Star of Wonder

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

2 January 2014

We remain in the season of Christmas.  Today is the 10^th day, not the 11^th, because the calculation of a day in the Church comes from Jewish practice, under which the day begins at sundown.  Christmas began, therefore, at sundown on the 24^th of December.  Christmas will end on Twelfth Night (evening of 5 January).  On Sunday, we will celebrate the second Sunday after Christmas Day, and then prepare for the Feast of the Epiphany, which falls on the 6^th.

The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek verb for “to make manifest; to reveal,” and recalls how the Messiah was revealed to all the world (personified in the three magi).  The revelation included the reality that the Messiah is the anointed One not only of Israel, but of all humanity.

In the epiphany story we can see two contrasting ways of looking at reality.  There is that of Herod, who seeks to have his own plan and will confirmed.  He looks to himself to define what is important.  And then there are the magi, who look outside of themselves.  In observing and following the star they are open to how God reveals Himself and His plan.

In our own day how we look upon the Star of Bethlehem?  We would doubtless observe and measure its presence, and be informed by the learned that it was a particular type of star, or supernova, or alignment, and how they would seek to explain its course.  But would we look upon this new and extraordinary feature in the heavens as a sign, as revealing anything?  If we were to be able to explain the mechanics of the star, would we understand it to be pointing to anything other than itself?

Ask yourself the question of how you would respond to the star.  Would it have to be explained in terms that would confirm your own view of reality, or would you be open to the fact that you might be being pointed to a reality you did not yet know?  In this season when we celebrate that God became one of us, let our hearts and minds ever be open to the reality that in Jesus Christ reality is revealed as far more and far richer than all that we can imagine, let alone measure.  When Jesus says, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21.5), may our hearts be so open to His truth that we may respond to His revelation.  Let our spiritual gaze turn to the new reality to which He points us, and may we follow Him as our true Star.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  John and Jennifer Keller for a wonderful coffee hour, and for the reception following the baptisms this past Sunday.

§  Elizabeth Schaffenburg for shoveling snow.

§  Dcn. Michele Whitford for all of her extra work in the preparation of holiday, baptismal  and funeral liturgies.

§  Brian Heck and Dcn. Michele Whitford for their extra work in reconciling the year-end financial statements for the parish.

§  Bev Evans and Nancy Yurk for serving as ushers at the 30 December funeral.

§  Dee Crouse, Annette Fabiano, Isabella Fabiano, Noah Fabiano, Scott Fabiano, Bobbi Kraft and Kaleigh Kraft for serving the altar at the 30 December funeral.

§  Pat Ford Smith for helping in funeral hospitality.

§  Ben Dobey and the choir for serving at the 30 December funeral.

§  Sherry Smies for working over the holiday break to complete the January newsletter!

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.

Music this week:

Music for Sunday, January 5th, 2014, Second Sunday after Christmas

Entrance Hymn 94                  “While shepherds watched their flocks by night”

Offertory Hymn 110               “The snow lay on the ground”

Communion Hymn 112          “In the bleak midwinter”

Closing Hymn 87                    “Hark! the herald angels sing”

Epiphany, January 6^th, 2014

Prelude                                    How brightly shines the Morning Star            Pachelbel and Bach

Entrance Hymn 109                “The first Nowell”

Offertory Hymn128                “We three kings”

Communion Motet                  Saw you never in the twilight                          French carol,

harm. Wood

Communion Hymn 127          “Earth has many a noble city”

Closing Hymn 117                  “Brightest and best of the sons of the morning”

Postlude                                  How brightly shines the Morning Star            Reger  

Thank you from Shirley Kade:  I was very pleased with all the gifts I received from you people at Grace. The cookies and cake are very delicious. The flowers are just beautiful. How lucky can I get?

Thank you very much,

Shirley Kade (Recovering stroke patient)

Parish Notices

§  Office Closed: The office will be closed January 1-3. If you have a pastoral emergency please call Father Karl at 889-7190 or Deacon Michele at 918-1230.

§  Society of Mary:  The Society will gather for corporate Rosary on Monday, 6 January, at 5 p.m., followed by a 5:30 Society meeting, and the 6 p.m. Mass for the Epiphany of our Lord.

§  Galatians Study: Grab a cup of coffee and join us in the small conference room this morning to study Galatians following the 10:15 service.

§  The Feast of the Epiphany: We will celebrate the Feast of Epiphany on Monday, January 6^th. Parishioners and their guests are invited to Solemn Mass beginning at 6:00 p.m. followed by an all Parish Potluck Dinner. Please sign up in the narthex or by calling the church office at 452-9659.

§  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.

§  Coffee Hour Schedule: There is a new sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour in 2014. If you would like to host please sign up for either 8:00am or 10:15am. We are in need of someone to oversee the schedule and be the point person for questions. If you would be able to spend a few minutes a week double checking the sign-up sheet and giving reminders or if you have questions please see Deacon Michele or Bobbi Kraft. Thank you so much.

§  Small Groups: Next week, the second Sunday, January 12, the adult education hour (9 to 10 a.m.) is designated for sharing groups.  This is an opportunity to meet with fellow parishioners, to discuss issues of faith and life.  Please come and share!

§  The Annual 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.  We plan to have an all parish pot-luck lunch in St. Nicholas Hall at the conclusion of the meeting.  The agenda of the meeting will include committee reports, new Vestry and Warden elections, 2013 financial review and 2014 budget, review Vestry actions, and an overall review of the 2014 calendar. Please make every effort to attend and participate.

§  All Parish Potluck Lunch: Following the Financial Meeting we will have and All Parish Potluck Lunch. Please bring a dish to pass and share in fellowship. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex.