Grace Notes: May 2015

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Genuine Invitation

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

28 May 2015

In the current “culture wars” a major focus relates to sexuality. Yesterday, in commenting on the Irish vote to legalize same gender unions, the Secretary of State of the Vatican described the vote as a “defeat for humanity”. This viewpoint is obviously at odds with that held by many people, including faithful members of the Church, who applaud what has happened. The issue relates to whether or not we assign any moral dimension to our physicality, and the reality is that the Church does not speak with one voice in this matter. But, recognizing that we do not speak with one voice, how do we reach people who look upon the culture wars and decide that their best option is to opt out; people who won’t or can’t listen to what the Church says about anything because they see only disagreements, and because they don’t speak the language of faith.

We have to first recognize that we are surrounded by people who long for something outside of themselves. They long for something that they may characterize as “spiritual” or as “being themselves”, but which they can’t really name as the longing to be in union with the source and summation of all that is good, and beautiful, and true, and love, and being. They can’t name God, or when they do they engage in what is at best caricature.

We are not going to help them to come to know God by speaking only in a language which is code to them! Speaking of faith without a shared language serves only to reinforce alienation. We must, rather, focus first on building community. Let’s get to know those in the world around us who do not know God. Let’s let them share in community with people who are seen to be changed by our relationship with Jesus Christ. As we build community we build understanding. As we build understanding we build trust and mutual love. As we build mutual love we grow together in the love found in Jesus Christ, that together we may each become more Christ-like.

Talking to anyone about moral dimensions in life, or about theological insights, gets us nowhere. God wants to use us to reach others. To do this we must be vulnerable to them. They must see how faith makes a difference in our own lives, first in how we are other-oriented. It’s only then that we can mutually describe things like real intimacy (as opposed to physicality only), and it’s only then that we can together experience the intimacy which in known in “the peace which passeth understanding”.

If you are speaking with someone who has never tasted pistachio ice cream, how can you describe it? You won’t get very far saying “It tastes like chicken”! But that’s what a lot of what passes for outreach and evangelism in our world amounts to—positions taken in culture wars, and described in language which doesn’t make sense to a lot of listeners. So they tune us out. But when we are genuine in inviting them to be with us they might try “pistachio ice cream”. They might learn about faith, about the beauty of holiness, about the peace which passeth understanding. People do long for more; let’s invite them to try it.

Grace abounds: Please thank:

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

§ Jack Britton and John Davis for help in the floor refinishing project. Please thank John, as well, for fixing the kitchen stove.

§ Ed and Mary Clabots for researching the identities of U.S. armed forces veterans buried in the columbarium, and commemorating their service with flags for Memorial Day.

Podcasts! Podcasts are found on the website under “Media”. You can also subscribe on ITunes or with RSS full feed at:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-church-sheboygan/id982836791

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: Trinity Sunday

Prelude Kyrie, God the Father in eternity J. S. Bach

Christ, Redeemer of the World

Kyrie, God the Holy Ghost

Entrance Hymn 362 “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty” Nicaea

Mass Setting: Deutsche Messe Schubert, arr. Proulx

Offertory Hymn 370 “I bind unto myself today” St. Patrick’s Breastplate

Communion Motet From the Rising of the Sun Tomblings

Communion Hymn 365 “Come, thou Almighty King” Moscow

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

Postlude Verses on the Te Deum Guilmant

Parish Notices

§ Elkhart Lake Chapel: The Chapel will have services every Sunday through Labor Day weekend. We are in need of help for each Sunday. 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 sign up for a Sunday or two by calling the office at 452-9659 with dates you are available. Thank you.

§ Adult Formation: We begin a series on Prayer at Grace Church at 9:00am in St. Nicholas Hall. We will discuss how Jesus prayed and how he healed; what the Bible says about prayer; the history of prayer here at Grace Church, including the Walsingham Pilgrimage and the healing ministry. This will be led by Deacons Michele and Mike.

§ Altar Guild: The Altar Guild is a very important ministry in the life of the church. This is the team that gets the vestments and the holy vessels ready for each service and then cleans up after each service. As the deacon, I will tell you that this team of people enables the clergy and people to worship in a seemingly effortless fashion. There are several members of the Altar guild who are moving away. We are in great need of a few more willing to take on a new ministry. This can be a weekday, or weekend, there will be training and support in all areas. Please speak with Claudia Fischer or Deacon Michele if you even think you may want to try it out.

