Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
19 November 2015
Curiosity and genuine interest: I can be curious about
something for a wide variety of reasons.
For example, I might just be bored, and might find something to be
“interesting” because nothing else at that time holds my attention. Or, I can be curious for reasons of
intellectual exploration, realizing I know nothing about the subject at hand,
and making the decision that maybe I should know something (and then hoping
that once I know something, it will be of enough interest to warrant further
enquiry). But to be genuinely interested
in something, I need to know something about it. Genuine interest may be born from an initial
curiosity, but such interest goes beyond curiosity because it requires a
separate act of will. I have to decide
that I want to know more because of what I know already.
This past weekend
I attended my 40th high school reunion. I had never been to a prior reunion (of any
kind). I was meeting people I had not
seen in 40 years. What struck me was
that people I had no real interaction with in high school, or who even might
have been unfriendly, acted friendly.
But I soon found that I could distinguish between a friendliness of
curiosity (“What have you been doing for 40 years?”) and friendliness of
interest (“Tell me why you became a priest, etc.”) This experience made a little clearer to me
the difference between the everyday civil discourse and politeness we expect in
society and the way we are supposed to take a genuine interest in each other
and in all people as an act of faith.
The genuine
interest we are supposed to take in each other and in all people is Christian
love. We promise “to seek and serve
Christ in all persons” and to “respect the dignity of every human being” (BCP
304). This means that we already
know enough about each other (that Christ is present; that each person has an
innate God-given dignity) to take a genuine interest in each other. But this genuine interest is about more than
intellectual enquiry and information; it is about caring. When I take a genuine interest in my neighbor
I care about who he or she is, what he or she feels and believes and thinks,
how he or she relates to God and to me.
I don’t want to just know about the person, but to know the person, and
in knowing the person I find that I can share God’s love in both directions.
In church
congregations we expect each other to be polite. We expect each other to know ourselves well
enough to notice what may change in our lives.
But such expectations are far too low.
We should expect to act out of genuine interest—love—and to receive this
love. We should expect and practice that
in Christ, God is not “curious” about us, but so utterly committed to us that
He gives all. A “genuine interest” in
faith is a way of life, an identity. It
involves not only seeking Christ but embodying Him.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
- Bob and Anne Hanlon, and Steve and Mary Gallimore for the Sunday coffee hours.
- Mary Clabots for memorial decorations for the graves of military veterans in the columbarium, in commemoration of Veterans Day.
- All who have donated to the relief of Syrian refugees, and for the ongoing work of Dcn. Mike Burg, Pat Ford Smith, Barb MacEwen, and Mary Massey to pack and ship the donations.
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.
Music
this Week: The Feast of Christ the King, Proper 29B2
Prelude Benedictus Rowley
Entrance
Hymn 544 “Jesus shall reign where’er
the sun”
Offertory
Hymn 483 “The head that once was
crowned with thorns”
Communion
Motet King of glory, King of peace Walker
Comm. Hymn
383 “Fairest Lord Jesus”
Closing
Hymn 494 “Crown him with many
crowns”
Postlude Allegro from Symphony in D
Boyce
Parish
Notices
- Adult Formation: At 9:00 am Sunday we will recommence our class on Anglican Identity. This week we will be discussing Sacramental Theology.
- Thank you! To all who donated both items and money for the Samaritan’s Purse Shoe Boxes. This is 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 25th at 7:00pm at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Join in the Tripartite Combined Choir and enjoy fellowship and deserts following the worship. The Thanksgiving Offering will benefit the Salvation Army. We still need one more person to serve as an usher; if you can help please call the office. Thank you.
- Salvation Army Bell Ringing: We still need volunteers for three slots of bell ringing on November 28th at Pick & Save Southside – 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. Sign-up sheets can be found in the Narthex. For any questions please call Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.
- Holiday Parade: Grace Church will be selling drinks and snacks, before and during the Holiday Parade, Sunday November 29th. 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!
- 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 2nd, downstairs in the choir room. Additional rehearsals will be on December 9th and 16th these will be just before the Pageant rehearsals. The final rehearsal will be Sunday, December 20th at 9:00am. The choir is open to 2nd graders through high school, and will sing for the 4pm service on Christmas Eve. See the sign-up sheet in the Narthex.
- Christmas Pageant Rehearsals: will be on Wednesday December 2nd, December 9th and 16th 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 sign-up sheet located in the Narthex or call the office. If anyone is interested in directing this event, please call the office.
- Advent Lessons and Carols: On Sunday, December 6th, 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. Volunteers for food and clean-up, please see sign-up sheet in Narthex.
- Salvation Army Adopt a Family Gift tags: Twelve names are left. Please take a name or two and follow the instructions on the table next to the tree. Please return all gifts unwrapped, with value attached, to Grace Church by December 8th. If you have any questions, please call Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.
- Refugee Crisis in Croatia: Missionaries Aaron and Winnie Horvat are trying to help the Syrian refugee families flooding into Croatia. The stories of hardship, horror and desperation are hard to imagine. Most have had to leave everything behind, coming with only the clothes on their backs. Many have makeshift shoes. Aaron and Winnie’s main focus has been mothers with small children. Items needed: baby blankets, children’s socks & underwear, sweaters, hoodies, warm jackets, toothbrushes & small size toothpaste, individually wrapped sanitary napkins, children’s shoes, women’s underwear & socks. Please deposit donations in plastic bin in Narthex. Deacon Mike will box and ship the items. Donations towards shipping are also welcome. There is no deadline. For more information, please refer to bulletin board in the Narthex.
- Something Extra for Grace: Envelopes are available in the pews if you are moved to give an extra gift, beyond your pledge or regular plate donation, toward the life of the church. Gifts are tax deductible if you write your name on the envelope.
- Missing Tables: Six rectangular tables have gone missing since Mass in the Grass. If anyone has knowledge of where they might be, please call the office. Or, if you have these tables in your possession, please return them as soon as you are able. These tables are used for set up in meetings.
- Help Needed! Books are piling up in the parish library: What can you do to help? (1) You can volunteer to shelve books and reconcile the card catalogue. (2) We cannot accept any donations until further notice. If you want to become familiar with the organization of the library and card catalogue, please visit the office and we will walk you through what needs to be organized.Like Grace Church on FacebookFollow Grace Church on Twitter: @GEC_SheboyganWe Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!
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