Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
26 April 2018
Yesterday we celebrated the feast of St. Mark
the Evangelist. Despite the order of
books in the Bible, Mark’s gospel is understood to have been the first written,
for much of Matthew and Luke are based upon it, even to the point of direct
quotation. Mark is widely equated with
the young man who ran off naked when Jesus was arrested (Mk. 14.51—52). He is described as the cousin of Barnabas
(Col. 4.10). It is related that after
the first mission journey, from which Mark returned alone, Paul and Barnabas
quarreled over whether to include him in a second journey, with Paul leaving with
Silas, and Barnabas and Mark proceeding to Cyprus (Acts 15.37—40). Importantly, Peter describes Mark as “my son”
(1 Pet. 5.13), and Church Tradition early on attests to Mark’s gospel account
being based in large part on Peter’s dictation before his own martyrdom in Rome
(ca. A.D. 64—67).
In the plenitude of God’s grace, consider the
testimony of how it is that Peter ended up as Mark’s mentor. Peter—who three times denied Jesus during the
Lord’s passion—was by God’s grace appointed to be present to Mark as a father
in faith who could say, in effect, “You think you messed up? That you didn’t have ‘the right stuff’ for
mission? Let me tell you about how God
has used me despite my own failings.”
In the plenitude of God’s grace, consider how
God has appointed another to mentor your own faith and/or how you are appointed
to mentor the faith of another. To be
truly a father or mother of another in faith will not involve how one might
boast of anything, but will involve how one can share in the smallness of self,
in the humbling of self, necessary to be filled by God’s Spirit. Peter as a man did not have the courage to
proclaim the Christ to the High Priest, but Peter as the apostle empowered by
God became the bold declarer of the Good News to all of the Sanhedrin and to all
of the Church.
What you have to share in faith with one who
is struggling will involve how your own weakness, doubts, failings have allowed
you to recognize God’s mercy; how God delights in you as His beloved son or
daughter because of the image and likeness of God in which you were
created. The smallness of heart that
will allow you to share your own failings will be filled by the Holy Spirit,
and it will be then that you can say, like Peter, “Let me tell you how I messed
up.” It will be then that your child in
faith can be given the faith to become one who, like Mark, will lead others to
know and love and serve God.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Greg
and Brenda Burgett for the Sunday coffee hour on 15 April. Apologies for the oversight last week!
§ Polly
Schmeiser and Mary Snyder for organizing the bishop’s visitation reception this
past Sunday. Thank you to all who
provided savories and sweets, and to the following for cleanup: Pat ford Smith, Joanne and Zach Sorensen, and
Elizabeth Schaffenburg.
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.
Please contribute for photocopies: The photocopier is being
subjected to frequent use that relates to parishioner’s needs and not those of
the whole parish. If you need to make
copies (and please keep this to a minimum), please inform a member of the
parish staff and make a contribution toward the costs of the copies. A suggested contribution is $0.6/page. (We are trending above budget on copy costs!)
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 of Easter Dr.
R. Benjamin Dobey, Music Director
Prelude Trois
Élévations Marcel Dupré
Entrance Hymn 182 “Christ is alive” Truro
Offertory Hymn 477 “All praise to thee, O King divine” Engelberg
Communion Motet The Call Ralph Vaughan Williams
Communion Hymn 512 “Come, gracious Spirit, heavenly Dove” Mendon
Closing Hymn 657 “Love divine, all loves excelling” Hyfrydol
Postlude Toccata
in F Dietrich
Buxtehude
Parish Notices:
§ Adult
Formation-Sacramental Life (Holy Eucharist) begins TODAY: Please join Leslie
today as she guides us through the
sacrament of Holy Eucharist using the book Sacramental Life by David
DeSilva. This book explores spiritual formation through the Book of Common
Prayer. This is a 5-week course: April
22 & 29, AND May 6, 13
& 20. “Those that have participated before know that this is a fairly
freeform guided discussion. I am as interested in learning from you, as I am
teaching you.” –Leslie
§ Sung Compline: Next Sunday, May 6 ,
there will be a potluck supper at 6:30 p.m. followed by Sung Compline at 8:00
p.m. Compline, or night prayer, is a Christian service of worship dating back
to monastic life in the Middle Ages. The choir sings The Office of Compline by candlelight;
this is a beautiful and restful way to nurture one’s soul. A sign-up sheet for
the potluck supper can be found on the table in the Narthex.
