Grace Episcopal Church
Grace Notes
May 1, 2025
The Bible, Old and New Testaments, and the history of the Church record many experiences of God’s presence. Some of us can recall our own. They are always personal but are sometimes represented as public events such as when God called Jesus his beloved son at his baptism and when Saul was blinded after God dramatically confronted him on the road to Damascus. Our own experiences may be no less dramatic to us, but, if we recount them, they are liable to be more confessional and less theatrical. There is also a counter-narrative in the Christian tradition that distrusts experiences of God. Elijah, a great prophet in ancient Israel, who was distraught and sought reassurance because he was being pursued by Jezebel, found God not in the wind, breaking rocks, earthquake and fire, but in a “sound of sheer silence.”
God spoke to Elijah in the silence. Affirming our experiences of God and taking care that we don’t constrain how God chooses to reveal himself are great strengths of our tradition. Finally, there are those who devoted themselves to the service of God, like Mother Teresa, who, for almost their whole lives, reported that they had no spiritual consolations. But regardless of our feelings or experiences or our lack of them, God assures us of his constant presence. We know he is present when the Word is truly proclaimed; when we are baptized into Christ; when we partake of his body and blood in the Eucharist; and whenever we call on him. That is his promise, whether we feel it or not.
Jim Jeffery
Calendar:
Thursday, May 1, 2025, 10 A.M. Yarn Group
Sunday, May 4, 2025, 9 A.M. Adult Education in the Church Conference Room.
Sunday, May 4, 2025, 10 A.M., Holy Eucharist, Rev. Giulianna Cappaletti presiding.
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 yesterday’s Gathering Grace meal. We served 147 meals of chilidogs, mac-n-cheese, salad, and banana cream pies!
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 April.
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 4, 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 church conference room.
Christian Ministries. Needs for April.
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. Just put them in the church kitchen if you have any to share.
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
Episcopal Church Links
The Episcopal Church
The Lectionary
Celebration:
Anniversaries!
Betsy and Steve Scherschel May 7
Guidelines for Grace Notes
Please submit items for Grace Notes by 8 P.M. Tuesday for Thursday publication
Grace Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 1732
300 S Madison Street
Muncie, Indiana 47308
765-744-5283
[email protected]
The Right Reverend Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, Bishop, Diocese of Indianapolis