Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
21 June 2012
“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy ...” So begins the famous lullaby in George and Ira Gershwin’s opera Porgy and Bess. In the summer we can enjoy longer hours of daylight and warmth. The social calendar becomes more crowded, and a more generalized spirit of relaxation makes a lazy morning an attractive option. In this parish an additional and attractive option is worship at our chapel, All Saints’, Elkhart Lake, where there are new faces as well as old friends from summers past.
When I lived in England, in late June it would get light about 4 a.m., and stay light until about 10:30 p.m. Perhaps because of this much longer day, and a lot of time after work in which to play outside, I found it all too easy to do too many things, which meant sometimes doing some things less well. Don’t let this happen in your life of faith. Worshipping our Lord is not one of many competing priorities. It is central to our life of faith; it is something we have each promised to do in our Baptismal Covenant; it is not optional.
That last statement, that worship is not optional, will strike some as quite different from what they might have grown accustomed to in much of the wider Church. But as we mature in our discipleship we will discover a number of realities: (1) Church communities which demand more of members thrive, while those that take a laissez faire attitude do not. (2) Mutual accountability is a sign of maturation is spiritual growth. (3) Canonically, the clergy are not members of the parish, so if the parish is going to do anything laity must be engaged.
Last week I alluded to challenges in the life of the parish. One challenge is financial. We have a deficit budget, and have a quite lop-sided pattern of giving in which the top 5 out of 82 pledges give the equivalent of 50% of our operating budget. In any business model this revenue distribution would be considered to be too risky, and it certainly is in a parish. Four years ago we had 104 pledges. We not only need to increase the number of pledges, but increase how we give. For example, if you are giving X% of income in a pledge, what would X + 1% look like in your budget in 2013? On average, in The Episcopal Church, members give a little over 2% of their income (and remember that the biblical standard is a tithe). 2% translated into 3%, for the 82 current pledges that give 50% of the budget, wipes out the operating deficit.
Speaking of money is not pleasant, but it is part of mutual accountability. Every one of us who pays a mortgage or rent, and who pays to operate our household, knows that not paying is not an option. The same reality obtains in the life of our parish. Pray about how you are called to give, if not in treasure then in time and talent. Pray for the life of the Church. Continue to walk with us as, together, we grow in faith.
Fr. Schaffenburg on vacation: Fr. Schaffenburg and Elizabeth will be on vacation from 22 through 30 June. There will be Holy Eucharist offered on Saturday, 23 June, at 9 a.m., on Monday, 25 June, at 12:10 p.m., and on Friday, 29 June, at 12:10 p.m. Morning and Evening Prayer: The scheduled services will be offered throughout the time period. In the event of a need for pastoral care, please contact the parish office, and a member of clergy will be notified.
Welcome Fr. Peay: The services of Holy Eucharist on Sunday, 24 June will be celebrated by Fr. Steven A. Peay, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and Assoc. Prof. of Homiletics and Church History, of Nashotah House. Please welcome Fr. Peay back to Grace.
Being the Body: Over the past week, as a parishioner lay dying in hospice, I witnessed the following: Dcn. Mike Burg sitting silently for hours, just to be there. Deb Gagin, sitting, just to hold the patient’s hand. Barb McEwen, sitting and holding hands long enough that she had to put her head down to sleep.
What manifestations of the incarnation of our Lord have you witnessed? How have you embidied Jesus to others? When we pay attention, we notice the truth of Paul’s words “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation ...” (2 Cor. 5.17).
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 and bible study will not meet this week. Fr. Karl is on vacation.
All Saints’, Elkhart Lake: 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 Monastic Peace Aria Flor Peeters
Entrance Hymn 493 “O for a thousand tongues to sing” Azmon
Offertory Hymn 379 “God is love, lest heaven adore him” Abbot’s Leigh
Comm. Hymn 482 “Lord of all hopefulness” Slane
Closing Hymn 563 “Go forward, Christian soldier” Lancashire
Postlude Festival Voluntary Flor Peeters
Parish Notices
§ 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.
