21st Sunday After Pentecost
October 14, 2018
Holy Communion at 8:30 and 11am


Prayer of the Day
Almighty and ever-living God, increase in us your gift of faith, that, forsaking what lies behind and reaching out to what lies ahead, we may follow the way of your commandments and receive the crown of everlasting joy, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Scripture readings
Amos 5:6-7, Amos 5:10-15
Psalm 90:12-17
Hebrews 4:12-16
Mark 10:17-31

Sermon 
"And for My Next Trick..."
Mark 10:17-31
Who wants to see me pull a camel through the eye of a needle? This is the question left for us after Jesus speaks with the rich young man. In a conversation both earnest and tender, the young man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. But sadly, there is nothing for him to do; nothing that he can do. There is nothing that even the most faithful of Jesus’ followers can do to inherit eternal life. Better off trying the old camel and needle trick. But Jesus goes a step further, offering to have himself be pulled through the narrow eye of death and back into life. And in that great trick, pulled on the powers of sin and death, we find the key to living lives that are full, free, and generous.

Hymns

In our prayers we remember Harmony Community Church Food Pantry.

Education hour at 9:45am

Sunday School,  Pre-Confirmation and  Confirmation students meet in their regular classrooms. 

2018-19 schedule  

Adult Education

October 14
Continuing the Conversation on Racism
Michele Mbekeani-Wiley
Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley grew up in Oak Park and earned a law degree at the University of Chicago. She has worked at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law as a staff attorney in the area of community justice and was involved in the passage of new legislation in Illinois that mandates training for officers who work with young people. She will speak about her journey from her childhood in Oak Park to her work today. Grace member John Bouman will also report briefly on the work of the Shriver Center where he serves as President.

October 14 and 21
The Reformation as a Resource
Anna Johnson
The first session, “The Reformation as a Contemporary Resource," will retrieve three powerful Reformation-era emphases that deepen faith today: the priesthood of all believers, the theology of the cross, and the joy of Christian life. The second session, “The Reformation as a Cautionary Tale,” will discuss three elements of the Reformation that present problems for Christian life today: the emphasis on following one’s conscience; the division of the church; and strained relations with Jews and Muslims. Anna Johnson teaches theology at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston.

The Sunday morning Bible study group meets in the conference room.

Adult Ed schedule September–November 2018

The Grace Church Library is open and staffed on Sundays from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Look for books related to Adult Ed topics as well as many other subjects. The library is also open for self-service during the week.