§ Spring Cheer: Spring Cheer is
around the corner! Daffodils should be blooming! We will gather on Thursday
May 10 at 11:00 a.m. to arrange flowers, package cookies and make deliveries to
parishioners. Your help is needed. Please sign up in Narthex.
Thank you!
§ Companion Diocese Sunday: On May 13, we will
be participating in liturgical worship prepared for by the Companion Diocese
Committee. Additional information to
connect us with our Masvingo, Zimbabwe brothers and sisters in Christ is
available in this bulletin.
§ All Saints' Chapel Ownership: Memorial Day is just around the corner and that marks the beginning
of our All Saints' Chapel season! We are blessed to have Fr. Patrick Twomey
serving as Celebrant every Sunday. Services will continue to be a shared
ministry, which means volunteers will be needed to have ownership of opening
and closing the chapel. Look for a
sign-up sheet and checklist of responsibilities located on the Narthex table in
the upcoming weeks. You can also call the office at
452-9659 regarding dates you are available to take ownership. Thank you for
your support of such an important Ministry!
§ Pray. Brats. Sleep. Repeat. Save the
date:
Saturday, July 7, Brat Fry at Miesfeld’s! (More news to follow; we will need
your help) Brat fryers, stand attendants, baked goods attendants, bakers!
Contact Barb or Bob MacEwen at 912-4505 to lend a hand now.
§ Summer Camp registration for camp
sessions are now open:
The Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12th
graders.
Camp is an
opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community,
about themselves and have fun! The registration process is now completely
online and includes availability to make payments. www.diofdl.org/camp
Senior Camp (completed grades
9-12) June 10 at 3:00 p.m.–June 16, noon.
Middler Camp (completed grades
6-8) June 17 at 3:00 p.m.–June 22, noon.
Junior Camp (completed grades
2-5) June 17 at 3:00 p.m.–June 22, noon.
KinderCamp (parent & kids
ages 4-7) June 22 at 4:00 pm–June 24, noon.
*Scholarships are
available; inquire at the parish office.
§ Ushers Needed: Ushers are often the
first people seen by newcomers, visitors, and even regular parishioners when
coming to Grace Church. People enjoy being greeted by a smile; become a part of
this ministry today!
§ 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 bible for
the challenge, contact the parish office.
§ 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.
§ Lost and Found: If you have ever lost
anything while at Grace Church, it may be in the office. Please email office@gracesheboygan.com to
identify and claim.
§ Please
continue to pray for those listed in this Mass booklet.
§ Bulletin Prayer List and our Grace
Church Prayer Team:
The Episcopal Church believes in the power of prayer. Grace Church regularly
prays for our own members needs as well as for the needs of the country, and
our world. We would be honored to pray for your needs, and the needs of
your friends and relatives if they or you are in trouble, sorrow, pain, or
are experiencing any other adversity. Please call the Parish office at 452-9659
or email a request to office@gracesheboygan.com
to have a name(s) put in the bulletin, Our Lady of Walsingham Chapel and/or out
to the email Prayer Team. It is only necessary to share details if you are
comfortable.
For example:
Please pray for John
Doe for a heart condition that requires surgery.
Please pray for Jane
Doe for a reason known only to her and you Lord.
Please pray for John
Doe for peace of mind and healing.
Or simply,
Please pray for Jane
Doe.
If you are interested
in receiving prayer requests as a member of the Prayer Team, contact the Parish
office.
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§ Save the Date-Eucharistic Festival, Saturday 30 June: Established in 1960
by Bishop William Brady, the Eucharistic Festival gathers the diocesan
family to be united in its faith in the Presence of our Blessed Lord in
the Bread and Wine of the Altar. In being so devoted, we can be united
in making known God's presence to all people. The Festival includes the Celebration of
the Holy Eucharist, Bishop's Picnic, Evening Prayer and the Adoration
and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at
Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. If you are interested in
carpooling, contact the parish office.
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