God's "Big Wheel"

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

1 November 2012

All Saints’:  Don’t forget that today is All Saints’!  Solemn Eucharist (with Baptism) will be celebrated at 6 p.m. today.

How do we know God?  This was the question posed this past Saturday in our discipleship program, Being the Body: Knowing, Being, Doing.  The session (with forty participants from four congregations) was led by The Rev. Dr. Steven A. Peay, Academic Dean at Nashotah House.  The question is the most basic question of “fundamental theology”.  It is the question that we ask ourselves as individuals and as the Church.  Fortunately, we find answers.

Answers are found in how God reveals Himself and His will for us.  This revelation can be “general” or “special,” encompassed in the classical Anglican formula of faith informed by Scripture, Reason and Tradition.  Reason encompasses general revelation, the ways in which we—as created beings—can use our own powers of observation and experience to experience little glimmers of God when we experience love, beauty, truth, good, and being.  But most of what we know of God is not something we can figure out.  It must be revealed to us.  This is where the Anglican formula of Scripture, Reason and Tradition needs to be considered with care, for while it is common to refer to this formula as the “three leggèd stool” it is not, for the three legs are not of equal authority.

We need to understand Scripture, Reason and Tradition not as a “stool” but as a tricycle.  There’s one big wheel, Scripture, that drives our understanding of faith, with the two smaller wheels of Reason and Tradition providing additional ways in which to understand God’s revelation.  In other words, Reason and Tradition cannot contradict the revelation found in Scripture.

In the Church today it is not uncommon to hear someone say something like, “God gave me a brain, and so I can disagree with the Bible.”  This disagreement usually relates to something in the Bible that the speaker does not really understand, but more importantly it represents a fundamental misunderstanding of Reason.  Reason (in theological terms) is not cognition—it’s not the way we think.  Reason must be understood in a classical sense, drawing from Plato and Aristotle, as a participatory knowledge. To know something is to experience it, to share or participate in something.  It is not just about how we think.  Hence, Scripture and Reason inform each other, with Reason allowing us to experience some of the revelation of God (His general revelation) in nature; in how we can come to know some aspects of God though our experience of the world.  Equally, there is a mutual, inward hold that Scripture makes upon us and we upon it. As such, Reason may be best understood as a practical wisdom.  It is in this sense that Scripture, Reason and Tradition inform each other.  We can use our minds to question the meaning of Scripture—how we are to interpret God’s Word and apply it in our own lives—but we can’t just say that we disagree with what Scripture reveals, in part because at its most complete Reason cannot inform us of many things (for example, the nature of the Eucharist).

We say that our faith is founded on Scripture, Reason and Tradition (God’s holy “Big Wheel”), but it is more accurate to say that our faith is informed by this revelation.  Faith is founded first on relationship, on trust in God.  So we need to focus first and foremost on our encounter with God—on meeting the risen Christ and on receiving the Holy Spirit.  It is in meeting and knowing the Person that we know who to follow, who to trust, and the “Big Wheel” then just becomes one more way to know, to pay attention, and above all to follow.

Consecration Sunday:  Consecration Sunday is two Sunday’s away!  We will gather following our one service of worship that day.  (Worship will be at 10 a.m.)  Our gathering is a time of celebration, at which we can thank God and each other for the blessings we enjoy, including the blessing of giving.  This is a catered luncheon (not pot luck), because it is a time of special celebration, as we come together in the life of the church.  Mark your calendars now, and look for your luncheon reservation cards to be distributed in one week!

Due to deaths and parishioners moving away, we have lost pledges for 2013 which would have totaled $31,879.  In order to stand still (and standing still involves a 2012 deficit), we need to significantly increase how each one of us participates in giving.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank Jessica Ambelang for special Halloween treats provided at last Sunday’s coffee hour. 

Please take the opportunity to notify the office of any member or friend of the parish to whom we owe thanks, in order that we can publicize this in the weekly newsletter.

Interested in flowers?  Flowers are used in Grace at both the high altar and in the chapels.  If you are interested in participating in the ministry of arranging flowers for the altars, please see bernie Markevitch, who is willing to train interested persons in flower arranging.  No prior experience or knowledge is necessary, just a call to serve!

Fall clean-up:  Fall clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, 3 November, from 8:30 a.m. until noon.  (Breakfast snacks will be provided.)  We need to rake, weed, clean-up, trim, etc.  Please bring hand garden tools with you, and let Ed Clabots or the parish office know you are coming.