§ Grohmann Art Museum: There are a couple of parishioners who are planning a trip to the Grohmann Art Museum at the Milwaukee School of Engineering on Tuesday June 9, departing Sheboygan at 10 am. The Grohmann Museum features more than 1,000 paintings and sculptures representing the evolution of human work. It is 4 floors with a rooftop sculpture garden. Afterwards they will be going out to lunch. The cost of admission to the museum is $5, plus whatever one wants to spend on lunch. If you are interested please sign up on the sheet on the Narthex table or call the office.

§ Save the Date: Thursday, July 23, 2015, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, St. Nicholas Hall: Back by popular demand we will again host What’s it Worth Antiques Appraisal Event Hosted by Mark F. Moran. (Contact Barb MacEwen to find out how you can help!) [920-912-4505, More news to follow next month.]

§ Summer Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12^th graders. Camp is an opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community, about themselves and have fun! If you have questions about what camp is like please call Michele at the office. Scholarships are available.

o Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 14 (Sun 3pm) – June 20 (Sat 12noon)

o Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 21 (Sun 3pm) – June 25 (Thu 5pm)

o Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 21 (Sun 3pm) – June 25 (Thu 5pm)

o KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 25 (Thu 2pm) – June 27 (Sat 12noon) There are application forms on the Narthex table.

§ Follow Grace Church on Twitter: @GEC_Sheboygan

§ We Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-church-sheboygan/id982836791

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Got Prayer?

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

21 May 2015

Got prayer? Piggy-backing on the well-known and successful “Got milk?” image campaign that The American Fluid Milk Board has for years used, can you imagine a series of billboards around town with a “Got prayer?” message, accompanied by information on how to pray with us? If we were to pitch such a question campaign publicly, we could only do so when our answer to the question would be a resounding “Yes!”

We cannot reach out, we cannot convert the world, unless and until we are ourselves reconverted to what it means to be in Christ. It’s not about membership in an organization. Our identity as disciples is in how we are bound to Our Lord and in how we are bound to each other. The biblical model of the Church is a Body, a family. No one outside the Church will have any interest in the faith except to the extent that they witness how the faith makes a difference in who we are.

So let’s get practical. Our seminarian recently reminded us, in a sermon, of what a “remnant church” looks like—a church focused on gathering with God, on offering intercessory prayer, on being the Church and not worrying about what the world is up to except to the extent that we are focused in intercession and evangelism. We have to demonstrate our own conversion to others, so here’s the immediate practical pitch: Do you have 30 minutes a day for prayer? We want to put Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer in podcasts on our website every day. To do this we need a dedicated cadre who can first be trained, and can then (working from a provided document) pray. We’ll record 30 days on prayer in advance, so when the inevitable glitch arises, we can edit before posting.

Our first mission is the reconversion of the wider Church. We want to work to build a prayer community online, in which people will be praying with you. In the near future (by Fall) we want to expand this online resource into a live online resource, but for now we just need people who can set aside time to pray.

So first pray on you own. Pray about what God is calling you to do, and how He is calling you to do it with others. Then come talk to one of the clergy about what training will look like, and when it will take place. Then we can get together and start!

Grace abounds: Please thank:

§ Barb MacEwen and Bernie Markevitch for organizing and serving the Sunday coffee hour and reception. Thanks, as well, to all who provided food.

§ Pat and Wayne Sather, and Julie Davidson, for cleanup following the reception.

§ John Davidson for reception room setup, and Paul Aparicio and Scott Gedemer for take down.

