Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
9 February 2012
In the Old Testament lesson for the coming Sunday we hear of the healing of Naaman the Syrian by Elisha the prophet (2 Kgs. 5.1-14). Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, has leprosy. An Israelite serving girl in his household tells his wife that the man of God in Israel can cure Naaman, and the king in Damascus sends Naaman to the king in Israel, who suspects a trick–that since he cannot cure the Syrian man of war, the king of Syria is seeking a pretext for war. Naaman comes to Elisha, but Elisha only sends an intermediary out, and instructs Naaman to bathe in the River Jordan, at which the Syrian takes great offense, saying “... I thought that he would surely come out to me ...,” and that there are rivers in Damascus too. His servants then point out that if the prophet had commanded a mighty work, Naaman would have complied, so why not wash in the river? Naaman is cured, and returns to Elisha saying “I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel ...” Subsequently, Naaman serves the Lord.
Who are you in this story? Are you the servant girl who says to another that they must take their affliction to God, or are you Naaman, a powerful person who thinks that because of your power and wealth God certainly takes a special interest in you and your well-being? Are you the king of Israel, who thinks that when someone brings a problem that surely they bring it only to increase your own problems, to pick a fight? Are you the prophet Elisha, who says, “Here is what God will have you do”? Are you a servant who says, “Don’t worry about all your own powers and works, but trust in what God tells you to do”?
Each of us can think of a time when we have focused so intently on our own resources and the resources of the world that we have forgotten that it is God who blesses. We try to make things complicated, rather than living in the simple wisdom that when we discern God’s will and do it we are blessed; that afflictions offered to God are burdens to which Jesus refers when He says that He will bear our burdens and give us “rest for our souls” (Mtt. 11.29). Trust in God.
Thanksgivings: Thanksgivings are offered to Ed and Mary Clabots for cleaning and organizing classroom space for Sunday School, and to Dcn. Mike and Val Burg for moving and organizing classroom furnishings and materials.
Please take the opportunity to notify the office of any member or friend of the parish to whom we owe thanks, in order that we can publicize this in the weekly newsletter.
Music this week:
Prelude Air Gerre Hancock
Entrance Hymn 371 “Thou whose almighty Word”
Offertory Hymn 567 “Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old”
Communion Motet As pants the hart Early American
Communion Hymn 336 “Come with us, O blessed Jesus”
Closing Hymn 411 “O bless the Lord, my soul”
Postlude Prelude & Fugue in G Major Buxtehude
Parish Notices
§ Instructed Eucharist: This coming Sunday, 12 February, the 10:15 service of Holy Eucharist will be celebrated as an instructed eucharist. There will be no sermon, Instead, we will walk through each and evvery thing we do in worship, worshipping as normally, but explaining why we do what we do; what symbolism is involved; where our practices come from. The service will last no longer than a typical service, because of the absence of a sermon. This is a good opportunity to bring a friend who may be curious about The Episcopal Church.
§ Office Closed: The parish offices will be closed this week on Monday through Wednesday, due to clergy being present at a diocesan retreat in Marathon. The offices will reopen on Thursday.
Ø There will be no Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer or Holy Eucharist observed/celebrated on Monday through Wednesday.
Ø In the event of a pastoral emergency, call Fr. Karl on 920-889-7190 or contact the St. Anthony Retreat center at 715-443-2236.
§ Tripartite Ministry: Tonight, Thursday, 9 February, at 4 p.m., we will meet at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church on Geele Ave. with clergy and members of that congregation and of St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, to discuss how we are called to best serve in common ministry and witness. This meeting is about more than planning a joint service (e.g., as has happened in the past for Good Friday) but about how we can most effectively serve together in the community. Whether you have been active in the Tripartite Ministry in the past or not, please come to the meeting, that we may discern a common call. Youth members are encouraged to attend.
§ Bible Study: Bible study will not meet this Tuesday, due to clergy conference. Bible study will meet, as usual, this Thursday following the 9 a.m. Mass. Study summaries of the lessons for the coming Sunday are posted on the parish website on Tuesday of each week.
§ Circle of Faith: Time to think about the winter retreat at the Norbertine Center, De Pere sponsored by the Diocese of Fond du Lac Women's Ministries! Pastor Diane Murray is our Spiritual Leader and she will be presenting a program called "Circle of Faith" February 17-19, 2012. You will be able to use the pool on Saturday and do exercises that include Christian music and prayer. Snowshoes will be available to those who wish to take advantage of the beautiful grounds. Is a massage more your cup of tea? or a book study? We will have crafts and fellowship! If you sign up with a friend you can get $10 off your registration! Registration cost for overnight is $110 includes room and meals, for commuters the cost is $50 includes meals. You can find more information and to register online at diofdl@diofdl.org. Deadline is Feb. 1st.
