Old and New as One Covenant

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

12 September 2013

Sometimes one hears a contrast drawn between the “new covenant” in Jesus Christ and the “old covenant” between the Lord and His people, the Jews.  This year 14 September is both Holy Cross Day and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), and so it’s a good time to note that the contrast is both misleading and unhelpful in the life of the Church.

A major factor is the history of Christian antisemitism is so-called supersessionism, the idea that the Church has superseded Israel as the elect of God.  The argument employed is that Israel were not faithful to the Lord, and rejected His Messiah, and that He has therefore rejected them.  There are a number of problems with this argument (not least from the scriptural perspective, for the argument essentially ignores Romans 9-11), but let’s focus on one—on the harm this argument does to the Church, let alone the Jews.

The supersessionist argument presupposes that God rejected Israel because of their lack of faith.  What does this say about us?  If election is contingent on faithfulness, then we are lost.  Election/salvation is a free gift of God.  We don’t earn it, and if we ever believe that when we are unfaithful we have lost the love of God, then we:  (a) diminish who God is and what His grace is; (b) fall into the trap of seeking to identify ourselves as the pure, ignoring that we are called to both weep and rejoice together with all of God’s people (including those with whom we disagree).

In the calendrical overlap which has Yom Kippur and Holy Cross Day fall on the same day this year, we see the so-called “promise-plan” of God.  God promises election, and effects His plan to bring this about.  The atonement which is offered through temple sacrifice is completed once and for all in the atonement of Jesus upon the cross, and the gift of God cannot be superseded, for, as Paul says:

For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Rom. 8.38-39).

God is faithful even when we are not.  God keeps His promises.  Nothing can separate us from God—once we have been literally incorporated into Christ through Baptism—except the deliberate and knowing act of our own will.  As we remember  the supreme gift of the atonement offered for all of the people of God, let us with grateful hearts offer prayers of thanksgiving.

SCHEDULE CHANGES:  There will be no 12:10 p.m. Mass on Monday, 16 September, due to a scheduling conflict.  There aill be no Morning Prayer on Tuesday, 17 September, due to an out-of-town clergy conference.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank Jane Hanson her work this past week to prepare the mailings for the Faith Alive program.  Please thank Nicci Beeck for a wonderful coffee hour.  Please thank Pat Ford Smith for her work to prepare the children’s program for Faith Alive, and to prepare the Sunday School kick-off.

Faith Alive:  A schedule for the retreat:

TIME	Grace Parishioners	ADULTS & TEENAGERS		NURSERY
THURSDAY	24 HOUR  - Please Sign-up	PRAYER	VIGIL BEGINS at 5:00pm
FRIDAY
5:45 PM	Supper for Everyone – Meet the Faith Alive Visitors / Guests	x		4:30 PM
6:40 PM	Program in Parish Hall	x		TO
7:35 PM	Small Groups	Note 1	Children’s Activity	9:00 PM
8:45 PM	Program in Parish Hall	x
9:00 PM	ADJOURN
SATURDAY
10:00 AM	Neighborhood Coffees	Note 2		8:15 PM To
12:00 N 2:00 PM	Men’s Luncheon /Women’s Luncheon	Note 2		2:00 PM
6:00 PM	Pot Luck Dessert in Parish Hall (for all)	x
6:30 PM	Program in Parish Hall	x	Including  children's skit	4:30 PM To
7:35 PM	Small Groups	Note 1	Children’s Activity	9:00 PM
8:45 PM	Prayer Teams in Church	x
9:00 PM	ADJOURN
SUNDAY
8:00 AM	Church Service			Sunday School and Christian Education & Nursery
10:15 PM	Church Service
12:00 N	FA Team Leaves After Extended Coffee Hour	Coffee Hour and Follow-Up		As Usual
4:00 – 5:00PM	All Parish Follow-up Meeting

Note 1:  Adults will go to adult small groups, and the teens will go to their own small group

Note2:  Only adults at coffees, and luncheon.  Teens will have their own activity.  Teens should meet at the church at 10:00 AM

Episcopal Youth Community:  Film School

Starting this week and running for three weeks we will be watching the film Bruce Almighty. It features Bruce Nolan a TV news reporter who is desperate to climb the career ladder, but feels that God is letting him down. After a particularly bad day, which includes Bruce getting fired, he tells God that God is not doing his job. The next day he God grants him his power, and Bruce starts working to right the wrongs in his life, but soon realizes there's more to it than that. What would you do with God's power?

There are a couple of very short scenes, not important to the story, that will be edited out for content. If there are questions please contact me. Film school is the Sunday School program for 6-12th graders. Class begins at 9:00am.

Grace and peace,                                                                                                               ―Nick

Music this week: 

Prelude                                    Adagio in E                                                     F. Bridge

Entrance Hymn 410                “Praise, my soul, the King of heaven”            Lauda anima

Offertory Hymn 448               “O love, how deep, how broad, how high”    Deus tuorum militum

Communion Motet                  My spirit longs for thee                                    Trad. Irish

Communion Hymn 708          “Savior, like a shepherd lead us”                    Sicilian Mariners

Closing Hymn 411                  “O bless the Lord, my soul”                           St. Thomas (Williams)

Postlude                                  Voluntary on Forth in thy Name                     Dyson 

Parish Notices

§  Citizenship Celebration - Recently, Ellen Aparicio passed her citizenship test and will have her oath ceremony later this month to become a U.S. Citizen.  To celebrate her accomplishment, Paul and Andrea Aparicio will be offering an American themed lunch with a hot dog bar and apple pie after the 10:15 service on September 29th.  Please join us in celebrating with Ellen on her accomplishment.

§  It’s the start of a new program year! Sunday, September 8^th we started a new academic year here at Grace Church. The Sunday School includes 4K-5^th grade will meet at 9:00am. They will be Weaving God’s Promises throughout the year with lessons in Old Testament, New Testament and the Church Year. 6^th -12^th grade will be experiencing Film School, where they will engage in film with a focus on living into Gods will in everyday life. The Youth Group will be meeting Sunday evenings from 5-7pm and will be practicing all aspects of Discipleship. The Sunday morning adult class will be looking studying the book of Romans led by Fr. Schaffenburg. Catechumenate will begin Monday, September 30 at 6:00pm. If you are interested in Catechumenate there is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex.

§  Faith Alive is coming to Grace!  September 20-22, 2013

I prayed that the Lord would use the Weekend to begin a time of spiritual renewal in the parish. The result was far beyond what I had hoped. Nearly every person who attended the Weekend recommitted his or her life to Christ at the Sunday worship. Most have spoken of experiencing a needed spiritual renewal in their lives. I believe that this Weekend marks a turning point in the spiritual growth of this congregation. 

·         Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, LaBelle, Florida

§  "Conversations in the Kitchen" Have you ever heard the phrase, "Please don't make a decision about me, without me." Well, no worries about that...we WANT your input! After the 10:15 Mass on September 15th, we invite you to grab a cup of coffee and settle in for "Conversations in the Kitchen"; A brief, yet lively informational sharing about all things Grace's kitchen. Together, we'll brainstorm how to keep our kitchen user-friendly for all, learn how things work/where things go and share in an entertaining demonstration of cross-contamination and proper handwashing.  (Hint: Get ready to sing your ABC's) Everyone is welcome-your expertise, ideas, requests, concerns and inquiries are valued!   

§  A Day of Healing: On September 14, 2013, A Day of Healing is a spiritual and instructional journey that consists of teaching and worship for people of all denominations, especially for those who seek to carry on the healing ministry of Jesus in their local communities. The sessions are led by Rev. Paul Feider who is nationally known for his work in spiritual direction, healing prayer and scripture study.  Topics for the day include: Healing in the Gospels and through history; Dealing with Bitter Roots and Inner Vows, Healing our Image of God; Healing Self-esteem; Healing Intimacy in Relationships. Arrival and registration is at 8:45am and the teachings beginning at 9:00 am and finishing at 4:00 pm.  This is held in St John’s Church and Center for Inner Peace at 1513 Pinewood Lane in New London, WI.  Lunch is provides along with coffee and snacks.

§  The second Day on November 2 will address:  Healing Miscarriage; Dealing with Evil; Healing Depression; Healing the Dying; Healing Marriage and Wounds of Divorce.

§  Bishop Search: For all information concerning the search for the eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac please go to bishopsearch.info.  Full biographies of the candidates are now available.  Printed copies are available at the parish office.