Search This Blog

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Subject and Object

Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes
5 October 2017

Whenever we are shocked by violence we grope for answers.  In the wake of the mass murder and mayhem in Las Vegas, news reports abound with speculation over the killer’s motives.  It is tempting, from a secular perspective, to speak of madness and psychopathy—a sane person does not fire into a crowd of human beings—but such an answer is too convenient in how it takes us off the hook for the broader problem of how the intersection of mental illness and acts of violence requires us to take seriously the identification and treatment of mental illness in ways which we have avoided.  It is tempting, from the perspective of faith, to speak of fallenness, and how evil “just is”, but a “just is” equation ignores that evil is the negation of/absence of good, and lacks any positive being.
As human beings we are each created in the image and likeness of God.  As those living in a fallen world we all cloud and shade this image with sin.  As a result, even when in faith we do strive “to seek and serve Christ in all persons” we may focus more on the clouding, the shading, and not come to know the person.  We may come to treat other people as objects, which, in secular thinking is one of the classic hallmarks of psychopathy, but which within faith is a sure symptom of negation, of sin.
In the sentence, “Karl handed the book to Elizabeth” I (Karl) am the subject of the verb.  I do the action of the verb.  The book is the direct object, and Elizabeth is the indirect object.  Every human being participates in the supreme Subject, that all being begins and is complete in God; that our humanness and capacity to act is a participation in the Subject.  But our society tempts us continually to treat fellow humans as objects.  The killer in Las Vegas, from whatever “motive”, looked through a gun sight and saw not people but objects, things.  In Christ we are called to, mandated to, equipped to, look upon every other human as a person, never an object; a person against whom violence is a violation of our own personhood.
By the grace of God the overwhelming majority of human beings have never looked through a gun sight and seen another human being, because there is never any reason to do so save the intention to loose destruction on this other person.  When this happens in warfare, the soldier must himself come to view the other as an object, as “the enemy”.  (Despite this, many soldiers come to be haunted by pulling that trigger!)  The very idea of pointing a firearm at another human being should horrify us, even if we allow for the extreme circumstances of warfare and defense against murderous attack.  But before we become too pious in our horror over such objectification of the other, let us examine our own consciences and pray about all of the ways in which we continually objectify each other.  Do I look upon another person and see a label, whether this be one of race, age, gender, class, origin, faith or lack thereof?  When I do, do I—by God’s grace—catch myself, and then strive to seek and serve Christ in that person?  If I don’t (when I don’t) may I, by God’s grace take a spiritual pause to recognize how objectification is contrary to God’s plan, and then pray that, by God’s grace, I may always encounter another subject (a person), and with this person encounter the supreme Subject, God with us.

A Prayer for the Human Family (BCP p. 815):

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Grace aboundsPlease thank: 
§  All who worked to make the Sunday coffee hours (Bob and Anne Hanlon) and stewardship luncheon such a success:  Ellen Aparicio, Mary Clabots, Katy Larson, Mary Snyder, JoAnn and Zach Sorenson, Mary Tasche, with cleanup by Sutton Cecil, Julie Davidson, Bobbie May, Elizabeth Schaffenburg and Mary Tasche.
§  Julie Davidson for janitorial help.
§  Ben Crouse for lawn care.  Ben Dobey and Bobbie May for gardening.

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 Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22A)
                                       Organist:  R. Benjamin Dobey

Prelude                Jesu, dulcis memoria                                         Walford Davies Entrance                495  “Hail, thou once despised Jesus! “                            In Babilone
Offertory        448  “O love, how deep, how broad, how high”  Deus tuorum militum 
Communion Motet   Ave Verum Corpus                                                W. A. Mozart
Communion   313   “Let thy Blood in mercy poured”             Jesus, mein Zuversicht                                      
Closing          598   “Lord Christ, when first thou cam’st to earth     Mit Freuden zart
Postlude              Prelude and Fugue in F Minor                                J.K.F. Fischer


Parish Notices
§  Third Quarter Pledge Statements: In order to save money on postage, please pick up your third quarter pledge statements from the table in the Narthex.
§  Adult Formation – How to be Holy: There will be no adult formation next Sunday, October 15th. Classes will resume October 22nd.
§  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:,10/15, 10/22, 11/19, and 11/26. For 10:15am: 10/29, 11/5, and 12/10. If you can help please sign up on the sheet in the white binder on the Narthex table. Thank you so much.
§  Walsingham Pilgrimage Music and Flowers: The Walsingham Pilgrimage is October 13th & 14th. Music will include the Gaudete Brass. As you are able, please donate so we can once again offer beautiful music that has become so much a part of the pilgrimage and the flowers that add so much to the beauty of holiness. Please make your check out to Grace Church with Walsingham music or flowers or both in the memo. Reservations are required for lunch - $20 per person and will be served at noon on Saturday October 14th. Please make your reservations by using the sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex or by calling Grace office at 452-9659.
§  Walsingham Volunteers Needed: There are many opportunities to help with hospitality for the Walsingham Pilgrimage. We will need volunteers to greet pilgrims as they arrive for both the quiet day on Friday as well as Saturday morning for the Solemn Mass and for the musical offering, healing prayer and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. We will need help with the set-up of St. Nicholas Hall for lunch and especially for clean-up after lunch. Please sign-up on the sheet on the Narthex table.
§  Our Lady of Walsingham Pilgrimage
§  Friday, October 13, 2017 
§  Quiet Day of Prayer and Meditation.
    • 12:00pm Service for Noonday and Meditation
    • 3:00pm Service of Prayer and Meditation
    • 5:15pm Holy Rosary
    • 6:00pm Solemn Evensong and Meditation
    • The Meditations will be led by Ms. Adwoa Lewis-Wilson,
    • Episcopal laywoman active in Boston, Massachusetts and an Oblate of the Order of Julian of Norwich.
    • Solemn Evensong will include the choirs of the parish and of Nashotah House Theological Seminary, under the direction of The Rev. Fr. Alexander Prior, Director of Music at the Seminary
§  Saturday, October 14, 2017 
§  Pilgrimage
    • 10:30 am Solemn Pontifical Mass with procession of Our Lady
    • Celebrant is The Right Reverend Matthew A. Gunter,
    • Eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac.
    • The preacher is The Rev. Jeffrey Queen,Rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, in Ft. Thomas, Kentucky
    • Choral and organ music will include Dr. R. Benjamin Dobey Organist
    • and the Gaudete Brass Quartet of Chicago.
    • 12:00 pm Harvest Lunch. The cost is $20.00.
    • Please make reservations by October 7, 2016.
    • 2:00pm Anointing with Walsingham water and Healing Prayer,
    • musical offering, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
§  To register and for more information:  (920) 452-9659 office@gracesheboygan.com www.gracesheboygan.com
§  Paper Drive: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Plymouth is having a paper drive! Please bring in ONLY newspapers (inserts included). We cannot accept magazines or anything with a binding. A semi-trailer will be in the Plymouth Furniture parking lot, 2133 Eastern Av, Plymouth, the middle of October. Drop off times are Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00 – 6:00pm and Saturdays 9:00 – 4:00pm. Pickups can be arranged by calling Jesse Cortinaz at 920-464-0303.
§  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.
§  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
§  Grace Abounds: http://www.graceabounds.online Sermons, podcasts, the Bible Challenge
§  Like Grace Church on Facebook: @gracesheboygan
§  We Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!


          

No comments:

Post a Comment