§ Register Now for EfM: Two classes are again forming this fall for EfM or Education for Ministry. Through the study of scripture, each individual is encouraged to learn more about who they are so they have a closer vision of what God desires for their lives. Each group gets to know each other, worships together and help each other discern God’s will for their lives and their ministries. It takes time and commitment to change ourselves and consequently our communities, but the rewards are great! Classes start on Tuesday, September 4, 9am at St. Paul’s in Plymouth, and at 6:00 pm. place to be determined. Cost is $350 for this college level class which starts the first year studying the Old Testament. Scholarships are available and clergy have been generous with their discretionary funds, if assistance is needed. Contact Barb Drewry-Zimmerman for registration materials at bzimmy@excel.net or 920-893-5189. Get registered by August 15th, so you can receive your materials in time for the first class. These classes are not just for laity, clergy are always welcome and encouraged to attend so that they, too can be better leaders in their congregations.
§ BoyScouts time capsule: Following the 10:15 a.m. service on Sunday, 1 July, Troop 1 will bury a time capsule near the flag pole in front of the church, on Ontario Ave. The capsule will include artifacts from the first 100 years of the BSA at Grace. Please welcome the Scouts our worship together, and join with them after worship for the placement of the time capsule.
· Women’s Bible Study: will begin on Wednesday, July 11th and run for 6 weeks. The class will meet at Grace Church on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 until 8:00pm. The class will study Beth Moore’s “Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Assent” a study of Psalms 120 through 134. This is an educational journey tying the Old Testament to the New by relating events of prophetic fulfillment from Jesus’ life with the ancient pilgrims. Two days worth of study is spent on each Psalm, offering a decent and rich overview. The video teaching is by Beth Moore delivering truth that can change lives and accompany the written material beautifully. This is an excellent study to be experienced each day through personal study and through participation in the group discussion each Wednesday evening. Please call the office at 452-9659 to register.
· Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice: Facing the final stage of life can be a frightening experience; this is when we encircle those with life-limiting illnesses with comfort, compassion and expertise – since our opening in 2007, the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice has served over 1,500 families. In honor of our 5th Year of Service, we are inviting you and your congregation to a community celebration . . . a Benefit for our Hospice Patient Care Fund on June 30th at the Duke of Devon in Sheboygan from 4-10 p.m. Our website www.ssrhospicehome.org provides the details. One of every four families that we have served needed financial assistance – made possible by the generosity of donors, attending special events – providing memorial gifts and other contributions. The community has rallied around this cause, and we’re going to celebrate together. Your partnership in our mission makes a difference!
· Women’s Bible Study: will begin on Wednesday, July 11th and run for 6 weeks. The class will meet at Grace Church on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 until 8:00pm. The class will study Beth Moore’s “Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Assent” a study of Psalms 120 through 134. This is an educational journey tying the Old Testament to the New by relating events of prophetic fulfillment from Jesus’ life with the ancient pilgrims. Two days worth of study is spent on each Psalm, offering a decent and rich overview. The video teaching is by Beth Moore delivering truth that can change lives and accompany the written material beautifully. This is an excellent study to be experienced each day through personal study and through participation in the group discussion each Wednesday evening. Please call the office at 452-9659 to register.
· Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice: Facing the final stage of life can be a frightening experience; this is when we encircle those with life-limiting illnesses with comfort, compassion and expertise – since our opening in 2007, the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice has served over 1,500 families. In honor of our 5th Year of Service, we are inviting you and your congregation to a community celebration . . . a Benefit for our Hospice Patient Care Fund on June 30th at the Duke of Devon in Sheboygan from 4-10 p.m. Our website www.ssrhospicehome.org provides the details. One of every four families that we have served needed financial assistance – made possible by the generosity of donors, attending special events – providing memorial gifts and other contributions. The community has rallied around this cause, and we’re going to celebrate together. Your partnership in our mission makes a difference!
· 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment