Observations on Suffering

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

31 July 2014

          Observations on Suffering:  I had the opportunity last week of saying prayers at Our Lady of Walsingham Shrine.  As we read those requests it brought to mind how much suffering we have all around us.  It is hard to look suffering in the face even when it does not touch us directly.  But my thoughts kept going back to those crying out for prayer.  As I prayed about this, a few thoughts began to form.  I must learn to accept that in this world there is much pain that passes through life.  For everyone it is difficult, demanding but most important, necessary.  In Matthew 26:39 our Lord says “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  Jesus asked that his suffering be taken away, just as I imagine we all do when trials, pain or tragedy enter our lives.  God knew His suffering was necessary.  When suffering is before us do we see it as necessary?  The words of Victor Frankl came to mind, “when a man finds that it is his destiny to suffer, he will have to accept his suffering as his task; his single and unique task.  He will have to acknowledge the fact that even in suffering he is unique…..his unique opportunity lies in the way in which he bears his burden.”  Hard words to accept when one faces suffering.  It seems that when I am passing through pain, fear, wishing I could be anyone else or be anyplace else, if I just remember that perhaps someday I can declare it to be the most important time ever for me.  A time I would never choose can become the time I remember with great joy, for out of it comes trust.  No matter how terrible it may all appear at a  particular moment, I simply do not know the Lord’s plan or where it will take me.  It does not matter if I brought myself to this trial, or arrived here as a result of forces beyond my control, my Lord and God walks beside me.  I read recently that Jesus did not come to explain away all suffering or to remove it, He came to fill it with His presence. This is what I must hold in my thoughts when praying for all who are suffering.  He is beside me! The same Jesus who turned water into wine will walk beside each of us through pain and suffering.  How grateful I am that I am not left alone to flounder in weakness.  My Lord will strengthen me through His goodness and love, and through the lifeline of prayer.  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

     Jane Hanson

Grace Abounds:  Please thank all those who have donated goodies for coffee hour and for those who have stepped in and made a pot of coffee and set out sweets. Thank you.

Thank you goes out to Barb MacEwen for all her work scheduling and organizing the Appraisal Fair. Included are:

For publicity and creation of posters and signage:  Andrea Apparicio

For publicity, especially contacting the Press-Jill Stagner, and for distributing flyers to area stores-Bobbi Kraft, and for anyone who told anyone about this event!

For willingness to be available for guided tours of the church-Jane Hanson

For set up of Grace items to sell-Ed and Mary Clabots

For photography- Ed Clabots

For checking in participants-Jill Stagner, Bev Evans

For announcing the schedule-Katy Larson, Paula Roenitz

For microphone wiring and general counsel-Michele Whitford

For manning the concession stand-Bob and Anne Hanlon, Scott Gedemer, Bob MacEwen

For assisting others in bringing in their valuables-Bob MacEwen, Ed Clabots, Scott Gedemer

For bringing Tom Seymour over so he could participate-Mary Snyder

For setting up and taking down, without whom it would have been a tremendous amount for me to do, I am most grateful to Bill May, our sexton.

Please also thank those who spent time grilling or volunteering to work the Brat Barn:

Paul Aparicio

Randie Barrows

Sutton Cecil

Tom, Tasha, & Ben Crouse

Julie Davidson

Caleb Klingsing

Bobbi & Kaleigh Kraft

Steve Larson

Elizabeth Chapman Orr

Kevan & Tracie Revis

McKenna & Katie Schumacher

Bryan Stenz

Adult Christian Education:  will continue on Sunday, August 3^rd  –August 10^th, at 9 a.m. Our discussions will focus on eight realities of the Church, that she is: 1. visible; 2. universal; 3. enduring; 4. possessed of authority; 5. embodies beauty; 6. hierarchical; 7. in communion with the saints; and 8. a moral witness. We will examine particularly how these are embodied in Anglicanism. In other words, we are going to talk about how and why the Church matters, and how we participate in how she matters! 

Music this week: 

Music for Sunday, August 3^rd, 2014

Proper 13 A

Prelude                        Prelude on ‘Draw nigh and take’                               Leo Sowerby

Entrance Hymn 368    “Holy Father, great Creator”                                      Regent Square

Offertory Hymn 522   “Glorious things of thee are spoken”                          Austria

Communion Hymn 328          “Draw nigh and take”                                     Song 46

Closing Hymn 690      “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah”                             Cwm Rhondda

Postlude                      Prelude & Fugue in G Major                                      Johann Kuhnau

           

Parish Notices

Summer adult formation at Grace Church: will continue on Sunday, August 3^rd  –August 10^th, at 9 a.m. Our discussions will focus on eight realities of the Church, that she is: 1. visible; 2. universal; 3. enduring; 4. possessed of authority; 5. embodies beauty; 6. hierarchical; 7. in communion with the saints; and 8. a moral witness. We will examine particularly how these are embodied in Anglicanism. In other words, we are going to talk about how and why the Church matters, and how we participate in how she matters! 

Transfiguration of Our Lord: Wednesday, August 6^th at 6:00pm we will celebrate The Transfiguration of Our Lord with a Solemn Mass. Please plan on worshiping with the Grace Church family and meeting with Jesus as his glory is revealed on the mountain top.

Grafton Commemoration: An observed Feast of the diocese to honor the anniversary of Bishop Grafton's earthly death and heavenly birth. The 2014 Commemoration is August 23^rd from 2-6pm at the Cathedral of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. Bishop Gunter will speak on "Evangelical at heart, while in belief, a liberal Catholic." Visit diofdl.org/grafton for more information.

 “Before and After”:  The floor cleaning project to well underway! The Chapel of Christ the King is complete and the floors behind the high altar are finished with the help from many people. If you are interested in participating, see Fr. Karl. This is tough, physical labor, so if you are challenged in working on hands and knees, consider whether you want to help with material costs, with a gift outside of your regular giving to the parish. Thank you to all who are helping.

