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Thursday, October 11, 2012

God is not a "killer app"

Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes
11 October 2012

God is not a “killer app”.  This states the obvious, but is nonetheless contradicted by behavior.  An “app” is, of course, a computer application (program) that can be down-loaded from the internet to a smart phone, tablet computer, etc.  In other words, the app is a utilitarian shortcut, a tool that allows the user to access the information desired (or might imagine as desirable).  The use of an app is driven by the need defined by the user.  A simple example might be a weather app, which allows the user to hit an icon on his or her device to learn the temperature and forecast.
But, to return to the premise, God is not an app.  God is not a tool that we can deploy when we need Him, and ignore when we think we don’t.  God wants us to be in relationship with Him.  He wants this so much—and loves us so much—that even when our relationship is broken by our own sin, He comes to us.  His Son has made the sacrifice by which we may be reconciled to God.  His Spirit comes to us to lead us into truth, to prompt us to prayer and love, to comfort us.
When we gather in Jesus’ Name, God is present with us.  When we pray to God, we enter into His presence.  This is not the same thing as touching a screen icon to activate an app to do our will.  No computer program or database created us, loves us, gives for us.  An analogy that may illuminate the difference is that of the difference between access to information and the possession of knowledge and wisdom.  I can search for on internet the description of the pathogenesis and mechanism of a cancer.  I can look up descriptions of the progression and complications of the disease.  I can look up information relating to treatment options—dosing, interventions, etc.  If you are diagnosed with cancer, do you want me to treat your disease, even if I have the best possible access to relevant information?  I think not!  You want the person in charge of your treatment to have real knowledge and wisdom, knowledge gained through study and experience, and the wisdom necessary to deploy this knowledge with judgment, based on long experience with people, and not just with disease.
Or, consider whether you would want to be married to someone who knew all about you—what you like and dislike, what motivates you or scares you, what your aspirations and plans are—even someone who agreed with you and admired you, but did not love you, was not called to give of self.  Just as love is necessary for two to become one, just as knowledge and wisdom are necessary to engage with the other, and mere access to information just isn’t enough, so it is with God.  We must know God as a Person in our lives, who loves us and who we are called to love, and not just as some kind of “magic” tool we can deploy when we need help or comfort.  To know God, to be the people He calls us to be, and to do what He empowers us to do, we must cultivate intimate and ongoing contact—relationship—by meeting with and Him and listening to Him every day, by seeking and serving Him in each other.  God is not an app.  He is not an idea, an ideal, or a moral imperative.  We meet God in the risen Christ, and it is in this meeting that we can experience the fullness of creation to which we are called.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank Jack Britton, Ben Dobey and Bernie Markevitch for offering the sung Compline enjoyed on 7 October.

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.

Adult Christian Education:  Our four week course on The New Atheism concludes on Sunday, 14 October.  Commencing on Sunday, 21 October, we will begin a nine week series of Christian Ethics.  We will first examine what an ethical decision is, where we look for guidance in ethical decision-making, and how ethical decisions relate to salvation.  We will then pass on to consider specific ethical issues.  Throughout the course we will seek to identify the teachings of the Church as found in Scripture, Reason and Tradition.  The course materials are posted on the parish website, under “Christian Formation:  Adult”.
Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall.

Biblical Literacy:  The Bible Challenge is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 16 October, following the 5:30 p.m. Mass an 6 o’clock pot-luck.  Readings will be for week 33.    Bible study for the Sunday lessons meets on Thursdays, following the 9 a.m. Mass.
The number of people following The Bible Challenge on-line is gratifying, and weekly summaries will continue to be posted.  However, attendance at the Tuesday evening sessions has been problematical.  Therefore, if you plan to attend you must alert the office by Tuesday, noon.  If you do not notify the office of planned attendance, the evening session will be cancelled.

Building a Better You(th group):  Calling all 6th-12th graders and their friends!
 The Diocesan Fall Lock-In is being held at Camp Lakotah, October 26 at 7:00 p.m. until October 28 at 11:00 a.m.
 Many people have described The Fall Lock-In as “the best weekend EVER”. There’s so much to do:  music, games, fun, small group & large group activities, and this year:  IMPROV COMEDY!
Get the details and sign-up at http://diofdl.org/lockin/  All registration is done online.

Music this week:

Evensong Friday, Oct. 12th with choral scholars from Nashotah House Joseph Kucharski, cond.

Prelude:                       Prière and Alma Redemptoris Mater                          Saint-Martin
Phos hilaron                                                                                                    R. Proulx
Psalm 45 (Anglican chant)                                                                              Stewart
Canticles:                    Evening Service (plainsong with fauxbordons)          Morley
Anthem:                      Ave Maria                                                                   E. Elgar
Postlude:                     Basso ostinato & Fughetta on’Ave Maria’                  S. Taneyev

Pontifical Mass with Procession, Oct. 13th at 10:30 a.m.

