Grace Episcopal Church and St. Stephen’s Parish
Online Tidings
Pentecost 11, 2007
P.O. Box 51410, Colorado Springs, CO 80949
www.graceepiscopalcolosprings.org
grace.episcopal.church@gmail.com
719/328-1125
Prayer of the Week
For Clergy and People:
Almighty and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift: Send down upon our bishops, and other clergy, and upon the congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace: and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Book of Common Prayer, page 817
Services This Week
Sunday services this week will be at 12:45 pm at First Christian Church, on the corner of Platte and Cascade. Father Soper will preach, and the Choir Camp participants will present service music from A Mass for One Small Angel composed by McNeil Robinson, as well as Angel's Song by Judy W. Lindh and Bless, O Lord, Us Thy Servants by Martin How for an anthem and motet. Coffee hour will be immediately after the service.
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, today we remember the Church of the Ascension in Salida, the Church of the Holy Spirit in Highlands Ranch, St. Ambrose Church in Boulder, St. Andrew's Church in Manitou Springs, St. James Church in Lake City.
Tuesday Bible Study Resumes
A Throne Established Forever is the title of Father Michael's Tuesday Bible study beginning this Tuesday, August 14th. The course will continue throughout the fall semester with these objectives:
- To begin to appreciate the significance of God's covenant with David for understanding the content and meaning of the New Testament
- To understand the biblical idea of the monarchy and the Old Testament background for the Davidic covenant.
- To understand the basic outlines of the promises made to David and the shape of the Davidic kingdom under both David and Solomon.
The first readings will include Matthew 1:1, Mark 10:11 and Mark 12: 35-37. Join us Tuesdays at 10:40 am following our Holy Eucharist at 10:00 am.
Vestry Expansion
The vestry believes that parish business is expanding such that we should
increase the vestry to nine from its present six members. Bob McJimsey
retired and has been replaced by the appointment of John Hough, which restores
a vestry of six. But more help is needed. The vestry also thinks that it
should increase to nine members by holding a special election to add an
additional three members. With Bob McJimsey's retirement there are now no
elected vestry members. While we know we could appoint good people we
think it better for the parish to participate in this process.
We propose to hold a special parish meeting on Monday, September 10th at 7:00
pm at First Christian Church. According to the 1974 By-Laws which still
govern the parish, the vestry by majority vote may decide to call for a
special parish meeting, provided that there is at least ten days notice.
Such a special meeting must be confined to a single issue. The By-Laws
assume that vestry elections will be held at the annual parish meeting in
January. However, our unusual circumstances were not anticipated in those
By-Laws, and the By-Laws do not state any restrictions on what issue may
be chosen for a special parish meeting.
We propose to make the current vestry plus Fr. O'Donnell and Deacon Sally
the Nominating Committee for the special election. The Nominating
Committee would both propose candidates and also receive nominations from
the parish in order to create a slate of candidates for the parish to vote
on. Nominations may be sent to any member of the Nominating Committee
(vestry plus Father Michael and Deacon Sally). The deadline for
submitting nominations will be Sunday, August 26th. A slate will be
published by Sunday, September 2nd with biographical information.
The six appointed vestry members serve until the annual parish meeting in
January. The three newly elected members will also serve until the
January meeting. In January 2008 we must establish a new, fully elected
vestry. Members of the current vestry at that time might choose to stand
for election, or they may choose to withdraw in favor of new members.
Parish Finances
The vestry is in the process of reorganizing the financial management at Grace and is expected to issue an income statement and balance sheet within the next week or two. So long as we are at First Christian Church we are building up a surplus each month, which will help us with the much larger expenses when we return to the Tejon Street property.
Thrift House News
On August 13th, the Thrift House will open at 10:00 AM with gently used fall fashions, accessories, and decorative items. Come see what we have.
Don't forget we always need clean, useable clothing, household things, jewelry, and collectibles. If you have as little as three hours a month to spare, consider volunteering at Thrift House. Call Beth Phillips for more information 634-6826.
Greetings from Choir Camp
Greetings from the members of the Saint Nicholas and St. Cecilia choirs participating in choir camp this week. Goodness there are a lot of stars in Florissant. So far this week we've enjoyed Morning Prayer and Evensong each day, worked on a banner to carry this Sunday, learned about fossils from Ranger Jeff from the National Park Service, participated in the chorister Olympics, played Capture the Flag, learned some of what we know and don't know about angels and worked very hard on our music for Sunday. We've especially enjoyed sharing fellowship, music and games with other guests here at Christ Haven Lodge.
ESM Offerings
We have received a request for volunteers directly from Ecumenical Social Ministries. "We may be in the “Dog Days of Summer” where everything slows down, or people are taking their last minute vacations before school starts, but at ESM our clients needs never seem to slow down. ESM needs new volunteers to work in the Pantry, Housing & Utilities, Jobs and Front Desk. Please consider spending three hours – one day a week. Training will be provided." Please contact Carolyn McDole at 228-6782 or Joyce Polifka at 633-7956.
| 1st Sunday | 250 cans of soup |
| 2nd Sunday | 250 boxes of crackers |
| 3rd Sunday | 400 cans of pork and beans |
| 4th Sunday | 500 boxes of macaroni and cheese |
| 5th Sunday | toiletries, paper products and baby items |
Memorials and Thanksgivings
While we are at First Christian there is no need for additional altar flowers but for those who want to mark special memories or events in their lives designated contributions may be made and will be acknowledged in the bulletin. Presently such gifts might be made to MOSTrust or ESM and will be noted as directed -- either in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving.
Summer Child Care
Following our usual tradition there will be no Sunday School for the children during the month of August. Sunday Schoolers will remain with their families for the full service. We are grateful to the fine volunteers who provided care for the children during June and July, giving a welcome break to the regular Sunday School staff. The Nursery will be available as usual with many thanks to the faithful staff who care for our littlest parishioners.
Grace Midweek Services at First Christian
Thanks to the continuing hospitality of our hosts at First Christian, all our midweek services will be held in the Chapel at the north end of the building. All are welcome as we sustain ourselves with these worship services.
Tuesdays -- 10:00 am -- Holy Communion with Fr. Michael, followed by Bible Study at 10:40 am.
Thursdays -- 12:00 noon -- Healing Service and Holy Communion.
Youth Group
Youth group is back! Regular meetings will resume this week.
The date of the MOSTrust Rummage Sale has moved a week earlier to Saturday, September 8th. Please remember that we have very limited storage space for donations, but will need to put things together very quickly on September 8th. Donations will be accepted from anyone in the entire congregation. Please email Jim Hinkle or contact him at 440-4432 to arrange for your donation.
Grace Bibliophiles
On tap for August 17 is Memories of a Lifetime in the Pike's Peak Region by Irving Howbert. This is a 2007 reprint of the classic 1925 autobiography of a man who arrived here as a 14-year-old boy from Iowa. He was an early public official and was an active assistant to General William Palmer in the founding of our city. The book is available at the Old Colorado City Historical Society and at the Pioneers' Museum. The Howbert family has been part of Grace Church for decades and you will find the name of the current Irving Howbert listed in our 2005 parish directory.
Hospitality and Housekeeping
Please do not bring any peanuts or foods made with peanut products into First Christian as there is a child with extreme allergies.
Tithes and Contributions
Please note that as long as we are at First Christian, you may send all contributions and general correspondence to P.O. Box 51410, Colorado Springs, CO 80949. This address appears on both the web site and at the top of all editions of the Online Tidings. Checks should be made payable to Grace Episcopal Church.
All contributions directed to our post office box or placed in the collection basket during Sunday services are used only by Grace Episcopal and cannot be accessed by the secessionist congregation.
Lesser Feasts and Fasts
All during the Church Year there are remembrances of those people whose lives have helped build the body of our church. Unlike the major saints most of these are unfamiliar names, but in the book, "Lesser Feast and Fasts" from the Church Hymnal Corporation we can find the Propers (Scripture readings and Collect) set to remind us of these threads in the texture of our faith. From time to time selections will be included in Tidings.
We celebrated St. Lawrence the Deacon on August 10th. He was martyred during the persecution of Emperor Valerian in 257. The loveliest story that comes down to us about his view of the faith is that when he was ordered to turn over the treasurers of the church to the emperor he gathered together all the aged, infirm, poor, widows and orphans and declared to the Prefect of Rome, "Here are our treasures."
Almighty God, you called your deacon Laurence to serve you with deeds of love, and gave him the crown of martyrdom; Grant that we, following his example, may fulfill your commandments by defending and supporting the poor, and by loving you with all our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Scott Christiansen in Concert
Scott Christiansen is Director of Music for the historic Community Congregational Church in Manitou Springs. He also serves as the vocal music teacher for Mesa Ridge High School in Colorado Springs. Scott has served as organist and music director for several churches in Colorado Springs and the Southwest. Recently, he served in Arizona at The Church of the Red Rocks in Sedona where he also led the Red Rock Community Chorale and the Distinguished Artists Series.
On Sunday, August 19th at 3:00 pm, the FCC concert series is presenting an organ recital played by Scott Christiansen. The program will feature music by J.S. Bach, Paul Hindemith, Louis-Nicolas Clérambault, Alexandre Guilmant, and Derek Bourgeois. A free will offering will be taken.
Weekly Calendar
| Sunday, August 12 | Choral Eucharist at FCC | 12:45 pm |
| St. Nicholas Choir A Mass for One Small Angel | |
| Youth Group | 2:15 pm |
| Monday, August 13 | Thrift House Autumn Season | 10:00 am |
| Tuesday, August 14 | Holy Communion at FCC | 10:00 am |
| Fr. Michael's Bible Study at FCC | 10:40 am |
| Brown Bag Lunch at FCC | 12:00 pm |
| Thursday, August 16 | Healing Service at FCC | 12:00 pm |
| Friday, August 17 | Grace Bibliophiles | 12:00 pm |
| Sunday, August 19 | Summer Choir Practice | 11:30 am |
| Choral Eucharist at FCC | 12:45 pm |
| No coffee hour this week | |
| Youth Group | 2:15 pm |
| FCC Organ Concert | 3:00 pm |
Contact Information
All underlined contact names throughout the Online Tidings are linked to email addresses for your convenience. Just click in the online version to contact one of our vestry, staff or volunteers:
Ecclesiastic Trial of Donald Armstrong
On Wednesday, August 8th, the Ecclesiastical Court of the Diocese of Colorado announced their verdict in the case of Donald Armstrong. The court found him guilty of all six counts contained in the Presentment as detailed in the Motion for Summary Judgment of Offense. He now has thirty days to appeal this judgment, after which the court will recommend a sentence, which Bishop O'Neill may impose or reduce. You can read the diocesan press release or the article in the Colorado Springs Gazette. Both include this observation on the process of the trial: "The Ecclesiastical Court—whose members are elected by The Diocesan Convention—functions indep!
endently of the bishop and is governed by the disciplinary laws and processes of the Episcopal Church’s Canons. Those Canons exist to guard the well-being of all members of the church, and when there is wrongdoing to help restore the spiritual and institutional health of the church."
Vestry Meeting and Minutes
The August Vestry meeting will be held Tuesday, August 21st. You are invited to attend all regular monthly meetings of the Vestry. Meetings are held at La Posada del Sol Clubhouse at 2090 Mesa, on the corner of Mesa & Fillmore. Turn in the gate at La Posada del Sol -- the clubhouse is directly ahead clearly marked.
Minutes of the April and May Vestry meetings can be found on the Grace Episcopal homepage.
Minutes of the June Vestry meeting will be posted soon.