February 2020 The Monthly Newsle er of Grace Episcopal Church • Hutchinson, Kansas
PRAYER IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD I continue to be grateful for all of the treasures that one can find on YouTube. This morning, as I was chopping sweet potatoes for breakfast, I came across a series of Holy Week lectures from 2015 given by the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. The first lecture was entitled, “The Risk of Prayer.” Prayer is risky, says Welby, because our identities are changed. In prayer, our identity becomes attuned to and realigned with the identity of God. That’s the risk of prayer, but that is also the promise of prayer. As Archbishop, Welby has made the renewal of prayer in the Church his highest priority because, as he says, “There has never been a renewal of the spiritual life of the church – which means all Christians, you and me – without a renewal of prayer.” The following is taken from his lecture: Prayer is one of the most intimate and beautiful activities in which human beings can engage, whether alone or with others. Prayer is how we establish our true identity, as individuals and as the church. In prayer our identity is changed, to be more aligned with the identity of God – the identity that in love we are called towards. As Mother Teresa said: “Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift of himself.” When we pray, we participate in the most dramatic partnership of creation and recreation. The partnership with God that involves gazing on his creation – on the events of the world he has made – and seeking that they be conformed to his likeness and image. We are changed, and the world is changed, as God allows us, through prayer, to share in his making of the world. We are his partners in making the world, in prayer. Jean Vanier, who founded the L’Arche communities, said: “To pray is essentially to come to Jesus and to drink.” We all have encounters with people who have a profound effect on us. I’ve have met two or three people over my life where one meeting altered my entire perspective on what life should be about. Prayer begins with an encounter with a person: an opening of ourselves to be with the person who is three persons in one: God, who comes to be with us, through Jesus by his Spirit, and being with us changes us. Too often, in the way Prayer enlarges the heart un l it is capable that we all talk of prayer, and especially in the way we of containing God’s gi of Himself. Ask and teach about prayer, we beseek and your heart will grow big enough to come mechanical and mareceive Him and to keep Him as your own. nipulative. It’s as though Wherever God has put you, that is your there is a technique that voca on. It is not what we do makes a difference: press the but how much love we put into it. buttons in the right order and everything will work. (Continued on page 2)
SERVING CHRIST BY MINISTERING TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY & THE PARISH
But just as we can’t manoeuvre our way into friendships, it’s the same with prayer. Prayer has at its centre a relationship with God in Jesus Christ. We are not praying to placate or please God: we’re praying to relish and rejoice in Him. Relationships are not built on process, but on partnerships. Prayer is about sharing every part of yourself and your life with God. So the good news, in one sense, is that you don’t have to do something to get there. God doesn’t say, ‘press these buttons in the right order’ and live a suitably good life. He just says, ‘come and be with me’. It’s an invitation. Partnership with Jesus Christ in prayer is risky because it’s deeply costly. When we accept the invitation of Jesus to be with him, it will mean putting ourselves in places that are tough. Pushing ourselves to limits that are very demanding. So prayer is apparently, looking at it from outside, a fearful thing, and deeply risky. The reality, of course, is that the risk is nothing: it’s a zero. To cast yourself into the hands of one who loves you immeasurably and perfectly is fairly obviously not much of a risk. Not to do so is really the risk. But it feels like a risk because in prayer that is a partnership with God, everything is on the table – we hold nothing back. Not praying is a guarantee of a quiet life. It may be an unpleasant life. It may be a very tedious life. It may be an exceptionally depressing life. It may be a despairing life – but it will at least be a quiet life, if you like that kind of thing. Prayer causes huge collateral damage to all our vanity and our ambition, and our hopes of selfadvancement and self-centeredness. Being in partnership with God reveals to us our true identity. Not the bad things that many of us feel about ourselves, but the sheer beauty that is what God feels about us, because of what he did on the cross. And it reveals God to us in his true identity – and we can never be the same again afterwards. There has never been a renewal of the spiritual life of the church – which means all Christians, you and me – without a renewal of prayer. That’s why I’ve made it the highest priority of my ministry. If you would like to read this online go to: archbishopofcanterbury.org/prayer-partnership-god. And if you would like to see and hear the lecture, go to youtu.be/0DV-wFAQN5w, or simply search for “Welby Risk Prayer” on YouTube.
A FIVE-WEEK SERIES ON THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER FEB 2 & 16 — Phyllis Tickle Fixed Hour Prayer: The Divine Hours • Morning Prayer • Midday Prayer • Evening Prayer (Vespers) • Night Prayer (Compline) FEB 23 — The Anglican Rosary Hands-On Prayer Would you like to learn more about prayer? Are you curious about different types of prayer? —2—
What would you do if you had an extra day?
