Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
19 April 2012
At the beginning of the year we held a discussion about ways in which this parish is called to outreach and ministry in the community. The Vestry agreed to my request to have the Ministry Expansion Committee undertake an inventory of unmet needs in the community, and I have had the opportunity to explore needs and ideas with representatives of SCIO, the Department of Family Services, other congregations, and The Salvation Army. Most importantly, each day in Lent we also engaged in intentional prayer, asking our Lord for guidance to discern His will for us.
On 22 April I will discuss with the Vestry the results of our investigations and prayer, but most telling is the fact that there is a large overlap between the results of the inventory of needs and the approach which has been made to us by on organization known as LoveINC (Love in the Name of Christ, http://www.loveinc.org/). The LoveINC model is one designed to get Christian churches to work together effectively. My own experience in Mississippi, struggling for five years to get congregations in a town one quarter the size of Sheboygan to work together in addressing basic needs, was sort of like trying to herd cats. Churches just don’t often work well together. The LoveINC model is designed to address the structural flaws by taking all of the information sharing and coordination needs into one resource, making the churches sources of data on needs, and resources for labor and goods. Crucially, LoveINC is very focused on the fact that love is provided in the Name of Christ. This is not a “social service” organization, but a Christian ministry.
I will be serving on the nominations committee of LoveINC for Sheboygan. This group will identify people in the community who have the skill sets necessary to form the organization (e.g., people with legal and tax experience, to form the organzation is an exempt corporation; people to source goods). It will take time to get the new model in place. In the meantime, consider ways to serve now:
–Emmaus Meals at The Salvation Army.
–Meals on Wheels.
–SCIO Bridge House support.
–SCIO lunch backpacks for weekends. Each summer the Boys & Girls Club partners with Head Start, the school district, United Way and the Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization to provide free lunches to kids in the area who have a demonstrated need. This program would not be able to operate without the generosity of volunteers, and this is a great opportunity for Grace to make a real difference in the community. A description of this program can be found at http://www.sauw.org/.
–Support to the ministerial discretionary funds of the parish, for relief in cases of unmet medical needs, emergency shelter, food, etc.
–Boys and Girls Clubs (see the next item).
Most importantly, pray and ask God how He is calling you to serve.
Don’t forget the Family Fun Night this Saturday, 21 April, starting at 6:30 p.m. Drinks and snacks provided; supper is pot-luck. Join the fun with board games, live games, contests!
Thanksgivings: Thanksgivings are due, of course, to Fr. McQueen and Sarah, for their years of faithful service in this parish, and for their Christian grace displayed during transition.
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.
Vacation Bible School: VBS will be offered this summer at St. Dominic Catholic Church and at St. Peter Lutheran Church. Morning and evening programs are available. Contact the parish offcie for program details.
Music this week:
Prelude Chorale on ‘This is the day the Lord hath made’ Widor
Entrance Hymn 199 “Come, ye faithful, raise the strain”
Offertory Hymn 305 “Come, risen Lord”
Communion Motet Most glorious Lord of life Harris
Communion Hymn 343 “Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless”
Closing Hymn 194 “Jesus lives, thy terrors now”
Postlude Prelude & Fugue in G Major J. S. Bach
Parish Notices
· Church Flowers: We do not have anyone signed up for church flowers next week or all through May as well as various other Sundays throughout the year. If we have no memorials or thanksgivings for those weeks we will not have flowers in the church, this is not a budget item and must be funded by the congregation. Flowers can be donated for $50 payable to Grace Church with a memo “flowers”. There is a sign-up sheet on the Narthex table. This is a wonderful way to participate in the beauty of Holiness in our weekly worship.
§ Christian Formation: Adult formation will begin April 22nd at 9:00am. Our first program will be a two week “liturgics show and tell,” in which we will tour the parish for instructed discussion in matters such as the origin and significance of church architecture, vestments and vessels, the iconography of stained glass, statuary, and Church customs.
§ Bible Study and The Bible Challenge: Bible study resumes on Tuesday, 24 April. We will resume a schedule of 5:30 p.m. Mass, followed by a light, pot-luck supper, with study commencing at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday sessions will follow the weekly readings from The Bible Challenge. We will also resume Thursday morning sessions, which will follow the Sunday lectionary lessons. Study will commence at 9:30 following 9 a.m. Mass. Lesson summaries for both the lectionary lessons and for the weekly Bible Challenge readings continue to be posted on the parish website.
§ First Communion Instruction: will begin April 15th at 9:00am during Sunday School, for children ages 4-7 who are ready to receive Holy Communion. This is a good refresher for those who already receive and a good introduction for those who may not yet receive. First Communions will take place May 20th during the Bishop’s Visitation.
§ Adult Formation on Sundays (9:00 a.m.) will resume on 22 April. For the first two weeks we will build on our instructed Eucharist with an “Instructed Liturgics” class (2 weeks) in which we will walk around the parish as a group, examining and talking about things like vestments, windows, sacred vessels, church architectural design and fabric. The idea is to have “show and tell” to allow all parishioners to know why we use particular articles in worship, what is of special interest about the organ, what is the warrant in Scripture and Tradition for the vestments and liturgical gestures, etc. Sessions will be facilitated by Fr. Karl, Deacon Mike and Deacon Michele, Betty Potter, Bernie Markevitch and by Dr. Dobey.
§ Sunday School Bake Sale: Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 9:00-3:00, in conjunction with St. Luke Methodist rummage sale, the Sunday School will be selling baked goods with proceeds going to outreach.
§ Plant Sale: Needed: flower pots to be used for the Grace Church Plant Sale Saturday, April 28, in conjunction with the Bake Sale. The following plants will be available for Sale: Hydrangea, Sedum, Iris, Primrose, Obedient Plant, Gooseneck Loosestrife, and more. All plants to be sold have been grown in the Grace Church Cutting Garden located between the Church and the Rectory.
§ New to You Sale: St. Peter Lutheran Church will be holding its annual New to You Sale Saturday, April 28th, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 2104 Geele Ave. Sheboygan in the Fellowship Hall. Enter through the North doors directly from the parking lot. Wheel chair accessible. You will find a large variety of gently used items will be available. (No Clothing) Proceeds will go to support community outreach. Thank you, if you have questions, please feel free to call St. Peter Lutheran Church at 452-4771.
§ SCIO Spring Luncheon & Fundraiser: Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at Amore, 18 W. Mill Street, Plymouth. Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization is once again honoring women at their Spring Luncheon & Fundraiser which will include Social, Silent Auction, Lunch and Program. The cost is $35 per person or $280 for a table of eight. Please contact SCIO at 457-7272 ext. 14 for reservations.
§ SCIO Silent Auction: Each member church is asked to provide a themed basket to be added to the silent auction at the Spring Luncheon & Fundraiser. If anyone is interested in putting together a basket for Grace Church there is additional information and basket ideas on the bulletin board in the narthex or please contact the office.
· Healing Weekend: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 312 E Main, Plymouth is hosting a healing weekend with Fr. Paul Feider. He will be teaching on the healing power of Jesus and ministering God’s healing love. Saturday, May 5th will begin at 6:30pm with Worship, teaching and healing prayer. Sunday, May 6th 9:45am Praise and Worship, 10:00am Holy Eucharist followed by lunch.
§ Parish clean-up: Mark your calendars for parish clean-up day on Saturday, 5 May, beginning at 9 a.m. A Cinco de Mayo taco and snack bar will be available starting at noon.
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