Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
23 August 2018
When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Rabbi Harold
Kushner was a best-seller in the early 1980’s.
I confess that I have not read the book, but as the title implies the
issue raised is what is called in theology theodicy (attempts to answer
the question of why God “permits” evil).
I will not in a column of this length elaborate on how this question has
been explored in the history of Christian thought. I will retell, however, part an old joke in
which it is observed that if you ask a priest a question he or she cannot
answer the reply will be “It’s a mystery.” If you ask this of a minister the reply will
be “You have to have faith”. The problem
with the joke is the truth in it—that there are some things we can’t
explain. We can experience an answer in
God’s love, and to do this we must have faith.
All of this is to preface my own approach to
the vexing question which begins “How could a good and loving God allow
_________ [fill in the blank]”, occasioned in my own mind by the
untimely death of a daughter of this parish.
My response to the vexing question is more that of a rabbi than that of
a priest or minister. Like a rabbi I
respond with an observation/questioning thought: Before we can say that a manifest evil or
hurt or loss is any evidence of the absence of a good and loving God we
must first admit that we can only complain because we believe in and experience
that good and love exist (and truth, and beauty). Otherwise, what are we complaining about?! If it really is “all random” and there is no
God, then the senseless death of a dear one is senseless because there is no
sense to anything. Saying that there is
no good because we observe/experience evil means we have to have some standard
against which we can judge anything to be evil (as opposed to random), and that
standard is the reality of good (and love, and truth, and beauty).
Of course a set of logical observations is of
no comfort to one who grieves. Those who
grieve must experience love; they must experience that those around them
participate in their grieving and loss, and mourn with them their own
loss. The issues attendant on theodicy
are important to ponder, but not while hurt is fresh. The only “answer” to fresh hurt is love which
is unqualified and unquestioning. The answer to loss is the embracing love of
Jesus’s arms, and Our Lord appoints us to be His arms.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Susan
McIntosh for the Sunday coffee hour.
§ Bryan
Stenz for pest control!
§ Ben
Dobey and Bobbie May for gardening.
§ Elizabeth
Schaffenburg for landscaping.
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.
Special call! Clergy discretionary accounts are provided
for by church canon. At Grace Episcopal
Church the regular contributions to these funds are the loose plate offering
for the first Sunday of each month. This
amount is not, on its own, sufficient to continue to fund things like jail
commissary costs for prisoners (including parishioners), medical and housing
costs, and work with victims of human trafficking. Please give generously, with gifts designated
“Clergy Discretionary Accounts”.
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
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 16B)
Dr.
R. Benjamin Dobey, Music Director
Prelude Chorale
Partita on ‘Blessed Jesus, we are here’ Johann Gottfried Walther
Entrance Hymn 388 “O
worship the King, all glorious above” Monkland
Offertory Hymn 460 “Alleluia! sing to Jesus” Hyfrydol
Communion Hymn 691 “My faith looks up to thee” Olivet
Closing Hymn 561
“Stand up, stand up for Jesus” Morning Light
Postlude Prelude
and Fugue in A Major Walther
Parish Notices:
§ All Saints’ Chapel in Elkhart Lake: The Chapel offers
services at 9:00 a.m., continuing through Labor Day weekend.
§ Blessing of the Backpacks! Fr. Karl will be
blessing all the backpacks and school children on August 26 at both 8:00 and
10:15 services. We invite anyone, young or old, who is starting school to come
forward with their backpacks for a blessing. We also invite all teachers to
come forward to be blessed in their important work, as well.
§ Save the Date: Mass in the Grass
celebration on Sunday, September 9.
St. Paul’s and Grace
Episcopal Churches will come together in celebration for outdoor worship with
Mass at 10:15 a.m. and a picnic lunch to follow. Location: Deland Community
Center, 901 Broughton Drive in Sheboygan. There will be games and activities
for children’s enjoyment and inviting guests is encouraged. A food sign up can
be found on the Narthex table.
§ Thinking Theologically will be offered in Adult Education on Thursday evenings
(7—9 p.m. beginning September 13). This class is intended to allow the
student to understand that the postmodern, Materialist worldview itself is in
opposition to any classical understanding of reason and science, and that
faith—far from being opposed to reason—is founded upon reason.
Thinking
Theologically will
allow the student to know and use the language of formal thought to explore
his/her own faith, and to defend this faith. The first term will focus on
methodology. No prior experience or knowledge in/of philosophy or
theology will is assumed.
§ Children’s Sunday School Begins: The teachers are
making plans for another wonderful year of learning about the love of Jesus
Christ! Classes will begin on September
16 at 9:00 a.m.; classrooms are found on the lower level of
the Church. If you would like more information or to enroll your child(ren) in
Sunday School, contact the Parish office at (920) 452-9659 office@gracesheboygan.com.
§ Healing Conference: The St. John, New
London's Order of St. Luke healing ministry is hosting a healing
conference, "How to Live in the Power of Christ,"
September 22, 2018 from 8:30-3:00. Subtitles include: Praying in the Power of
Christ's Faith; Living in the Power of Christ's Life; Healing in the Power of
Christ's Love. Opportunity for healing prayer will also be offered. The guest
speaker is the Rev. Josh Acton, North American Director for the Order
of St. Luke International Healing Ministry. He has been a pastor for
27 years at Anglican, Episcopal and Vineyard churches and is the spiritual
leader for OSL. Cost for attendance is $30, includes presentation, lunch and
breaks. For more information about the healing ministry or to register, contact
Jan Peskie 920-716-5757 or joejanpeskie@gmail.com.
§ Celebration
of New Ministry: The
Cathedral of St. Paul, Fond du Lac will host this celebration with its new
Dean, the Very Rev. Patrick Perkins on Saturday, September 29 (re-scheduled
from August 25). The Rev. Ezgi Saribay Perkins will be installed as Canon
Precentor. All are welcome and invited to attend. The service marks the
transition of ministry for the congregation and the priest as they live into a
new relationship in serving the Gospel.
§ Bulletin Prayer List and our Grace
Church Prayer Team:
The Episcopal Church believes in the power of prayer. Grace Church regularly
prays for the needs of our own members, as well as 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 a state of trouble,
sorrow, pain, or are experiencing any other adversity. Please call the Parish
office at (920) 452-9659 or email office@gracesheboygan.com.
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