Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
12 April 2012
A television advertisement for a large congregational church in a nearby community now features the phrase “The church where people matter”. Contrast this phrase to the mission of the Church as defined in the prayer book Catechism: “The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and with each other in Christ.” This mission is pursued in prayer, worship, proclammation of the Gospel, and the promotion of justice, peace, and love (BCP 855). Where is the contrast? It is directional in the sense of whether we would describe the Church as a holy mystery in which God matters, or in which people matter, or both.
People do matter, of course, because we matter to God. This is why He gave His only-begotten Son for us. This is why the Church, as a holy mystery (i.e., as something which must be experienced in order to be understood), offers God worship and service in how she reaches out, that others may become members of our Lord’s Body. This is why when we read St. Paul’s words at 1 Cor. 15.58, “... thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” we may see the cross as the symbol for this victory.
In contrast to a cross, a circle is a closed thing. But a cross is open, and reaches out, just as our Lord “... stretched out [His] arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of [His] saving embrace ...” (BCP 101). The vertical beam of the cross keeps us focused on God, the horizontal on each other, and they come together in the cross, in Jesus Christ. People can’t “matter,” and we cannot be restored to unity with each other, if we are not in right relationship with God. God must matter first. This is why our Lord, in summarizing the Law speaks of love of God first, and only then of love of neighbor (Mtt. 22.34-40; Mk. 12.28-34; Lk. 10.25-28). When we are in right relationship with God this is reflected in right relationship with each other, and when we mistreat or ignore each other this reflects a defect in our relationship with God.
In this Eastertide, as we shout “Alleluia!” in the victory shout of those saved by Jesus, let us never forget that when we know and love and serve our Lord we are changed in who we are, and it is because of who we are that we can make people “matter”. Oh, and while we are worrying about how things matter, let us ever remind ourselves that people must matter to us–even people whom we don’t like–because they matter so much to God that he gave His Son for them.
Thanksgivings: There are many people to thank this week!
- Please remember all of the thanksgivings offered last week for Holy Week. In addition, this week we need to again thank Bernie Markevitch for all his work on the Easter Gala.
- Thanksgivings are offered to all of the acolytes and master who were so busy over the past week: Scott, Noah and Isabella Fabiano, Caleb and Eli Klinzing, Kaleigh Kraft, Stuart Schmidt, and Doris and Dustin Yang.
- Thanksgivings are offered to Wes and Barb Jung for their ongoing work in the cutting garden.
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: No one has stepped forward to coördinate VBS. VBS will therefore, not happen unless we identify a coördinator not later than 13 April. We cannot as a parish claim to consider children and youth to be a priority, and then fail to treat them as a priority.
Music this week:
Prelude Fantasy in G major J. S. Bach
Entrance Hymn #193 “That Easter day with joy was bright” Puer nobis
Offertory Hymn #206 “O sons and daughters, let us sing” O filii et filiae
Communion Motet This joyful Eastertide 17th C. Dutch mel., harm. Charles Wood
Communion Hymn #209 “We walk by faith, and not by sight” St. Botolph
Closing Hymn #180 “He is risen, He is risen” Neander
Postlude Fugue on ‘O filii et filiae’ Jean Langlais
Parish Notices
§ Christian Formation: Christian formation for children will begin on April 15th for all ages. Adult formation will begin April 22nd at 9:00am.
§ 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, 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.
§ 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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