Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan,
Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
9 July 2015
This coming Saturday is the feast of St.
Benedict of Nursia (d. 540), the father of The Rule of St. Benedict, the basic
statute for the governance of monastic life.
The Rule was intended to regulate the excesses (ranging from morbid
mortification of the body to the opposite extreme of libertinism) which had
been found in monasteries, and to provide a solid framework for daily life
dedicated to God in community.
Benedictine spirituality is an important
component in the spiritual heritage of this parish. St. Benedict is depicted in the second statue
from the right (facing the altar) on the reredos of the parish, in
partial recognition of the connection between the parish and the Benedictine
spirituality practiced at Nashotah House.
The parish is, in this sense, sons and daughters of The Rule.
This raises the question: How does a rule of life work? Whether or not we follow Benedictine
practice, it is useful for each of us to observe a rule of life. When all of our life is recognized to be
service to God and to each other we not only participate in how the kingdom of
heaven breaks into this world, but we are, ourselves, changed. We become more and more Christ-like.
What might a rule of life look like in your
life? It can involve daily prayer,
spending time every day talking to God and listening to Him. A rule can involve setting aside a particular
time every day to make sure that prayer doesn’t get lost in the hustle and
bustle of life. A rule can involve the
daily study of Scripture, listening to the Word which is alive. It can involve making sure to pray not only
for yourself, but for others, for the Church, the nation and the world. It can involve being intentional in giving,
to share of your own blessings in the life of the Church and the
community. It can involve focusing on
listening before speaking.
A rule of life can involve many
things. Under the Rule of St. Benedict
life is focused around work, study, and prayer.
“To work is to pray,” and if all we do is offered to God our work
becomes a witness in prayer. Study
involves living for more than the day; it involves being formed either in new
knowledge and/or in greater knowledge of God’s Word. And prayer is, above all else, about being
intentional to make time for God.
As we remember St. Benedict this week, let
us remind ourselves that in all we do we stand before God. When we are intentional about who we are and about who we are called to be, the transforming grace of God will bring us ever
closer to a life in which we may manifest His love to all. His kingdom come!
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§
Jessica
Ambelang for the Sunday coffee hour, and Julie Davidson for clean-up.
§
Ben
Dobey and Bobbie May for extensive garden maintenance.
Podcasts! Podcasts
are found on the website under “Media”.
You can also subscribe on ITunes or with RSS full feed at:
Music
this Week: The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, 12 July,
Proper 10B
Prelude Two Slow Airs Herbert
Howells
Entrance
Hymn 686 “Come, thou fount of every
blessing” Nettleton
Offertory
Hymn 541 “Come, labor on” Ora labora
Communion
Hymn 419 “Lord of all being, throned
afar” Mendon
Closing
Hymn 555 “Lead
on, O King eternal” Lancashire
Postlude Carillon Herbert
Murrill
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.
A recent article in the magazine of The New
York Times setting out the parameters of debate on religious liberty:
Parish
Notices
§ We are in need of help for August 9th at Elkhart Lake Chapel. This would include: picking up the box of
bulletins at Grace Church, arriving a little early to open the buildings,
finding readers for the lessons and the prayers of the people, lighting
candles, greeting the visiting priest, various other tasks, locking up at the
end and returning the box to Grace Church. There are instructions printed and
several people who would be able to help if you have questions. Please call the
office at 452-9659. Thank you.
§ Raise
Bail! Fr. Karl will serve time in the Muscular
Dystrophy Association annual lock-up event, on 22 July, at Highland
House. He needs to raise $1,600 in total donations to make “bail” for
release. (In the spirit of Tripartite Ministry, it was Fr. Phil who
issued the arrest warrant!) Fr. Karl has already donated $100. He
needs your help. Go to http://www2.mda.org/site/TR?fr_id=20453&pg=entry to make a donation.
§ Love
INC’s very first “Product Drive”: Grace Church is partnered with Love
INC and Love INC is partnered up with Anti Sex Trafficking Coalition and
all Law Enforcement of Sheboygan County to provide 20 “Restoration
Bags” for survivors of Human Trafficking. Here are the details!
· Grace
Church has volunteered to provide Underwear, teddy bears and socks. There was
a separate email with the specific products to be purchased. Please call
the office for more information. We have to be very sensitive to triggers for
the survivors so we have pulled the information from the FBI and we would like
to give you the specifics on the product style and color. When the
specifics are available that information will be distributed with pictures.
· · The
drive needs to be in July and all products need to be arranged for drop off by
July 27th.
· Events
like the Super bowl and PGA are prime events that girls and women are
trafficked. Did you know that Sheboygan is 2nd highest in the
State for Sex Trafficking. Stay tuned for more ways the Churches are
looking at getting involved to bring awareness to our Community!
§
What's it Worth
Antiques and Appraisal Event: Back by popular
demand Grace Church is hosting What's it Worth Antiques and Appraisal Event
on Thursday,
§ July 23, 4-7 PM. Mark F. Moran, antique author and appraisal expert featured on the
popular PBS Series, Antiques Roadshow will return to appraise your
valued item as well as discuss his experience in buying and selling antiques
for more than 30 years. Pre- Registration is required and is now open (at
$15 per item) and can be made by calling Barb MacEwen at
920-912-4505. Spread the word among your friends, flyers available in the
narthex and in the Angelus. Spectators are also welcomed. It promises to
be a very entertaining time. This is one of our fundraisers for the
church. Want to work? Sign up sheet is in the narthex.
§ Brat
Fry and Bake Sale: is August 8, 2015 at Miesfeld’s. Do you have an
interest in baking goodies for our bake sale? (This proves to be a major part
of a brat fry event and your help is most appreciated!) And/or could you help
package the baked items on Friday, August 7th at 1:00 PM? All sign
up sheets including working at the brat fry are in the narthex. Thank you so
much for your participation.
§ Study
Guides for Congregational Use: Bishop Gunter has
released two study guides for use by congregations and individuals of the
Diocese of Fond du Lac. The King or a Fox: Configuring the Mosaic of
Scripture is a 14-page document as a guide to understanding and interpreting
Scripture. It was used by clergy during deanery clericus gatherings. In
Dialogue With Each Other is a Study Guide created to aid congregations in
studying and discussing the topic of same-sex unions. Clergy may want to
encourage individuals to make use these resources or use them as a basis for
forums or other study series. Downloads are available both as PDF and Word
files. Visit diofdl.org.
§ Follow
Grace Church on Twitter: @GEC_Sheboygan
We Are on
Itunes! Check out the new
podcast!!!
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