News
April 2024
GRACE NOTES
Grace Church Ministry/Organizational Tree
Vestry
Tom Dornbusch, Sr. Warden tom.dornbusch@gmail.com
Deb Landin, Jr. Warden squawkamole@yahoo.com
Don Stump, Clerk astump@zoominternet.net
Larry VonBlon, Treasurer Vbx4@embarqmail.com
Jennifer Blue jenniferpotterblue@gmail.com
Eleanor Dixon-Wade edixonwade@gmail.com
Margaret Ransom mransom65@gmail.com
Jason Whitehead manwhitehead@aol.com
Terri Winnick winnick3@osu.edu
Aaron Zhu aaronzhu@citicx.com
Ministry Teams
Worship Tom Dornbusch, Karen Davis
Christian Formation Jennifer Blue, Tom Dornbusch
Communication Pamela Henney
Outreach
Pastoral Care Tom Dornbusch, Jennifer Blue
Hospitality Deb Landin, Joanne Mudra
Building & Security Deb Landin, Dick Vogus
Administration Larry Von Blon
Staff
Pam Armstrong Office Administrator
gracechurch41@yahoo.com
Lori Turner Director of Music
davidhcrane@bright.net
Michael Blue Sexton
mtblue1958@gmail.com
Aaron Zhu Social Media Coordinator
aaronzhu@citicx.com
The Rev. Daniel Orr Pantry Director danielorr@zoho.com
From The Warden’s Desk
“Every day is a renewal, every morning the daily miracle. This joy you feel is life.”- Gertrude Stein
Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ is Risen! As I’m writing this I can hear the voices respond “The Lord is risen, indeed! Alleluia!”
Every year we hear this with an almost overwhelming glow deep within our hearts to know that Christ is risen! It is that time my brothers and sisters when we experience a rebirth, a beautiful blossoming of new life.
Grace is going through some rebirth of its own. Last month, we saw the rebirth of the Bible study through the Kerygma bible study Hosanna: A Spiritual Journey through Holy Week. Through the leadership and desire of members to start this programming back, we will now have regular bible study every Friday.
As all of you know earlier in March we had a malfunction with our organ. It was definitely not something that was expected nor were we immediately prepared to handle. However, we overcame that. Within 48 hours, we had the organ repair specialist out, and the beautiful instrument we all love is ready to play for another season.
The food pantry project is not lost either. The Vestry has established a motion to do as much as possible to support the pantry project to raise all the necessary funds by annual meeting 2025.
Though this is an immense undertaking, we as your Vestry believe that with the right tools and resources we can make this vision a reality.
My brothers and sisters Grace is alive! Grace is on the path forward with new and great adventures ahead of us. Your Vestry is starting to look at what our profile as a congregation looks like and what we are looking for in our next rector. The journey is not over, it is only beginning. But we have a beautiful path in front of us in the new life that we have at Grace Church.
So in this season of rebirth, may you feel your faith renewed and your heart made new with the hope that Easter brings
Peace, Tom Dornbusch
P.S. BEWARE!! We have recently received notice of a phishing scam that is asking parishioners and other clergy for money. It will ask you to send it through Paypal and may even contain the name of a Vestry member.
We will never solicit you for money through email. Do not click on any links or open any of the windows. Please let Thomas Dornbusch know if you receive an email like this and he will direct you on how to handle it.
Meet the Vestry
Jason Whitehead
On a cloudy, rainy All Saints evening in 2005 Jason Whitehead came to Grace Church services - mainly to check out the architecture of the building, history buff that he is - and coming from a similar liturgical style, he decided to stay.
Growing up in Mansfield, Jason attended St. Mary’s elementary school, which instilled the love for a more liturgical style of worship. He was not Catholic, nor actually very religious growing up, but he sometimes went to church with friends, but it was not as comfortable. When he made that 2005 architecture pilgrimage, he found the worship style he wanted. “It feels like home … like family.”
Now, Jason is starting his second term on the vestry. “I felt like a newbie for years even my first time on vestry. This time I feel more an official part of the church.”
This new stint on the vestry is a challenge. “We have so much on our plate,” he pointed out. In his vision of Grace Church’s future, he would like to see a new rector “to keep us all together” and “help us grow in new ways,” as well as grow to be a larger part of the Mansfield community.
Before Covid, Grace Church was working with OSU/NCSC to form a campus ministry and expand the food pantry for the students. The dynamics of the regional campus has changed to reflect a greater number of inner city students moving to campus housing and the city at large, because the demographics of the regional campuses have changed so much. Jason would like that to continue and grow.
Jason also sees a great future of our intergenerational church. “We are all one family, so age is not an issue. We are all excited to see the younger kids, and maybe someday soon we can have Sunday school after Mass for 20-30 minutes for the kids as they grow.
Jason is the only child of very supportive parents. He works at Target in the Market department. His hobbies include antiquing and thrifting. He also has a large collection of various themed Christmas decorations. He enjoys a new theme each year.
Confirmation Celebration
Join us to welcome Bishop Jolly and celebrate our new confirmands on Saturday, April 13 at 7 p.m. here at Grace Church.
