Eucharist, 9:00 A.M. Christian Formation, 10:00 A.M. Holy Eucharist, 11:15 A.M. Compline, 5:00 p.m.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

WED Holy Eucharist & Healing, 12:10 P.M.

MON-FRI Yoga Morning Prayer at Studio, 7:00 A.M.

WORSHIP SCHEDULE

RECTOR’S REFLECTIONS

Our Lenten Journey…

“You are dust and to dust you shall return.” With these words a cross of ashes is placed on

your forehead and you begin the 40 day journey with Jesus the church calls Lent. Those

“encouraging” words are meant to be a reminder of something very simple.

Remember how Adam and Eve got into trouble in the garden – when the serpent tempted

them to eat the fruit in order to become like God, with the supreme irony that they were

already created in the “image of God.” So they succumbed to the temptation to become

their own Gods… and so do we. That’s how our Lenten journey begins – “you are dust and

to dust you shall return” – in order to remind us of our profound need for God.

This is actually good news because in the progression of the liturgy we move from the

recognition of our mortality and sin to an awareness of our need to change and be changed

by God. Our repentance becomes not an end in itself but a renewed relationship with God

opening us to accept God’s love, mercy, and peace.

Some people look on this season as something to be endured, a marathon of self-inflected

torture that saps the fun out of life, until we get to Easter when we can return to normal. But

returning to normal isn’t the point of Lent or of Easter — the point is change,

transformation – to become more like Christ whom we are following on this journey.

Lent isn’t primarily about our suffering and sacrifice, but remembering the suffering and

sacrifice of our Lord. So Lent is the time when we examine ourselves and our habits in the

hopes of finding a better way of living.

Lent is also about balance. We are called to a period of fasting and self-denial because we

have too much already. Our acts of self-denial remind us that there are people who are

perpetually hungry and constantly poor. Balance what you have with what others do not.

This Lent ask yourself why you do what you do? Why do you fast? If your answer is so that

God can bring balance back to your life, then your Lent is off to a good start.

Self-denial and sacrifice are important aspects to Lent; but they mean nothing if they don’t

lead to a deeper relationship with God and a more balanced life.

Many people give up something for Lent, but it could be just as beneficial to take on

something, a spiritual practice that can help you focus on the real question of Lent “What

do I really need?” Finding the answer to that question will make your celebration of Easter

even more profound.

How will you grow closer to God this Lent? That’s a question only you can answer.

Peace,

VESTRY RETREAT

March 6-7th

at Camp Mitchell…

The Grace Church vestry will gather Friday and Saturday, March 6-7,

at Camp Mitchell for the annual Vestry retreat. This is a focused

time of discussion, contemplation, and planning the future of Grace

Church.

WINTERSTAR

March 6-8th

at Camp Mitchell…

Winterstar is a Jr. and Sr. High camp at Camp Mitchell. Grace will be

represented at Winterstar by Mark Harris and youth from NWA.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

Spring Forward, March 8th

…

Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 8th

.

"Spring Forward" and adjust your clocks ahead one hour before you

go to sleep on Saturday, March 7th

.

EASTER LILIES

Sign Up Now…

The sign-up sheet for Easter Lilies and Altar Flowers is on the

bulletin board in the Parish Hall. The suggested donation is $30 for

Altar Flowers and $30 for Easter Lilies. More than one person can

sign up for each Sunday.

LENTEN COMPLINE SERVICES

Through April 2nd

…

Compline, 5:00 p.m.

Meets in the nave, childcare provided.

GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR BURMA

March 8th

...

Earth Mission is a non-profit organization committed to meeting

the physical needs of people worldwide as a reflection of our

Christian beliefs. Earth Mission seeks to provide technological and

medical solutions that are efficient, culturally sensitive, practical,

and permanent. Pamphlets on Earth Mission will be available in the

Parish hall. Visit www.prayforburma.org to download a PDF

pamphlet from.

IMMIGRATION AND THE CHURCH

March 9th

at 7:00 p.m….

