Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
3 October 2012
Publication note: Grace Notes is being published a day early this week, because the parish office will be closed tomorrow (4 October), for clergy to attend a conference. Scheduled worship services for 4 October are cancelled.
“Wow!” This single word was uttered at Morning Prayer today in response to the lesson from Hosea, and from how the lesson spoke directly to the situation in society today. God speaks to us when we attend to Him. The Word is very near to us (as we will hear in our lesson from Hebrews this coming Sunday), but we must be open to the Word.
In The Episcopal Church we are blessed that we use more of Scripture in worship than in any other church tradition. But, if all you hear is the lessons from the Sunday lectionary—faithfully attending every Sunday of the year—you still are exposed to far less than the whole of God’s Word. If you are participating in The Bible Challenge, you will work your way through all of the Bible, but not in the context of worship (the context in which we can best hear God’s Word). So, let me suggest that you consider how you can participate in the daily office of Morning Prayer and/or Evening Prayer.
While it is certainly true, and a blessing, that “... the principal act of Christian worship on the Lord’s Day” is Holy Eucharist, in the daily office we can engage in an ongoing conversation with God, listening to His Word and praying to Him. As a layman and in my own ordained ministry, I have found that by observing the daily office I am exposed to much, much more Scripture than in eucharistic worship alone, and that by doing this daily I am formed and informed in ways that surprise me continually.
Being in conversation with God every day will change you, so how do make this happen? In this parish you can participate in Morning Prayer daily at 8:45 a.m., and Evening Prayer at 5 p.m. Praying with others can help us listen and hear better, and can help us in developing a rhythm of prayer. But there is also a way you can pray the office at home or work, and any time of day. Go to http://www.missionstclare.com/english/ to find the daily office online. The format will walk you through the prayer office without you having to study prayer book rubrics, or fumble between the prayer book and a Bible. The format allows options, such as hymns, and include wonderful narratives of the lives of saints on their feast days.
Try the daily office for a month. You will find that you are exposed to parts of Scripture that may be new to you, and they will speak to you. You will find that in a discipline of prayer your relationship with God will deepen, and how you see yourself and the world will evolve. You will find that you can listen to God better. A thiry day trial will not, by any means, more than begin this process, but thirty days is a long enough time to start to feel change, particularly if you can join us at the parish to pray together. And remember, a parish that prays is a parish in right relationship with God, the God who’s will it is to bless us. A parish that prays together is in right relationship with each other, for when we lift each other up in prayer we better bind ourselves in common life and mission. Pray continually, and try the daily office!
Election results: At the parish annual meeting on 30 September, the following persons were elected to parish offices:
Senior Warden Roberta Kraft
Junior Warden Paul Aparicio
Vestry Bev Evans, Bob Hanlon, Joann Otte*, Mary Snyder, Jack Westfall*
Diocesan Delegates Bill Gagin, Debbie Gagin, Mary Kohler, Roberta Kraft,† Steve
Larson, Dale Massey,† Elizabeth Schaffenburg,
*elected to two years terms, with right of re-election
†alternates
Parish dinners: The Chez Grace dinners have been cancelled due to insufficient participation. We will continue to explore how to facilitate small group gatherings in which we can all work to develop relationships across the parish family.
Grace Abounds: Please thank Dcn. Michele Whitford for all of the extra work that preparing for the parish annual meeting required, and thank Joann Otte for acting as meeting secretary, and Pat Ford Smith as ballot counter. Please thank Sarah Bondy, Bryan Stenz for providing children’s activities during the meeting. Thanks to all who provided food, and who helped to clean up afterwards!
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 is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 9 October, following the 5:30 p.m. Mass an 6 o’clock pot-luck. Readings will be for week 32. Bible study for the Sunday lessons meets on Thursdays, following the 9 a.m. Mass.
The number of people following The Bible Challenge on-line is gratifying, and weekly summaries will continue to be posted. However, attendance at the Tuesday evening sessions has been problematical. Therefore, if you plan to attend you must alert the office by Tuesday, noon. If you do not notify the office of planned attendance, the evening session will be cancelled.
Building a Better You(th group)
As we go through the rest of 2012, asking questions and learning about what God may be calling us to do as a youth group, we also have a great opportunity to join in with other youth groups in our area. For starters after many Tripartite meetings (at different levels) we are going to try to start developing some community-building get-togethers between our covenant parishes of St. Peter Lutheran and St. Dominic Roman Catholic. I am arranging meetings with the youth workers from each of those parishes; to plan and organize these events, look for them to be open to all 6-12th graders. It is also my wish to join in with Episcopal Churches in Sheboygan Falls, and Plymouth, and look forward to what we can do together.
Also, I feel very strongly about building up our younger youth, and the community of young families. This might include ongoing Family Game Nights, movie nights, or other things we haven't thought of yet. If you have an idea for something in this area, or if you feel that you want to help organize an event like this. Please let me know, and we can work together to have fun together, as a community of believers.
―Nick Whitford
Music this week:
Prelude Chorale Prelude on Lord, forever at thy side R. Vaughan Williams
Entrance Hymn 495 “Hail, thou once despised Jesus” In Babilone
Mass Setting, Franz Schubert
Offertory Hymn 448 “O love, how deep, how broad, how high” Deus tuorum militum
Communion Motet O Love of God, how strong and true Vernon Griffiths
Comm. Hymn 704 “O thou who camest from above” Hereford
Closing Hymn 637 “How firm a foundation” Lyons
Postlude Prelude and Fugue in G major Dietrich Buxtehude
Parish Notices
§ Simple Potluck Supper and Compline: Sunday, October 7th we will have our first Sunday of the month Simple Potluck Supper at 6:30pm. Come and enjoy the fellowship then stay for Compline at 8:00pm. The Schola Cantorum will be singing Compline which is the night time prayers said or sung just before retiring. It is a wonderful and peaceful way to end the day.
§ Walsingham Pilgrimage: This is the 61st Annual Pilgrimage to the American Proto-Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. On Friday, October 12th there will be a Quiet Day with meditations at 12:00 and 3:00pm concluding with Solemn Evensong at 6:00pm. The Rev. Dr. Arnold W. Klukas will lead the meditations. On Saturday, October 13th The Rt. Rev. Russell E. Jacobus will celebrate at the Procession and Solemn Pontifical Mass at 10:30am. The Rt. Rev. Lindsay G. Urwin, OGS will preach. Bishop Urwin is the, Administrator of the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, Walsingham, England. If you can help with the cost of the Pilgrimage by donating for music and for flowers please make you check out to Grace Church with “Pilgrimage music and flowers” in the memo. Thank you so much.
§ Coffee Hour Hosts for 2013: Last Call for Coffee Hour 2013 Host sign-ups! The binder on the table in the narthex contains a sign-up for 2013 Coffee Hour dates. Please sign up by Sunday, October 7. After 10/7, Katy Prange will be compiling a schedule for 2013 and will be calling potential hosts to fill in the gaps. A final schedule for 2013 will be distributed in November. For questions or thoughts, contact Katy Prange - 920-889-1252, katyprange@gmail.com.
§ Salvation Army Bell Ringing: Grace Church is signed up to ring bells for the Salvation Army on November 10th in two different locations. At the Piggly Wiggly on the north side from 1:00-7:00pm and at the Piggly Wiggly on the south side from 9:00am-3:00pm. Both of the locations are inside. The bells and kettle will be there, & a sign in sheet. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. If you have any questions please call Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.
§ Boy Scouts Trailer Fundraiser: Our Boy Scout Troop has had success in the last few years with membership numbers on the rise. With this success they have out grown their frequently used trailer. As a fundraiser to purchase a larger one, they are offering their services with raking leaves this fall. They are looking for donations per each yard. If you would like to take this year off from yard duty and help out our Troop, there is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex. They will be available for raking leaves on October 13th, 20th, and 27th. If you would simply like to donate to their cause please contact Paul Aparicio @ 920-912-6009 or paac92399@yahoo.com
§ Coats for Kids: is a community service campaign. Area residents are asked to donate clean coats in good repair. We accept coats of all sizes for people of all ages, with the need being greatest for children’s coats. These coats will be distributed to Sheboygan county residents who would otherwise go without. Drop off location: Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home, 1535 S. 12 St. Sheboygan. September 4 –October 24 Monday–Friday 8:30am–4:00 pm. Distribution Location: Salvation Army, 710 Pennsylvania Ave. Sheboygan. Friday, October 26, from 9:00am–1:00pm and Thursday, November 1 from 2:00–6:00pm.
Mission St Clare also has a great app for your phone or other electronic devices
ReplyDeletehttp://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mission-st.-clare/id445186741?mt=8