Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
29 August 2013
One of the things that is evident
in developing athletic and some artistic skills such as a golf stroke, a
gymnastics or dance move, a proper lead and reaction in skeet shooting, or a
tennis serve is muscle memory. Muscle
memory involves the repetition of a motion enough that the involved body parts
are trained to react, and we don’t have to think about the stroke, the step or
the shot. (In fact, when we do think
about the stroke, the step or the shot, we tend to do it less well.)
Muscle memory reflects the
development of a native gift as a result of intentional training. In the practice of religion some muscle
memory can be developed. Episcopalians
of long-standing just seem to know when to kneel, and if you sign the cross on
yourself, you probably don’t think much about how to do it.
In the Body which is the Church or
a congregation of the Church, “muscle memory” involves those patterns of doing
things that we have learned and absorbed through long practice, and so we don’t
have to think so much about how to do something. This is why we refer to the practice of religion while recognizing
that this is different from the faith we hold and profess. The very word “religion” comes from the Latin
for “that which binds again”. In other
words, no matter how strong our faith may be, we need to practice it. Each and every time we pray, gather in
worship, and receive the Blessed Sacrament, we bind ourselves more closely to
God.
As we move closer to our Faith
Alive weekend (20-22 September), every one of us needs to pray now, and
continually, that The Holy Spirit will bless us with a mighty work of faith,
that we will be so touched by God that we will literally become more alive in
our faith. In this new life, let us
exercise every muscle and sinew of Christ’s Body. Let every one of us as a member of this Body
live into our identity and vocation as a member of a whole which far exceeds
the sum of her parts. But let’s start
practicing now. Let’s work on “prayer
memory” and “praise memory” and “worship memory” and “memory” in
Communion. Establish the patterns while
limbering up, and then (to borrow another athletic reference) “Just do it!” Pray now.
Pray on your own. Make a habit of
coming to one of the daily services held at the parish, that we may pray
together for our Lord to bless us with new life.
Grace Abounds: Please thank Jennifer Pawlus and Sutton Cecil
for a wonderful coffee hour this past Sunday.
Faith Alive: Faith Alive
and music
The Faith Alive team that is
coming to visit us (20-22 September) includes musicians. Our Sunday worship will include singing at
the 8 o’clock service, and at the 10:15 we will include our typical music of
hymns and service music/chant, supplemented by songs led by the Faith Alive
team. We will also be joined by
Sheboygan’s “Winds of Praise” flute choir, and the Faith Alive team will lead
us in music at parish gatherings during the weekend. Much of the music will be familiar to
you. Some will be new, but easy to
participate in. All will be
Spirit-filled.
Episcopal Youth
Community: Sunday School Is
Starting Soon!
Grace and peace to you! Did you
hear that Sunday School is starting soon? Well, if not it going to be great
this year. All of the teachers have been spending a lot of time getting ready
for this school year, and we really want to meet you and get to see you before
classes start. That's why we are having a Sunday School registration and ice
cream social on Wednesday, September 4th from 6:30-7:30pm, it's an opportunity
to meet your teachers, see the classrooms, and find out what we're going to be
doing in class this year! (And eat some ice cream too).
After that happens, then we have
our first Sunday School class (did I mention that was starting soon?) on
September 8th at 9:00am. In fact classes for all ages will be starting that
day; from 4K-Adults. And just in case you fit into this category, the nursery
is also open, that way, the littlest ones can play in the nursery, the older
siblings can go to Sunday School, and you the responsible and
care-about-your-and-your-children's-spiritual-growth-and-development parent can
edify yourself with the adult class in St. Nicholas Hall.
Don't forget about the ice cream
on the 4th. See you there! ―Nick
Music this week:
Prelude Two Slow Airs Howells
Entrance Hymn 376 “Joyful, joyful we adore thee” Hymn to Joy
Offertory Hymn 477 “All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine” Engelberg
Comm. Hymn 321 “My God, thy table now is spread” Rockingham
Closing Hymn 438 “Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the
Lord” Woodlands
Postlude Fanfare & Galliard Howells
Parish Notices
§ Sunday
School Registration and Ice Cream Social! Come register for Sunday School, meet the teachers and see the classrooms
Wednesday, September 4th, 6:30-7:30pm. Sunday School will
begin on September 8th at 9:00am. The teachers are ready for another
wonderful year of learning about the love of Jesus Christ! Please watch for
more information.
§ Faith
Alive is coming to Grace! On
September 20-22 Grace will be hosting a Faith Alive event. Faith Alive is a
church retreat held in the comfort of our own church and community. The weekend
will be led by Witnesses, who are fellow Episcopalians, that travel here at
their own expense to lead engaging activities with ALL members of Grace, from
nursery through adulthood. The weekend will begin with a 24 hour prayer vigil
beginning Thursday evening to set the tone and importance of prayer throughout
the weekend’s events. Friday evening begins with a parish fellowship dinner and
followed by programs designed for Adults, teens, children and nursery age
children through 9:30pm. Saturday morning will kick off with coffee and
discussion at homes of our fellow members throughout Sheboygan followed by
luncheons and more activities and discussions. Lasting relationships with
church members you may not know today are often created here. Saturday’s events
are finished with a fellowship dinner and small group discussions. Sunday
concludes the weekend’s events with active inclusion of the witnesses we have
worked with in nursery and children programs, and also within the church
service followed by a luncheon for the entire parish. We feel privileged to
offer such an impactful retreat to our church family and hope you take the time
to reflect and pray with your family on this weekend and participating in all
of the events offered.
§ A
Day of Healing: On September 14,
2013, A Day of Healing is a spiritual and instructional journey that consists
of teaching and worship for people of all denominations, especially for those
who seek to carry on the healing ministry of Jesus in their local communities.
The sessions are led by Rev. Paul Feider who is nationally known for his work in
spiritual direction, healing prayer and scripture study. Topics for the
day include: Healing in the Gospels and through history; Dealing with Bitter
Roots and Inner Vows, Healing our Image of God; Healing Self-esteem; Healing
Intimacy in Relationships. Arrival and registration is at 8:45am and the
teachings beginning at 9:00 am and finishing at 4:00 pm. This is held in
St John’s Church and Center for Inner Peace at 1513 Pinewood Lane in New
London, WI. Lunch is provides along with coffee and snacks.
§ The second Day on November 2 will address: Healing Miscarriage;
Dealing with Evil; Healing Depression; Healing the Dying; Healing Marriage and
Wounds of Divorce.
§ Education
for Ministry: How do I learn to
make the Bible stories become my stories? How do I learn how God wants to bless
me with more than I can imagine? Join an EfM (Education for Ministry) group
that is starting on Monday, September 9th. The 9:00-11:45a.m. group will meet
at St. Paul’s in Plymouth. the evening
EfM class will be on Monday nights starting at 6 pm at Grace Church in
Sheboygan. You can still register by calling Barb at 920-893-5189 or email
at bzimmy@excel.net.
Scholarships are available, so don’t let the cost of $350 for this college
credited class, stop you from joining. This year starts the use of all new
materials and textbooks, so anyone who has taken any of the classes before can
repeat them.
§ Bishop
Search: For all information
concerning the search for the eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac please go to bishopsearch.info.
