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Thursday, June 13, 2013

The Season after Pentecost

Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes
13 June 2013

Grace Notes this week is focused on information, not commentary.  Now that we are in the season after Pentecost, the lectionary of lessons for Sunday worship offers two options, the so-called “Semi-continuous Track” (Track 1) and the “Gospel-related Track” (Track 2).  It is our practice at Grace to follow Track 2.  What are the differences between the two options, and why have we selected the latter?
The track options arose with the adoption of the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) in 2006.  Under the old lectionary found in The Book of Common Prayer, the lessons from the Old and New Testaments were selected to resonate with the message or story found in the gospel lesson.  Thus, and Old Testament lesson might provide a foreshadowing or a parallel of what is revealed more fully in the gospel lesson, and the epistle would be related thematically.  (The psalm was selected to relate most closely to the Old Testament lesson.)  The lessons were thus intended to fit together, and to provide a mutual reinforcement of message.  This is the approach maintained in Track 2 readings, the selection of which is very close to that found in the old prayer book lectionary.
Track 1 Old Testament readings are “semi-continuous,” that is, they start in one book and keep working their way through the book.  The thinking behind this approach is that it exposes the worshipper to more Scripture.  However, this exposure requires that the worshipper not miss any Sundays, in order to make any sense out of the O.T. readings!  An additional problem with the Track 1 approach is that it reinforces the academic perspective that the Old and New Testaments are not integrated into an organic whole.  This perspective is reflected in the academic practices of referring to the “Hebrew Bible” and the “Christian Bible” rather than the Old and New Testaments, and using B.C.E. (Before the Common Era) and C.E. (Common Era) instead of B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini, “in the year of our Lord”) in referring to historical dates.  But the Church has always maintained that no such separation is valid!  Indeed, our Lord makes the same point at Luke 24.27, “... and beginning with Moses and all the prophets, [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”
We use Track 2 for the practical reason that the lessons “make sense” more when they are related to each other, and for the theological reason that God’s revelation to us is integrated throughout all of Scripture.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank Houa Wa, Neng Her and Dustin Yang for the wonderful coffee hour and Hmong delicacies this past Sunday, and thank Jennifer Pawlus for a wonderful cake.

Faith Alive:  Faith Alive:  The Faith Alive weekend is 20 to 22 September.  Something you may not know about the Weekend:  The Visiting Team will all be Episcopalians—about 20 of them—coming at their own expense.  They aren’t going to teach or preach, just to share their lives & how they’ve come to a deeper faith in Jesus.  They'll be doing the sharing; you can say nothing, or speak up when you feel comfortable. 

Episcopal Youth CommunityCamp and Campfire:  Grace and Peace to you in the name of our Lord!
This week, our diocese has kicked off its summer camp program, so let's do our part as a parish and keep all of our campers, and the staff in our prayers. This week the senior campers (high schoolers) are having their session. These last couple of days are crucial to the camp experience as the group has had time to come together as a community, and now they can focus on growing together in Christ.
From there some of them will carry on into the junior camp (elementary school) session staff. Both Junior and Middler sessions will take place next week (simultaneously but separate). When they finish, the kinder campers with arrive with their parent or guardian for a fun filled couple of days of camping experiences!
The lessons learned, the friends made, the self growth that happens at camp at all levels is one of the greatest things we do in our diocese, please keep them in our prayers!
When all campers have returned to us, on the first day of summer (June 21st) we will have our 2nd annual Start of Summer Bonfire on the Beach! We'll meet at north beach between 6:30pm and 10:00pm. We will have a campfire grill for you to cook your dinner. For more information please find the link below helpful, otherwise there are posters hanging in the church, or you can call/text me at 920-889-8003.

Music this week

Prelude                        Partita on ‘What God decrees is always good’           Pachelbel
Entrance Hymn 410    “Praise, my soul, the King of heaven”                        Lauda anima              
Offertory Hymn 460   “Alleluia, sing to Jesus”                                              Hyfyrdol
Comm. Hymn 691      “My faith looks up to thee”                                        Olivet
Closing Hymn 408      “Sing praise to God who reigns above”                      Mit Freuden zart
Postlude                      Prelude from the Te Deum                                         Charpentier

Parish Notices:

§  It is not too late to sign up for Camp!!  Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12th 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.
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.

§  The 54th Annual Eucharistic Festival: at St. Paul's Cathedral, Fond du Lac is Saturday, June 29th, including the Bishop's Picnic and a Diocesan Summer Camp Reunion for any who have attended camp at anytime. The Rt. Rev. Ed Little, Bishop of Northern Indiana is the Homilist. Bishop Jacobus' goal is to make this Festival truly diocesan with every congregation represented by carrying their banner, singing with the choir, or worshipping from the pew. Read the details, including volunteering to serve by helping with set-up, serving, or clean-up, at diofdl.org/ef.

§  Bishop’s Retirement Celebration: Everyone is invited to attend the Celebration for Bishop Russ and Jerrie Jacobus Sunday, August 18, 2013 from 3:30 – 9:00pm at Homestead Meadows, W7560 Spencer Rd. Appleton, WI 54914. This will be a casual event including Hayrides & games, dinner, a program, concluding with a dance with a DJ. Please register at diofdl.org/celebration . The cost to attend is $10 for adults, $5 for youth ages 12-18 and children under 12 free. Please do not let cost be a factor in attending, assistance is available for all.

§  The Fifth Annual “Good Stock” Music Festival: will be held on Saturday June 22nd at the Fountain Park band shell in downtown Sheboygan. Music featuring praise bands from all over Sheboygan County, a kid’s activity area and good food will all begin at 11am and run until 8:30pm. Admission is free. For more information visit the website at www.goodstocksheboygancounty.com.

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

§  Friday Date Night:  It’s easy to fall in love, but staying in love is another thing entirely! Come to the Great Marriages office for a program and free simple supper to share with your partner on Friday, June 14th, 5:30 – 9:00pm. It’s a fun and informative way to spend an enjoyable evening together as we discuss the topic, Staying in Love.  Please call 920-783-3660 for more information and to register.

§  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.  Class will be Monday evenings at the Great Marriages office, beginning Sept 9th. *Please note the new date!*   Call 920-783-3660 for more information and to register.

§  Love Thinks:  This program is for adults who want to make smart choices in dating including: individuals who have experienced a divorce and are dating again, never married singles, and anyone who wants advice on how to find a mate who is compatible for a healthy relationship.  This one day, free and informative program will be held Sat, Sept 28, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Great Marriages office.  Please call 920-783-3660 for more information and to register.



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