Grace Notes: May 8, 2025

7 May at 7:04 pm

Grace Episcopal Church

Grace Notes

May 8, 2025

In John’s gospel, chapter 10, Jesus responded to the Jews’ demand that he speak plainly and affirm that he was the Messiah by saying “I have told you, and you do not believe….The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.” For Jesus, belief was not a matter of conviction based on evidence but allowing the possibility of his Messiahship into their world view. C.S. Lewis recounts the story of his conversion to the Christian faith in his book, Surprised by Joy. He had talked about it and thought about it but never been able to come to the point of belief. But then he took a bus to the zoo:

When we set out I did not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and when we reached the zoo I did. Yet I had not exactly spent the journey in thought. Nor in great emotion. “Emotional” is perhaps the last word we can apply to some of the most important events. It was more like when a man, after long sleep, still lying motionless in bed, becomes aware that he is now awake.*

A former Priest/mentor told me that the faith is “caught, not taught” and St. Anselm of Canterbury described the relationship between knowing and faith: “I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but rather, I believe in order that I may understand.”

While the stumbling blocks to belief are different in every generation, the gift of faith, which opens our eyes to the truth, is constant.

Jim Jeffery

Calendar

Thursday, May 8, 2025, 9:00 A.M, Finance Committee

Thursday, May 8, 2025, 12 Noon, Holy Eucharist, Rev. Robert Abner presiding

Thursday, May 8, 2025, “The Edge” Diocesan neighborhood meeting, 6:00- 7:30 P.M. at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Carmel, IN

Friday, May 9, 2025, 9 A.M. at Panera Bread, Daughters of the King

Sunday, May 11, 2025, 9 A.M. Adult Education in the Church Conference Room.

Sunday, May 11, 2025, 10 A.M., Liturgy of the Word, Canon Brendan O’Sullivan-Hale presiding

Thursday, May 15, 2025, 10 A.M. Yarn Group

Thursday, May 15, 2025, 12 Noon, Holy Eucharist, Rev. Robert Abner presiding

Thursday, May 15, 2025, 6:30 P.M. in the Church Conference Room, Vestry Meeting. All are welcome to attend, please email Connie at [email protected] if you would like a Zoom invitation.

Announcements:

Altar Guild Needs

Grace is in desperate need of volunteers for the Altar Guild, which includes Acolytes and the Altar Team.

Although Grace has four on the Altar Team and five Acolytes, due to normal happenings of life, we are down one volunteer in both until June & soon to be down a second in both for at least a couple months starting in May. This leaves, in May, only two on the Altar Team & three Acolytes, a heavy burden on those currently in service.

Ideally Grace needs 8-9 Acolytes and 8-9 on the Altar Team.

The Altar Guild is responsible for tasks such as:

Preparing the altar
Laying out the vessels for worship
Setting the credence table with the elements (bread and wine) to be administered during communion
Laundering and ironing altar and worship linens, polishing brass and silver, and various other tasks
Ensuring the altar is dressed in the proper color of the day (frontal hanging, etc.)
Cleaning up after services

Please prayerfully consider if God is calling you to be a part of this critical act of “quiet service”. Those with the call to either/both teams, whether to once a month service or more, reach out to Joey Ferrell or email [email protected] .

Thank you for considering God’s Call in this matter.

Morning and Evening Prayer via Zoom

Morning Prayer is said Tuesday and Saturday mornings at 9 A.M. Evening Prayer is said Wednesday evenings at 8 P.M. Please contact Andy Bonnell at [email protected] if you would like to join these Zoom meetings.

Sunday School Needs

We need a second person in the Sunday School room through May. If you can sign up for a Sunday, please do so on the sign-up sheet on the Parish Hall bulletin board. The Diocese requires two adults for every Sunday School classroom. We also need someone to volunteer to lead Sunday school in the 2025-2026 school year.

Gathering Grace

Thanks to everyone who helped at Gathering Grace yesterday. We served 118 meals and then gave away the 2 sandwiches left to latecomers. It was a busy day.
Our meal yesterday was tasty beef stroganoff, green salad, and cupcakes.

Next Sunday is Mothers’ Day, and it appears we will be short at least 5 of our regular volunteers. If you are able (thinking especially Lutherans, if you read this), your help will be especially appreciated. We will try to keep the meal as simple as possible to make the whole day easier as well. The more critical time will be 2:30 and after, in order to plate and serve meals.

Thank you!!!

Gathering Grace Feeding Program Evaluation Report

We all know Reed Akolgo has been hard at work on his Doctorate. Recently he completed an assignment that benefitted Grace Church by interviewing participants at Gathering Grace. The study is below. Thank you, Reed!

