Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
19 October 2017
Shocking,
revelatory news! Powerful men in the
entertainment industry have behaved inappropriately toward women!
The ongoing scandal
emerging in Hollywood, with more and more women coming forward to relate
incidents of sexual harassment and assault should shock us. Inexcusable conduct and the objectification
of others should shock us. But do they? In the case of the most notorious of the
currently-identified offenders, news reports would indicate that his predatory
behavior was an “open secret” for many years among industry insiders, just as
in an earlier era in Tinseltown the “casting couch” was known well enough to
acquire a name.
To be clear, there
is nothing that can justify the behavior and attitude reported. But contrast the wink and nod of an open
secret with what St. Paul wrote in our epistle from last Sunday’s lessons: “[W]hatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is
commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of
praise, think about these things” (Phil. 4.8).
Do we do this? Or do we not more
often, in being “entertained” focus on the abuses of power that “make for a
good story”, or on depictions of violence in which persons—each created in the
image and likeness of God—are destroyed as objects, or (and here’s where the
current scandal most connects) on what St. Paul elsewhere describes porneía (sexual
immorality)? And, in focusing on such
things in entertainment, do we not become more and more coarsened, to the point
where paying attention to the honorable, true, just, pure, pleasing,
commendable, excellent and praiseworthy becomes, at best, a battle?
No one would have
argued that in the 1930’s women were empowered, particularly in Hollywood. But now that we are at least half a century
on from the revolutions brought about by the availability of reasonably
effective contraception, and the changes in the economy attendant on women
working outside the home, is what we are seeing in the current scandal an
example of further objectification?
As Christians we are
called to rejoice in the Lord always, and to let our gentleness be known to all
(Phil. 4.4—5). In rejoicing we may give
thanks to God that He has made each of us wonderfully (Ps. 139.13), that our
bodies are gifts. Making gentleness
known is the exact opposite of the “enjoyment” of power that money, gender
roles, and a debased culture of objectification wink and nod at as an open
secret.
Our response to
this scandal must include real outrage, but outrage will not change the
underlying behavior; it will just make the secret less open. What will change underlying behavior is a
change of heart, and that will only come about in entertainment when fewer and
fewer of us are “entertained” by that which now passes for fare worthy of our
dollars.
Be shocked, but let
your shock translate into the rejoicing in God’s creation we are called
to. Let your shock translate into
focusing on others each eternally as a self-actuating subject, never an object. And do think about the things Paul holds up
as worthy of our real attention. Let
God’s call to holiness in each of our lives translate into increased holiness
in our common life.
Don’t forget
stewardship! Our stewardship ingathering, at which we will bless all gifts offered,
will be on Sunday, 12 November. Please
remain in prayer about how you are called to give to further the mission of the
Church!
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ John
Davis and the Boland family for the Sunday coffee hours.
§ Nicci
Beeck for a decorative urn placed in the 7th Street entrance.
§ Nicci
Beeck for pastoral care for a shut-in.
§ The
Walsingham pilgrimage was a huge success!
This resulted from efforts above-and-way-beyond the “normal” by staff
(Ben Dobey, Ellen Aparicio, Mthr. Michele), by the choir, the altar guild
members, and our sexton (Bill).
Volunteers helped with hospitality in greeting pilgrims, in housing the
visiting choristers from Nashotah House (at the Mike Burg and Leslie Kohler
homes), and in meal hospitality. For the
meal, helpers included (all as organized by Mary Snyder): Michele Abrashinsky, Ed & Mary Clabots,
Deb Gagin, Steve and Katy Larson, Barb MacEwen, Bobbie May, Elizabeth
Schaffenburg, Pat Ford Smith, JoAnn and Zack Sorensen, Mary Tasche, Cindy
Weiss, and Tom Wright.
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 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
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24A)
Organist: R. Benjamin Dobey
Prelude Chaconne in E Minor Dietrich Buxtehude
Entrance 427 “When morning gilds the skies” Laudes
Domini
Offertory 594 “God
of Grace and God of glory,” Cwm
Rhondda
Communion Motet Dona nobis pacem (Grant us
peace) W. A. Mozart
Communion 498 “Beneath
the cross of Jesus” St. Christopher
Closing 408
“Sing praise to God who reigns
above,” Mit
Freuden zart
Postlude Toccata in D Johann Krieger
Parish Notices
§ No
Mass on Tuesday, 24 October: There will be no
5:30 p.m. Mass. Catechumenate will meet.
§ Fall
Cleanup: We will gather on Saturday, October
28th. Start time is 8:30 a.m., and we expect to finish early
afternoon. Coffee and donuts will be provided and a sandwich lunch around
11:45 a.m. Cleanup will take place inside and outside the church - outside
landscape, inside housekeeping, clean refrigerators, touch up painting,
few minor repairs. If you plan to work with the indoor crew, please bring
cleaning materials. If you plan to work outdoors, please bring extra tools
(rake, pruner, etc.) A sign-up sheet is in the Narthex. Let’s have fun
together as we spruce up our beautiful physical plant and build community
together!
§ Youth
Fall Lock-In: Will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Oshkosh,
Friday, October 27th starting at 7:00 p.m. and ending Sunday, October 29th and
ending at 12:00 noon. Please eat dinner before you arrive (there are snacks on
Friday night). The cost for Fall Lock-In 2017 is $35 per person. Please
call Grace Church office if you need help with the cost.
§ The Youth Fall Lock-In is for those in grades 6-12
and adults who work with them. Friends are welcome as well. The more the
merrier. We do ask that there be at least one adult from each congregation.
Please go to http: www.diofdl.org for more information.
§ Happening:
The next Happening will be held at All Saints
Episcopal Church, Appleton, Wisconsin, November 10-12, 2017. Activities begin
with Check-in on Friday at 7:00 pm. Please eat dinner before you arrive.
Participants must attend the entire weekend. If you are unable to stay on site
for the entire weekend, then plan to attend the next Happening. Happening ends
on Sunday, following a celebration service that starts at 2:00 p.m. Family and
friends are encouraged to attend the service.
§ Happening is a unique Christian experience for youth
who are in grades 9 through 12 as well as the adults who work with them. The
weekend is a one-time experience of God and the way God can be a part of our
everyday lives. On the weekend there will be singing, fellowship, surprises,
prayer, fun and friendship. Individuals are given the chance to discover more
about themselves, God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, their families and their world.
Led by young people and adults who have attended Happening before, participants
hear talks on many subjects and discuss in small groups.
§ Coffee
Hour: Thank you to all who have volunteered for coffee
hour and all who have stepped in and made coffee and put out snacks. Some of
the upcoming Sundays have been taken but we are still in need of more
volunteers. The weeks that are open are 8:00am: 10/22, 11/19, 11/26,
12/24 & 12/31. For 10:15am: 10/29, 11/5, 12/10 12/24, & 12/31.
If you can help please sign up on the sheet in the white binder on the Narthex
table. Thank you so much.
§ Defibrillator
Training: Grace Church has received a donated defibrillator.
Judging by the response at the late service on Sept 30th, very few of us know
how to use one. Who knows the day or the hour when we might need it? There
are directions on the equipment, but reading them in an emergency would take up
critical time.
§ We have contacted Pat Nicholaus, chief of the fire
department EMS group to come and help us get acquainted with the defibrillator,
and answer questions we might have. The training is scheduled for Saturday,
November 4th at 9:45 in St Nicholas Hall. It will take about an hour.
§ While this is mainly intended for the ushers and
vestry, ALL interested people are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please put
this on your calendar!
§ Love
INC Monthly Bulletin is now available online at:
§ Grace
Notes is here: http://gracechurchgracenotes.blogspot.com/. You can sign up to receive the blog every Thursday
§ Like Grace Church on Facebook:
@gracesheboygan
§ We Are on Itunes! Check out the new
podcast!!!
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