Please join us Monday, March 9th

at 7:00 p.m. for "Immigration and

the Church: A Presentation and Discussion" led by Mr. Don Balla,

John Brown University Professor of 30 years and now full-time

lawyer fighting for undocumented immigrant rights. Childcare and

refreshments will be provided.

DID YOU KNOW?

by Kathy Moss

On Sunday, February 15,

2015, Grace Church's

needlepoint kneeler was

one among 69 kneelers

dedicated at Trinity

Episcopal Church, Little

Rock. The kneelers at

Trinity were worn and

needed to be replaced.

The project began in 2005

when the Diocese of

Arkansas asked each church in the Diocese to stitch a kneeler to represent their

church and the the Needlepoint Guild began raising money to begin the long process

of replacement. Since then, 125 people have stitched 306 kneelers with the ultimate

goal of 447. The categories are parishes in the Diocese, kneelers that represent each

Bishop we have had in the state of AR and dates they served, each Dean and their

time frame, kneelers honoring Vestry, Cross kneelers, the Seasons of the Church, holy

animals and flowers, custom kneelers and many many more.

For our church, we sent an allocated amount of money with a picture. Then a rather

complicated process preceded the stitching. First the picture was sent off to a

company in Chelsea, London, it was painted on canvas and then according to the

colors on the canvas, yarns were pulled. This process took 6 months to complete.

That was 65% of the cost. 25% went to finishing out the kneeler into a pillow. Becky

Witsell, a member of the Needlepoint Guild and very talented artist, designed and

hand painted Trinity's unique floral designs for 36 chapel kneelers. The most recent

ones were sent off to a company in Conroe, TX . The Needlepoint Guild held

fundraisers to fund the kneelers that were not paid for by parishes.

Grace Church was blessed to have Mike's sister and Lorraine's daughter, Marti Moss

Thomas, a member of the Needlepoint Guild at Trinity, Little Rock, stitch our kneeler

for us. It took Marti 6 months to complete our kneeler. There are approx. 77,000

stitches for one kneeler. Marti has stitched 10 kneelers for Trinity and is working on

her 11th, Lent, to be completed by Easter. Her handiwork includes The Lamb, Violets,

Drum Angel, South Transept, Grace Church, to name a few. To see more photos and

a video of the dedication, look for the Trinity Episcopal Little Rock, Needlepoint Guild

on Facebook. Pictures of the kneelers that were dedicated on the 15th are on our

bulletin board at Grace for everyone who is interested.

GRACE CHILDREN’S CHOIR SCHOOL

To lead worship on Sunday, March 15th

…

Mar. 14: The Grace Children’s Choir School (GCCS) will have Choir

Camp on Saturday, March 14th

from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at

Grace Church to rehearse and prepare for leading worship on

Sunday, March 15th

.

Mar. 15: GCCS will lead worship on Sunday, March 15th

at the 9:00

a.m. service. Choristers please arrive by 8:15 a.m. to warm-up and

prepare.

Mar. 23: GCCS will not meet on Monday, March 23rd

during spring

break.

PIE AUCTION FUNDRAISER

March 15th

at 12:30 p.m....

Join us after the late service on Sunday, March 15th

, for a Grace

spectacular pie auction! Proceeds from the pie auction will benefit

two Grace families in efforts to finalize adoptions. All are welcome

to bring a pie, bid on a pie, or give directly to this fundraiser! Happy

baking & bidding!

THE GARDEN IN SILOAM SPRINGS

Community Garden to launch on Grace soil…

The Garden in Siloam Springs has launched a Kickstater campaign!

This garden will be located at Grace Church and run by church and

community members to help feed our neighbors, and nourish our

bodies and our relationship to the community. Please help us get

the word out by sharing the online kickstarter campaign with

family, and friends. Thank you for your support! Patty Gambill

www.thegardeninsiloamsprings.org

HOLY WEEK 2015

Palm Sunday

March 29th

, 9:00 and 11:15 a.m.

Join us as we begin Holy Week with Palm

Sunday on March 29th

at 9:00 a.m. and

11:15 a.m. as we recall Jesus’ triumphal

entry into Jerusalem and Passion on the

cross.