Hebrew:  After two years of study of New Testament Greek we will offer a course in biblical Hebrew. Classes will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, beginning on 11 September.  There is a cost of $100 for materials, but this can be supported through a generous scholarship fund.  The class is open to people who are not members of the parish, so feel free to invite friends from the community or other churches. This class does not assume that you have any particular ability in learning a language. The goal is not to learn to speak and write Hebrew, but to be able to work in the biblical text using written and online aids.  We want to be able to work in the text to gain insights into the message of the Bible, insights that may not be apparent in English. For example, how verbs work is vastly different in Hebrew. The concept of time is very different.  What can we learn about God and His will for us by exploring these differences? Our discussions will be more theological than linguistic, as they were in our Greek class. If you are interested, or know someone who is, contact Fr. Karl.

EfM or Education for Ministry: was created to help you find your vocation and ministry with a trusted group of friends. By studying scripture, history and reading other people’s writings, we discover more about God’s wonderful plan for our lives.  Two groups are starting September 8, 2014. The Monday group meets at 6 pm and the Tuesday group meets at 9 am. Sign up by August 1st in order to get your books before the first class. Cost is $350 and this includes college credits and all your materials. Scholarships are available, so don’t let the cost keep you from participating. You can go to the EfM website at: www.sewanee.edu/EFM and print your registration materials or if you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact Barb Drewry-Zimmerman at: bzimmy@excel.net or call her at 920-893-5189.

Experience and Understanding

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

24 July 2014

Experience and Understanding:  The original meaning of “mystery” is “that which must be experienced that it might be understood”.  This certainly applies in the case of the mysteries of the Holy Sacraments, but recent experience reinforces, yet again, how this works in life in Christ together.

About a year ago in a newsletter article a member of the parish wrote about how working with others in the kitchen in connection with parish meals allowed her to experience godly life in a new way.  This is what happens when we gather and serve together.  The people who helped at the brat fry fundraiser this past weekend spent hours together, and while most certainly knew each other at some level—perhaps a profound level—each also learned something knew about somebody.  Working side-by-side involves sharing and give-and-take.  For example, in the past week I have spent hours working with two different members of the parish on the floor project.  I learned a lot about them as people—about their history, families, outlook, etc.  I am certain they learned some things about me, because some of the things I had to say were in response to questions.

In working on the floor this past week we were behind the high altar, right in front of the tabernacle.  I was certainly conscious of being physically before Jesus, but I also experienced His Presence differently by being present with another person, working together.  I am sure that the people who gathered at the brat fry were not necessarily thinking about being before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament—they were miles from the tabernacle.  But they were people gathered “two or three” in Jesus’ Name, in His service, and thus He was present.

We experience God’s presence and are equipped by the Holy Spirit when we gather.  We experience God’s presence as we get to know each other, and it is in the process of our getting to know each other that God is active in revealing to us His will, and in revealing to us who He calls us to be—together.

Let us thank God that He calls us into fellowship and common service, and by this reveals Himself as we reveal a little bit at a time about ourselves to each other.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  The Crouse Family for the Sunday coffee hour.

§  Jane Hanson for help in the office.

§  Ben Dobey for gardening, and for cleaning the columbarium courtyard.

§  Randie Barrows and Shepherd Goodenow for work on the floor refinishing project, and to Randie for donating the use of a steam cleaner.

§  Dcn. Mike Burg and Caleb Werbeckes for power-washing the columbarium paving stones.

§  Pat von Rautenkranz for sewing deacon vestments.

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.

Brat Fry and Outreach:  A huge thank you to all those who helped at or visited the Festival Brat stand on July 19th.

Many have asked, “How’d we do?” The “nuts & bolts” answer is that in total we went through.

130 brats and 81 burgers. We had $530 in sales with $324 in costs for a profit of $206. In addition, another $28 in coin donations was received for the 20 Liters fund.

There is, however, another way to answer the question, “How’d we do?” Seventeen individuals were the face of Grace Church at Festival Foods.  They interacted with the staff of the store and the patrons who both purchased food or didn’t.  They worked with and supported one another in a “foreign” enterprise all in an effort to raise awareness, raise funds, and gain knowledge for future events.

We are scheduled to play host at Miesfeld's next year. At Miesfeld's we will be allowed to have donated baked goods be available for sale as well.  We learned a lot from this sale for staffing purposes, product handling, & the additional outreach materials we want to have on hand. We look forward to next year's sale.

How’d we do?  We did great!!!  Thanks be to God! 

Please thank those who spent time grilling or volunteering to work the Brat Barn:

Paul Aparicio

Randie Barrows

Sutton Cecil

Tom, Tasha, & Ben Crouse

Julie Davidson

Caleb Klinzing

Bobbi & Kaleigh Kraft

Steve Larson

Elizabeth Chapman Orr

Kevan & Traci Revis

McKenna & Katie Schumacher

Bryan Stenz

"Have You Ever Wondered?"

We got this guy, this foreigner who was in prison, who has interpreted my dream which no one else was able to interpret.  In some sense I can't be sure it is the right interpretation because all I have is his interpretation, but it feels right; I'm confident that it is correct, or am I?

Anyway, I have appointed him 2^nd in command in my country.  I have put this man, this foreigner, this man who has spent his life as a slave and a prisoner, I have put him in charge of preparing for what I'm sure is coming, a seven year famine.  My other councilors must think I'm nuts but are too afraid to say much. 

It's a wonder that I can sleep at night!     Genesis 41       [Fr. John Ambelang]

Summer adult formation:  This Sunday at 9 a.m. we will continue our discussion of how the catholic (universal) nature of the Church is embodied in Anglicanism.  We confess in the Creed that the Church is “one, holy, catholic and apostolic”.  Our discussion focusses on catholicity, as well as on Anglicanism as a model for the future of the Church.  Join us in St. Nicholas Hall!

Hebrew:  After two years of study of New Testament Greek we will offer a course in biblical Hebrew.  Classes will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, beginning on 11 September.  There is a cost of $100 for materials, but this can be supported through a generous scholarship fund.  The class is open to people who are not members of the parish, so feel free to invite friends from the community or other churches.

