The Word Became Flesh

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

27 December 2012

For weeks some of us have pointed out that “it’s not yet Christmas”.  Well, now it is!  In the words of John 1.14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us ...”  The translation “dwelt” has a different connotation, perhaps, to our 21^st century ears, than John’s original, in which the word describes God doing something closer to “pitching His tent” in the middle of our space.

The eternal Son became flesh.  Jesus became fully human.  The fully divine Son became also the human Christ, taking His human nature from His mother.  When we put this fact together with the fact that God did this while we were yet ungodly (Rom. 5.6), that God gave His Son that we might not perish (John 3.16), we realize that God invests infinite value in the salvation of each and every one of us.  Whether we are good or bad, God sees the image and likeness in which we are each created (Gen. 1.26) and invests infinite value to redeem us.  This does not mean that there are not good and bad people, but it means that God did not send His Son only for the good.  The most hardened criminal is of equal value to God as the greatest saint.

The question becomes for each of us, how do we respond?  Do we accept God’s presence, His offer of everlasting life, or do we focus on our own wants, our own idols?  The kingdom of heaven is on offer—it has come near to us—but we have to choose it.  In this Christmastide go ahead and take pleasure in the holiday festivities and cheer. Go ahead and think about all the things you will do in the new year, and what will be different.  Enjoy yourself, and let this enjoyment reinforce in you the realization that God is among us.  That He has “pitched His tent” with us, and invites us to be with Him, to find our true home with Him.  At the same time, never forget that when we separate ourselves from God we find ourselves in a land which should be alien to us—for we are created for heaven—but is a land that can all too often seem comfortable because it meets our own expectations.  We need to raise our expectations, realizing that God exceeds them, and then we can realize the difference between what may (sometimes) be comfortable and what is truly blessed.  When we can experience the blessedness of God’s presence because we are open to Him, then we can live into our true identity as those with whom He lives, and then a shack or a “mansion on a hill” becomes the same happy home, the home of God.

Grace Abounds:  A lot of people have been very active in preparing the parish for Christmas.  Please thank Bernie Markevitch, Fred and Gail Tyszka and Jon Whitford for their role in decorating the nave.  Please thank Claudia Fischer and the Altar Guild for their work on extra services.  Please than Ben Dobey and the choir for their extra work, and Lindsay Fischer for her musical offering.  Please than the acolytes for their extra work, and Scot Fabiano for keeping the acolyte rota organized.

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.

The Bible Challenge will restart on 1 January.  The reading schedule is now independent of the Sunday lectionary, so as of 1 January you can start any Monday of the year.  If you began in 2012 (I Lent), 2013 will begin at week 45.  Study summaries for all 52 weeks are posted on the parish website (Christian Formation: The Bible Challenge).

Almost 10% of the parish has participated in The Bible Challenge.  If you are interested, ask who has, and listen to their insights.

Please thank Joanne Otte for getting all 52 weeks posted!

Adult Christian Education:  Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall.  On 23 December we will complete continue our series on Christian ethics.  Adult Education will resume on Sunday, 13 January.  On that date we will restart with a review of how we came to have the Bible in English.

It’s all Greek to me!  On Thursday, 10 January, our course in New Testament Greek will begin.  Classes will be held on Thursday evenings, from 7 to 9 p.m.

2013 Coffee Hour roster:  .

Biblical Literacy:  The Bible Challenge readings in the 2012 cycle will be for week 43.

    

The Search Process for our Next Bishop:  Updates on the search process can be found at http://www.diofdl.org/org.asp?page=sc .  You may ask questions and provide comments to the Standing Committee of the diocese at sc@diofdl.org .  The election of our next bishop will be held on 19 October 2013, with consecration scheduled for 26 April 2014.

Music this week:

Entrance Hymn 102    “Once in royal David’s city”  Irby

Offertory Hymn 82     “Of the Father’s love begotten”  Divinum mysterium

Communion Hymn 112 “In the bleak midwinter”     Cranham

Closing Hymn 100  “Joy to the world” Antioch

Parish Notices

·         We welcome The Ven. Dr. Edwin Smith: Our Celebrant and preacher today is Father Ed Smith, who is the Archdeacon of the Diocese of Fond du Lac. Father Ed is retired and attends St. Thomas, Menasha. Please welcome him to Grace.

