Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
15 December 2011
In most discussions of faith the issues of doubt arise. We wonder whether it is alright to have doubts about specific matters of faith. Briefly, it is not necessary to feel guilty about doubt. Doubt is natural; it is part of the process of exploring our relationship with God, and when we have doubts, the practice of “religion” (from the Latin religio, “that which binds [again]”) allows the faith of those who surround us to keep us directed toward God, who always reaches out to us.
Doubts can perhaps best be examined with reference to that supreme example of faith, the Virgin Mary; with reference to her own response to the angelic salutation which is a part of our Gospel lesson for Advent 4. The angel tells Mary that she will bear a child, the Son of the Most High. Mary does not ask why. She asks how. This is an important distinction, because it speaks to the first element of faith, which is trust. In order to believe anything at all about God’s will for us, we must first have a relationship with God. We trust in the Person of Jesus Christ before we ever attain mental assent to the idea that Jesus Christ is the only-begotten Son of the Father (or any other proposition of faith). In order to trust in a person, and to seek to follow Him, we need to have a relationship with Him.
Mary has a relationship with the Lord. She thus trusts that God always does what He says He will do. She does not question God’s purpose. When we have doubts, we can look to Mary as an example of trust in God and in His purpose. We can still wonder how God’s purpose for us will be revealed and effected, but when we have a relationship with God we can trust that He does have a purpose for each one of us. Just as we last promised in our Baptismal Covenant at the baptisms held on 11 December, we are to seek and serve Jesus Christ in all persons, and it is in this way–in seeking to both come to know God better and to serve Him better in how we encounter Him outside of ourselves–that the how of God’s will is revealed.
Mary is available to God. When we each are open to God, His purpose will be revealed, and the Holy Spirit will equip us to do God’s will in our own lives, in the life of the Church, and in the life of the world. The how will be revealed when we trust that the why is answered in God’s love.
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. Thursday morning sessions will continue to be offered at 9:30, following the morning Mass.
Thanksgivings: Thanksgivings are offered to Deacon Michele for her work with the catechumens. As we have welcomed new members into the Body of Christ in baptism, let us remember and offer thanks for all who serve in instruction of the faith. Thanksgivings are also offered to Ed Clabots, Bob Erickson, Jim Gardner, and Bill Roenitz for their work to rationalize storage in the garage. Some “elbow grease” has saved the parish the need to install a storage shed for equipment.
Champagne fund-raiser: At the reception following the vigil for the Feast of the Epiphany (5 January, see below) we plan to offer champagne with other refreshments. But, we don’t plan to pay for this out of parish funds. We want to keep parish funds focused on mission. The parish youth group has a target of $3,400 to fund the construction of a drinking water well in a village in Rwanda, and has raised $1,959 so far. For each bottle of champagne that any parishioner wishes to donate for the reception, the parish will donate $20 to the water well project, and a member of clergy will provide a $10/bottle match. Donations will be capped at ten bottles, to a total of $300.
Sheboygan Christmas Lights has a new opportunity to experience the community's displays! We will be offering a one to two hour tour of Sheboygan’s finest displays of Christmas Lights aboard Discovery Coach’s new trolley! The tour will kick off from the Discovery Coach parking lot at 6:00 p.m. on December 17th 2011 and follow a guided route based off the displays we scouted for this year. The tour includes at least three houses that have animated lights to music.
During the tour, commentary will be provided about the route and an interactive experience by a local DJ. This might include popular Christmas songs, contests, etc. Tickets are available to anyone! One person per ticket, including children. Our ticket prices are $10 and there are 25 tickets available. Our sponsored tickets are paid for by a donor to give folks a chance to see our community’s holiday spirit that normally wouldn’t have the resources or physically cannot get out to view the lights. Tickets can be purchased here or directly through Adam Harden:
Music this week:
Organ prelude: Three Verses on Creator of the Stars of Night - Titelouze
Processional: 72 “Hark! The glad sound! The Savior comes” Richmond
Offertory Hymn 56 “O come, O come, Emmanuel” Veni Emmanuel
Communion Motet: Ave Maria Elgar
Communion Hymn: 60 “Creator of the Stars of Night” Conditor alme
Recessional: 436 “Lift up your heads, ye might gates” Truro
Organ postlude Fantasia on ‘Veni Emmanuel’ Statham
Announcements:
Eve of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ
Saturday, December 24, 2011
8:45 a.m. Morning Prayer
4:00 p.m. Children’s Christ’s Mass
10:30 p.m. Prelude of Christmas Music
11:00 p.m. Solemn Christ’s Mass
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
December 25, 2011
9:00 a.m. Mass with Carols
Parish Notices
§ Christmas Castle is a ministry in which gifts are provided to those in need. The castle will be in operation on 21 December. Three people are needed to help in distribution from 11am to 1pm. If you are able to help, go to the old Walgreen store in the Sheboygan Mall. You will need to access from the parking lot on the west side of the Mall not through the Mall. Tell them that you are from Grace Church.
§ We are also in need of 1 additional bell ringer for the Salvation Army, Wednesday, December 21st from 12-1pm at the North side Piggly Wiggly please call Nancy Yurk at 453-9948 if you are able to help.
· Christmas Flowers: If you would like to donate for Christmas flowers please fill out the slip of paper in the mass booklet, include a designation for memorials and/or thanksgivings. Deadline to be included in the list of donors in the Christmas mass booklets is this Tuesday, December 20, at noon. Please make checks out to Grace Church with Christmas flowers in the memo.
· Change in Tuesday Worship Schedule: The worship schedule for Tuesdays will change to facilitate worship for those who will join the Bible Study group. Morning Prayer will remain at 8:45 a.m., but Holy Eucharist will move from 12:10 p.m. to the evening. The evening schedule will be:
5:00 p.m. Evening Prayer and shrine prayers
5:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist
6:00 p.m. Bible Study supper with study lasting from 6 to 7 p.m.
· Children’s Choir: Youth and Children’s choir rehearsals for the Christmas Eve service are at 5:30-6:00pm downstairs in the choir room. Practices will continue on December 22nd this will be just before the Pageant rehearsal. 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.
· Christmas Pageant Rehearsals: will continue on Thursday, December 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.
· Salvation Army Gift tags: Thank you to everyone who participated in the Salvation Army gifts. This is such an important ministry. Thank you also to Nancy Yurk and Bev Evans for all their hard work in coordinating and distributing the gifts.
· 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.
· 2011 Pledge Statements: To have any donations (pledge or otherwise) recorded in 2011 and appear on your tax statement, please have them in the office by December 29, 2011. Thank you for your generosity.
· The Feast of the Epiphany: We will celebrate the Feast of Epiphany Thursday, January 5th. Parishioners and their guests are invited to Solemn Mass beginning at 6:00 p.m. followed by a gala reception. Please sign up in the narthex or by calling the church office at 452-9659.
· Flower Schedule for 2012: Giving the gift of flowers is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to offer thanksgiving for your blessings. If you wish to sign up for a specific Sunday, the Flower Schedule is available on the table in the narthex. More than one person can sign up for each Sunday.
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