This class does not assume that you have any particular ability in learning a language.  The goal is not to learn to speak and write Hebrew, but to be able to work in the biblical text using written and online aids.  We want to be able to work in the text to gain insights into the message of the Bible, insights that may not be apparent in English.  For example, how verbs work is vastly different in Hebrew.  The concept of time is very different.  What can we learn about God and His will for us by exploring these differences?  Our discussions will be more theological than linguistic, as they were in our Greek class.

If you are interested, or know someone who is, contact Fr. Karl.

Music this week:  Proper 12A

Prelude                                    Benedictus                                                   Charles Villiers Stanford

Entrance Hymn 388                “O worship the King, all glorious above”                             Hanover

Offertory Hymn 419               “Lord of all being, throned afar”                                          Mendon

Communion Hymn 655          “O Jesus, I have promised”                                                     Nyland

Closing Hymn 613                  “Thy kingdom come, O God”                                                       St. Cecilia

Postlude                      Allegro molto e ritmico (Sonata Britannica)                                     Stanford

Parish Notices

§  Vacation! Fr. Karl and Elizabeth will be taking a few days of vacation this week. They will be gone starting Sunday, July 27^th after the Vestry meeting and will be back in town on Thursday July 31^st. Please call Deacon Mike Burg at 918-9944 or Deacon Michele Whitford at 918-1230 in case of a pastoral need. There will be no masses Monday – Thursday. The Daily Office will continue as scheduled.

§  Talk on Revelation: Fr. John Ambelang will be giving a talk on the Book of Revelation this evening at All Saints Chapel, Elkhart Lake, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. It will deal with a few of the symbols and visions. The Book raises many questions, but also provides us with some wonderful answers. 

§  Summer adult formation at Grace Church: will continue on Sunday, July 27^th –August 10^th, at 9 a.m. Our discussions will focus on eight realities of the Church, that she is: 1. visible; 2. universal; 3. enduring; 4. possessed of authority; 5. embodies beauty; 6. hierarchical; 7. in communion with the saints; and 8. a moral witness. We will examine particularly how these are embodied in Anglicanism. In other words, we are going to talk about how and why the Church matters, and how we participate in how she matters!  

§  Picnic Committee: will meet at 9:00am in St. Mark’s room on the lower level, today Sunday, July 27^th. Logistics and assignments will be discussed. If you cannot attend, please call Barbara Knauf at 457-5414.

§  Coffee Hour a time of gathering for Fellowship: There is now a green sheet on the table in the narthex for people to sign up. There are many open dates. Please consider taking one of the Sunday services. Tom and Tasha Crouse have signed up for the 20th of July for 10;15 service and Paul and Andrea have signed up for the 3rd of August 10:15 service. This does not need to be anything elaborate, just the willingness to make coffee and supply some simple cookies, etc. This “get together” is about community, meeting, greeting and checking in with each other on how we our week has been. Please come and join the fun, if you have never done it sign up with someone who has and learn how simple it can be.

§  “Before and After”:  The floor cleaning project to well underway! The Chapel of Christ the King is complete and the floors behind the high altar are finished with the help from many people. If you are interested in participating, see Fr. Karl. This is tough, physical labor, so if you are challenged in working on hands and knees, consider whether you want to help with material costs, with a gift outside of your regular giving to the parish. Thank you to all who are helping.

§  EfM or Education for Ministry: was created to help you find your vocation and ministry with a trusted group of friends. By studying scripture, history and reading other people’s writings, we discover more about God’s wonderful plan for our lives.  Two groups are starting September 8, 2014. The Monday group meets at 6 pm and the Tuesday group meets at 9 am. Sign up by August 1st in order to get your books before the first class. Cost is $350 and this includes college credits and all your materials. Scholarships are available, so don’t let the cost keep you from participating. You can go to the EfM website at: www.sewanee.edu/EFM and print your registration materials or if you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact Barb Drewry-Zimmerman at: bzimmy@excel.net or call her at 920-893-5189.

Just Do It

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

17 July 2014

A common refrain heard among long-standing members in just about all church congregations relates to those things that “we used to do ourselves, and now pay for”.  Examples include maintenance and cleaning projects, whether publications are out-sourced, how people are active in outreach v. donating money for outreach, etc.  To be fair, we hear similar observations about society in general, but it is always a danger sign when a congregation starts expecting somebody else to get done what needs doing, or that the money to pay for something is just going to materialize.

Grace has not been immune from the broader trend away from active discipleship, but that trend line is reversing here!  If you pay attention to what is recited in this weekly web log, you have noted how many names are listed under our “Grace Abounds” thanksgivings.  People are giving of their time and talent.  The whole idea behind the ongoing project to refinish the floor is that we will do this ourselves, and that in doing this together will show each other what ministry looks like.  In the process we will certainly save a lot of money, money that can be deployed to support ministry rather than maintenance.  In the process we will, as well, have plenty of time for prayer and to get to know each other better, to learn about each other in the stories told between people as they work side-by-side on an otherwise tedious project.

Those of us who are working on the floor may soon see hexagonal patterns in our sleep, but we will also have spent hours in our Lord’s presence together.  We will have had hours on our knees together in the type of prayer that is just being present and making an offering of self.  We will have hours to listen to God, to understand better what He is calling us to in ministry, what He is calling us to in mission and outreach and how we are going to do this.

Most people in the parish won’t work on the floor, but most are active in some ministry or project.  No matter what you are involved in (or want to be), when we spend time together working together we have time to listen to God in the words of each other, and time to listen to God in the silences of our own work.  Let us listen both with ears, and with hearts and minds!

A final point:  Part of the forces at work that have moved many in church life away from “what we used to do ourselves” is the idea that any of us needs permission for ministry, permission to get done what needs doing.  We don’t, none of us.  It is our Lord who calls us to ministry and equips us for ministry.  When you are called, when you see something that needs doing, do it.  You don’t need to ask if it’s OK.  The Church is not a permission-granting organization.  If your initiative  is godly it will bear fruit!

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  Bev Evans, Bobbi Kraft and Dcn. Michele Whitford for the Sunday coffee hours.

