Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
17 May 2012
Hail thee, festinal day! We sing hymn 216 this night, at the offertory in our 6 p.m. solemn Mass for Acension Day. The service will be followed by a parish pot-luck supper. It is well that we follow our celebration of Jesus’ ascension to heaven, to reign on high, with community fellowship, for in the lessons for the feast we are instructed (in part) about what it means to be the Church, about who we are called to be.
We are called to be witnesses “... to the end of the earth” (Acts 1.8), but to do this we must live together and witness together as one Body. As vital as a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior is, it is incomplete if I ever seek to live this alone. “My” relationship with God is only complete if it is “our” relationship, the status, calling, and blessing of being the Church.
Our bishop will be with us this coming Sunday, to confirm and receive new members as those fully incorporated into the Body. The timing of his visitation is indeed fortuitous (or, better yet, providential), for the time between Ascension Day (when Jesus charges us with who we are to be) and Pentecost (which is the birthday of the Church, when the Holy Spirit is poured forth on all believers) is the the birth process. At Romans 8.22 St. Paul writes that the whole of creation “has been groaning in travail”. This can also be understood to refer to groaning in labor, in the birthing process, knowing that after this travail comes the joy of new birth, new life, and the unique status that we enjoy as the Church is that we are both being born and are the midwife to this delivery.
God’s will happens not just by God’s direct action but by the actions undertaken by His disciples because He has commanded them. God acts directly, as when He sends His Holy Spirit on the Church at Pentecost, and He acts through us (His witnesses) when we obey His commands. As the apostle John writes, “Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony [of God] in their hearts. ... Whoever has the Son has life ...” (1 John 5.10, 12).
We have life, the life everlasting which Jesus brings, but in bringing this life He makes it clear that we can’t just sit here, happy about ourselves. We’ve got work to do. Jesus prays to the Father, “As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world” (John 17.18). We’ve got work to do. Those of us who have life because we have Jesus, now must assist in the birth process. We’re called out on a dark night, to throw light on the way, to make all the preparations for new birth which the midwife (the Church) and the great physician of souls (the Son) will allow the mother (God’s Spirit) to bring forth. It’s a birth process, and so it is accomplished with labor pains, by anxiety and danger, but in hope and in the expectation of the joy of new life.
Thanksgivings: We have thanks them before, but please take the opportunity to thank Wes and Barb Jung for their work on the grounds. This past week they worked for days in trimmin the ground cover on Ontario Ave. Please also thank Bobbie May and Elizabeth Schaffenburg for their work on the grounds.
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.
Biblical Literacy: The Bible Challenge review session on Tuesday, 22 May, will review Week 12 readings. There will be no bible study on Thursday, 24 May, due to Fr. Karl’s participation in the graduation ceremony at Nashotah House.
Music this week:
Prelude Two Chorale Preludes on Blessed Jesus, at thy word J. S. Bach
Entrance Hymn 495 “Hail, thou once despised Jesus”
Offertory Hymn 307 “Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendor”
Communion Motet If ye love me, keep my commandments Philip Wilby
Comm. Hymn 603 “When Christ was lifted from the earth”
Closing Hymn 473 “Lift high the Cross”
Postlude Trumpet Tune in C D. N. Johnson
Parish Notices
§ Spring Cheer Committee will deliver flowers and goodies to the parish shut-ins on Thursday, May 24th. We will gather in the church kitchen at 11:00 AM to assemble flower arrangements and bag cookies. There is a sign up sheet in the narthex for you to indicate who you would like to visit. If you would like to contribute money towards flowers make sure to indicate Spring Cheer in the memo. If you would like to bake cookies please contact Barb MacEwen (467-6909 or bmacewen@charter.net). Thank you for considering helping this worthwhile ministry.
§ Bishop Visitation & Confirmation: We welcome Bishop Jacobus this Sunday for his annual visitation. He will celebrate and preach at both Masses and administer the Sacrament of Confirmation at the 10:15 a.m. liturgy. There will be a reception honoring the Bishop and the newly confirmed after the 10:15 service.
§ The Bishop’s Discretionary Fund: The undesignated offering this Sunday goes to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund which provides for the pastoral emergencies and other unplanned pastoral expenses. Please be generous as you are able.
§ Christian Formation: For adult formation at 9:00 a.m. we will have the second half of a two week course on “Waking the Slumbering Church”. This is a preview of the Acts 29 Sure Foundation program that we will launch next September, and is designed to stimulate prayer and thought throughout the Summer about what we are called to, and who we are called to be as a the Church.
§ Summer Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12th graders. Camp is an opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community, about themselves and have fun! If you have questions about what camp is like please call Michele at the office. Scholarships are available.
§ Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 10 (Sun. 3 p.m.)–June 16 (Sat. 12 noon); Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 17 (Sun. 3 p.m.)–June 21 (Thu. 5 p.m.); Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 17 (Sun. 3 p.m.)–June 21 (Thu. 5 p.m.); KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 21 (Thu. 3 p.m.)–June 23 (Sat. 12 noon). There are application forms on the Narthex table.
§ 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.
§ Mission Opportunity: Kairos Inside Prison Ministry is a lay-led ecumenical Christian ministry which conducts a highly structured program designed for use in male and female medium to maximum security correctional institutions. Kairos Inside is based on Cursillo and is a 3 ½ day weekend of talks, discussion, chapel meditations and music led by volunteers. The website is http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001pWlnd4cV05DUBwx4bP-2-V1I2_8rxE6hbsHBaG7r0NhWLrZhpWSDHTdg2tO4k_iH49OaQ7k4o7wXW7lFPxGuxgcumzgdIIY6juIk9n1TURI=. The Kairos of Wisconsin State Chapter is hosting a potential volunteer information day on Saturday, May 19th from 10am to 2pm at Portage United Methodist Church, 1804 New Pinery Rd in Portage. If you are interested in this vital and rewarding ministry, please plan to attend. Please e-mail the Rev. Vicki Natzke at vnatzke@wctc.net if you plan to attend or desire more information.
§ 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 or comments please contact a Vestry member. We appreciate your consideration.
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