Here is a link for the Gathering Grace Feeding Program Evaluation Report for you to review. If you have any questions about this report, please contact Connie. (Click the underlined report title to be taken to the report.)

Discretionary Funds

While we are without permanent pastoral guidance that does not mean we are without a need for discretionary funding. Anyone who is able, please consider donating to this important fund. Be assured, your donations will be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please let Connie know.

A Better Way. Needs for May.

UNDY (UNDIE 500) – “NEW” underwear, all sizes, for men, women and children will be collected in May benefiting A Better Way and Gathering Grace guests.

Check out the poster near the Nave entrance! Thank You

Daughters of the King

What is The Daughters of the King? You see us serving on the first Sunday of each month but what else do we do?

The Daughters of the King is an order that focusses on prayer, service, and evangelism. So our service is often to serve the needs of A Better Way but we also do things at the request of the priest. But Grace has no full-time priest so we look to the needs of the church.

We meet twice a month – the 2nd Friday of each month for breakfast at a local restaurant. This month we are going to Panera on May 9 at 9AM for fellowship. If you are interested in learning more about us, come join us.

The 2nd meeting is on the 4th Thursday of each month except November and December because of the holidays. This is our short business meeting and a program. It is here that we came up with the idea of starting an adult Sunday school on Sundays at 9 AM to discuss the lectionary for the day. Come join us for this discussion.

Adult Education

Next Sunday, May 10, there will be a study of the lessons appointed for that day. Bring your favorite Bible and concordance. No lectures, just respectful questions and discussions of meanings and applications for today. These study sessions will begin at 9:00 A.M. on Sunday mornings in the parish hall.

Christian Ministries. Needs for May.

Cereal and oatmeal, peanut butter, Ramen noodles, spaghetti, pasta sauce, mac and cheese, canned soups, and toilet paper.

Yarn Group

The Yarn Group will meet every first and third Thursday of the month at 10 A.M.

Parish Profile

As our Parish profile is updated, we will need photographs. Please send photos of Grace Church’s activities to [email protected]

Kitchen Needs

Blue Recycling Bags – Have any lying around you don’t need? We use them in various rooms at church and our supply is almost gone. Place any you can share in the Church kitchen.

Thursday Noon Eucharist

The Reverend Robert Abner accepted a call to serve as Priest in Charge at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Richmond, IN. This is a loss for Muncie, but we are so happy for Robert, and St. Paul’s. We are so pleased that Reverend Jerry O’Neal has agreed to serve as our Rector for the Thursday noon service.

Thursday noon services will continue to be held weekly.

Diocesan News:

The Indy Dio divides its churches into “neighborhoods”. Grace Muncie, along with Grace Village, Anderson, Fishers, Richmond, and New Castle, are in “The Edge” neighborhood. The Edge and Crossroads Neighborhood meeting will be held on May 8 @ 6-7:30 pm EDT by Co-convener The Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick at St. Christopher’s Carmel. If you are interested in attending, but need a ride, please let Connie Turner know. Connie
See the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis website for news and upcoming events. Home – The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis

Memorial:

A memorial service will be held for Oswald Petrucco (August 9, 1929-March 20, 2025) on May 10th from 11 to 1pm at Gardens View Funeral Home, 10501 IN-3, Muncie, 47303.Obituary | Oswald Petrucco of Muncie, Indiana | Garden View Funeral Home
Grace Episcopal Church will be the site of the memorial service for David Galliher (April 17,1932-January 23,2025) on May 17, 2025, at Grace. Calling hours are at 10am, with the service beginning at 10:30am. The Rev. Ron Naylor will be officiating. Obituary

Community News

We received notice on 5/5/25 that the East Central Neighborhood Association quarterly member meeting is on May 8 at 6pm at Cornerstone Center for the Arts. Food and beverages will be provided. Father Paul used to attend these meetings. Connie will be going to the Episcopal “Neighborhood” meeting at the same time. If you are able, please consider attending this meeting with our neighbors.
Other East Central Neighborhood Association news: Rummage sale is May 10 in the parking lot of Vine and Main Street. May 17th is the neighborhood cleanup from 8am-11:30am. Meet on the corner of Main and Vine. Bring work gloves. We will gather litter and yard waste as we walk throughout the neighborhood.
Minnetrista Garden Fair, May 9–10, 2025, Garden Fair — Minnetrista

Episcopal Church Links

The Episcopal Church

The Lectionary

Celebration:

Birthdays! 🎂

Steve Holdzkom May 14

Bea Mertens May 15

Guidelines for Grace Notes

Please submit items for Grace Notes by 8 P.M. Tuesday for Thursday publication

*Surprised by Joy by C.S.Lewis, Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., 1955, p. 2

Grace Episcopal Church

P.O. Box 1732