Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
26 September 2013
Where to start? The
manifestations of real growth in the Spirit demonstrated during the Faith Alive
weekend were many and profound, so the question of “where to start” can be seen
to be two-fold: First, how can we hope
to describe the blessings of the weekend?, and Where are we called now?
The blessings of the weekend were
seen first in the level of participation, which exceeded fondest hopes. For example, at the follow-up meeting on
Sunday, over fifty people showed up.
They came back to church at
the end of a long weekend to discern and discuss the second aspect of “Where to
start?” Where do we go form here?
The most common theme in the
follow-up meeting was that the small group meetings during the Faith Alive
weekends allowed for the most profound spiritual sharing and growth, and our
first follow-up step will be, therefore, to identify how to foster small group
development in the parish. Your help is
needed. What do you want? A book study group? A support group? A social group? There are many models and opportunities, and
the Follow-up Committee is working now to identify these and to foster the
roll-out of renewed and new ministries.
If you are looking for how you can participate, if you have an idea for
a ministry or a group, contact Bob Hanlon, Ed Clabots, John Davis, Nancy Yurk
or John Ambelang to discuss your idea or question.
A second common theme related to
how participants were able to get to know other members of the parish in ways
that were new, by sharing. How can we
foster this kind of outreach and growth?
What part do you have to play?
The more we engage in sharing, the more we build trust, to allow for
even greater sharing and mutual growth.
When you have an idea, stop by the parish and share it. We’ll put it in the mix, and guided by the
Holy Spirit we will see a renewed and new spiritual groundedness at Grace that
allows His grace to be shared with all.
Grace Abounds: There are too many people to thank for how
successful the Faith Alive weekend was, and publishing a long list runs the
risk of oversight—so thank God!
Please thank John Ambelang, Pat
Ford Smith, Jane Hanson, Mary Massey, and Martha Shad for manning the office
during the past two weeks.
Please thank Bryan Stenz for
wonderful coffee hours this past Sunday.
We have sent formal thanksgivings
to the clergy and people of St. Paul’s in Plymouth and St. Peter’s in Sheboygan
Falls, who helped prepare and serve food for the weekend. Our own team was led by Bernie Markevitch,
with help from Barb MacEwen, Nicci Beeck and Bryan Stenz.
Call for
Contributions: Jane Hanson’s
reflection on the Faith Alive weekend (below)
highlights that this is a parish
blog. If you have a spiritual reflection
to share, or want to point your fellow worshippers toward a resource, submit
your contributions to Fr. Karl (by email) by Wednesday (noon) each week.
Faith Alive
reflection: It was with some
expectation, a little curiosity and just a touch of doubt that I began the "Faith
Alive" experience. It was not long before it became apparent that it
was a
journey worth taking, with
insights worth discovering. The greatest of those being a part of sharing
the hopes, the hurts, the needs of my Grace Church family in a small group setting.
The capable leaders of the Faith Alive team gently led us into allowing the
Holy Spirit to touch our hearts. That touch was reflected in the trust
that filled each of us with a freedom to be honest and open about our fears,
our losses, our disappointments and our faith walks. It has been my experience
that it is rare for a small group of people gathered together for the first
time to feel safe enough to expose those inner thoughts so readily. A
testimony to the presence of our Lord when two or more gather in His Name.
It was a privilege to be a
part of those Spirit filled moments. What blessings our Grace family
has been given. Reflection, renewal and now, a readiness to grow toward a
deeper commitment to one another, to our ministries and to our God.
To Him Be The Glory! ―Jane
Episcopal Youth
Community: This past weekend the
youth of Grace gathered together to participate in Faith Alive. We welcomed
Larry Boothby and two teens to Grace as team leaders, and they shared their
stories of faith and life with us. We spent time in community, and in prayer.
We discussed options regarding Youth Group, and Sunday School. We talked about
what we like about church and what we might change if we were in charge. We
went bowling and ate pizza, and performed a song for the whole group. All in
all, I feel like we accomplished a lot in the way of building community, and
learning more about what we feel about church and our small group we call Youth
Group. I look forward to the future where we can speak openly and honestly
about ourselves personally and corporately, and the interconnectedness of our
relationships throughout the parish and the diocese. ―Nick
Being the Body: Our discipleship program meets again this
Saturday, 28 September, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. (Lunch is included.) The focus is on Living Together: Authentic
Christian Community in the 21st Century. Even if you have never come to one of our
programs, come to this one, for a primary focus will be on how to form small
groups for mutual growth and ministry, and this is an area of focused
identified in the Faith Alive weekend as top-of-mind in the parish.