§ Ministry Expansion Committee Needs Your Help: In addition to your prayers, the MEC also needs to hear from you about what local assistance you are aware of in the community. One major goal of the MEC is to compile a list of community resources so that if Grace church cannot meet a particular need, we are able to quickly reference someone who does. There are a few criteria to keep the list manageable, but if it is a program that meets a need, no matter how small, the MEC would like to know about it. An example could be a local laundromat that offers a free laundry day once a month. Please help out if you can and leave written information with the Grace Church office or contact an MEC member directly. CRITERIA: (1) must be offered on a regular schedule and at least once monthly (2) is at no cost or obligation to the recipient.
§ Grace Church Choir Needs Your Help! Can you carry a tune? Do you love to socialize with a fun group once a week? Are you looking for a way to donate more time and talent to your Church? The answer to these questions is: Join the Grace Church Choir. We need you to join us. You do not even have to read music, as many of our current members do not. Every Wednesday from 6:00pm until 7:00pm, we rehearse in the choir room immediately at the bottom of the stairs to the lower level. After choir, many of us go to dinner at Rupp's for an enjoyable dinner, and often spouses or significant others join us. We have anywhere from 4 to 14 in an evening. We gather at 9:30am on Sunday mornings to rehearse before Mass. We can use sopranos, altos, tenors and basses. We would love you to join us and hope you consider joining us in our work and our festivities. We need you!
§ Scout Appreciation "Pancake Breakfast": Sunday March 4th Please mark your calendars to stay a few minutes, after each service, to savor a down home Pancake Breakfast. Scouts will supply all the know how for the event. As an added bonus, Maple Syrup will be supplied by the Drewry Farms of Plymouth. This award winning Maple Syrup is served at all the major restaurants in the area and beyond. The Scouts will also have available Maple Syrup gift assortments.
§ Love Bowls: will be held on Sunday, February 19th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm in The Commons at Sheboygan South High School -3128 South 12th Street. Love Bowls is a fun, family-oriented event where patrons buy a beautiful bowl for $16 and sample as many soups as they wish. Over 60 local restaurants donate their signature soups. Local talent will entertain throughout the day. All proceeds from Love Bowls stay in Sheboygan County and help defray the cost of meals for our elderly, homebound and disabled neighbors.
§ Adult Formation: For the three Sundays preceding Lent, Adult Education will focus on “How to study Scripture”. The intent is to better equip parishioners to participate in the Bible Challenge, a program which will begin on the First Sunday in Lent (26 February), in which you can read the entire Bible in one year. The Adult Education classes in February will focus on methodology and biblical interpretation, as well as the history of Scripture. How is the Bible organized? How is it read as an organic whole? What are the issues in translation? Why are some books included, and others were not included? The classes will use an abbreviated version of the teaching document An Introduction to Holy Scripture found under the Adult Education of our parish website. You can use this document to work ahead, or to study to greater depth during the course. The document includes links for resources for further study.
§ Hearts & Flowers: Spend Valentine’s evening with the Lakeshore Chorale at Grace Episcopal Church! Featuring Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes along with a bouquet of love songs sung by members of the Chorale – solos, duets, ensembles, and more. A gala Valentine reception is included. Seating is limited. Tuesday, February 14th, 7:00 pm. 15.00 adults; 8.00 students Available from the website or from Lakeshore Chorale members. Tickets will not be sold at the door. www.lakeshorechorale.org for more information call 920-451-1863.
§ The Discerning Our Future Task Force: is working to help the diocese discern its future direction. On Saturday, February 25th, 10am-12noon, there will be a diocesan-wide meeting hosted in each deanery. Each congregation is asked to send lay representatives who will answer the same questions used at the Clergy Day with answers compiled and posted on the website. Please volunteer to do this important work as we move forward as the Diocese of Fond du Lac.
Ø The meeting for this deanery will take place at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Fond du Lac.
Ø Please contact Fr. Karl to express interest in serving.
§ A Romantic Evening for National Marriage Week: Looking for a fun way to spend a romantic evening with your spouse? On Wednesday, February 15, Great Marriages will be hosting a pre-concert gathering at their new office in honor of National Marriage Week. Following the event at the Great Marriages office, enjoy a romantic concert at the Stefanie H. Weill Center. The evening activities begin at the Great Marriages office at 612 Center Avenue at 6:15 pm with a pre-concert event. Enjoy a tour of the new building, music, some fun activities and refreshments. Following the gathering at Great Marriages, Jim Brickman, America’s romantic piano sensation, will be performing a concert at the Stefanie H. Weill Center. The concert will showcase his beautifully romantic piano music and will take place on February 15 at 7:30 pm. The pre-concert event at Great Marriages is free, however reservations are required, so call Great Marriages at 920-783-3660 or email info@great-marriages.org by February 12. Space is limited. Tickets for the concert can be purchased by calling the Weill Center ticket office at (920) 208-3243 or visit weillcenter.com. Specially priced balcony seating has been reserved for Great Marriages guests, so mention Great Marriages. In addition, you will also receive a free ticket to a movie for each ticket purchased, while supplies last.
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