Warming of the Heart

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

27 February 2014

Lent begins next Wednesday, but before we get there we remember two Anglican greats on Monday the third, in the feast of John and Charles Wesley.  These two brothers were principals in the founding of Methodism, so how is it that we remember them as Anglicans?  It is because they were both priests in the Church of England, and died considering themselves to be so.  The split of Methodism from Anglicanism was not a separation intended by the any of the founders of Methodism, and happened after the death of the Wesleys.  It came about for reasons as much political as doctrinal.

Consider how the Church might be different if this split had not occurred.  In our own experiences of the differences between Methodist and Episcopalian congregations and practice in the United States, we may observe that a united Church would likely retain the liturgical grounding of Anglicanism but be enlivened by the increased emphasis on life in the Holy Spirit found in Methodism.  But note that there is no reason why the benefits of each movement and tradition cannot be enjoyed in each.  John Wesley described his own experience of conversion of heart in the following words:

About a quarter before nine, while he [Luther] was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me, from the law of sin and death.

—Journal, 24 May, 1738

This “warming of heart,” this awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in an individual life, is an experience every one of us can have when we are open to God.  In Lent we focus on those spiritual practices by which we can remove those barriers that we have erected between our own hearts and God’s presence.  Let us experience, with John Wesley, that God is very intensely personal, that we may share with Charles Wesley his words from the hymn Jesus, Lover of my Soul, “Plenteous grace with thee is found, grace to cleanse from every sin ... “

Grace Abounds:  Please thank Bob & Anne Hanlon, Mary Massey and Jane Hanson for providing coffee hour last Sunday.

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.

Changes in Worship Schedule this Week:  Fr. Karl is traveling on Fri—Sun.  We will welcome Fr. Ed Smith as celebrant on Sunday, 2 March.  In the event of a pastoral emergency please contact Dcn. Mike Burg or Dcn. Michele Whitford.

Music this week:  

Epiphany – Last Sun. after, year A

Feb. 23^rd, 2014

Prelude              Prelude on the Plainsong Hymn ‘Coelestis Gloriae’   Geoffrey Vintner

Entrance Hymn 7   “Christ, whose glory fills the skies”      Ratisbon

Offertory Anthem   Christ, whose glory fills the skies   T. Frederick H. Candlyn

 Communion Motet   Christ upon the mountain peak           Sidney H. Nicholson

            Christ upon the mountain peak

                stands alone in glory blazing;

            Let us if we dare to speak,

                with the saints and angels praise him:  Alleluia!

            This is God’s beloved Son:

                Law and prophets fade before him;

            First and Last, and only One,

                let creation now adore him.  Alleluia!

Communion Hymn 137        “O wondrous type!  O vision fair”   Wareham

Closing Hymn 122    “Alleluia, song of gladness”      alt. tune: Dulce Carmen

Postlude   Paean on ‘Divinum Mysterium’    John Cook

Parish Notices

Metropolitan Opera:  Borodin’s Prince Igor will be broadcast at the Marcus Cinema on Saturday, 1 March.  The broadcast begins at 11 a.m., and those attending from the parish plan to gather for refreshment afterward.  This opera has not been produced in the U.S. since 1917, and is now offered in a new production which has received glowing revues.  See http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/08/arts/music/a-new-vision-for-prince-igor-at-the-met.html?_r=0

We welcome The Ven. Dr. Edwin Smith: Our Celebrant and preacher on Sunday is Father Ed Smith, who is the Archdeacon of the Diocese of Fond du Lac. Father Ed is retired and attends St. Thomas, Menasha. Please welcome him to Grace.

Scout Appreciation "Pancake Breakfast": Sunday, March 2^nd after each service, please stay to savor a down home Pancake Breakfast. The Boy Scouts will supply all the know how for the event. As an added bonus, Maple Syrup will be supplied by the Drewry Farms of Plymouth. This award winning Maple Syrup is served at all the major restaurants in the area and beyond.

Simple Potluck Supper and Compline: Sunday, March 2^nd we will have our Simple Potluck Supper at 6:30pm. Come and enjoy the fellowship then stay for Compline at 8:00pm. The Schola Cantorum will be singing Compline which is the night time prayers said or sung just before retiring. It is a wonderful and peaceful way to end the day.

Shrove Tuesday Feast before the Fast: Shrove Tuesday is March 4^th we will be having a dinner following a 5:30pm Mass. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this festive occasion. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex or call the office in order to have enough food.

Ash Wednesday: March 5^th is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, it is a day of fasting and penitence. We will observe this day with Mass and Imposition of Ashes at 12:10 p.m., and Solemn Mass with Imposition of Ashes at 6:00 p.m. This is a holy day and a wonderful way to begin your Lenten observance.

Cooking on Friday Evenings in lent: If you are interested in cooking and hosting a dinner on the Fridays during Lent, please sign-up on sheets in the Narthex. Most of the Fridays are open. Thank you for your willingness to serve in this manner.

Stations of the Cross, Simple Suppers and Teaching:  Beginning on the first Friday in Lent (March 7) we will meet each Friday at 5:30 p.m. for Stations of the Cross, followed by a simple supper and Christian formation.  Our formation program this year will focus on the Stations of the Cross.  We will examine two stations every week with a short reflection and small group discussion on how we participate with Jesus on the journey to Calvary. Please sign up to attend on the sheets in the Narthex.

Second Sunday Small Groups: Next Sunday, March 9^th Small groups will meet between services at 9:00am and after the 10:15 service today. Questions will be provided to reflect on the lessons for the Day. Please meet in St. Nicholas Hall and the groups will be divided up and rooms will be assigned.

All Saints' Chapel Ownership - Sunday services at All Saints' Chapel will continue to be a shared ministry this year which means volunteers will be needed to have ownership of opening and closing the chapel. A sign-up sheet is located in the Narthex.  If you have questions regarding responsibilities, please ask any member of the Vestry.