Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
13 September 2018
Extended thanksgivings are in order.
1.
Landscaping: The landscaping project is essentially
complete. The flooding issue at the
rectory was certainly tested in the recent storms, and the new ornamental
plants give the parish a fresh and inviting look. Work will continue into 2019 to install new
ornamental plants on Ontario Avenue, and to reestablish the cutting garden. We can offer heartfelt thanks to one long
time parishioner who wants to remain anonymous, for a generous donation, and to
The Grace Walsingham Foundation for the costs of the regrading and flood
abatement. GWF’s stewardship of the
parish property, both in Sheboygan and at Elkhart Lake has facilitated
increased focus on mission!
2.
Mass in the Grass
came together with no visible hitches because of the time and dedication of
many (listed below), but especially because of the over-and-above dedication of
Bryan Stenz in both managing the project and working in many hands-on
roles. In addition, please thank our
brothers and sisters from St. Paul’s, and the following members of Grace:
a.
For food donations: Jessica Ambelang, Andrea Beeck, Nicci Beeck,
Mary Clabots, Sutton Cecil, Elizabeth Schaffenburg, Joann Sorenson, Mary Snyder,
Joyce Wessel.
b.
For set up: Randie Barrows, Jim Gardner, Elizabeth
Schaffenburg, Bryan Stenz, Nick Whitford.
c.
For cleanup: Don & Nicci Beeck, Elizabeth
Schaffenburg, Bobbie May Mary Snyder
d.
Music: Nick Whitford.
3.
Landscape watering and grass cutting: John David, Julie Davidson,
Luke Fitzsimmons, Angel Klinzing.
4.
Maintenance: Jack Britton (our new Junior Warden)!
Guest column (Fr. John
Ambelang): The Life of Self Denial
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is
no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live
in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself
for me. Galatians 2:19-20 NRSV
How many people have we heard say they have
been crucified with Christ?
How many claim it’s no longer they who live,
but Christ who lives in them?
Not
many, I’ll bet.
But this is not all; we are to do this daily;
yes, daily. Look at what Jesus says in
Luke 9:23. “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny
himself and take up his cross daily
and follow me.’”
Most of us, even if we had the desire to pick
up our cross, wouldn’t have much idea what that would be like. However, those
living such a life may be closer than you think. Take the addicts whose every day is a
struggle to stay away from their poison.
Every day they have to decide whether they will deny themselves. Take the persons who decides daily whether
they will eat themselves into further ill health or say, “No!” How about those battling to give up their
bitterness? And, we know that any good
marriage depends on the lots of self-denial.
We don’t think much about Baptism and its
potential power, but in Baptism we are buried with Christ. We die with Christ. And are raised to a new life, a resurrected
life. That doesn’t mean much to an
infant but can mean everything to adults. The old have died; the new are risen
in Christ. We know the words, of course,
but not well the reality behind them.
Take prisoners who have been in and out of
jail for 35 years. Everyone has given up
on them. They have missed their children
growing up. They have missed their
parents growing old, needing support.
They repeatedly have wrecked their lives. They have little more than their regrets and
the desire to escape these regrets somehow. Is it possible to bury that old
nature in the Baptismal font and come alive as a new person in Christ?
More About This New Person in Christ:
I have died. I have died to my
desires. My desires have now been replaced with the desires that Christ
exhibits within me. These now are His desires, not mine. I see life
through His eyes. So, I am trusting Him, His love, His Joy.
That’s what Paul was saying above, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who
lives in me.”
As Dallas Willard has written in his book, Living
Without Lack, “What I want is of little consequence if I’m prepared to
receive whatever the Lord desires for me.”
So, whatever happens, I’m prepared to follow and show my trust in His
goodness.
And, as Willard goes on to say, “Deny
yourself and follow Christ, or deny Christ and follow yourself.”
Let us then, deny ourselves for the Life
beyond life.
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
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 19B)
Dr.
R. Benjamin Dobey, Music Director
Prelude Elevation; Andantino Léon Boëllmann
Entrance
Hymn 377 “All people that on earth
do dwell” Old 100th
Offertory
Anthem O
how amiable Ralph Vaughan Williams
Communion
Motet God be in my head John Rutter Communion Hymn 498 “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” St. Christopher
Closing
Hymn 473 “Lift high the Cross” Crucifer
Postlude Sortie in D Boëllmann
Parish Notices:
§
Please sign us to cut grass or to
water the landscaping!
§
Deacon School is back in session: 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) have begun. 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.
§
Choir: Choir rehearsals have begun! All
voices are welcome, but we especially need tenors and basses. You don’t need to
be a trained singer, an opera star, or a Broadway sensation – you just need a
desire to share the love of Christ through music! “Sing and make music from
your heart to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:19
§
Thinking Theologically, Thursday evenings (7—9
p.m. 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.
§
Diocesan Ultreya at St
Paul’s in Plymouth:
Sunday, September 16 starting with snacks & fellowship at 2pm &
concluding at 5pm. Even if you haven’t been to a Cursillo weekend, everyone is
invited to join in this time of worship, prayers & fellowship.
§
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.
§
SCIO is hiring in
Bridgeway and Supervised Visitation Programs:
·
Are you looking for
part-time employment?
·
Do you have a servant
heart and believe that change is possible?
·
Are you willing to listen,
love, show grace and assertively hold people accountable?
·
Do you want to be a part
of a great organization and team
Contact ashleigh@sheboygancountyinterfaith.org
to find out more information
§
Walsingham Pilgrimage
Music and Flowers: The
Walsingham Pilgrimage is just around the corner and preparations are being
made. We will have a quiet day with meditations at noon and 3:00 p.m., Rosary in the Shrine at 5:00 p.m. concluding
with Solemn Evensong at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 12. The meditations will
be offered by The Rev. Chris Arnold, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church,
Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Evensong will include the choir of Nashotah House
Theological Seminary, under the direction of The Rev. Fr. Alexander Pryor,
Director of Music at the seminary. On Saturday, October 13 the Rt. Rev. Matthew
A. Gunter, eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac, will celebrate at the Procession and
Solemn Pontifical Mass at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch in St. Nicholas Hall.
Reservations are required; the cost is $20 per person. Please make reservations
by October 10 by calling 920-452-9659 OR at office@gracesheboygan.com.
Music will once again include the Gaudete Brass. As you are able, prayerfully
consider contributing so that we can once again offer beautiful music that has
become so much a part of the pilgrimage and the flowers that add to the beauty
of holiness. Please make your check out to Grace Church with “Walsingham music”
or “flowers” or both in the memo.
§
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment