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Grace Notes!
May
2013
A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM
Grace Episcopal Church
41 Bowman Street
Mansfield, Ohio 44903
Our Mission: “To Nurture our Members and Feed our Neighbors”
From the Rector
Dear Friends,
On Sunday, May 19th we will celebrate the third great Feast of the Christian Year –
Pentecost. This is an especially important day for Grace Church. Unlike
many Episcopal Churches that are named for a particular Saint – St. John. St.
Paul, St. Mary, etc. - we cannot point to a particular day to celebrate as our
"Patronal Feast" or a day to celebrate our heritage as a Church. However, it is often suggested that churches
with our name adopt Pentecost as the special feast day and I think this makes
sense as a new awareness and experience of grace is the heart of the Pentecost
celebration.
So what is grace? It is God's free, unearned and
even undeserved gift of life, love, forgiveness and renewed relationship to
each human being. It is at the heart of God's gift of identity and renewal
and even resurrection that we celebrate during this Easter Season. But it is
more – on Pentecost we celebrate that special gift of Grace given by God in the
birth of the Church – the community of faith - in and through which we grow
into ever deeper awareness of God's ongoing gifts of grace in our life and
through which we are empowered to share this gift with all around us.
Scripturally, we hear the story of tongues of fire touching the disciples who then told the story of the Gospel in
many languages and tongues. It is easy to get caught up in these outward signs and not see what is really happening –
God is once again forming a people and empowering them to be instruments for
sharing the divine gift of grace with the world.
So, this year we will celebrate our Parish Feast Day on Pentecost – rejoicing in the gift of God's grace and in the
grace we continue to experience in this place. One way we will celebrate is with the dedication of a new stain glass
window created by Jack Bargahiser. The window is a gift from Ann K. Bargahiser in memory of her parents Floyd and Ann Kautz. The window features a dove backed by a
burst of flames on a blue sky - certainly appropriate for Pentecost and will be
installed in the top sections of the large window in the stairwell of the new entrance.
Watch the Advocate for more news about how we will celebrate AMAZING GRACE on this
special day!
Peace,
Father Ashby
INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
SUNDAY, MAY 5TH 3 P.M.
Yom Hashoah Service - Holocaust Remembrance
Emmanuel Jacob Temple
973 Larchwood Road
Join with members of all three faith Abrahamic faith communities for this special day of
remembrance.
Watch for more information regarding an Interfaith service of Prayers for Peace
at Grace Church on Sunday, May 12th at 3 p.m. and a trip to the Islamic Center of Mansfield on
Sunday, May 19th at 3 p.m.
Life Line Screening!
Protect your health by finding out your risk of having a
stroke by participating in the Life Line Screening that will be at Grace
Episcopal Church on Friday, May 10, 2013. Through ultrasound, the carotid arteries can be
evaluated for the buildup of fatty plaque, which is the leading cause of
stroke. By signing up for this health event, not only will you be able to
receive $10 off any package of $149 or more, but Grace Episcopal Church will
also receive a $10 donation for every member who signs up and attends this Life
Line Screening event. The Stroke, Vascular & Heart Rhythm
Package includes four screenings: carotid artery, abdominal aortic aneurysm,
peripheral arterial disease and atrial fibrillation. To schedule your
appointment and to receive this special offer, please call the designated Helping Hands number at: 1-800-324-9458.
You may also sign up online by visiting www.helpinghandsforhealth.com. Join in the
fight against vascular disease!
THE BOOK CLUB WILL MEET THIS MONTH ON
MONDAY, May 20th AT 6:00 P.M. The book to read before the meeting is:
The Great Gatsby
by: F. Scott Fitzgerald
OUTREACH
Food Pantry Report
March was a busy month at the Pantry. The Easter Bunnies (Denny Ransom and Gregg Mambourg) picked up hams and turkey dinners
from Meijer for our Easter distribution. We use the grant money from Meijer to add additional items to the pantry
every month. This year instead of giving can hams for Easter, fresh ham steaks and turkey dinners were bought, this was
a big hit with all our pantry guests.
In March we again hosted Alltel phones who distributed an additional 80 government
phones to pantry guests.
The Apostolic men continue giving us a monthly donation of food. They're a little like Santa Claus as we never
know what they'll be delivering until they open the back of their truck! But the "gifts" are always greatly
appreciated and quickly devoured!
The Health Department and Kim Stover from the Ohio State University Extension Healthy
Meals program were also guests during the month of March.
March, 2013 we have 10,439 people registered in our food pantry program.
New Registration for the month of March 2013: 62 families
Families Served: 978
Total People Fed: 2934
Total Meals Provided: 8,802
Total Hours Volunteered: 585
Total cost of Food from Cleveland Food Bank: $705.00
Cost per meal $0.08
Think Spring!
