Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
14 July 2016
I love the worship and music of the Russian
Orthodox Church. I have a very extensive
collection of recordings of this music, a reasonable collection of sheet music
and reference materials, and the knowledge of a dedicated enthusiast and critic
who lacks any substantive musical skill, but has been privileged to sing
examples of this music in worship and concert.
It was with a certain pleasurable anticipation, therefore, that I
recently acquired two new recordings of this music, on the basis of very
favorable reviews by a widely-respected critic. I was disappointed, and not
because of any lack of technical quality in the performances. What was lacking was a sense of inhabiting
the music as worship.
The recordings were made by a notable Western
choir. Any quibbles about diction from
English men and women singing in Church Slavonic were vanishingly small. The musical talents of the performers were
prodigious. The recorded sound was
award-winning. So what was missing? I think what was lacking was a sense that the
singing involved more than words set to music, more than a performance. What was needed was evidence of hearts being
lifted up.
An example:
The All Night Vigil of Sergei
Rachmaninoff has been recorded by many notable choirs. The most recent recording combines choirs
from Kansas City and Phoenix, and the result is aurally spectacular, but no
hearts are moved. In contrast, evidence
of hearts being lifted up is very much present in a 1960’s Soviet era recording
made in Moscow. The Russian
singers—“performing” in an officially and militantly atheistic society, are
moved by what they sing. They are praying and not just singing.
Which brings us to our own experience of
worship. Regardless of tastes in music
and in styles of worship, do we offer our hearts or are we focused more on
whether or not we are doing things “correctly”? We must always offer our best to God. This is an offering of self that may include
superior skills or may include a heart that is lifted up even when it resides
in one who “cannot carry a tune in a bucket”.
What we do in liturgy is an offering focused on why we make this
offering and to whom.
I guess it is the why and the whom that
seem so secondary in the what of the
recordings I have referred to. When we
can keep the why and the whom primary in all of our worship, we’ll not go
wrong.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Elizabeth
Schaffenburg, and Steve and Katie Larson for the Sunday coffee hours.
§ Archdeacon Michele
Whitford and Bryan Stenz for ongoing work preparing studio space for Grace
Abounds.
§
Ben
Dobey for work in the garden.
Call for
Contributions: If you
have a spiritual reflection to share, or want to point your fellow worshipers
toward a resource, submit your contributions to Fr. Karl (by email) by
Wednesday in the week of publication.
Don’t forget
“Something Extra for Grace”: Supplemental
giving envelopes can be found in pews.
If you want to give something extra, please use an envelope to ensure
that you are credited.
Music
this Week: The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 11C)
Prelude Preludes on Jesus, lead thou on & Let
us ever walk with Jesus Paul Manz
Entrance
Hymn 637 “How firm a foundation” Lyons
Offertory
Hymn
525 “The Church’s one foundation” Aurelia
Communion
Hymn
488 “Be thou my vision” Slane
Closing
Hymn
411 “O
bless the Lord, my soul” St. Thomas (Williams)
Postlude Prelude
& Fugue in D Major (WTC II) J. S. Bach
Parish
Notices
§ Ben Dobey, our Organist &
Choirmaster, is retiring on July 31st: Mark your calendars and sign up on the sheet
on the table in the Narthex, or call the office to make a reservation, for the
celebration brunch to be held that day in Ben’s honor. All food will be catered
by the hospitality committee.
§ Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman: Grace Church Women’s Bible Study will begin
on Monday August 29that 10:00am.
Join us for a faith journey through the Book of Esther. Beth Moore will take us through a very
personal examination of this Old Testament story of Esther as she peels back
the layers of history and shows us how very contemporary and applicable the
story is to our lives today. If you’ve ever felt inadequate, fearful or find
yourself in situations that seem overpowering, this is the study for you. Just
as it was tough being a woman in Esther’s time, it is tough being a woman
today. During this nine-week study we will watch a lecture on DVD’s, use a
workbook ($15.99), and talk about Beth’s teachings. The Book of Esther contains
treasures to aid us in our sometimes hurried, harried and pressured lives. If
you have not already signed up, there is a sheet in the Narthex. We hope you
can join us as we walk through this portion of God’s Word.
§ Point In Time Semi-Annual Homeless
Count: Volunteers are need on Wednesday, July 27th,
11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. Training will be provided on that day at 10:00 p.m.
Please see the notice board in the Narthex for more details.
§ Love INC - Love In The Name of Christ:
§ The Guild of Martha & Mary: launched
their “Feed Your Soul” cooking ministry yesterday, here at Grace Church, with 6
Neighbors-In-Need referred through Love Inc. Please pray for the new cooking
ministry! If you want to get involved please call Jenna, Love Inc. Coordinator,
at 920-783-6701, ext. 103 or call Paul Aparicio at 920-912-6009.
§ “Freedom Cry Anti-Sex Trafficking: This
Coalition is hosting a lantern walk on August 19th. They are looking
for 150 mason jars and 150 battery operated tea lights to place along the walk. They will
need these supplies to be dropped off at Love INC. by July 31st
§ For
more information regarding Love INC, items needed and volunteer opportunities
please see their July bulletin in the Narthex.
§ Education for Ministry (EfM): This class was created to help you find your
vocation and ministry with a trusted group of friends. By studying scripture,
history and reading other people’s writings, we discover more about God’s
wonderful plan for our lives. The EfM class will meet on Tuesday nights
starting September 13 at 5:30 pm. at the St Peter’s Church House, Sheboygan
Falls. Interested individuals can contact Barb Drewry-Zimmerman at: bzimmy@excel.net
or call 920-893-5189 for registration materials. Cost is $350 &
scholarships are available. Registrations are due by August 1st.
They can be mailed to Barb at: PO Box 67, Boulder Junction, WI
54512.
§ Like Grace Church on Facebook
§ Follow Grace Church on Twitter: @GEC_Sheboygan
§ Follow Grace
Church on Instagram: @GEC_Sheboygan
§ We Are on Itunes! Check
out the new podcast!!!
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