Wednesday during Holy Week

April 1st, 12:10 p.m.

Our regular Wednesday Holy Eucharist

and Healing service will meet at 12:10

p.m. on Wednesday, April 1st.

Maundy Thursday

April 2nd

, 7:00 p.m. | Holy Eucharist & Foot

Washing

Maundy Thursday begins the Triduum, the

three days before Easter, with Holy

Eucharist and Foot Washing on April 2nd

at 7:00 p.m. Childcare will be provided.

Good Friday

April 3rd

Prayer and Reflection Hours from

12:00-3:00 p.m.

Good Friday Service at 6:00 p.m.

Good Friday commemorates the

crucifixion of Jesus. Grace will offer prayer

and reflection time in the nave on Good

Friday from 12:00-3:00 p.m. to

acknowledge this day of fasting and self-

denial. Continuing later in the day we will have our Good Friday

Service, 6:00 p.m. Childcare will be provided.

We will be taking a special collection on Good Friday at the request

of Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori, in partnership with

the Diocese of Jerusalem. This offering supports the work of the

gospel in the Land of the Holy One by helping to fund ministries of

healing, feeding, and teaching of refugees, women, and children.

Please prayerfully consider your Good Friday offering.

The Great Vigil of Easter

& Potluck Champagne Breakfast

April 4th

, 8:00 p.m.

Welcome in the Easter Season with our Easter Vigil Champagne

Breakfast, on Saturday, April 4th

. The Easter Vigil Service begins at

8:00 p.m., with the Potluck Champagne Breakfast immediately

following. If you would like to volunteer to bring a dish, please

contact the office, 479-524-8782. Childcare will be provided.

Easter Sunday & Easter Egg Hunt

April 5th

Holy Eucharist Services at 9:00 & 11:15 a.m.

Easter Egg Hunt, Reception & Family Photos, 10:00 a.m.

Our annual Easter Egg Hunt & Reception will follow the 9:00 a.m.

service on Easter Sunday, April 4th

, in lieu of Christian Formation. All

children are invited to bring a friend and join in the Easter egg hunt

beginning at 10:00 a.m. We will also have our photographers on

hand to take photos (Individual, Couple, Families, Kids). Join us as

we celebrate the resurrection!

Easter Eggs | Treat filled eggs needed

We are collecting treat filled eggs to be hidden before the hunt.

Please drop off donated eggs to the office no later than March

30th

. Contact the church office for more information 479-524-8782.

INQUIRER’S CLASS

Beginning April 12th

…

Are you interested in learning more about Grace Church or maybe

becoming a member? Inquirer's Class (IC) is the place for you! IC

will meet Sundays at 4:00 p.m. starting April 12th

. All are welcome to

attend to learn more about the Episcopal Church, the Anglican

Communion, and our Liturgical tradition. Childcare will be provided

PARISH RETREAT

Sign-Up Now...

Mark your calendars for

the second annual Grace

Church Parish Retreat at

Camp Mitchell on the

weekend of May 1-3. We

have a sign-up available

online or in the Parish

Hall.

http://www.gracesiloam.o

rg/parish-retreat/

LECTIONARY

MARCH 1ST

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

Psalm 22:22-30

Romans 4:13-25

Mark 8:31-38

MARCH 15TH

Numbers 21:4-9

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

Ephesians 2:1-10

John 3:14-21

The Liturgy of the Palms

Mark 11:1-11

or John 12:12-16

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

MARCH 8TH

Exodus 20:1-17

Psalm 19

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

John 2:13-22

MARCH 22ND

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Psalm 51:1-13

or Psalm 119:9-16

Hebrews 5:5-10

John 12:20-33

The Liturgy of the Word

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Psalm 31:9-16

Philippians 2:5-11

Mark 14:1-15:47

or Mark 15:1-39, (40-47)

MARCH 29TH

PO BOX 767 (mailing) | 617 N. Mt. Olive St (physical)

Siloam Springs, AR 72761

479-524-8782 (main) | 479-524-6452 (fax)

www.gracesiloam.org

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