Grace Church Celebrates Wholeness and Healing Wednesday Evenings

Grace Church's Wednesday evening Celebration of Wholeness and Healing combines traditional laying-on of hands with vibration therapy of African Drumming and the employment of the universal life force energy through the Japanese practice of Reiki. This healing service takes place the second Wednesday of every month. Drumming begins at 6:30 pm; a short formal service begins at 7 pm; it's over when everyone has left, sometimes as late as 10 pm.

While many are familiar with the traditional healing service found in many Episcopal churches, the combining of this with the non-traditional healing services is unique.

The drum has been used to heal people in tribal cultures for thousands of years. The history of The Drum and Sound Therapy is that tribal societies, both eastern and western have long recognized the connection between drum energy and their physical & emotional health. Many cultures from all over the world have used this tool and now we use the energy of drumming to help us make the changes we need in our body, mind and soul.  Sound Attunement Therapy or (SAT) is simply the use of vibration energy, in this case, The Drum. This vibration energy helps promote, heal and restore a person's natural health and bring the body, mind & spirit/emotions into harmony.

Many scientific studies attest to the power of the drum to reduce stress, promote pain management and boost the immune system to combat the spread of disease. Another interesting study suggests that drumming produces increased NK or natural killer cell activity in cancer patients. Modern science has documented that drumming significantly reduced feelings of stress, fear, anger, confusion, fatigue and depression among others. In addition, participants in the study experienced an enhanced sense of emotional and physical well being after exposure to drumming.

A Japanese healer first propounded Reiki in the early 1900. It combines the employment of the universal life force energy in a concentrated method to promote healing.

All three of these methods have many testimonials to their effectiveness.

Adapted from the press release announcing the first healing service on September 12, 2007.

How Sign up with Facebook & Interact with Grace Church’s Page

Grace Church has a Facebook page here that’s visible to the millions of Facebook members. We already have a thousand views a month with the potential for many more if the content of the page improves—meaning if more people interact with Grace’s page and post things that show how active a community we are. To interact with Grace’s page, you need to have a Facebook account.

Signing up for Facebook is easy, but for some, the thought of it might be a little intimidating. What’s it for anyway? Who can see my stuff? Might I be bombarded with things I don’t want to deal with? Might information harvested from my Facebook profile be used against me somehow?

These are good questions. In reality, the risk that someone can hurt you via Facebook is pretty low as long as you don’t share anything that you couldn’t stand having posted on a public bulletin board. Frankly, I’m less concerned with thieves breaking in and stealing my information than I am with people who have legitimate access sharing my stuff in ways I didn’t expect.

Most people simply go to http://facebook.com and sign up without worrying about the details. They take Facebook’s default security settings and the vast majority of them don’t experience problems they can’t easily handle. However, if you want to further limit exposure to your information, change Facebook’s default security settings. My guide to setting Facebook’s security settings to the “paranoid” level are given below.

What Facebook is For

Facebook (FB from now on) is for sharing information with your FB friends and for seeing information that your FB Friends have posted for you to see. When you register with FB, you create a personal profile. Then you can add other users as friends and exchange information with them and, optionally, others.

· When you register with FB, you put information about yourself in your FB profile that is then shared with your FB friends, friends of friends or all FB members, depending on the security settings you choose.

· Once you register with FB, you can search for friends and ask them to “Friend” you. Depending on the security settings you choose, others may be able to find you and ask you to “Friend” them. If you get a friend request, you have the option to ignore that request and even to reject all future requests from that person.

· You have a Wall upon which you and others can post information or photos to be seen by friends, friends of friends, or all FB members. Who can post on your wall and who can see your wall depends on security settings that you choose.

· You have a “News Feed” that shows the posts as they appear on your wall and on your FB friends’ walls.

· When you see a post, you can “like” it and/or post comments on it.

· The above also applies, in general, to organizations that have set up FB Pages. When you “like” an organization’s Page, that adds posts to that page to your News Feed.

You can read lots more about FB in a Wikipedia article here: https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Facebook

Sign up with Facebook

1. Go to http://facebook.com. You should see the FB Sign Up page that asks you to provide your name, and other basic information about yourself. If you see someone else’s personal page instead (you’ll notice a name near the upper right hand corner of the screen), then click on “Home” in the upper right hand corner of the screen and then “Log Out” to get to the Sign Up screen.

2. On the Sign Up screen, provide your name, email address, a password (remember it!), gender (FB calls this sex) and birth date. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be taken to a screen that asks you to enter some characters (to prove you’re a human) and then you’re in!

3. FB will now take you to some pages asking for more information. You can skip those pages if you want. You can provide that information later.

4. Check your email for a message from FB asking you to confirm that you are who you say you are. Once you’ve clicked the link on that email, you’re a FB member with a FB profile.

5. Now you can click various links on your FB page to find interesting things to try. Below are three things we recommend you take care of first.

Interact with Grace Church’s FB Page

Now that you’re a FB member, go to Grace’s FB page http://facebook.org/gracecollegehill.

• Click the “Like” icon next to “Grace Episcopal Church” at the top of the page to ensure that posts on this page appear in your News Feed and to allow you to interact with this page.
• Look at the posts on Grace Church’s Wall and either “like” or comment on posts as you so desire.
• Post your own comments, photos, links or videos on Grace Church’s Wall as you are inspired. The more interactions there are, the more people will see our page and the better Grace will be portrayed as the lively place it is.

Set up Facebook Security

Click on Home, then Privacy Settings. If you’re concerned about your visibility, following are my “paranoid” recommendations. You can always become more visible later if you want. In any case, I’d recommend you go thru the following pages to become familiar with what FB’s default settings are.

• How you Connect:
• Who can look up your profile by name or contact info? “Friends” is the most limited setting. Basically, this means that you’ll need to take the initiative to find FB friends (assuming that they have allowed themselves to be seen by people who aren’t already their friends).
• Who can send you friend requests? “Friends of Friends” is the most limited setting.
• Who can send your FB messages? “Friends” is the most limited setting.
• Who can post to your wall? “Only me” is the most limited setting. “Friends” would seem to be a reasonable setting.
• Who can see Wall posts by others on my profile (meaning on my wall)? Again, “Only me” is the most limited setting. “Friends” would seem to be a reasonable setting.
• How tags work: (See https://www.facebook.com/help/search/?q=tags for an explanation of tagging).
• Profile Review…: Turn on to require you to approve tagging.
• Tag Review…: Turn on.
• Maximum Profile Visibility: Set to Friends.
• Tag suggestions: Set to off.
• Friends can check you in to places …: Set to Disabled.
• Apps and Websites:
• Apps you use: Turn off all platform apps.
• The other settings on this page are disabled by the other settings you’ve chosen.
• Limit the Audience for Past Posts.
• No need to set this, you have no past posts.
• Blocked people and Apps.
• oou should have no need for this given the above settings, but if there should come to be interactions you want to prevent, you can block them here. You can also block future unwanted interactions when they occur.

Edit your Profile

Click on your name in the upper right hand corner of the screen and you’ll see an Edit Profile link near your name. On the left, you’ll see lots of areas in which you can provide information about yourself. Next to each item, you’ll see a little world-like link with a down arrow. Click the arrow and you’ll see that you can specify who can see that item. Change as you see fit.

Final Comments

There’s lots you can do on FB, and this introduction has just scratched the surface. Have fun with it, and try things out. If you get confused, use the Help facility (under “Home” in the upper right hand corner) to learn more. If FB’s help doesn’t help, then I find that googling Facebook plus my question works pretty well.

Ken Lyon
September 25, 2011

Please send comments and corrections to Ken Lyon at webmaster@gracecollegehill.org

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About EfM …

... But Were Afraid to Ask.

What Is EfM? Education for Ministry (EfM) is a structured group learning experience in which lay people discover and/or refine their faith, learn to articulate their faith and discover new ways to live their. EfM is an extension course from the School of Theology of the University of the South at Sewanee. It is sponsored by the Diocese of Southern Ohio. Seminar groups consist of 6 to 12 adults of any faith, led by a trained mentor, meeting weekly, reflecting theologically and discussing the Bible, church history and theology. In its 30-year history, the program has graduated over 22,000 theologically-grounded lay people.

What Can EfM Do For Me? Better than any other theological education program, EfM graduates learn to integrate their faith with their life experience in ways that make sense and bring meaning to their lives. EfM graduates attest to being able to live more full and abundant lives. Many discover (or rediscover) their ministries in their daily life and work. Some find themselves called to use their talents in new ways. In all cases, EfM-ers develop new confidence to live their lives as theologically articulate Christians.

What Should I Not Expect From EfM? EfM is not a Bible study, although EfM students study the Bible. EfM will not provide a lecture on the week’s lessons, although you may address specific questions at the seminar. EfM does not tell you what to believe; rather it provides you with tools and opportunity for you to further develop your beliefs. EfM is not a support group, although you will find support from your EfM group.

What Commitment Does EfM Require? EfM is a four-year program, but students commit to only one year (9 months) at a time. EfM groups meet weekly in three-hour seminars from September through May. Preparation for the seminar consists of studying the texts and reading material for the week’s lesson. Depending on the individual, this advance study may take from two to five hours.

What Is An EfM Mentor? An EfM Mentor is trained and certified by Sewanee to facilitate the seminars and guide the EfM Group through the program. The Mentor facilitates the students' learning process; he or she does not teach the material.

What Is Theological Reflection? Theological Reflection (TR) is a mentor-led discussion process during which students discover new ways to relate their life experiences, Judeo-Christian tradition and the culture in which we live. During TR, students are often struck with potentially life-changing, insights (aha's!). This Sewanee-developed methodology has been refined through use in EfM groups over the past 30 years.

What Is Ministry? For starters, EfM is not training for "The Ministry." EfM helps seminar members discover their own ministry--one that grows out of their life situation and their God-given gifts. Some discover they were already doing their ministry but didn't know it; some find themselves called to make a major change in their life; most are somewhere in between.

What Does EfM Cost? Tuition is  about $350 per year, paid in advance. Scholarships are available, so cost is not a barrier to participation.

How Can I Find Out More About EfM?

• Contact Hawley Todd, TSSF (513-967-6581, todd@episcopalhealing.org)
• Come to an Informational Meeting in late July or early August (call Hawley for details).
• On the web, see www.sewanee.edu/EFM. Or use your favorite search engine to search for Education Ministry EFM; you'll be surprised at how much is out there.

How Can I Enroll In EfM? Call mentor Hawley Todd for an enrollment form. Classes begin in early September. Advance enrollment is required.

Ken Lyon
5/29/2007, corrected 9/29/2011

Selections from Grace Church's 9/11 Service

 

The introduction to the Sunday Service Bulletin

Dear Friends,

This morning we commemorate the 10th anniversary of the tragedy of September 11, 2001.  Needless to say, each one of us has vivid memories of this event which will ever be etched in our minds: where we were that day when the Twin Towers were attacked, how we reacted, what we were thinking, feeling -- the horror, the sadness, the disbelief.  Now ten years later we revisit that tragic day hopefully with some positive perspective which makes sense of what seems still to be an unthinkable occurrence. 

Through the horror of 9/11, we have learned some hard but valuable lessons -- we have learned the amazing courage and strength and goodness of the American people -- their willingness to help in times of peril, their bravery in the midst of acts of violence, bravery even unto death.  We have seen a nation rise from the ashes of this tragic event more aware of the abundant gifts which it possesses and the preciousness of life at once brilliant yet ever transitory.  We have learned to hold those dear to us with tenderness and be much more careful that our love for each other is affirmed daily.  We have learned to take each moment as a priceless gift from God.  We have learned to broaden our acceptance of our neighbor who is different from us -- not seeing in them potential terrorists but rather children of God made in His image and likeness. 

