Grace notes October 2013
OUR TEAM
Stan McKinnon Rector
Lora Walsh Curate, Director of Christian Formation and Youth Ministries
Angie Chaney, Kitchen and Nursery Coordinator Liesl Dromi, Assistant Choirmaster Bay GreenHill, Office Administrator
Hope Johnstone, Communications Administrator Anne Jones, Financial Administrator
Dr. Jan Wubbena, Director of Music & Organist Terri Wubbena, Children’s Choir School Director
VESTRY Shereen West, Sr. Warden (2013)
Ben Rhoads, Jr. Warden (2013) Meredith Bergstrom (2014)
Curtis Smith (2014) Grace Davis (2015)
Rob Lambert (2015) Mike Moss, Treasurer
Hope Johnstone, Clerk
MINISTRIES Altar Guild
Episcopal Church Women Episcopal Peace Fellowship
Meals on Wheels Prayer Chain
COMMITTEES Building & Grounds Christian Formation
Community Life Finance
Outreach Worship
WORSHIP SCHEDULE SUN Holy Eucharist, 9:00 AM Christian Formation (all ages), 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist, 11:00 AM
WED Holy Eucharist & Healing, 12:10 pm
MON Morning Prayer, 7:15 AM
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday – Friday, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
It's 10am. Do You Know Where Your Youth Are? In case you haven't noticed, Grace Episcopal Church has been
overflowing at 10am. We've expanded our Christian formation
programs, and we don't have space for all of the new age
groups! Thankfully, Chris Moore offered us the key to Pour Jon's so
that the youth can meet there until we transition to a more
permanent place. (Thanks, Chris!) So, for the past few Sundays, I
've been dashing out of the 9am service, driving to Pour Jon's, and
getting back just in time for the 11am service. Miraculously, I
haven't gotten a speeding ticket. Grace Youth manage to pack a lot
into their brief time together. Most people come to youth group a
bit sleepy, so we start with a warm-up game or two. I learned most
of these games from improv teachers in Chicago. You may know that Chicago is famous for improv—a
form of comedy performance. Although improv is an unscripted art form, it still takes a lot of
rehearsal. The purpose of rehearsal is to build a community of trust that you can rely on to support you
and laugh with you in unexpected situations. I use several improv rehearsal games with the youth to help
us build a community with that level of trust and joy. We spend other time exploring the Bible in different
ways. For the next several weeks, we're reading a graphic novel based on the gospel of Mark—"Marked,"
by Steve Ross. (A graphic novel is like a high-quality comic book.) The book has some arresting images
and interesting angles on the basic gospel story. For example, instead of eating locusts and wild honey,
John the Baptist eats out of the dumpster. Satan pulls up in a slick limousine to tempt Jesus. The demons
that possess the people look like a cross between dinosaurs and goblins. What's especially interesting so
far is that Jesus seems less sure of himself than we usually expect. When he hears John the Baptist
preaching over the radio, he runs to be baptized. Then, when he's waiting in line for baptism, he starts to
question what he's doing there. As his thought bubble says, "This isn't like me to get swept up in some
crackpot fad." When the Holy Spirit descends on him, it comes in the form of a gigantic dove that grabs
Jesus by the ankles and flies off with him, while he calls out "Heeeelp!" I hope that this book helps us to
see Jesus with fresh eyes, and that the images impress themselves on our imaginations. We're all looking
for ways that God can mark us as his own forever.
Lora Walsh
Curate’s Corner
Christine & Scott Blaha Brad Gambill Clark Scholz Morgan Honnold Robert & Verna
Smith Nancy Efurd Tucker Gambill Patty Gambill David & Jayme Amonsen Jessica
Day Bryson & Mandy Moore Matt & Meghan Feyerabend LaNeece White Charlie &
Lois Hicks Edith Bossler Ted Barnett Amanda & Matt Orcutt David Pierson
Jacob Little Alyssa Milroy Taylor & Wes Vanlandingham
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Sept. 29th Bishop’s Visit to Grace! We had a
record breaking Sunday with a class of 29 confirmands (12 was the previous high) and 202
total attendees (this is the highest we've ever had for an Episcopal visit)! Welcome to all new
members!
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
NOTES FROM THE MUSIC STAFF At a recent rehearsal, one of our newest choristers asked, “Why does the choir sometimes sing a piece in a foreign
language? What’s the point?” That’s a very good question, just possibly one that you have formed but never voiced
aloud.
I just went through the “Anthems” folder of Word documents on the computer here in the church office, each
document containing an anthem text so that it’s easy to copy and paste the anthem text into the service booklet. The
texts of all anthem texts sung by the Choir since 1985 are in this folder. Of the 214 pieces therein, 31 – one in every
seven – are in Latin, German, or Russian. I would have guessed that that number might be even higher. With some
frequency you hear us sing in a language that you – and we – cannot understand. Each of these 31 Word documents
contains not only the foreign language text but also an English translation (as literal as possible, yet still in idiomatic
English) in a parallel column. By following the translation you, the listener, may know the meaning of what we are
singing.
Still, if it can be translated, why not sing it in translation? “What’s the point?” There are several reasons, and in this
month’s column I will address one of those.
First, this is essentially a technical matter. The composer set a text in a tongue other than English, and his music was
conceived to fit that text. It doesn’t follow that his music would also fit a translation.
This is particularly true of rhyming, metrical poetry. It is almost impossible to compose a translation that 1) preserves
the original rhyme scheme, 2) has the same number of syllables per line, and 3) has the same pattern of accented
and unaccented syllables – and to do so without altering the meaning of the text, however subtly.
I dare you to sing the Spanish for “Happy birthday to you, dear John” to the tune to which we sing this text. (The
accented syllables are underlined – they must be placed on the accents in the music.) Fe-liz cum-ple-a-ños a usted
[or tu], querido Juan. That’s a pretty close translation, but, if you accepted my challenge, you probably had a good
laugh. You’d have to omit something, squeeze in some extra notes, do something.
Even this translation alters the literal meaning of “birthday” in some respect. Feliz cumpleaños is what Spanish
speakers may say when English speakers would say “Happy birthday,” but cumpleaños does not literally mean
“birthday.” Años means “years,” and cumple looks very much like a Spanish cognate of “complete.” Literally,
cumpleaños would seem to be something like “completion of [yet another] year.”
“Birth” and “day” (“day of birth”) would literally be dia de nacimiento. A Spanish speaker would catch the meaning –
and also have a good laugh at this translation by a hack. Have you ever chuckled over English subtitles to a foreign
language film in decidedly non-idiomatic English?
Enough! You grasp the point, yes? Stay tuned for “the rest of the story” (to borrow from Paul Harvey) in November’s
Acciaccatura.
Jan Wubbena
Acciaccaturas
October 6th
at 3:00 p.m.
Join us for the annual Blessing of the Animals at 3:00
p.m. on the north lawn of the church. All of our
animal friends are welcome for a short prayer service
and blessing from Stan. This year Tailwaggers will
join us, bringing adoptable shelter dogs for a
blessing. They are in need of collars and bags of
treats for both cats and dogs; we will be accepting
donations on Sunday.
October 6th at 10:00 am...
Children of all ages may bring stuffed animals to
Christian Formation at 10:00 am to receive a blessing.
Eucharistic Minister and Acolyte Training
If you are interested in becoming a Eucharistic
Minister (EM) or Acolyte, please attend the
following training:
EM/Acolyte – Oct. 6th (during late coffee
hour)
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
TIME & TALENT TRAINING
Monday, Oct. 7th
at 7:00 p.m.
Join us as we start the 2013-2014 season of Rector's
Reading Group. On October 7th, at 7:00 p.m., we will
study Bob Ekblad's Reading the Bible with the Damned.
This reading was chosen by our Curate Lora Walsh.
Books are available for purchase from Bay GreenHill,
through the church office, for $10 ($10.28 if using a
charge card, see article below). We will meet at Pour
Jon's.
Now Accepting Card Payments for Merchandise
Join We now have a Square reader, a small card
reader that allows us to accept charge card payments
for items like Rector’s Reading Group books and
other similar materials. By using a card reader, there
is convenience fee for each transaction of 2.75% (ex.
If you purchase a $10 book the total will be $10.28).
We hope this will make it easier for those who do not
usually carry checks or cash. Any donations made
with square reader will also incur the 2.75% fee.
RECTOR’S READING GROUP
SQUARE CARD READER
Genesis House Event, Oct. 19th
at 6:30 p.m.
Genesis House presents "Home for the
Holidays," a fundraising event on Oct. 19th at
6:30 p.m. with a silent auction, reception,
dinner, and music. Please email Genesis House
for more information [email protected].
We collect donations year-round for
organizations such as the Genesis House. Click
here to download a list of specific needs. This
list is also on the Outreach table in the Parish
Hall.
Grace Directory on You Smartphone
Access to the Grace Directory is now at your fingertips! The ACS
Church Life app allows easy access to the Access Grace directory
on your iphone or android smartphone. You can search contacts
and even save the number! Search “ACS Church Life” in your app
store and look for the navy and gold icon for a free download.
Sign in to the Church Life App using your Access Grace username
and password.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
ACCESS GRACE APP
Fall Gathering in Helena, AR
Arkansas Episcopal Church
Women (ECW) invite you to
enjoy Southern Hospitality,
Helena Style at the annual Fall
Gathering on Oct. 25-26. Click
here to download brochure and
registration form, or pick one up
at Grace.
Leading worship Nov. 3rd
The Grace Children's Choir
School will lead worship on
November 3rd at the early
service. There will be a small
reception after the program.
Please come out and support
our young singers!
EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN
GRACE CHILDREN’S CHOIR SCHOOL
New Venue for Grace Gatherings
Vestry approved the use of The Benjamin house for Christian Formation use. Thank you
George and Mary for facilitating the needs of our growing congregation! This new venue
will facilitate the growth of our congregational needs. Starting this Sunday, EYC and ECY, Jr.
will meet at the Grace House.
GRACE HOUSE
Submit names to be included in The Litany of Remembrance
The litany of remembrance will be sung during the All Saints’ service on November 3rd. If you would like to have a loved one remembered please put their name on the signup sheet in the Parish Hall no later than October 27th . You may also email Bay in the church office ([email protected]).
Additional details will be available closer to the date
Nov. 10, 2013 Stewardship Sunday, 10:00 a.m.
Jan. 06, 2014 Epiphany Pageant & Chili Supper
Apr. 19-20, 2014 Champagne Breakfast & Easter Sunday
July 2014 Summer Potluck & BBQ
Aug. 14, 2014
Rally Day Potluck
2013/2014 POTLUCK SCHEDULE
ALL SAINTS DAY
OCTOBER 6T H
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4
Psalm 37:1-10
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Luke 17:5-10
OCTOBER 13T H
2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c
Psalm 111
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Luke 17:11-19
OCTOBER 20T H
Genesis 32:22-31
Psalm 121
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Luke 18:1-8
OCTOBER 27T H
Sirach 35:12-17
or Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22
Psalm 84:1-6
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Luke 18:9-14
LECTIONARY READINGS