§  Jane Hanson and Pat Ford Smith for help in the office.

§  Ben Dobey and Bobbie May for gardening.

§  Bill and Deb Gagin, Shepherd Goodenow, Pat Ford Smith and Mary Snyder for work on the floor refinishing project, and Bill and Deb for donating a steam mop to the parish.

§  Martha Shad for donating a floor cleaner.

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.

The Healthy Habit of Worship:  (Fr. Jeff Reich, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Laurel, MS—used with permission.)

[To the people of St. John’s]:  I hope and pray all are well.  Yesterday I read an article that proposed that the greatest cause of church decline was not people leaving the Church, but rather it was an issue of frequency of attendance.  I found the idea very interesting… especially in that the English word frequency has is origins in the Latin word frequins, which means crowded or a crowd of people.

The idea is that is if there is a congregation of 200 people, and every person comes to Church on Sunday- the average Sunday attendance is 200.  But, 100 of those people miss once a month, the average Sunday attendance drops to 175 people.  Here at Saint John’s, according to our latest survey, the largest group of our parish family only attends twice in a month.  So, we have around 300 members, and our average Sunday attendance around 150. 

The author of the article argued that there are some very serious and severe consequences to a decrease in attendance frequency- the most severe being a decline in commitment.  That is to say, when average attendance drops from frequency change, two things happen: 1) morale and commitment fades in the parish- if you see your church family with a decreasing frequency, bonds of affection stretch, and you yourself feel less compelled to be there for others.  2) And if people notice these shifts in frequency, they feel more liberty themselves to attend less frequently.  So, a decline in frequency leads to a decline in morale and commitment- as you go about your week, consider frequency… your attendance habits have a direct impact on your parish family- either encouraging or discouraging them.  So, when you miss church with increasing frequency, it is not just your family who is effected, but the whole parish family, and when you attend church with greater frequency you do much to help encourage the parish family. 

No man is an island entire of itself;

every man is a piece of the continent,

a part of the main;

if a clod be washed away by the sea,

Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were,

as well as any manner of thy friends

or of thine own were;

any man's death diminishes me,

because I am involved in mankind.

And therefore never send to know

for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

―John Donne

Hebrew:  After two years of study of New Testament Greek we will offer a course in biblical Hebrew.  Classes will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, beginning on 11 September.  There is a cost of $100 for materials, but this can be supported through a generous scholarship fund.  The class is open to people who are not members of the parish, so feel free to invite friends from the community or other churches.

This class does not assume that you have any particular ability in learning a language.  The goal is not to learn to speak and write Hebrew, but to be able to work in the biblical text using written and online aids.  We want to be able to work in the text to gain insights into the message of the Bible, insights that may not be apparent in English.  For example, how verbs work is vastly different in Hebrew.  The concept of time is very different.  What can we learn about God and His will for us by exploring these differences?  Our discussions will be more theological than linguistic, as they were in our Greek class.

If you are interested, or know someone who is, contact Fr. Karl.

Summer adult formation:  In the 17 June web publication of the journal First Things: A Journal of Religion and Public Life is found the article “Why Do People Become Catholic?”, in which R. R. Reno examines the phenomenon and reasoning of conversion of Protestants to Roman Catholicism.  See http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2014/06/why-do-people-become-catholic R. R. Reno (a Roman Catholic) celebrates the catholicity of the Church, and enumerates the following realities about the Church Catholic, that she is:  1.  visible; 2.  universal; 3.  enduring; 4.  possessed of authority; 5.  embodies beauty; 6.  hierarchical; 7.  in communion with the saints; and 8.  a moral witness.  Our discussions will focus on these eight realities of the Church, and particularly how these are embodied in Anglicanism.  In other words, we are going to talk about how and why the Church matters, and how we participate in how she matters!  This class will meet beginning on Sunday, 20 July, at 9 a.m.

Music this week:  Proper 11A

Prelude                         Andantino; Larghetto                                        Charles Tournemire

Entrance Hymn 375                  “Give praise and glory unto God”                                  Du Lebensbrot

Offertory Hymn 686                 “Come, thou fount of every blessing”                                      Nettleton

Communion Hymn 620 “Jerusalem, my happy home”                                           Land of Rest

Closing Hymn 625                    “Ye holy angels bright”                                    Darwall’s 148^th

Postlude                                   Sortie                                                                                Tournemire

Parish Notices

§  Antiques and Collectibles Appraisal Event: featuring expert Mark F. Moran on Thursday, July 24, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Interest in this event is already starting to build and this is exciting.  Parishioners have already started to register to have their valuable evaluated and volunteers are stepping forward to help on this date.  Won’t you consider donating one to two hours of your time that day?  A sign up in the narthex is available. Pre-registration and payment is required. Cost is $15 per item. Cash, check or MC/VISA will be accepted. You may sign up for a maximum of 3 items. Please call to schedule your appointment or for further information and if you would like to help on this event please contact Barb MacEwen at 920-912-4505. Proceeds from this fund-raiser goes towards youth outreach.

§  Picnic Committee: will meet at 9:00am in St. Mark’s room on the lower level, Sunday, July 27^th. Logistics and assignments will be discussed. If you cannot attend, please call Barbara Knauf at 457-5414.

§  “Before and After”:  The floors in the church have not been cleaned since April of 2006. Through the help of many parishioners Christ the King Chapel is nearing complete and the difference is remarkable. If you are interested in participating, see Fr. Karl. This is tough, physical labor, so if you are challenged in working on hands and knees, consider whether you want to help with material costs, with a gift outside of your regular giving to the parish.

§  Coffee Hour a time of gathering for Fellowship: There is now a green sheet on the table in the narthex for people to sign up. There are many open dates. Please consider taking one of the Sunday services. Tom and Tasha Crouse have signed up for the 20th of July for 10;15 service and Paul and Andrea have signed up for the 3rd of August 10:15 service. This does not need to be anything elaborate, just the willingness to make coffee and supply some simple cookies, etc. This “get together” is about community, meeting, greeting and checking in with each other on how we our week has been. Please come and join the fun, if you have never done it sign up with someone who has and learn how simple it can be.

