Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
20 December 2012
They were filled with all manner of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s decree that those who deserve such things deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those who practice them (Rom. 1.29–32, emphasis supplied).
The passage quoted above, from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, comes at the end of a longer passage (beginning at 1.18) in which Paul speaks of how God’s wrath is revealed. Paul describes those under wrath as having known God, but as having now become “futile in their thinking,” with “sensenless minds [that have been] darkened” (1.21). He continues with a catalog of vices, and this catalog is often referred to by those who want to condemn particular behavior as that which provokes God’s wrath. But in doing so people misread Paul, for before listing vices Paul first says “Therefore [i.e., because people who have known God have ignored Him] God gave them up ...” (1.24). The vices which Paul lists are not described as provoking God, but as resulting from wrath. In other words, this is what judgment looks like.
Judgment looks like a world in which human beings are made into objects—objects of violent or sexual fanatsy or action, objects of economic interests only. When we recall that every decision we make in life must be made with references to three “C’s”—Community, Cross, and new Creation, then we live not under judgment, but as those who are in right relationship with God and with each other. Jesus calls us to be together in order to be with God (Mtt. 18.20); He calls us to follow Him (to the Cross, Mtt. 10.38), and He promises that he will make all things new (Rev. 21.5). When we forget Community, Cross, and new Creation, we see the result. This is what judgment looks like, people left to their own devices.
- Jesus enjoins that we are to rejoice, for our “names are written in heaven” (Luke 10.21).
- Restraint of self connotes self-giving. Our respect for others reflects our respect for God.
- Applications flow from a spiritual state in which God is first, others second, and ourselves last, a state in which we do, indeed, take up our cross to follow our Lord.
- Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14.6). When we are Christ-centered we fill ourselves with truth.
- By seeking what is higher we are raised above what is base (Phil. 4.8-9).
- God has given us beauty, and we are to “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Ps. 96.9).
- When we focus on the six ethical injunctions just given, we find excellence and what is worthy of praise. Filling our minds and hearts with these things honors God and armors us against what is base (Eph.6.10-20).
Follow-up to a Sermon: An opinion piece found in The Washington Times serves as follow-up to the sermons of last Sunday. http://c.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/urban-game-changer/2012/dec/16/newtown-and-human-depravity-nation-s-forgotten-god/ .
Grace Abounds: From Nancy Yurk: What a great Christian Family we have here At Grace Church. A big Thank you to all the people who took part in the Adopt A Family program. What a nice way for all, to help celebrate Jesus birthday. I wish all of you could see the faces of the children & there parents, when we delivered their gifts. These are the only gifts that will be under there tree. Thank you Jessica Amberlang & Brian Heck, for all your help. –Nancy
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.
The Bible Challenge will restart on 1 January. The reading schedule is now independent of the Sunday lectionary, so as of 1 January you can start any Monday of the year. If you began in 2012 (I Lent), 2013 will begin at week 45. Study summaries for all 52 weeks are posted on the parish website (Christan Formation: The Bible Challenge).
Almost 10% of the parish has participated in The Bible Challenge. If you are interested, ask who has, and listen to their insights.
Adult Christian Education: Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall. On 23 December we will complete continue our series on Christian ethics. Adult Education will resume on Sunday, 13 January. On that date we will restart with a review of how we came to have the Bible in English.
It’s all Greek to me! On _______, __ January, our course in New Testament Greek will begin. Classes will be held on ________ evenings, from 7 to 9 p.m.
2013 Coffee Hour roster: The 2013 coffee hour roster is now found on the parish website. http://about.us6.listmanage.com/track/click?u=a7c552cd00fbea92696dfb086&id=4871ae69fa&e=92395de79d . Please sign up for vacant slots.
Biblical Literacy: The Bible Challenge readings will be for week 42. Bible study for the Sunday lessons meets on Thursdays, following the 9 a.m. Mass.
The Search Process for our Next Bishop: Updates on the search process can be found at http://www.diofdl.org/org.asp?page=sc . You may ask questions and provide comments to the Standing Committee of the diocese at sc@diofdl.org . The election of our next bishop will be held on 19 October 2013, with consecration scheduled for 26 April 2014.
Focus on Youth: I want to wish everyone a great, wonderful, and merry Christmas this year! Through the weeks of advent we, the middle school class, have been building up our advent wreath with prayers. By writing out prayers fon pieces of paper and stashing them in the wreath itself. Each week is a different type of prayer that is in conjunction with the tradtional name of the candles we are lighting so far we have prayed for Hope, Love,and Joy! I pray that you have hope love and joy in your lives this Christmas. —Grace and Peace, Nick
Music this week:
Music for Advent IV, Dec. 23rd, 2012
Prelude Creator of the stars of night Titelouze
Entrance Hymn 72 “Hark! the glad sound, the Savior comes” Richmond
Offertory Hymn 56 “O come, O come, Emmanuel” Veni, veni Emmanuel
Communion Motet O Virgo virginum Dobey
Communion Hymn 60 “Creator of the stars of night” Conditor alme siderum
Closing Hymn 436 “ Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates” Truro
Postlude Venez Divin Messie Benoit
Christmas Eve at 4pm
Prelude Lindsay Fischer, cello
Entrance Hymn 83 “O come, all ye faithful” Adeste fideles
Sequence Hymn “Away in a manger” Cradle Song
Carols during the Nativity Pageant:
“O little town of Bethlehem” St. Louis
“The first Nowell” The First Nowell
“Joy to the world” Antioch
Offertory Hymns 110 “The snow lay on the ground” Venite adoremus
115 “What child is this” Greensleeves
Communion Anthem In the stable Posegate
Communion Hymn 111 “Silent night” Stille Nacht
Closing Hymn 96 “Angels we have heard on high” Gloria
Postlude In dulci jubilo Bach
Christmas Eve Prelude of Christmas Music at 10:30pm
In dulci jubilo J. M. Bach
All this night my heart rejoices Ebeling
Hymn 81 “Lo, how a rose e’er blooming” Es ist ein Ros
Pastorale from the Christmas Concerto (flute duet) Corelli
Still, still, still Austrian carol
Noel Daquin
Hymn 102 “God rest ye, merry gentlemen” Irby
In dulci jubilo Dupré
Solemn Mass at 11pm
Entrance Hymn 83 “O come, all ye faithful” Adeste fideles
Gloria S-202 Willan
Offertory Hymn 79 “O little town of Bethlehem” Cradle Song
Agnus Dei Missa de Angelis Plainsong
Communion Motets O little one sweet Bach
Infant holy, infant lowly arr. Willcocks
Communion Hymn 111 “Silent night”
Closing Hymn 96 “Angels we have heard on high” Gloria
Postlude In dulci jubilo Bach
Christmas Day Mass at 9am
Prelude Lindsay Fischer, cello
Entrance Hymn 83 “O come, all ye faithful” Adeste fideles
Offertory Hymn 87 “Hark! the herald angels sing” Mendelssohn
Communion Hymn 115 “What child is this” Greensleeves
Closing Hymn 96 “Angels we have heard on high” Gloria
Postlude In dulci jubilo Bach
Parish Notices
§ End of Year Pledge Reminder: Please make every effort to pay the remainder of your pledge before the end of the year. If you need to know your balance, please call the office at 452-9659. If you want tax credit for your pledge paid in 2012, you must have the payment in the office by Sunday, December 30th. A check dated the 30th, but arriving later cannot be counted as paid in 2012. All payments received after the 30th will be credited in 2013. Thank you so much.
§ Fr. Schaffenburg will be on Vacation: Fr. Karl & Elizabeth will be on vacation December 26, 2012 through January 2, 2013. If you have a pastoral emergency please call Deacon Mike Burg at 918-9944 or Deacon Michele Whitford at 918-1230 or the office 452-9659.
§ The Annual Financial Meeting: This year’s Financial meeting will take place on Sunday January 27, 2013. We will have one Mass at 9:00 a.m. followed by the Financial meeting held in the Nave 10:30 a.m. The agenda of the meeting will include, 2012 financial review and 2013 budget, Recent Vestry actions, and an overall review of the 2013 calendar. Please make every effort to attend and participate.
§ Christmas Mass Schedule
o Eve of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Monday, December 24, 2012)
o 4:00 p.m. Children’s Christ’s Mass
o 10:30 p.m. Prelude of Christmas Music
o 11:00 p.m. Solemn Christ’s Mass
o The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (December 25, 2011)
o 9:00 a.m. Mass with Carols
§ The Feast of the Epiphany: We will celebrate the Feast of Epiphany Sunday, January 6th. Everyone is invited to Epiphany Brunch following the 10:15 a.m. Solemn Mass. Please sign up in the narthex or by calling the church office at 452-9659.
No comments:
Post a Comment