LENTEN BIBLE STUDY
Join Us For Friday Brown Bag Bible Study!
Although we are a couple weeks in, please join us! After Easter, we will embark on an 8-week exploration of “Amos & Hosea - Boundaries, Tough Love, Amazing Grace”.
These studies are a meaningful way to grow together in faith and community during this Lenten season. As we break bread and delve into the Bible, we gain new insights to apply in our walk with Christ. All are welcome to attend. Let us learn and grow together as we make this Lenten journey. If you have any questions or need more information, please reach out to Jenny Blue at 419-612-6813 or email jenniferpotterblue@gmail.com
Supper Club!
Everyone welcome!
Tuesday, April 23
4:30 p.m.
City Grille
Book Club!
A diverse group of readers who meet to chat about their reading experiences. Join us whether you’ve finished the book (or even started) for a casual, thoughtful, often intriguing discussion on first Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
April 2, 2024 Horse by Geraldine Brooks
6 p.m.
Winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, as well as Finalist for the Chautauqua Prize, and A Massachusetts Book Award Honor Book, Geraldine Brooks’ new book Horse focuses on a discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and the greatest racehorse in American history. From these strands, the Pulitzer Prize winner braids a sweeping story of spirit, obsession, and injustice across American history.
Bring ideas for a book and a restaurant for our June meeting.
May 7, 2024 Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts
6 p.m.
New York Times bestselling non-fiction author Elizabeth Letts journeys into the lives of Frank and Maud Baum to show the love, loss, inspiration, and perseverance found in America’s heartland that features in Baum’s popular The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its transition to the 1938 Hollywood stage. In a backstage fraught with controversy, and nearly 20 years after her husband’s passing, Maud Baum is the only one left who knows Dorothy’s secrets, attempting to protect both the real Dorothy and the young girl who plays her.
Please commit to helping out once a month joining a team to bring snacks to share after 8 and 10 a.m. services. Sign up on the bulletin board. No need for breakfast feasts; keep it simple!
Celebrations!
4-8 Scott Baker
4-9 Heidi Jones
4-12 James Hupp
4-13 Jillian Earnest
4-15 Lori Brubach
4-20 Cynthia Mudra
4-27 Dixie Earnest
4-28 Salli Rohm
4-7 Larry & Jean Von Blon
4-19 Mike & Monica Diemer
OUTREACH
Notes from the Food Pantry
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!
We have rounded a corner in reworking our pantry. We have created new roles of Shepherds, adapted the flow of people and cars (a few times), Mike "wheeled" a former counter, and I have heard NO complaints!!!! Thank You volunteers! This has been a remarkable shift. In January when we were forced by 0 degree temperatures to come inside, I could not have predicted how well we could adapt.
Pantry Needs:
• Hand operated
can openers
• School supplies
Your Grace pantry is again a full choice pantry, which is far better for our people. The folks we serve deserve to choose their own groceries. And we will learn much more from each other as well. Produce Coach Pat can now teach more people how to ripen a pineapple, the difference between endive and escarole, and the virtues of the Northern Spy Apple.
From Jan 1 until the Ides of March,* we served 3198 households or 8,075 people, 2,091 kids . This compares with the same time period from 2023 - 2,759 households, or 6,890 people and 1,554 kids. 439 more households so far this year.
Peace, Daniel
A Look Back in Grace History….
Several years back, parishioners put on shows to raise money to update (the original update) the undercroft.
(both photos courtesy of Karen Davis)
News From the Diocese
Farewell to The Rev. Canon
Margaret D’Anieri
By Carol Loveless
Many of you have met Rev. Margaret recently in her work with Grace Parish during the transition process.She begins her own transition into retirement on April 1st.
A very longstanding active member of the Episcopal Church in Ohio, she (and her husband Chet), will be honored at an event open to all members of the Diocese at Bellwether Farm on Saturday, April 20th, from 2-5 pm. No reservations needed at this casual event.
In June 2015, the Bishops Bike Ride came through Mansfield, and Grace Parish was an overnight host. Rev. Margaret and several other bike riders spent the night at my home, and it was truly a special time together that I will always treasure.
As a member of the ECS Development Council, it has been a renewed time with her leading that group in the Diocese.
We wish her well in this new phase of her life!
Eclipse 2024: A Study of Astronomical Events in the Bible and Our Lives
Reprinted from the Diocesean website
Welcome to Eclipse 2024! This Bible Study and resource packet https://www.dohio.org/files/resources/eclipse20241.pdf is designed to help engage congregations and their communities in reflecting on how astronomical events such as the upcoming solar eclipse remind us of our relationship to our Creator. It can be used as an in-house study and/or a community outreach program, over a period of weeks or over lunch before an eclipse-viewing party (don’t forget the protective glasses!). It could be an opportunity to invite conversation between theology and science, using local expertise and partnerships - the sky’s the limit! May the wonders of the heavens remind us all of the limitless imagination, creativity, and love of God.
The Eclipse 2024 Bible Study has four parts which can be managed during or around the time of the April 8, 2024 eclipse:
SOME LINKS to CRAFT IDEAS