Coworkers

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

15 May 2014

The apostle Paul is credited with up to thirteen letters in the New Testament, but there is a general scholarly consensus that he actually wrote seven of these letters, with the rest being written in his name by disciples.  This practice of pseudonymous writing was a high form of praise in Paul’s time, and there is no doubt that even the six letters which may have been written by other hands reflect the thinking and faith of Paul because they were written by his fellow believers and “coworkers”.

It’s that word—coworkers—that I want to focus on.  Paul uses (just in the letters of undisputed authorship) nine different words to refer to his co-workers in Christ.  Paul calls them “brother” (nowadays we would include “sister”), “apostle,” “minister,” “fellow slave,” “partner,” “toiler,” “[fellow] soldier,” “[fellow] prisoner,” and just “coworker”.  Each of these words has a specific meaning but they each also connote common purpose in ministry and common identity in each other in Jesus Christ.  Purpose and identity are not separable in being and serving as a Christian.

We are used to identifying ourselves as Christians, and we are used to the understanding of identity as one which involves belief.  But sometimes we need to remind ourselves that our identity is inextricably bound with our purpose for being—with knowing, and loving, and serving God and each other in Christ.

We may hope to always recognize and call each other as brother or sister and in Christ, while recognizing the common brotherhood of all humans beings in what and who God has each created in His own image and likeness.  We must claim, as well, our apostleship (our status as those who bear a message).  We must claim our identity in ministries, and in recognizing that as we serve and work and suffer together we do this together, in fellowship.  Just as Paul’s coworkers could testify to the same faith, writing in his name, may we testify to our common faith in and by our life together.  To God be the sole glory!

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§   Fr. John Ambelang for the Sunday coffee hour.

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.

Book Review:  Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christ

This was a book whose title was so provocative I had to read it.

The author, Nabeel Qureshi, an American-Pakistani raised in an immigrant Muslim family spent his early life attempting to lead his friends to Islam as he was taught & encouraged by his parents.  When he went away to university through the debate team he met David Wood, a devout Christian, who becomes his best friend.  Both of them graduated in three years & were in the top six of their class. 

As they began to spar over their beliefs, Nabeel challenged David with the Koranic claims that God isn't a father, he has no son, and that Jesus didn’t die on a cross.  Furthermore while Jesus was a great prophet in time his message was so corrupted Muhammad was sent to correct the errors - Christians had even blasphemed by making Jesus into a god. He also questioned the validity of the Trinity (the belief of one God in three persons) and the Atonement (the belief that Jesus’ death somehow brings forgiveness).

There were two things about Islam that Nabeel eventually had to defend: if Jesus was as Christians claimed could Muhammad be a prophet of God?   There’s the Shahada, the identifying mark of the Muslim: “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet.”  The second being the Koran is a divinely inspired book.  As such the Koran had been directly delivered to Muhammad & nothing had been added or subtracted from the text.

As Nabeel went back to Islamic primary sources to affirm his beliefs to his horror he discovered he’d been taught a filtered version of history.  Still he didn’t want become Christian or to hurt his family.  At last he asked to be shown the truth through dreams.  He received a dream but it wasn’t enough; he asked for a second & a third; finally there was no doubt in his mind; Jesus was confirming all he’d fought so hard against. 

This is an intense & instructive book available in both electronic & book form.  If interested, you might want to check out further reviews on Amazon.com.  (Fr. John Ambelang)

Note:  Fr. Ambelang will lead adult education on Sunday, 25 May, with a focus on the growth of responses to Jesus Christ in the Islamic world.

Youth News

Diocesan Summer Camp

Calling all parents and students and people who love parents and students!

It's time to sign up for summer camp! As I've said before this is the best program our Diocese does for the youth.

Go to www.diofdl.org/camp to register.

Kinder Camp - June 12-14 - for campers ages 4-7 and an adult family member

Senior Camp - June 15-21 - for campers who have completed grades 9-12

Middler & Junior Camp - June 22-26 - for campers who have completed grades 6-8 and 2-5

We'll see you there!

Music this week:  

Prelude             Chorale Variations on Lord Jesus Christ, be present now        Walther

Entrance Hymn 525      “The Church’s one foundation”                                     Aurelia

Mass setting                                                                                                                 Mathias

Offertory Hymn 523     “Glorious things of thee are spoken”                              Abbott’s Leigh

Communion Motet        The Call                                                                 Vaughan Williams

Comm. Hymn 488        “Be thou my vision”                                                                  Slane

Closing Hymn 457        “Thou art the Way, to thee alone”                                           St. James

Postlude                       Toccata in A                                                                             Kuhnau

Parish Notices

§  Christian Formation Schedule for May:

o   18 May: Biblical Reflections:  Meditations/reflections will be offered on the Sunday lessons for all Sundays in May, as prepared by Mary Massey, Jane Hanson, Mary Snyder and Connie Schneider, for use in small group discussions. The meeting will be facilitated by Dcn. Michele Whitford.

o   25 May: Fr. Ambelang will lead adult education on Sunday, with a discussion of the book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christ with a focus on the growth of responses to Jesus Christ in the Islamic world.

§  First Communion Instruction: All those who are ready to receive their First Communion are invited to First Communion classes that will be held at Grace Church, in the Sunday School room, Thursday May 22, June 5 and June 12. We will meet at 4:00pm for an hour. Each participant will receive a book entitled This Bread & This Cup. The instructors will be Pat Ford Smith and Nicci Beeck. We will celebrate with First Communion class on Trinity Sunday, June 15, 2014 at the 10:15 service. If you have any questions please call the office or one of the instructors.

§  The Society of Mary, American Region: Grace Church will host the American Region of the Society of Mary May 23, 2014 at 3:00pm. Our time will begin with devotions followed by High Tea in St. Nicholas Hall. All are welcome to come and pray and enjoy the fellowship.

§  Meet the Gunters: Please join us at one of the following informal events to get to know Bishop Matt and Leslie. It is an opportunity for you to engage in conversation with the Gunters in order to get to know them a little better and for them to get to know you and your congregation better. Beverages and light snacks will be served.

o   Saturday  May 31 - Trinity Oshkosh  1-3pm

o   Sunday  June 1 - Intercession Stevens Point  3-5pm with Evensong at 5

o   Saturday  June 7 – Holy Nativity Jacksonport 10-12noon (Please note change of location)

o   Sunday  June 8 -  St. James  Manitowoc 1-4pm

o   Saturday   June 21 -  St. Augustine Rhinelander 2-5pm

o   Sunday  June 22 - St. Paul's  Suamico 1-3pm

We look forward to seeing you!

§  Summer Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12^th graders. Camp is an opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community, about themselves and have fun! If you have questions about what camp is like please call Michele at the office. Scholarships are available.

o   Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 15 (Sun 3pm) – June 21 (Sat 12noon)

o   Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 22 (Sun 3pm) – June 26 (Thu 4pm)

o   Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 22 (Sun 3pm) – June 26 (Thu 4pm)

o   KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 12 (Thu 5pm) – June 14 (Sat 11:30am) There are application forms on the Narthex table.

§  Stay Connected! There are many ways to stay connected and find all the latest announcements. Grace Church can be found by “liking” us on Facebook. You can also sign up for the Grace Notes blog at http://gracechurchgracenotes.blogspot.com/ on the right hand side there is a place to sign up and receive the blog by email. You can find the Grace Church website at www.gracesheboygan.com. At the end of each bulletin there is QR code that you can scan with your smart phone and it will take you directly to the website. If you have an email address you can receive the Angelus electronically and save the church some printing and postage costs as well as receive any gentle reminders that may pop up between Angelus publications. If you have questions about any of these things please call the office.

§  Eucharistic Festival: Plan to attend the 55th Annual Diocesan Eucharistic Festival at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 28th, at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. The Homilist will be the Rt. Rev. Matthew A. Gunter, Eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac. Picnic to follow.