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Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Help Wanted!

Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes
15 June 2017

Help Wanted!  Next Monday the project to re-roof the church will begin.  Work will also be performed to refinishing the bell tower louvers and secure the tower screening.  If the weather is fair, the project should take about 10 days.  It is likely that different sections of ground cover and landscaping will be damaged.  This is an occasion to look specifically at landscaping.
Do you have a passion for gardening, for landscaping?  Do you have knowledge and opinions about both?  A Vestry committee, chaired by Bobbie May, is considering what will be required from an overall design perspective, and from the perspective of ongoing maintenance.  At present, lawn care is provided by our sexton, but in light of his back injury this has been happening only because of the help of volunteers.  The gardening and ground cover maintenance is all volunteer.  The semiannual outside cleanups are also all volunteer.
It is probably time to take a close look at shrubs and trees, but this can only happen in the context of an overall design and maintenance review.  The Vestry committee needs to hear from you, and we also need volunteer help, on a regular basis, to help with lawn care, trimming, cleanup, etc.  If working outside is something you enjoy, consider joining this ministry.
In the June newsletter a “heads up” is given about a future capital campaign.  Part of the funds from any campaign may be used to replace/install landscaping.  Now is when we need to think very specifically about what we need, and what can be well-maintained going forward.  Let’s continue to insure that the physical plant of Grace Episcopal Church is one we can be proud of.  To this end, Vestry members have been asked to conduct walk-throughs and walk-arounds, to develop ideas about what needs to be done in overall maintenance.  You can help.  Do you see something that needs paint or repair or cleaning?
Most members of the parish see the church on Sundays, and you are used to what you see.  Next time you are here, however, please look through the eyes of a first-time visitor, and look around.  Is this a place that demonstrates that we are welcoming, and proud of who we are in Christ?  If a step or a window is dirty, if there are lots of weeds, does this send a message?  Let’s come together in being good stewards of all that God has blessed us with.

Grace aboundsPlease thank: 
§  Bobbie May for the Sunday coffee hour.
§  Mary Snyder for lawn care.  Ben Dobey for gardening.
§  Pat Ford Smith for administrative help.

Special “Thank You’ s” :  A supply of Thank You note cards can be found on the table at the back of church nave.  When someone in the parish does something special, take the time to write them a personal note.  Also, from time to time, think about who you might want to thank for ongoing service, and let them know you have noticed!

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 Second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 6)
                               Guest Organist:  David Bahrke

Prelude                           Recollection                                                Richard Lloyd
Mass Setting                   New English Folk Mass                            Timms & Warrell
Entrance Hymn 377         “All people that on earth do dwell”              Old Hundredth
Offertory Hymn 528        “Lord, you give the great commission”        (alt.) Hyfrydol
Comm. Hymn 587           “Our Father, by whose Name”                       Rhosymedre
Closing Hymn 541           “Come, labor on”                                             Ora labora
Postlude                         Te Deum Overture                                M. A. Charpentier

Parish Notices    

§  Volunteers still needed at All Saints’ Chapel: We are in need of help for the following Sundays: July 2, July16, August 13, August 20 and September 3. This would include: picking up the box of bulletins at Grace Church, arriving a little early to open the buildings, finding readers for the lessons and the prayers of the people, lighting candles, greeting the visiting priest, various other tasks, locking up at the end and returning the box to Grace Church. There are instructions printed and several people who would be able to help if you have questions. Please sign up for a Sunday or two on the clipboard on the Narthex table or by calling the office at 452-9659 with dates you are available. Thank you.
§  Eucharistic Festival: Plan to attend the Annual Diocesan Eucharistic Festival at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 24th, at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. The Homilist is the Rt. Rev. Dorsey F. Henderson, retired Bishop of Upper South Carolina. He serves as Superior-General of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament and as episcopal visitor to a fledgling religious community centered in the Diocese of Atlanta. A picnic lunch and a time of fellowship will follow the Eucharist. At 3:00pm there will be afternoon prayer with Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
§  Please keep both Ellen and Bill in prayer: It is anticipated that Ellen Aparicio will be at home for the balance of May. Weekly sign-up sheets are being posted for volunteers to help in the office. There will be times when there is no office coverage (e.g., when I am away at a meeting). At these times the office door is locked.
§  Bill May has been diagnosed with a compression fracture in a vertebra. This means that he will be on restricted duties. We have established a volunteer rota for items such as: fellowship hall set-up and take down; restroom cleaning; trash removal; floor cleaning; lawn care. Sign-up sheets are on the Narthex table. Thank you.
§  Brat Fry and Bake Sale: is July 1, 2017 at Miesfeld’s. There are many opportunities to help with this fundraiser! We will need brat fryers, brat stand attendants, bake sale attendants and homemade baked goods. Can’t fry, bake or volunteer? No problem, we also need monetary donations for condiments, paper products, etc. Any contribution make the check out to Grace Church, memo brat fry. In 2015 we made $1300, let’s set our goal at $2000. All sign-up sheets including working at the brat fry are in the narthex or call Barb MacEwen at 920-912-4505. Be sure to stop out for lunch at Miesfeld’s on July 1st and bring your friends! Thank you so much for your participation.
§  Caregivers’ Support Group:  Do you provide care to another person, a spouse, child, parent or friend?  If you do consider joining a mutual support group which meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month.  The group will next meet at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 28 June, at the parish.  Wendy Limberg, a social worker with Embrace Care Management,  will lead a discussion about  finding the balance between caring for ourselves and for others.  
§  Love INC is hiring:  Love in the Name of Christ Sheboygan is recruiting Clearinghouse Coordinator.  This is a 25 hour per week position central to LoveINC ministry operations.  Job specifications are available at the parish office.  Application deadline is 23 June.
§  Grace Notes is here: http://gracechurchgracenotes.blogspot.com/.  You can sign up to receive the blog every Thursday
§  Grace Abounds: http://www.graceabounds.online Sermons, podcasts, the Bible Challenge
§  Like Grace Church on Facebook: @gracesheboygan
§  Follow Grace Church on Twitter: @gracesheboygan
§  Follow Grace Church on Instagram: @gracesheboygan
§  We Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!





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