Sowing and Reaping

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

7 July 2016

Today is the feast of St. Paladius of Ireland (d. ca. 457—461).  Paladius is remembered as apostle to Ireland, a designation usually associated with St. Patrick.  Patrick is far better remembered, and can perhaps be better thought of as apostle “of” the Irish, because Paladius’ one year mission was so unsuccessful that he left Ireland, and Patrick succeeded spectacularly.  This contrast, however, begs the question “Would Patrick have succeeded absent the prior mission of Paladius?”

This is a question of the type that we should each ask of ourselves whenever our efforts to witness to the faith seem to fail.  The ultimate success of all mission is that God’s will may be done, and when we witness to the faith we witness to the reality that the message is God’s, not ours; the work is God’s, not ours; the “success” is God’s, not ours—to God be the glory!

Paladius and Patrick each brought the Good News to a land then considered barbarous, and populated by those who were not disposed to receive any witness that would challenge their ways.  We may each have a differing opinion on what we now consider to be civilized ways, but we also commonly experience that most whom we meet are not disposed to listen to any faith testimony.  Our culture is one in which the sharing of faith is itself considered “out of bounds”, just as it was out of bounds for Paladius and Patrick to go to Ireland in the first place, and just as it was out of bounds for them to testify to Jesus in the face of pagan belief.

When we remind ourselves that the work is God’s, then we can focus on the reality that it is pointless to worry about “success”.  We can focus on being available to God to do His work, to plant seeds that will be harvested by another.

The next time you are discouraged in any ministry, ask St. Paladius to pray for you!  Remember that he must have been very discouraged, but that the seeds he planted for God allowed Patrick to both sow and harvest a rich bounty for the kingdom.

Grace abounds:  Please thank: 

§  Elizabeth Schaffenburg, and Jessica and Tom Ambelang for the Sunday coffee hours.

§  Bryan Stenz and Archdeacon Michele for their work in cleaning basement rooms to prepare for Grace Abounds ministry space.

§  Ben Dobey for work in the garden.

§  Scott Gedemer for lawn care.

§  Elizabeth Schaffenburg, Elaine Dinstuhl, Julie Davidson, and Pat Ford Smith for help with a parish 4^th of July cook-out.

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 Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9C)

Prelude                          Andantino                                                    Harold Darke

Entrance Hymn  376       “Joyful, joyful we adore thee”                      Hymn to Joy

Offertory Hymn   660     “O Master, let me walk with thee”                Maryton

Communion Hymn  609  “Where cross the crowded ways of life”        Gardiner

Closing Hymn  529         “In Christ there is no east or west”               McKee

Postlude                        Toccata in C  J                                          Johann Krieger

Parish Notices

§  Elkhart Lake Chapel: We are still in need of help for the following Sundays: July 17 & 31, August 14 & 21 and September 4. This includes: 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.

§  Unless volunteers come forward there will be no Coffee Hour: for the month of August. Please see the sign-up book on the table in the Narthex.

§  Ben Dobey, our Organist & Choirmaster, is retiring on July 31^st:  Mark your calendars and sign up on the sheet on the table in the Narthex, or call the office to make a reservation, for the celebration brunch to be held that day in Ben’s honor. All food will be catered by the hospitality committee.

§  Lobster Boil: Once again, for the 24^th year, on July 15th the Sheboygan Early Bird Rotary are offering a Lobster Boil. For more details, see the notice board in the Narthex or call Greg Burgett at 451-6264. Closing date for tickets is July 11^th.

§  Education for Ministry (EfM): This class was created to help you find your vocation and ministry with a trusted group of friends. By studying scripture, history and reading other people’s writings, we discover more about God’s wonderful plan for our lives. The EfM class will meet on Tuesday nights starting September 13 at 5:30 pm. at the St Peter’s Church House, Sheboygan Falls. Interested individuals can contact Barb Drewry-Zimmerman at: bzimmy@excel.net or call 920-893-5189 for registration materials. Cost is $350 & scholarships are available. Registrations are due by August 1.  They can be mailed to Barb at: PO Box 67, Boulder Junction, WI  54512.

§  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!!!

§  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-church-sheboygan/id982836791

Invite or be Invited

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

30 June 2016

The “masthead” for the parish web page (Can we use this old term in writing about a web page?) has three words displayed prominently under the name of Grace Episcopal Church:  Christ, Community, Compassion.  In some ways there is redundancy built into this formulation, for in Christ we are both called to and experience community and compassion.

I have been reminded several times recently of the need for community.  The issues which present themselves in pastoral and spiritual care—regardless of the variety of problems encountered—at some level relate back to an underlying root cause in a failure of community.  This shouldn’t surprise us.  The source and summation of Being, the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is a community of Being, and Jesus emphasizes to us that what we do in faith we do together”  “… where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I … “(Mtt. 18.20).

We don’t have a lot of parish “programming” planned for this Summer.  People have been engaged and busy, and sabbath time is needed.  But this is a good time to focus on community—on just getting to know each other better—so that when programs and new forms of outreach recommence we can better work together.  Take time, therefore, both to relax and to do things together.  This can be as simple as calling a couple of people to go get an ice cream cone, or to go to a baseball game.  It doesn’t have to be about ministry; it’s just about getting to know each other.

A great way to get to know each other is to share in a meal.  For the Fourth of July holiday, invite someone else from the parish or wider community, someone who doesn’t have “plans”.  If you are wondering what to do one the Fourth, and no one has asked you to come by, then let me know on Sunday.  On the Fourth we will have a very informal cook out at the rectory.  You are invited, but please let me know by Sunday, so we can plan.

Focus on community.  Invite or be invited.  God wills that we experience His love through each other.

Grace abounds:  Please thank: 

§  Bobbie May. Mary Massey and Mary Snyder for the Sunday coffee hour.

§  Bryan Stenz and Archdeacon Michele for their work in cleaning basement rooms to prepare for Grace Abounds ministry space.

§  Ben Dobey for work in the garden.

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.

History of Philosophy Volume 1 Greece and Rome [A brief review]

Frederick Copleston was a Jesuit priest, philosopher, and historian of philosophy.

Copleston’s first volume in multi-volume history of philosophy is a semi- chronological tour of Greek and Roman philosophy beginning with pre-Socratic philosophers and an in-depth analysis of Plato and Aristotle.  Without spelling it out he seems to take the common approach of many historians of philosophy, that is, Greek philosophy is primary whilst Roman is for the most considered secondary in its impact on the history of philosophy.  This is not particularly a criticism, rather an explanation the reviewer believes should be stated.  The author proceeds along these lines, at least partially in the interests of some degree of brevity.  A ten volume set of approximately 500 pages per volume is a daunting undertaking, for author as well as reader.) The terse treatment of “minor” philosophers (many of these with whom the reviewer was entirely unfamiliar) is not disruptive since the work is a history.  I suspect that this is owing to the fragmentary nature of currently extant philosophy rather than overweening on the part of the author. None of this severely effects the thoroughness of the work as it pertains to any discussion of the Ancients’ influence as related to medieval Christian philosophy/theology, which was the reviewer’s proximate cause for the endeavor.

No doubt the target audience was above the reviewer’s education/intellect, as the often untranslated interjections in Greek, Latin, French and German were disconcerting when one was not able to ascertain the meaning from context.  (I felt I became better to parse some of the languages as I delved deeper in the book.) I felt this practice unsatisfactory, as I had limited desire to engage in a full-court press to fully understand the meaning of the philosophical phrases in English, not to say anything of the other languages.  I’m less inclined to massive undertaking in my waning days!

I am more thoroughly appreciative of the preparatory nature provided by the author, the reviewer having just started Volume II Augustine to Scotus at the time of this writing. I feel fully prepared for Augustine-Scotus by way of the Greek-Roman volume.  Despite the slight ecclesiastical nature of the books these are good words and I ascribe to them.  (Apologies to Trotsky and Proudhon! )

                                                                                                  —Dale Massey

Music this Week:  The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9C)

Prelude                          Adagio                                                             Alan Gray

Entrance Hymn 390       “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”           Lobe den Herren

Offertory Hymn 541      “Come, labor on”                                             Ora labora

Communion Hymn 321 “My God, thy table now is spread”                  Rockingham

Closing Hymn 717         “My country, ‘tis of thee”                                     America

Postlude                        Prelude & Fugue in B Flat                       Johann Pachelbel

Parish Notices

§  Elkhart Lake Chapel: We are still in need of help for the following Sundays: July 17 & 31, August 14 & 21 and September 4. This includes: 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.

§  Unless volunteers come forward there will be no Coffee Hour: for next week and for the month of August. Please see the sign-up book on the table in the Narthex.

§  Ben Dobey, our Organist & Choirmaster, is retiring on July 31^st:  Mark your calendars and sign up on the sheet on the table in the Narthex, or call the office to make a reservation, for the celebration brunch to be held that day in Ben’s honor. Brunch will be catered by the hospitality committee.

§  Lobster Boil: Once again, for the 24^th year, on July 15 the Sheboygan Early Bird Rotary are offering a Lobster Boil. For more details, see the notice board in the Narthex or call Greg Burgett at 451-6264.

§  Education for Ministry (EfM): This class was created to help you find your vocation and ministry with a trusted group of friends. By studying scripture, history and reading other people’s writings, we discover more about God’s wonderful plan for our lives. The EfM class will meet on Tuesday nights starting September 13 at 5:30 pm. at the St Peter’s Church House, Sheboygan Falls. Interested individuals can contact Barb Drewry-Zimmerman at: bzimmy@excel.net or call 920-893-5189 for registration materials. Cost is $350 & scholarships are available. Registrations are due by August .  They can be mailed to Barb at: PO Box 67, Boulder Junction, WI  54512.

§  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!!!

§  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-church-sheboygan/id982836791

A Directed Gaze

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

23 June 2016

Upon my return from a week at an icon-writing workshop I have had many ask if I “was able to relax”.  Far from it!  While I had understood that the retreat was not really time off, I had not expected how hard the work would be.  Over five days the actual time spent in labor was 59 hours, and the conditions included high heat complicated by the smell of egg tempera.  It was exhausting, but in the end an icon resulted which is at least credible as a first effort.  (I was ribbed about my eyepiece; hence the ditty appended below.)

What was particularly noteworthy was the contrast between those who approached the workshop as a learning experience only—as part of their own exploration of “spirituality” and art—and those who recognized that icon writing is a prayer, not art.  The latter group began each day with Mass and each work session with the iconographer’s prayer.  The latter group did seem to tolerate the adverse conditions better, and even joked about the “need to suffer”.

Whether or not you believe that suffering can be necessary, suffering can be redeemed when it is offered to God; when we can participate in Jesus’ suffering.  More to the point of what is intended in iconology, it is to participate in revelation, in little glimpses into the kingdom of heaven.  This is why, for example, in icons there are no shadows, for the light infuses the scene, and the highlights on a figure of Jesus (for example) are not of reflected light, but of light from within.  It is why an icon may be used in prayer.

The icon we each wrote (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) is quite famous, and currently subject of a decree of jubilee by the Roman pontiff.  In the icon Mary’s eye’s gaze up and out (toward God), while Jesus’ looks away to the cross.  The child in His mother’s arms looks, already, to the instrument of the redemption of creation.  May our eyes by directed both by those of Mary and of her Son—to God by and through the sign and symbol of His redeeming love.

Grace abounds:  Please thank: 

§  Mary Ann Neuses and Barb MacEwen for the Sunday coffee hour.

§  Bryan Stenz and Archdeacon Michele for their work in cleaning basement rooms to prepare for Grace Abounds ministry space.

§  Bobbie May for work in the garden.

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.

The Monocular Iconographer

The monocular iconographer

Endeavored to discern

A vocation of true vision,

But he had much to learn!

By humbling himself

In work, and in failures many,

That by imposed abasement,

God’s Spirit might reveal

A pattern in holy image,

And in holy zeal!

Music this Week:  The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 8C)

Prelude                          Andantino                                                    César Franck

Entrance Hymn 518        “Christ is made the sure foundation”  Westminster Abbey

Offertory Hymn 359      “God of the prophets”                                           Toulon

Communion Hymn 566 (1940 Hymnal)(words: 550,1982)

                                       “Jesus call us o’er the tumult”                          Galilee    

Closing Hymn 564         “He who would valiant be”                           St. Dunstan’s

Postlude                        Sortie in F                                                             Franck

Parish Notices

§  Elkhart Lake Chapel: We are in need of help for the following Sundays: July 17 & 31, August 7, 14 & 21 and September 4. This includes: 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.

§  Coffee Hour: Currently we have only one person signed up for the months of July and August. Please see the sign-up book on the table in the Narthex.

§  Lobster Boil: Once again, for the 24^th year, on July 15 the Sheboygan Early Bird Rotary are offering a Lobster Boil. For more details, see the notice board in the Narthex or call Greg Burgett at 451-6264.

§  EfM or Education for Ministry: This class was created to help you find your vocation and ministry with a trusted group of friends. By studying scripture, history and reading other people’s writings, we discover more about God’s wonderful plan for our lives. The EfM class will meet on Tuesday nights starting September 13 at 5:30 pm. at the St Peter’s Church House, Sheboygan Falls. Interested individuals can contact Barb Drewry-Zimmerman at: bzimmy@excel.net or call 920-893-5189 for registration materials. Cost is $350 & scholarships are available. Registrations are due by August 1.  They can be mailed to Barb at: PO Box 67, Boulder Junction, WI  54512.

§  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!!!

§  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-church-sheboygan/id982836791