Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
4 February 2016
At the parish
annual meeting this past Sunday, I spoke about how each of us brings gifts to
offer into the life of the Church. These
can be specific skills (like help with a computer, or fixing a bicycle) or can
be ongoing ministries (such as visiting a shut-in). What the
gift is does not matter; that it is offered is what is vital, vital because it
is in offering that we grow beyond a Sunday-only model of “church” into the
biblical model of discipleship.
A 1 Thess. 5.14,
Paul writes that we are to encourage our fellow believers. The word he uses in the original Greek is
conventionally translated as “encourage” but is closer in usage to “walk
alongside”. When we offer the gifts that
God has given us we begin to walk alongside those whom God has given us to walk
with. We get to know each other better. We begin to understand each other’s burdens
and to share in each other’s joys. In
other words, we become the Body not just in a spiritual sense but in shared
experience.
Prayerfully
consider what it is that you can offer in this Body. Is it a skill or some specific
knowledge. (E.g., “I can help someone to prepare his/her tax return.”) Is it your presence as a visitor or
listener? Is it how you will pray for
others? Pray about this. God has given you something to offer, and
will equip you to grow in His love in how you offer this gift.
There will be
questions? How do I do this? Will the sharing of gifts be coordinated
through the parish office or one-on-one?
How do I set boundaries? As we
grow in this life of ministry we will explore these questions together, and
plan to offer formal training in how to walk alongside later in the
Spring. For now we are in a season of
prayer and discernment, to identify gifts and to prepare hearts.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Bobbie May for work in organizing the parish library.
§ Julie Davidson for cleaning the freezer after it failed.
§ All who helped clean up after the annual meeting luncheon!
§ Michele Whitford and Ellen Aparicio for all of their extra
work in preparing for the annual meeting.
Education Alert! Diocesan Deacons’ School will meet again next
on 13 February, at Grace in Sheboygan. We will begin at 8:45 with Holy
Eucharist, followed by classes beginning at 9:15. At this session we will cover:
§ Old Testament: Genesis (continued)—Leviticus.
§ Church History: The Church and the Roman Empire; the
Ecumenical Councils.
You
can attend without having read the textbooks.
Class sessions will also be posted on Grace Abounds.
Have
you ever wanted to know more about the dynamics behind the persecution of the
early Church?
Have
you ever wanted to better understand the narrative arc of the Five Books of
Moses?
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 Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Prelude Diptyque for Candlemas Charles
Tournemire
Entrance
Hymn 7 “Christ,
whose glory fills the skies” Ratisbon
Offertory
Anthem Christ, whose glory fills the skies Frederick H. Candlyn
Communion
Motet Nunc dimittis in C Charles Wood
Communion
Hymn 137 “O wondrous type! O vision
fair” Wareham
Closing
Hymn 122 (alt. tune) “Alleluia! Song of
gladness” Dulce Carmen
Postlude Paean on ‘Divinum Mysterium’ John Cook
Parish
Notices
§ Work needed: A parishioner is
looking for work—all work. He has
experience and skills in home repairs, general maintenance, outside work,
etc. If you have work/projects, please
contact the parish office.
§ Adult Education: Today we will continue with Sunday morning Adult Education with the
series on Christian Community. How do
we build Christian community within and outside the Church? What are the
elements of community in Christ? What are the challenges? The focus will
include examining the scriptural models for community, those of the early
Church, those within our own heritage, and how all of these relate to our sense
of community within the wider culture.
§ Boy Scouts: Today is Boy Scout Sunday. Please
greet our Boy Scouts and let them know how much we appreciate their work;
especially the work performed in the grounds of Elkhart Lake Chapel and more
recently their leaf raking last Fall.
§ Shrove Tuesday Feast
before the Fast: Shrove Tuesday is February 9th. We will
be having a Potluck Dinner following a 5:30pm mass. Please mark your calendars
and plan to attend this festive occasion. There is a sign-up sheet on the table
in the Narthex.
§ Ash Wednesday: February 10th, Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is a day
of fasting and penitence. We will observe this day with Mass and Imposition of
Ashes at 12:10 p.m., and Solemn Mass with Imposition of Ashes at 6:00 p.m. This
is a holy day and a wonderful way to begin your Lenten observance.
§ Stations of the Cross
and Simple Suppers: Beginning on February 19th we will
meet at 5:15 p.m. for a prelude of Lenten organ music followed at 5:30 p.m. by
Stations of the Cross. Afterwards a simple supper will be hosted in the parish
hall with a presentation and pictures of Jordan, Israel and Palestine by the
pilgrims who went to the Holy Land. Please sign up on the sheets in the Narthex
so we will know how much food needs to be prepared.
§ Cooking on Friday
Evenings in Lent: If you are interested in cooking and hosting a
dinner on the Fridays during Lent, please sign-up on sheets in the Narthex. The
first Friday, February 19th and March 4th are still open.
Thank you for your willingness to serve in this manner.
§ Nashotah House
Theological Seminary’s Lenten Program:
“Reflections on Building a Christian Worldview”. The Program is free and open to the public. The presentations will be
held at Nashotah House, 2777 Mission Road, Nashotah. The Schedule of Events
begins on February 17th at 5:00 pm with Evensong in St. Mary’s
Chapel, followed by a Soup Supper at 5:45 pm and Presentation at 6:30 pm in the
DeKoven Commons. For more
information, go to www.nashotah.edu.
§ Bible Challenge: 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 is 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.
§ Sunday School Snacks: Ms. Nicci and Ms. Andrea's Sunday school classes are in need of donated
non-perishable snacks. Each class consists of a prayer around our
classroom altar followed by snack and craft time. Having snacks to offer
during this time is a wonderful opportunity for the classmates to serve each
other and come together in fellowship. It would be wonderful if anyone
who is willing could place non-perishable snack options such as applesauce,
goldfish cracker bags, fruit cups, as well as juice boxes, in our craft room to
replenish our supply. Thank you!
§ Coffee Hour Schedule:
There is a new sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour
in 2016. If you would like to host, please sign up for either 8:00 a.m. or
10:15 a.m. If you have any questions, please see Mary Massey. Thank you so
much.
§ Flower Schedule for
2016: Giving the gift of flowers is a wonderful way to
remember a loved one or to offer thanksgiving for your blessings. If you wish
to sign up for a specific Sunday, the Flower Schedule is available on the table
in the narthex. More than one person can sign up for each Sunday.
§ 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.
§ Like Grace Church on Facebook
§ Follow Grace Church on Twitter: @GEC_Sheboygan
§ We Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!
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