Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
6 September 2018
Yesterday was the feast of Sts. Boris and Gleb (d. 1015), surely saints
who are obscure to most Anglicans. So
why write about them? It is because
these saints are examples of what is known in Eastern (specifically Russian)
Orthodoxy as strastoterptsii (“Passion
Bearers”), a recognition of those who do not resist evil with violence. Boris and Gleb were princes of Kievan Rus,
and were murdered at the order of their older brother, who had himself murdered
their father to usurp the throne.
Dynastic and revolutionary power struggles are never pretty. Just this past July the Russian Orthodox Church
noted the centenary of the murder of the last Tsar of Russia, together with his
wife and children, this last ruling family also being declared Passion-Bearers.
But enough of Russian history!
The recognition of strastoterptsii however
undertaken presents directly the challenge of nonviolence in the face of evil,
a challenge stated starkly by Jesus, who teaches, “… Do not resist one who is
evil. But if any one strikes you on the
right cheek, turn to him the other also …” (Mtt. 5.39; cf. Lk. 6.29). If
we compare this with the famous saying, “The only thing necessary for evil to
triumph is for good men to do nothing” (generally attributed to Edmund Burke,
an 18th C. Anglo-Irish statesman), we see an immediate contrast
between the way of the Cross and the way of the world. Or do we?
In Burke’s aphorism it is assumed that absent resistance evil will
triumph. But in Jesus’s teaching (given,
in Matthew, in the context of the sermon on the mount) what is revealed as
triumph, as fulfillment, is the blessedness which comes from God, and this
blessedness is unaffected by any earthly “triumph”! When Jesus is followed in a way that leads
the follower to the cross whatever earthly “victory” evil may claim is seen to
amount to just as much of a triumph as the powers of evil had over Our Lord in
condemning and crucifying Him—absolutely nothing! It is in the bearing of the Passion that the
ultimate victory was won, and it is in the participation in Jesus’s passion by
the self-offering of one who does not resist evil that suffering is redeemed.
We may pray, certainly, to be preserved and protected from evil. But may our prayer be, as well, that if we
are ever called to face real evil, we may be given the grace of God to do so in
self-offering.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Randie
Barrows for the Sunday coffee hour, with setup by Sutton Cecil.
§ John
and Davis and Julie Davidson for landscape watering.
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
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 18B)
Mass
in the Grass (with guitar by Nick Whitford)
Prelude Hymn Jars of Clay
Entrance Hymn 377 “Morning has broken” Bunessan
Offertory Hymn 556 “Seek ye first” Marion arr. by Karen Lafferty
Communion Motet “I need you More” Lindell
Cooly & Bruce Haynes
Communion Hymn 488 “Be
thou my vision, O Lord of my heart”
Slane
Closing Hymn 493
“O for a thousand tongues to
sing” Azmon
Postlude Open
the Eyes of my Heart Paul Baloche
Parish Notices:
§ Deacon
School Resumes on September 8: The diocesan Deacon School courses in
Old Testament (taught by Fr. Glen Kanestrom of St. Paul’s, Marinette) and
Church History (taught by Fr. Karl Schaffenburg of Grace, Sheboygan) are set to
begin. Classes meet 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month,
September – December.
Auditors are welcome. If you wish to
audit deacon school, contact Fr. Karl to receive details.
Note: Those in
formation for the diaconate pay tuition. Auditors are requested to
contribute to the cost of the school, but if the offering of a donation would
restrict your attendance be assured that a donation is voluntary.
§ Mass
in the Grass celebration at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, September 9.
St. Paul’s and Grace
Episcopal Churches will come together in celebration for outdoor worship with
Mass 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. Please note: There will be no 8:00 Mass that
morning.
§ 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.
§ Sunday
School begins: We
are excited to announce that Sunday School will be starting again on September
16, 2018. Classes meet from 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. and are open to children
ages 3 to 5th grade. Ms. Andrea and Ms. Nicci have A LOT of
fun lessons and activities planned for this year and would love to share the
message of God’s love with your children. A sign-up is located in the
Narthex.
§ Adult
Formation begins: Broken Mirrors–Reflections on Sacramental Healing: No one goes through
life unscathed! We all experience pain and brokenness, ranging from the sting
of disrespect to the tragic death of a loved one, or even the loss of faith! We
often hide our pain and carry it with us throughout our lives. Our
physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being becomes impaired, preventing us
from living in the joy that God wishes for us. The Broken Mirrors series
encourages us to reflect on those burdens that we carry and the pain that we
bear. We gather as a humble and faithful community to prayerfully navigate into
the depths of our pain and brokenness through definition, discovery,
acknowledgement, and reflection. We will pray, consult scripture, share
stories, meditate, invite Jesus to walk with us, and release our burdens to
power of His boundless love. This series is based upon the book Be
Healed–A Guide to Encountering the Powerful Love of Jesus in Your Life by Bob
Schuchts. Our first session will take place on Sunday, September 16th
at 9:00am in St. Nicholas Hall. All future sessions will meet weekly on Sundays
at 9am in the Library. There is no need to prepare. Come as you are. All are
welcome! Invite family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances who may be
seeking relief and the healing power of God.
§ 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.
§ Catechumenate
will begin:
Catechumenate is a nine-month course in the basics of the Faith and its
practice. It is a period of training and instruction in Christian
understandings about God, human relationships, and the meaning of life. It
includes the Sacrament of Baptism, if you are not already baptized, and
culminates in Confirmation, Reception, or Renewal of Baptismal Vows. The class
will begin on Tuesday, October 2 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. (room location
TBD) and will continue until May when Bishop Matthew Gunter makes his annual
visitation. The study is led by Mother Michele Whitford, the Parish Catechist.
If you would like to be a part of this exciting study and fellowship or would
like more information, please call the office 452-9659 or email Mother Michele
at mwhitford@gracesheboygan.com.
There will be a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex.
§ 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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