Promise Keeper

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

31 May 2012

Today we commemorate the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Lk. 1.39-56).  A Solemn Mass will be celebrated at 6 p.m.  In Luke’s account of Mary visiting her cousin, Elizabeth, we find her hymn of praise, Magnificat, and Elizabeth exclaims of Mary, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Lk. 1.42).  Elizabeth’s own child, John the Baptist, leaps in his mother’s womb, recognizing his Lord even though Jesus is in the first trimester of gestation.

Mary’s hymn offers praise to God for who He is and what He does.  Our English translation of the Greek that Luke uses poses a problem, for in English the verbs are rendered as past tense.  This raises the question:  How has God done all the things for which Mary offers praise by the conception of Jesus in her womb?  The verbs in Greek are, however, of the tense known as aorist, which connotes continuing action (past into present).  Aorist verbs may be “gnomic” (describing what is done characteristically) or “inceptive” (describing what is beginning).  So, what are the verbs in the Magnificat, and what is the point of a mini grammar lesson in a parish newsletter?  The point is that Mary praises God for who He is.  It is His character to keep His promises, and to bless us, and this is revealed supremely in the coming of Jesus Christ.

God always keeps His promises.  This is a reality that we must at times remind ourselves of, like in this week, when we will bury two long time and beloved members of this parish.  One had a very long life; the other was taken from us early.  We are diminished as the Body by their passing, and yet we are blessed, for in their lives and in their deaths, they each witnessed to the love of God, to their own trust in Him, and to the reality that we “... see in death the gate of eternal life ...” (BCP 493).  We are reminded in every death that God’s kingdom breaks into this world when we gather at the celebration of Holy Eucharist, at which we pray, “... we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven ...” (BCP 362).

The Body of Christ, the Church, is universal, not bounded by time or space.  The kingdom of God is universal, but it is a kingdom that we must choose.  Jesus does not deliver the kingdom to us; He offers it, saying that the kingdom of heaven is “at hand” (Mtt. 3.2; 4.17) or is “near” (Lk. 21.31).  How do we choose the kingdom?  Jesus tells us that we must first repent, that is, turn to God.  It is only then that we can choose the kingdom, for it is then that we are open to the Holy Spirit to lead us into truth.  This truth is that God keeps His promises!  This truth is that God is our loving Father.  This truth is that each of us, bound to each other and bound together to God, participates in God’s holiness and life in how we reach out to each other, to bear each other’s burdens so that we may all follow our Lord.  Thanks be to God for the witness to His truth seen in the lives of the faithful.

Being the Body:  In most parishes a “care committee” exists.  There is usually a large overlap with Episcopal Church Women (ECW).  In this parish, we are blessed with many people who serve, but we do not formally have a care committee, or ECW, or a similar body that can act when there is a need for meal at a funeral reception, or for a family during a sickness.  This presents a twofold problem.  The first aspect of this problem is that the faithful who do step forward to help are at risk for “lay leadership burnout,” and the second is that it becomes a scramble to make something happen.

To be the Body of Christ we need to better consider and plan how we act.  To this end the Vestry will explore forming an official committee to provide for parish care needs as they arise.  The Vestry will also explore how to form a committee for the care of the grounds of the parish.  If you are interested in this effort, please contact Fr. Karl.

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.

Funeral plans:  Russ Bawden will be buried today at 11:30 a.m., following a visitation beginning at the parish at 10 a.m.  A reception for family and friends will be offered following the funeral, in St. Nicholas Hall.

Val Burg will be buried on Saturday, 2 June, at 3 p.m.  Visitation will be at the parish on Friday, 1 June, from 4 to 8 p.m., and on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until the funeral.  A reception luncheon will follow the funeral.

An apology and a planning note:  On the Saturdays 19 May and 26 May Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist were not offered in the parish.  This was because of a misunderstanding about which priest would serve on those days.  The fault in this is mine (Fr. Karl).  If you came to the parish on either day only to find that worship was not offered, please contact me, that I may apologize personally.

Saturday worship will continue to be offered, with Morning Prayer at 8:45 and Mass at 9 a.m.

Biblical Literacy:  The Bible Challenge review session on Tuesday, 5 June, will review Week 14 readings.  Bible study on Thursday (following the 9 a.m. Mass) will focus on the lessons for Sunday, 10 June (The Second Sunday after Pentecost, Year B).

All Saints’, Elkhart Lake:  All Saints’ serves as a mission of this parish, and as an active outreach by this parish in an area and at times when many people are present who are away from their permanent church home, or who lack any church home.  Throughout the Summer, please be intentional about two things (whether or not you attend All Saints’):  (1)  Pray for this ministry, and for those who serve in it, that they may serve our Lord by bringing more to know, love, and serve Him; (2) Engage in mission yourself.  You may know or meet people who you can ask to join you in worship, and All Saints’ can serve as a less formal setting that is more user-friendly in outreach.  Invite seekers to worship with you.

Music this week:

Prelude                        Kyrie, God the Father in Eternity                               J. S. Bach

                                    Christe, Savior of the World

                                    Kyrie, God the Holy Ghost

Entrance Hymn 362    “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty”                    Nicaea

Offertory Hymn 366   “Holy God, we praise thy Name”                               Groβer Gott

Communion Motet      From the rising of the sun                                           Ouseley

Comm. Hymn 365      “Come thou almighty King”                                       Moscow

Closing Hymn 368      “Holy Father, great Creator”                                      Regent Square

Postlude                      Fugue in E Flat                                                           J. S. Bach

A Note From Bishop Salmon: Matching Gift Opportunity to Support Nashotah House Ends Today (31 May)

Dear Friends at Grace Church,

Only a mere five years after Bishop Jackson Kemper dispatched James Lloyd Breck, William Adams and John Henry Hobart, Jr. to establish Nashotah House as a “mission to the western reaches,” he personally travelled to the then-primitive frontier town of Sheboygan in 1847 to consecrate Grace Episcopal Church, a small wood-frame church constructed on a $150 lot donated by Daniel Whitney. A nineteenth century observer summed up Bishop Kemper’s missionary efforts best:  “The real nobility of the thing was that they came out to do the Lord’s work without any other consideration. It was a work of faith; and this is the spirit that does great things in the Church.” That “spirit that does great things in the Church” is the same Spirit that has bound Nashotah House and Grace Church together for 165 years.

In thanksgiving for this historic partnership, an anonymous donor at Grace Church has graciously offered to match dollar for dollar any new gifts given through Grace Church and directed for the benefit of Nashotah House! 

I write today seeking your partnership in this challenge. Your tax deductible gift preserves and greatly enhances the legacy Bishop Kemper gave us. Your gift mightily equips us as we do the very same thing we have done since it all began in 1842; namely, raise up a faithful priesthood for the Church.

Please join others in the parish and make your gift earmarked for Nashotah House.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon, Jr.

Parish Notices

§  Corpus Christi and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament: Thursday, June 7^th is the Feast of Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi (Latin for Body of Christ) celebrates the Body and Blood of Christ really present in the Eucharist. We will have Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 6:00 p.m., in which the Blessed Sacrament (i.e., consecrated Host) is placed in a monstrance set upon the altar. This devotional service includes prayer and singing and quiet time before our Lord.  Please plan to attend this holy service.

§  End of School Break-Out Bash: June 9th 6:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Now that the end of school is upon us let's celebrate with a beach party! Expect food, fire, and fun at Deland Park. We'll be claiming the fire pit just to the north of the beach house/playground. The grill will be available if you want to bring a dinner to cook, and we'll have all the things necessary: condiments, plates, drinks, not to mention all the fixings for a delicious dessert (camp fire style!). Beach volleyball, Frisbee, football, or bring your own! All friends invited, so bring them all!  In order to ensure enough delicious dessert, please text Nick at 920-889-8003 and let him know if you are coming and how many people you're cramming into your car with you!

§  Summer Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12^th graders. Camp is an opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community, about themselves and have fun! If you have questions about what camp is like please call Michele at the office. Scholarships are available.

o   Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 10 (Sun 3pm) – June 16 (Sat 12noon)

o   Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 17 (Sun 3pm) – June 21 (Thu 5pm)

o   Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 17 (Sun 3pm) – June 21 (Thu 5pm)

o   KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 21 (Thu 3pm) – June 23 (Sat 12noon) There are application forms on the Narthex table.

