Grace Notes
May 22, 2025
Beside the gospel pool
Appointed for the poor;
From year to year, my helpless soul
Has waited for a cure.
How often have I seen
The healing waters move;
And others, round me, stepping in
Their efficacy prove.
But my complaints remain,
I feel the very same;
As full of guilt, and fear, and pain.
As when at first I came.
O would the Lord appear
My malady to heal;
He knows how long I’ve languished here;
And what distress I feel.
How often have I thought
Why should I longer lie?
Surely the mercy I have sought
Is not for such as I.
But whither can I go?
There is no other pool
Where streams of sovereign virtue flow
To make a sinner whole.
Here then, from day to day,
I’ll wait, and hope, and try;
Can Jesus hear a sinner pray,
Yet suffer him to die?
No: he is full of grace;
He never will permit
A soul, that fain would see his face,
To perish at his feet.
John Newton*
Calendar
Thursday, May 22, 2025, 12 Noon, Holy Eucharist, Rev. Jerry O’Neal presiding
Sunday, May 25, 2025, 9 A.M. Adult Education in the Parish Hall.
Sunday, May 25, 2025, 10 A.M., Holy Eucharist
Thursday, May 22, 2025, Daughters of the King, 6:30 P.M. at the Church or on Zoom
Thursday, May 29, 2025, 12 Noon, Holy Eucharist, Rev. Jerry O’Neal presiding
Announcements:
Our New Website
Check out our new website! www.gracechurchparish.org
New Windows for the Parish Hall
Grace Church recently had the second-floor windows replaced, and we are scheduled to have the building trim painted. These items were planned and budgeted. As often happens with aging buildings, additional needed repairs have been discovered. All the windows in the Parish Hall require replacement. The estimated cost is $7,000, which is not in the budget. We would like to have the window replacements done as soon as possible, before there is any water intrusion. Fortunately, funds have been made available to match donations up to $3,500. Any donations towards the “windows” fund are greatly appreciated! Please designate “windows” on the memo line of the check.
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 with Gathering Grace last Sunday. We served 125 meals of turkey-rice casserole! It was a busy day.
Please indicate your availabilities for upcoming Sundays, remembering that this weekend is Memorial Day/race day weekend.
Sundays through the end of June are now on the signup sheet. Summer is a busy time for travel, so your indicating your availability will be very helpful for the cooks in charge in making their plans.
Thank you!
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 first is the 2nd Friday of each month for breakfast at a local restaurant. 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 25, 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.
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:
• See the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis website for news and upcoming events. Home – The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis
Celebration:
Birthdays! 🎂
Sandra Wandera (Judith Owano’s daughter) May 23. 13 years old!
Mike Galliher May 25
Guidelines for Grace Notes
Please submit items for Grace Notes by 8 P.M. Tuesday for Thursday publication
* Newton, John and Cowper, William, Olney Hymns in Three Books. 11th ed. E. Blackader, 1815.
John Newton worked on slave ships from an early age and was a slave himself for a short time. He continued to work on slave ships and captained them after his rescue. After retirement he continued to invest in the slave trade but eventually renounced his former profession and became a staunch abolitionist. He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England and served as a parish priest at Olney, Buckinghamshire. He wrote many hymns including “The Pool at Bethesda” and “Amazing Grace” (found in our hymnal, number 671).