Marti
FAMILY NOTES
SYMPATHY IS EXPRESSED to the family and friends of Jonathan Riephmiller,
grandson of Leo and Barbara Eldridge and son of Lynn and Joyce Eldridge Riephmiller
who departed this life on Saturday, April 27th.
A memorial service honoring and remembering Jonathan will be held at
Grace Church on Friday, May 3rd and 1 p.m.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace
and may light perpetual shine upon him.
THANK YOUS!
Thank you to everyone, and we won't try to give names because we know we would miss
someone and everyone's work was crucial, who had a part in making the Spring
Youth Event for the Diocese of Ohio held last weekend at grace Church such a
great success! To those who came to prepare and oversee meals, set up and clean
up - to those who baked cookies and treats, hams and turkeys, salads and
casseroles - To those who came to register our guests and help with the Food
Distribution - to those who helped supervise the building and planting in the
raised garden beds - to those who oversaw the Youth Cooking Projects - to our
wonderful and dedicated staff - and to everyone else who had a part - YOU WERE GREAT AND YOUR HOSPITALITY WAS
APPRECIATED!
AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ERIC SATERFIELD WHO BRAVED
THE HARD FLOORS TO SLEEP HERE FOR 2 NIGHTS, COOKED, CLEANED, HAULED DIRT AND
EXSENTIALLY DID EVERYTHING ANYONE CAN IMAGINE TO MAKE THINGS GO SO SMOOTHLY.
Also, be sure to check out the beautiful Star Magnolia plant given to us by the
Diocesan Youth as a Thank you for hosting!
Gardening anyone?
Volunteers are needed to adopt a 4' X 4' square of the new raised beds found in front of
the Christian Education Building. The Diocesan Youth built, filled and planted the beds with lettuce, spinach and
greens and now we need to maintain them!
Responsibilities will be to weed and maintain the square, harvest crops
as the ripen and plant new seeds or plants as provided - these plants will
include tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers or other ideas you might have. So if
you have a green thumb or just like to play in the dirt, this is your
chance. All produce will be distributed at the Food Pantry.
Check out the signup sheet on the bulletin board or speak with Father Ashby for more
information.
THANK YOU TO RITA GLASER FOR THE BEAUTIFUL PLANTS IN THE WINDOW BOX AREA OUTSIDE THE NEW FELLOWSHIP HALL. iT
MAKES THE VIEW MUCH MORE PLEASANT!
Time to Ride!
The "Gospel Pedalers" are ready to begin the new riding season! Everyone of all ages and ability are invited
to join us on the 2nd Saturday of the month (May 11th is the first date) at
8:30 a.m. at the Lexington Senior Citizens Center. Ride at your own speed for
as far as you wish to enjoy the Bike trail and the fresh air. Those who wish may ride to Butler for
Breakfast before returning.
The ride is monthly weather permitting - and that means no rain and 55 degrees or warmer! INVITE A FIREND!
ALSO, check out the Diocesan website (www.dohio.org) for information about this year's Bishop's Bike Ride. The ride begins Tuesday, July 2nd and
concludes on Saturday, July 6th. the full route is not yet set but it will include a 4th of July picnic at Wakeman
for the whole diocese.
DIOCESAN ECW ANNUAL MEETING
Rita Glaser will represent Grace Church at the Annual Meeting of the Diocese of Ohio
Episcopal Church Women being held at Twinsburg on May 3rd and 4th. The theme for the meeting is "The
Call" and will explore how woman are "called" to be present and
active in the Church today as ECW. If you are interested in learning more or joining Rita at the Meeting, give her a
call.
Also, watch for more information about a renewed ECW at Grace Church!
May Birthdays and Anniversaries!
5-1 Kiersten Jones
Peggy Sipes
5-2 Sara Goin
5-3 Leo Eldridge
5-5 Michael Jones
James Mudra
5-8 Dorothy Roberts
5-13 Carolyn Gross
Marcia Gagich
Anita Mitchell
5-14 Jason Whitehead
Alex Widman
5-17 Dorothy Duckworth
Christopher Pugh
Vivian Zielinski
5-21 Charis Bower
Cody Swanger
5-24 Touby Bender
Carol Loveless
5-27 Jason Mudra
5-28 Jeanette Thomas
5-29 David Harmon
Timothy Widman
5-4 Bruce & Cyndi Jewett
5-13 Jack & Fran Welsh
5-23 Richard & Miriam Fowler
5-27 Phil & Dorothy Duckworth
Congratulation Graduates
Congratulations to this year's Grace Church graduates:
Alex Widman - (son of Tim and Nancy Widman) from Bucyrus High school.
Alex will be attending Ohio Wesleyan University this fall
Matthew Toney - (son of Scott and Kathryn Toney and grandson of John Toney)
who is graduating from Ohio State University.
Congratulations Alex and Matthew! If there are other graduates we have missed,
please let us know!
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