Prelude:                       The Gaudete Brass Quintet
Processional Hymn:    The Pilgrim’s Hymn
Mass setting:               Deutsche Messe                                                           F. Schubert
Offertory Hymn:         “Hail, holy Queen, enthroned above”
Communion Motet:     Ave Maria                                                                   E. Elgar
Communion Hymn:  “Sing of Mary, pure and lowly”
Closing Hymn:            “Ye who claim the faith of Jesus”
Postlude:                     Feierliche Einzug                                                        R. Strauss

Sprinkling, Intercessions, Musical Offering and Benediction at 2 p.m.

Prelude:                       Ave Maria                                                                   F. Liszt
Opening Hymn:          “Hail Mary, ever blessed”
During the sprinkling: Prière                                                                          Jongen
Musical Offering:        Magnificat for organ and chant                                   B. Dobey
Hymn:                         “Sing we of the blessed Mother”                                Rustington
Benediction:                “O saving Victim, opening wide”                               Verbum superbum
                                                                                                                        prodiens
                                    “Therefore we, before him bending”                          Tantum ergo
 Sacramentum
Closing Hymn             “Alleluia!  Sing to Jesus”                                            Hyrfyrdol
Postlude  Magnificat VI:                                                        Dandrieu
                        Basse et dessus de Trompette; Dialogue

Sunday, Oct. 14th

Prelude                        Like as the hart                                                            Saint-Martin
Opening Hymn 408    “Sing praise to God, who reigns above”                     Mit Freuden zart
Offertory Hymn 680   “O God, our help in ages past”                                   St. Anne
Communion Motet      Jesus calls us, o’er the tumult                                      Hurd
Comm. Hymn 488      “Be thou my vision”                                                   Slane
Closing Hymn 438      “Tell out, my soul”                                                      Woodlands
Postlude                      Toccata in D                                                                Krieger

Parish Notices

§  Coffee Hour Hosts for 2013: Last Call for Coffee Hour 2013 Host sign-ups! The binder on the table in the narthex contains a sign-up for 2013 Coffee Hour dates. Please sign up by Sunday, October 7. After 10/7, Katy Prange will be compiling a schedule for 2013 and will be calling potential hosts to fill in the gaps. A final schedule for 2013 will be distributed in November. For questions or thoughts, contact Katy Prange - 920-889-1252, katyprange@gmail.com.

§  Lakeshore Chorale and Youth Chorales: will open their 2012-2013 season with a concert of lovely and inspiring selections of American spirituals, hymns, and folk songs. Featured are “Four American Folk Hymns”, arranged for piano 4-hands by Mack Wilber, Associate Music Director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The concert is Saturday, October 20th beginning at 7:30pm at St. Peter Claver Church, 1444 South 11th St., Sheboygan. The cost is $15.00 Adults, $8.00 Students available from Lakeshore Chorale members or at the door. A printable order form is also available on the web: www.lakeshorechorale.org. Season Ticket: $60.00 Adult, $25.00 Student

§  Salvation Army Bell Ringing: Grace Church is signed up to ring bells for the Salvation Army on November 10th in two different locations. At the Piggly Wiggly on the north side from 1:00-7:00pm and at the Piggly Wiggly on the south side from 9:00am-3:00pm. Both of the locations are inside. The bells and kettle will be there, & a sign in sheet. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. If you have any questions please call Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.

§  Boy Scouts Trailer Fundraiser: Our Boy Scout Troop has had success in the last few years with membership numbers on the rise. With this success they have out grown their frequently used trailer. As a fundraiser to purchase a larger one, they are offering their services with raking leaves this fall. They are looking for donations per each yard. If you would like to take this year off from yard duty and help out our Troop, there is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex. They will be available for raking leaves on October 13th, 20th, and 27th. If you would simply like to donate to their cause please contact Paul Aparicio @ 920-912-6009 or paac92399@yahoo.com

§  Coats for Kids: is a community service campaign. Area residents are asked to donate clean coats in good repair. We accept coats of all sizes for people of all ages, with the need being greatest for children’s coats. These coats will be distributed to Sheboygan county residents who would otherwise go without. Drop off location: Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home, 1535 S. 12 St. Sheboygan. September 4 –October 24 Monday–Friday 8:30am–4:00 pm. Distribution Location: Salvation Army, 710 Pennsylvania Ave. Sheboygan. Friday, October 26, from 9:00am–1:00pm and Thursday, November 1 from 2:00–6:00pm.



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