Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
25 April 2013
Today is the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist. Mark was the son of a woman who owned a house in Jerusalem, perhaps the same house where Jesus ate the Last Supper with His disciples. He may have been the young man who fled naked when the soldiers came to the garden to seize Jesus (Mark 14.52), and Paul refers to him as Barnabas’ cousin (Col. 4.10). Mark is thought to have written his gospel on the basis of Peter’s recollections, and Peter refers to Mark as his “son” (1 Pet. 5.13). Mark is thought to have been the first bishop of Alexandria. His relics are claimed by Venice.
Mark is identified as accompanying Paul and Barnabas on their first mission journey, but as leaving the journey in its mid-point. This led to a split between Paul and Barnabas about whether to include Mark in their second missionary journey (Acts 15.36-41), with Paul taking a strong stand that Mark was not up to the task. But what happened? First we note that Mark was active in mission with Barnabas in Cyprus (Acts 15.39) and that Paul added Silas to his missionary journey (Acts 15.40), and so that , overall, mission advanced. But, more importantly, the fact that Peter became Mark’s mentor is an example of the perfect symmetry of God’s mercy and call. For, who better to work with Mark? One can imagine the chief of the apostles as an older man sitting with his younger secretary and saying something like, “You worry that you failed, and weren’t up to the job? Look at me. I denied our Lord three times in one night, right after telling Him to His face that I would even die with Him.”
God shows us how He will use us, even when we have failed. Mark went on to lead the Christians in the largest Greek-speaking city in the world, Alexandria, because God equipped him for this leadership role. He equipped Mark through the ministry of Peter. God sends His Spirit to us directly, but also through the ministry of those who surround us. We can learn from our own mistakes, certainly, but also from those of others in the Body. May we each always have the humility, when we have failed, to share with others how our failure may lead them into further service of our Lord.
Grace Abounds: Please thank John Davis for fixing the garbage disposer in the kitchen. Please thank Nicci Beeck, Cory Bouck, and Pat Ford Smith for their help in preparing the children for Communion, and in instructing them during the celebration of Holy Eucharist this past Sunday.
Congratulations are due to Cory Bouck for the publication of his book, The Lens of Leadership: Being the Leader Others Want to Follow (Aviva Publishing: New York). A copy may be found in the parish library. We are blessed to have gifted and dedicated parishioners like Cory.
Adult Christian Education: During Eastertide we will keep adult education simple. This will involve a Bible study session at 9 a.m. on Sundays, in which we will examine in detail the lessons used in worship on that day. Bible Study will not meet on Thursdays until Ascension Day. On 12 May we will commence a four week course on the First Letter of Peter.
Nashotah House Graduation will take place on Thursday, 16 May. Graduates include our seminarian, Charleston Wilson. A van will leave Grace at 8 a.m., with expected return about 4 p.m. If you want to attend, we need numbers by 26 April, in order both to alert the seminary and to insure travel arrangements. Contact the parish office.
Charleston Wilson is to be ordained to the diaconate in The Episcopal Diocese of Springfield (Illinois), at Nashotah House on the 14th of May, with Bp. Daniel Martins of Springfield as ordaining bishop. Check with the parish office about the time of the service and about carpooling possibilities.
Outreach: We have multiple copies of Archbishop Michael Ramsey’s Introducing the Christian Faith. This short, very readable book, is something you can give a friend or acquaintance who has questions, and then invite them to worship with us.
Two CD’s exist of anthems and hymns recorded by our fine choir, under the direction of Ben Dobey. These CD’s are available for sale, but consider just taking some without paying for them. Why? The CD’s are intended to be a form of outreach, to facilitate how we can invite people to join us in worship at Grace. If you have thought about asking someone to visit the parish with you, then go ahead and give them a CD so they can get a little foretaste of worship here. If you do this, just let the office know, so that we can keep apprised of inventory, but don’t hesitate to use the CD’s whenever you think it might be helpful. Consider, as well, using parish note cards in outreach and invitation.
Society of Mary: The parish chapter of the Society of Mary has been “regularized” by Fr. Karl being recognized by the society as the priest superior. The Society is dedicated to devotions to Our Lady, and the fostering of Marian piety. Every Monday at 5:30 p.m., a corporate rosary is prayed in the chapel Our Lady of Walsingham. All are welcome and invited to participate. If you have never prayed the rosary, join us, so that you may learn how this devotion may add to your prayer life.
Episcopal Youth Community:
Falling Down
Very recently my daughter learned that she can climb the stairs. This has given my wife and I a lot of worry, and probably some heartburn. We don't want her to fall and get hurt, but even in this short time she has already fallen a couple of stairs.
Falling is one of the scariest things we can do, it is in most cases the way we talk about failure. Falling is often negative in connotation, and suggests that something has gone wrong. We are afraid of falling or failing.... well, I know I am.
But my daughter, doesn't seem to have that response. She is so excited to try and try again, and most of the time succeeding. She hasn't had anything drastic enough to scare her (and I hope that we don't for a while), but those responses are learned from our experiences. Expecting failure is not our natural response, so let's get out there and not be afraid to fall.
As we learned from Batman - "Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up again."
Music this week:
Prelude Chorale Variations on Lord Jesus Christ, be present now Johann Gottfried Walther
Entrance Hymn #404 “We will extol you” Old 124th
Offertory Hymn #477 “All praise to thee, for thou O King divine” Engelberg
Communion Motet The Call Ralph Vaughan Williams
Communion Hymn #488 “Be thou my vision” Slane
Closing Hymn #657 “Love divine, all loves excelling” Hyfrydol
Postlude Prelude & Ricercar in F Johann Krieger
Parish Notices
Spring Cheer: is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 1st at 11:00 AM in the church kitchen. At that time we will assemble freshly emerging daffodils (!) and bag cookies, and then make deliveries (there is a sign up sheet in the narthex.) We need helping hands and money (to buy for packaging supplies.) Can you bake, make a delivery or help arrange? Please join us for this fulfilling ministry to our shut-ins. They will appreciate it. If you have questions please call Barb MacEwen at 467-6909.
Spring Clean-up – May 4th will be our annual spring clean-up. We will clean from 9 to noon where Mary Snyder will be providing some delicious Cinco de Mayo food. Please come and join us as the Bishop will be visiting the following day.
Bishop’s Visitation: May 5th we welcome Bishop Jacobus for his last visitation. The Bishop will preach and celebrate at both 8 and 10:15 services. We will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation and First Communions at the 10:15 am service. Please join us for a gala reception to welcome Bishop Jacobus and honor the Confirmed. Please sign up to bring sweets and savories and to clean up.
Ascension Solemn Evensong and Dinner: Please join the Tripartite Covenant Parishes in celebrating Ascension Day. Grace Church, will host Solemn Evensong Thursday, May 9th at 6:00pm. Evensong is a beautiful service of sung evening prayer. This will be followed by dinner in St. Nicholas Hall. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex.
Great Marriages of Sheboygan County: invites you to a “Celebration of Marriage” on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at The Bull at Pinehurst Farms, Sheboygan Falls. Social-Cash bar at 5:30 pm, Dinner & Silent Auction at 6 pm and Program and Dance to follow. Dress code is coat & tie. Cost: $60 per person. Please reserve your ticket by April 22, 2013. For more information please call: (920) 783-3660. Thank you.
SCIO Spring Luncheon & Fundraiser: Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization is once again honoring women at their Spring Luncheon & Fundraiser, Saturday, May 4, 2013 from 11:00am -1:00pm at Pine Hills Country Club, 4914 Superior Ave, Sheboygan. The Spring Luncheon will include Social, Silent Auction, Lunch and Program. The cost is $40 per person or $320 for a table of eight. Please contact SCIO at 457-7272 ext. 14 for reservations.
SCIO Silent Auction: Jessica Ambelang and Pat Ford Smith have volunteered to provide a Fourth of July themed basket to be added to the silent auction at the Spring Luncheon & Fundraiser. If anyone has Fourth of July type items to be added to the basket for Grace Church Please contact Jessica at 452-5667.
Nashotah House Graduation will take place on Thursday, 16 May. Graduates include our seminarian, Charleston Wilson. A van will leave Grace at 8 a.m., with expected return about 4 p.m. If you want to attend, we need numbers by 26 April, in order both to alert the seminary and to insure travel arrangements. Contact the parish office.
Charleston Wilson is to be ordained to the diaconate: in The Episcopal Diocese of Springfield (Illinois), at Nashotah House on the 14th of May, with Bp. Daniel Martins of Springfield as ordaining bishop. Check with the parish office about the time of the service and about carpooling possibilities.
Society of Mary: The parish chapter of the Society of Mary has been “regularized” by Fr. Karl being recognized by the society as the priest superior. The Society is dedicated to devotions to Our Lady, and the fostering of Marian piety. Every Monday at 5:30 p.m., a corporate rosary is prayed in the chapel Our Lady of Walsingham. All are welcome and invited to participate. If you have never prayed the rosary, join us, so that you may learn how this devotion may add to your prayer life.
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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