Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
21 November 2012
Grace Notes is published one day early this week, due to the parish office being closed on 22 November, for Thanksgiving.
CHANGE IN SERVICE OF WORSHIP TIMES: In order to allow for greater participation in worship of those whose work hours conflict with the existing worship schedule, effective immediately the worship schedule in the parish is changed as follows (changes in Italics):
Sunday No changes
Monday MP 8:45 a.m. Mass 12:10 p.m. EP/Rosary 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday MP 8:45 a.m. Mass 6:00 p.m. EP 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday MP 8:45 a.m. Mass 6:00 p.m. EP 5:30 p.m.
Thursday MP 8:45 a.m. Mass 9:00 a.m. EP 5:30 p.m.
Friday MP 7:00 a.m. Mass 7:15 a.m. EP 5:30 p.m.
Saturday MP 8:45 a.m. Mass 9:00 a.m.
Office hours will be maintained as they are currently, but appointments will be restricted to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Happy Thanksgiving! In enjoying this holiday, let us never forget that all that we have to be thankful for is a blessing of God. Let us recognize God to be the Father of all mercies, knowing that we are unworthy, and yet offering humble thanks for the abundance of God’s goodness and loving‑kindness to us and to all whom He has made. Let us offer thanks and blessing for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for God’s immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. Let us pray that God may give us such an awareness of His mercies, that our hearts may be truly thankful, and that we may show forth our praise for Him, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to God’s service; to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves; walking before God in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
Most of you recognize the body of the preceding paragraph to be a close paraphrase of the General Thanksgiving used at Morning Prayer and at Evening Prayer, with a phrase interpolated from our Baptismal Covenant. This interpolation recognizes that in living into our Christian identity we must incarnate a basic reality: Worship = Praise = Thanksgiving. In coming before God to worship Him our first response is to praise Him, and in praising God we offer praise not only for His glory and love, not only for His truth, but in thanskgiving for the supreme gift that God gives us, of life, of salvation, and of blessing. When we understand this reality and conform our own identities to this reality, then we live into a new creation, a new creation of immeasurable, inestimable love.
Take time this Thanksgiving to call to mind the reverse of the equation given above. (The equation is “balanced”.) In giving thanks, offer praise and give worship, for all blessings are of God. And in doing this, bear in mind as well that this coming Sunday is the last in the Church year, the Feast of Christ the King, in which we celebrate the universal kingship of Jesus Christ. Let us gather in thanksgiving for this perfect rule.
Stewardship: Last week we celebrated the fact that we have received 14 new pledges for 2013. However, we have still not heard from a substantial number of parishioners who were not present for Consecration Sunday on 11 November. Follow-up letters have gone out, but we stlll need to hear from 20 members who pledged in 2012, but who have not indicated their intention for 2013.
Please respond immediately! Whether you intend to pledge or not, or whether your pledge amount changes, we need to know in order to put a 2013 plan together.
Tripartite Thanksgiving Service: We will celebrate and give thanks with our Tripartite Covenant Parishes tonight (Wednesday, 21 November) at 7:00 p.m. This year’s celebration will be at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 2104 Geele Ave., Sheboygan. Please plan to attend. It is important that we have the best possible representation from the parish, for at this service we will renew the covenant entered into between our congregations.
Grace Abounds: Many people merit thanksgivings for their service this past week:
Coffee hour: Bill and Debbie Gagin, John and Jennifer Keller.
Office help: Jane Hanson, Paul Aparicio, Pat Ford Smith.
Parish maintenance: Ed Clabots.
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: Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall. On 25 November we continue our nine part series on Christian ethics, with the focus this week being on bioethical issues and the human person. The entire course can be found on the parish website under “Christian Formation: Adult Education”.
Biblical Literacy: The Bible Challenge readings will be for week 39. Bible study for the Sunday lessons meets on Thursdays, following the 9 a.m. Mass. Bible study will not meet this Thursday, due to a conflict with the Thanksgiving holiday.
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.
EYC Notes:
Music this week:
Thanksgiving Day Music (Mass with Hymns at 9 a.m.)
Prelude Partita on ‘Now thank we all our God’ Jan Koetsier
Opening Hymn 290 “Come, ye thankful people, come” St. George’s
Offertory Hymn 416 “For the beauty of the earth” Lucerna Laudoniae
Closing Hymn 719 “America the beautiful” America
Postlude Now thank we all our God Bach
Sunday, Nov. 25th
Prelude Benedictus Rowley
Entrance Hymn 544 “Jesus shall reign where’er the sun” Duke Street
Offertory Hymn 483 “The head that once was crowned with thorns” St. Magnus
Communion Motet King of glory, King of peace Walker
Comm. Hymn 383 “Fairest Lord Jesus” St. Elizabeth
Closing Hymn 494 “Crown him with many crowns” Diademata
Postlude Allegro from Symphony in D Boyce
Parish Notices
§ Christmas Parade: The Sunday School Children will once again be selling snacks during the Christmas Parade today, Sunday, November 25th from 4:30-5:30pm. The proceeds of the sale will go to outreach. Come and watch the parade as it travels past Grace Church on 7th Street and enjoy some warm snacks. All children are encouraged to come and help with the sale.
§ St Nicholas’ Visitation: St. Nicholas will visit Grace Church on December 2 at the 10:15 service. Please come and receive a treat.
§ Children’s Choir: Youth and Children’s choir rehearsals for the Christmas Eve service are at 5:30-6:00pm beginning this Thursday November 29th, downstairs in the choir room. Additional rehearsals will be on December 6th, 13th and 20th these will be just before the Pageant rehearsals. The choir is open to 2nd graders and up, and will sing for the 4pm service on Christmas Eve.
§ Christmas Pageant Rehearsals: will be on Thursday, November 29th, December 6th, 13th and 20th starting at 6:00p.m. The rehearsals will begin in the church and then go downstairs for costumes. Participation is open to youth of all ages. The Pageant will take place during the 4:00 p.m. Christmas Mass. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. If your child would like to participate but cannot make rehearsals please note that on the sheet or call Annette Fabiano at 451-7098.
§ Salvation Army Gift tags: We have the tree up, and all the name tags on it, for the Salvation Army Family gifts, please take a name or two and follow the instructions on the table next to the tree. If you have any questions please call Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.
§ Messiah Sing-Along: You are invited to sing this great classic along with the Lakeshore Chorale. Sunday, December 2, 2012, 2:00 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 730 County Road PPP, Sheboygan Falls. Music Director/Conductor Paul Thompson will conduct the audience and Chorale in choruses from Part 1 of Handel’s most popular work. Eminent organist Dr. R. Benjamin Dobey will accompany the afternoon’s sing-along, and soloists from the chorale and community will sing the arias and recitatives. No tickets or reservations needed - come and sing, or join us just to listen to this delightful celebration of the Christmas season! Donations will be accepted. Guests may bring their own music, or reserve a copy ($5.00) by calling the Lakeshore Chorale office: 920-451-1863 or via email: chorale@lakeshorechorale.org
§ Advent Lessons and Carols: Advent Lessons and Carols is a beautifully sung service held December 9th, at 4:00 p.m. The service is followed by a High Tea in St. Nicholas Hall.
§ Sunday School Cookie Bake: Sunday, December 16th the Sunday School children will be baking cookies for Meals on Wheels, baking will begin after the 10:15 Mass. Pizza lunch will be provided. Please bring family and friends to help, many hands make light work. Thank you both for your time
§ Christian Ethics: The adult formation class is looking at 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.
§ Hosting the Seminarian and His Family: Please consider hosting our seminarian Ryan Delaney and his family for a Saturday evening meal or Sunday Brunch. Ryan and his lovely wife Melanie and children Brenna and Bremen 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 for dinner Saturday evening and brunch Sunday after the service.
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