§  EfM or Education for Ministry: was created to help you find your vocation and ministry with a trusted group of friends. By studying scripture, history and reading other people’s writings, we discover more about God’s wonderful plan for our lives.  Two groups are starting September 8, 2014. The Monday group meets at 6 pm and the Tuesday group meets at 9 am. Sign up by August 1st in order to get your books before the first class. Cost is $350 and this includes college credits and all your materials. Scholarships are available, so don’t let the cost keep you from participating. You can go to the EfM website at: www.sewanee.edu/EFM and print your registration materials or if you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact Barb Drewry-Zimmerman at: bzimmy@excel.net or call her at 920-893-5189.

§  4^th Annual Rummage Sale Blessed Trinity Parish: Friday, July 18 & Saturday, July 19, 2014 from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm Blessed Trinity Parish (in Church Basement) 319 Giddings Avenue, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin will have a rummage sale which will include household items, toys, children’s clothes and small appliances. Please plan to attend our 4th Annual Rummage Sale.

Roswell

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

10 July 2014

7 July is the anniversary of the Roswell Incident, the 1947 crash of an airborne object on a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico.  Roswell is a sort of “holy grail” for believers in alien life forms and visitations.  This poses the issue to people of faith of how we differentiate our own beliefs from those which are ridiculed as involving “magical thinking”.

A common mental stance in our world is one in which a person treats matters of faith, the supernatural, miracles, etc. a something akin to alien visitations because he or she has not experienced the supernatural (or has not realized an experience of the supernatural).  This approach is very often described in terms of a supposed opposition between reason and faith, a description which itself is based on a profound ignorance of what reason is and what faith is.  But, let’s restrict discussion just to the matter of experience as the sole measure of truth.  Is all human knowledge based on experience?  Must experience be direct? 

I can have direct experience of something like saltiness by putting salt on my tongue.  (Whether your experience of saltiness is the same as mine raises an entirely different issue.)  Suppose, however, that I have high blood pressure—something which in most cases I cannot sense directly.  I can choose to rely on the accumulated experience of others—on the body of knowledge which has resulted from scientific measurement and experiment—that an ongoing excess intake of sodium (from salt) will increase my blood pressure.  I can choose to heed my doctor’s advice to restrict my intake of salt.  In other words, I can choose to rely on indirect experience.  This would be a rational decision, and, in fact, rejecting the indirect experience (the accumulated scientific and medical evidence) would be irrational.  To reject evidence is to engage in magical thinking, that I am somehow different.

What about experience of the supernatural, of miracles?  Most of us would not claim to have experienced a miracle.  Perhaps more of us would if we did not reject the idea, but in rejecting the idea are we rejecting indirect experience, the accumulated experience and testimony of others?  That’s one possibility, but another is that we can reject their testimony because we can explain their experience as delusional or mistaken.  But here’s a problem with this second “explanation”.  It is that we have to say that something within nature, within material causes, within the scientific method of cause and effect and testable hypothesis, can explain something that is outside of nature, that is supernatural?  The very definition of supernatural is of something that is beyond nature, and so, for example, we cannot use material measurements to prove or disprove the existence of the soul.

God is not an object within nature.  By any method of rational thinking we cannot define a first cause to be part of what is caused, even in an otherwise wholly “material” universe.  Confusing the Roswell Incident with matters of faith betrays very sloppy thinking, bad philosophy.

Two final points:  (1) In faith we claim not only experience as one foundation of faith (we call this Reason); we also claim revelation—that God has chosen to reveal Himself and His will for us to us.  (We find this revelation, albeit imperfectly, in Scripture and Tradition.)  (2) I don’t believe in alien visitations!

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  Bobbie May for trimming of shrubs, and gardening.

§  Danie Wilson, and Bob and Barb MacEwen for the Sunday coffee hours.

§  The Grace Walsingham Foundation for providing a passenger van for transport for diocesan and parish youth the The Episcopal Youth Event and mission in Philadelphia.

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.

Episcopal Youth Event:  A team from the diocese is now in Philadelphia, for a nationwide youth gathering, which will be followed by mission work in the city.  Our own Kaleigh Kraft is part of this ministry, which will run through 18 July.  Please continue to lift up Kaleigh, and all of EYE in prayer.

Hebrew:  After two years of study of New Testament Greek we will offer a course in biblical Hebrew.  Classes will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, beginning on 11 September.  There is a cost of $100 for materials, but this can be supported through a generous scholarship fund.  The class is open to people who are not members of the parish, so feel free to invite friends from the community or other churches.

This class does not assume that you have any particular ability in learning a language.  The goal is not to learn to speak and write Hebrew, but to be able to work in the biblical text using written and online aids.  We want to be able to work in the text to gain insights into the message of the Bible, insights that may not be apparent in English.  For example, how verbs work is vastly different in Hebrew.  The concept of time is very different.  What can we learn about God and His will for us by exploring these differences?  Our discussions will be more theological than linguistic, as they were in our Greek class.

If you are interested, or know someone who is, contact Fr. Karl.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  Bobbie May for trimming of shrubs, and gardening.

§  Danie Wilson, and Bob and Barb MacEwen for the Sunday coffee hours.

§  The Grace Walsingham Foundation for providing a passenger van for transport for diocesan and parish youth the The Episcopal Youth Event and mission in Philadelphia.

“Before and After”:  In the July edition of The Angelus the ministry of the month is described, a floor cleaning project.  If you want to see the result so far, look at the Lady Chapel.  The floor was last refinished in 1988.  There are colors to be seen that haven’t been seen in years!

Last Sunday I put the project on hold due to a technical problem with the finish remover, but we have tried another and “We have liftoff!”  If you are interested in details, and how you can help, contact Fr. Karl.

If you are interested in participating, see Fr. Karl.  This is tough, physical labor, so if you are challenged in working on hands and knees, consider whether you want to help with material costs, with a gift outside of your regular giving to the parish.