SYLVIA MAYER SCHOLARSHIP Sylvia Mayer was a parishioner of Grace Episcopal Church. When Sylvia passed away, she bequeathed a third of her estate to Grace Episcopal Church. Her bequest established the Grace Endowment Fund, which has grown over the years and has help Grace carry out its mission. In gra tude for her though ulness and generosity, the Vestry of Grace established a scholarship fund in Sylvia Mayer’s name as a perpetual memorial. The scholarship is for both tradi onal and nontradi onal students. Applica ons and guidelines are now available in the church office or on the Narthex board. If you have any ques ons, please contact the church office. Applica on deadline is APRIL 1.
SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER… HELP NEEDED The annual Brotherhood of St. Andrew Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper will on Tuesday, February 25, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The cost is $5 per adult, $3 for children 3-12 years of age, children under 3 free, and $12 for families. The Brotherhood is also asking for men in the parish to help them with this event. For more informa on contact Bob Ri er at 662-2420. —3—
FEBRUARY 26 9:30 am & 6:00 pm
GRACE FOOD PANTRY The Food Pantry Fund has a balance of $840.00. Thank you to the ECW for your generous year end gi to the pantry fund. Please bring Hamburger Helper for our pantry this
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS 1
2 7 10
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Ken Eckrote Betsy Mansel Mary Treaster Ryleigh Spears Heather Harper Sharon Hixson Viva Jean Steierl Ron Sylvester Aavon Powers Kensley Armstrong Missy Waln Simon Wamsley Mitch Hixson Courtney Smith Elaine Fontaine
SALTHAWK COMMUNITY SUPPORT Please bring shampoo and conditioner in February.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY UPDATE The Prayer Shawl ladies meet the third Monday of each month in the Parish Hall. During 2019, they crocheted or kni ed 200 hats for students at the high school and 115 prayer shawls. Mary Alexander and Brandy Turner also made several baby blankets. Prayer shawls that have been blessed are available to take as needed from the closet in the Parish Hall.
FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES 6 Allen & Kathy Petz 12 Daniel & Mackenzie Spears 13 Jason & Heidi Kohls 23 John & Shannon Mar nez 29 Gregg Wamsley & Mary Gere Bridger Please call the church office if we have missed your special day!
NEW DIRECTORIES ARE AVAILABLE Updated directories are available in the Narthex and the church office. Please let the office know if there are any changes needed.
ALTAR FLOWER AND COFFEE FELLOWSHIP DATES AVAILABLE Select an altar flower available date in thanksgiving or in memory of a loved one. In February, the 16th and the 23rd are available. You may call or email the office to secure your date for either or sign up on Sunday in the Narthex. There are also several dates to host a Sunday coffee felNathalee Smith would like her church family to know she is now se led into her new place located at Wesley Towers. Her new address is: 3600 Dartmouth, Suite 9, Hutchinson 67502.
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Photos submi ed by Toni Co rell.
Booklets along with the year-end financials and the Mission Empowerment Plan for 2020 are available in the Narthex if you did not get a copy. OUTGOING VESTRY MEMBERS Kelly Curry Howard Dame Steven Hawkins Mitch Hixson NEW VESTRY MEMBERS Brandon Long Kathy Moll Bob Summers Ron Sylvester
DELEGATES TO CONVENTION Polly Dame Brandon Long Todd Ray Susan Smith Mike Wamsley OFFICERS Senior Warden • Jan Steen Junior Warden • Brandon Long Clerk • Stephen Armstrong Treasurer • Toni Co rell A complete list of Vestry members can be found on page 7. —5—
EYE 2000 • EPISOPAL YOUTH EVENT 2020 The registra on period is open for EYE 2020, and we are pu ng together the delega on from Western Kansas. Lots of details can be found on the EYE website (events.episcopalchurch.org/eye), but here is what you need to know for now: x EYE 2020 is in College Park, MD/Washington DC. x The delega on from Western Kansas will leave on Monday, July 6 and return on Saturday, July 11. Our group will explore DC on July 7. EYE programming will take place on July 8-10. x EYE is open to current high school students in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 for the 2019/20 school year. x The cost for EYE is $400. This includes programming, meals, and housing for the dura on of the EYE. The diocese will cover all travel costs. x The current plan is for Mother Amy Long and Brandon Long, our diocesan youth coordinators, to serve as chaperones. If registra ons necessitate addi onal chaperones, those will be named at a later me. x Our delega on will most likely make off-campus lodging arrangements in order to allow for greater flexibility and cost-effec veness. Details will be shared once arrangements are made. x If you wish to a end EYE 2020 you must indicate your interest by making a $100 non-refundable deposit to the diocese no later than Monday, February 10 AND fill out the EYE Informa on Form. Forms are on the board in the Narthex.
Please do not register through the EYE website. All registra ons will go through the Diocesan office.
Sign up in the Narthex to provide dinner for our youth on Wednesdays. February 12 and 19 are s ll available.
