Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

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The Fifth Sunday in Lent, March 9, 2008

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

Prayer of the Week

For Quiet Confidence

O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer page 832

Table of Contents

 Click on the title of the article you wish to jump to.
Contents:Links:
Diocesan Cycle of PrayerContact Information
Weekly CalendarWeekly Healing Service
Holy Week Service ScheduleMusic at Grace
Memorial Service for Donna McElroyUpcoming FCC Concerts
The Priest's PenESM Commitment
Ecumenical Social MinistriesNovember Vestry Minutes
Safeguarding Our ChildrenFilings with the Court
Women of Grace Join Episcopal Church Women 
Thrift House Brown Bag Blowout Sale 
Preparation of the Palms 
Legal Update -- February 21st Filings 
Easter Memorials 


Diocesan Cycle of Prayer

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, today we remember Grace Church in Georgetown, St. Barnabas Church in Denver, St. John's Church in Boulder, St. Luke's Church in Westcliffe and St. Mark's Church in Durango.

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Weekly Calendar
Saturday, March 8Memorial Service for Donna McElroy11:00 am
Sunday, March 9Daylight Saving Time begins
Set clocks ahead one hour		1:00 am
Adult Education11:30 am
High School Youth Group11:30 am
Choral Eucharist at FCC12:45 pm
Children's Sunday School1:30 pm
Coffee and Fellowship2:00 pm
Monday, March 10Communications Committee7:00 pm
Tuesday, March 11Holy Communion10:00 am
Father Michael's Bible Study10:40 am
Brown Bag Lunch12:00 pm
Grace Notes Handbell Choir7:15 pm
Senior High Cawfee Tawk Tuesday8:30 pm
Wednesday, March 12Lenten Noontime Reflections12:00 pm
St. Nicholas Choir Rehearsal4:30 pm
St. Cecilia Choir Rehearsal5:30 pm
Taylor and St. Stephen's Choirs Rehearsal7:00 pm
Thursday, March 13Healing Service12:00 pm
Saturday, March 15Preparation of Palms9:00 am
Sunday, March 16Liturgy of the Palms, Passion Narrative & Holy Eucharist
Service at Shove Chapel		11:00 am

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

Holy Week Service Schedule

Photo of the West Door, Shove Chapel
Palm Sunday, March 16Liturgy of the Palms, Passion Narrative & Holy Eucharist11:00 am
Maundy Thursday, March 20Holy Eucharist & The Stripping of the Altar7:30 pm
Good Friday, March 21Good Friday Meditations12:00 pm
Holy Saturday, March 22The Great Vigil of Easter7:30 pm
Easter Sunday, March 23Festival Choral Eucharist
The Rt. Rev. Robert O'Neill, Bishop of Colorado
Homilist and Celebrant		11:00 am

Note that all Holy Week services will be held in historic Shove Chapel at Colorado College.

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Memorial Service for Donna McElroy

 Donna M. McElroy, 66, formerly of Pueblo and a resident of Colorado Springs area for the past 18 years, passed away on March 3, 2008. She was born March 30, 1941 in Creston, Iowa to John and Mary Law Fees. Donna was an active member at Grace Episcopal Church, serving in both the St. Stephen's choir and handbell choir. She was an artist and musician. Donna taught Art at Centennial Elementary School. She was a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority, the Seratoma Club and the Sweet Adeline's. Donna is preceded in death by her father John Fees. Donna is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Lynn Frerichs of Alexandria, Virginia, a son, Phillip Edward Frerichs of Dover, Delaware, her mother Mary Fees of Corning, Iowa, brothers, Thomas Connor Fees of Iowa City, Iowa and Timothy John Fees of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and her beloved Corgi, "Murphy". Visitation will be from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Friday, March 7, 2008 at Blunt Mortuary 2229 W. Colorado Ave. Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904. Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at Grace Episcopal meeting at First Christian Church, 16 E. Platte Avenue in Colorado Springs. The family requests that memorial donation be made to the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center or Penrose St. Francis Hospital through the funeral home office.

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From the Priest's Pen

Photo of Father Michael This week I wanted to share a few details about our new and very exciting ministry at Colorado College. The following is the description that will be added to the College's list of religious organizations:

The Episcopal Church at Colorado College (ECCC) is a campus ministry sponsored by Grace and St Stephen's Episcopal Church and the Sangre de Cristo region of the Diocese of Colorado. The purpose of ECCC is to provide Colorado College students who have identified themselves as Episcopalians an opportunity to have an Anglican fellowship that includes Episcopal faculty, staff, and other students on campus; to have weekly access to Holy Eucharist on a weekly basis on the Colorado College campus at Shove Chapel and on Sundays at Grace and St Stephen's Episcopal Church; and to have a place to just "unwind" with other students or meet with an Episcopal Chaplain. A special Taizé service is also available for all faculty, staff, and students the first Monday of each month. This special, campus outreach ministry is under the direction of our Priest-in-Charge, The Rev'd Michael O'Donnell, Ph.D.

We are looking for additional volunteers to help with this ministry. If you feel called, or could be persuaded, to work with local college students, please email me or call 328-1125.

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Ecumenical Social Ministries

 ESM Anniversary Logo The food bank at ESM is still looking pretty bare after the holiday season. We encourage everyone to note our commitment below and bring these items to church each Sunday, or to make an extra, targeted donation to ESM with your Sunday offering (please mark "ESM Food Bank" in the memo section).

1st Sunday250 cans of soup
2nd Sunday250 boxes of crackers
3rd Sunday400 cans of pork and beans
4th Sunday500 boxes of macaroni and cheese
5th Sundaytoiletries, paper products and baby items

The majority of people ESM helps are the working poor – those who hold low-paying jobs and are unable to meet all of their living needs. These families often face heartbreaking decisions between paying their rent, buying groceries, or providing clothes for their children. ESM provides a wide range of support services to improve clients' long-term prospects, such as a new series of GED training classes beginning in April, offered for only a nominal book and material fee.

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Safeguarding Our Children

 The Diocese of Colorado requires that all adults who work with children on a regular basis within our church complete the course called Safeguarding Our Children. This training must be renewed every four years. We would like to set up a class this spring so it is available to all who need to renew their training or take the class for the first time. If you should attend this class please call the church office at 328-1125 and let us know. We will contact you to provide the schedule details.

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Women of Grace Join Episcopal Church Women

 On Saturday, March 1st, the Women of Grace met at the home of Susan Stoner for a sumptuous pot luck brunch! There were over 30 women in attendance. Nancy Lawthers, President of the Diocesan Episcopal Church Women (ECW), along with Beth Phillips of Thrift House and Yvonne Franklyn of St. Michael's, who is VP of Diocesan ECW and serves on the board of Thrift House, gave us terrific information about the goals of Episcopal Church Women, and how it operates. Our local Thrift House is one of the biggest moneymakers for ECW in the entire diocese.

With a unanimous vote Women of Grace decided that they will be known as Episcopal Church Women of Grace Episcopal Church. Our long-term goals will be worked out as we go along, but we will support all women of the church and charities which we deem worthy, and hopefully raise some funds for our church projects. Nel Benton-Hough will be the chairman. Her contact numbers are 577-9426 (home) or 448-9464 (cell), and her email is nelb834@msn.com.

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Thrift House Brown Bag Blowout Sale

 Be sure to head to the Thrift House at 1027 S. Tejon on March 14th for the Brown Bag Sale. Doors open at 10:00 am, and all you can stuff into a brown bag will be yours for only $10.00. Thrift House will even supply the bags. The brown bag price drops to $5.00 at 1:00 pm, and prices drop again for the final hour between 3:00 and 4:00. This is the winter clearance you have been waiting for! Be sure to get your hand stamped when you come in to get the special "all in one bag" price break.

Thrift House will be closed on Saturday March 15th for restocking, and will reopen on Monday, March 17th with all new summer and spring merchandise.

As always, Thrift House is looking for more volunteers. We ask for a once-per-month commitment for a three-hour block of time. Men can volunteer too! Not only do profits go into our community, they also come back to our parish, based on the hours our members put in. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Beth Phillips at 634-6826.

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Preparation of the Palms

 In order to be ready for Palm Sunday, we are looking for volunteers to help prepare the palm fronds. No need to call ahead, just meet in the Fellowship Hall at FCC at 9:00 am on Saturday, March 15th.

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Legal Update -- February 21st Filings

 The issue of the validity of a summary judgment in favor of the Episcopal Church Entities (that is the national church, the diocese and us!) has once again been brought the attention of the court. Our attorney points out that a central theme of the case contained in the filings from the secessionist congregation is the idea that Grace and St. Stephen's left the Episcopal Church in 1973. As that was not the intent of the incorporation filed by Fr. Hewett, the corporation was never organized and no property was ever transferred to it, the court was asked to rule on the validity of that point alone.

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Easter Memorials -- Remember and Give Thanks

 You are invited to join in the celebration of this Easter by contributing to the decorations and music of the church. Please indicate if your gift is in loving memory or in honor of someone special in your life.

Donor’s Name: _____________________________________ Amount: ______________

Easter Flowers

In Memory of ___________________________________________

Or

In Thanksgiving for _______________________________

Easter Music

In Memory of ___________________________________________

Or

In Thanksgiving for ________________________________

** Please return the slip with your donation in the offering basket or send it to the office by March 16th. Checks should be made to “Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church”.

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