Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
18 April 2019
We began this most holy week of the year with
the procession of palms, welcoming the entry of Our Lord into His earthly
home. But our work week began with the
heart-wrenching news and images of the partial destruction of the Cathedral de
Notre Dame in Paris, a soon nine centuries old testimony to holiness and to
French identity, which has become a part of the patrimony of what was erstwhile
defined as Western Civilization. See https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47947425 .
I will confess to shedding not a few
tears. My reaction was akin to that
experienced on receiving the news of the loss of a dear friend or a family member. My personal experience of this cathedral as a
place of holiness, as a place of witness, and as lying at the core of whatever
we may define (in terms not just of a nation state) as France, resulted in my
experiencing real loss in looking upon the burning. More interestingly, the loss of a such a
center of holiness and culture has called forth a response among many with no
personal experience of Notre Dame. The
Parisians witnessed gathering, and those offering prayers and hymns, included
not only those identified as Christians.
More than 33% of the residents of France identify themselves as having
no faith, but something in the spectacle of loss brought people together in
ways we got a brief taste of in how we mutually experienced the shock of the
destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001.
As humans we long for what is permanent,
because regardless of what we may say about eternity, our very being testifies
to the reality that we are made for eternity.
This testimony results in people of no faith at all continually seeking,
“looking for answers”. This testimony
flies in the face of the daily small losses in cultural patrimony we must
suffer from those around us who continually claim that all language and culture
is no more than a reflection of power structures, and that what we yearn for is
in fact somehow “relative”.
If it’s all just “relative” why do we mourn
loss? A shocking loss, like what we have
witnessed in the partial destruction of Notre Dame, evokes real response. As of the date of this writing (24 hrs. after
the fire) more than one billion million dollars has been pledged by
private donors to rebuild the cathedral.
We respond to a big loss because we are shocked, but in this most holy
week, as we participate in the way of the cross, and come to relive that in
Jesus’ triumph over the dominion of sin and death we too triumph over loss and
destruction, let us re-tune our senses to notice the daily little losses, and to
testify against them.
As the cathedral burned a crowd gathered
nearby, praying the Rosary in chant. I
tuned in when live coverage allowed me to hear the chanting of the ancient
prayer Memorare. Fresh tears from
me, but what seeds planted in those witnessing this! The offering of hearts in prayer is the most
eloquent testimony possible against the nihilism of the world. May our mourning by transformed into joy in
our participation in Christ’s victory!
Grace abounds: Please thank:
§ Bob and Anne Hanlon, and Jack Britton and Helen Mullison for
the Sunday coffee hours.
§ Bobbie May for janitorial help, and for church decoration.
§ Ben Dobey for planting flowers in the columbarium
courtyard.
§ All who helped in the parish cleanup day: Randie and Austin Barrows, Jack Britton,
Sutton Cecil, Bev Evans, Claudia Fischer, Bill and Deb Gagin, Edoh and La Htoo,
Bobbie May, Kristin Plucar, Elizabeth Schaffenburg, Stuart Schmidt, Mary
Snyder, Tom Wright.
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: Palm Sunday (The Sunday of the Passion)
Dr. R. Benjamin Dobey, Music Director
Maundy Thursday
Prelude Meditation
on ‘Ubi caritas’ Larry Visser
Prelude
on Adoro te devote Healy
Willan
Entrance Hymn 320 “Hail, Zion praise thy Savior, singing”
St. Thomas
Offertory Hymn 315 “Thou who at thy first Eucharist” Song 1
Communion Motet Ave Verum Corpus Plainsong
Communion Hymn 314 “Humbly I adore thee” Adoro
devote
Procession to the Altar of Repose
Now my tongue the mystery telling St. Thomas Aquinas
Good Friday
Veneration of the Cross Adoramus
te Christe Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Behold the Lamb of God Healy
Willan
Procession of the Blessed Sacrament to
the Altar
Sing my tongue , the glorious battle Venantius
Fortunatus
Easter Vigil
Offertory Anthem Fanfare:
Dextera Domini R. Benjamin Dobey
Christus
Vincit Joseph Noyon, arr. Gerre Hancock
Communion Motet Most glorious Lord
of life William H. Harris
Communion Hymn 305 “Come
risen Lord and deign to be our guest” Rosedale
Closing Hymn 208 “ The
strife is o’er”
Victory
Postlude The triumph is completed
(from
the Christmas
Oratorio)
J.