ELEMENTARY YOUTH GROUP BEGINS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 The first mee ng for the elementary-age youth group will be Wednesday, February 5. The children are welcome to meet in the Parish Hall at 6:30 pm to share in a meal with the older youth. A er supper, we’ll go downstairs and learn more about Jesus through music, cra s, games, and stories. The children will be back in the Parish Hall by 7:45 pm, where parents can pick them up. Elementary youth group will be held the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Invite your friends! For more informa on, contact Missy Waln at 620-664-0665.
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GODLY PLAY Sundays at 9:15 am in the back room of the Undercro For ages 3-12
OUR NURSERY is located in the Undercro , and is available for our li le ones Sunday mornings during Sunday school and the 10:15 service.
Saturday, February 15 5:30 pm Hosted by Nathan & Brooklyn Walker 402 W. 27th February 12 & 26 4:45 pm Conference Room
Thursday February 13 9:30 am
February 13 & 27 2:00 pm Wesley Towers
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH STAFF The Rev. Dr. Ted Blakley ............................................ Rector frted.grace@gmail.com • 620-314-7520 The Rev. Amy Long ...................................... Assistant Priest The Rev. Bill Waln ........................................ Assistant Priest The Rev. Larry Steadman............................ Priest Associate The Rev. Larry Carver ............................ Priest in Residence Brandon and Mtr. Amy Long ................ Youth Coordinators Todd Ray .................... Coordinator of Eucharis c Ministries Jan Howard ............................................................. Organist Missy Waln ................................................... Music Director Rosie Bean .............................................. Nursery A endant Laura Southards ........................................................ Sexton Brenda Hoefer ..................................... Office Administrator HOW TO CONTACT US 2 Hyde Park Drive; Hutchinson, KS 67502 620-662-8024 phone • 620-662-2930 fax grace.hutch@sbcglobal.net • www.gracechurchhutch.org www.facebook.com/gracechurchhutch CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday through Thursday • 9:00am to 4:00pm
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VESTRY Jan Steen (2022) ............................Senior Warden Brandon Long (2023) ..................... Junior Warden Stephen Armstrong (2022) ............................Clerk Kathy Moll (2023) Kathy Petz (2021) Todd Ray (2021) Jim Richardson (2021) Bob Summers (2022) Ron Sylvester (2023) Toni Co rell ........................................... Treasurer SUNDAYS 8:00am • Holy Eucharist I (spoken) 9:15am • Sunday School for All Ages* 10:15am • Holy Eucharist II (music) *Except on Second Sundays of a month when the Youth prepare breakfast for the congrega on.
WEDNESDAYS 9:30am • Holy Eucharist I — in the Chapel 10:00am • Bible Study — Parish Hall 5:30pm • Holy Eucharist II — in the Chapel 6:30–8pm • Under the Cross MS/HS Youth Group
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat 1
Imposi on of Ashes and Holy Eucharist FEBRUARY 26 9:30 am & 6:00 pm 2
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5 9:30am Eucharist I 10:00am Bible Study
8:00 & 10:15am Holy Eucharist I & II 9:00am Choir 9:15am SS All Ages “Teach Us to Pray.”
7:00pm Al-Anon 10 9 8:00 & 10:15am Holy Eucharist I & II 10:00am 9:00am Choir 9:00 am Youth
9:30am Godly Play 12:00pm Brotherhood of St. Andrew
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8 9:00am-2:00pm Clergy, Warden, and Treasurers Workshop in the Parish Hall
13 7:00am Bible Study 9:30am Altar Guild 2:00pm Eucharist at Wesley Towers
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5:30pm Eucharist II 6:30pm UTX Youth 6:30pm Elem. Youth 12 9:30am Eucharist I 10:00am Bible Study
4:45pm Daughters of the King 5:30pm Eucharist II 6:30pm UTX Youth
5:30pm At the home of Nathan & Brooklyn Walker
7:00pm Al-Anon
16 8:00 & 10:15am 17 President’s Day Holy Eucharist I & II
9:00am Choir 9:15am Sunday School for All Ages 12:00pm Vestry
6:00pm Girl Scouts
6 7:00am Bible Study 1:30–3:30pm
7:00pm Al-Anon
24 23 8:00 & 10:15am Holy Eucharist I & II 9:00am Choir 9:15am SS All Ages
7:00pm Al-Anon
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6:00pm Girl Scouts 25
Pancake Supper 5:00-7:00 pm Details on page 3
19 9:30am Eucharist I 10:00am Bible Study
20 7:00am Bible Study 1:30–3:30pm
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27 7:00am Bible Study 2:00pm Eucharist at Wesley Towers
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29 AN EXTRA DAY!
5:30pm Sta ons of the Cross
9:00am – 12:30 pm LENTEN QUIET DAY
5:30pm Eucharist II 6:30pm UTX Youth 6:30pm Elem. Youth 26 ASH WEDNESDAY 9:30am Imposi on of Ashes & Eucharist I 10:00am Bible Study
4:45pm Daughters of the King 6:00pm Imposi on of Ashes & Eucharist II
5:30pm Eve. Prayer