Word and Blessing

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

31 January 2013

Word and blessing:  We cannot separate the two.  In the lessons for this past Sunday, we heard from Nehemiah ch. 8, how when the scrolls of the Law were discovered after the people of Israel returned from captivity in Babylon, the people gathered and heard this Law, as read to them by the scribe Ezra.  On hearing God’s Law the people wept, for they recognized the distance between who they were and who God called them to be.  This reaction is one often seen in those who seek to avoid the Bible out of some kind of fear that the Word is condemnatory, and that they won’t “measure up”.  But look at what happens next in the biblical account.  The people are told, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Neh. 8.10).

God takes joy in us, and when we pay attention to His holy Word this becomes evident.  It is true that when we come to know the Bible better we understand that there is a large distance between who we are and who God calls us to be, but when we come to know this same Bible—when we pay attention to what God is saying to us—we realize that the distance is bridged by God.  We cannot “close the gap” and earn our own salvation, but God closes this gap by giving His Son “... that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3.16).  God sends His Holy Spirit to comfort and to guide us, to lead us into all truth and to remind us of all that Jesus has revealed to us (Jn. 14.25).  This same Spirit guides us to follow the Son who is Himself the Way (Jn. 14.6).

God’s Word is life-giving.  If we don’t know the Bible we “know” it only by the cultural baggage that has accumulated around it, and may think of it only as a series of rules, of “Thou shalt not.”  There are rules, but they are rules which give life, rules which proclaim God’s love for us.  More importantly, in God’s Word we find revelation of who He is and what His will is for us.  When we pay attention we find that in conforming our lives to God’s truth, we find new life, new blessing, and may “eat the fat and drink the sweet wine”.  We find that God takes joy in us, and that this joy is our strength. 

Grace Abounds:  Please thank Bernie Markevitch, Nicci Beeck and Bobbi Kraft for providing for funeral hospitality this past Saturday, and this same crew, plus Deb Gagin, Michele Whitford, Beth and Rachel Boland, and Elizabeth Schaffenburg for clean-up.

Please thank Elizabeth Schaffenburgfor laundering the table cloths used at the reception.  Others have performed this service in the past, but have not been thanked in this newsletter because their service was not brought to anyone’s attention.  Therefore, 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.

If you are sick we need to hear from you!  HIPAA (The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) rules apply to hospitals and medical caregivers, but not  to churches.  If you are hospitalized or sick, the hospital will not inform us that you are a patient unless you request them to.  Unless we are informed by you, the hospital (per your request) or a family member of friend, we will not know of your illness and cannot provide pastoral visitation.  If we are contacted, we will, of course, come to see you.  We will also need to know whether or not you will allow us to share the information that you are sick with others in the parish, so that they may pray for you.

Prayer Warrior recruiting:  When we offer the Prayers of the People at a celebration of Mass, people are prayed for under general categories, such as those who are sick.  Many people are uncomfortable sharing the particulars of their prayers needs at a public worship service (although we should feel free so to share, for we are members of the same Body).  Therefore, we wish to recruit people willing to serve in a dedicated prayer chain.  These prayers will be offered in addition to those which are included in the shrine of Our Lady.

If you are a member of the prayer chain, you will be contacted with details of a prayer request(s):  Who to pray for an for what, and for how long the prayers are to continue.

If you are called to this ministry, please contact Dcn. Michele Whitford.

The Bible Challenge:  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 49.  Study summaries for all 52 weeks are posted on the parish website (Christian Formation: The Bible Challenge).

A Swell Project:  A swell engine (a device which controls the volume of sound) in the organ needs to be replaced.  The approximate cost if $3,500, and this amount is not inicluded in the 2013 budget.  Our goal is to raise the necessary funds, to allow for installation of the device prior to Holy Week.  If you wish to contribute to this project, please contact the parish office.

Bible study meets on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. to review the lessons for the coming Sunday.

Adult Christian Education:  Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall.  On 20 January a multi-week course began, facilitated by Dcn. Michele Whitford and Mary Clabots, focused on spiritual gifts—their identification and expression.  The course will not meet on 27 January.  There will be no adult education that day, to allow for the annual financial meeting.  Adult education resumes this Sunday, 3 February.

Music this week:

Prelude                        Psalm-Prelude (Psalm 139 v.11)                                Herbert Howells

                        Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee, but the night is as clear as the day:

                                    the darkness and light to Thee are both alike.

