Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
27 October 2016
“I by my works will show you my faith” (Jas.
2.18). This coming Sunday our Lutheran
fellow believers will celebrate Reformation Sunday, which commemorates the
public challenge of Martin Luther to religious practices common in his
day. Luther is, of course, famous for
his insistence on sola fide, that believers
are justified (that is, made righteous before God) by and through faith
alone—faith in Jesus Christ. Luther even
argued that the Letter of James should be excluded from the canon of Scripture.
The debate between Christian confessions over
whether we are justified by faith or by works is misleading. It is necessary to distinguish that when Paul
refers to works (both in Romans 3 and Galatians 3) he is referring to works of
the Law, and this is a distinction that James clearly has in mind when he discusses
faith as manifested in works arising from Christian love. In other words, we need to think in terms of
“both, and” rather than “either, or”. We
must have faith in Christ. Having faith
in Christ, we become “in Christ”, through our baptism and Jesus’ Presence in
Holy Eucharist. As those who are “in
Christ” we incarnate Jesus’ presence in the world, and we do this through works
of righteousness, i.e., works of
Christian charity.
Many library shelves’ worth of books can (and
have) been written about what “justification” and “righteousness” mean. These speculations are well worth reading,
but in general require specialized theological knowledge. Rather than delve into the debate, therefore,
let’s focus on simple operative definitions through a series of questions by
which we may examine our own faith. How does my faith in Jesus Christ change
me? How is this change manifested in how
I live? How is this change manifested in
how I interact with others? How do I
express love? How do I reach out to my
neighbor?
When we examine our own faith we quickly
realize that the answer to all theological debate is an answer that we can
agree upon with Paul, with James, with Martin Luther: We experience Jesus Christ in how we allow
ourselves to be changed by His presence.
When we are changed by Jesus, we start to act more and more like Jesus. As we become more Christ-like we are
experienced by others in ways that allow them to more and more participate in
the light and salt (Mtt. 5.13-16) that we are called to be. May we recall the witness of the Reformation
in being “shiny salt” in a world otherwise filled with the dark sameness of not
knowing the joy of God.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
·
Bill
and Deb Gagin for coffee hour at 8:00am and for Polly Schmeiser who did coffee hour at 10:15.
·
Paul
Aparicio for his help getting the deacon ready for Diocesan Convention
·
For
all who helped with the parish clean-up.
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.
Energy
Conservation! Please treat Grace as
your home. If you turn something on,
turn it off! Don’t assume anyone else
will lock or turn off.
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.
Special appeal: Later this Fall we will have a grounds
cleanup day that will include ground cover and shrubbery trimming. We are, however, overdue for major reshaping
of shrubbery, and the arbor vitae which flank the church entrance are
out-of-control. Quotations for shrub
reshaping and removal/replacement of the arbor vitae run into the thousands of
dollars. Major work will not be a 2016 initiative, but we are
appealing for your donations now, to build a fund for work in the Spring of
2017. Keep Grace beautiful! Give
“Something Extra”.
Update: The Processional Cross will be restored. This will begin next Monday, and while the
cross is out for repair (which will take some months) we are blessed with a
cross made by Scot Fabiano. If you wish
to help, please us a “Something Extra for Grace” envelope and mark
“Processional Cross” on the envelope or in a check memo. line.
Music
this Week: The
Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 25C)
Organist: Ben Dobey.
Prelude Prayer;
Innvocation Alexandre Guilmant
Open Hymn 408 Sing
praise to God
Offertory Hymn 523
Glorious things of thee are spoken
Communion Motet Above
all praise and Majesty Felix Mendelssohn
Communion Hymn 301 Bread
of the world, in mercy broken
Closing Hymn 411 O
bless the Lord, my soul
Postlude March in D
Major Guilmant
Parish
Notices
Adult Christian Formation: Sunday at 9:00 a.m., we will continue with the fifth session of the
six-week course, The Christian Worldview
Through the Artists’ Eyes, taught by Christi Jentz, a professional artist,
illuminator and iconographer resident at St. Josaphat’s Basilica in Milwaukee.
All Saints’ Day: All Saints’
Day is Tuesday, November 1st. We will celebrate with a 6:00 p.m. Solemn
Mass followed by a pot-luck supper.
All Souls’ Day: All Soul’s Day is
Wednesday, November 2nd. We will celebrate the Commemoration of the
Faithful Departed with a 5:30 p.m. mass.
Operation Christmas
Child – Christmas Shoeboxes: It is that time of year again! Our Sunday
School classes will be once again filling Christmas boxes with items for the
Operation Christ Child ministry. This has been an extremely rewarding and fun
ministry for our Sunday School children to be a part of. One of our children has even started a pen
pal relationship with a recipient in Africa! We can use your help to keep this
ministry going by donating items to fill the shoeboxes. Suggestions for donations
include toys such as toy cars, yo-yos, jump ropes, balls, toys that light up
and make noises (with extra batteries), small stuffed animals or dolls, craft
kits, school supplies of all kinds, non-liquid hygiene items such as
toothbrushes, mild soap bars, wash cloths, combs, and brushes. Items can also
include accessories such as socks, hats, sunglasses, hair clips, jewelry, and
flashlights with extra batteries. There
is a $7 shipping cost per box which Grace Sunday School Ministries covers,
however, if you’d like to sponsor a box or two, donations may be submitted to
the office to offset this cost. (Note:
Toothpaste and candy will no longer be accepted in 2017, but it can be for 2016
as long as the expiration date is at least 6 months out from the national
collection week of November 14-21, 2016). Please drop off items in Ms. Nicci’s
classroom. DEADLINE for items is before Sunday School begins on November 13,
2016 when the children will be packing the items.
Tripartite
Thanksgiving Eve Worship: This year Grace Church will be hosting the joint
celebration on Wednesday, November 23rd at 7:00pm. Please come and join in the
Tripartite Combined Choir and enjoy fellowship and deserts following the
worship. We will need two people to serve as ushers and a reader, and also help
with clean-up following fellowship; if you can help please see the sign-up
sheet in the Narthex.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing: Volunteers are need
for hourly slots of bell ringing on November 26th at Piggly Wiggly
Northside 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and Pick & Save Southside 9:00 a.m. – 1:00
p.m. Sign-up sheets can be found in the Narthex. For any questions please call
Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.
Advent
Meditations: For
several years the parish has prepared and published a booklet of Lenten
meditations, in which parishioners have reflected on the prayer and scripture
lessons appointed for each day in Lent. This year we will begin an
additional meditation series, with meditations offered for each day in Advent. Advent,
sometimes called “Little Lent,” begins on November 27th (First
Sunday in Advent) and concludes at sundown of the Vigil of the Nativity,
December 24th. For each day a scripture lesson will be
provided. Those who participate will offer a brief meditation (up to 400
words) in response to the scripture reading. These meditations will be
published in print and online, and can be submitted for attribution or
anonymously. In addition, meditations can be read aloud on Grace
Abounds, as part of our podcast series. If you wish to participate, please
sign up for a day, and have all meditations completed and submitted to the
parish office no later than November 14th. Sign-up sheets and scripture
readings can be found in the Narthex.
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.
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Church on Twitter: @GEC_Sheboygan
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Church on Instagram: @GEC_Sheboygan
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