Summer adult formation:  In the 17 June web publication of the journal First Things: A Journal of Religion and Public Life is found the article “Why Do People Become Catholic?”, in which R. R. Reno examines the phenomenon and reasoning of conversion of Protestants to Roman Catholicism.  See http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2014/06/why-do-people-become-catholic R. R. Reno (a Roman Catholic) celebrates the catholicity of the Church, and enumerates the following realities about the Church Catholic, that she is:  1.  visible; 2.  universal; 3.  enduring; 4.  possessed of authority; 5.  embodies beauty; 6.  hierarchical; 7.  in communion with the saints; and 8.  a moral witness.  Our discussions will focus on these eight realities of the Church, and particularly how these are embodied in Anglicanism.  In other words, we are going to talk about how and why the Church matters, and how we participate in how she matters!  This class will meet beginning on Sunday, 20 July, at 9 a.m.

Music this week:  Proper 10A

Prelude                        Three Chorale Preludes on Blessed Jesus, we are here                   J. S. Bach

Entrance Hymn 408    “Sing praise to God, who reigns above”                             Mit Freuden zart

Mass Setting                           New English Folk Mass                                         Timms & Warrell

Offertory Hymn 379               “God is love, let heaven adore him”                           Abbot’s Leigh

Communion Hymn 660          “O Master, let me walk with thee”                                       Maryton

Closing Hymn 632                  “O Christ, the Word Incarnate”                                             Munich

Postlude                                  Prelude & Fugue in G Minor                                         J. K. Fischer

Grace Episcopal Church is pleased to present an antiques and collectibles appraisal event featuring expert Mark F. Moran on Thursday, July 24, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.

Moran bought and sold antiques for more than 30 years, specializing in vintage folk art, Americana, and fine art. He has been active as an appraiser of antiques and fine art for more than 20 years. 

Formerly senior editor of Antiques and Collectibles Books for Krause Publications in Iola, Wis., he has also been a contributing editor for Antique Trader magazine. He has served as editor of Antique Review East magazine; as producer of Atlantique City, an antique show held in Atlantic City, N.J.; and as editorial director of F+W Media's Antiques Group.

He is the author or co-author of more than 25 books on antiques and collectibles, including three editions of the 800-page annual Warman's Antiques & Collectibles.

Pre-registration and payment is required. Cost is $15 per item. Cash, check or MC/VISA will be accepted. You may sign up for a maximum of 3 items. Please call 920-912-4505 to schedule your appointment.

Categories of objects for appraisal may include:

Fine art, including paintings, drawings, prints and statuary.

Furniture (usually smaller pieces are best).

Ceramics, including figural pottery, vases, dishes, kitchenware and stoneware.

Glassware, including lighting, marbles and souvenir items.

Vintage photographs, including snapshots, tintypes, Ambrotypes and daguerreotypes.

Advertising, including posters,  lithographed tin, paper and figural objects.

Folk art, including carvings, quilts, weathervanes, windmill weights and "outsider" art.

Assorted toys, including dolls (bisque, composition and plastic), windups and mechanical banks.

Metalware, including iron, bronze, brass, pot metal, silver, silver plate.

Clocks, including mantel, hanging and figural.

Costume jewelry, including brooches, bracelets, earrings.

Musical Instruments, including string, wind and reed instruments.

Books.

Sports Memorabilia.

Excluded items: all weapons, including swords and knives (though folding knives with advertising are accepted); Nazi memorabilia; coins and paper money; fine jewelry, including precious gems; Beanie Babies.

Interest in this event is already starting to build and this is exciting.  Parishioners have already started to register to have their valuable evaluated and volunteers are stepping forward to help on this date.  Won’t you consider donating one to two hours of your time that day?  A sign up in the narthex is available.  Proceeds from this fund-raiser goes towards youth outreach.

Parish Notices

§  Brat Fry in July: Saturday, July 19 from 11:00am until 5:00pm Grace Church will have a brat fry at Festival Foods in Sheboygan. All proceeds will go to Grace Church and Missions. Please come out and enjoy a great brat, fellowship and support the mission of Grace.

§  The Phantom of the Opera: Two tickets are available at first come first serve basis to see The Phantom of the Opera at the Marcus Center in Milwaukee July 31, 2014 at 7:30pm. The seats are M27 and M28, the tickets are $98 each and the proceeds go to Sharon Richardson Hospice. Please call Margaret at 918-8653 for more information.

§  A Prayer Ministry at Grace: Saturday mornings at 10:00am members of Grace meet and walk throughout the church praying. Our prayers are focused on asking the Holy Spirit to be released in a deeper, more powerful way into our Grace Church community. The prayers begin at the back of the church and continue through each pew, chapels, pulpit, sanctuary and sacristy. Where the Spirit leads, we will pray, ending at the main altar. In Acts1:14 we read that the early church prayed together constantly. Paul reminds us in 1 Thess.5:17 we are to pray without ceasing. It is with deep devotion and great conviction that we begin this Prayer Ministry by meeting once a week to pray for our Church. If anyone feels called to join in the praying, please come. If you are unable to join us in person, you can still join us in spirit by praying for those listed in our Parish Directory. Saturdays 10AM.

§  Antiques and Collectibles Appraisal Event: featuring expert Mark F. Moran on Thursday, July 24, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Moran is best known as a host on PBS Antique Roadshow. Interest in this event is already starting to build and this is exciting.  Parishioners have already started to register to have their valuable evaluated and volunteers are stepping forward to help on this date.  Won’t you consider donating one to two hours of your time that day?  A sign up in the narthex is available. Pre-registration and payment is required. Cost is $15 per item. Cash, check or MC/VISA will be accepted. You may sign up for a maximum of 3 items. Please call to schedule your appointment or for further information and if you would like to help on this event please contact Barb MacEwen at 920-912-4505. Proceeds from this fund-raiser goes towards youth outreach.

§  EfM or Education for Ministry: was created to help you find your vocation and ministry with a trusted group of friends. By studying scripture, history and reading other people’s writings, we discover more about God’s wonderful plan for our lives.  Two groups are starting September 8, 2014. The Monday group meets at 6 pm and the Tuesday group meets at 9 am. Sign up by August 1st in order to get your books before the first class. Cost is $350 and this includes college credits and all your materials. Scholarships are available, so don’t let the cost keep you from participating. You can go to the EfM website at: www.sewanee.edu/EFM and print your registration materials or if you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact Barb Drewry-Zimmerman at: bzimmy@excel.net or call her at 920-893-5189.

