"Penmanship"

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

5 June 2014

In an article found in The New York Times is discussed the idea that teaching children cursive writing—as opposed to teaching them only to print and to type—changes how they form thoughts and ideas.  Cursive writing is not included in the Common Core Curriculum for schools.  The article (found here:  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/science/whats-lost-as-handwriting-fades.html?hpw&rref=science) is thought-provoking in itself, but consider how the model it discusses (of the formation of neural pathways in the brain) applies in the life of faith.  Faith may be understood to involve both trust (in God) and mental assent (to specific statements of belief).  Religion (from the Latin re ligio, “that which binds again”), on the other hand, is the practice of faith; it is the establishment of pathways (neural and otherwise) in our being to allow us to experience faith, to experience and trust in the personal presence of God, and to understand our experience of God for how it both reveals who He is and what His will is for us.

“Pathways” also involve pattern recognition; they involve how we classify and make sense out of reality.  On this date we remember St. Boniface (d. 754), the English monk who was the apostle to the Germans.  Boniface was martyred, hacked to death after he felled the oak which the Germanic tribes held to be sacred to the pagan god Odin.  His witness caused change in the pattern of how the Germans understood reality.  His witness began a process by which pattern recognition evolved from one in which a distant and vengeful god brooded in nature to the true one in which the self-giving of God is revealed in that supreme pattern, the Cross.

How we understand and experience reality is determined in large part by what we do.  When we practice our faith, our faith grows, and we imprint a new pattern on those around us.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  Danie Wilson, Crawford and Pat Ford Smith, Terry and Mary Kohler,  and Bryan Stenz for the Sunday coffee hours.

§  Pat Ford Smith, Terry and Mary Kohler, Bob and Barb MacEwen, Jack Britton, Jennifer Pawlus, and Polly Beebe the reception for The Society of Mary this past Friday.

§  Jane Hanson for help in the office.

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.

In Search Of: 

§  Jon Whitford is currently working on some updates to the website.  There have been requests to make the sight "friendlier" for those viewing via mobile devices.  There have also been ideas tossed around for mobile apps.  In light of these requests, we are currently "in search of" ideas, suggestions, wishes, dreams and those who'd like to participate.  We're looking to schedule a meeting for discussion of such...please let it be known if you'd like to attend.

§  We also are "in search of" those who can help get the "online store" up and running for the website. Do you have an eye for details? OR Do you have a gift for writing?  OR Do you have a mind for retail? OR Do you have time to photograph the items for the store?  If so, we have multiple tasks that need to take place before the items can be placed in the online store.  The tasks can be done by multiple people, each offering up their individual gifts of service.

o   As usual, please let Father Karl or Deacon Michele or any Vestry member know if you can help. Thank you for offering your gifts into service for His Kingdom.

§  Do you know a thing or two about selling items on Ebay?  We are “in search of” those who may know a thing or two about Ebay.  An idea has been raised that would allow parishioners to donate items that could be sold for the benefit of the parish on Ebay.  It would be nice to get some guidance from those who have already sold items on Ebay.  The church now has a PayPal account that can accept payments and donations.  We also have members with items they’d be willing to donate.  If you know a thing or two about selling on Ebay, please let us know.

o   Update:  For details on what is envisioned for this ministry, please contact Fr. Karl.

Episcopal Youth Community:  Recharging the Batteries Physically and Spiritually

Vacation can be a very good thing for a person. A chance to get away, break out of the normal routine, have a little extra rest and relaxation, and maybe (just maybe) get some extra sleep.

This is in direct contrast to the other type of vacation I'm going to have. In a couple of weeks I will be at Senior Camp, and there I will have what might be the best week of my year. I will come back from that week, exhausted, but in a good way. Spending time with God and godly people, in an effort to follow our Savior more closely.

As I've said before, camp is the best thing we do, and it's through the dedication of the staff, the willingness of the campers, the grace of God, and the presence of the Holy Spirit that we can do the things we do there. 

We are a community, sometimes it takes a day or two before it gels, or as has happened in the past it happens on night one. This community is a place of trust, patience, kindness, good works, and love. We listen to each other, care, pray, fight for and lift up each other; both during camp, and afterwards. I have friends from camp that I speak with regularly, and I have friends from camp whom I could call on even if we have been years apart, because we have a closeness, and an understanding of each other.

I encourage all youth to go to camp, in fact you can still sign up now! It cannot be said enough times that this is the best thing we do. If there is a question about fees please let someone in the church office know. All of the information is at the link below.

www.diofdl.org/camp

Please come to camp with us.                   ―Nick

Music this week:  Pentecost

Prelude                                    Prelude on ‘Down Ampney’                                              B. Dobey

Entrance Hymn 225                “Hail thee, festival day”                                            Salve festa dies

Mass setting                            Deutsche Messe                                                                F. Schubert

Sequence Hymn 504               “Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire”           Veni Creator Spiritus

Offertory Hymn 509               “Spirit divine, attend our prayers”                              Nun danket all

Communion Motet                  Come, Holy Ghost                                                           O. Gibbons

Communion Hymn 508          “Breathe on me, breath of God”                                         Nova vita

Postlude                                  Chorale Prelude on Come, Holy Ghost, Lord God             J. S. Bach

Parish Notices

§  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.

§  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.

• Sunday  June 8 -  St. James  Manitowoc 1-4pm
• Saturday   June 21 -  St. Augustine Rhinelander 2-5pm
• Sunday  June 22 - St. Paul's  Suamico 1-3pm
• We look forward to seeing you!

§  Summer Camp: It is not too late to sign up!!! 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.

• Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 15 (Sun 3pm) – June 21 (Sat 12noon)
• Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 22 (Sun 3pm) – June 26 (Thu 4pm)
• Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 22 (Sun 3pm) – June 26 (Thu 4pm)
• 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 questions about any of these things please call the office.

§  The Sixth Annual “Good Stock” Music Festival: will be held on Saturday, June 21st at the Fountain Park band shell in downtown Sheboygan. Music featuring praise bands from all over Sheboygan County, a kid's activity area and good food will all begin at 11:00 am and run until 8:30pm. Admission is free. For more information visit ourwebsite at www.goodstocksheboygancounty.com

§  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.