Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
20 November 2014
Six years ago on this date, the
Dow Jones Industrial Average reached its lowest level in the twenty-first
century. Stock market values are now at
all time highs, with the reasons offered for this being as numerous as opinions
on what is and is not “good taste”.
Fundamental to any investment, however, is that the investor has
confidenec in what he or she is investing in.
We invest value in things because we believe them to be valuable and/or
to have potential for greater value.
The English word “worship” finds
it origins in the Anglo Saxon weorscipe, which means to offer devotion
to and invest value in something. We
come before God and offer what? We offer
ourselves. In the words of the Holy
Eucharist Rite I (at BCP 336) “... we offer and present unto thee, O
Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living
sacrifice unto thee ...” An offering of
self must involve sacrifice. It must
involve the sacrifice that I recognize that it is God’s will which must
prevail, not mine. My own will I invest
in God’s, by giving up my will to His.
As we approach this Sunday’s end
of the Church year, the Feast of Christ the King, may we each so “invest value”
in God’s reign that as we soon enter the season of Advent it will be as those
who look to our Lord’s coming because He reigns in our hearts already.
Grace abounds: Please thank:
§
Scott Lubbers for the
Sunday coffee hour.
§
Paul Aparicio and Scott
Lubbers for substituting as servers at the altar.
§
Supplies for The
Happening: Fr. James Barlow, Nicci
Beeck, Mary Clabots, Barb Drewry-Zimmerman, Katy Larson, Elizabeth
Schaffenburg, Pat Ford Smith, Mary Snyder, Emily Williams.
§
Jail ministry items and
preparation: Paul Aparicio, Jim Gardner,
Mary Snyder, Kathy Wiegand (a friend), Jeremy Williams.
§
Nicci Beeck, Pat Ford
Smith, and MaryAnn Portz, together with all of the Sunday School children, for
packing the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.
Episcofacts: Why do we use incense? Why do some people make the sign of the Cross
at specific times in the Mass? Do we
call it Mass or Holy Eucharist? These
are examples of questions many people have, particularly in a church in which
many people did not grow up as Episcopalians.
Questions can relate to the “wy or the origin of a practice, about
doctrinal statements, etc. Staring this
Sunday, at announcements we have focus on one brief discussion of an
“Episcofact,” as a way to better understand our common identity, and the broad
range within this identity. This Sunday,
we will begin with the sign of the Cross.
If you want to suggest topics or questions, please let Fr. Karl know.
Youth Events: Happening Blessing and Future Events
This past weekend the Diocese held
Happening #68, with several of our very own in attendance. Kaleigh K.
was our Rector (weekend leader), with Bobbi K. as Observing Lay Director ready
to take over for the next Happening in March, Dcn. Michele W. was Spiritual
Director, Jon W. as a Dad, and Nick W. as Musician. We were very blessed on the
weekend, and want to thank everyone who prayed for us, and came to the closing
Eucharist.
In the next few weeks there are a
couple of diocesan events for the youth. This week, Sunday Nov. 23rd, is Terminator
Night at St. Thomas, Menasha. Terminator Night is a fun night to play a
game. have a meal, and fantastic fellowship with other youth from the Diocese.
9-12th graders start with dinner at 6:30 and play until 8:30 pm. Those
interested must meet at Grace at 5:00pm to travel, and won't get back until
nearly 10 pm. It's one of the craziest games we do all year. We will reach out
to the other youth groups to offer rides for this event.
Sunday Nov. 30 is both Advent 1
and the Sheboygan Holiday Parade. We will again be selling warm goodies
to parade-goers. In years past we have sold hot popcorn, hot dogs, warm apple
crisp, hot chocolate, coffee, and brownies. This is a great way to warm up on a
cold night, and to jump into the Advent season in anticipation of Christmas! We
are looking for volunteers to help setup and tear-down, and to serve food to
our customers.The parade starts at 5:00 pm and usually last about an hour.
Please stop by and enjoy all of the goodies. We'll be on Grace's corner of
Ontario Ave. and 7th St.
Saturday December 6th, at Trinity
Church, Oshkosh, will be the first informational meeting for everyone
interested in the Diocesan Youth Mission Trip to Washington DC this
summer. This will be a one hour meeting for youth and parents to learn about
how you can participate. The mission trip dates (including travel dates) are:
Saturday July 18 - Sunday July 26, 2015. More information may be found at www.diofdl.org/ymt . Sign-up deadline is
set for March 1st, 2015, and there are a limited number of spaces available. If
you are interested in learning more about this opportunity please let me know
so that everyone can get to the meeting.
December 13th, Noon - 4 pm, cookies
and caroling at St. Peter's in Ripon. Join us for some lunch-time pizza,
and cookie decorating! Then we'll take those cookies to a local nursing home to
share and do some caroling. Afterwards we'll wrap it all up with communion back
at St. Peter's.
Diocesan Tubing Day,
Saturday, January 24th from 11:30 am - 4:30 pm. There is a cost of $15 per
person, and this gets you 2 hours unlimited tubing runs, lift ticket, tube, and
transportation there and back (from St. Thomas). Each individual student and
adult must sign up separately. go to www.styg.com
and click on "Sign Up For Stuff".
Please stay tuned for future
events, the youth workers of the Diocese are trying to schedule an event each
month so that the youth of the diocese can get together in fellowship, and
service, and fun. Direct all questions to me, and I'll get the info you need!
Thank you for your support!
Nick
Whitford
Youth and Family Ministries
Youth and Family Ministries
text or call - 920-889-8003
e-mail - njwhitford@gmail.com
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.
“Yet there is one thing wrong: you don't love me as at first! Think
about those times of your first love (how different now!) and turn back to me
again and work as you did before; or else I will come and remove your
candlestick from its place among the churches.” (Rev. 2: 4-5, The Living
Bible)
Ah, I get it now, Lord. At first, I thought you were talking to me, us
individually, and upset that I, we, was no longer “in love.” That first
breath-taking, mountain-top love & joy experience when I, we, first came to
know you.
I said as much to you. 'We can't always be on the mountain top, can we?
Sometimes we have to be in the trenches, don't we?' I didn't understand, so I
pulled out the NRSV and read the passage there. It wasn't much help, so I went
back to TLB and read it again. The light dawned.
You aren't talking just to me, or us (individually) but us as your
church, your bride; the collective and individual churches. We, your bride, are
not doing your work – ministering to the homeless, poor, sick, imprisoned,
lonely, etc. We are not loving each other, in our church or in our community,
and thus, not loving you.
Sure, we do somethings the last six weeks or so before your birth. But
the rest of the year...well it seems we kinda forget and THAT is what has to
change. We have to do your work every day of every week of every month of every
year. Everyone of us as individuals and as your churches must be involved. We
are your hands and feet, your eyes and ears, your heart and your loving touch.
There are so many ways we can and must be you to others. Not just for the sake
of their souls but for our own and that of the church.
Sweet Jesus, help us remember to act like you did. Help us step out of
our safe, comfortable, circle and be you to those we do not know. ―Martha Shad
Music this week: Proper 29A, Christ the King
Prelude Benedictus Karg-Elert
Entrance Hymn 544 “Jesus
shall reign where’er the sun” Duke Street
Offertory Hymn 460 “Alleluia,
sing to Jesus” Hyfrydol
Communion Motet King of glory, King of peace Walker
Communion Hymn 383 “Fairest
Lord Jesus” St. Elizabeth
Closing Hymn 494 “Crown
him with many crowns” Diademata
Parish Notices
§
Salvation Army Adopt a
Family Gift tags: We have the tree up, and all the name tags on it,
for the Salvation Army Family gifts, please take a name or two and follow the
instructions on the table next to the tree. Please return the gifts to
Grace Church by December 8th. If you have any questions please call
Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.
§
Thank you! To all who donated both items and money for the
Samaritan’s Purse Shoe Boxes. This a tangible way for us to see gifts given to
children around the world and to celebrate a Merry Christ’s Mass through
mission.
§
Tripartite Thanksgiving Eve Worship: Join the Celebration on
Wednesday, November 26th at 7:00pm at St. Dominic’s Parish. Pastor
Kristin Berglund will preach. Join in the Tripartite Combined Choir and enjoy
fellowship and deserts following the worship. The Thanksgiving Offering will
benefit the Salvation Army. We will need two people to serve as ushers and a
reader, if you can help please call the office. Thank you.
§
Holiday Parade: Grace
Church will be selling cocoa and coffee, brownies, apple crisp and hotdogs,
before and during the Holiday Parade Sunday November 30th. The money
raised goes to outreach projects both near and far. Please come by the front of
the church and enjoy a warm treat as you enjoy the parade, be sure to bring
your friends!
§
Advent Lessons and
Carols: On Sunday, 7 December, a festival of Advent Lessons and Carols will
be offered at Grace Episcopal Church, beginning at 4:00 p.m.
§
The festival prepares us
for the coming of the Messiah by following the scriptural record through nine
lessons, each followed by a seasonal carol offered by choir and
congregation. The choir will also offer seasonal anthems, and music will
include Dr. R. Benjamin Dobey on organ. The service is followed immediately by
a High Tea reception.
§
Christmas Castle Volunteers! On Thursday, December 18th
from 1:00-3:00pm Grace Church will participate in the Salvation Army Christmas
Castle. This gives those in need an opportunity to “shop” for Christmas
presents for their families. We are in need of at least 5 people to help.
Please sign-up on the sheet on the table in the Narthex. If you have any
questions please contact Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.
§
Raking Leaves Fundraiser:
If raking your yard this year seems like too much of a task, then our Boy Scout
Troop is here to help. They will be raking leaves by appointment. If you
are interested please contact Paul Aparicio (paac92399@yahoo.com).
§
Youth and Children’s
Choir: Youth and Children’s choir rehearsals for the Christmas Eve service
are at 5:30-6:00pm beginning Wednesday December 3rd, downstairs in
the choir room. Additional rehearsals will be on December 10th and
17th these will be just before the Pageant rehearsals. The
final rehearsal will be Sunday, December 21st at 9:00am. The choir
is open to 2nd graders through high school, and will sing for the
4pm service on Christmas Eve.
§
Christmas Pageant
Rehearsals: will be on Wednesday December 3rd, December 10th
and 17th starting at 6:00p.m. The rehearsals will begin in the
church and then go downstairs for costumes. Participation is open to youth of
all ages. The Pageant will take place during the 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass.
Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. If your child would like to
participate but cannot make rehearsals please note that on the sheet or call
the office.
§
Christmas Joy: is scheduled to meet on Monday, December 22
at 11:00 AM in the church kitchen. At that time we will assemble winter
greens and flowers and bag cookies, and then make deliveries (there is a sign
up sheet in the narthex.) We need helping hands and money (to buy for packaging
supplies and flowers.) Can you bake, make a delivery or help arrange? Please
join us for this fulfilling and fun ministry to our shut-ins. They will
appreciate it. If you have questions please call Barb MacEwen at 467-6909.
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