§  Sign-Up to Host Coffee Hour in 2013: A sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour in 2013 is on the table in the narthex. Please sign-up for dates you would like to host.  A final schedule and reminders will be generated from the sign-up sheet and distributed in November 2012. Please consider signing up for 2-3 Sundays to help us cover the year! Contact Katy Prange at 920-889-1252 or katyprange@hotmail.com with questions.

§  Love Thinks: Dating can be tough...want some help?  Great Marriages is offering a free seminar called Love Thinks.  The program is for adults who want to make smart choices in dating including: never married singles, individuals who have experienced a divorce and are dating again, and anyone who wants to know how to find a mate who is compatible for a strong, healthy relationship.  It will be held on Saturday, June 30 in Sheboygan from 9:00am-4:00pm. Come learn to break negative dating patterns and make healthy choices for lifelong, happy relationships! Pre-registration is required so call Great Marriages at 920-783-3660 for details and to sign up today.

§  Stewardship/Fundraising Committee: The Vestry has approved the creation of an on-going Stewardship/Fundraising committee that will be responsible for our annual pledge campaign as well as developing multiple fundraising events. The goal is to charter this committee at the May Vestry meeting. If you are interested in serving on this committee or have suggestions or comments please contact a Vestry member.  We appreciate your consideration.

Pentecost

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

24 May 2012

Commentary on Pentecost often refers to the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit upon the faithful gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 2.1-13) as the “birthday of the Church;” and it is.  Prior to Pentecost the Holy Spirit was visible in the lives of prophets, but not the rest of us.  This begs the question:  “How do we discern the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives?”

The Catechism is our prayer book answers this question by stating, “We recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit when we confess Jesus Christ as Lord and are brought into love and harmony with God, with ourselves, with our neighbors, and with all creation” (BCP 852).  Looking back at what happened at Pentecost, we see that those who then received the Spirit testified “... telling in [their] own tongues the mighty works of God” (Acts 2.11).  What mightier work of God can any of us testify to than that God has sent His own Son to reconcile us to Himself, and that He gives us His Spirit to guide us, to comfort us, and to lead us into all truth?

When we are open to the Holy Spirit we not only look to Jesus Christ as Savior but follow Him as Lord.  We recognize that to follow Jesus–to acknowledge His lordship over our lives–requires surrender of our lives to Him.  This is a very different thing than is found in the casual attitude toward “religion” in which the idea of a savior is a comforting thought on the fringe of our reality; a casualness characterized by the attitude of “Bless me, but don’t mess with me.”  Recognizing the lordship of Jesus Christ requires surrender of will, and not one of us can do this unless we are empowered to do so by the Holy Spirit.  This begs another question:  “If we need the Spirit, how do we grant access to the Spirit?”

God calls all of us, but we can ignore this call.  We can build such a wall around ourselves that we deny access to the Holy Spirit, and when the Spirit is absent from our lives we do not confess Jesus Christ as Lord, we do not love God or enjoy harmony with Him, with ourselves, with our neighbors, and with all creation.  How many lives does this describe?  Lives lived in isolation from God, lives isolated by the wall of sin constructed by self, are out of holy order.  When we persist in sin, we deny God’s Spirit access into our lives, and in these unharmonious lives we persist in sin.  And it is from this description of symptoms that we discern the prescription for a cure.  In order to welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives we must rid our lives of the burden of sin.  This requires brutally frank self-examination, followed by confession and absolution.  It is only when we have rid ourselves of unconfessed sin that we can recognize the harmony of life in Christ and the disordered nature of life without God.

Confession is offered corporately at every Sunday worship.  It is also available in the sacrament of Reconciliation of  Penitent (BCP 447), which involves meeting with a priest.  Regardless of how we offer confession (and saying the prayer of confession on a Sunday is not an offering unless we each call to mind the specifics of what we are confessing), doing it regularly allows us to prevent the presence of sin from keeping us out of harmony with God.  When we are open to God in confession, we are open to His Spirit acting in our lives.  And then He changes us, and we celebrate new birth of the Church and of ourselves at all times.

A final note:  The word for “church” in Scripture is ekklesia, which means “assembly”.  The Church is not an institution (or a building!), but the assembly of God’s people gathered, which means that Scripture has no conception whatsoever of a person being a “member” of a church if he or she is not present in worship.  Being a member of the Body means being active in the Body, in the Body gathered in worship, in fellowship, and in service.  When you are open to the Holy Spirit you will be led into an active discipleship in which separation from the Body is evident first and foremost to you.

Being the Body:  Please thank Barb McEwen and Bernie Markevitch for set-up and organization of the reception for Bp. Jacobus this past Sunday, and Barb, together with Julie Davidson, Linda Griswold, and Elizabeth Schaffenburg for clean-up.

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.

Bishop Jacobus’ visit: Olivia Gallimore, Alexandrea Hammes, Emily Boland and Susan McIntosh were confirmed. Darlene Bain and Scott Fabiano reaffirmed their Baptismal vows. Barbara Knauf was received into this communion. Bob and Anne Hanlon who were received last year completed the catechumenate but were away on Sunday. Thank you to Dale Massey who has helped all year with his knowledge, humor and presence.

Biblical Literacy:  The Bible Challenge review session on Tuesday, 29 May, will review Week 13 readings.  Bible study on Thursday (following the 9 a.m. Mass) will focus on the lessons for Sunday, 3 June (The First Sunday after Pentecost, Year B, Trinity Sunday).

All Saints’, Elkhart Lake:  The Sunday services at Elkhart Lake recommenced this year on 27 May, the Feast of Pentecost, and will continue through 2 September (the Sunday of Labor Day week).  All Saints’ serves as a mission of this parish, and as an active outreach by this parish in an area and at times when many people are present who are away from their permanent church home, or who lack any church home.  As such, All Saints’ serves as an important additional ministry of this parish to reach people who may be unchurched.  Throughout the Summer, please be intentional about two things (whether or not you attend All Saints’):  (1)  Pray for this ministry, and for those who serve in it, that they may serve our Lord by bringing more to know, love, and serve Him; (2) Engage in mission yourself.  You may know or meet people who you can ask to join you in worship, and All Saints’ can serve as a less formal setting that is more user-friendly in outreach.  Invite seekers to worship with you.

Music this week:

Prelude                        Verses on Veni Creator                                                           Titelouze

Opening Hymn 225    “Hail thee, festival day”

Sequence Hymn 504   “Come Holy Ghost, our souls inspire”

Offertory Hymn 516    “Come down, O love divine”

Communion Motet        Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come                                       Gibbons

Comm. Hymn 508      “Breathe on me, breath of God”

Closing Hymn 579      “Almighty Father, strong to save”

Postlude                      Come, Holy Ghost                                                                 Bach

Parish Notices

·         Office Closed: The office will be closed for Memorial Day. There will be no Daily Office or 12:10pm Mass.

·         Valerie Burg’s Requiem Mass: will be Saturday, June 2, at 3:00pm. There will be a time of visitation Friday, June 1 from 4:00 to 8:00pm and from 11:00am until the time of the Mass on Saturday.

·         Summer Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12^th graders. Camp is an opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community, about themselves and have fun! If you have questions about what camp is like please call Michele at the office. Scholarships are available.

Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 10 (Sun 3pm) – June 16 (Sat 12noon)

Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 17 (Sun 3pm) – June 21 (Thu 5pm)

Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 17 (Sun 3pm) – June 21 (Thu 5pm)

KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 21 (Thu 3pm) – June 23 (Sat 12noon) There are application forms on the Narthex table.

·         Mission Opportunity: Kairos Inside Prison Ministry is a lay-led ecumenical Christian ministry which conducts a highly structured program designed for use in male and female medium to maximum security correctional institutions. Kairos Inside is based on Cursillo and is a 3 ½ day weekend of talks, discussion, chapel meditations and music led by volunteers. The website is http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001pWlnd4cV05DUBwx4bP-2-V1I2_8rxE6hbsHBaG7r0NhWLrZhpWSDHTdg2tO4k_iH49OaQ7k4o7wXW7lFPxGuxgcumzgdIIY6juIk9n1TURI=. The Kairos of Wisconsin State Chapter is hosting a potential volunteer information day on Saturday, May 19th from 10am to 2pm at Portage United Methodist Church, 1804 New Pinery Rd in Portage. If you are interested in this vital and rewarding ministry, please plan to attend. Please e-mail the Rev. Vicki Natzke at vnatzke@wctc.net if you plan to attend or desire more information. 

·         Eucharistic Festival: Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the Eucharistic Festival Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. The day begins at 11:00am with Eucharist followed by Benediction and a picnic lunch will be served. It is always a wonderful day.

·         Sign-Up to Host Coffee Hour in 2013: A sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour in 2013 is on the table in the narthex. Please sign-up for dates you would like to host.  A final schedule and reminders will be generated from the sign-up sheet and distributed in November 2012. Please consider signing up for 2-3 Sundays to help us cover the year! Contact Katy Prange at 920-889-1252 or katyprange@hotmail.com with questions.

·         The Bible Challenge: The Tuesday evening study will follow the weekly readings from The Bible Challenge. We begin with 5:30 p.m. Mass, followed by a light, pot-luck supper, with study commencing at 6:30 p.m. Lesson summaries for both the Bible Challenge readings and for the weekly lectionary lessons continue to be posted on the parish website.

·         Stewardship/Fundraising Committee: The Vestry has approved the creation of an on-going Stewardship/Fundraising committee that will be responsible for our annual pledge campaign as well as developing multiple fundraising events. The goal is to charter this committee at the May Vestry meeting. If you are interested in serving on this committee or have suggestions or comments please contact a Vestry member.  We appreciate your consideration.

Labor Pains

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

17 May 2012

Hail thee, festinal day!  We sing hymn 216 this night, at the offertory in our 6 p.m. solemn Mass for Acension Day.  The service will be followed by a parish pot-luck supper.  It is well that we follow our celebration of Jesus’ ascension to heaven, to reign on high, with community fellowship, for in the lessons for the feast we are instructed (in part) about what it means to be the Church, about who we are called to be. 

We are called to be witnesses “... to the end of the earth” (Acts 1.8), but to do this we must live together and witness together as one Body.  As vital as a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior is, it is incomplete if I ever seek to live this alone.  “My” relationship with God is only complete if it is “our” relationship, the status, calling, and blessing of being the Church.

Our bishop will be with us this coming Sunday, to confirm and receive new members as those fully incorporated into the Body.  The timing of his visitation is indeed fortuitous (or, better yet, providential), for the time between Ascension Day (when Jesus charges us with who we are to be) and Pentecost (which is the birthday of the Church, when the Holy Spirit is poured forth on all believers) is the the birth process.  At Romans 8.22 St. Paul writes that the whole of creation “has been groaning in travail”.  This can also be understood to refer to groaning in labor, in the birthing process, knowing that after this travail comes the joy of new birth, new life, and the unique status that we enjoy as the Church is that we are both being born and are the midwife to this delivery. 

God’s will happens not just by God’s direct action but by the actions undertaken by His disciples because He has commanded them.  God acts directly, as when He sends His Holy Spirit on the Church at Pentecost, and He acts through us (His witnesses) when we obey His commands.  As the apostle John writes, “Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony [of God] in their hearts.  ... Whoever has the Son has life ...” (1 John 5.10, 12).

We have life, the life everlasting which Jesus brings, but in bringing this life He makes it clear that we can’t just sit here, happy about ourselves.  We’ve got work to do.  Jesus prays to the Father, “As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world” (John 17.18).  We’ve got work to do.  Those of us who have life because we have Jesus, now must assist in the birth process.  We’re called out on a dark night, to throw light on the way, to make all the preparations for new birth which the midwife (the Church) and the great physician of souls (the Son) will allow the mother (God’s Spirit) to bring forth.  It’s a birth process, and so it is accomplished with labor pains, by anxiety and danger, but in hope and in the expectation of the joy of new life.

Thanksgivings:  We have thanks them before, but please take the opportunity to thank Wes and Barb Jung for their work on the grounds.  This past week they worked for days in trimmin the ground cover on Ontario Ave.  Please also thank Bobbie May and Elizabeth Schaffenburg for their work on the grounds.

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.

Biblical Literacy:  The Bible Challenge review session on Tuesday, 22 May, will review Week 12 readings.  There will be no bible study on Thursday, 24 May, due to Fr. Karl’s participation in the graduation ceremony at Nashotah House.

Music this week:

Prelude                        Two Chorale Preludes on Blessed Jesus, at thy word             J. S. Bach

Entrance Hymn 495    “Hail, thou once despised Jesus”

Offertory Hymn 307   “Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendor”

Communion Motet      If ye love me, keep my commandments                                   Philip Wilby

Comm. Hymn 603      “When Christ was lifted from the earth”

Closing Hymn 473      “Lift high the Cross”

Postlude                      Trumpet Tune in C                                                                  D. N. Johnson

Parish Notices

§  Spring Cheer Committee will deliver flowers and goodies to the parish shut-ins on Thursday, May 24^th.  We will gather in the church kitchen at 11:00 AM to assemble flower arrangements and bag cookies.  There is a sign up sheet in the narthex for you to indicate who you would like to visit.  If you would like to contribute money towards flowers make sure to indicate Spring Cheer in the memo.  If you would like to bake cookies please contact Barb MacEwen (467-6909 or bmacewen@charter.net).  Thank you for considering helping this worthwhile ministry.

§  Bishop Visitation & Confirmation: We welcome Bishop Jacobus this Sunday for his annual visitation. He will celebrate and preach at both Masses and administer the Sacrament of Confirmation at the 10:15 a.m. liturgy. There will be a reception honoring the Bishop and the newly confirmed after the 10:15 service.

§  The Bishop’s Discretionary Fund: The undesignated offering this Sunday goes to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund which provides for the pastoral emergencies and other unplanned pastoral expenses. Please be generous as you are able.

§  Christian Formation: For adult formation at 9:00 a.m. we will have the second half of a two week course on “Waking the Slumbering Church”.  This is a preview of the Acts 29 Sure Foundation program that we will launch next September, and is designed to stimulate prayer and thought throughout the Summer about what we are called to, and who we are called to be as a the Church.

§  Summer Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12^th graders. Camp is an opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community, about themselves and have fun! If you have questions about what camp is like please call Michele at the office. Scholarships are available.

§  Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 10 (Sun. 3 p.m.)–June 16 (Sat. 12 noon); Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 17 (Sun. 3 p.m.)–June 21 (Thu. 5 p.m.); Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 17 (Sun. 3 p.m.)–June 21 (Thu. 5 p.m.); KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 21 (Thu. 3 p.m.)–June 23 (Sat. 12 noon). There are application forms on the Narthex table.

§  Sign-Up to Host Coffee Hour in 2013: A sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour in 2013 is on the table in the narthex. Please sign-up for dates you would like to host.  A final schedule and reminders will be generated from the sign-up sheet and distributed in November 2012. Please consider signing up for 2-3 Sundays to help us cover the year! Contact Katy Prange at 920-889-1252 or katyprange@hotmail.com with questions.

§  Mission Opportunity: Kairos Inside Prison Ministry is a lay-led ecumenical Christian ministry which conducts a highly structured program designed for use in male and female medium to maximum security correctional institutions. Kairos Inside is based on Cursillo and is a 3 ½ day weekend of talks, discussion, chapel meditations and music led by volunteers. The website is http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001pWlnd4cV05DUBwx4bP-2-V1I2_8rxE6hbsHBaG7r0NhWLrZhpWSDHTdg2tO4k_iH49OaQ7k4o7wXW7lFPxGuxgcumzgdIIY6juIk9n1TURI=. The Kairos of Wisconsin State Chapter is hosting a potential volunteer information day on Saturday, May 19th from 10am to 2pm at Portage United Methodist Church, 1804 New Pinery Rd in Portage. If you are interested in this vital and rewarding ministry, please plan to attend. Please e-mail the Rev. Vicki Natzke at vnatzke@wctc.net if you plan to attend or desire more information. 

§  Stewardship/Fundraising Committee: The Vestry has approved the creation of an on-going Stewardship/Fundraising committee that will be responsible for our annual pledge campaign as well as developing multiple fundraising events. The goal is to charter this committee at the May Vestry meeting. If you are interested in serving on this committee or have suggestions or comments please contact a Vestry member.  We appreciate your consideration.

"Suffer the little children ..."

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

10 May 2012

This past Sunday all of the children of the parish were invited to stand around the altar when we celebrated the canon of the Mass.  This invitation followed on what had happened the prior Tuesday evening, when we ran out of room in the chapel of Christ the King, and moved the celebration to the high altar.  At that celebration, the people in the attendance all gathered around the altar, and a number of them spoke afterward about how meaningful to them this was.  So  we decided to see how the children would react, keeping in mind the visual nature of learning and experience in young children.

The experiment was quite a success, at least from the perspective of the clergy and congregation.  (We need feedback from children and parents.)  All of the children (even some with a history of being quite “active” during worship), were quiet and attentive.  For me, elevating the Body and Blood of our Lord while surrounded by small heads at altar level was a new experience, and seeing these small members of the Body of Christ concentrate and participate was a further revelation of how God reaches all.

We are note going to make a common practice of having the altar party expanded, but what happened last Sunday reinforces the need to focus on how children participate in worship.  It is common for congregations to struggle with how to “do youth ministry,” but the reality is that by the teenaged years, children have already fallen into a pattern (good or bad) with respect to worship, and so we need to start early.  We often hear it said that “children are the future of the Church,” but this is false:  They are part of the Church now.  They are part of the Body, and we need to live into this reality by being very intentional about how to involve children in worship.  This can involve, for example, periodic musical offerings by a children’s choir, or special ways in which children can participate in worship processions.  It can involve families with young children sitting up front, where they can see better.  It can involve occasional worship services in which children are assigned more public roles.

Please pray about how we can build on the type of success we had last Sunday.  Please remember, too, that arguing with a teenager about attending worship is pointless if you have not set a family pattern many years before that worship is a priority.  When we are all intentional about worship God is glorified.  he is glorified when the little children come unto Him.

Thanksgivings:  Thanksgivings are offered to all (twenty-two people) who worked to clean the parish buildings and grounds on Saturday, 5 May.  More than 60 hours of hard work saw every part of this place cleaned, straightened, pruned, polished–you get the idea.  We have an able sexton you provides ongoing cleaning, but a semi-annual group effort is needed to keep this place which we have set aside for God as worthy an offering as we can make it. 

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.

Biblical Literacy:  The Bible Challenge review session on Tuesday, 15 May, will review Week 11 readings.  Bible study on Thursday, 17 May, will review the lessons for Sunday, 20 May (Easter 6B).  All lessons are listed on the website, with links to the texts.

Music this week:

Prelude                                   Andantino; Elevation                                                 Eugène Gigout

Entrance Hymn #405            “All things bright and beautiful”                                     Royal Oak

Offertory Hymn #400           “All creatures of our God and King”                   Lasst uns erfreuen

Communion Motet                Christ hath a garden                  English folk song, arr. Gerald Near

           

            Christ hath a garden walled around,

            A paradise of fruitful ground,

            Chosen by love and fenced by grace

            From out the world’s wide wilderness.

            Like trees of spice his servants stand,

            There planted by his mighty hand;

            By Eden’s gracious streams, that flow

            To feed their beauty where they grow.

            Awake, O wind of heav’n, and bear

            Their sweetest perfume through the air:

            Stir up, O south, the boughs that bloom,

            Till the beloved Master come:

            That he may come, and linger yet

            Among the trees that he hath set;

            That he may evermore be seen

            To walk amid the springing green.

                                                                                                —Robert Bridges, after Isaac Watts

Closing Hymn #535               “Ye servants of God”                                                       Paderborn

Postlude                                  Offertoire pour un Jour de Fête                                 Eugène Gigout

Parish Notices

§  Ascension Day is the day Our Lord Jesus ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, and is observed as a Principal feast of the Christian year. We will celebrate Ascension Day 17May with a Solemn Mass at 6:00 p.m. We will continue with an Parish Potluck Dinner in St. Nicholas hall immediately following mass. Please plan to attend this celebration.

