Do One Thing Well

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

12 February 2015

Do one thing well.  In an age of multi-tasking, and of electronic media being ever present while we are doing something else that is supposed to require thought, ask yourself is you can think of an example of an artist, author, inventor, musician, or thinker who developed a truly innovative creation, product or thought while multi-tasking.  Insight and breakthrough requires focus.  Focus can also allow for change being effected through long-term incremental changes, as we come to know and appreciate a thing at an intimate “granular” level.

The reference to knowledge at a granular level resonates with me these days, because I sometimes see the church a series of small tile hexagons.  I have been working too much on refinishing the floor!  But this ongoing project has allowed me, as well, to just be in the church nave, chapels and sanctuary for extended periods, with nothing to think about.  It’s allowed me to listen better to the One whose presence is signified by the lamp which burns in the sanctuary.  It’s allowed me to find little commemorative plaques from years past, with names on them that no longer are found on the parish register, but which nonetheless remain within the cloud of witnesses which surrounds us.  It’s allowed me to sense the years of incense and candle wax, the years of patterns of wear on pews and kneelers.  All of this testimony speaks to me as evidence of a particular charism, a particular spiritual gift, in this place, and that gift is worship.

Whatever else we may be called to do or be, in mission and outreach, in service and caring, in formation, or in something we don’t even yet know we will be called to, we must remain grounded in the offering of true worship, itself grounded in the beauty of holiness.  This is not to say that how we worship cannot change.  Our Lord does not dictate that we offer worship in a particular style.  Worship must be an offering of self, and the collective self of this parish gathers daily to offer worship—thanks be to God!

But we must focus on how we live into this gift.  In the past year there has been a decrease in attendance on daily services, most particularly in the Daily Office.  There has been a decrease in attendance at special services, such as sung Compline and special feasts.  We will be losing two gifted and experienced acolytes to college and a subdeacon to seminary, and we have lost four choir voices to moves.  We need to focus now on recruiting people to serve in worship.  (Don’t worry—training is provided!)  For example, if you like to sing but cannot read music, consider that most of us who engage in choral singing learned to read music by joining a choir.  You might find, as well, that serving at the altar gives you a completely new perspective upon and experience of worship.  (Watch out!  This may have been a factor in pushing a subdeacon toward ordination!)  You may find that there is an experience in worship that calls you to offer something new.

As we approach Lent it is a good time to focus.  Lent is about intention as well as offering of self.  Let this be a holy Lent in which we refocus on the gift of worship in this place.

Grace abounds:  Please thank:

§  Kevan and Traci Revis, and Barb and Bob MacEwen for the coffee hours on Sunday.

§  Ben Dobey and the Schola Cantorum for sung Compline.

§  Jon Whitford for months of work in building the new website, which is now live.  Please thank, as well, Bobbi Kraft for her work with Jon, and Joanne Otte for her ongoing work in web support.

§  Sherry Smies for all of the work she does in preparing the monthly newsletter.

A Lenten Tithe of Time:  Lent begins next Wednesday!  Many people ask themselves what they are called to do or what they are called to give up in Lent.  Positive works are obviously good, but the practice of renunciation is also strengthened when it is tied into the positive.  So here is a suggestion.  For Lent, give one tenth of the time you would otherwise spend exposed to electronic media (like this blog!)  Figure out all of the time you spend in a day on your computer, on your smart phone, watching TV, etc.  Then dedicate one tenth of this time, every day, to a spiritual practice such as prayer, meditation, the study of Scripture, or just to silence (listening to God).  You might want to use the Lenten devotional booklet which will be distributed in the parish prior to Ash Wednesday.  You might want to use the lessons for Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer, or come to one of the daily services in the parish.  If you are like the average American, you will have close to 45 minutes to devote to prayer, study, meditation, silence.  This could allow you to start The Bible Challenge, but whatever you do, you will be doing it because you have renounced what you were otherwise drawn to or used to, a good first step in connecting better with God.

Call for Contributions:  If you have a spiritual reflection to share, or want to point your fellow worshipers toward a resource, submit your contributions to Fr. Karl (by email) by Wednesday in the week of publication.

Youth and Family Ministry:  This month there is a diocesan event being held at St. Anne's in De Pere on February 27-28. The event is called 30 Hour Famine and is a lock-in that brings awareness about world hunger. Those who attend will be volunteering to fast as a group for approximately 30 hours. There will be more information soon, but I strongly encourage all youth to sign up for this unique experience.

Also Happening #69 will be held March 13-15 at All Saints in Appleton. Any high school  youth who have not been a part of Happening are encouraged to participate. Happening is an experience that changes lives, and is one of the best things we do in the diocese! If you have questions please contact me or the office for information.

―Nick Whitford.

Music this week:  The Last Sunday after the Epiphany

Prelude                        Prelude on Coelestis Gloriae                                                             Vintner

Entrance Hymn 7        “Christ, whose glory fills the skies”                                                 Ratisbon

Offertory Anthem       Christ, whose glory fills the skies                                                      Candlyn

Communion Motet      Christ upon the mountain peak                                                      Nicholson

Comm. Hymn 137      “O wondrous type! O vision fair”                                                  Wareham

Closing Hymn 122      “Alleluia, song of gladness”                           alternate tune: Dulce Carmen

Music for Ash Wednesday

Prelude            Chorale Preludes on I call to thee, Lord Jesus Christ            Pachelbel & J. S. Bach

Introit                          Misereris omnium                                                                           Plainsong

Offertory Anthem       Wash me throughly                                                                             Wesley

Comm. Hymn 152      “Kind maker of the world, O hear”                            Urbs beata Jerusalem

Postlude                      Chorale Prelude on O God, be merciful to me                                       Bach

Parish Notices

§