Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
20 March 2013
[Published a day early, due to travel.]
Last Sunday was the first time I celebrated at Grace without at least one deacon present. After serving for years, elsewhere, without other ordained ministers at the altar, this should not have been something that I noticed, but I sure did, and not just because of the liturgical details normally seen to by a deacon that I had to remember. What did I notice? An absence. We celebrated a full and joyous Holy Eucharist. God was very present: in Word, in Spirit, in His Body and Blood, and in the hearts of His faithful people. The people were very present (and this was particularly noticeable at the 10:15 service, when the altar was surrounded by children). And yet, there was an absence because we were not celebrating as a complete team. The ministry of Word and table, and of outreach—the heart of diaconal ministry—was absent except to the extent that I could live into my own diaconal vows while seeking to fulfill my priestly vows.
The office and ministry of a deacon is one which involves the modeling of the Christian life to others—the communication of Jesus Christ’s redemptive love by word and example. The deacon assists the celebrant in public worship and in the ministration of God’s Word and Sacraments. The deacon is to demonstrate to all that in serving the helpless we serve Christ Himself. All of this happens here through the ministries of our two deacons. But there is an additional aspect of diaconal ministry present. The deacon also “interprets to the Church the needs, hope, and concerns of the [community],” and it is in this aspect of ministry that I, as celebrant, noticed an absence, because I had to focus on what had to do to the extent that I could not be as sensitive as necessary to the spiritual state of those participating in the celebration. In other words, what I noticed missing was the spiritual “eyes and ears”—the spiritual sensitivity—that is part of the diaconal office, and that is embodied so fully in the deacons who serve here.
I’m glad they’re back (and rejoice in the ministries which called them away)! But what about you, sitting in the pew, coming into the office, into the classroom? Let’s all work together to empower the parish deacons in the ministries to which they are called, and to affirm the “feedback loop” represented in this spiritual Body in their ministries. Let’s work with them to reach out into the world, that those who do not know spiritual health in our Lord’s Body may join with us, that what we notice is no absence, at all, but a surplus in blessing.
Grace Abounds: Please thank John Ambelang for hosting the Friday night lenten supper. Please thank Nicci Beeck and Pat Ford Smith for organizing the children’s liturgy this past Sunday.
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.
Holy Drama: There is the highest drama in our Lord coming to us in Spirit, in Body, and in Blood, but at no time is this drama more evident than in Holy Week. We participate in Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, His last supper, His new commandment to His disciples, His passion and death, His descent into Hell, and His glorious resurrection. This is the time to particularly pay attention not just to what is said, but to what is done, to how liturgy involves all of the senses for it is to involve all of the person. Parents of children: This, of all times, is when children need to participate in worship. Let them welcome the new fire at the Easter vigil. Everybody: Bring a (small) bell you can ring, that when the lights come up and the Gloria in excelsis Deo! is first sung, you may ring your bell to celebrate Jesus’ victory over death, and to chase away the Devil!
Bring your cell phone! Believe it or not, we want you to use your cell phone in church (set on silent!) Bring your cell phone, and at a service like Maundy Thursday, the Great Vigil of Easter, or on Easter morning (not on Good Friday) take out your cell phone and (discretely) take a photograph of some aspect to of the service that particularly catches your attention. Then, if you use social media like Facebook, post the photo on your page, with a link to the Facebook page and website of the parish. Let’s see how much we can broadcast to those with whom we are connected how we connect with God, that we can lay more of a base to invite them to connect with God with us.
Be discrete. Don’t post a picture of someone without their permission.
Vestry Elections: Ellen Aparicio and Susan McIntosh have been elected to unexpried terms on the Vestry, subject to reelection to full terms. Please thank them for their willingness to serve.
A Swell Project: The funding for the organ swell engine has been raised. Thanksgivings are offered to the six donors, who wish to remain anonymous.
Episcopal Youth Community: This Sunday is Palm Sunday, a day of celebration, the triumphant entrance of Jesus in Jerusalem. That was Sunday, but Friday is coming. We know that between Sunday and Friday a lot happens to Jesus and His followers, and for us it is the culmination of a promise intended, and given freely. The gift from God, of God, by Jesus, to redeem us from ourselves and to bestow grace upon all people.
But the journey. The longest journey it might seem if you were walking it, started in a court, and ended with the cross.
This Sunday at St. Thomas, in Menasha, there is a service called Kaleidoscopic Worship. This particular instance of "KW" is called "Stations of the Cross". Many of us have walked the stations before,but this will be a highly interactive way to participate in the stations.
This ALL AGES event will take place from 5-7pm. From Grace, a delegation of people are going to attend. We have a passenger van available for us, and will plan a caravan if needed.We willneed to leave Grace at 3:30pm,and plan on being back at Grace between 8:30 and 9:00pm.
If you are interested, please RSVP with Nick Whitford. All are invted to join.
Faith Alive: During his recent visit, our Faith Alive team leader, Hal Foss, commented very positively on the spiritual life of this parish, noting the sharing of testimonies on Sunday mornings, and in our lenten programs. We will build on this base, leading up to the Faith Alive weekend next September, to continue to live into our baptismal vows.
Lenten Friday program: Our final lenten Friday program will be held on 22 March. We will gather for Stations of the Cross at 5:30 p.m., followed by a simple supper and a program in Christian testimony, in St. Nicholas Hall. The featured speaker will be PastorTodd Smith, First United Lutheran Church. (E.L.C.A.), Sheboygan.
Please come to listen to our guest, and to share in fellowship with members of First United Lutheran.
Music this week:
Processional Hymns: 154 “All glory, laud and honor” Valet will ich dir geben
156 “Ride on! Ride on in majesty” The King’s Majesty
Offertory Hymn 162 “The royal banners forward go” Vexilla regis prodeunt
Communion Motet Daughters of Zion F. Mendelssohn
Communion Hymn 168 “O sacred head, sore wounded” Herzlich tut mich verlangen
Postlude Chor. Pre. on ‘O sacred head, now wounded’ J. Brahms
Parish Notices
Easter Vigil Dinner: The first Mass of the Resurrection is on Saturday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m. The Easter celebration then continues at Trattoria Stefano, 522 South 8th Street, at 9:30 p.m. The dinner choices are lamb, fish or pasta. The actual cost of the meal is a gift to the parish, so you not only get a delicious meal but you help the coffers of the church by purchasing a ticket for the dinner. Tickets can be bought in the parish office or in the narthex after mass for $50 a person. Everyone is invited, but seats are limited. There are scholarships for anyone wishing to attend but are unable to donate. Deadline is Monday, March 25th.
A Passover Seder Meal: You are Invited to a Passover Seder Meal Wednesday, March 27, 6:30 pm. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Plymouth. “The Passover is the oldest and most important of the Jewish festivals, commemorating God’s deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. The Passover meal is known as the Seder, which means ‘order’, because the meal and the service are done in a prescribed sequence. This sequence is presented in the Haggadah (telling) which outlines the steps of the meal as well the readings and the songs for the participants.” --Dennis Bratcher. Please RSVP by Sunday, March 24 by calling the Grace Church office at 452-9659.
Sacrament of Reconciliation: Lent is a time of self-examination preparing for the death and resurrection of our Lord. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered by appointment. Please contact Fr. Schaffenburg to set up an appointment to make your confession.
Maundy Thursday Foot Washing: Everyone will have the opportunity to have their feet washed and to wash someone else’s feet following the example of Jesus washing his disciple’s feet. Please wear socks and shoes that are easily removed.
Vigil before the Altar of Repose: Please sign up to watch and pray for an hour at the Altar of Repose beginning immediately following the Maundy Thursday Mass March 28 and concluding Friday, March 29 as the Good Friday Liturgy begins. There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex, more than one person can sign up for any given hour.
Good Friday Offering: Every year since 1922 the church has taken a collection for the Church in the Middle East during Holy Week. This year our loose plate offering on Maundy Thursday will go to support the church efforts in Jerusalem and throughout the Middle East. Please be generous as you are able.
Easter Gala Reception: We will continue our Easter celebration with a Gala Reception after the 10:15 a.m. Mass on Sunday, March 31. Please sign up to bring sweets or savories and to help clean up afterwards. There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex.
Potluck Dinner and Compline: Bring a dish to pass and join us this evening Sunday, April 7th 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.
Adult Christian Education in Lent: In Lent our Sunday morning Adult Education program will focus on Christian Testimony. Come and join in the fun and listen to our faith stories. 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.
Bishop Search: For all information concerning the search for the eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac please go to bishopsearch.info.
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