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 6th. 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.
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