·         End of Year Pledge Reminder: Please make every effort to pay the remainder of your pledge before the end of the year. If you need to know your balance, please ask Deacon Michele. If you want tax credit for your pledge paid in 2012, you must have the payment in the office by Sunday, December 30^th. A check dated the 30^th, but arriving later cannot be counted as paid in 2012. All payments received after the 30^th will be credited in 2013. Thank you so much.

·         Fr. Schaffenburg will be on Vacation: Fr. Karl & Elizabeth will be on vacation December 26, 2012 through January 2, 2013. If you have a pastoral emergency please call Deacon Mike Burg at 918-9944 or Deacon Michele Whitford at 918-1230 or the office 452-9659.

·         The Feast of the Epiphany: We will celebrate the Feast of Epiphany Sunday, January 6^th. Everyone is invited to Epiphany Brunch following the 10:15 Solemn Mass. Please sign up in the narthex or by calling the church office at 452-9659.

·         Hosting the Seminarian and His Family: Please consider hosting our seminarian Ryan Delaney and his family for a Saturday evening meal or Sunday Brunch. Ryan and his lovely wife Melanie and children Brenna and Bremen 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.

·         The Annual Financial Meeting: This year’s Financial meeting will take place on Sunday January 27, 2013.  We will have one Mass at 9:00am followed by the Financial meeting held in the Nave 10:30am. The agenda of the meeting will include, 2012 financial review and 2013 budget, Recent Vestry actions, and an overall review of the 2013 calendar. Please make every effort to attend and participate.

·         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.

Community, Cross, new Creation

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

20 December 2012

They were filled with all manner of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice.  Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.  Though they know God’s decree that those who deserve such things deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those who practice them (Rom. 1.29–32, emphasis supplied).

The passage quoted above, from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, comes at the end of a longer passage (beginning at 1.18) in which Paul speaks of how God’s wrath is revealed.  Paul describes those under wrath as having known God, but as having now become “futile in their thinking,” with “sensenless minds [that have been] darkened” (1.21).  He continues with a catalog of vices, and this catalog is often referred to by those who want to condemn particular behavior as that which provokes God’s wrath.  But in doing so people misread Paul, for before listing vices Paul first says “Therefore [i.e., because people who have known God have ignored Him] God gave them up ...” (1.24).  The vices which Paul lists are not described as provoking God, but as resulting from wrath.  In other words, this is what judgment looks like.

Judgment looks like a world in which human beings are made into objects—objects of violent or sexual fanatsy or action, objects of economic interests only.  When we recall that every decision we make in life must be made with references to three “C’s”—Community, Cross, and new Creation, then we live not under judgment, but as those who are in right relationship with God and with each other.  Jesus calls us to be together in order to be with God (Mtt. 18.20); He calls us to follow Him (to the Cross, Mtt. 10.38), and He promises that he will make all things new (Rev. 21.5).  When we forget Community, Cross, and new Creation, we see the result.  This is what judgment looks like, people left to their own devices.

1. Jesus enjoins that we are to rejoice, for our “names are written in heaven” (Luke 10.21).
2. Restraint of self connotes self-giving.  Our respect for others reflects our respect for God.
3. Applications flow from a spiritual state in which God is first, others second, and ourselves last, a state in which we do, indeed, take up our cross to follow our Lord.
4. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14.6).  When we are Christ-centered we fill ourselves with truth.
5. By seeking what is higher we are raised above what is base (Phil. 4.8-9).
6. God has given us beauty, and we are to “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Ps. 96.9).
7. When we focus on the six ethical injunctions just given, we find excellence and what is worthy of praise.  Filling our minds and hearts with these things honors God and armors us against what is base (Eph.6.10-20).

Follow-up to a Sermon:  An opinion piece found in The Washington Times serves as follow-up to the sermons of last Sunday.  http://c.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/urban-game-changer/2012/dec/16/newtown-and-human-depravity-nation-s-forgotten-god/ .

