Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
4 August 2016
Today is the feast of St. Jean Baptiste
Marie-Vianney, the Curé d’Ars (d. 1859).
St. Jean (a window of whom is found in our own Chapel of Christ the
King) is considered by many to be the patron saint of confessors, although in
modern parlance it is more accurate to describe him as having been extraordinarily
gifted in (and popular for) spiritual and psychological counselling. Biographical details may be found here: http://www.missionstclare.com/english/people/aug4.html His feast is an occasion for us to reflect,
briefly, on the distinctions to be made between confession, spiritual counsel,
and psychological counsel.
We may dispose with psychological counsel
quickly, because it is not something we do in the Church. This is not a comment on psychological
counselling, but on the qualifications of those who act in ministry,
who—despite the reality that they may have very good insights—are not trained
or professionally qualified in this counselling. Spiritual counsel is another matter. This involves prayerful insight in which the
counsellor is focused on listening—to his or her charge and very much to
God—and on how to help the charge listen better to God, that God may bring
about insight, illumination and new direction.
Insights are gained through all of the forms of prayer, and on how God
communicates with us His will.
Confession, referred to in the prayer book as
“Reconciliation of a Penitent” (BCP 447—452)
involves a one-on-one meeting with a priest.
This is a rite which is additional to the general confession made at
most celebrations of Holy Eucharist, but let’s first note that in the general
confession (e.g., “Most merciful God
…,” BCP 360) just saying the prayer
is not a full confession; we must first call to mind those sins we are offering
to God. In the rite of reconciliation of
a penitent (of which we say that “All may; none must; some should”), the key
language describes a spiritual and mental process that can be classified as:
§ Ownership: The sin offered is owned. To make a confession
I must identify that what is offered was an offense against God, and that this
was owned by me. There are no passive
verbs in this equation!
§ Remorse: In offering a sin I must not only recognize
that it was sinful, I must also be genuinely sorry. I must regret the sin. I am asking that the pain/stain of this sin be
lifted from me by God. I must promise
and intend real restitution to those who I have injured.
§ Petition: I must ask God to forgive me, trusting in His
mercy.
§ Resolution: I must resolve, by God’s grace, to amend my
life.
As stated, “All may; none must; some should”,
but when a sin is carried the burden always grows, and making a confession
involves the joy of having this burden lifted.
When God forgives a sin it is gone
as described in the words of Ps. 103.12:
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins
from us.”
If you wish to make an individual confession,
please contact the parish office to make an appointment.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Bobbie May and Ben
Dobey for work in the garden.
§ Those responsible for
the splendid retirement luncheon for Ben:
·
Cooking and setup: Barb
MacEwen, Bernie Markevitch, Bobbie May, Polly Schmeiser, and Mary Snyder.
·
Cleanup:
Julie Davidson, Becky Elders, Bob and Anne Hanlon, Bobbie May.
·
Linens:
Jessica Ambelang.
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
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 14C)
Organist: Delpha McAloon
Prelude Two Liturgical Meditations O. Royd
Entrance
Hymn 7 “Christ,
whose glory fills the skies” Christ Whose Glory
Offertory Hymn 680 “O
God, our help in ages past” St. Anne
Communion Hymn 328 “Draw nigh and take”
Song 46
Closing
Hymn 436 “Lift
up your heads, ye mighty gates” Truro
Postlude Toccata in E Minor
J.
Pachelbel
Parish
Notices
§ Call for Nominations: Diocesan
Convention will take place on Saturday, 22 October, and nominations are needed
to Executive Council, Trustees, Standing Committee, etc. If you are interested in serving, or in
nominating another, details are available at www.diofdl.org.
§ 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.
For
those of you who are interested, there is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex.
§ Love INC - Love In The
Name of Christ:
- The Guild of Martha & Mary: launched their “Feed Your
Soul” cooking ministry, here at Grace Church, with 3 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 Coalition Lantern
Walk: Unknown
to many, Sheboygan is second (Milwaukee being first) in the State of
Wisconsin regarding this horrific scourge on our community. On August 19th
at 7:00 p.m at the Sheboygan County Christian High School there will be a
free showing of the documentary “Nefarious” (see poster on notice board
in the Narthex). Due to the images and content in the documentary, this
event is for a mature audience. The Lantern Walk will take place
following the documentary. Funds raised will go to Redeem and Restore in
Waukesha and The Anti-Trafficking Coalition of Sheboygan County.
- For more information regarding Love INC, items
needed and volunteer opportunities please see their July bulletin in the
Narthex.
- Women’s Mini-Week August 11-14: Held at Camp Lakotah, near
Wautoma (where we hold Summer Camp), Women's Mini-Week is an annual
retreat event for adult women, offering refuge, friendship, relaxation,
and fun. And NO dishes! Mini-Week combines opportunities to learn
with fellowship, spiritual exploration and delicious food. Women may
participate as much or as little as they would like and need. Learn more
and register at womensminiweek.org.
§ My
First Year In Seminary: Bobby Kraft
will be here on August 21st to give the aforementioned presentation
at 9:00 a.m.
§ St. Mary the Virgin: Monday, August 15th we will celebrate the
Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, also known as the Feast of the Assumption of
Mary. We will celebrate with a Solemn Mass at 6:00 pm.
§ Eucharistic Festival: August 27, 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Cathedral
Church of St. Paul in Fond du Lac, WI. A traditional celebration of the
Sacrament, with an outdoor procession & adoration. Homilist is the Rev.
Matthew Olver, Teaching Fellow in Liturgics, Nashotah House Theological
Seminary. Picnic meal follows. All are welcome to this diocesan family celebration.
Sign up online to help or sing in the choir. For more details see the notice
board in the Narthex or visit diofdl.org/ef. Commemoration of Blessed
Charles Chapman Grafton: Included in the Eucharistic Festival is The
Grafton Lecture, 1:00–2:00 p.m in St. Augustine’s Chapel. Matthew P. Payne
presents “A Brief History of An Episcopal Orthodox Affair: a Russian and a
Bostonian” with response from festival homilist, Fr. Matthew Olver.
§ Blessing of the Backpacks! We will be blessing all the
backpacks and school children as well as all the teachers, on August 28th
at both 8:00 and 10:15 services. We will invite everyone, young and old, who
are starting school to come forward with their backpacks for a blessing. We
will also ask all the teachers to come forward to be blessed in their important
work as well.
§ Mass in the Grass: Please join us Sunday, September 11, 2016 for an
outdoor Mass and All Church Picnic together with the parish of St. Peter,
Sheboygan Falls and the parish of St. Paul, Plymouth. This event will take
place at Deland Community Center, 901 Broughton Dr., Sheboygan, beginning with
Mass at 10:00 a.m. with lunch following. There will be games and
activities for our children’s enjoyment. Inviting guests is encouraged. There
will be ONE MASS only that day. We will be asking for donations
of cookies/bars, potato chips, and monetary donations to defray the costs which
will be shared amongst all three parishes. We will also be asking for
volunteers for set-up and clean-up and two individuals to help in roasting the
pigs the day before. Please sign up on the sheet on the Narthex table.
§ Sunday School Begins: We are getting excited about Sunday School! The
teachers are making plans for another wonderful year of learning about the love
of Jesus Christ! Sunday School will begin on September 18th at
9:00am. Please watch for more information.
§ 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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