Youth Sunday:  This coming Sunday, 4 November, our 10:15 service will be led by the youth of the parish.  With the exception of functioin sreserved specifically to the priest, all leadership in the service will be given by young people in the parish.  Please plan to attend to support them in ministry.

Adult Christian Education:  Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall.  On 4 November we continue our nine part series on Christian ethics.  The entire course can be found on the parish website under “Christian Formation: Adult Education”. 

Biblical Literacy:  The Bible Challenge readings will be for week 36.    Bible study for the Sunday lessons meets on Thursdays, following the 9 a.m. Mass.  Bible study will not meet this Thursday due to a conflict with a diocesan clergy meeting.

The number of people following The Bible Challenge on-line is gratifying, and weekly summaries will continue to be posted.  However, attendance at the Tuesday evening sessions has been problematical.  Therefore, Tuesday evening pot-luck and discussion sessions are cancelled.

Music this week:

ALL SAINTS’ DAY

Prelude                                    Justorum Animae                                            Willan

Entrance Hymn 625                “Ye holy angels bright”                                  Darwall’s 148^th

Offertory Hymn 287               “For all the saints”                                          Sine Nomine

Communion Motet                  The souls of the righteous                                Thiman

Communion Hymn 620          “Jerusalem, my happy home”                          Land of Rest

Closing Hymn 293                  “I sing a song of the saints of God”               Grand Isle

Postlude                                  Toccata on Christe, Redemptor Omnium        Benoit

SUNDAY, NOV. 4^TH

Proper 26B

Prelude                                    Tranquillo; Andante                                        Darke

Entrance Hymn 625                “Ye holy angels bright”                                  Darwall’s 148^th

Offertory Hymn 618               “Ye watchers and ye holy ones”                     Lasst uns erfreuen

Communion Motet                  O Spirit of Life                                     Bach

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

Closing Hymn 551                  “Rise up, ye saints of God”                            Festal Song

Postlude                                  Trumpet tune in B Flat                                    Johnson

Parish Notices

§  Old-Fashioned Hymn Sing, Dessert Party, & Concert: An old-fashioned hymn-sing (you know you’ve been wanting to sing those favorite old-time hymns we never get to do because Episcopalians have such good taste) will be held on FRIDAY, NOV. 16^TH at 6:30pm in St. Nicholas Hall, featuring Aaron Horvat at the mighty Steinway Grand, and Ben Dobey at the fabulous (or appalling, depending on your point of view) Hammond electronic spinet. The purpose is to have some fun and raise money for the Arts in Croatia Ministry for teens in Osijek, led by Aaron and by Winnie Coleman-Horvat. It will be worth it just to see if the Hammond explodes, like it kept doing when we did this in 2008. Come, bring a dessert to share if you feel inspired, and enjoy!

§  Hosting the Seminarian and His Family: Please consider hosting our seminarian Ryan Delaney and his family for a Saturday evening. Ryan and his lovely wife Melanie and children Brenna and Bemen will be staying most Saturday evenings in preparation for services on Sunday morning. This will give the parish an opportunity to get to know them and for the Delaney’s to get to know the parish. Please find a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex for dinner Saturday evening and brunch Sunday after the service.

§  Salvation Army Bell Ringing: There is still space to sign up! You can have multiple people on, at any time, the more the merrier! Grace Church is signed up to ring bells for the Salvation Army on November 10^th in two different locations. At the Piggly Wiggly on the north side from 1:00-7:00pm and at the Piggly Wiggly on the south side from 9:00am-3:00pm. Both of the locations are inside. The bells and kettle will be there, & a sign in sheet. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. If you have any questions please call Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.

§  Annual Clothing Drive:  The annual community clothing drive is Saturday, November 10^th from 9:00-11:00am at the Grant School Gym 1528 North 5th St, Sheboygan. Donations of warm clothing in good condition (for all ages) is being accepted during the Annual Clothing Drive. Clothing donations can be dropped off at church by November 3rd. What a great way to help the community! This program is sponsored by Kiwanis Club & SASD and open to ALL community members and is FREE. It is suggested that a non-perishable food item be donated in exchange for warm winter clothing items. 

Transitions

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

25 October 2012

At diocesan convention on 20 October three decisions were taken/announced that are of particular materiality.  (1)  Bishop Jacobus announced his retirement, effective 31 October 2013. See  http://diofdl.org/documents/publications/announcesretirement.pdf (2)  Bishop Jacobus announced that General Convention (2012) Resolution A-049, a provisional rite for the blessing of same sex unions, will not be implemented in the Diocese of Fond du Lac.  Under the terms of A-049, such blessings must be authorized by the diocesan bishop, and Bishop Jacobus has announced his decision not to allow such rites in this diocese.  The reasoning behind this decision is included in the bishop’s pastoral address to the convention, which may be found here:  http://diofdl.org/documents/publications/pastoral2012.pdf (3)  Elizabeth Schaffenburg was elected to the Standing Committee of the Diocese.

We have been blessed with our bishop’s ministry since 1994.  The process of transition will, per canon, be managed by the Standing Committee.  Once candidates have been identified, screened, and nominated, they will be identified to the diocese, and opportunities made for members of the diocese to meet the candidates prior to the election.  Following election of a candidate, the election must be consented to by a majority of the Standing Committees of dioceses of The Episcopal Church.

The following prayer will be included in our worship for the next year, and is commended to your individual devotions, as well:

Almighty God, giver of every good gift:  Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who choose a bishop for this Diocese, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Being the Body:  Our 18 month discipleship program re-starts this coming Saturday, 27 October (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) at Grace Church, with a session led by The Rev. Dr. Steven Peay, Academic Dean at Nashotah House.  Fr. Peay will begin our “knowing” focus with a discussion (to include small group activity) of “fundamental theology”:  How do we know who God is, and what His will is for us?

Please join with us.  Participation has been good (let the office know if you plan to attend, so we can plan the meal), and this program was singled out by Bp. Jacobus in his pastoral address (see the second link above)  at convention as an example of what the Church needs to be doing.

Consecration Sunday:  Consecration Sunday is three Sunday’s away!  We will gather following our one service of worship that day.  (Worship will be at 10:15 a.m.)  Our gathering is a time of celebration, at which we can thank God and each other for the blessings we enjoy, including the blessing of giving.  This is a catered luncheon (not pot luck), because it is a time of special celebration, as we come together in the life of the church.  Mark your calendars now, and look for your luncheon reservation cards to be distributed in one week!

Due to deaths and parishioners moving away, we have lost pledges for 2013 which would have totaled $31,879.  In order to stand still (and standing still involves as 2012) deficit, we need to significantly increase how each one of us participates in giving.

Grace Abounds:  Additional help at clean-up following the Walsingham pilgrimage was organized and provided by Mary Clabots, with help provided by Brenna and Bremen Delaney.  For the 21 October children’s service, Pat Ford Smith is to be thanked for her help. 

Please take the opportunity to notify the office of any member or friend of the parish to whom we owe thanks, in order that we can publicize this in the weekly newsletter.

Fall clean-up:  Fall clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, 3 November, from 8:30 a.m. until noon.  (Breakfast snacks will be provided.)  We need to rake, weed, clean-up, trim, etc.  Please bring hand garden tools with you, and let Ed Clabots or the parish office know you are coming.

Adult Christian Education:  Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall.  We have begun our nine part series on Christian Ethics.  The entire course can be found on the parish website under “Christian Formation: Adult Education”. 

Biblical Literacy:  The Bible Challenge readings will be for week 35.    Bible study for the Sunday lessons meets on Thursdays, following the 9 a.m. Mass.

The number of people following The Bible Challenge on-line is gratifying, and weekly summaries will continue to be posted.  However, attendance at the Tuesday evening sessions has been problematical.  Therefore, Tuesday evening pot-luck and discussion sessions are cancelled.

            Grace Church All Hallows Eve Party!  Today! Thursday, October 25 6-8pm.

Games and fun for children of all ages. Are you brave enough to try a mummy pizza? How about the pungent punch? Have you ever walked through the hall of bones?

Wear your costume and bring your Ghoulish Buddies, Invisible Friends and Cousin Its!

Come and play our tricks and you'll be sure to get a treat!

So that we have enough for all, please RSVP with the number in your party, at the church office (920-452-9659)

OLD-FASHIONED HYMN SING, DESSERT PARTY, & CONCERT

An old-fashioned hymn-sing (you know you’ve been wanting to sing those favorite old-time hymns we never get to do because Episcopalians have such good taste) will be held on FRIDAY, NOV. 16^TH at 6:30pm in St. Nicholas Hall, featuring Aaron Horvat at the mighty Steinway Grand, and Ben Dobey at the fabulous (or appalling, depending on your point of view) Hammond electronic spinet.  The purpose is to have some fun and raise money for the Arts in Croatia Ministry for teens in Osijek, led by Aaron and by Winnie Coleman-Horvat.  It will be worth it just to see if the Hammond explodes, like it kept doing  when we did this in 2008.  Come, bring a dessert to share if you feel inspired, and enjoy!

Annual Clothing Drive:  The annual community clothing drive is Saturday, November 10^th from 9:00-11:00am at the Grant School Gym 1528 North 5th St, Sheboygan. Donations of warm clothing in good condition (for all ages) is being accepted during the Annual Clothing Drive. Clothing donations can be dropped off at church by November 3rd. What a great way to help the community! This program is sponsored by Kiwanis Club & SASD and open to ALL community members and is FREE. It is suggested that a non-perishable food item be donated in exchange for warm winter clothing items. 

Music this week:

Prelude  Prelude & Ayre  Geoffrey Vintner

Entrance Hymn #523  “Glorious things of thee are spoken”  Abbot’s Leigh

Psalm 13  (Choir) Anglican chant:  Henry Smart

            How long wilt thou forget me O Lord, for ever:

                        how long wilt thou hide thy face from me.

            How long shall I seek counsel in my soul, and be so vex’d in my heart:

                        how long shall mine enemies triumph over me?

            Consider and hear me O Lord my God:

                        give light to my eyes that I sleep not in death.

            Lest mine enemy say, “I have prevailed against him:”

                        for if I be cast down, they that trouble me will rejoice at it.

            But my trust is in thy mercy:

                        and my heart is joyful in thy salvation.

            I will sing of the Lord, because he hath dealt so lovingly with me:

                        yea I will praise the Name of the Lord most Highest.

 Offertory Hymn  #567  “Thine arm, O Lord”              St. Matthew

Communion Motet      Eternal light, shine in my heart  Samuel Scheidt

Communion Hymn #691 “My faith looks up to thee”  Olivet

Closing Hymn #542    “Christ is the world’s true light”  St. Joan

Postlude  Toccata in C  Johann Pachelbel

Parish Notices

·         New Adult formation: The adult formation class is looking at Christian Ethics. We will first examine what an ethical decision is, where we look for guidance in ethical decision-making, and how ethical decisions relate to salvation. We will then pass on to consider specific ethical issues. Throughout the course we will seek to identify the teachings of the Church as found in Scripture, Reason and Tradition. The course materials are posted on the parish website, under “Christian Formation: Adult”. Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall.

·         All Saints’ Day: We will celebrate All Saints’ Day Thursday, November 1^st with a Solemn Mass at 6:00pm followed by an All Parish Potluck Dinner. Please plan to attend and sign up on the sheet in the Narthex and as you are able, plan to help with clean up. Thank you.

·         Hosting the Seminarian and His Family: Please consider hosting our seminarian Ryan Delaney and his family for a Saturday evening. Ryan and his lovely wife Melanie and children Brenna and Bemen will be staying most Saturday evenings in preparation for services on Sunday morning. This will give the parish an opportunity to get to know them and for the Delaney’s to get to know the parish. Please find a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex for dinner Saturday evening and brunch Sunday after the service.

·         Salvation Army Bell Ringing: Grace Church is signed up to ring bells for the Salvation Army on November 10^th in two different locations. At the Piggly Wiggly on the north side from 1:00-7:00pm and at the Piggly Wiggly on the south side from 9:00am-3:00pm. Both of the locations are inside. The bells and kettle will be there, & a sign in sheet. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. If you have any questions please call Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.

·         Coats for Kids: is a community service campaign. Area residents are asked to donate clean coats in good repair. We accept coats of all sizes for people of all ages, with the need being greatest for children’s coats. These coats will be distributed to Sheboygan county residents who would otherwise go without. Drop off location: Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home, 1535 S. 12 St. Sheboygan. September 4 –October 24 Monday–Friday 8:30am–4:00 pm. Distribution Location: Salvation Army, 710 Pennsylvania Ave. Sheboygan. Friday, October 26, from 9:00am–1:00pm and Thursday, November 1 from 2:00–6:00pm.

·         Wanted:  $200 to cover the cost of a cart to hold the overflow of black chairs that are needed from time to time for extra seating in the church. The chairs are presently stored in the room across from the elevator but they are heavy and hard to move one at a time.   Having a cart to store them would make it SO MUCH EASIER to move and use them! Is there someone out there who can help cover this "out of budget" expense?  Please contact Michele or Ed Clabots.  Thank you in advance.

             

Sunday School Syndrome

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

18 October 2012

When Jesus enjoins “Let the children come to me ...” (Mk. 10.14) He does so because people have brought children to Him.  In a time when many worry over the “graying” of the Church we must ask ourselves, therefore, who is bringing children to Jesus?  And once we answer (it is to be hoped) that all of us are responsible to bring children to know God, then we must ask how we do this?

This coming Sunday will be our second this Fall in which the liturgy will reflect an increased focus on children in ministry.  Dcn. Michele will conduct a children’s ministry of the word in St. Nicholas Hall, following which the children will process to the front of the nave prior to our passing of the peace of God, to then stay for a brief children’s sermon and the celebration of eucharist.  The “sermon” will consist of the children bringing a box in which they have placed objects for me (Fr. Karl) to remove, to then discuss how these objects that are of interest to them relate to our faith.  They are not to tell me what is in the box (But no spiders!), so we’ll see how what is selected as special relates to their experience of faith.

As much as involving children in worship is vital, it begs the questions of who is bringing children to Jesus, and how.  We must avoid the “Sunday School Syndrome”.  Most young adults who leave the Church were formally catechized, and grew up attending Sunday School.  The problem is not with Sunday School; it lies in our over-reliance on such a “system” to the exclusion of the individual responsibility of parents to lead their children in faith.

If you are a parent, consider that the average child is now exposed to over 80 hours a week of media (including television, music, computer games, computer messaging, etc.), and might receive 1 hour of instruction in Sunday School and 1 hour of worship.  Regardless of how you view the content of the media to which your children are exposed, consider the fact that if you rely on what happens on Sunday alone to lead your child to Jesus, it’s not likely to happen in a way in which they become people of more than casual faith.  Quite apart from the minimal exposure to faith that this at best 2 hour window allows, the subtle message a child receives from the over-reliance on Sunday School is that faith involves a program, and that faith involves consuming a service rather than an identification of self.

So, what can you do to avoid the Sunday School Syndrome?  Parents must recognize that the primary role in leading their children to Jesus is theirs.  Faith cannot be a Sunday-only phenomenon.  Families must pray every day, for example at meals.  Children can be taught and led in prayer and in Scripture, with Bible stories for the very young and a habit of scripture-reading for the older.  Children can be led in a habit of how we live together in Christian community in the Church.

Parents recognize that as important as schools are, we have far more influence on the people our children become than do the schools.  Let us remember that this applies all the more so in the case of Sunday School.  It is a vital ministry undertaken by caring disciples, but Sunday School cannot come close to providing the instruction in faith that parents can, and must, if children are to be brought to Jesus.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank Don and Mary Evans for the donation of metal shelving for the storage closet across from the elevator.  The number of people who helped prepare the festival celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Walsingham this past Friday and Saturday is long, and includes at least:

1. Ben Dobey and the choir for the wonderful music.
2. Dcn. Michele for three extra programs, plus extended logistical support.
3. The members of the Altar Guild.
4. The kitchen and clean-up crew, which included at least Bernie Markevitch, Martha Shad, Barb MacEwen, Fred and Gail Tyska.
5. Terry and Mary Kohler for the donation of wine served at the banquet.
6. Bill May for all the extra clean-up work occasioned by the celebration.

Thanks are also due to Bill and Paula Roenitz for our new Episcopal shield, installed next to the parish sign at the corner of N. 7^th and Ontario.  In their Paula’s words:

Bill and I hope you enjoy the new Episcopal sign outside our church.  This is the result of a team effort by Fr. Karl, who wanted some sort of a sign, by Paul Aparicio, who researched where one could be found and located the company, and by Ed Clabots, who made sure the sign was properly erected.  We simply paid for it.  Bill and I thank all these people for the great jobs they did in getting us this beautiful new sign that will last for a long time as it is made of a resin. 

Please take the opportunity to notify the office of any member or friend of the parish to whom we owe thanks, in order that we can publicize this in the weekly newsletter.

HELP NEEDED:  The columbarium garden needs to be weeded and trimmed.  If you can help in this project, please contact Fr. Karl.

Adult Christian Education:  Commencing on Sunday, 21 October, we will begin a nine week series of Christian Ethics.  We will first examine what an ethical decision is, where we look for guidance in ethical decision-making, and how ethical decisions relate to salvation.  We will then pass on to consider specific ethical issues.  Throughout the course we will seek to identify the teachings of the Church as found in Scripture, Reason and Tradition.  The course materials are posted on the parish website, under “Christian Formation:  Adult”.

Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall.

Biblical Literacy:  The Bible Challenge readings will be for week 34.    Bible study for the Sunday lessons meets on Thursdays, following the 9 a.m. Mass.

The number of people following The Bible Challenge on-line is gratifying, and weekly summaries will continue to be posted.  However, attendance at the Tuesday evening sessions has been problematical.  Therefore, Tuesday evening pot-luck and discussion sessions are cancelled.

Music this week:

Prelude                                    Invocation                                                         Guilmant

Entrance Hymn 477                “All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine”   Engelberg

Offertory Hymn 444               “Blessed be the God of Israel”                         Thornbury

Communion Motet                  O saving Victim                                                 Plainsong

Communion Hymn 475          “God himself is with us”                                  Tysk

Closing Hymn 655                  “O Jesus, I have promised”                               Nyland

Postlude                                  Prelude and Fugue in E-flat (WTC Bk. 2)        Bach

Parish Notices

§  New Adult formation: Today Sunday, 21 October, we will begin a nine week series of Christian Ethics. We will first examine what an ethical decision is, where we look for guidance in ethical decision-making, and how ethical decisions relate to salvation. We will then pass on to consider specific ethical issues. Throughout the course we will seek to identify the teachings of the Church as found in Scripture, Reason and Tradition. The course materials are posted on the parish website, under “Christian Formation: Adult”. Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall.

§  BOO!  You Are Invited to an All Hallows Eve Party: Thursday, October 25^th from 6-8 p.m. in St. Nicholas Hall. Wear Your Costume and bring your Ghoulish Buddies, Invisible Friends & Cousin Its! Children of all ages will enjoy Food, Fun & Games. RSVP to the church office with how many people you will be bringing!

§  All Saints’ Day: We will celebrate All Saints’ Day Thursday, November 1^st with a Solemn Mass at 6:00pm followed by an All Parish Potluck Dinner. Please plan to attend and sign up on the sheet in the Narthex and as you are able, plan to help with clean up. Thank you.

§  Hosting the Seminarian and His Family: Please consider hosting our seminarian Ryan Delaney and his family for a Saturday evening. Ryan and his lovely wife Melanie and children Brenna and Bemen will be staying most Saturday evenings in preparation for services on Sunday morning. This will give the parish an opportunity to get to know them and for the Delaney’s to get to know the parish. Please find a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex.

§  Coffee Hour Hosts for 2013: Last Call for Coffee Hour 2013 Host sign-ups! The binder on the table in the narthex contains a sign-up for 2013 Coffee Hour dates. Please sign up by Sunday, October 7. After 10/7, Katy Prange will be compiling a schedule for 2013 and will be calling potential hosts to fill in the gaps. A final schedule for 2013 will be distributed in November. For questions or thoughts, contact Katy Prange - 920-889-1252, katyprange@gmail.com.

§  Salvation Army Bell Ringing: Grace Church is signed up to ring bells for the Salvation Army on November 10^th in two different locations. At the Piggly Wiggly on the north side from 1:00-7:00pm and at the Piggly Wiggly on the south side from 9:00am-3:00pm. Both of the locations are inside. The bells and kettle will be there, & a sign in sheet. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. If you have any questions please call Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.

§  Boy Scouts Trailer Fundraiser: Our Boy Scout Troop has had success in the last few years with membership numbers on the rise. With this success they have out grown their frequently used trailer. As a fundraiser to purchase a larger one, they are offering their services with raking leaves this fall. They are looking for donations per each yard. If you would like to take this year off from yard duty and help out our Troop, there is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex. They will be available for raking leaves on October 13^th, 20^th, and 27^th. If you would simply like to donate to their cause please contact Paul Aparicio @ 920-912-6009 or paac92399@yahoo.com

§  Coats for Kids: is a community service campaign. Area residents are asked to donate clean coats in good repair. We accept coats of all sizes for people of all ages, with the need being greatest for children’s coats. These coats will be distributed to Sheboygan county residents who would otherwise go without. Drop off location: Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home, 1535 S. 12 St. Sheboygan. September 4 –October 24 Monday–Friday 8:30am–4:00 pm. Distribution Location: Salvation Army, 710 Pennsylvania Ave. Sheboygan. Friday, October 26, from 9:00am–1:00pm and Thursday, November 1 from 2:00–6:00pm.