Come, Lord Jesus!

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

16 May 2013

Last Sunday we heard a New Testament lesson from the very end of Revelation, and thus from the very close of the canon of Scripture.  And how does all of the Bible end (short of a benediction)?  With a prayer:  “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev.22.20).  We pray at all times that our Lord—who is very present to us—may return to fulfill God’s plan of salvation, but in praying this we should stop and each ask ourselves what it is that we are prepared to ask our Lord when we do finally meet Him?  If Jesus were to walk into your door, wouldn’t it be a little lame to just quote Janis Joplin and say, “Oh, Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?”

This highlights the difference between prayer and wish-fulfillment.  It is easy to ask God to fulfill what I may truly desire, even when I know that what I desire is too often a lot more than what I need.  But the danger in translating desire into petition is that this form of petition is no more than a projection of will, and the whole point both of prayer and of our relationship with God is that we must seek that God’s will—not ours—be done.

There is nothing wrong with petition as prayer.  We can pray for ourselves, but in doing so let’s keep in mind who’s will it is that we are seeking might be fulfilled.  If it is just ours then the petition leads us away from God, rather than toward Him.  As famously put by C. S. Lewis in his meditation on damnation, The Great Divorce, those who at the end of the day refuse to seek that God’s will may be done get their wish.  He says to them “Thy will be done,” and their will is one that separates them from God.

Pray continually.  Pray in adoration and contemplation, offering praise and thanksgiving.  Pray in petition for yourself and in intercession for others.  But, when you pray, pray always that God’s will may be done, and that you may discern His will and do it.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank all those who made the Ascension Day dinner a success, including:  Jessica Ambelang, Jack Britton, Julie Davidson, Deb Gagin, Jane Hanson, Mary & Terry Kohler, Bernie Markevitch, Barb MacEwen, Path Sather, & Mary Snyder.

Please thank Mary & Terry Kohler for the donation to our kitchen of a large induction heating sauce and soup pot, that will allow us to continue to offer wonderful soups!

Adult Christian Education:  On 12 May we began a four week study of the First Letter of Peter.  Join as at 9 a.m. on Sundays.

Music this week: 

Prelude                       Variations on Veni Creator Spiritus      Duruflé

Entrance Hymn 225  “Hail thee, festival day”

Sequence Hymn 504  “Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire”

Offertory Hymn 509 “Spirit divine, attend our prayers”

Communion Anthem            Come, Holy Ghost      Gibbons

Communion Hymn 598        “Breathe on me, breath of God”

Closing Hymn 516     “Come down, O Love divine”

Postlude                      Finale on Veni Creator   Duruflé

           

Parish Notices

Val Burg Memorial Youth fund: The loose plate offering today will go towards the Val Burg Memorial Youth fund. This offering will help with the Diocesan Summer Camp Scholarships. It was Val’s passion that every child have the opportunity to go to camp. Checks can be made out to Grace Church with “camp” in the memo. Please be generous as you are able.

Summer Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12^th graders. Camp is an opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community, about themselves and have fun! If you have questions about what camp is like please call Michele at the office.

Scholarships are available.

Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 9 (Sun 3pm) – June 15 (Sat 12noon)

Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 16 (Sun 3pm) – June 20 (Thu 4pm)

Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 16 (Sun 3pm) – June 20 (Thu 4pm)

KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 20 (Thu 5pm) – June 22 (Sat 11:30am)

There are application forms on the Narthex table.

Knit Together: Knit Together is re-grouping! Please join us every 4th Saturday from 1:00 - 3:00pm for fellowship and handwork. Knitting, needlepoint, crochet - all are welcome. We look forward to seeing you! Please call Polly Schmeiser at 889-6796 with questions or if you need a ride.

Friday Date Night: It’s easy to fall in love, but staying in love is another thing entirely! Come for a program and free simple supper to share with your partner. A fun, simple and easy way to spend an enjoyable evening together.  Friday, June 14, 2013, 5:30—9 p.m. at the Great Marriages Office. It is free, but registration required. Please call 920-783-3660 for more information and to register.

Food For Freedom: Have you heard about the mega food drive happening this spring in Fond du Lac to fight hunger in our area? Food for Freedom will take place at the Fond du Lac High School west parking lot May 25-26, 2013 from 1:00pm on Saturday and 1:00pm on Sunday. This event will happen over a 24-hour period on Memorial Day weekend. Food for Freedom is being coordinated by a Fondy High School junior, Danny Loomans, in a effort to raise food for distribution in five counties, Sheboygan County being one of them. This event will attempt to break the current world record for the largest food drive in 24 hours at a single location. More details can be found at www.foodforfreedom.org.

Song of Solomon: It’s known the Bible provides great wisdom for righteous living and spiritual growth. But it can guide us in our dating, courtship and marriage relationships as well!   Pastor Andy Shanholtz will guide married and engaged couples in this informative, 8 week study of one of the earliest known books on relationship advice.  Mondays, Jun 17-Aug 5, 2013 at the Great Marriages Office. Please bring a Bible to class.  Suggested donation for materials, $5.  Registration is required. Call 920-783-3660 for more information and to register.

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