Podcasts! Podcasts are found on the website under “Media”. You can also subscribe on ITunes or with RSS full feed at:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-church-sheboygan/id982836791

Memorial Day: Update on Memorial Day plans for Veterans in Columbarium: Using obituaries, I have identified 8 veterans in our columbarium. I have varying amounts of information on each, but would like to be able to post a paper listing which branch of the service, years they served, what type of unit they were in, and perhaps place they served if they were in a war. If you have a veteran loved one who is in our columbarium and can provide any information please let me know. (Mary Clabots)

What if? (Thoughts about ministry expansion—N. Whitford)

What if we had 10 unaffiliated people per week checking in to see what we and our church are all about?
What if it were really simple and non-threatening to increase that number to 100?
What if it took just a little bit of trying to get that number up to 1000?
What kinds of things would happen if we knew there were 1000 people every week curious to know what it's like to go to church at Grace?
What if a ministry that is useful for in-reach could be a successful outreach ministry as well?
What if that ministry was simply a projection of the things we have always done, and intend to always do?
What happens if we take one of our strengths, and unique qualities (as Anglicans), like the daily office, and share that with the people around us?
What if some of those people thought that it would be worth their while to donate to the church as a charity, for their participation?
What if those donations could grow into a self-sustaining ministry?
What if the research shows that the generation known as the Millennials are hungry for tradition, are finding liturgy very useful in developing their faith, and searching for worship homes that allow for the immensity of God, as well as the quiet of God?
What if we are in a position, by happenstance or intelligence (God's, not ours) that makes us a perfect landing pad for Millennials, and others looking for a church home?
What if we had the tools to reach out into the community, county, state, nation, and world with the same effort across the board?
What if we had a focused goal, in ministry, as a church to bring the word of God to the world?
What if that goal didn't require sacrificing who we are, but instead reinforces who we are?
What if we are being called to do this?
What if...

Music this week: The Feast of Pentecost

Prelude Prelude on ‘Down Ampney’ R. Benjamin Dobey

Opening Hymn 225 Hail thee, festival day! Ralph Vaughan Williams

Sequence Hymn (Choir) Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inpire Veni Creator Spiritus

Offertory Hymn 509 Spirit divine, attend our prayers Johann Cruger

Communion Anthem Come, Holy Ghost Orlando Gibbons

Communion Hymn 508 Breathe on me, Breath of God Lister R. Peace

Closing Hymn 516 Come down, O Love divine Ralph Vaughan Williams

Postlude Chorale Prelude on Come, Holy Ghost, Lord God J. S. Bach

Parish Notices

§ Adult Formation: we will conclude the six week course on the nuts-and bolts of the Old Testament today, May 24^th at 9 a.m. in the fellowship hall.

§ Elkhart Lake Chapel: The Chapel opens today and will have services every Sunday through Labor Day weekend. We are in need of help for each Sunday. This would include: picking up the 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, and locking up at the end. There are instructions printed and several people who would be able to help if you have questions. Please sign up for a Sunday or two on the sheet on the Narthex table or by calling the office with dates you are available. Thank you.

Scholarships are available.

― Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 14 (Sun 3pm) – June 20 (Sat 12noon)

― Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 21 (Sun 3pm) – June 25 (Thu 5pm)

― Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 21 (Sun 3pm) – June 25 (Thu 5pm)

― KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 25 (Thu 2pm) – June 27 (Sat 12noon) There are application forms on the Narthex table.

§ Dinner and a Movie: Great Marriages is sponsoring a movie date night, dinner is included. The Song was named "Best Christian Movie" by the Plugged In Movie Awards. A long-struggling musician (Alan Powell) finally hits the big time with a love song he wrote for his wife, but sudden fame and temptation cause his life and marriage to crumble. Friday, May 29^th, from 6:30pm-9:00pm at Great Marriages, 612 Center Ave, Sheboygan. The cost is $10/couple; $5/individual. Please register on line at www.great-marriages.org; EVENTS page.

§ Save the Date: Thursday, July 23, 2015, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, St. Nicholas Hall

§ Back by popular demand we will again host What’s it Worth Antiques Appraisal Event Hosted by Mark F. Moran. (Contact Barb MacEwen to find out how you can help!)

§ 920-912-4505, More news to follow next month.

§ Follow Grace Church on Twitter: @GEC_Sheboygan

We Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-church-sheboygan/id982836791

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Come, Labor On

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

14 May 2015

Today is the Feast of the Ascension, when we commemorate Jesus’ ascent into heaven, there to reign (Acts 1.6-11). In the first chapter of Acts, St. Luke first recalls that in the first book he wrote (his gospel) the story of Jesus was recited, leading up to His resurrection. Now he focuses on what comes next for the Church, and the scene is set with Jesus instructing His disciples to remain in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes upon them. This descent of the Holy Spirit, which happens at Pentecost, and is described in chapter 2 of Acts, is understood to be the “birthday of the Church”. Which means that this period, now, the time from Ascension to Pentecost, is when the the labor process is underway!

When we recall that Jesus Christ is the great physician of souls, and that the Church is the midwife of new life in God, we can then better recognize that new birth, new life, is new life in the Spirit—it is new life by virtue of Pentecost. But what happens during labor? Labor is attended by pain, anticipation, some fear, longing for delivery, much prayer. It is attended by the faith that new life is possible and is willed by God.

“How far apart are the contractions?” That’s a question every woman in labor hears. The frequency and intensity of contractions signal how advanced the labor process is. Birth is, of course, a very human and intimate (and miraculous!) thing, and as such it is messy. The miracle of new life is a thing of beauty, but no one would claim it is “pretty”. We can’t sanitize birth. We can’t sanitize the birth of a child, and we can’t sanitize the birth of new life in the Holy Spirit. Labor pains are involved. Matters which are human and intimate are involved. Just as a woman cannot be “a little bit” pregnant the Church cannot be just a little bit involved in the birth of new life in the Spirit. We must be prepared and willing to be intimate in the ways a midwife is intimate with a woman giving birth. We must be involved in the breathing, in the pushing, that we can take joy in the birth, in the cry of new life, in the warm, moist and vulnerable being which comes forth as a new child of God.

Let this Asceniontide be a time when we may all remember that ministry is personal, it is intimate, it is risky, it involves travail. It is not about programs, but about people, and people are warm, moist and vulnerable. When we recognize our own vulnerabilities and offer them to God, He equips us as the Church to be the midwife, breathing, coaching, celebrating. So, how far apart are the contractions?

Grace abounds: Please thank:

§ Bill and Deb Gagin, and the Crouse family for the Sunday coffee hours.

§ Mary Massey for providing Mother’s Day flowers at the coffee hours.

§ Bill Gagin for work on the floor refinishing project.

§ Ben Dobey for extensive gardening in the columbarium courtyard.

Podcasts! Podcasts are found on the website under “Media”. You can also subscribe on ITunes or with RSS full feed at:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-church-sheboygan/id982836791

Could be from Proverbs: "Life is hard by the yard; But by the inch, life's a cinch!” Sounds like the Parish Floor Project. (B. Gagin)

What if? (Thoughts about ministry expansion—N. Whitford)

Music this week: The Seventh Sunday of Easter (The Sunday after Ascension Day)

Prelude Two Chorale Preludes on Blessed Jesus, at thy word J. S. Bach

Entrance Hymn #215 “See the conqueror mounts in triumph” In Babilone

Offertory Hymn #307 “Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendor” Bryn Calfaria

Communion Motet If ye love me Thomas Tallis

If ye love me, keep my commandments,

and I will pray the Father,

and he shall give you another Comforter,

That he may abide with you forever;

even the Spirit of Truth.

Comm. Hymn 655 “O Jesus, I have promised” Nyland

Closing Hymn #473 “Lift high the Cross” Crucifer

Postlude Trumpet Tune in C David N. Johnson

Parish Notices

§ Grace Church will celebrate on Ascension Day with both a 9:00am service in the Chapel and Ascension Day Solemn Eucharist on Thursday, May 14^th at 6:00pm.

§ Bishop’s Visitation: Today, May 17^th we welcome The Rt. Rev. Matthew A. Gunter and his lovely wife Mrs. Leslie Gunter for their first visitation. The Bishop will preach and celebrate at both 8 and 10:15 services. We will have a First Communions celebration at 8:00am. We will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with Reception and Renewal of Baptismal Vows at the 10:15 am service. Please join us for a gala reception to welcome Bishop Gunter and honor the Confirmed.

§ Nashotah commencement: Fr. Karl will be attending The Rev. Steven Peay’s installation as Dean of Nashotah House and will also be attending the Commencement of the class of 2015. He will be out of the office Tuesday, May19 and Wednesday, May 20. There will be no mass on either of those days.