Entrance Hymn 598    “Lord Christ, when first thou cam’st to earth”           Mit Freuden zart

Offertory Hymn 444   “Blessed be the God of Israel”                                   Thornbury

Communion Motet      Jesus, Sun of Life                                                         G. F. Handel

Comm. Hymn 302      “Father, we thank thee who hast planted”                 Rendez a Dieu

Closing Hymn 438      “Tell out, my soul”                                                      Woodlands

Postlude                      Trumpet Voluntary in D                                              William Boyce

Parish Notices

Boy Scout Sunday: Please welcome Troop 801 (formerly Post 1, Troop 1) the first Boy Scout Troop in Wisconsin. They will be worshiping with us at the 10:15 mass on Sunday.

Potluck Dinner and Compline: Bring a dish to pass and join us this evening Sunday, February 3^rd at 6:30pm, for a potluck dinner and fellowship. At 8:00pm the Schola Cantorum will sing Compline, a beautiful restful service full of candles and music.

Office Closed: Next week Monday through Thursday, February 4-7^th is the Diocesan Clergy Retreat. On those days the office will be closed and there will be no Daily Office or Masses.

Rector’s Discretionary Fund: On the first Sunday of the month, any undesignated offering goes to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund which provides for the pastoral emergencies and other unplanned pastoral expenses. During the cold weather months, there is special demand on these funds. Please be generous as you are able.

Spiritual Gifts Class: We will continue this week and next with the Spiritual Gifts class. This course will discuss what Spiritual Gifts are, (and what they are not). You will get an assessment tool to do at home. The group will learn a little about each gift and how they can be used. We will discuss how our gifts fit into various ministries at Grace Church. This course is for those who have never considered their Spiritual Gifts as well as those who want to look at how their gifts match the ministries they are in. Please join us in St. Nicholas Hall at 9:00am.

Shrove Tuesday Feast before the Fast: Shrove Tuesday is February 12^th we will be having a Potluck dinner following a 5:30pm Mass. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this festive occasion. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex, please indicate a dish to pass and please volunteer to help clean up.

Ash Wednesday: February 13^th is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, it is a day of fasting and penitence. We will observe this day with Mass and Imposition of Ashes at 12:10 p.m., and Solemn Mass with Imposition of Ashes at 6:00 p.m. This is a holy day and a wonderful way to begin your Lenten observance.

Women’s Bible Study: Believing God: Experiencing a Fresh Explosion of Faith - We are starting a women's bible study in February. We will be using "Believing God" a study by Beth Moore The study includes a workbook for individual study five days a week plus meeting together 1 day a week for in-depth discussion based on Isaiah 43:10 that explores what it means not only "to believe in God" but "to believe Him." "Believing God" challenges' women to take God at his word, believe his promises and as a result, live fuller lives. Join us and experience the great blessings this study offers as well as meeting each week with other women who want a deeper walk with God. The class will begin Monday, February 18. We will meet at Grace Church from 1-3 PM. This is a 10 week study. However, the women's Bible class will be a continuing class, as long as there is an interest. Pray and ask God for direction for you as a women of God and if this class might be a fit for you.

Lakeshore Chorale Valentine’s Day Gala! “Isn’t It Romantic” will be held on Thursday, February 14th, 7:00 pm, at Grace Church. Featured will be love songs of “The Great American Song Book” including pieces from “My Fair Lady, “Camelot,” The King and I”, and (of course) “Isn’t It Romantic” by Rogers and Hart! The Chorale will present the first portion of the concert in the church’s nave, then move to the fellowship hall, where the evening continues with a cabaret of solos and ensembles, champagne punch, and an assortment of Valentine sweets and savories. Seating is limited Reserve/ purchase your tickets today! Tickets are $20.00 and are available from Chorale members, at www.lakeshorechorale.org, or by calling the chorale office 920-451-1863.

Songs of the Seasons Choral Concert: You are cordially invited to attend this year’s choral concert of music through the church year. The first concert will be held on Feb. 10 at 1st Congregational Church (310 Bluff Ave.) beginning at 2:00 P.M. accompanied by piano and organ. The second concert will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church (12th and Georgia Avenue.) on Feb. 17, also beginning at 2:00 P.M. This concert will be accompanied by orchestral instruments and a hand-bell choir. Directed by Sandra Kasten and accompanied by Bill Born, this concert specializes in unique, east-to-listen-to sacred music sung by a 48-voice choir. A free-will offering will be taken to help defray costs.

Love Bowls: will be held on Sunday, February 17^th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm in The Commons at Sheboygan South High School -3128 South 12th Street. Love Bowls is a fun, family-oriented event where patrons buy a beautiful bowl for $20 and sample as many soups as they wish. Over 70 local restaurants donate their signature soups. Local talent will entertain throughout the day. All proceeds from Love Bowls stay in Sheboygan County and help defray the cost of meals for our elderly, homebound and disabled neighbors.

Adult Christian Education in Lent:  In Lent our Sunday morning Adult Education program will focus on Christian Testimony.  We will hear each week from members of the parish leadership team (ordained and lay) about how a person came to be a Christian, and Episcopalian, a member of Grace.  We will then have opportunity in small groups to reflect on our own faith journeys and testimonies.  We will share by doing it, as we grow in our appreciation of how we are formed by each other.

Stations of the Cross, Simple Suppers and Teaching:  Beginning on the first Friday in Lent (15 February) we will meet each Friday at 5:30 p.m. for Stations of the Cross, followed by a simple supper and Christian formation.  Our formation program this year will focus on testimony in faith.  How do we share our faith with each other? Lent allows us to focus on how we have separated ourselves from God, but in this context we need to look at how we are separated from each other, when Jesus wills that we be one.  (What He says at John 10.16 is not merely a suggestion.)  We will combine an examination of separation with the experience of testimony, and are blessed that we will be joined each Friday by the pastor of another church in Sheboygan.  Each pastor will testify to his own or her own experience of the Christian faith, and what it is about his or her identity in a particular faith tradition (e.g., Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Reformed) that informs their faith and the practice of their faith.  We will then have the opportunity to share with each other our own reactions to such testimonies, and to learn how to testify to faith by experiencing the testimony of others.

Cooking on Friday Evenings in Lent: If you are interested in cooking and hosting a dinner on the Fridays during Lent, please sign-up on sheets in the Narthex. All of the Fridays are still open except the first one. Thank you for your willingness to serve in this manner.

Offering Envelopes: Please pick up your offering envelopes. If you do not see one with your name on it, it could be an oversight or you checked the box indicating that you did not desire to have envelopes or that you have not pledged yet. If it is the latter please feel free to take a pledge card and fill it out, it is not too late. You may return it to any of the clergy or send it to the church office.

Bishop Search: For all information concerning the search for the eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac please go to bishopsearch.info

"First among Equals"

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

24 January 2013

Habemus Cantuarus?  Do we yet have an Archbishop of Canterbury?  Justin Welby, who has served as Bishop of Durham (the third most senior position in the Church of England) was appointed archbishop by Queen Elizabeth II, upon the resignation of Rowan Williams (which was effective on 31 December).  However, the see of Canterbury has not yet been filled, which is why we pray for Justin as “Arbishop Designate”.  The cathedral chapter of Canterbury has received from the crown the Congé d’Elire (Norman French for consent to elect) and “letter missive” (a redundant term for the document conveying the appointment), which allow the chapter to formally elect Bp. Welby.  This election took place on 10 January, and on 4 February the “confirmation of election” will be reported by the cathedral dean to the senior bishops of The Church of England.  On that date Bp. Welby will be formally recognized as Archbishop Welby, although the liturgy of his installation will not take place until 21 March.

Why does any of this matter to an Episcopalian?  We are not members of the Church of England, and there is no role for any monarch in how a bishop is selected in this Church.  It matters because the Archbishop of Canterbury is a “first among equals” of the heads of the provinces of Anglican churches throughout the world.  (There are 38 provinces, with The Episcopal Church being one.)  As such, the archbishop is one of the “instruments of communion” of the Anglican Communion.  He (female bishops do not exist in The Church of England) summons the Lambeth Conference, which is a once-in-a-decade meeting of all Anglican bishops.  He chairs the meetings of Anglican primates and participates in the Standing Committee of the Communion, of the so-called Anglican Consultative Council.

This matters because there are serious disputes within the Communion about who we are and how we live our faith together.  The archbiship may in some respects be a figurehead, but he is a figurehead possessing a moral authority to seek to keep contending parties in conversation and communion.  In our prayers of the people in Holy Eucharist, we pray for the archbishop (and the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, and our own bishop) whether or not we agree with him on any issue.  We pray for him because we pray that God will provide the wisdom and spirit necessary to keep the many members of the Church in conversation and communion with each other; that he will serve as a model for reconciliation.  Just as we confess “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church,” let us pray that our Lord’s will that we may all be one (John 10.16) may be expressed and lived out in the persons of all called into leadership in the Church.