S. Bach
Trumpets:
Michael
Winkler
Scott
Winkler
Easter Sunday
Prelude Organ Concerto in F Major, op 4 no. 5 G. F. Händel
Entrance Hymn 207 “Jesus Christ is Risen today” Easter Hymn
Offertory Anthem Regina
Coeli W. A.Mozart
Communion Motet Jesus, Sun of Life
G. F. Händel
Communion Hymn 174 “At the Lamb’s high feast we sing” Salzburg
Closing Hymn 210 “The day of resurrection” Ellacombe
Postlude Toccata
from the Fifth Symphony harles-Marie Widor
The String Quartet:
Robin
Petzold, violin
Katherine
Brooks, violin
Amanda
Koch, viola
Trischa
Loebl, cello
Parish Notices:
§ Maundy
Thursday Foot Washing Tonight: The Gospel of John (13:1-17) records that
Jesus washed the feet of the disciples at the Last Supper. Jesus urged the
disciples to follow his example of generous and humble service. Jesus' washing
of the disciples' feet was a live expression of his teaching that "whoever
wishes to be first among you must be slave of all" (Mk 10:43-44). Everyone
will have the opportunity to have their feet washed and to wash someone else’s;
please wear socks and shoes that are easily removed.
§ Vigil
before the Altar of Repose: Please sign up to watch and pray for an hour
at the Altar of Repose beginning immediately following the Maundy Thursday Mass
on April 18 and concluding Friday, April 19 as the Good Friday Liturgy begins.
There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex; more than one person may
sign up for any given hour.
§ Good
Friday Offering:
Every year since 1922 the church has taken a collection for the Church in the
Middle East during Holy Week. This year our loose plate offering on Good Friday
will go to support the church efforts in Jerusalem and throughout the Middle
East. Please be generous as you are able.
§ Easter
Vigil-The Holy Noise: It is an ancient custom that parishioners bring bells
from home to make Holy Noise during the singing of the Gloria in
exclesis at the Easter Vigil. This is to symbolize the waking of the dead
in Christ because of His resurrection, as well as the proclamation to the
entire world that Christ is risen from the dead.
§ Easter
Vigil Dinner:
The first Mass of the Resurrection is on Saturday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m. The
Easter celebration then continues at Trattoria Stefano, 522 South 8th
Street, at 9:30 p.m. The actual cost of the meal is a gift to the parish, so
you not only get a delicious meal but you help the church by purchasing a
ticket for the dinner. Tickets can be bought in the parish office or in the
Narthex after mass for $50 a person. Everyone is invited, but seats are
limited. There are scholarships for anyone wishing to attend but are challenged
by the cost. A final head count has been requested by tomorrow, Monday, April 15.
§ Easter
Gala Reception: We
will continue our Easter celebration with a Gala Reception after the 10:15 a.m.
Mass on Sunday, April 21. A sign-up sheet is on the Narthex table.
§ Annual Bake and Plant Sale: This annual event
takes place, in conjunction with St. Luke United Methodist Church Rummage Sale,
on Friday, April 26 (11:00–5:00 p.m.) and Saturday, April 27 (9:00 a.m.–2:30
p.m.) We need volunteers to provide baked items, staff tables, set-up and take
down. Look for a more detailed list and sign-up sheet in the upcoming weeks.
§ Celebratory Save-the-Date: On Sunday April 28,
we come together for ONE MASS at
10:15 as Fr. Karl celebrates his final service as the Rector of Grace Church. A
reception lunch will be held after Mass, in St. Nicholas Hall, to show our
appreciation for the many years of service by Bill May as our Sexton, as well
as celebrating the 7 ½ years of service and friendship by Fr. Karl and Elizabeth
Schaffenburg. For more information or if you have questions, contact the Parish
Office.
