Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
9 June 2016
Some things are worth doing for their own
sake; they are uniquely invested with value.
The practice of faith (i.e.,
religion) is an example. Religion is not
a means to an end, except to the extent that it is misunderstood. The healthy and proper worship of God is not
part of a risk: reward equation (“holy fire insurance”). Worship is itself and end, not a means; the
end of greater communion with God.
Other examples of things having intrinsic
value as end, not means, include friendship or the experience of beauty. But the confusion of means and ends has been
particularly blurred in our technological age, for technology grants to us an
increasing control over means to our goals, while at the same time decreasing
our understanding of the reasons for pursuing these goals. For example, the nature of knowledge (and,
dare we say, wisdom?) is changed fundamentally in an age when we worry less
about what we need to know so long as we can “google” the answer.
We cannot google God, and the practice of
faith is not a means to an end, but an end in itself. The practice of faith involves being “in
Christ,” a fundamental change in our being.
This change in status is not something to be experienced as an
individual only. We are in Christ
together. I might be able to find
knowledge by knowing where to look, by googling the answer. This is something I can do on my own. The reason I seek an answer can be
utilitarian or just a matter of idle curiosity; I can decide to neither share
nor use the information. But if I ever
think that I can be in Christ on my own I am not paying attention to the wealth
of information that God gives me about Himself and His will; the wealth of
revelation that shows the reality that God calls us into bond with Him, and
service of Him, together.
If we are ever tempted to think in terms that
God is an answer that can just be accessed, then we will be approaching faith
as means to an end, rather than as something worth doing for its own sake, a
thing of intrinsic value. We will be
treating God, Himself, as a “thing” that might have some utility but can
otherwise be kept to the side when not needed.
We will impoverish our own lives.
In Summer, when there are many distractions—most
of which are enjoyable and have utility—let us remind ourselves that worship
isn’t about what I need, or what works for me, but about God. Worship is worth doing, period.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Michelle Abrashinsky
and Pat Ford Smith for the Sunday coffee hour, with cleanup by Julie Davidson.
§ Bobbie May for
ongoing work reorganizing the parish library, and for gardening.
§
Pat
Ford Smith for help in the parish office.
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.
Music
this Week: The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 6C)
Prelude What
God decrees is always good J. Pachelbel
Entrance Hymn 410 “Praise, my soul, the King of heaven” Lauda
anima
Mass Setting New English
Folk Mass Timms & Warrell
Offertory Hymn 460 “Alleluia, sing to Jesus”
Hyfrydol
Communion Hymn 691 “My faith looks up to thee” Olivet
Closing Hymn 408 “Sing
praise to God, who reigns above” Mit Freuden zart
Postlude Prelude from the Te Deum M. A. Charpentier
Parish
Notices
§ Fr. Karl on Vacation: Fr. Karl will be away June 13 – 17. If you
are in need of pastoral care, please call Deacon Michael Burg at 920-918-9944.
Ellen will be in the office Tuesday – Thursday 9:00am – 3:00pm. There are no
services scheduled this week until Friday when the normal Morning Prayer at
7:00am and Liturgy of the Word with Reserved Sacrament at 7:15am will be
offered.
§ Continuing Education: Deacon Michele will be out of the office June 13 –
17 at a Christian Formation Conference entitled “Take. Bless. Break. Give.
Following Jesus in the 21st Century”. The conference is held at the
Kanuga Conference Center, Hendersonville, NC.
§ Elkhart Lake Chapel: We are in
need of help for each Sunday. This would include: picking up the box of
bulletins at Grace Church, arriving a little early to open the buildings,
finding readers for the lessons and the prayers of the people, lighting
candles, greeting the visiting priest, various other tasks, locking up at the
end and returning the box to Grace Church. There are instructions printed and
several people who would be able to help if you have questions. Please sign up
for a Sunday or two by calling the office at 452-9659 with dates you are
available. Thank you.
§ Like Grace Church on
Facebook
§ Follow Grace Church on Twitter:
@GEC_Sheboygan
§ Follow Grace Church on
Instagram: @GEC_Sheboygan
§ We Are on Itunes! Check out
the new podcast!!!
