Ministries
The Worship Ministries:Altar Guild is coordinated by Ann Berry and is open to all. Choir,directed by Pat Terry, practices twice a week and is open to all members of the congregation. Chalicists serve on a rotating basis and are certified by the diocese. Lectors serve on a rotating basis after a basic orientation. Acolytes serve on a rotating basis after a basic orientation. Open to both youth and adults. Worship Committee meets on a regular basis to plan the liturgy. Lay Eucharistic Ministers share the Eucharist celebration with home-bound members of the congregation. They are certified by the diocese. The Vestry is the eight member church council that oversees our finances and property. Members act as greeters and ring the bell on Sunday. Current vestry: Dave Mikelson (Senior Warden), Maren Coates (Junior Warden),Len Banas, Bill Folz, Cathie Elsbree, Phil Jackman,Joan Klaus and Robert Marsh (Vestry Members). Jim Berry is the Treasurer for the Parish. The Vestry Liaisons Assignments are: Worship - Rector Worship Committee - Bill Foltz Fellowship - Maren Coates Outreach - Joan Klaus Communications - Len Banas Building and Grounds - Robert Marsh Spirituality and Formation - Cathie Elsbree Lay Pastoral Care - Phil Jackman Church Governance - the Senior & Junior Wardens The Adult Formation Planning Group plans and organizes adult learning oportunities during the liturgical year based on input from the congregational survey. The members are Eleanor Buehler, Mary Folz, Lynn Giles, Elizabeth Ludescher, Larry Poston, Mary Lou Smith. Carol Most is the Vestry Liason. The Outreach Committee plans for local, national, and international projects using outreach funds. The members are: James Baran, Donna Davis, Steve Dowe, JoAnn Mikelson, Karlyn VanGelder, and Rob Vollkommer. Joan Klaus is the Vestry Liaison. Distributions approved at the end of 2012 include: a donation to the Bishop's appeal (this year, the Crosswalk Initiative for anti-gun violence) and an immediate donation to Church World Services for tornado relief. Christian Formation and Education Ministries:For Children: The Nursery is open at 10:15 every Sunday with a permanent,trained caregiver, Debbie Houy, for children up to age five. Children of visitors are welcome. The Worship Center is conducted during the school year to provide Christian education for young children ages five to twelve. They meet with Teresa Hannaman during the Sunday Eucharist at the Parish House and come over to the church for communion. For Adults: Bible Study Group gathers for discussion of a biblical topic at the parish house on Wednesdays starting at 10:30 am. Open to all. Current study: The individual books of the New Testament. An informal Wednesday Morning Group meets every Wednesday morning after the 7:30 am Eucharist at a local cafe (check the events listings for the current location.) Grace Galena EfM group has students in the Second and Third year, but is currently "on hold". The four-year course of study, Education for Ministry, promises lively discussion of the Old Testament, the New Testament, and Contemporary Thought. Central to gathering in community is Theological Reflection – where “God talk” meets everyday life, and where students discover their ministry in the world. While the course of study is four years long, students need only commit to one year at a time. If interested, please contact the office for more information. Contemplative Prayer Group meets in the chapel at 9:00 am on Friday. The Arts Council is described in the Arts Council section of this website. The Servants Through Prayer pray in an intentional way for individuals on the Grace Prayer List and meet on a quarterly basis. The prayer group is open to anyone in the congregation. The group discusses the ministry of praying for others, their own prayer lives and concerns and how to foster this ministry in the congregation. This group is also given “confidential prayer requests” and keeps such requests in the strictest secrecy. There is a Request for Prayers notebook in the narthex/entry to the church. The Yarn Ministries are small groups of volunteers who knit or crochet prayer shawls, hats and scarves for those in need. Current time and location is: Thursday at 2 pm at the home of Richard Babcock (Call Richard Babcock at 779-214-0120 for more information) Several AA Groups which meet in our Parish House - Monday at 10:00, Tuesday at 7:00 and on Wednesday at noon. An Al-Anon group meets at the same time as the Tuesday night AA group but in a different location in the building. Outreach:Grace Church regularly gives donations of Food and paper items to the Galena Food Pantry that is open from 1-4 each Thursday at the Galena State Bank. We have supported Heifer International as a Christmas project since 2002. During Advent, donations are made in honor of friends and family as Christmas gifts. Checks are made out to Grace Church and Lynn Giles has gift cards reading "The gift of a (insert selected animal)has been given through Heifer International in your honor by ______. May this gift bring you joy as it brings hope to a hungry family." United Churches of Galena Progressive DinnerFriday, May 3, 2013Tickets: $20 per person $5.00 per child age 5 and under Proceeds go to your congregations choice to help eradicate hunger Contact Janet Post for tickets. First Seating 5:00 - 5:20 pm Appetizers at Grace Episcopal 5:25 - 5:45 pm Salads at St. Michael's Catholic (co-hosts St. Marys Catholic) 5:50 - 6:30 pm Main Course at United Methodist (co-hosts Lord of Love Lutheran) 6:35 - 7:15 pm Desserts at Westminster Presbyterian (co-hosts St. Matthews Lutheran) Second Seating 6:00 - 6:20 pm Appetizers at First Presbyerian 6:25 - 6:45 pm Salads at St. Michael's Catholic (co-hosts St. Marys Catholic) 6:50 - 7:30 pm Main Course at United Methodist (co-hosts Lord of Love Lutheran) 7:35 - 8:15 pm Desserts at Westminster Presbyterian (co-hosts St. Matthews Lutheran) |
  
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