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Thursday, December 10, 2015

False Disputes


Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin



Grace Notes

10 December 2015



The last time you bought a cup of coffee at Starbuck’s (if you did), did you give your name as “Jesus”?  In case you have missed the recent kerfuffle, a number of Christians have protested in a social media campaign that Starbuck’s “holiday season” (red) cups do not say “Merry Christmas”.  Those protesting have, therefore, urged Starbuck’s customers to give their name as Jesus, since it is the custom of Starbuck’s to write the name of the customer on the cup.

This is an example of a false dispute, a stupid fight.  To begin with, Starbuck’s is a business.  They have no responsibility to promote any faith.  If you don’t like their trade dress, don’t patronize them.  (The you won’t even have to worry about whether their logotype incorporates an image of a pagan goddess!)  False disputes, stupid fights, do not promote the faith.  They are damaging to the Church, making it easier for those of no faith to look upon believers as little more than scolds.

What does promote the faith is its proclamation. We proclaim the faith not just in words but in who we are.  The world must look upon believers and see that believers are different from the world.  It is only when a difference is observed that someone might want to know the reason for the difference.  (That’s when words become important.)

This begs the question:  What looks different during the “holiday season”?  What looks different is many things, but it certainly includes:  making worship central to your identity; inviting others to worship; praying at a family meal and gathering; giving thanks to God, when all of the presents have been opened and you have thanked each other; saying “I love you” more often; focusing on giving, not getting.  The list could go on and on, and there is no one way to so reorient ourselves that we both experience joy (in all circumstances), but that this is witnessed by others.  A good place to start, however, is to focus on a rule of life, as has been proposed by Bp. Gunter.  Starting now to practice the simple day-in, day-out life of faith will so change you that others will notice.

To review:  The Rule of Life encouraged in the Diocese of Fond du Lac involves:

  1. Worship in Community
  2. Prayer
  3. Fasting
  4. Sabbath
  5. Examination

Details can be found on hand-outs available in the parish, or at http://www.diofdl.org/documents/publications/fdlrol.htm  Start now!



Grace abounds:  Please thank:

  • Bob and Anne Hanlon, and Leslie Kohler for the Sunday coffee hours.
  • John Davis for repair work performed at the rectory.
  • All who helped in preparation, set-up, serving and cleanup for the Advent Lessons & Carols reception, including:  Nicci Beeck, Leslie Kohler, Barb MacEwen, Bernie Markevitch, and Bryan Stenz.
  • Ben Dobey and the choir for the lessons & carols!



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 Third Sunday of Advent, Year C (Gaudete Sunday)



Prelude                   Chorale Prelude on Savior of the Nations, Come         J. S. Bach

Entrance Hymn 59 “Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding”                               Merton

Trisagion S-102                                                                            A. Archangelsky

Canticle 9:             Ecce Deus - Isaiah 12:1-7

Alleluia Verse:        The Spirit of the Lord is upon me;

                            He has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor.

Offertory Hymn 75 “There’s a voice in the wilderness crying”                   Ascension

Sanctus S-114                                                                                        H. Willan

Agnus Dei S-158                                                                                     H. Willan

Communion Motet           Rejoice, O Jerusalem                                         H. Willan



          The night is far spent, the day is at hand.

Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness,

     and let us put on the armor of light.        

          Behold, the Lord shall come and all his saints with Him:

      and in that day the light shall be great.

          Rejoice, O Jerusalem, behold, thy King cometh.  Alleluia.

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

Closing Hymn 65   “Prepare the way, O Zion”                                     Bereden vag

Postlude                Prepare the way, O Zion                                            Dale Wood



Parish Notices



  • Adult Formation: At 9:00 am Sunday we will conclude our class on Anglican Identity, with a Q & A session.  This is an opportunity to ask questions you may have about Anglican belief, the Church, our history, or the “why’s” of what we do.
  • Youth and Children’s Choir: Youth and Children’s choir rehearsals for the Christmas Eve service continue at 5:30-6:00pm on December 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 continue on December 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.
  • Christmas (Castle) Sort and Shop: Wednesday, December 16th, make Christmas merry for hundreds of children by sorting through toys and shopping for families. Six people are needed throughout the day. 3 from 9:00am-1:00pm; 3 from 1:00pm-5:00pm. This will be at 710 Pennsylvania Ave, Sheboygan. Please sign-up on the sheet on the table in the Narthex. If you have any questions please contact Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.
  • Christmas Gifts Distribution Volunteers! On Thursday, December 17th all during the day, you can assist local families pick presents from the Toy Shop. This gives those in need an opportunity to “shop” for Christmas presents for their families. We are in need of at least 6 people to help, 2 in each time slot, from 8:30am- noon; 11:30am-3:00pm and 2:30pm-6:00pm. This will be at 710 Pennsylvania Ave, Sheboygan. Please sign-up on the sheet on the table in the Narthex. If you have any questions please contact Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.
  • Christmas Joy: is scheduled to meet on Monday, December 21st at 11:00 a.m., 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. Can you bake, make a delivery or help arrange? Please join us for this fulfilling and fun ministry to our elderly and shut-ins. They will appreciate it. If you have any questions, please call Barb MacEwen at 467-6909.
  • End of Year Pledge Reminder: Please make every effort to pay the remainder of your pledge before the end of the year. If you need to know your balance, please call the office at 452-9659. If you want tax credit for your pledge paid in 2015, you must have the payment in the office by Wednesday, December 30th. A check dated the 30th, but arriving later cannot be counted as paid in 2015. All payments received after the 30th will be credited in 2016. Thank you so much.
  • Christmas Flowers/Music: If you would like to contribute to the Christmas flowers/music in memorial or in thanksgiving, please complete the form inserted in this mass booklet.
  • 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.
  •         Bible Challenge: Grace Abounds will launch The Bible Challenge on the First Monday of 2016, January 4th. If you take this challenge, you will find that in one year you will read all of the Bible! This will require less than an hour of your time, six days a week. A schedule of readings will be provided on the parish website, along with weekly study summaries and a weekly video summery of the readings. If you need a good study bible for the challenge, contact the parish office. When we immerse ourselves in Scripture, the mantle of the Lord does fall upon us. We are equipped to discern God’s will and to lead others to know and love and serve the Lord.
Christmas Schedule:
Eve of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ
    Thursday, December 24, 2015

4:00 p.m. Children’s Christ’s Mass
10:30 p.m. Prelude of Christmas Music
11:00 p.m. Solemn Christ’s Mass
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
    Friday, December 25, 2015

9:00 a.m. Mass with Carols

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