Sunday, January 27^th there will be only one Mass at 9:00 a.m.  

Grace Abounds:  Please thank Michele Whitford and Jon Whitford for their work in facilitating the discipleship program (Being the Body) meeting held on 19 January.

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:  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 48.  Study summaries for all 52 weeks are posted on the parish website (Christian Formation: The Bible Challenge).

A Swell Project:  A swell engine (a device which controls the volume of sound) in the organ needs to be replaced.  The approximate cost if $3,500, and this amount is not inicluded in the 2013 budget.  Our goal is to raise the necessary funds, to allow for installation of the device prior to Holy Week.  If you wish to contribute to this project, please contact the parish office.

Bible study meets on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. to review the lessons for the coming Sunday.

Adult Christian Education:  Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall.  On 20 January a multi-week course began, facilitated by Dcn. Michele Whitford and Mary Clabots, focused on spiritual gifts—their identification and expression.  The course will not meet on 27 January.  There will be no adult education that day, to allow for the annual financial meeting.  Adult education will resume on 3 February.

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 bishopsearch.info.  The election of our next bishop will be held on 19 October 2013, with consecration scheduled for 26 April 2014.

Music this week:

Low Mass with hymns at 9 a.m.

Entrance Hymn 616                “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”

Offertory Hymn 544               “Jesus shall reign where’er the sun”

Communion Hymn 339          “Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness”

Closing Hymn 539                  “O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling”

Parish Notices

Sunday, January 27^th there will be only one Mass at 9:00 a.m.  

·          The Annual Financial Meeting: This year’s Financial meeting will take place on Sunday January 27, 2013.  We will have one Mass at 9:00am followed by the Financial meeting held in the Nave 10:15am. The agenda of the meeting will include, 2012 financial review and 2013 budget, Recent Vestry actions, and an overall review of the 2013 calendar.

·         All Parish Potluck Lunch: Following the Financial Meeting we will have and All Parish Potluck Lunch. Please bring a dish to pass and share in fellowship. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex.

·         Offering Envelopes: Please pick up your offering envelopes. If you do not see one with your name on it, it could be an oversight or you checked the box indicating that you did not desire to have envelopes or that you have not pledged yet. If it is the latter please feel free to take a pledge card and fill it out, it is not too late. You may return it to any of the clergy or send it to the church office.

·         Bishop Search: For all information concerning the search for the eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac please go to bishopsearch.info

·         Flower Schedule for 2012: Giving the gift of flowers is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to offer thanksgiving for your blessings. If you wish to sign up for a specific Sunday, the Flower Schedule is really available on the table in the narthex. More than one person can sign up for each Sunday.

·         Hosting the Seminarian and His Family: Please consider hosting our seminarian Ryan Delaney and his family for a Saturday evening meal or Sunday Brunch. Ryan and his lovely wife Melanie and children Brenna and Bremen will be staying most Saturday evenings in preparation for services on Sunday morning. This will give the parish an opportunity to get to know them and for the Delaney’s to get to know the parish. Please find a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex for dinner Saturday evening and brunch Sunday after the service.

Stillness of Soul

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

17 January 2013

Today is the feast of St. Antony of Egypt, a fourth century hermit.  Antony went into the desert as a young man, and spent his life struggling to understand God by removing everything that obscured his experience of God.  His spiritual approach was one in which the believer seeks to experience God by recognizing what God is not.  Instead of saying, for example, “God is love,” the believer recognizes that God is not be found in (for example) the exercise of personal power.

As a desert saint, Antony stood in the “wilderness” tradition of spiritual understanding.  A wilderness is by definition a place not filled with the hustle and bustle of human activity.  It is not a place apart from human care, but by going into the wilderness one relinquishes human society and control, and depends on God alone.  God speaks at all times in Scripture and in the testimonies and acts of those in the world who do His will, yet it is in a quiet place that most often the Lord can be best heard:  the still, small voice can be heard when storms and tumult (or mere “background noise”) do not pervade.  Thus, Antony, in retreating to the wilderness, had to confront his own thoughts, doubts and fears, and had to focus on God to conquer such doubts and fears.

Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself in the wilderness—on Sinai, in the desert, away from the populated centers.  A wilderness need to be barren, but it is by definition still/quiet compared to the everyday life.  Where is the quiet space for you?  Where do you go to listen better to God?  Is this in a private place in prayer, or in a practice of prayer, or at a particular time?  Is it in nature?  Wherever it is, however it is experienced, when we will that we will shut off the distractions of life in order to better pay attention to God, we find that He speaks to us, for He is speaking to us always.  It is when we focus on listening that we can best experience God’s love and truth.  Tune out the background noise.

Grant, O Lord, such stillness of soul that our ears may ever be open to your voice, and that our hearts may ever be open to your presence; that we might follow not our call but yours, and in following your call we may ever walk in your way, to the glory of your Name and the salvation of our souls; this we pray in the name of your Son, our blessed Savior, Jesus Christ.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank Nick Whitford for organizing the family game night this past week.  Please thank Bernie Markevitch for his work is removing the Christmas/Epiphany decorations.

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:  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 47.  Study summaries for all 52 weeks are posted on the parish website (Christian Formation: The Bible Challenge).

Children’s Sunday:  Each child can bring a small object (to fit in a hat box).  The hat box will be opened during worship, so we can examine the objects and relate them to how God participant’s in the child’s life.

Bible study meets on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. to review the lessons for the coming Sunday.

Bible resource:  Many good Bible study resources are now available online and on e-readers.  By the far the best encountered recently is www.biblos.com, which include a treasure trove of study materials, cross references, reference tools, language resources—you name it.  If you have ever wondered, for example, about a particular word or phrase in the Bible, you can look it up in many different English translations, and look at the word (in the original and transliterated) in the Hebrew or Greek, seeing how that word is used elsewhere in the Bible.  You can find maps, genealogies, topical indices, etc.  Explore!

Adult Christian Education:  Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall.  On 20 January a multi-week course will begin, facilitated by Dcn. Michele Whitford and Mary Clabots, focused on spiritual gifts—their identification and expression.

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 bishopsearch.info .  The election of our next bishop will be held on 19 October 2013, with consecration scheduled for 26 April 2014.

Family Game Night This past Sunday we gathered parents, children, friends, and strangers who became new friends, together to play games. Having brought many games, myself,  to be used and played with, still others brought some games that even I (and I thought I knew a lot of games) haven’t played nor heard of. We had a great time, all 20 of us, and I look forward to doing this again! This was one of the events that the youth leaders of St. Dominic, St. Peter and Grace planned to try and get our groups together. Please stay tuned for more!

Music this week:

Prelude                         Duo & Adagio on All glory be to God on high                        Bach

Entrance Hymn 135      “Songs of thankfulness and praise”

Offertory Anthem         Behold a star from Jacob shining                                           Mendelssohn

Communion Motet        Eternal light, shine in my heart                                              Scheidt

Comm. Hymn 126        “The people who in darkness walked”

Closing Hymn 542        “Christ is the world’s true light”

Postlude                       In thee is gladness                                                                   Bach

Parish Notices

This is a gentle reminder that this evening Thursday, January 17 we will celebrate The Confession of St. Peter at 6:00pm. Please plan to attend as you are able.

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 am followed by the Financial meeting held in the Nave 10:15am. 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.

All Parish Potluck Lunch: Following the Financial Meeting we will have and All Parish Potluck Lunch. Please bring a dish to pass and share in fellowship. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex.

Offering Envelopes: Please pick up your offering envelopes. If you do not see one with your name on it, it could be an oversight or you checked the box indicating that you did not desire to have envelopes or that you have not pledged yet. If it is the latter please feel free to take a pledge card and fill it out, it is not too late. You may return it to any of the clergy or send it to the church office.

It's Girl Scout Cookie Time!  We have several Girl Scouts at Grace Church who are selling Girl Scout Cookies this year.  On Sunday, January 20, 2013, they will be hosting a cookie-order booth from 7:30 a.m. - noon right outside of St. Nicholas Hall.  If you would like to order cookies, please stop by!  Cookies are $3.50 per box and we will host a Delivery Booth on Sunday, February 24 - you do not pay until delivery day!  We will have extra cookies at our Delivery Booth, but please consider placing an order to ensure you get what you want!  If you are unable to visit the girls on 1/20, please call Katy Prange at 920-889-1252 or email katyprange@gmail.com to order.