§ Adult Formation: we will conclude the a six week course on the nuts-and bolts of the Old Testament May 24^th at 9 a.m. in the fellowship hall, and will be facilitated by Fr. Karl.

§ Follow Grace Church on Twitter: @GEC_Sheboygan

§ We Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-church-sheboygan/id982836791

o Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 14 (Sun 3pm) – June 20 (Sat 12noon)

o Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 21 (Sun 3pm) – June 25 (Thu 5pm)

o Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 21 (Sun 3pm) – June 25 (Thu 5pm)

o KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 25 (Thu 2pm) – June 27 (Sat 12noon) There are application forms on the Narthex table.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Tweet, Tweet

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

6 May 2015

If you were going to share one verse of scripture each day, how would you do this, and with whom? These are not an abstract questions. Beginning on 1 May the parish’s Twitter feed has posted one verse of scripture each day. It is fairly easy to answer the second question. The sharing is with all: with those who know the parish and those who don’t; with those who know God and those who don’t; those who are nearby and those are far off; those familiar with the Bible, and those who don’t know God’s Word. In short, the sharing is intended to comprise the widest possible broadcast of God’s Word.

Which brings us to the first question, the harder one. Which verse each day, selected how? The original idea was to share a verse and prayer, and to always tie the verse and prayer into the lessons appointed for the Daily Office for the day, and/or the feasts on the calendar of saints. But the 140 character limit on Twitter prevents this, particularly when the characters used in a hash tag (the unique identifier that people can follow) are included. We started out with a hash tag that is too long, #GraceEpiscopalSheboygan, have evolved to a shorter one #GraceNotes, but continue to explore options. And yet the issue remains: how to pick one verse a day, a verse directed to all and not targeted to any particular audience or demographic.

We rely, of course, on the Holy Spirit to touch those who are open to being touched, and to use particular words for particular people. So the process has been as basic as reading the lessons for the Daily Office/feasts and picking one. And that’s where things get a little interesting, for someone is picking that verse; I am.

People familiar with publishing will describe all that you can learn about a person by how he or she indexes a book. This is particularly so if an author prepares an index for his or her own book. (Most publishers rely on professional indexers.) What one picks, how one classifies and cross-references, these all reveal a lot about what one considers important. So, by analogy, picking one verse of scripture a day reveals a lot about how the picker engages God’s Word.

You can consider this entire post to be background to what the point is, a test. The test is for you. Prepare your own “one verse a day” compilation of God’s Word, as if you were going to share this with all others. Work from a set of readings like the Daily Office lessons, or use some other system that does not allow you to decide which books of the Bible to focus upon on any given day. And then pick one verse. Do this for a week, or for a month. And then go back and look at your selections and ask yourself “Why these?” What in my spirit/mind/heart allowed these verses to jump out at me?

If you take the test you will: (a) be exposed to a lot of the Bible; and (b) engage in a spiritual exercise that will reveal words to you that God wants you to focus upon. What will be further revealing is if you compare your list with those of others, and then sit down to think about what God is revealing to you about each other, and how you can listen to each other about what God is saying.

Grace abounds: Please thank:

§ Kevan and Tracie Revis, and Jane Hanson for the Sunday coffee hours.

§ Bill Gagin and John Davis for help on the floor refinishing project.

§ Mary Snyder for help in cleaning the church during Bill’s recuperation.

§ Ben Dobey for gardening and cleanup is the columbarium courtyard.

MEMORIAL DAY: This Memorial Day, we would like to recognize the veterans whose ashes are in the columbarium with flags, as is done in many cemeteries. The biggest problem we have is that we don't know who all the veterans are. If your loved one in the columbarium was a veteran, please either e-mail me (address in directory) or leave a note in the office. If you know something about any of the others, especially if they do not have family members in the parish, please speak up! (Mary Clabots)

Changes in Service Schedule: Effective 1 May the schedule of weekly services will change. On Thursdays, Evening Prayer will no longer be offered by clergy. On Saturdays, Morning Prayer and Mass will no longer be offered. These changes have been decided upon by the Vestry on the bases of: (1) Attendance patterns at each service have generally included clergy only; (2) A seven day a week service schedule was adopted at a time when the parish had three priests. The schedule is not maintainable with one priest.