Grace Abounds:  From Nancy Yurk:  What a great Christian Family we have here At Grace Church.  A big Thank you to all the people who took part in the Adopt A Family program.  What a  nice way for all, to help celebrate Jesus birthday.  I wish all of you could see the faces of the children & there parents, when we delivered their gifts.  These are the only gifts that will be under there tree.  Thank you Jessica Amberlang & Brian Heck, for all your help.  –Nancy

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.

The Bible Challenge will restart on 1 January.  The reading schedule is now independent of the Sunday lectionary, so as of 1 January you can start any Monday of the year.  If you began in 2012 (I Lent), 2013 will begin at week 45.  Study summaries for all 52 weeks are posted on the parish website (Christan Formation: The Bible Challenge).

Almost 10% of the parish has participated in The Bible Challenge.  If you are interested, ask who has, and listen to their insights.

Adult Christian Education:  Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall.  On 23 December we will complete continue our series on Christian ethics.  Adult Education will resume on Sunday, 13 January.  On that date we will restart with a review of how we came to have the Bible in English.

It’s all Greek to me!  On _______, __ January, our course in New Testament Greek will begin.  Classes will be held on ________ evenings, from 7 to 9 p.m.

2013 Coffee Hour roster:  The 2013 coffee hour roster is now found on the parish website.  http://about.us6.listmanage.com/track/click?u=a7c552cd00fbea92696dfb086&id=4871ae69fa&e=92395de79d .  Please sign up for vacant slots.

Biblical Literacy:  The Bible Challenge readings will be for week 42.    Bible study for the Sunday lessons meets on Thursdays, following the 9 a.m. Mass.

The Search Process for our Next Bishop:  Updates on the search process can be found at http://www.diofdl.org/org.asp?page=sc .  You may ask questions and provide comments to the Standing Committee of the diocese at sc@diofdl.org .  The election of our next bishop will be held on 19 October 2013, with consecration scheduled for 26 April 2014.

Focus on Youth:  I want to wish everyone a great, wonderful, and merry Christmas this year! Through the weeks of advent we, the middle school class, have been building up our advent wreath with prayers.  By writing out prayers fon pieces of paper and stashing them in the wreath itself.  Each week is a different type of prayer that is in conjunction with the tradtional name of the candles we are lighting so far we have prayed for Hope, Love,and Joy!  I pray that you have hope love and joy in your lives this Christmas.  —Grace and Peace, Nick

Music this week:

Music for Advent IV, Dec. 23^rd, 2012

Prelude                                     Creator of the stars of night                           Titelouze

Entrance Hymn 72                    “Hark! the glad sound, the Savior comes”         Richmond

Offertory Hymn 56                   “O come, O come, Emmanuel”             Veni, veni Emmanuel

Communion Motet                    O Virgo virginum                                            Dobey

Communion Hymn 60   “Creator of the stars of night”                          Conditor alme siderum

Closing Hymn 436        “           Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates”                  Truro

Postlude                                   Venez Divin Messie                                         Benoit

Christmas Eve at 4pm

Prelude                         Lindsay Fischer, cello

Entrance Hymn 83                    “O come, all ye faithful”                                    Adeste fideles 

Sequence Hymn                       “Away in a manger”                                          Cradle Song

Carols during the Nativity Pageant:

                                                “O little town of Bethlehem”                              St. Louis

                                                “The first Nowell”                                             The First Nowell

                                                “Joy to the world”                                             Antioch

Offertory Hymns 110                “The snow lay on the ground”               Venite adoremus

                             115             “What child is this”                                            Greensleeves

Communion Anthem                 In the stable                                                    Posegate

Communion Hymn 111 “Silent night”                                                     Stille Nacht

Closing Hymn 96                      “Angels we have heard on high”                        Gloria

Postlude                                   In dulci jubilo                                                  Bach

Christmas Eve Prelude of Christmas Music at 10:30pm

In dulci jubilo                                                                                                  J. M. Bach

All this night my heart rejoices                                                                       Ebeling

Hymn 81                                  “Lo, how a rose e’er blooming”                        Es ist ein Ros

Pastorale from the Christmas Concerto (flute duet)                                        Corelli

Still, still, still                                                                                                  Austrian carol  

Noel                                                                                                                 Daquin

Hymn 102                                “God rest ye, merry gentlemen”             Irby

In dulci jubilo                                                                                                  Dupré  

Solemn Mass at 11pm          

Entrance Hymn 83                    “O come, all ye faithful”                                    Adeste fideles

Gloria S-202                                                                                                   Willan

Offertory Hymn 79                   “O little town of Bethlehem”                              Cradle Song

Agnus Dei                                            Missa de Angelis                                 Plainsong

Communion Motets                              O little one sweet                                Bach

                                                Infant holy, infant lowly                                  arr. Willcocks

Communion Hymn 111 “Silent night”

Closing Hymn 96                      “Angels we have heard on high”                        Gloria

Postlude                                   In dulci jubilo                                                  Bach

Christmas Day Mass at 9am

Prelude                         Lindsay Fischer, cello

Entrance Hymn 83                    “O come, all ye faithful”                                    Adeste fideles

Offertory Hymn 87                   “Hark! the herald angels sing”               Mendelssohn

Communion Hymn 115 “What child is this”                                            Greensleeves

Closing Hymn 96                      “Angels we have heard on high”                        Gloria

Postlude                                   In dulci jubilo                                                  Bach

Parish Notices

§  End of Year Pledge Reminder: Please make every effort to pay the remainder of your pledge before the end of the year. If you need to know your balance, please call the office at 452-9659. If you want tax credit for your pledge paid in 2012, you must have the payment in the office by Sunday, December 30^th. A check dated the 30^th, but arriving later cannot be counted as paid in 2012. All payments received after the 30^th will be credited in 2013. Thank you so much.

§  Fr. Schaffenburg will be on Vacation: Fr. Karl & Elizabeth will be on vacation December 26, 2012 through January 2, 2013. If you have a pastoral emergency please call Deacon Mike Burg at 918-9944 or Deacon Michele Whitford at 918-1230 or the office 452-9659.

§  The Annual Financial Meeting: This year’s Financial meeting will take place on Sunday January 27, 2013.  We will have one Mass at 9:00 a.m. followed by the Financial meeting held in the Nave 10:30 a.m. The agenda of the meeting will include, 2012 financial review and 2013 budget, Recent Vestry actions, and an overall review of the 2013 calendar.  Please make every effort to attend and participate.

§  Christmas Mass Schedule

o   Eve of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ  (Monday, December 24, 2012)

o   4:00 p.m. Children’s Christ’s Mass

o   10:30 p.m. Prelude of Christmas Music

o   11:00 p.m. Solemn Christ’s Mass

o   The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ  (December 25, 2011)

o   9:00 a.m. Mass with Carols

§  The Feast of the Epiphany: We will celebrate the Feast of Epiphany Sunday, January 6^th. Everyone is invited to Epiphany Brunch following the 10:15 a.m. Solemn Mass.  Please sign up in the narthex or by calling the church office at 452-9659.

Preparing: Turning

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

13 December 2012

Stir up thy power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let thy bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honor and glory, world without end.  Amen.

We will pray this collect for the Third Sunday of Advent (given here in the Rite I language) this coming Sunday.  The collect reminds us that Advent is a penitential season, sometimes referred to as “Little Lent”.  Or is it?  This question occurs in the light of a very minor change in the calendar found the prayer book.  Prior to the current (1979) version of the prayer book, a Sunday was one in Advent, not of Advent.  Advent was treated, in this way like, like Lent (in which Sundays remain in).  Does this change matter?  It might if the reason for change were in any way discussed, but the records of the adoption of the new prayer book are silent on this point.  So, why raise the matter?

The detail of itself is of little, if any, consequence.  But it might matter if we take the detail to point to a difference between Advent and Lent.  Consider that in Lent we are quite explicit about the fact that we are in a penitential season.  We fast or take on additional spiritual duties, or both.  The idea is to make ourselves ready to participate in the mystery of the resurrection of our Lord, having passed through with Him the denial of God found in the Good Friday which is our own sin.  In Advent we more and more focus on anticipation (or on kingship, e.g., in the royal blue liturgical color used in some parishes).  But what are we anticipating?  The coming of our Lord.  And in preparing for this coming, how do we prepare?

How do we prepare to receive our Lord?  We prepare by turning to Him (i.e., in repentance).  Penitence requires us to recognize the distance by which we are separated from God—the distance between who we are created and called to be, and who we are.  Once we truly recongize this distance and turn to God, we find that the distance is bridge by God!  Once we turn to God, He comes to us, His advent is complete.  Consider, then, how you prepare, how in this season of looking to the coming of our Lord you recognize where you are, that you may better invite God into your life.  When we listen to the scriptures, when we sing words of “Prepare ye the way of the Lord” let us ever keep in front of us the reality and blessing that we prepare God’s way into our own lives when we turn to Him—when we reprent, turn, and welcome the King who comes.

Prepare.  Prepare using spiritual disciplines as you would in Lent.  Focus on what you are called to do, who you are called to be, and God will come to you.  When we look to God we prepare in our own lives the turning that will bring forth from our lips the Christmas proclammation, “Glory to God in the highest!”

Grace Abounds:  Many people merit thanksgivings for their service this past week:

Coffee hour:  The Larson Family.

Advent Lessons & Carols:  Please thank Ben Dobey and all of the choir for the marvelous offering of a festival of lessons and carols.  Numerous people also helped set up the High tea reception which followed, and in cleanup.

Decorations:  Please thank bernie Markevitch for decorating the church ofr Advent Lessons & Carols, and thank Bill and Bobbie May for decorating the columbarium courtyard with greens.

Holiday Gift Tree:  Please thank Nancy Yurk for organizing the parish response.  Gifts for 81 people have been provided, with the number of gifts exceeding the number of people by a wide margin!

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.

Children’s Sunday:  This coming Sunday we will once again bring the children to the altar during the canon of the Mass.  Children should sit up front, so they can see best.  You may want to consider wearing something purple for Advent!

It’s all Greek to me!  In response to a few enquiries, we are exploring interest in offering an adult education course in New Testament Greek. This course would be intended to allow the student to gain enough knowledge of the language to use a Greek New Testament with the aid of such language sources as an analytical lexicon and verb parsing guides. The goal is not reading fluency, but an appreciation of the linguistic issues present, and how these affect our understanding of Scripture.  The course would meet on a weeknight from 7 to 9 p.m. A cost of about $75 should be anticipated for books. (Scholarships are available.) If you are interested, please alert Fr. Karl by 19 December.

The Bible Challenge will restart on 1 January.  The reading schedule is now independent of the Sunday lectionary, so as of 1 January you can start any Monday of the year.  If you began in 2012 (I Lent), 2013 will begin at week 45.  Study summaries for all 52 weeks are posted on the parish website (Christan Formation: The Bible Challenge).

Almost 10% of the parish has participated in The Bible Challenge.  If you are interested, ask who has, and listen to their insights.

Adult Christian Education:  Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall.  On 16 December we continue our series on Christian ethics, with the focus this week being on issues related to Christian stewardship of possessions, and the environment.  The entire course can be found on the parish website under “Christian Formation: Adult Education”.  CORRECTION:  The course does not end on 16 December.  We will end on 23 December, with a final review sessioin.

2013 Coffee Hour roster:  The 2013 coffee hour roster is now found on the parish website.  http://about.us6.listmanage.com/track/click?u=a7c552cd00fbea92696dfb086&id=4871ae69fa&e=92395de79d .  Please sign up for vacant slots.

Biblical Literacy:  The Bible Challenge readings will be for week 42.    Bible study for the Sunday lessons meets on Thursdays, following the 9 a.m. Mass.

The Search Process for our Next Bishop:  Updates on the search process can be found at http://www.diofdl.org/org.asp?page=sc .  You may ask questions and provide comments to the Standing Committee of the diocese at sc@diofdl.org .  The election of our next bishop will be held on 19 October 2013, with consecration scheduled for 26 April 2014.

Music this week:

Prelude                         Chorale Prelude on Savior of the Nations, Come                    J. S. Bach

Entrance Hymn 59        “Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding”                                          Merton

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

Communion Motet        Rejoice, O Jerusalem                                                              Healey Willan

The night is far spent, the day is at hand.  Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  Behold, the Lord shall come and all his saints with Him: and in that day the light shall be great.  Rejoice, O Jerusalem, behold, thy King cometh.  Alleluia.

