Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
22 March 2012
Today is the feast of Bl. James DeKoven (d. 1879), a priest well known in Wisconsin. A native of Connecticut, following his ordination in 1855 DeKoven became professor of ecclesiastical history at Nashotah House. Fr. DeKoven came to Wisconsin at the flowering of the Oxford Movement (also known as the Ritualist Movement), a revival in the Church which emphasized a sacramental life and devotion to the Holy Eucharist. Like Nashotah House, Grace Episcopal Church is very much a daughter of the Oxford Movement.
Twice, in 1874 (Wisconsin) and 1875 (Illinois), DeKoven was elected diocesan bishop. Each time consents from a majority of Church dioceses was refused. The objections raised against DeKoven were based on the majority of The Episcopal Church in the nineteenth century being of a more Reformed or Calvinist theology, in which DeKoven’s “innovations” were deemed “too Catholic”. What were these innovations? Things that are now taken for granted in most of The Episcopal Church (like the use of candles on the altar), or widely recognized and tolerated (such as the use of incense and the practice of genuflecting before the Blessed Sacrament).
DeKoven argued that his churchmanship was based on the reality that “... the spiritual presence of the Body and Blood of our Lord in the Holy Communion is objective and real.” In pleading his case to General Convention in 1874, DeKoven said:
You may take away from us ... every external ceremony; you may take away altars, and super-altars, lights and incense and vestments; ... and we will submit to you. But, ... to adore Christ’s Person in his Sacrament–that is the inalienable privilege of every Christian and Catholic heart. How we do it, the way we do it, the ceremonies with which we do it, are utterly, utterly, indifferent. The thing itself is what we plead for.
James DeKoven recognized the difference between the worship of God and the “worship of the worship” (the focus on how we do things). The fact that at Grace we use incense and bells, candles and vestments, chant and genuflections, would be an empty and idolatrous thing if we did any of these things for the sake of our own preferences and tastes. Each element of liturgy must reflect faith–faith in the real presence of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament; faith in the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit; faith that in worship we come before God.
Whether you cross yourself at the creedal statement that the dead shall be raised, or kneel before approaching the altar is a up to you, but everything that everyone of us does in worship must reflect the fact that we are before God, that we pray that “... we may evermore dwell in Him, and He in us ...” Let us each always participate in the reality that worship is an active verb, a giving of self in response to the supreme gift and sacrifice of our Lord. And while we’re at it, let us give thanks that by the witness of Fr. DeKoven and others, our worship may include “the beauty of holiness” as expressed in all the ways we hold dear.
Thanksgivings: Thanksgivings are offered to Jessica Ambelang, Bernie Markevitch, and Steve Larson and Ed Clabots for cleaning and organizing the storage rooms used for Sunday School and for church decoration. Thanksgivings are offered, as well, to Mary Ann Neuses and Barbara Knauf for the donation of shelving units for use in the storage rooms.
Thanksgivings are offered, as well, to Wes and Barb Jung, and to Ben Dobey, for all of their work in grounds clean-up and gardening.
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.
Vacation Bible School: The dates we are exploring for VBS ar 11 through 15 June or 25 through 29 June, but VBS will not happen unless we identify a coordinator from this parish. We are exploring a cooperative program with our covenant partners, St. Dominic R.C. Church and St. Peter Lutheran Church, but they only way we can go forward is to identify a person willing to plan and coordinate the effort. If you are willing to do this, please contact the office. a.s.a.p.
Music this week:
Prelude Chorale Preludes on Ah, Holy Jesus and Christ, thou Lamb of God
J. S. Bach
Introit Give sentence with me, O God Plainsong
Offertory Hymn 441 “In the cross of Christ I glory”
Communion Motet Like as the hart desireth the waterbrooks Willan
Communion Hymn 652 “Dear Lord and Father of mankind”
Closing Hymn 457 “Thou art the Way, the Truth, the Life”
Postlude Toccata in A Kuhnau
Parish Notices
§ Bishop Salmon’s Visit: We will welcome The Rt. Reverend Edward L. Salmon, Jr., Dean and President of Nashotah House Theological Seminary, to Grace Church this Sunday. No stranger to Grace Church, Bishop Salmon brings the greetings of Nashotah House and his visit gives thanks for a historic and fruitful relationship between the seminary and Grace Church. Noted for his theological clarity, quick wit and Southern accent, Bishop Salmon will preach at both Masses. Please join us as we welcome him back to Grace Church.
§ Brass and Organ Benefit Concert: This Sunday afternoon, March 25th at 4:00 p.m., Ben Dobey and the Gaudete Brass Quintet will perform music from their new CD as well as other music for Organ and Brass. This concert will benefit Holy Trinity School in Haiti, part of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral complex in Port-au-Prince which was mostly destroyed in 2010. The Holy Trinity School and Music Academy has been one of the most successful educational institutions in Haiti, open to all children regardless of economic background. The suggested donation will be $20 per family, $5 for students. The CD is available for $10.
§ Friday Evenings in Lent: continue with Stations of the Cross at 5:30pm followed by suppers and study. We are studying Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.
§ Adult Formation: Classes take place in St. Nicholas Hall, at 9 a.m. We have launched The Bible Challenge. A schedule of readings is provided on the parish website, along with weekly study summaries. During Lent we want to focus on parish participation, and so our Sunday morning adult education hour will involve review and discussion of the Bible readings for the week.
§ Sacrament of Reconciliation: Lent is a time of self-examination preparing for the death and resurrection of our Lord. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered by appointment. Please contact Fr. Schaffenburg, Fr. McQueen or Fr. Okkerse to set up an appointment to make your confession.
§ Maundy Thursday Foot Washing: Everyone will have the opportunity to have their feet washed and to wash someone else’s feet following the example of Jesus washing his disciple’s feet. Please wear socks and shoes that are easily removed.
§ Vigil before the Altar of Repose: Please sign up to watch and pray for an hour at the Altar of Repose beginning immediately following the Maundy Thursday Mass April 5 and concluding Friday, April 6 as the Good Friday Liturgy begins. There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex, more than one person can sign up for any given hour.
§ Good Friday Tripartite Service: We will gather with the people of St. Dominic R. C. Church and St. Peter Lutheran Church at the latter (on Geele Avenue) on Friday, 6 April, at 7 p.m. for a joint Good Friday service. This will be a simplified liturgy observed in addition to our regular services at each church, observed as an opportunity to share in solidarity with each other as we share in solidarity with the sacrifice of our Lord.
§ Easter Vigil Dinner: The first Mass of the Resurrection is on Saturday, April 7, at 7:00 p.m. The Easter celebration then continues at Trattoria Stefano, 522 South 8th Street, at 9:30 p.m. The actual cost of the meal is a gift to the parish, so you not only get a delicious meal but you help the coffers of the church by purchasing a ticket for the dinner. Tickets can be bought in the parish office or in the narthex after mass for $50 a person. Everyone is invited, but seats are limited. Scholarships are available for those who cannot afford the cost of the ticket by speaking to Father Schaffenburg. Monday April 2 is the deadline.
§ Easter Gala Reception: We will continue our Easter celebration with a Gala Reception after the 10:15 a.m. Mass on Sunday, April 8th. Please sign up to bring sweets or savories and to help clean up afterwards. There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex.
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