Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
22 August 2013
This week has included the Feast of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, an 11th century mystic remembered for many things, including a commentary on The Song of Songs as an allegory of the love between Jesus Christ and His Church. The idea and experience of love reminds us that lovers are passionate. For example, the behavior of St. Francis of Assisi can only be properly understood when we realize that we witness in him the passion of one in love; otherwise his actions appear anything from curious to morbid.
St. Bernard and St. Francis remind us that in faith we can experience the truth of love (an affective faith) or we can focus on the love of truth (a faith in which we are enlightened to God’s will). But, really we need to have a faith which combines the heart and the mind, to live in the truth of God’s love (and so embody this love to others), and to love the truth of God’s Word (that we may proclaim His Good News to all). To combine these two aspects of faith into the love of God not only with heart and mind, but above all with soul (Mtt. 22.37), requires diligence in will. Fortunately, the Church provides ways to do this, such is in the practice of the Daily Office.
The Daily Office in your prayer book includes Morning Prayer, Noonday, Evening Prayer, and Compline. Try to pray at least one of the hours of the office. Noonday and Compline take less than five minutes; M.P. or E.P. about fifteen. You can use your prayer book, or you can use a computer or smart phone to access a site like http://www.missionstclare.com/english/, which will walk you through the prayer service with lessons, notes on the feast, even hymns. When you make prayer a regular practice in this way, you will better experience the truth of love as you live your love of the truth. And, when these complimentary loves come together, you will find (as do all lovers) that the experience of God transforms.
At Grace you can pray the office prayers with others, every day. Praying in the chapel together with others will allow you to experience the fullness of God’s love as experienced in community. It will also allow you to learn the minor ins-and-outs of how to use the prayer book in praying the office on your own.
Grace Abounds: Please thank Mike Boland, Susan McIntosh and family for the coffee hour this past Sunday.
No 9 a.m. Mass on Saturday, 24 August: Holy Eucharist will be celebrated in the context of the Imig funeral at 11:00 a.m.
Faith Alive: Housing Friday–Sunday (Sept. 20-22)
Grace Church doesn’t own a hotel, but we have several families who have invited our guests to stay with them over the weekend. This will be a blessing for both. Our guests won’t be out on the street for the night, & the hosts will have additional time to spend with the visitors. Mary Snyder has taken responsibility to find housing.
Episcopal Youth Community: Clutter
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord! This week we hosted a small get-together to play some games. In order to do that we needed to have a place to play, and that required clearing away the mail that had gathered up, and the everything else that was put on the dining room table (everywhere except where we eat ... mostly). One of the reasons we have such a pile is our 15 month-old, who can reach most things. Therefore, the table becomes a refuge for those things that we don't need to deal with right now, or don't have a place for right now. Now we have to deal with it; this is where most of our time gets invested. And I promise you this wasn't the fun part of the evening.
As far as my walk with God is concerned there is a huge correlation between the way I deal with things spiritually, and apparently physically. I keep piling stuff up on my spiritual table (literally tableing all of these decisions, and difficulties). It has so much stuff on it, that doesn't belong there. The reason it's there is so that it can't go away, and the reason it's there is also so that I can deal with it when I have time. But every now and then we have to deal with it, either because something in our lives is forcing it, or there's no more room for any more junk. So we begin sorting, and filing, and getting rid of the crud that is taking up space in our lives. And sometimes it takes a long time, maybe most of our time. Finding where things belong in our lives, finding how that fits into our faith, deciding that we no longer need to hold on to that and let it go.
Next time you find yourself purging your junk mail, or finding those long lost whatever's at the bottom of the pile, let it be a spiritual practice to let go of the burdens we carry. Let it be a physical display of clearing the clutter between you and living out your faith. And may you find that when it's done, that you will suddenly have space to think, and enjoy, and have peace.
―Nick
Music this week:
Prelude Chorale Partita on Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness Joh. Gottfried
Walther
Entrance Hymn 368 “Holy Father, great Creator” Regent Square
Offertory Hymn 493 “O, for a thousand tongues to sing” Azmon
Comm. Hymn 339 “Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness” Schműcke
dich
Closing Hymn 524 “I love thy kingdom, Lord” St. Thomas (Williams)
Postlude Prelude and Fugue in F Joh. Krieger
Parish Notices
Free upright piano. A piano in playable condition is available. If you are interested contact Gene Wilhelm.
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.
Sunday School Begins: We are getting excited about Sunday School! The teachers have met and plans are being made for another wonderful year of learning about the love of Jesus Christ! Sunday School will begin on September 8th at 9:00am. Please watch for more information.
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.
If you have a desire to help: The Salvation Army Red Shield Free Clinic needs you!! Of urgent need are on site medical professionals- Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses. If that's not you, but you have great people skills, we are also looking for volunteers to help patients with paperwork and in the evangelism area. Clinics are open every Thursday evening, two Monday evenings and two Thursday mornings each month. Volunteer commitment is typically three hours each at each session. Please consider this opportunity to help your community. Contact Pam Sandee, Clinic Coordinator at 694-1262 if this is for you!!
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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