Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
11 September 2014
Poured out. On the cross Jesus poured out His lifeblood
in atonement for the sins of the world. This
reality leapt into the forefront of my consciousness when at last Sunday’s Mass
in Deland Park I placed the chalice back on the table serving as an altar. The table was of a very different height from
our altars in the parish, and in placing the chalice down I hit the edge of the
ciborium (the bowl-like container containing the hosts) and spilled the
consecrated hosts—Jesus’ Body—onto the ground.
What happened? Something happened
not intended by me or by the altar party (who, as ever, reacted as pro’s, and
simply helped in picking up all of the hosts).
But it strikes me that maybe God intended this “mishap”. Maybe in leading us to be out in the world,
celebrating the Mass before both our own people and guests and strangers, God
was showing how He is poured out into the world. (Thanks for the grace that we can pick up
hosts, rather than react to the spilling of the chalice!)
In the gospel lesson last Sunday,
Jesus spoke of the circumstance under which a member of the Church is to be
treated “as a Gentile and a tax collector”.
But we must notice what Jesus does with Gentiles and tax
collectors. He shares in fellowship with
them. He reaches out to them. At the Mass in the Grass I met people who are
strangers to the Church, “Gentiles”.
There are doubtless things we disagree about, but we shared in
fellowship with them, and together we experienced Jesus being poured out into
the world. In fact, one of our visitors
expressed a reservation about “organized religion” as involving “people who
think they are better”. What did this
person see? The celebrant at the Mass
“messed up” at the altar. How did this
person react? Maybe s/he saw that God
uses very imperfect people to accomplish His will.
God will use us to make Himself
manifest. He will use us in unexpected
ways, including ways that might look to us like a mishap. He will use us despite our failings, for it
is God who will equip us for the ministries to which He calls us. None of us is “good enough” to do God’s will,
but by His will we are clothed with His merit that His purpose may be made
good.
Grace Abounds: Wow!
The Mass in the Grass was a huge success thanks to many blessings from
Our Lord and the efforts in ministry of those who serve Him and work to make
Him known to all. Please thank:
§
Hiccup the Clown (Pat Ford
Smith) for her service entertaining the children.
§
Paul Aparicio for serving
as crucifer/acolyte.
§
Scot Fabiano for serving a
thurifer.
§
Jon Whitford, for serving
as a “runner” in set-up and take-down.
§
Nick Whitford for providing
music.
§
Bernie Markevitch for
preparing the salads.
§
The members of the Picnic
Committee: The idea for a parish-wide
picnic enjoyed in the context of the celebration of Holy Eucharist originated
with Barbara Knauf, who worked tirelessly in organization and execution. Kudos to Barbara for vision, generosity, and
hard work. In addition to her efforts
the rest of the committee was busy with sourcing and preparing food, set-up,
clean-up, promotion, etc. Members
include:
―
John Davis; Bev Evans; Bill
& Deb Gagin; Steve & Mary Gallimore; Bob & Ann Hanlon; Bob &
Debbie Imig; Steve Larson; Bob & Barb MacEwen; Susan McIntosh; Kevan and
Traci Revis; Tom Wright; Nancy Yurk.
―
Plus all those who stayed
and cleaned even though they were not members of the committee!
Ø
Please thank Terry Kohler
for the donation of a beverage cooler to the parish.
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.
Parish
Discernment: Bobbi (Roberta) Kraft has completed the
diocesan “Circles of Light” process to discern whether she is called to further
ministry, and of what kind. The result
of this process is that she has been identified to have a vocation to
ordination to the priesthood. Pursuant
to diocesan procedure, the parish will now form a committee to engage in a
formal discernment process with Bobbi.
Recommendations from this process (and a Vestry vote) will be made to
the diocesan Commission on Ministry (COM) in December, for a review by the COM,
the bishop, and the Standing Committee of the diocese in January 2015. If the diocese approves Bobbi advancing in
the ordination process, she will begin seminary training in August 2015.
Two members of the committee will be from outside the parish (per COM procedure)—one (Helen Seubert) from St. Peter’s, Sheboygan Falls,
and one (Sandy Sparks) from St. Mark’s, Waupaca. Three members of the parish will serve on the
committee, which will be lay-led. Tom
Wright will facilitate committee meetings.
Ed Clabots and Jane Hanson will serve on the committee with him.
Youth and Family updates: Film School, Now
Playing: Waste Land (2010) Sept. 14, 21, 28.
Outside Rio de Janeiro is the largest landfill in the world which
services approximately 70% of Rio itself and nearly all of the suburbs nearby.
This landfill has 2500+ people, who sometimes live there five or more nights
per week. These people pick through the garbage pulling out recyclable
materials to re-sell. This is how they make their living. This is their life.
They are the outcasts, the forgotten, the people who aren't acknowledged by
normal society. They are the poorest people, and yet they survive. They find
purpose. There is beauty in their life, it's just not always obvious where to
find it.
In film school, we will be watching this documentary and learning what
Jesus through the Bible teaches us about how we should treat the poor, the
outcast, the forgotten, the untouchables so that we might live more fully in
the way God calls us to live and treat our neighbors.
Please join us at 9:00 am in the youth room, on the lower level for
this series. As we use the stories we tell through film and experience,
to help us understand, and live into the stories God tells; through us,
and through his word. All 6-12th graders are welcome, as well as any parents
who wish to see what this is all about.
The winter semester films have been picked and scheduled, you can find
full details from myself or at the youth room. Waste Land is currently
streaming on NetFlix if you wish to preview the documentary as well.
Youth Group: The youth group will reconvene their weekly
meetings this Sunday from 5-7 PM, and as always, dinner will be served. This
week we will be meeting at my house 2620 N. 9th St. This year we will be
particularly focused on practicing our faith through outreach, study, and
fun!
Our first meeting will involve baking cookies and putting together
care-packages for those of us who are away (or near) at college! All 9-12th
graders are welcome, and encouraged to invite their friends to join us.
Family Events: In the last month we have spent a lot of time
discussing what we are called to do as a parish in terms of youth and family
ministry. Soon we hope to start adding things to our calendar that meet the
needs and desires of the parish, in order to have events that we can all join
in on together. In the past, for example, we have had several family game
nights where anyone can come and join in, or start a game to play together as a
church family. These have been very fun, and well attended. We want to bring
more of what we want and need to the parish, and less of what we don't want. If
you have any ideas please give them to me, Bobbi Kraft, Paul Aparicio, Deacon
Michele, or Fr. Karl.
Thank you and God bless,
Nick Whitford
Director of Youth and Family
Music this week: Proper 19A
Prelude Chorale Preludes on Lord Jesus Christ, be present now
J. S. Bach
Entrance Hymn 377 “All
people that on earth do dwell” Old 100th
Mass Setting Deutsche Messe Franz Schubert, arr. Proulx
Offertory Anthem O how amiable are thy dwellings Ralph Vaughan Williams
Communion Motet God be in my head Philip Wilby
Comm. Hymn 593 “Lord,
make us servants of your peace” Dickinson College
Closing Hymn 473 “Lift
high the Cross” Crucifer
Postlude Trumpet Tune in C David N. Johnson
Parish Notices
§ Sunday School Begins! YAY, it’s time for Sunday School! The teachers have missed
those familiar faces and are looking forward to some new ones, too. Registration
paperwork, classroom lesson schedules, Christmas pageant practice schedules,
Operation Christmas Child information and snack ideas will be on hand.
Grace offers classes for children of all ages at 9 am on Sundays:
―4-k through 2nd Grade with Mrs. Pat (Ford-smith) and Ms.
MaryAnn (Portz)
―3rd through 5th Grade with Mrs. Nicci
(Beeck) and
―6th-12th with Mr. Nick (Whitford)
If you don’t have children to register, how about your
grandkids? How about your neighbors’ kids or grandkids? Help us teach
the little children how much Jesus loves them, by bringing them to Grace’s
Sunday School!
§ Adult Formation Begins! Second Sunday (beginning on 14 September) will feature discussions
centered a series of short films in the BASIC series: — Trends come and go in our culture and the Church sometimes seems to follow. BASIC is a seven-part
series of short films that challenges us to reclaim the Church as Scripture describes her to be. This series speaks to those who have questions
about the Church and to those
who may have lost interest in the Church. Each Sunday we will watch one
of the seven short films followed by a time of group discussion facilitated by
Bobbi Kraft. The seven films are: Fear God, Follow Jesus, Holy Spirit,
Fellowship, Teaching, Prayer, and Communion. Please join us. (This is also an ideal series to invite friends who have no church but who
are open to explore faith.)
§ New Time for Men’s Breakfast: The new default day and time for men’s breakfast will be Tuesdays at 7
a.m., Fountain Park Restaurant. This is open to all men to gather for a
bite of breakfast and conversation before the day begins.
§ Coats for Kids:
is a community service campaign. Area residents are asked to donate clean coats
in good repair. We accept coats of all sizes for people of all ages, with the
need being greatest for children’s coats. These coats will be distributed to
Sheboygan county residents who would otherwise go without. Drop off
location: Reinbold-Novak Funeral
Home, 1535 S. 12 St. Sheboygan. September 2 –October 3 Monday–Friday 8:30am–4:00
pm. Distribution Location: Salvation Army, 710 Pennsylvania Ave. Sheboygan. Tuesday, October 7th,
from 9:00am–1:00pm and Thursday, October 9th from 2:00–6:00pm.
§ Walsingham Pilgrimage Music and Flowers: The Walsingham Pilgrimage is just around the
corner and preparations are being made. We will have a quiet day with
meditations at 12:00 and 3:00pm concluding with Solemn Evensong at 6:00pm on
Friday, October 10th. The meditations will be led by Mother Miriam,
CSM, Superior of the Eastern Province of The Community of St. Mary. On
Saturday, October 11th the Rt. Rev. Matthew A. Gunter, eighth Bishop
of Fond du Lac, will celebrate at the Procession and Solemn Pontifical Mass at
10:30am. Mother Miriam, CSM, will preach. Music will include the Gaudete Brass
again this year. As you are able, please donate so we can once again offer
beautiful music that has become so much a part of the pilgrimage and the
flowers that add so much to the beauty of holiness. Please make you check out
to Grace Church with Walsingham music or flowers or both in the memo. Reservations
are required for lunch at a cost of $15 per person and will be served at noon
on Saturday. Thank you.
§ SCIO – Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization: We have been a member of SCIO for many
years. We have donated time and money for the outreach to the community,
especially for women and children. There
is a sign up sheet on the table in the Narthex to receive the newsletter which
will give many ideas about how to help. If you have questions please talk to
Mary Ann Neuses.
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