Comm. Hymn 613        “Thy kingdom come, O God”                                                   St. Cecilia

Closing Hymn 65          “Prepare the way, O Zion”                                                        Bereden vag

Postlude                       Prepare the way, O Zion                                                         Dale Wood

Parish Notices

§  Sunday School Cookie Bake: Today, Sunday, December 16^th 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. 

§  End of Year Pledge Reminder: Please make every effort to pay the remainder of your pledge before the end of the year. If you need to know your balance, please call the office at 452-9659. If you want tax credit for your pledge paid in 2012, you must have the payment in the office by Sunday, December 30^th. A check dated the 30^th, but arriving later cannot be counted as paid in 2012. All payments received after the 30^th will be credited in 2013. Thank you so much.

§  Salvation Army Gift tags: Thank you to everyone who participated in the Salvation Army Gifts this year. Over 130 gifts have been given to those in need in our community.

§  Christmas Castle Volunteers: A couple more people are needed to help with the Christmas Castle December 20^th from 11:00am until 1:30pm. The castle is located behind the old Walgreen's at memorial. Mall, close to the Good Year store on the west side of the mall. Please park on the south side of the Building. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. Any questions please contact Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.

§  Christmas Joy Committee: once again needs your help. We need volunteers to assemble and delivery Christmas arrangements and cookies to the shut ins of our parish. We will gather at 11:00AM on Thursday, December 20^th in St. Nicholas Hall. Money to fund this project (buy flowers) is greatly appreciated; please note in memo area that it is for “Christmas Joy.” Sign up sheet is in the narthex for volunteers, cookie donations or contact Barb MacEwen at 467-6909. Last year was a huge success for both volunteers and recipients-please help! Thank you.

§  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. The final rehearsal will be on December 20^th this is be just before the Pageant rehearsals.  The choir is open to 2^nd graders and up, and will sing for the 4pm service on Christmas Eve.

§  Christmas Pageant Rehearsal: will be on Thursday, December 20^th starting at 6:00p.m. The rehearsal 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.

§  Hosting the Seminarian and His Family: Please consider hosting our seminarian Ryan Delaney and his family for a Saturday evening meal or Sunday Brunch. Ryan and his lovely wife Melanie and children Brenna and Bremen 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.

A Look at Numbers

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

6 December 2012

In speaking of faith it is common that we say that we’re not concerned, primarily, with numbers.  And this statement is true, provided we recognize that it contains a qualifier:  primarily.  We do need to be concerned about numbers as surrogates of spiritual health, because they are markers of spiritual practice.

At the end of the year our number for Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) will be down, albeit the decline will be within the range of year-to-year variation in the recent past.  2012 closed with an ASA 127.  We will probably close 2013 around 123.  By itself this variation is not overly concerning, but only if we are content to stand still.  We are called to mission, not to maintaining what we have.

In national surveys of beliefs and practices, people who classify themselves as “regular in church attendance” are not saying they are at Sunday worship every week.  They self-define this regularity of worship in ranges down to once-a-month.  Is this what God requires?  Is this what we have each promised to do in our baptismal covenant?

Where we have seen a significant fall in attendance on worship is on weekdays.  We offer Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer and Mass every day, with shrine prayers Mon—Fri evenings, and corporate Rosary on Mondays.  Attendance is down by a significant margin.  Why?  We are experimenting with attendance times, but any changes do not appear to be real factors.  The culture around us de-emphasizes any appreciation of the divine, so perhaps we are becoming more acculturated.  Which means we need to focus, again, on enculturation.

In acculturation we acquiesce to environment.  In enculturation we are intentional in adopting particular beliefs and practices.  The long-standing culture of Grace—something which has set us apart in much of the Church—is daily worship.  This culture reflects acts of will.  Consider, then, where your own will fits in.  Do you will that we offer praise and worship to God; that we be instructed in His holy Word?  Do you will that praises rise constantly here, or that we become a Sunday-only parish?  It is up to you to focus more on your own relationship with God, and how this  is lived out in worship.

Choose God.  Choose to serve Him.  Be active in your faith, as a disciple, and not passive, as a “regular member”.  God calls each one of us to Him, and He wills that in our response we gather.  What you will also find in gathering on a weekday is a different worship experience from what you are used to on Sunday.  In a chapel setting, with a smaller congregation, we get to experience more of the sharing of the common experience of God.  We build community.  We are physically closer, and this builds spiritual closeness.  Find out what you are missing, and if you have attended in the past and have stopped for any reason, let Fr. Karl know the reason.  If you have a complaint, voice it.  This is your spiritual home.  Let’s put it in good order together.

Stewardship:  We can now celebrate 16 new pledges!  However, we have still not heard from a substantial number of parishioners who were not present for Consecration Sunday on 11 November.  Follow-up letters have gone out, but we still need to hear from 14 members who pledged in 2012, but who have not indicated their intention for 2013.

Please respond immediately!  Whether you intend to pledge or not, or whether your pledge amount changes, we need to know in order to put a 2013 plan together.

Grace Abounds:  Many people merit thanksgivings for their service this past week:

Coffee hour:  .

Office help:  Jane Hanson.

Holiday Gift Tree:  Please thank Nancy Yurk for organizing the parish response.

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.

Adult Christian Education:  Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall.  On 2 December we continue our series on Christian ethics, with the focus this week being on issues related to crime and punishment, to willful substance abuse, and to civil disobedience.  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 41.    Bible study for the Sunday lessons meets on Thursdays, following the 9 a.m. Mass.

EYC Notes:  .

Music this week:

Prelude                        Partita on ‘Comfort, comfort ye, my people’                         Pachelbel

Entrance Hymn 76      “On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry”

Offertory Hymn 75     “There’s a voice in the wilderness crying’

Communion Motet      O Lord, how shall I meet you                                                  Crueger

Comm. Hymn 67        “Comfort, comfort ye, my people”

Closing Hymn 73        “The King shall come when morning dawns”

Postlude                      Toccata on ‘Winchester New’                                                Neswick

Lessons & Carols at 4 p.m. (followed by High Tea in St. Nicholas Hall):

Advent Hymns and Carols, including:

                                    O come, O come, Emmanuel

                                    Creator of the stars of night

                                    Mendelssohn’s  Behold a star from Jacob shining

                                    Adam lay ybounden

                                    The truth from above (English carol)

                                    The angel Gabriel from heaven came

                                    The blessings of Mary (Old Appalachian carol)

                                    Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding

                                    Lo, He comes with clouds descending

                                    The Great ‘O’ antiphons

Parish Notices

§  Advent Lessons and Carols: Invite friends and family to Advent Lessons and Carols. It is a beautifully sung service held December 9^th, at 4:00 p.m. The service is followed by a High Tea in St. Nicholas Hall.

§  Salvation Army Gift tags: We have a few names on the tree that need gifts, for the Salvation Army Family gifts, please take a name or two and follow the instructions on the table next to the tree. If you have any questions please call Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.

§  Christmas Castle Volunteers: Nine people are needed to help with the Christmas Castle December 20^th from 11:00am until 1:30pm. The castle is located behind the old Walgreen's at memorial. Mall, close to the good yr. store on the west side of the mall. Please park on the south side of the Building. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. Any questions please contact Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.

§  Christmas Joy Committee: once again needs your help.  We need volunteers to assemble and delivery Christmas arrangements and cookies to the shut ins of our parish.  We will gather at 11:00AM on Thursday, December 20^th in St. Nicholas Hall.  Money to fund this project (buy flowers) is greatly appreciated; please note in memo area that it is for “Christmas Joy.” Sign up sheet is in the narthex for volunteers, cookie donations or contact Barb MacEwen at 467-6909.  Last year was a huge success for both volunteers and recipients-please help!  Thank you.

§  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. Rehearsals will be on December 13^th and 20^th these will be just before the Pageant rehearsals.  The choir is open to 2^nd graders and up, and will sing for the 4pm service on Christmas Eve.

§  Christmas Pageant Rehearsals: will be on Thursday, December 13^th and 20^th 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.

§  Sunday School Cookie Bake: Sunday, December 16^th 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

§  Christian Ethics: 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.

§  Hosting the Seminarian and His Family: Please consider hosting our seminarian Ryan Delaney and his family for a Saturday evening meal or Sunday Brunch. Ryan and his lovely wife Melanie and children Brenna and Bremen 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.