Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
2 February 2012
It is not common knowledge (even among lawyers) that as recently as about four decades ago the laws of most states provided a certain level of immunity from lawsuit for charitable organizations. The rationale behind so-called “charitable immunity” was a public policy calculus which recognized that damages paid out by a charity against a liability claim were monies not available for work aiding the public.
Until the late 1930’s the practice of charity was almost invariably associated with the practice of religion. The public-relief programs of state welfare and medical aid simply did not exist. If you ran into serious trouble there were two resources that might be available to you: your extended family and friends, and the Church. Now, while family, friends and Church still play important roles in helping people in need, the first assumption is that the government will provide the primary aid. What happens when government priorities do not align with religious identity?
It is not appropriate to comment in a parish newsletter about political matters, but in ceding responsibility for the care of each other to the State, people of faith are starting to see that this can have an impact on the practice of their faith. For example, under the new federal health care insurance laws, a Roman Catholic hospital will be ordered to provide coverage for contraceptives to employees. The point is not whether you agree or disagree with Roman Catholic doctrine on reproduction, or whether you agree or disagree with federal policies on health insurance. At issue is the practice of one’s faith independent of the dictates of the State, and the approach that all people of faith can best pursue is to reclaim for the Church the office of charity. We can’t complain about Caesar’s rules when we rely on Caesar to do the work that Jesus has given to us (Mtt. 25.40).
Tripartite Ministry: On Thursday, 9 February, at 4 p.m., we will meet at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church on Geele Ave. with clergy and members of that congregation and of St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, to discuss how we are called to best serve in common ministry and witness. This meeting is about more than planning a joint service (e.g., as has happened in the past for Good Friday) but about how we can most effectively serve together in the community. Whether you have been active in the Tripartite Ministry in the past or not, please come to the meeting, that we may discern a common call. Youth members are encouraged to attend.
Bible Study: Bible study meets on Tuesdays following the 5:30 p.m. Mass, with discussion beginning at 6:30. A pot-luck soup-and-salad supper is planned. (If you do not plan to arrive before 6:30. enter using the glass doors on Ontario Avenue.) Thursday study sessions follow the 9 a.m. Mass. Study summaries of the lessons for the coming Sunday are posted on the parish website on Tuesday of each week.
Thanksgivings: Thanksgivings are offered to everyone who made the parish Annual Meeting a success on 29 January, including Jessica Ambelang as hostess, Tom Wright for budget review, Steve Larson for review of the giving campaign for Grace Walsingham Foundation, Joann Otte for taking meeting minutes, and Dcn. Michele Whitford for her Jill-of-all-trades support.
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.
Music this week:
Prelude Chorale Partita on All glory be to God on high Walther
Entrance Hymn #1 “Father, we praise thee”
Offertory Hymn 135 “Songs of thankfulness and praise"
Communion Motet Lord God, you now have set your servant free Gibbons
Communion Hymn 328 “Draw nigh and take the Body of the Lord”
Closing Hymn 493 “O for a thousand tongues to sing”
Postlude Prelude and Fugue in G Major Kuhnau
Parish Notices
§ Circle of Faith: Time to think about the winter retreat at the Norbertine Center, De Pere sponsored by the Diocese of Fond du Lac Women's Ministries! Pastor Diane Murray is our Spiritual Leader and she will be presenting a program called "Circle of Faith" February 17-19, 2012. You will be able to use the pool on Saturday and do exercises that include Christian music and prayer. Snowshoes will be available to those who wish to take advantage of the beautiful grounds. Is a massage more your cup of tea? or a book study? We will have crafts and fellowship! If you sign up with a friend you can get $10 off your registration! Registration cost for overnight is $110 includes room and meals, for commuters the cost is $50 includes meals. You can find more information and to register online at diofdl@diofdl.org. Deadline is Feb. 1st.
§ Ministry Expansion Committee Needs Your Help: In addition to your prayers, the MEC also needs to hear from you about what local assistance you are aware of in the community. One major goal of the MEC is to compile a list of community resources so that if Grace Church cannot meet a particular need, we are able to quickly reference someone who does. There are a few criteria to keep the list manageable, but if it is a program that meets a need, no matter how small, the MEC would like to know about it. An example could be a local laundromat that offers a free laundry day once a month. Please help out if you can and leave written information with the Grace Church office or contact an MEC member directly. CRITERIA: (1) must be offered on a regular schedule and at least once monthly (2) is at no cost or obligation to the recipient.
§ Grace Church Choir Needs Your Help! Can you carry a tune? Do you love to socialize with a fun group once a week? Are you looking for a way to donate more time and talent to your Church? The answer to these questions is: Join the Grace Church Choir. We need you to join us. You do not even have to read music, as many of our current members do not. Every Wednesday from 6:00pm until 7:00pm, we rehearse in the choir room immediately at the bottom of the stairs to the lower level. After choir, many of us go to dinner at Rupp's for an enjoyable dinner, and often spouses or significant others join us. We have anywhere from 4 to 14 in an evening. We gather at 9:30am on Sunday mornings to rehearse before Mass. We can use sopranos, altos, tenors and basses. We would love you to join us and hope you consider joining us in our work and our festivities. We need you!
§ Love Bowls: will be held on Sunday, February 19th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm in The Commons at Sheboygan South High School -3128 South 12th Street. Love Bowls is a fun, family-oriented event where patrons buy a beautiful bowl for $16 and sample as many soups as they wish. Over 60 local restaurants donate their signature soups. Local talent will entertain throughout the day. All proceeds from Love Bowls stay in Sheboygan County and help defray the cost of meals for our elderly, homebound and disabled neighbors.
§ Adult Formation: There is no Adult Education on 29 January. Classes resume on Sunday, 5 February in St. Nicholas Hall, at 9 a.m. For the three Sundays preceding Lent, Adult Education will focus on “How to study Scripture”. The intent is to better equip parishioners to participate in the Bible Challenge, a program which will begin on the First Sunday in Lent (26 February), in which you can read the entire Bible in one year. The Adult Education classes in February will focus on methodology and biblical interpretation, as well as the history of Scripture. How is the Bible organized? How is it read as an organic whole? What are the issues in translation? Why are some books included, and others were not included? The classes will use an abbreviated version of the teaching document An Introduction to Holy Scripture found under the Adult Education of our parish website. You can use this document to work ahead, or to study to greater depth during the course. The document includes links for resources for further study.
§ Hearts & Flowers: Spend Valentine’s evening with the Lakeshore Chorale at Grace Episcopal Church! Featuring Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes along with a bouquet of love songs sung by members of the Chorale – solos, duets, ensembles, and more. A gala Valentine reception is included. Seating is limited. Tuesday, February 14th, 7:00 pm. 15.00 adults; 8.00 students Available from the website or from Lakeshore Chorale members. Tickets will not be sold at the door. www.lakeshorechorale.org for more information call 920-451-1863.
§ The Discerning Our Future Task Force: is working to help the diocese discern its future direction. On Saturday, February 25th, 10am-12noon, there will be a diocesan-wide meeting hosted in each deanery. Each congregation is asked to send lay representatives who will answer the same questions used at the Clergy Day with answers compiled and posted on the website. Please volunteer to do this important work as we move forward as the Diocese of Fond du Lac.
Ø The meeting for this deanery will take place at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Fond du Lac.
Ø Please contact Fr. Karl to express interest in serving.
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