Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
20 October 2016
This past Monday was the feast of St.
Ignatius of Antioch (martyred 115). Ignatius, who knew the Apostle John, wrote
letters to seven churches during the course of his journey under armed guard to
execution. These letters were of such
authority in the early Church that they were considered for inclusion in the
Bible.
In his Letter
to the Magnesians, Ignatius refers to the Church as being present when
gathered with the bishop. The bishop is
defined as the focus of unity, and this is recognized in the consecration vows
made by each bishop. One of these vows
is exclusive to bishops, and in addition to the vows made by deacons and
priests, that the bishop will “… guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the
Church” (BCP 518). This is a vow that we can recall this week,
as we gather with our bishop at annual diocesan convention.
We gather because we are far greater than the
clergy and people of any one congregation.
We are a part of each other throughout the diocese and the wider Church,
and we do well to remind ourselves of this constantly—in prayer, and in how we
are intentional in gathering.
There is often a temptation to focus on
ourselves only. A congregational focus
is in the American religious DNA. We are
certainly assured by Our Lord that when two or three gather in His Name, He
will be present (Mtt. 18.20), but this does not mean that we can be all that
the Church is called to be on our own.
Having bishops—the historic episcopate—is not just a nice thing to have
to make things better (in theological jargon bene esse) but is essential to have the fullness of the Church (plene
esse). Notice the reference to
“fullness”. We can gather on our own
(two or three), and this gathering in Jesus’ Name will be one in which we can
welcome Our Lord. But such a gathering
is very much diminished from the fullness to which we are called and for which
we are equipped—the Church as a holy mystery that is outside of time; the
Church on earth and in heaven together.
As we gather in convention this week, may our
prayers be for the fullness of God’s blessing upon His Church, that this
blessing may be by her taken into all the world.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Bill and Deb Gagin,
and Jennifer Pawlus and Joyce Wessel for the Sunday coffee hours.
§ Steve and Katy Larsen
for apples.
§ Randie Barrows for plumbing
repair.
§ All who helped make
the Walsingham Pilgrimage such a success, including: (I am
bound to have missed someone. Please
update!)
·
Acolytes: Paul
Aparicio, Ben Crouse, Scot Fabiano, Bill and Deb Gagin, Bobbi Kraft.
·
Altar Guild: Bev
Evans, Claudia Fischer, Elizabeth Schaffenburg
·
Choir: All choristers,
with Ben Dobey on organ and Sandie Palmer as choir director.
·
Grace Abounds: Austin
Barrows, Grafton Cecil, Bryan Stenz, Jon Whitford, Nick Whitford, Zach
Whitford.
·
Greeters:
Michele Abrashinsky, Pat Ford Smith, Steve and Katy Larsen.
·
Guest quarters:
Clint Andersen and Jim Olsen, Leslie Kohler, Mary Snyder and Tom Wright.
·
Hospitality:
Jessica Ambelang, Bill and Deb Gagin (set up); Bernie Markevitch, Traci
Revis, Mary Snyder (cooking); Ellen Aparicio, Ed and Mary Clabots, Bernie
Markevitch, Mary Snyder, Tom Wright (serving); Ed and Mary Clabots, Julie
Davidson, Mary Ann Neuses (cleanup).
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: This Saturday, October 22nd, is 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.
Entrance
Hymn
665 “All my hope on God is
founded” Herbert Howells
Offertory
Hymn 517 “How
Lovely is thy dwelling place” Macbeth Bain
Communion
Motet “Lead us, O Father” Orlando Gibbons
Communion
Hymn 324 “Let all mortal flesh keep silence” Picardy
Closing
Hymn 613 “Thy
kingdom come, O God” Leighton George Hayne
Parish Notices
§ Adult Christian Formation: On Sunday, October 23rd, there will be no Christian formation for adults; instead we will have an
extended fellowship at the 8:00 a.m. Mass coffee hour. On Sunday, October 30th, 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.
§ Fr. Karl Schaffenburg: is traveling the week of Sunday, October 23rd and will return
for celebration of Mass on Sunday, October 30th. In the case of a
pastoral emergency please call Deacon Michele Whitford at 918-1230. Fr. Marcus Cunningham will celebrate Mass on
Sunday, October 23rd.
§ All Saints’ Day: All Saints’ Day is Tuesday, November 1st. We will celebrate
with a 5:30 p.m. mass followed by a pot-luck supper. A sign-up sheet can be found in the Narthex.
There will be no Catechumenate that evening.
§ All Soul’s 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.
§ 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.
§ 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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