Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
26 April 2012
In Psalm 61 we read (in the prayer book translation) that the psalmist calls upon the Lord “from the ends of the earth” (v. 2). The original Hebrew can also be traslated as “from the edge of the netherworld,” in other words, from the gates of death, and this reading changes how we understand the psalmist’s recitation of trust in God, “For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy” (v. 3). When we understand the first reference to be to the netherworld, we understand that the enemy is the final enemy, Death, and it is then that we can better appreciate that the resurrection of our Lord has removed from every tyrant his or her last weapon.
Our faith is much more than an ideology. It is power! We may agree or disagree with doctrine, with theology, but when we have faith we live it, because in this life we live in intimate and constant contact with our risen Lord, and our risen Lord has triumphed over all. Note the temporal marker: It is not that Jesus will triumph, but that He has. We do not expect to one day “meet our Maker” because we do. The life-everlasting is not something we are born into when we leave this world, but life that we live now, as those reborn by water and the Spirit; those who, having died with Christ has risen with Him.
How did the disciples witness to Jesus? All of the disciples (including Matthias, who replaced Judas) except for John suffered violent deaths; deaths such as being crucified upside down, being flayed, or being beaten to death with clubs. And let’s not forget that Paul was beheaded and Barnabas stoned to death. Looking just at the evangelists, Church Tradition informs us that Matthew suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed with sword. Mark died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being dragged by horses through the streets until he was dead. Luke was hanged in Greece. And John? He faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered from death. (He still had writing to do.) John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos, where he wrote Revelation. He was later freed and returned to serve as Bishop of Edessa. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.
The disciples could not have faced torture and death as they did for an ideology. They faced death because they were alive in Jesus Christ, and He faced death with them, having triumphed over death once and for all. A strong tower, indeed. When we have faith we are “Easter people” who live in the resurrection of our Lord now, and for all time, in the certain knowledge that even death cannot separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8.38-39). The Lord is risen indeed! Alleuia!
Thanksgivings: Thanksgivings are due to all of the members of the Vestry for their organization of the installation, to Dcn. Michele for he extra work in preparing and executing the liturgy, to Bernie Markevitch for preparing and coordinating the reception, to the Fabbianos and Kochs for serving as acolytes, and to Ben Dobey and the choir for their extra work. What a joy it is to experience and witness the people of God working together!
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: VBS will be offered this summer at St. Dominic Catholic Church and at St. Peter Lutheran Church. Morning and evening programs are available. Contact the parish offcie for program details.
Music this week:
Prelude Pastorale J. S. Bach
Entrance Hymn #495 “Hail, thou once despised Jesus” In Babilone
Offertory Hymn #645 “The King of love my shepherd is” St. Columba
Communion Motet The Lord’s my Shepherd arr. Gordon Jacob
Comm. Hymn #312 “Strengthen for service, Lord” Malabar
Closing Hymn #208 “The strife is o’er” Victory
Postlude Acclamations sur ‘Christus vincit’ Jean Langlais
Parish Notices
§ Church Flowers: We do not have anyone signed up for church flowers all through May as well as various other Sundays throughout the year. If we have no memorials or thanksgivings for those weeks we will not have flowers in the church, this is not a budget item and must be funded by the congregation. Flowers can be donated for $50 payable to Grace Church with a memo “flowers”. There is a sign-up sheet on the Narthex table. This is a wonderful way to participate in the beauty of Holiness in our weekly worship.
§ First Communion Instruction: will continue at 9:00am during Sunday School, for children ages 4-7 who are ready to receive Holy Communion. This is a good refresher for those who already receive and a good introduction for those who may not yet receive. First Communions will take place May 20th during the Bishop’s Visitation.
§ Christian Formation: Adult formation at 9:00am continues with “liturgics show and tell,” in which we will tour the parish for instructed discussion in matters such as the origin and significance of church architecture, vestments and vessels, the iconography of stained glass, statuary, and Church customs.
§ Bible Study and The Bible Challenge: We will resume a schedule of 5:30 p.m. Mass, followed by a light, pot-luck supper, with study commencing at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday sessions will follow the weekly readings from The Bible Challenge. Lessons will be reviewed for the week ending the prior Saturday (e.g., on 1 May the lessons for week 9 will be reviewed.
We will also resume Thursday morning sessions, which will follow the Sunday lectionary lessons. Study will commence at 9:30 following 9 a.m. Mass. Lesson summaries for both the lectionary lessons and for the weekly Bible Challenge readings continue to be posted on the parish website.
We will also resume Thursday morning sessions, which will follow the Sunday lectionary lessons. Study will commence at 9:30 following 9 a.m. Mass. Lesson summaries for both the lectionary lessons and for the weekly Bible Challenge readings continue to be posted on the parish website.
§ Sunday School Bake Sale: Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 9:00-3:00, in conjunction with St. Luke Methodist rummage sale, the Sunday School will be selling baked goods with proceeds going to outreach.
§ Plant Sale: Grace Church gardens will be selling plants Saturday, April 28, in conjunction with the Bake Sale. The following plants will be available for Sale: Hydrangea, Sedum, Iris, Primrose, Obedient Plant, Gooseneck Loosestrife, and more. All plants to be sold have been grown in the Grace Church Cutting Garden located between the Church and the Rectory.
§ Healing Weekend: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 312 E Main, Plymouth is hosting a healing weekend with Fr. Paul Feider. He will be teaching on the healing power of Jesus and ministering God’s healing love. Saturday, May 5th will begin at 6:30pm with Worship, teaching and healing prayer. Sunday, May 6th 9:45am Praise and Worship, 10:00am Holy Eucharist followed by lunch.
§ Sign-Up to Host Coffee Hour in 2013: A sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour in 2013 is on the table in the narthex. Please sign-up for dates you would like to host. A final schedule and reminders will be generated from the sign-up sheet and distributed in November 2012. Please consider signing up for 2-3 Sundays to help us cover the year! Contact Katy Prange at 920-889-1252 or katyprange@hotmail.com with questions.
§ Parish clean-up: Mark your calendars for parish clean-up day on Saturday, 5 May, beginning at 9 a.m. A Cinco de Mayo taco and snack bar will be available starting at noon.
§ SCIO Spring Luncheon & Fundraiser: Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization is once again honoring women at their Spring Luncheon & Fundraiser which will include Social, Silent Auction, Lunch and Program. Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 11:00am -1:00pm at Pine Hills Country Club, 4914 Superior Ave. Sheboygan. The cost is $40 per person or $320 for a table of eight. Please contact SCIO at 457-7272 ext. 14 for reservations.
§ SCIO Silent Auction: Each member church is asked to provide a themed basket to be added to the silent auction at the Spring Luncheon & Fundraiser. If anyone is interested in putting together a basket for Grace Church there is additional information and basket ideas on the bulletin board in the narthex or please contact the office.
§ Celebration of Marriage Banquet - Great Marriages will be hosting its annual “Celebration of Marriage Banquet” as an opportunity to honor and celebrate marriage! Some couples will renew their vows or honor marriages of friends and family. The evening will be filled with entertainment, dinner, and dancing! In addition, you will have an opportunity to bid on a variety of silent auction items. Special “church discount” of $95 per couple. Please join us at the “Celebration of Marriage Banquet” on Saturday, May 12th, 2012 at The Bull. Call (920) 783-3660 for an invitation and for more information or to make your reservations today! Please RSVP by May 1st.
§ Stewardship/Fundraising Committee: The Vestry has approved the creation of an on-going Stewardship / Fundraising committee that will be responsible for our annual pledge campaign as well as developing multiple fundraising events. The goal is to charter this committee at the May Vestry meeting. If you are interested in serving on this committee or have suggestions / comments please contact a Vestry member. We appreciate your consideration.
No comments:
Post a Comment