Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
26 December 2013
[posted 12-25-2013]
We remember, this day, St. Stephen
the Protomartyr. Stephen is remembered for
his witness and martyrdom, recounted at Acts 6 & 7, and is called
“protomartyr” (which means “first witness”) for being the first person killed
for witnessing to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
In this Christmas season, looking
a little more closely at Stephen’s story reminds us of what we are called to
witness to. Stephen is brought to trial
because he is doing God’s work. This
reminds us that if what we are doing in God’s name is pleasing to the world
around us, we have to ask whether it is pleasing to God. At his trial, Stephen’s defense is to recount
the entire history of salvation, to testify to how God has acted throughout
creation to bring about His purpose, and how this purpose finds its fulfillment
in the salvation offered by and through Jesus Christ. This testimony is the testimony we must ever
be ready to give!
Stephen did not testify to people
without faith. He testified to people
who did not believe in Jesus Christ—that God has acted uniquely and universally
through Jesus Christ. We are not
surrounded by people who do not have faith, even though many profess not
to. But to be a confirmed atheist, or
materialist—or to believe “that it is all just random, that chaos is
chaos”—requires an enormous leap of faith in each case. It requires the atheist or materialist to
believe that things “just are,” without any first cause. It requires the atheist or materialist to
believe that he or she can aspire to be a “good person” in the absence of any
standard outside of him/herself. (In
other words, it requires supreme faith that “It’s all about me.”) We are called to point others to the truth
(in fact to the truth that you cannot believe anything at all to be good unless
it is measured by Truth).
Stephen was not surrounded by
people lacking faith, but many who surrounded him had faith in no more than
what they knew. They were going through
the motions of religion without having a real relationship with the living
God. We, too, know many who claim to be
religious, but do not understand that we are called to know God, and not just to give lip service to belief in Him.
Testify. Testify at all times, but particularly during
a holiday season in which people are drawn to celebration without really
knowing why. Now is the time to be as
clear as Stephen: When God came among us
and became one of us, all Creation changed.
We are saved by God’s action in Jesus Christ. There is none other.
Grace Abounds: Please thank:
§
Paul Aparicio for fixing the Ontario Avenue east
wing entrance doors. The doors were not
locking properly, and Paul has saved us hundred of dollars in effecting repair.
§
Bill & Deb Gagin, Leslie Kohler, and Mary
Snyder for service during the recent funeral provided to a member of the
community.
§
Bob and Anne Hanlon, and Steve and Katy Larson,
for the Sunday coffee hours.
§
Jim Gardner for help in snow removal this past
Sunday.
§
Nicci Beeck, Pat Ford Smith and Jessica Ambelang
for organizing and directing the childrens’ Christmas Pageant.
§
Scott Fabiano, Bernie Markevitch, Bryan Stenz
and Jon Whitford for decorating the church for Christmas!
§ Ben
Dobey and the choir for our Christmas music.
Sutton Cecil, Lindsay Fischer, and Sandie Palmer for instrumental
offerings.
Call for
Contributions: If you have a spiritual reflection to share,
or want to point your fellow worshippers toward a resource, submit your
contributions to Fr. Karl (by email) by Wednesday in the week of publication.
Episcopal Youth
Community:
Music this week:
Music for Sunday, December 29th, 2013: First Sunday after Christmas
Entrance Hymn 102 “Once in royal David’s city”
Offertory Hymn 82 “Of the Father’s love begotten”
Communion Hymn 115 “What
child is this”
Closing Hymn 100 “Joy to the world”
Parish Notices
§ Interested
in joining a local CHURCH VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE ?
Several area churches are involved in a volleyball league made up of
church members age 14 and above. Play is Sunday afternoons, 1-4 p.m., Jan 5 -
Feb 16, exclusive of Feb 2, at the Sheboygan Falls YMCA. Teams can have up to 10 players, team cost is
$100. Sign up deadline is Dec 31st. Anyone interested in playing or wanting more
information contact Ed Clabots, 762-0500 or clabots@wildblue.net.
§ Office
Closed: The office will be closed
December 26-28 and January 1-3. If you have a pastoral emergency please call
Father Karl at 889-7190 or Deacon Michele at 918-1230.
§ The
Feast of the Epiphany: We
will celebrate the Feast of Epiphany Monday, January 6th.
Parishioners and their guests are invited to Solemn Mass beginning at 6:00 p.m.
followed by a Potluck Dinner. Please sign up in the narthex or by calling the
church office at 452-9659.
§ The
Annual Financial Meeting: This
year’s Annual Meeting will take place on Sunday January 26, 2014. We will have one Mass at 9:00am followed by
the Annual Meeting held in the Nave 10:30am. The agenda of the meeting will
include, 2013 financial review and 2014 budget, election of new Vestry members,
and an overall review of the 2014 calendar. Please make every effort to attend
and participate.
§ Flower
Schedule for 2014: Giving the gift
of flowers is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to offer thanksgiving
for your blessings. If you wish to sign up for a specific Sunday, the Flower
Schedule is available on the table in the narthex. More than one person can
sign up for each Sunday.
§ End
of Year Pledge Reminder: Please
make every effort to pay the remainder of your pledge before the end of the
year. If you need to know your balance, please call the office at 452-9659. If
you want tax credit for your pledge paid in 2013, you must have the payment in
the office by Monday, December 30th. A check dated the 30th,
but arriving later cannot be counted as paid in 2013. All payments received
after the 30th will be credited in 2014. Thank you so much.