Flower Schedule for 2012: Giving the gift of flowers is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to offer thanksgiving for your blessings. If you wish to sign up for a specific Sunday, the Flower Schedule is really available on the table in the narthex. More than one person can sign up for each Sunday.

Hosting the Seminarian and His Family: Please consider hosting our seminarian Ryan Delaney and his family for a Saturday evening meal or Sunday Brunch. Ryan and his lovely wife Melanie and children Brenna and Bremen will be staying most Saturday evenings in preparation for services on Sunday morning. This will give the parish an opportunity to get to know them and for the Delaney’s to get to know the parish. Please find a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex for dinner Saturday evening and brunch Sunday after the service.

Bishop Search: For all information concerning the search for the eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac please go to bishopsearch.info

Called by Name

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

10 January 2013

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.  (Isaiah 43.2-3a)

In Isaiah’s prophecy (which we will hear this coming Sunday) these words are addressed to Jacob/Israel, but of course at the time of Isaiah’s prophecy Jacob has long been dead.  The prophet speaks, therefore, to Israel as a people.  But by the prophet God speaks to us as well, for it is by Israel that all shall be blessed (Gen. 28.14).  God tells each of us that He has called us by name.  We are each created in God’s image and likeness (Gen. 1.26).  He knows us better than we know ourselves (Mtt. 10.30), and there is no place we can be where God is not with us (Ps. 139).  When we realize and trust in this presence; when we are open to God’s will being paramount to our own, we have nothing to fear.

At the start of a new year it is traditional to wish happiness upon each other, and to look forward in hope, that what is to come will be a blessing.  When we realize God’s presence in our lives, and trust in Him, we realize that regardless of what comes our hope is never confounded, for God is with us.  God calls us each by name.  Later this month we will look forward using a formal process.  We will discuss a parish budget, and what the plans are for parish initiatives in 2013.  There is much to grateful for, and much to be optimistic about, but gratitude and optimism meet in the common hope in Christ.  Let us live this hope together, recalling the Lord’s words by Isaiah, and in how these words are echoed in hymn 637 (How firm a foundation):

The soul that to Jesus hath fled for repose,

I will not, I will not, desert to its foes;

that soul, though all hell shall endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

Change in Worship Schedule:  The December experiment to change worship times did not bear fruit, and we will therefore revert to the original schedule, modified slightly to accommodate those who have difficulty attending Evening Prayer.  The schedule is as follows:

                                    Morning Prayer        Mass               Evening Prayer

Monday                      8:45 a.m.                     12:10 p.m.       5:10 p.m.

Tuesday                      8:45 a.m.                     5:30 p.m.         5:10 p.m.

Wednesday                8:45 a.m.                     5:30 p.m.         5:10 p.m.

Thursday                   8:45 a.m.                     9:00 a.m.         5:10 p.m.

Friday                         7:00 a.m.                     7:15 a.m.         5:10 p.m.

Saturday                    8:45 a.m.                     9:00 a.m.

No changes to the Sunday schedule are made.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank Bernie Markevitch for preparing the Epiphany luncheon.  Please thank Hans Graf for coffee hour.  Please thank Pat Ford Smith for providing hospitality during the deanery clergy meeting.

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:  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 46.  Study summaries for all 52 weeks are posted on the parish website (Christian 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.

Bible study meets on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. to review the lessons for the coming Sunday.

EYC Update: 

Adult Christian Education:  Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall.  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.  On 20 January a multi-week course will begin, facilitated by Dcn. Michele Whitford and Mary Clabots, focused on spiritual gifts—their identification and expression.

It’s all Greek to me!  On Thursday, 10 January, our course in New Testament Greek will begin.  Classes will be held on Thursday evenings, from 7 to 9 p.m.

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 bishopsearch.info .  The election of our next bishop will be held on 19 October 2013, with consecration scheduled for 26 April 2014.

Music this week:

Prelude                        Chorale Prelude on How brightly shines the Morning Star     Buxtehude

Entrance Hymn 124    “What star is this, with beams so bright”       

Offertory Hymn 497   “How bright appears the Morning Star”        

Communion Motet      Christ, when for us you were baptized                                    Drimmens

Comm. Hymn 120      “The sinless one to Jordan came”                              

Closing Hymn 119      “As with gladness men of old”                                              

Postlude                       Improvisation on ‘How brightly shines the Morning Star’     Paul Manz

Parish Notices

Offering Envelopes: Offering envelopes will be available this Sunday. If you do not see one with your name on it, it could be an oversight or you checked the box indicating that you did not desire to have envelopes or that you have not pledged yet. If it is the latter please feel free to take a pledge card and fill it out, it is not too late. You may return it to any of the clergy or send it to the church office.

Tripartite Family Game Night: January 13, 2013 will be a Tripartite Family Game night hosted here at Grace Church from 5:00pm-7:00pm. in St. Nicholas Hall. Come and get to know each other better and play some games. There will be a wide variety to choose from.

Being the Body: Our fourth session of Being the Body: Beyond Church Membership will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2013 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The program will once again feature Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., President Emeritus of Gordon-Conwell College. Dr. Kaiser is a world renowned Old Testament scholar, who’s more than twenty books have been translated into more than six languages. He will lead us in the exploration of God’s Holy Word as a “roadmap” guiding us to know and follow our Lord. Please do not stay away if you have missed the previous sessions. Each session can stand on its own and community is formed.
 

It's Girl Scout Cookie Time! We have several Girl Scouts at Grace Church who are selling Girl Scout Cookies this year!  On Sunday, January 20, 2013, they will be hosting a cookie-order booth from 7:30 a.m. - noon right outside of St. Nicholas Hall.  If you would like to order cookies, please stop by!  Cookies are $3.50 per box and we will host a Delivery Booth on Sunday, February 24 - you do not pay until delivery day!  We will have extra cookies at our Delivery Booth, but please consider placing an order to ensure you get what you want!  If you are unable to visit the girls on 1/20, please call Katy Prange at 920-889-1252 or email katyprange@gmail.com to order.

The Annual Financial Meeting: This year’s Financial meeting will take place on Sunday January 27, 2013.  We will have one Mass at 9:00am followed by the Financial meeting held in the Nave 10:30am. 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.

Flower Schedule for 2012: Giving the gift of flowers is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to offer thanksgiving for your blessings. If you wish to sign up for a specific Sunday, the Flower Schedule is really available on the table in the narthex. More than one person can sign up for each Sunday.

Hosting the Seminarian and His Family: Please consider hosting our seminarian Ryan Delaney and his family for a Saturday evening meal or Sunday Brunch. Ryan and his lovely wife Melanie and children Brenna and Bremen will be staying most Saturday evenings in preparation for services on Sunday morning. This will give the parish an opportunity to get to know them and for the Delaney’s to get to know the parish. Please find a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex for dinner Saturday evening and brunch Sunday after the service.

Bishop Search: For all information concerning the search for the eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac please go to bishopsearch.info

Manifestation

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

3 January 2013

Epiphany.  The word derives from the verb epiphainein, with phainein meaning “to show” and epi being the preposition “upon”.  Perhaps the best rendering of the word in English is “manifestation” or “showing”.  This Sunday we commemorate the epiphany of Jesus Christ, of His manifestation to all the world, recording at Mtt. 2.1-12.  In this feast we celebrate the God reveals Himself to us, that He reveals who He is and what His will is for us.

This year the weather allows us to better appreciate the words of Christina Rossetti’s poem, “In the Bleak Midwinter,” set to music by Gustav Holst as our hymn no. 112.  Frosty wind does make moan; the earth is hard as iron; the water is stone-like, and snow has fallen.  But more important than how the weather may echo the hymn’s verse, how may the words of the final verse echo in our own lives?  The verse reads:

What can I give him, poor as I am?  If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a wise man, I would do my part; yet what can I give him—  give him my heart.

When we focus on how we are called to respond to our Lord—to respond to the supreme gift that He has come among us to dwell with us, to bear our burdens and to redeems us—then we can focus as well on another reality of the epiphany.  This reality is that the ways in which God manifests Himself to the world are most often ways in which we must play an active part.  We are told that each of us has been created in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1.26), and at our Baptism we promise “to seek and serve Christ in all persons” (BCP 305).  Our promise reflects, therefore, the reality, that the image and likeness of God can be found in all persons, but that we are to manifest this image and likeness.  When we follow our Lord’s call—“follow me”—we manifest Jesus Christ to all whom we meet.

In this new year let our resolution by our prayer, and let us pray that as God has manifested Himself to us, that as God has filled us with His Holy Spirit, we may manifest His greatness, His glory, His love, His goodness, His beauty, and His truth to every person we meet.  Let our lives be an epiphany of who God is and what His will is.  Let our lives be lives of proclamation of the Good News of God in Jesus Christ.  Happy New Year!

Change in Worship Schedule:  The December experiment to change worship times did not bear fruit, and we will therefore revert to the original schedule, modified slightly to accommodate those who have difficulty attending Evening Prayer.  Effective Monday, 7 January, the schedule is as follows:

                                    Morning Prayer         Mass               Evening Prayer

Monday                      8:45 a.m.                      12:10 p.m.        5:10 p.m.

Tuesday                      8:45 a.m.                      5:30 p.m.          5:10 p.m.

Wednesday                 8:45 a.m.                      5:30 p.m.          5:10 p.m.

Thursday                    8:45 a.m.                      9:00 a.m.          5:10 p.m.

Friday                         7:00 a.m.                      7:15 a.m.          5:10 p.m.

Saturday                     8:45 a.m.                      9:00 a.m.

No changes to the Sunday schedule are made.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank Nicci Beeck, Jessica Ambelang, Andrea Aparicio, Annette Fabiano and Pat Ford Smith for all of their work in getting the children’s Christmas Pageant organized.

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:  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 (Christian 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.

EYC Update:  Our impromptu sledding day was a great time! The sun was out, the wind was low, and the snow was packed and swift. The Crouse family came to join in the fun and brought some of their friends! We also had appearances from the Prange family. And Tom Wright was in his element in his last days of being our Senior Warden. A good time was had by all and the day couldn't have been better! Thank you to all who came and joined in, and everyone should look forward to the Family Game Night on Jan 13th from 5-7pm.

Grace and Peace - Nick

Adult Christian Education:  Adult Education meets on Sundays at 9 a.m., in St. Nicholas Hall.  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.  On 20 January a multi-week course will begin, facilitated by Dcn. Michele Whitford and Mary Clabots, focused on spiritual gifts—their identification and expression.

It’s all Greek to me!  On Thursday, 10 January, our course in New Testament Greek will begin.  Classes will be held on Thursday evenings, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Biblical Literacy:  The Bible Challenge readings in the 2012 cycle will be for week 45.  Bible study for the Sunday lectionary lessons meets on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.

    

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.

Music this week:

Music for the Feast of the Epiphany

Prelude             How brightly shines the Morning Star            Pachelbel & J. S. Bach

Entrance Hymn 109      “The first Nowell”                                             The First Nowell

Offertory Hymn 128     “We three kings”                                              Three Kings of Orient

Communion Motet        Watchman, tell us of the night                                    Below

Comm. Hymn 127        “Earth has many a noble city”                Stuttgart         

Rec. Hymn 117            “Brightest and best of the stars of the morning”  Morning Star

Postlude                       How brightly shines the Morning Star            Reger

Parish Notices

The Feast of the Epiphany: We will celebrate the Feast of Epiphany Sunday, January 6^th. Everyone is invited to Epiphany Brunch following the 10:15 Solemn Mass.

Tripartite Family Game Night: January 13, 2013 will be a Tripartite Family Game night hosted here at Grace Church from 5:00pm-7:00pm. in St. Nicholas Hall. Come and get to know each other better and play some games. There will be a wide variety to choose from.

Being the Body: Our fourth session of Being the Body: Beyond Church Membership will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2013 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The program will once again feature Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., President Emeritus of Gordon-Conwell College. Dr. Kaiser is a world renowned Old Testament scholar, who’s more than twenty books have been translated into more than six languages. He will lead us in the exploration of God’s Holy Word as a “roadmap” guiding us to know and follow our Lord. Please do not stay away if you have missed the previous sessions. Each session can stand on its own and community is formed. 

The Annual Financial Meeting: This year’s Financial meeting will take place on Sunday January 27, 2013.  We will have one Mass at 9:00am followed by the Financial meeting held in the Nave 10:30am. 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.

Hosting the Seminarian and His Family: Please consider hosting our seminarian Ryan Delaney and his family for a Saturday evening meal or Sunday Brunch. Ryan and his lovely wife Melanie and children Brenna and Bremen will be staying most Saturday evenings in preparation for services on Sunday morning. This will give the parish an opportunity to get to know them and for the Delaney’s to get to know the parish. Please find a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex for dinner Saturday evening and brunch Sunday after the service.

Flower Schedule for 2013: Giving the gift of flowers is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to offer thanksgiving for your blessings. If you wish to sign up for a specific Sunday, the Flower Schedule is really available on the table in the narthex. More than one person can sign up for each Sunday.