Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
18 October 2012
When Jesus enjoins “Let the children come to me ...” (Mk. 10.14) He does so because people have brought children to Him. In a time when many worry over the “graying” of the Church we must ask ourselves, therefore, who is bringing children to Jesus? And once we answer (it is to be hoped) that all of us are responsible to bring children to know God, then we must ask how we do this?
This coming Sunday will be our second this Fall in which the liturgy will reflect an increased focus on children in ministry. Dcn. Michele will conduct a children’s ministry of the word in St. Nicholas Hall, following which the children will process to the front of the nave prior to our passing of the peace of God, to then stay for a brief children’s sermon and the celebration of eucharist. The “sermon” will consist of the children bringing a box in which they have placed objects for me (Fr. Karl) to remove, to then discuss how these objects that are of interest to them relate to our faith. They are not to tell me what is in the box (But no spiders!), so we’ll see how what is selected as special relates to their experience of faith.
As much as involving children in worship is vital, it begs the questions of who is bringing children to Jesus, and how. We must avoid the “Sunday School Syndrome”. Most young adults who leave the Church were formally catechized, and grew up attending Sunday School. The problem is not with Sunday School; it lies in our over-reliance on such a “system” to the exclusion of the individual responsibility of parents to lead their children in faith.
If you are a parent, consider that the average child is now exposed to over 80 hours a week of media (including television, music, computer games, computer messaging, etc.), and might receive 1 hour of instruction in Sunday School and 1 hour of worship. Regardless of how you view the content of the media to which your children are exposed, consider the fact that if you rely on what happens on Sunday alone to lead your child to Jesus, it’s not likely to happen in a way in which they become people of more than casual faith. Quite apart from the minimal exposure to faith that this at best 2 hour window allows, the subtle message a child receives from the over-reliance on Sunday School is that faith involves a program, and that faith involves consuming a service rather than an identification of self.
So, what can you do to avoid the Sunday School Syndrome? Parents must recognize that the primary role in leading their children to Jesus is theirs. Faith cannot be a Sunday-only phenomenon. Families must pray every day, for example at meals. Children can be taught and led in prayer and in Scripture, with Bible stories for the very young and a habit of scripture-reading for the older. Children can be led in a habit of how we live together in Christian community in the Church.
Parents recognize that as important as schools are, we have far more influence on the people our children become than do the schools. Let us remember that this applies all the more so in the case of Sunday School. It is a vital ministry undertaken by caring disciples, but Sunday School cannot come close to providing the instruction in faith that parents can, and must, if children are to be brought to Jesus.
Grace Abounds: Please thank Don and Mary Evans for the donation of metal shelving for the storage closet across from the elevator. The number of people who helped prepare the festival celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Walsingham this past Friday and Saturday is long, and includes at least:
- Ben Dobey and the choir for the wonderful music.
- Dcn. Michele for three extra programs, plus extended logistical support.
- The members of the Altar Guild.
- The kitchen and clean-up crew, which included at least Bernie Markevitch, Martha Shad, Barb MacEwen, Fred and Gail Tyska.
- Terry and Mary Kohler for the donation of wine served at the banquet.
- Bill May for all the extra clean-up work occasioned by the celebration.
Thanks are also due to Bill and Paula Roenitz for our new Episcopal shield, installed next to the parish sign at the corner of N. 7th and Ontario. In their Paula’s words:
Bill and I hope you enjoy the new Episcopal sign outside our church. This is the result of a team effort by Fr. Karl, who wanted some sort of a sign, by Paul Aparicio, who researched where one could be found and located the company, and by Ed Clabots, who made sure the sign was properly erected. We simply paid for it. Bill and I thank all these people for the great jobs they did in getting us this beautiful new sign that will last for a long time as it is made of a resin.
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.
HELP NEEDED: The columbarium garden needs to be weeded and trimmed. If you can help in this project, please contact Fr. Karl.
Adult Christian Education: 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 readings will be for week 34. 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, Tuesday evening pot-luck and discussion sessions are cancelled.
Music this week:
Prelude Invocation Guilmant
Entrance Hymn 477 “All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine” Engelberg
Offertory Hymn 444 “Blessed be the God of Israel” Thornbury
Communion Motet O saving Victim Plainsong
Communion Hymn 475 “God himself is with us” Tysk
Closing Hymn 655 “O Jesus, I have promised” Nyland
Postlude Prelude and Fugue in E-flat (WTC Bk. 2) Bach
Parish Notices
§ New Adult formation: Today 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.
§ BOO! You Are Invited to an All Hallows Eve Party: Thursday, October 25th from 6-8 p.m. in St. Nicholas Hall. Wear Your Costume and bring your Ghoulish Buddies, Invisible Friends & Cousin Its! Children of all ages will enjoy Food, Fun & Games. RSVP to the church office with how many people you will be bringing!
§ All Saints’ Day: We will celebrate All Saints’ Day Thursday, November 1st with a Solemn Mass at 6:00pm followed by an All Parish Potluck Dinner. Please plan to attend and sign up on the sheet in the Narthex and as you are able, plan to help with clean up. Thank you.
§ Hosting the Seminarian and His Family: Please consider hosting our seminarian Ryan Delaney and his family for a Saturday evening. Ryan and his lovely wife Melanie and children Brenna and Bemen will be staying most Saturday evenings in preparation for services on Sunday morning. This will give the parish an opportunity to get to know them and for the Delaney’s to get to know the parish. Please find a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex.
§ 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.
§ 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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