Grace Notes
July 24, 2025
It has been said that if you want to know what the Episcopal Church believes, read its Book of Common Prayer. Prayer is at the center of our faith and in today’s Gospel Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. I would like to recommend two books that speak to the Christian life and the practice of prayer: Being Christian: Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer by Rowan Williams and Mysteries of Faith by Mark McIntosh. Both are in our Church library (if they haven’t been checked out!). Rowan Williams was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012 and is a prolific and well-respected scholar. His book, Being Christian, is an introduction to the Christian faith that is accessible and erudite. Mysteries of Faith is part of the New Church’s Teaching Series and gives a solid theological foundation for Christian belief and practice. While its topic is dense and serious it is free of jargon and written for all who want a deeper understanding of their faith. Mark McIntosh was professor of Christian Spirituality at Loyola University, Chicago, at the time of his untimely death of ALS at age 61. While there are many good, introductory books about the Christian Faith I highly recommend these as they are stimulating, intelligent, and more specific than others to our Anglican tradition.
Jim Jeffery
Calendar:
Thursday, July 24, 2025, 12 Noon, Holy Eucharist, Rev. Jerry O’Neal presiding
Thursday, July 24, 2025, 6:30 P.M. DOK meeting at the church or on Zoom
Saturday, July 26, 2025, 9:00 A.M. Morning Prayer on Zoom
Sunday, July 27, 2025, 9 A.M. Adult Education in the Parish Hall.
Sunday, July 27, 2025, 10 A.M. Liturgy of the Word
Tuesday, July 29, 2025, 9:00 A.M. Morning Prayer on Zoom
Wednesday, July 30, 2025, 8:00 P.M. Evening Prayer on Zoom
Thursday, July 31, 2025, 12 Noon, Holy Eucharist, Rev. Jerry O’Neal presiding
Announcements:
RECTOR SEARCH UPDATE
As required by the Diocese, the Discernment Committee has compiled a Parish Profile based on the information obtained in the Holy Conversation meetings the congregation had earlier this year. This information will be added to the church’s website, once it has been approved by the Diocese. Due to the fact that the Diocese’s Transition Minister Jen Phelps (who led us through the Holy Conversations) has left, communications with the Diocese are somewhat slow. We hope the Parish Profile information will soon have final Diocesan approval and then can be added to our website. This will aid greatly in attracting candidates for a permanent Rector.
We have been told it is probable that, due to a shortage of available priests, we may not have an Interim Rector as we have had in the past. We may just continue with Supply Priests and Morning Prayer for our services until the time a permanent Rector is hired
The Discernment Committee thanks you for your patience. Please let us know if you have any concerns.
Discernment Committee members: Cecil Bohanon, Lew Gillespie, Katherine Mitchell, Mark Mordue, Max Nottingham, Karen Sullivan
Sunday services through August
The Vestry has voted that we will have a “Service of the Word” twice a month, with supply priests being utilized on the other Sundays. We will continue to follow the bulletin for these services but will, of course, exclude the Holy Eucharist. The sermon can be a brief homily, with the topic being any of the readings of the day, or experiences and thoughts that relate to the readings. This table shows the open dates through August. If you are interested in participating in any of the services, please let Connie know.
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Pastor Joke
A minister was frustrated trying to get bats – actual bats – out of the belfry. He had tried everything short of firearms but finally remembered a pastor in the next town who’d solved the same problem, and he phoned to ask him how he did it.
“It was easy.” He said, “I made those bats members, baptized them, told them that they had to give ten percent, and I haven’t seen them since!”
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.
Gathering Grace
Thanks to all Gathering Grace volunteers for your help last Sunday. We served 162 meals of lasagna, garlic bread, tossed salad and key lime pie! It was a meal enjoyed by all.
Next Sunday will be a leftover Sunday. Odds and ends in the freezer will be used up to meet use-by dates, as well as free up some space for future foods.
Please let the cook-in-charge (Mary) if you can help out by signing up on the sheet. Thank you!
Sunday School
We need volunteers to teach children’s Sunday School once or twice a month. Please consider making this worthwhile donation of time.
Volunteers Needed for Pride Day
September 6, 2025, 1-5PM. Come help us at the Grace booth as we spread the word about our loving and accepting congregation. Please contact Katherine Mitchell or Connie Turner for more information.
A Better Way. Needs for July.
Thank you to everyone who donated summer items last month. Currently there are 25 individuals, adults and children, being cared for in The Better Way facility so the need continues. Donations needed as follows – sidewalk chalk, ankle skippers, activity books, flip flops (all sizes), bubble wands, jump ropes, frisbees, balls, yo-yos, nerf footballs. Don’t have time to shop? Jo Ann is open to a monetary donation and will do your shopping for you.
Daughters of the King
On July 24 we will meet at the church or on Zoom for our monthly meeting beginning with a bring your own dinner at 6:30 and a short meeting beginning at 7.
Adult Education
Next Sunday, July 27, 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.
Vestry Minutes
The Vestry Minutes for the July meeting are below.
Christian Ministries. Needs for July.
Pillows, blankets, cereal, hamburger, peanut butter, shampoo, body soap, laundry soap, toilet paper. If you donate hamburger, please place it on the bottom shelf of the hospitality refrigerator.
Yarn Group
The Yarn Group will meet every first and third Thursday of the month at 10 A.M.
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.
Diocesan News:
Are you looking to deepen your faith?
Do you want to know more about the Bible, Christian Tradition, and Church History? Are you hoping to understand how your personal experiences and beliefs bring you closer to God and God’s people?
If “yes,” EfM (Education for Ministry) may be for you.
EfM is a four-year Christian Formation program (taken one year at a time) founded and administered through the School of Theology of the University of the South at Sewanee. Through study, prayer, worship, and reflection, EfM seminar groups journey together through scripture, church history, and theology.
A seminar group can be comprised of one or two mentors and up to twelve participants. The group meets up to 36 times during the course of a year. Years 1 & 2 study the Hebrew Scriptures, the Gospels, and the New Testament. Year 3 looks at Church History. Year 4 studies Christian ethics and systematic theology, developing and enhancing their own practice. Wide-Angle is a 1-year “taste” of the traditional four years of the program.
Most groups start in September and finish in June. The rewards are deep, moving, and transforming. It is one of the few places where you can talk openly about your beliefs and stories of faith without judgment. Evolving, growing, changing, and maturing into our lives with Jesus is the purpose.
We look forward to hearing your voice among us.
For more information, please contact Diocesan Coordinator Mariann Scott at [email protected].
See the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis website for news and upcoming events. Home – The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis
Episcopal Church Links
Community News:
Fire Up DWNTWN is Back!
Saturday, August 2 1–10PM Downtown Muncie FREE!
Presented by Ivy Tech Community College – Muncie
Get ready for a full day of music, food, family fun, glowing hot air balloons, and fireworks to close out the night. Fire Up DWNTWN is Muncie’s biggest summer tradition—free to attend and fun for all ages.
Guidelines for Grace Notes
Please submit items for Grace Notes by 8 P.M. Tuesday for Thursday publication
Vestry Minutes for July 17, 2025, 6:30P.M.
Call to Order & Establishment of Quorum: The Senior Warden, Connie Turner, called the meeting to order. Those in attendance were Beulah Baker, David Blakley (Jr. Warden), Teresa Curtis, Steve Holdzkom, Jim Jeffery, Katherine Mitchell, Max Nottingham (Treasurer), Mary Mordue, Pam Sebura, Connie Turner.
Opening Prayer: Was lead by David Blakley.
Approval of Minutes of the June 19, 2025 Meeting: Motion made by Mary Mordue, seconded by Jim Jeffery. Approved.
Senior Warden’s Report: From Connie Turner.
- Barbara Alvarez Bohannon has taken over the scheduling of children’s Sunday School and will no longer be serving as Clerk of the Vestry.
- Discussed the need for additional security measures in the Church, to include a sign stating “Absolutely No Weapons Allowed on Church Property” and obtaining cameras for monitoring of public places. Teresa Curtis will ask her past church what system they are using.
- Communication with the Diocese has been improved.
- Audit preparations continue. An email was received from Marsha Gebuhr CPA stating she will be on site sometime between September 9-16, 2025. We are to scan items into “DropBox” and allow sharing. Scanning has begun.
Junior Warden’s Report: From David Blakley.
- The windows will be installed towards the end of the month.
- The painters have finished all the trim with the exception of the exterior sills of the Parish Hall windows. This will be completed once the windows are installed.
- Stained glass windows were inspected by Robert LaFrance, Director of the BSU Art Museum, no repairs or maintenance required at this time.
- laFrance was concerned about the flickering spot lights in the church. David explained the dimmer switch cannot be utilized with these bulbs. Once the lights are on the right setting, there is no flickering.
- David states he will call the city about removing the dead tree on the property and will remove the dead poison ivy vines from The Cottage.
Treasurer’s Report – June Financials
Unusual items or comments are as follows:
“Certificate of Deposit Interest” is the interest we received from First Merchants for the matured CD of funds we previously received from the dissolved Alpha Center. As directed by the Vestry, the matured proceeds were reinvested into a 9-month CD, less $3,500 that was deposited to the general checking account to be used to assist in paying for the replacement windows in the parish hall.
Pledged operating receipts YTD remains healthy.
We paid a quarterly installment on the church’s liability and property insurance. We also paid the annual workers’ comp premium.
The 50% down payment (approx. $3,500) on new windows for the parish hall was paid in June.
the final payment ($16,627.95) was paid to Damage Doctors for restoration of water damage at the Perkins House building.
Transfers totaling $18,500 were made from the savings account to the checking account to cover expenses for the month.
Financial reports attached.
Gathering Grace: By Connie Turner/Mary Mordue/Jim Jeffery.
- We have had over 170 guests the past two weeks.
- Second Harvest continues to provide heavily discounted items.
- Mike Ashley and Connie ordered a “Gathering Grace” banner for Parish Hall, will be completed within 10 days.
DOK: By Pam Sebura. The next meeting is on 7/24/25. The group has asked for a “Healing Service”. At this time the Vestry has determined that decisions on this type of service will need to wait until we have a new Priest.
Hospitality: By Mary Mordue. Mary will provide cake for Reed’s birthday on Sunday because we missed posting his birthday in Grace Notes. Connie asked that the Vestry provide a brunch for the return of the choir on August 31.
Old Business
- Discernment Committee/Website and Calendar Update: By Katherine Mitchell. The Web site updates continue. Katherine has asked Karen Sullivan to seek clarification on the Diocese expectations for what is “live” on the web site. Katherine will work towards having everything complete prior to the Bishop’s leave in August.
- Supply Priest Scheduling-Morning Prayer: By Connie Turner. Bishop Cate is returning for six visits through the end of the year. Connie has contacted Fr. Bruce Gray to see if he is available for supply, awaiting return call. Father Mark will be asked for remaining dates. Mary Mordue made a motion and Teresa Curtis seconded, to attempt to secure a supply Priest for each Sunday, but if no one is available, we can have Liturgy of the Word. Approved. We will no longer intentionally leave two dates a month open for Liturgy of the Word.
- David Blakley will let us know if he and Barbara Alvarez need assistance.
- Parking Lot: Connie Turner will follow up with the owner of the Vine Street apartments and provide parking tags for the ten leased parking spaces. The goal is to prevent overnight parking from those with no permit.
New Business
- “The Culinary Cottage” Maintenance. David and Connie will obtain at least two estimates for the painting of the trim and reglazing of original windows along the front of the house. Connie will take care of the cleaning of the gutters.
- Communion kit. Connie will be responsible to locate the kits and will ask Pastor Jerry O’Neal to bless the kits.
- Bishop Jennifer’s visit is October 12. Connie will contact Christiana Mann at “The Cottage” to check her availability for a noon meal or visit.
- Pride Day. Katherine Mitchell and Connie Turner will staff the booth and will ask other’s to volunteer.
- Washington Street Festival is September 13 & 14. We will offer tours of Grace on September 13 from 1-5 pm. Please let Connie know if you are able to assist with offering the tours for a 1-2 hour block of time.
Closing Prayer read by all.
Adjourned at 7:45pm.
No meeting in August.
Next meeting is September 18, 2025 at 6:30.