Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
2 February 2017
How appropriate it is that The Feast of the
Presentation of Christ in the Temple (“Candlemas”) falls during the season of
Epiphany, and how much more appropriate is this understanding of the
celebration than the earlier description of the feast as that of the
Purification of the Blessèd Virgin Mary.
This is not to in any way suggest that we should not honor the role
played by Mary in God’s plan of salvation.
However, when we pay attention to Luke’s account (Lk. 2.22—38) it is
immediately evident that what is happening is about the manifestation of the
Messiah as the fulfillment of God’s plan, and so the more modern name for the
feast is more accurate.
Presentation is, in effect, a third
epiphany. The first involves the angel
of the Lord appearing to shepherds
to herald the birth of Jesus (Lk. 2.8—20).
God’s glory shines. God’s glory
is manifested in ways that even those who are not looking for it, and those
less tutored in the faith, can perceive and respond to. The second revelation is what we call Epiphany,
the feast itself, commemorating Jesus’ manifestation to the gentiles, when the
three wise men from the East come to pay homage to “he who has been born king
of the Jews” (Mtt. 2.1—12). The wise
men, those who seek signs through learning and observation, have seen and
responded to the star which heralds Jesus’ birth.
We see how God reveals Himself to the
simplest and to the wise. How, then, is
Presentation a third epiphany? This lies
in how Simeon and Anna are described.
Simeon is “looking for the consolation of Israel, [with] … the Holy
Spirit … upon him” (Lk. 2.25). Ann is a
“prophetess … worshiping with fasting and prayer …” (Lk. 2.36—37). What we see in both cases is how God reveals
Himself to those who in their hearts seek God, seek His will. Seeking does not involve being overwhelmed by
sudden glory. Seeking does not involve
(but does not exclude) learnèd enquiry.
Seeking involves, above all, the act of will. I must of my own will desire God. I must allow my will to be formed by God’s will,
as mediated by the Holy Spirit. I must
surrender my heart to God, and when I do, it is then that like Simeon and Anna,
I may “see [God’s] salvation,” “[give] thanks” and “[speak] of [God] to all …
looking for redemption”.
When our hearts are turned to God, it is then
that He reveals Himself and His will to us.
When our hearts are turned to God, it is then that His manifestation is
made complete.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ The Hospitality
Committee (including Anne Hanlon, Bobbie May, Traci Revis, Polly Schmeiser and
Mary Snyder) for the food and set up for the annual meeting brunch, with
cleanup performed by Julie Davidson, Anne Hanlon, Bobbie May, and Traci Revis,
and laundering of linens by Jessica Ambelang .
§ Ellen Aparicio for
all of the extra work attendant of annual meeting preparation, assisted by Pat
Ford Smith.
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
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Organist: Ben Dobey
Prelude: Chorale Prelude on Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness
J. S. Bach
Entrance
Hymn: text
of 543
“O Zion, tune thy
voice” alternate tune: Darwall’s
148th
Offertory
Hymn 381
“Thy strong word did cleave the
darkness” Ton-y-Botel
Communion
Motet: Lord God, you now have set your servant
free
Orlando Gibbons
Communion
Hymn 339:“Deck thyself, my soul, with
gladness” Schmuecke
dich
Closing
Hymn 632 “O
Christ, the Word Incarnate” Munich
Postlude: Prelude in E Flat Johann Pachelbel
Parish
Notices
§ Icon Class: The iconography class scheduled
to begin 26 February has been cancelled.
Not enough people can commit to 7 Sundays in a row. We are investigating how to make this class
happen in a one week time frame (6
nights). If you want to explore this,
let us know the best timeframe that will work for you: late Spring or early Fall?
§ Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple: On
Thursday, February 2nd we celebrate this holy day also known as
Candlemas in which all the candles used for the year are blessed. You are welcome
to bring in your own candles to be blessed during this service.
§ Adult Education: On Sunday,
February 5, 2017 at 9:00 a.m., we will begin a four-week course on Sacramental
Identity. This course will follow the scheme set forth in the 2008
book of David A. deSilva, Sacramental Life: Spiritual Formation Through The
Book of Common Prayer, to explore how liturgies of The Book of
Common Prayer give us a language and a context for encountering
God. We will begin with a consideration of Baptism and how we live into
our baptismal identity through prayer.
§ Lenten Booklet: Grace Church
will prepare our own parish book of Lenten meditations, written by
parishioners. For each of the forty days of Lent season, a Gospel lesson taken
from the Eucharistic lectionary for the weekdays in Lent, plus the Sunday
Eucharistic lectionary, are provided on a clip board on the Narthex table.
Following each Gospel lesson will be the Collect prayer for the celebration of
Eucharist on each day. The Collect “collects” our prayers as founded in the
Scripture appointed for each day. The method envisaged for use of this booklet
is that parishioners will read the Gospel lesson– perhaps more than once,
perhaps underlining the words or phrases that resonate with them on that day–then reflect on the Collect, and then
write down their own reflections on the page appointed for the day. The publication of a parish devotional will be published to the whole
parish, in print and on our website. Please submit your meditations to the
office
at eaparicio@gracesheboygan.com.
§ Cookware Fundraiser: Once again, we are offering cookware and kitchen essentials from
Vollrath. These are high quality items that enhance any cooking experience and
also make wonderful gifts. Grace Church receives 20% of all funds received.
Catalogs and order sheets are available on the table in the Narthex. Deadline
for orders is February 19, 2017.
§ Coffee Hour Schedule:
We need volunteers for the 10:15 a.m. on February 12th, 19th & 26th.
If you would like to host, please sign up on the
sheet in the Narthex. If you have any questions, please see Mary Massey. Thank
you so much.
§ 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 is 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.
§ 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.
§ 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!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment