"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.