§  Bishop’s Visitation: Bishop Jacobus will make his annual visitation to Grace Church next Sunday May 20^th. We will celebrate with the Sacrament of Confirmation and will have receptions, reaffirmations and First Communions at the 10:15 service. We will follow this with a reception. Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex to bring sweets or savories and to clean up. Thank you.

§  Glad tidings:  Christy Clabots & her husband Matthieu Permentier had their baby last Saturday, May 5^th.  Eleanor Roos (Rose)  weighed 6 lbs 13 oz.  Jenny and Nick Whitford welcomed their daughter, Eowyn, into this world on May 9^th.

§  Sad tidings:  Long time parishioner Shirley Hansen died this week, and will be buried this Friday, 11 May.  Visitation will be in St. Nicholas Hall from noon until the funeral, which is scheduled as a Mass of Christian Burial commencing at 1 p.m.

§  First Communion Instruction: will continue at 9:00 a.m. 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 20^th during the Bishop’s Visitation.

§  Christian Formation: For adult formation at 9:00 a.m. we will have a two week course on “Waking the Slumbering Church”.  This is a preview of the Acts 29 Sure Foundation program that we will launch next September, and is designed to stimulate prayer and thought throughout the Summer about what we are called to, and who we are called to be as the Church.

§  Summer Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12^th graders. Camp is an opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community, about themselves and have fun! If you have questions about what camp is like please call Michele at the office. Scholarships are available.

§  Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 10 (Sun 3pm) – June 16 (Sat 12noon) Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 17 (Sun 3pm) – June 21 (Thu 5pm) Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 17 (Sun 3pm) – June 21 (Thu 5pm) KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 21 (Thu 3pm) – June 23 (Sat 12noon) There are application forms on the Narthex table.

§  Sign-Up to Host Coffee Hour in 2013: A sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour in 2013 is on the table in the narthex. Please sign-up for dates you would like to host.  A final schedule and reminders will be generated from the sign-up sheet and distributed in November 2012. Please consider signing up for 2-3 Sundays to help us cover the year! Contact Katy Prange at 920-889-1252 or katyprange@hotmail.com with questions.

§  The Bible Challenge: The Tuesday evening study will follow the weekly readings from The Bible Challenge. We begin with 5:30 p.m. Mass, followed by a light, pot-luck supper, with study commencing at 6:30 p.m. Lesson summaries for both the Bible Challenge readings and for the weekly lectionary lessons continue to be posted on the parish website.

§  Mission Opportunity: Kairos Inside Prison Ministry is a lay-led ecumenical Christian ministry which conducts a highly structured program designed for use in male and female medium to maximum security correctional institutions. Kairos Inside is based on Cursillo and is a 3 ½ day weekend of talks, discussion, chapel meditations and music led by volunteers. The website is http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001pWlnd4cV05DUBwx4bP-2-V1I2_8rxE6hbsHBaG7r0NhWLrZhpWSDHTdg2tO4k_iH49OaQ7k4o7wXW7lFPxGuxgcumzgdIIY6juIk9n1TURI=. The Kairos of Wisconsin State Chapter is hosting a potential volunteer information day on Saturday, May 19th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Portage United Methodist Church, 1804 New Pinery Rd in Portage. If you are interested in this vital and rewarding ministry, please plan to attend. Please e-mail the Rev. Vicki Natzke at vnatzke@wctc.net if you plan to attend or desire more information. 

§  Eucharistic Festival: Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the Eucharistic Festival Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. The day begins at 11:00 a.m. with Eucharist followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and a picnic lunch will be served. It is always a wonderful day.

§  Stewardship/Fundraising Committee: The Vestry has approved the creation of an on-going Stewardship/Fundraising committee that will be responsible for our annual pledge campaign as well as developing multiple fundraising events. The goal is to charter this committee at the May Vestry meeting. If you are interested in serving on this committee or have suggestions or comments please contact a Vestry member.  We appreciate your consideration.