The full schedule of services is as follows:

Sunday Mass Morning Prayer Evening Prayer*

8:00 a.m. (said service)

10:15 a.m. (solemn service)

Monday 12:10 p.m. 8:45 a.m. 5:10 p.m.

Tuesday 5:30 p.m. 8:45 a.m. 5:10 p.m.

Wednesday 5:30 p.m. 8:45 a.m. 5:10 p.m.

Thursday 9:00 a.m.† 8:45 a.m.

Friday 7:15 a.m. 7:00 a.m. podcast

Saturday No services/church closed.‡

*Evening Prayer is followed each day by intercessory prayers in the chapel of Our Lady of Walsingham. On Mondays, intercessory prayer is offered in a corporate Rosary.

†Mass is followed immediately by bible study.

‡Confessions will no longer be heard on second Saturdays. Confessions will be heard by appointment.

Feast days will be celebrated as announced in the monthly calendar.

Spring Cheer: Thirteen parishioners were delivered flowers, soup or cookies on Spring Cheer Day, April 30th. The recipients were most grateful and happy. Please thank the following people for all their efforts in this endeavor: Andrea and Leona Aparicio, Dcn. Mike Burg, Mary Clabots, Julie Davidson, Ben Dobey, Bev Evans, Mary Kohler, Katy Larson, Barb MacEwen, Bernie Markevitch, Mary Ann Neuses, Elizabeth Schaffenburg, Mary Snyder, Joyce Wessel.

Music this week: The Sixth Sunday of Easter (Rogation Sunday)

Prelude Andantino; Elevation Eugene Gigout

Entrance Hymn 405 “All things bright and beautiful” Royal Oak

Offertory Hymn 400 “All creatures of our God and King” Lasst uns erfreuen

Communion Motet Christ hath a garden English folk song, arr. Gerald Near

Communion Hymn 292 “O Jesus, crowned with all renown” Kingsfold

Closing Hymn 291 “We plow the fields and scatter” Wir pfluegen

Postlude Offertoire pour un Jour de Fête Gigout

Parish Notices

§ Adult Formation: we will continue to offer a six week course on the nuts-and bolts of the Old Testament and how God’s Word continues to speak to us through this living testimony. Classes will meet on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. in the fellowship hall, and will be facilitated by Fr. Karl.

§ Eve of Ascension Day: We will be celebrating the Eve of Ascension Day May 13^th. We will have a Solemn Eucharist at 6:00pm. This is a principle feast of the year when we celebrate Jesus’ ascension to heaven to sit at the right hand of God. Please plan to attend.

§ Tripartite Ascension Day Service: We will celebrate the Ascension of our Lord with our Covenant Partners May 14^th at 6:00pm. The service will be at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 2104 Geele Ave.

§ Gala Reception! Please sign up to bring sweets and savories and to clean up on May 17^th when Bishop Gunter makes his annual visitation. There is a sign-up sheet on the Narthex table. Thank you so much!

§ Bishop’s Visitation: May 17^th we welcome Bishop Matthew Gunter for his first visitation. The Bishop will preach and celebrate at both 8 and 10:15 services. We will have a First Communions celebration at 8:00am. We will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with Reception and Renewal of Baptismal Vows at the 10:15 am service. Please join us for a gala reception to welcome Bishop Gunter and honor the Confirmed.

o Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 14 (Sun 3pm) – June 20 (Sat 12noon)

o Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 21 (Sun 3pm) – June 25 (Thu 5pm)

o Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 21 (Sun 3pm) – June 25 (Thu 5pm)

o KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 25 (Thu 2pm) – June 27 (Sat 12noon) There are application forms on the Narthex table.

§ Follow Grace Church on Twitter: @GEC_Sheboygan

§ We Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-church-sheboygan/id982836791

Search This Blog

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Genuine Invitation

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Got Prayer?

Offertory Hymn 509 Spirit divine, attend our prayers Johann Cruger

Communion Hymn 508 Breathe on me, Breath of God Lister R. Peace

Closing Hymn 516 Come down, O Love divine Ralph Vaughan Williams

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Come, Labor On

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Tweet, Tweet