Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

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Online Tidings

The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, January 6, 2008


P.O. Box 548, Colorado Springs, CO 80901
www.graceepiscopalcolosprings.org
grace.episcopal.church@gmail.com
719/328-1125

Prayer of the Week

The Epiphany

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer page 214

Children's Pageant Photo

Photo of Christmas Eve Pageant

Table of Contents

Click on the title of the article you wish to jump to.
Contents:Links:
Diocesan Cycle of PrayerESM Commitment
Weekly CalendarTuesday Bible Study
Nominating Committee Announces Vestry SlateMusic at Grace
Father Michael's New Office HoursUpcoming FCC Concerts
MOPS OpportunityGrace Bibliophiles
Pledge Cards MailedVestry September Minutes
Women's Retreat -- Save the DateContact Information
Introducing Father John PahlsCourt Filings
 Weekly Healing Service


Diocesan Cycle of Prayer

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, today we remember the Church of the Ascension in Denver, Christ Church in Cañon City, St. Thomas in Alamosa, St. Stephen the Martyr in Monte Vista and St. Francis of Assisi in South Fork.

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Weekly Calendar

Sunday, January 6Adult Education (Go Tell It on the Mountain)11:30 am
High School Youth Group11:30 am
Choral Eucharist at FCC12:45 pm
Middle School Youth Group2:15 pm
Feast of the Epiphany 
Tuesday, January 8Holy Communion10:00 am
Father Michael's Bible Study10:40 am
Brown Bag Lunch at FCC12:00 pm
Worship Committee5:00 pm
Communications Committee6:00 pm
Grace Notes Handbell Choir7:15 pm
Wednesday, January 9St. Nicholas Choir Rehearsal4:30 pm
St. Cecilia Choir Rehearsal5:30 pm
Taylor and St. Stephen's Choirs Rehearsal7:00 pm
Thursday, January 10Healing Service12:00 pm
Vestry Meeting7:30 pm
Sunday, January 13Adult Education11:30 am
High School Youth Group11:30 am
Choral Eucharist at FCC12:45 pm
Children's Sunday School1:30 pm
Middle School Youth Group2:15 pm
Saturday, January 19Annual Meeting and Potluck5:00 pm

Remember, the youth group is planning to resume meeting this week, with the middle schoolers and high schoolers meeting separately. Sunday school for the children will resume next week.

To see this in a printable calendar layout, click here.

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Annual Meeting, Vestry Election and Potluck

Bruce MacHaffie, Lynn Olney, Mary Lou Porter and Chuck Theobald have been nominated to the open positions on the vestry. All candidates have been asked to submit a brief personal biography and statement about why they wish to serve, which will be published in Tidings next week.

The annual parish meeting will be on Saturday, January 19th, from 5:00 till 8:00 pm. We will meet in the Fellowship hall, and main dishes and drinks will be provided by the clergy and staff. Please plan to bring a salad, side dish, or dessert, and join in the fun.

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Fr. Michael's New Office Hours

Tuesdays 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, with Mass at 10:00 o'clock and Bible study (The Davidic Kingdom) at 10:40. Tuesday afternoons may include home or hospital visits and Tuesday evenings will be reserved for Vestry and Worship Committee meetings;
Wednesdays 9:00 am to 4:00 pm;
Thursdays 9:00 am to 4:00 pm with staff meetings from 2:30 to 4:00;
Fridays 9:00 am to 12:00 pm;
Saturdays by appointment;
Sundays scheduled for classes and services;
Mondays day off.

Please call if you would like to schedule an appointment during the day or over lunch, though walk-in visits are always welcome. Friday afternoons and Saturdays are generally set aside for final sermon preparation, but please call the office or Fr. Michael's cell phone if you need to speak with him.

The office is located in the balcony above the Fellowship Hall. Stairs are located to the right of the sliding glass doors from the parking lot, or from the halls on either side of the parlor at the rear of the Sanctuary.

Our church phone is still 328-1125, now with the added benefit of the office we will have someone to answer it Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 to 3:00, and Friday from 9:00 to 12:00. Please be sure to call our office and not First Christian's number if you have any questions or concerns. Father Michael and Deacon Sally can always be reached by their cell phones. There are also mail boxes for the staff members if you need to leave anything for any staff member.

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MOPS Opportunity

The joint Grace Episcopal Church/First Christian Church MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group is in great need of two nursery workers to watch our children during our meetings. We will start meeting again in January, every other Thursday morning from 9:00 to 11:00 am. These are paid positions. Being able to continue this wonderful ministry depends on finding someone to help us. If you are interested or know anyone who might be able to help, please contact Tami Ekholm at 522-1976 or Mary Lou Porter at 599-5548.

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Every Member Canvass

Every member should have received a letter regarding pledges for the next year. If you have not received this letter and a pledge card, please contact the church office immediately. Our preliminary budget is for $574,000 this year, and the information on how that will be allocated is included in the letter. We hope you will prayerfully consider your pledge and return the card as soon as possible. If you have questions, please contact Ed Brown or any vestry member. Thank you for sharing your time, talents and treasure.

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Women's Retreat -- Save the Date

The annual Women's Retreat has been schedule for February 1st and 2nd at Mount St. Francis, with the Rev. Linda Seracuse as our guide. A sign-up sheet will be available Sundays in the Fellowship Hall at the Welcome Desk. Please plan to join us!

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Introducing Father John Pahls

Photo of Fr. Pahls Father John Pahls is a third-generation El Paso County native. He graduated from Palmer High School in 1963, and his mother, Mary Lou Pahls, was a parishioner at Grace and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church from 1938 and a longtime member of the altar guild.

Father John attended the University of Colorado in Boulder and received his bachelor of music degree in 1968 and entered Nashotah House Episcopal Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity degree in 1973 and a Master of Sacred Theology with honors in 2005. He was ordained a Deacon by Bishop Adkins on September 22, 1973 at Christ Church Cathedral and later Priest by Bishop Edward Turner of Kansas on May 11, 1974 at St. John's Church in Wichita, Kansas . At St. John's Church, where he was ordained a priest, he later went on to serve as Curate.

In 1975, Father John became Rector of St. Andrews in Brewster, New York and served until 1980. In 1980, he returned to Colorado, serving as priest-in-charge of Resurrection Episcopal Church in Limon and St. Paul 's Episcopal Church in Byers until 1983. From 1983 to 1987, Father John was the vicar of St. Paul 's Episcopal Church in Suamico and St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Oconto, Wisconsin. Since then he has served been associated with or served interim pastorates across the diocese.

Father John also exercises a number of other talents. He is a weaver, and specializes in the design and weaving of tartans. In 1995 he designed the Colorado Department, which was officially adopted by the General Assembly in 1997 and has been in commercial production since 1999. In addition, he designed the Episcopal clergy tartan and commemorative tartans for the Palmer High School Alumni Association and Nashotah House Episcopal Seminary.

This November with the retirement of The Reverend Roy Soper, priest emeritus, Father Michael asked Father John to help as an assistant priest. He has been a "regular" at the eight o'clock morning service at Grace and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church since 1997. Father John says that his ordained life has been filled with many ups and downs, but that it's been a blessing to finally be home and at the altar, serving God's faithful people at Grace and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church.

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