§  4^th Annual Rummage Sale Blessed Trinity Parish: Friday, July 18 & Saturday, July 19, 2014 from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm Blessed Trinity Parish (in Church Basement) 319 Giddings Avenue, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin will have a rummage sale which will include household items, toys, children’s clothes and small appliances. Please plan to attend our 4th Annual Rummage Sale.

Seek That Which is Above

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

3 July 2014

Acting on the recommendation of a friend, I watched the first episode of the HBO dramatic series Boardwalk Empire.  I won’t be watching any more.  The production values and acting are top notch.  The story (of gangland rule during Prohibition in Atlantic City) has its share of human interest.  The dramatic arc (at least in one episode) keeps your attention.  So why not keep watching?  It’s because of what the story keeps your attention on, which can best be described as base and degrading.

There is a pattern here.  Think of movies like Pulp Fiction or TV series like Orange is the New Black.  Human drama is depicted, surely, but drama in the context of depravity.  (And “twerking” does not even claim any dramatic mantle or purpose.)  Before you think me a prude, consider the reality that where we invest energy and focus (e.g., for example in entertainment) will affect both how we view the world and how we view ourselves as creatures created in God’s image and likeness.  When Paul admonishes that we are to focus on “that which is above” (Col. 3.1-2) he is speaking both in spiritual and practical terms.  In my own life I have worked in the medical examiner’s office and a central emergency room of a large city (Philadelphia), encountering all kinds of fallenness and ugliness.  I have been present at the investigation of murder scenes and murder victims.  I survived the language of boot camp in the Marine Corps, in which the “universal modifier” (my phrase) means that every sentence must include some form of the “F word”.  I am not easily shocked, in the sense of requiring avoidance, but this does not mean that I seek out that which is base and degrading.  Whether or not we have been exposed to ugliness, we know it exists.  Why seek it out?  Why consider it to be entertaining, particularly when this involves witnessing the degradation of the human person?

Our challenge is to look at reality through God’s eyes.  When we see ugliness we are not to avoid it, but are to testify to God’s truth.  We are to witness that the ultimate reality of creation is one in which the Creator is revealed as the source and summation of good, beauty, love, truth and being.  When we affirm God’s presence and sovereignty even in the midst of pain, even despite evil, we affirm what is real, knowing that what is evil is nothing more than negation of what is good.

Choose your entertainment carefully.  What we choose to focus on shapes how we view ultimate reality.  Let’s not desensitize ourselves to the extent that that which should shock us doesn’t.  Seek that which is above.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It will not do to not refer to Independence Day in this week’s blog!  As we gather to remember and celebrate our liberty, consider a series of contrasts between the worldview of those who founded this republic and much of our modern culture.  Consider the difference between liberty and license, and the difference between having values and embodying virtues.  The contrast is evident in the very language of the Declaration of Independence, which invokes the Laws of Nature and God (i.e., a classical virtue perspective) in declaring the liberty interests of a free people.

We must ever defend liberty, while never promoting license.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  Bobbie May for trimming of shrubs, and gardening.

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.

Hebrew:  After two years of study of New Testament Greek we will offer a course in biblical Hebrew.  Classes will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, beginning on 11 September.  There is a cost of $100 for materials, but this can be supported through a generous scholarship fund.  The class is open to people who are not members of the parish, so feel free to invite friends from the community or other churches.

This class does not assume that you have any particular ability in learning a language.  The goal is not to learn to speak and write Hebrew, but to be able to work in the biblical text using written and online aids.  We want to be able to work in the text to gain insights into the message of the Bible, insights that may not be apparent in English.  For example, how verbs work is vastly different in Hebrew.  The concept of time is very different.  What can we learn about God and His will for us by exploring these differences?  Our discussions will be more theological than linguistic, as they were in our Greek class.

If you are interested, or know someone who is, contact Fr. Karl.

“Before and After”:  In the July edition of The Angelus the ministry of the month is described, a floor cleaning project.  If you want to see the result so far, look at the Lady Chapel.  The floor was last refinished in 1988.  There are colors to be seen that haven’t been seen in years!

If you are interested in participating, see Fr. Karl.  This is tough, physical labor, so if you are challenged in working on hands and knees, consider whether you want to help with material costs, with a gift outside of your regular giving to the parish.

Summer adult formation:  In the 17 June web publication of the journal First Things: A Journal of Religion and Public Life is found the article “Why Do People Become Catholic?”, in which R. R. Reno examines the phenomenon and reasoning of conversion of Protestants to Roman Catholicism.  See http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2014/06/why-do-people-become-catholic R. R. Reno (a Roman Catholic) celebrates the catholicity of the Church, and enumerates the following realities about the Church Catholic, that she is:  1.  visible; 2.  universal; 3.  enduring; 4.  possessed of authority; 5.  embodies beauty; 6.  hierarchical; 7.  in communion with the saints; and 8.  a moral witness.  Our discussions will focus on these eight realities of the Church, and particularly how these are embodied in Anglicanism.  In other words, we are going to talk about how and why the Church matters, and how we participate in how she matters!  This class will meet beginning on Sunday, 20 July, at 9 a.m.

Bible study resource:  The Christian Classics Ethereal Library (www.ccel.org) is a wonderful resource provided by Calvin College, that makes available online a wealth of materials for bible study, theological research, research into hymnody, the writings of the Fathers of the Church, and current opinion.  The CCEL also provides online bible study discussion groups from time to time, and a group is forming now for the study of The Acts of the Apostles.  To get more information and explore interest act now by going to http://www.ccel.org/node/25643 .  A complete listing of study and discussion groups can be found at http://www.ccel.org/groups .

LoveINC kick-off:  The kick-off celebration for LoveINC (Love in the Name of Christ) Sheboygan was held this past Tuesday.  If you could not attend but want to learn more about how you might be involved, please contact Fr. Karl or Dcn. Michele.  A listing of the types of ministries involved is available to help you discern a call to service.

Music this week:  Proper 9A

Prelude                                    Three Modal Pieces                                                       Jean Langlais

Entrance Hymn 544                “Jesus shall reign where’er the sun”                                 Duke Street

Mass Setting                           New English Folk Mass                                         Timms & Warrell

Offertory Hymn 404               “We will extol you”                                                            Old 124^th

Communion Hymn 302          “Father, we thank thee who hast planted”                 Rendez à Dieu

Closing Hymn 718                  “God of our fathers”                                                  National Hymn

Postlude                                  Fantasie                                                                                Langlais

Grace Episcopal Church is pleased to present an antiques and collectibles appraisal event featuring expert Mark F. Moran on Thursday, July 24, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.

Moran bought and sold antiques for more than 30 years, specializing in vintage folk art, Americana, and fine art. He has been active as an appraiser of antiques and fine art for more than 20 years. 

Formerly senior editor of Antiques and Collectibles Books for Krause Publications in Iola, Wis., he has also been a contributing editor for Antique Trader magazine. He has served as editor of Antique Review East magazine; as producer of Atlantique City, an antique show held in Atlantic City, N.J.; and as editorial director of F+W Media's Antiques Group.

He is the author or co-author of more than 25 books on antiques and collectibles, including three editions of the 800-page annual Warman's Antiques & Collectibles.

Pre-registration and payment is required. Cost is $15 per item. Cash, check or MC/VISA will be accepted. You may sign up for a maximum of 3 items. Please call 920-912-4505 to schedule your appointment.

Categories of objects for appraisal may include:

Fine art, including paintings, drawings, prints and statuary.

Furniture (usually smaller pieces are best).

Ceramics, including figural pottery, vases, dishes, kitchenware and stoneware.

Glassware, including lighting, marbles and souvenir items.

Vintage photographs, including snapshots, tintypes, Ambrotypes and daguerreotypes.

Advertising, including posters,  lithographed tin, paper and figural objects.

Folk art, including carvings, quilts, weathervanes, windmill weights and "outsider" art.

Assorted toys, including dolls (bisque, composition and plastic), windups and mechanical banks.

Metalware, including iron, bronze, brass, pot metal, silver, silver plate.

Clocks, including mantel, hanging and figural.

Costume jewelry, including brooches, bracelets, earrings.

Musical Instruments, including string, wind and reed instruments.

Books.

Sports Memorabilia.

Excluded items: all weapons, including swords and knives (though folding knives with advertising are accepted); Nazi memorabilia; coins and paper money; fine jewelry, including precious gems; Beanie Babies.

Interest in this event is already starting to build and this is exciting.  Parishioners have already started to register to have their valuable evaluated and volunteers are stepping forward to help on this date.  Won’t you consider donating one to two hours of your time that day?  A sign up in the narthex is available.  Proceeds from this fund-raiser goes towards youth outreach.

Parish Notices

§  The church office is closed on Friday, 4 July.

§  Brat Fry in July: Saturday, July 19 from 11:00am until 5:00pm Grace Church will have a brat fry at Festival Foods in Sheboygan. All proceeds will go to Grace Church and Missions. Please come out and enjoy a great brat, fellowship and support the mission of Grace.

§  A Prayer Ministry at Grace: Saturday mornings at 10:00am members of Grace meet and walk throughout the church praying. Our prayers are focused on asking the Holy Spirit to be released in a deeper, more powerful way into our Grace Church community. The prayers begin at the back of the church and continue through each pew, chapels, pulpit, sanctuary and sacristy. Where the Spirit leads, we will pray, ending at the main altar. In Acts1:14 we read that the early church prayed together constantly. Paul reminds us in 1 Thess.5:17 we are to pray without ceasing. It is with deep devotion and great conviction that we begin this Prayer Ministry by meeting once a week to pray for our Church. If anyone feels called to join in the praying, please come. If you are unable to join us in person, you can still join us in spirit by praying for those listed in our Parish Directory. Saturdays 10AM.

§  Antiques and Collectibles Appraisal Event: featuring expert Mark F. Moran on Thursday, July 24, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Interest in this event is already starting to build and this is exciting.  Parishioners have already started to register to have their valuable evaluated and volunteers are stepping forward to help on this date.  Won’t you consider donating one to two hours of your time that day?  A sign up in the narthex is available. Pre-registration and payment is required. Cost is $15 per item. Cash, check or MC/VISA will be accepted. You may sign up for a maximum of 3 items. Please call to schedule your appointment or for further information and if you would like to help on this event please contact Barb MacEwen at 920-912-4505. Proceeds from this fund-raiser goes towards youth outreach.

§  EfM or Education for Ministry: was created to help you find your vocation and ministry with a trusted group of friends. By studying scripture, history and reading other people’s writings, we discover more about God’s wonderful plan for our lives.  Two groups are starting September 8, 2014. The Monday group meets at 6 pm and the Tuesday group meets at 9 am. Sign up by August 1st in order to get your books before the first class. Cost is $350 and this includes college credits and all your materials. Scholarships are available, so don’t let the cost keep you from participating. You can go to the EfM website at: www.sewanee.edu/EFM and print your registration materials or if you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact Barb Drewry-Zimmerman at: bzimmy@excel.net or call her at 920-893-5189.

§  Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice: cordially invites you to walk our gardens and participate in a path to healing on Thursday, July 10^th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Join us for this first time event and enjoy a complimentary refreshment and a variety of therapeutic experiences. Caregivers and those experiencing a loss are encouraged to attend. Public is welcome, for further information contact Angelia Neumann at 467-7940.

§  4^th Annual Rummage Sale Blessed Trinity Parish: Friday, July 18 & Saturday, July 19, 2014 from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm Blessed Trinity Parish (in Church Basement) 319 Giddings Avenue, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin will have a rummage sale which will include household items, toys, children’s clothes and small appliances. Please plan to attend our 4th Annual Rummage Sale.