For those who set out to hurt us and who despise us, we can only pray for their souls and protect our nation from their anger.  For those who have died innocently and without malice, we know that they are in the loving hands of God.  For those who died bravely as martyrs helping others, their crown of glory in heaven is assured.  May we hope and pray that an event like this may never happen again -- that we as the world's people may be generous, kind, and loving towards each other.

Faithfully in Christ, Fr. Bob Hufford+

From the Epistle Lesson (Romans 14: 1-12)

Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

From the Gospel (Matthew 18:21-35)

Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times."

The Prayers of the People: A Litany of Remembrance, Penitence, and Hope

Officiant: We light a candle in remembrance for all those who suffered and died on September 11, 2001, in New York, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.  We light a candle to remember those who still live and who suffer because of the events of that day.

Reader: When we remember the stockbrokers, office workers, maintenance workers, bystanders, window-washers and all the others who worked together so valiantly to help each other, we can say together,

All: We remember great courage

Reader: When we recall the firefighters who rushed upstairs as most everyone else was racing out, we can say together,

All: We remember selfless service.

Reader: When we recall the police officers who stood to protect and defend the people and performed their duties until the towers came crashing down on top of them, we can say together,

All: We remember selfless sacrifice for the safety of others.

Reader: When we recall the thousands of workers, women and men, and old and young, single and married, American-born and those born in countries around the world who did not escape the buildings, we can say together,

All: We remember the loss of human life.

Reader: When we recall those citizens who rushed to help, did all they could to help, we can say together,

All: We remember and give thanks for dutiful commitment to those in distress.

Reader: When we recall the people who stood in line at the nation's blood banks to make living donations from their very bodies, we can say together,

All: We give thanks for those who live on to pass on life and love.

Reader: When we remember the millions of Americans who gave so generously of their life and labor to endow funds to help the survivors and their families recover from their losses, we can say together:

All: We are grateful for generosity.

After the Eucharist

All: God of all creation, our hearts are broken over the destruction and loss we remember this day. And we acknowledge, O Lord, that on that day of human carnage yours was the first heart to break.

Congregation left side: In our remembering, may we stand with those who mourn and those who cannot stop mourning. Through remembering, may we find new comfort in your care. In our remembering may we be drawn to a new hope for the whole world, and may we gain for ourselves a measure of your peace.

Congregation right side: You who can turn the shadow of night into the bright promise of a new day, empower us to shape a world marked by ways of life that lead to justice and peace for all peoples.

Congregation left side: Fashion in us a people who are more ready to grow in understanding than eager to judge those who are different from us. Form us as a people determined to heal wounds rather than inflict them.

Congregation right side: We pray at last that you would cultivate such love in us that we may reach out in compassion to all those who are still wounded by the events of that day; and in seeking to heal others, may we experience a love that makes us whole.

All: This we pray in the strong name of Jesus our Christ. Amen.

By the Rev. Eileen W. Lindner, former Deputy General Secretary of the National Council of Churches.

The Closing Hymn (Hymnal 1982, number 570)

All who love and serve your city,
All who bear its daily stress,
All who cry for peace and justice,
All who curse and all who bless,

In your day of love and sorrow,
In your day of helpless strife,
Honor, peace and love retreating,
Seek the lord, who is your life.

In your day of wealth and plenty,
Wasted work and wasted play,
Call to mind the work of Jesus,
"Work ye now while it is day."

Risen Lord, shall yet the city,
Be the city of despair?
Come today, our judge, our glory;
Be its name "The Lord is there!"

For all days are days of judgment,
And the Lord is waiting still,
Drawing near his friends who spurn him,
Off'ring peace from Calvr'ys hill.