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Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Lo, How a Rose e'er Blooming

Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes
22 December 2016

Lo, how a rose e'er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung,
Of Jesse's lineage coming,
As seers of old have sung.
It came a blossom bright,
Amid the cold of winter
When half-spent was the night.

Isaiah 'twas foretold it,
This Rose that I have in mind,
With Mary we behold it,
The Virgin Mother kind.
To show God's love aright,
She bore to us a Savior
When half-spent was the night.

O Flower, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispel in glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere;
True man, yet very God,
From sin and death now save us,
And share our every load.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, that as we gather to celebrate that your child the eternal Word became one of us, we might become one with Him.

Grace aboundsPlease thank: 
§  All who helped make the reception for Mthr. Michele a success:  Nicci Beeck and Bryan Stenz (set up); Mary Grace and Rachel Boland, Julie Davidson, Elizabeth Schaffenburg, and Mary Snyder (cleanup); and all who provided food.
§  All who helped decorate the church for Christmas:  Ed Clabots, Julie Davidson, Scott Fabiano, Susan Macintosh, Bernie Markevitch, Bobbie May, Bryan Stenz, Jon and Nick Whitford.
§  All the generous donors to the Adopt a Family program at The Salvation Army.
§  Those who helped sort gifts for The Salvation Army Christmas Castle:  Jessica Ambelang, Katie Larson, Jennifer Pawlus, Nancy Yurk, Bev Evans, Bob MacEwen, Art Imig.

Call for ContributionsIf 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 Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
                                      Organist:  Ben Dobey
                                      Choir Direction:  Sandie Palmer

Christmas Eve:  Children’s Service

Processional Hymn 83 O Come, all ye faithful”                             Adeste fideles
Sequence Hymn 101     “Away in a manger, no crib for his bed
                                                                                                          Cradle Song
Pageant Hymns            O little town of Bethlehem
                                       “The first Nowell the angel did say
                                       “Joy to the world! the Lord is come
Offertory Anthem  Sung by the Children’s Choir 
                                         Come, join the Angels Singing      
                                                                                           18th C. French Carol,
                                                                                             arr. Hal Hopson
Offertory Hymn 110      The snow lay on the ground”                Venite adoremus
Communion Anthem     In the Stable                                         Maxine Posegate
Communion Hymn 111 Silent night, holy night”                                Stille nacht
Closing Hymn 96           Angels we have heard on high”                              Gloria
Postlude                        Noël on Quittez, pasteurs                             Harold Owen

Christmas Eve:  Solemn Service

Prelude                          Adagio & Allegro from the Cello Concerto in D Minor
                                                                                                      Antonio Vivaldi
                                                                                            Lindsay Fischer, cello
                             All this night my heart rejoices                  Johann Ebeling
                             Born on a New Day                         David & Philip Lawson
                             Still, still, still               Austrian carol, arr. Norman Luboff
Hymn  87                       Hark! The herald angels sing”                     Mendelssohn
Processional Hymn 83 O Come, all ye faithful”                              Adeste fideles
Offertory Hymn 79        O little town of Bethlehem”                                St. Louis
Communion Motets       Christmas Night                        16th cent. French melody,
                                                                                      arr. John Rutter    
                             In the bleak midwinter    
Communion Hymn 111  “Silent Night”                                                Stille Nacht
Closing Hymn 96           Angels we have heard on high”                             Gloria
Postlude                        In dulci jubilo                                                   J. S. Bach

Christmas Day

Prelude  Adagio & Allegro from the Cello Concerto in D Minor    Antonio Vivaldi
                                                                                      Lindsay Fischer, cello
    All this night my heart rejoices                                    Johann Ebeling
    Born on a New Day                                            David & Philip Lawson
    Still, still, still                                  Austrian carol, arr. Norman Luboff
Hymn  87 “Hark! The herald angels sing”    Mendelssohn
Processional Hymn 83 “O Come, all ye faithful,”  Adeste fideles
Offertory Hymn 79  “O little town of Bethlehem,”  St. Louis
Communion Motets  Christmas Night   16th cent. French melody, arr. John Rutter  
                         In the bleak midwinter        
Communion Hymn 111  “Silent Night”  Stille Nacht
Closing Hymn 96  “Angels we have heard on high,”  Gloria
Postlude  In dulci jubilo  J. S. Bach


Parish Notices

§  Office Closed: The office will be closed December 26, 29 & 30. If you have a pastoral emergency, please call Father Karl at 889-7190 or Mother Michele at 918-1230.
§  Sunday School: There is no Christian Formation on Christmas Day or the foloowing Sunday.  Christian Formation for adults and children will resume Sunday, January 8, 2017.
§  End of Year Pledge Reminder: Please make every effort to pay the remainder of your pledge before the end of the year. If you need to know your balance, please call the office at 452-9659. If you want tax credit for your pledge paid in 2016, you must have the payment in the office by Thursday, December 29th. A check dated the 29th, but arriving later cannot be counted as paid in 2016. All payments received after the 29th will be credited in 2017. Thank you so much.
§  A Big Thank You: To all who took names and bought gifts for the Salvation Army “Adopt a Family for Christmas” off the tree – we received a lot of gifts this year. Blessings to all, Nancy.
§  The Eve of The Epiphany Solemn Mass: will be held on January 5, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Twelfth Night Potluck Supper.
§  The Annual Meeting: This year’s Annual Meeting will take place on Sunday, January 29, 2017. We will have one Mass at 9:00am followed by the Annual Meeting at 10:15am. If you have been in leadership of any group or committee please submit an annual report to the office@gracesheboygan.com. Please make every effort to attend and participate.
§  Love Buckets: is a GAP Ministry of Love INC organized by our neighbors, St. Luke’s Methodist Church. As other churches have donated to our own GAP Ministry – Martha & Mary Cooking Guild – St. Luke’s is asking for donations to their Love Buckets Ministry. A list of supplies needed is posted on the notice board, and a large grey bin for donations can be found in the Narthex. This drive will run until the end of January.
§  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.
§  Bible Challenge: Videos for all 52 weeks of the year are now available on Grace Abounds. 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 are provided on the parish website, along with weekly study summaries and a weekly video summary 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.
§  Flower Schedule for 2017: 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.
§  Coffee Hour Schedule: There is a new sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour in 2017. 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.
§  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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