Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
23 August 2012
A thread is runs through the lessons for this coming Sunday. It is one of choice, of free will, and of active discipleship, of choosing to serve God. If you want to see the world and the Church decline, don’t do anything. If you come to church and just sit and listen, but don’t let it change how you live and what you say, decline will follow. But, doing nothing, being passive, will be hard to do if you make the personal choice to serve the Lord, and if you accept the Holy Spirit as your comforter and guide.
If you want to see the Church “decline then focus on your love for the Church as a familiar and comfortable institution. Focus on your love for the Church rather than on your love for Jesus Christ. You can just show up and go through the motions. But Jesus won’t let you remain passive if and when you truly give your heart to Him. No, He’s going to set you on fire. The One who baptizes with fire and with the Holy Spirit (Luke 3.16), will claim you and embolden you when you do one thing: When you choose Him, and give yourself to Him. And when you do choose Jesus, when you do say “I will serve the Lord,” then you’ll find that you are called to action, called to the struggle to bring about God’s kingdom. And in this struggle you will need, in Paul’s words, to “put on the whole armor of God” (Eph. 6.10).
The Sunday lesson from Paul includes the following:
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph. 6.13-17)
That doesn’t exactly sound passive, does it? Standing firm means choosing the Lord. Standing firm means proclaiming the Gospel to a world and within a Church in which people often don’t want to hear it. And standing firm means avoiding the very real temptation to withdraw, to say something like “I have faith,” but never share it. It means saying, like Peter, “Lord, to whom can we go?” (John 6.68) not because the Church can be in any way equated with Jesus in the call for our faith and loyalty, but because God has planted us here, and has a purpose for us here, to tend His vineyard, that we may present Him with the fruits of it.
Fr. Karl is on vacation: Fr. Karl will be away 20 through 26 August. Morning and Evening Prayer will be offered each day, but Holy Eucharist will be offered only on Wednesday (5:30 p.m.) and Friday (12.:10 p.m.), through the offices of Fr. Okkerse. There will be no meetings for The Bible Challenge or for Bible study.
Being the Body is a program to equip the faithful in discipleship. Being the Body is an eighteen month program, comprised on an introduction and twelve sessions, beginning on Saturday, 15 September.
- Knowing: Content will focus on how God reveals Himself to us, and His will for us.
- How do we gain knowledge and experience of God?
- How does God’s holy word inform and guide us?
- How do prayer and worship reveal and form faith?
- Being: Content will focus on who we are as members of the one Body of our risen Lord.
- Exploring our roots: Confessional faith and Anglican identity.
- Participating in grace: sacramental life and the life of prayer.
- Embodying grace: covenantal life with each other and in the world.
- Doing: Content will focus on equipping disciples to reclaim the world for Jesus Christ.
- Work–Study–Prayer: Holy living.
- Defense of the faith: Getting a skeptical world to listen.
- Proclamation of the faith: testimony and evangelism.
- Call and response: discerning a call to serve; living in service by the Holy Spirit.
Call for Vestry Nominations: Vestry elections will be held on Sunday, 30 September, at the parish annual meeting. We need at least six nominees, with names provided to the parish office by 16 September. You can nominate another person or yourself. To run for Vestry you must be a qualified elector of the parish, which means that: (1) You are regular in your attendance on worship; (2) You have received Holy Eucharist at least once in the prior year; (3) You are active in your support of the parish through a pledge or some other form of giving; and (4) Your are at least sixteen years of age.
Vestry members are called to lead. Be prepared in the election process to provide a brief biographical sketch which allows your fellow parishioners to better understand your relationship with God and His Church, and your call to lead. Vestry members are called to commitment, and are expected to attend twelve meetings throughout the year (once per month).
Pictorial Directory Update: Many thanks to all of you who have already signed up for your photography session. The participation to date has exceeded our time frames and so another date has been added: Monday, October 1 from 2-9. There are still some openings on Friday, Sept 21 and Saturday September 22. Please visit the parish website (www.gracesheboygan.com) and click on the link to register (or call Barb MacEwen 920.467.6909 and she will assist.) Remember you do get a free 8x10 and a copy of the directory for your participation in this church family activity. We do need all of you to help as the more people involved the more pictorial pages of church activities we get included in the book. AND should you decide to purchase any pictures (but no obligation) you will get $10 off AND if you bring canned goods for our Holy Roller Wagon the day of your sitting you will receive another $5 off! How great is that?!
Grace Abounds: I would like to thank Pat Ford Smith, Jane Hanson, Katy Larson, Paul Aparicio, Dale Massey and Barb MacEwen for all the help they have given me by being at the office desk so I can work in the Deacon's office uninterrupted. Thank you so much, Michele
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 meets on Tuesdays, following the 5:30 p.m. celebration of Holy Eucharist, and a light supper (pot luck). The 28 August session will review Week 26. Bible study for the Sunday lessons takes place on Thursdays, following the 9 a.m. celebration of Holy Eucharist.
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 Chorale Partita on ‘Blessed Jesus, we are here’ Johann Gottfried Walther
Entrance Hymn #388 “O worship the King” Hanover
Offertory Hymn 460 “Alleluia, sing to Jesus” Hyfrydol
Communion Hymn #302 “Father, we thank thee who hast planted” Rendez à Dieu
Closing Hymn #544 “Jesus shall reign where’er the sun” Duke Street
Postlude Prelude and Fugue in A Major Walther
Parish Notices
· We welcome The Reverend John D. Alexander: Fr. Alexander, our guest celebrant and preacher this Sunday, is the Rector of St. Stephen’s, Providence, Rhode Island located on the campus of Brown University. He received his M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1992 and completed his Master of Sacred Theology at Nashotah House in 2004. Please welcome Fr. Alexander to Grace Church.
· New Parish Directory updates: Please find a draft copy of a new parish directory on the table in the Narthex at Grace Church. If you would please look at your entry and make any changes necessary and then initial it so we know it is correct. We are trying to have as many email addresses as possible, it saves postage and much of the communication of the church is done electronically. We never give them out but. Thank you.
· Sunday School Begins: We have a terrific new curriculum, several new teachers and a renewed commitment to enrich all of our children (and maybe some newcomers) with the love of Jesus Christ! Sunday School will begin on September 9th at 9:00am. Please watch for more information.
· Please Help fill up the Holy Roller: Our red wagon is brought forward every Sunday by the children filled with food for the Salvation Army and individual sized toiletries for Repairers of the Breach. Please remember to bring these items every Sunday for these worthy causes.
· Break the Language Barrier: He gives you flowers when what you really want is a hug. She spends time with you but what you really need is a home-cooked meal. The problem isn’t a lack of love, it’s your love language! Join us as we discover the five different ways that people express and receive love. Apply the right principles and soon you’ll know the joy of being able to express your love-and feel truly loved in return. Based on the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. Registration is required for this free program. Join us at Great Marriages 612 Center Avenue, Sheboygan Saturday, October 13, 2012, 9:30am – noon Call GMSC at 920-783-3660 to register.
· Friends of the Poor Walk: Save the Date September 29, 2012 for the 5th Annual “Friends of the Poor Walk " sponsored by Sheboygan County St. Vincent de Paul. The 2-mile walk takes place at Sheboygan South High School and begins at 10:00. This year we are focusing on "Caring4Kids". The Sheboygan SVdP store has given out 150 twin size air beds in the first 6 months of the year, Mary's room has given out approximately 100 Pack 'N Plays instead of cribs because of rising costs of cribs, Plymouth area outfitted 48 kids for winter last year, and Sheboygan Falls has 548 students that receive free lunches during the school year. Help us make sure that every child in the area has a good bed, warm clothing and the necessities for a great start in life. Support the walk by either participating in the walk, and/or getting pledges. More details coming soon or contact Dennis 920-457-4844 ext. 11 to find out how you can help us Care4Kids.
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