Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
8 December 2011
This is the first issue of what will be a weekly newsletter of the parish, to be issued every Thursday by email broadcast. Our monthly newsletter, The Angelus, includes news of parish events, updates about parish ministries and finances, theological reflection, and information on the liturgical calendar and music in worship. This weekly newsletter will include some redundancy in information, but is intended to make updates more timely. Most importantly, the weekly newsletter is intended to allow every parishioner to remain connected with the life of the Church, even when you have not been able to attend worship in a given week.
If we ever need to remind ourselves just what a countercultural phenomenon the life of the Church is, all we need do is compare our Advent focus on how we can better make ourselves ready for the coming of our Lord with the “Happy Holidays!” festivities of the secular world. The world seeks to celebrate where we are, with an all-too-ready willingness to confuse consumption with happiness, and happiness with joy. Evergreens and bright lights, songs about reindeer and good cheer—these begin not later than Thanksgiving, but in the Church our season begins with lessons which speak of the end of the world and judgment. Are we just given over to a depressive outlook? Far from it!, for our focus in the Church is not on a celebration of the here and now, but on the fact as Christians we strive to live in a way that shows that Jesus reigns in our hearts already; that we are filled with the joy of salvation, and so live not in fear of His judgment but with expectation that His kingdom will break into this world to complete God’s plan of salvation.
There’s a certain “not yetness” of Advent, in which we long for the joy of Christmas. Advent reminds us that as we serve God we prepare always to know and love and serve Him more completely, that at His final coming we may be among those referred to in Charles Wesley’s great hymn, Lo! He comes with clouds descending (no. 57 or 58 in The Hymnal 1982), who at the day of judgment great their Lord with rapture: “[T]housand thousand saints attending swell the triumph of His train: Alleluia! ... Christ the Lord returns to reign.”
Bible Study: Bible study is now offered twice a week, on Tuesdays in the evening and on Thursdays in the mornings. The material covered each week will be the same for each session, and will focus on the lessons for the coming Sunday. Tuesday evening sessions will begin with a light pot-luck supper at 6 p.m., with instruction and discussion scheduled to last from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. Thrusday morning sessions will continue to be offered at 9:30, following the morning Mass.
Change in service schedule on Tuesdays: To accommodate those interested in attending Bible study, the Tuesday celebration of Holy Eucharist will move from 12:10 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer will continue to be offered at 8:45 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Thanksgivings: Thanksgivings are offered this week to Dr. Ben Dobey and all of the choir for their wonderful musical offering in the service of Advent lessons and carols held on 4 December, to Bernie Markevitch, Wes and Barbara Jung, for their offering in preparing the high tea enjoyed after the Lessons and Carols service, and to Jessica Ambelang for organizing our visit from St. Nicholas.
Music this week:
Organ prelude: Chorale prelude on Savior of the Nations Come (Buxtehude/Pachelbel)
Processional: 59 “Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding” Merton
Offertory Anthem: Springs in the Desert Arthur B. Jennings
Communion Motet: Rejoice, O Jerusalem Healey Willan
Communion: 615 “Thy kingdom come! on bended knee” St. Flavian
Recessional: 65 “Prepare the way, O Zion” Bereden vag
Organ postlude: Choral prelude on Savior of the Nations Come (Buxtehude/Pachelbel)
The third Sunday in Advent is called Gaudete Sunday, from the beginning of the traditional Introit for that day–‘Rejoice in the Lord always.’ The readings and music for this day have always emphasized the joyful rather than judgment and penitence, providing the faithful some refreshment and relief from the rigors of their Advent fasting and discipline. This is an especially appropriate day for the choir to sing the words from Isaiah 35 in our Offertory anthem –‘The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.’ The setting by Arthur B. Jennings is from 1920, and evokes the romantic choral style of Mendelssohn. One of the choir’s favorite anthems, it can also be heard on our CD, How shall I sing that majesty.
Annoucements:
§ Religious Identity and Anglicanism: The new adult class continues through Advent at 9:00am. It is entitled Religious Identity and Anglicanism. In this course we will examine what markers exist for a specifically Episcopalian identity, and how this Christian identity differs from that experienced by members of other Christian denominations. Over the four weeks of this course it is intended that we better define a framework for future and more in-depth exploration of our own faith. There are more details about this course on the Narthex table. All are welcome and encouraged to participate.
§ Children’s Choir: Youth and Children’s choir rehearsals for the Christmas Eve service are at 5:30-6:00pm beginning this Thursday December 1nd downstairs in the choir room. Additional practices will be on December 15th and 22nd these will be just before the Pageant rehearsals. The choir is open to 2nd graders and up, and will sing for the 4pm service on Christmas Eve. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. Note: the children will not practice on December 8th.
§ Christmas Pageant Rehearsals: will be on Thursday, December 15th and 22nd of December starting at 6:00p.m. The rehearsals will begin in the church and then go downstairs for costumes. Participation is open to youth of all ages. The Pageant will take place during the 4:00 p.m. Christmas Mass. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. If your child would like to participate but cannot make rehearsals please note that on the sheet or call Annette Fabiano at 451-7098.
§ Advent Retreat: You are invited to an Advent Retreat on Saturday, December 10, from 9am to 4.00pm. The Retreat will be led by Canon Katherine (Kitty) Clark. Kitty is currently the Program Director at the DeKoven Center in Racine. This will be an opportunity for reflection, sharing, prayer and Communion. For information and registration, please contact St. Peter’s, Sheboygan Falls at nsengasa@yahoo.com or 467-6639 or 226-0050.
§ Sunday School Cookie Bake: Sunday December 11th the Sunday School children will be baking cookies for Meals on Wheels, baking will begin after the 10:15 Mass. Pizza lunch will be provided. Please bring family and friends to help, many hands make light work. Thank you both for your time and energy, Annette Fabiano.
§ Meals On Wheels: Every Christmas season Meals On Wheels delivers a box of homemade cookies to those receiving meals. (for some, this is the only gift they will receive.) We have the boxes and the tissue paper, now all we need are the cookies! If you would like to donate some of our home-baked specialties to our project please call Maureen or Lisa at Meals ON Wheels at 451-7011. We have set up cookie drop off sites in both Sheboygan and Plymouth. We will be packaging cookies on the 13th of December.
§ Salvation Army Gift tags: If you took names from the tree, please have the gifts returned to church no later than December 13th. If you have any questions please call Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.
§ Christmas Tree Stands: We are giving away four old, unused Christmas tree stands. Also there are strands of Christmas lights that have all been tested and work. Find them in the Narthex. A donation isn't needed but will be accepted.
§ Christmas Joy: is scheduled to meet on Thursday, December 22 at 11:00am in the church kitchen. At that time we will assemble floral arrangements and bag cookies. We need helping hands and donations (to buy flowers.) Can you bake, make a delivery or help arrange? Please join us for this fulfilling ministry to our shut-ins. They will appreciate it. There is a sign up sheet in the Narthex to indicate who you would like to deliver to that day. If you have questions please call Barb MacEwen at 467-6909.
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