Music this week:
Prelude Prelude
on a Psalm-tune by Orlando Gibbons C. Stanford
Entrance Hymn 477 “All praise to thee, for thou, O King
divine” Engelberg
Offertory Hymn 583 “O holy city, seen of John” Morning Song
Communion Motet My
eyes for beauty pine H. Howells
Comm. Hymn 609 “Where cross the crowded ways of life” Gardiner
Closing Hymn 625 “Ye holy angels bright” Darwall’s
148th
Postlude Chorale Fantasia on ‘Ye holy angels bright’ H.
Darke
Parish Notices
§ Citizenship Celebration - Recently, Ellen Aparicio
passed her citizenship test and will have her oath ceremony later this month to
become a U.S. Citizen. To celebrate her accomplishment, Paul and Andrea
Aparicio will be offering an American themed lunch with a hot dog bar and apple
pie after the 10:15 service on September 29th. Please join us in
celebrating with Ellen on her accomplishment.
§ Bishop
Election Candidates: For all
information concerning the search for the eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac please
go to bishopsearch.info. Full biographies of the candidates are now
available. Printed copies are available
at the parish office. The closest “walkabout” opportunity to meet
the candidates will be on Friday, 4 October, at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Fond du
Lac, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
§
Raking
Leaves Fundraiser: If raking your
yard this year seems like too much of a task, then our Boy Scout Troop is here
to help. They will be raking leaves on the following dates: November 2nd,
9th, and 16th. If you are interested please contact Paul Aparicio (paac92399@yahoo.com). A sign-up
sheet will be available in the narthex.
§ Opera
lovers small group outing: The first broadcast of the season for The
Metropolitan Opera is a new production of Tchaikovsky’s Yevgeny Onegin on Saturday, 5 October, at 11:55 a.m. The showing will be at the Marcus theatre in
Sheboygan. A group of parishioners who
love opera will be gathering to enjoy the production, and then join afterword
in light refreshment. Come join us!
If you want details, go to: http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/liveinhd/LiveinHD.aspx
You can follow the links for ticket purchase, but tickets can also be
purchased at the theatre. This
production is getting positive reviews. One appears in the 24 September
edition of The New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/arts/music/love-and-conflict-in-the-19th-century-and-the-21st.html?hpw
§ Catechumenate!
Do you wish you knew more about the Creed, church history, the Book of
Common Prayer and why we do the things we do during worship? Would you like to
confirm your Baptismal Vows in the sacrament of Confirmation? Would you like to
be received into the Episcopal Church from the Roman Catholic Church? Would you
like to practice Discipleship? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I am inviting you to be a
part of the Catechumenate this year. The Catechumenate will meet on Monday
evenings each week starting at 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and will continue
until May when the Bishop makes his annual visitation. The first class will
begin Monday, September 30, 2013 and will meet from 6:00-7:00pm. The study is
led by Deacon Michele Whitford, the Parish Catechist.
§ If you would like to be a part of this
exciting study and fellowship or would like more information, please e-mail
Deacon Michele at mwhitford@gracesheboygan.com or call the office 452-9659.
Please prayerfully consider this invitation.
§ Nourish
Annual Harvest Celebration & Fundraiser: Nourish a program of SCIO will be holding its Harvest Celebration &
Fundraiser Friday, October 4th from 5pm - 9pm. Nourish is a two prong
educational program through demonstration & execution that serves the
community's fundamental need for healthy food by linking local farmers with individuals/children/families
via experiences that change behaviors. This year's event will again
feature locally inspired appetizers & desserts prepared by LTC Lakeshore
Culinary Institutes student chefs and staff. Live music by Annie B,
wine, beer and non-alcoholic Haymakers will also be served. Live and silent
auctions will take place. Nourish Harvest Celebration will be held at the
Lakeshore Culinary Institute, 712 Riverfront Drive Sheboygan, formally
Riverside City Streets. Tickets for the event will be available at the door or
prior for $25 or reserved tables of 8 for $300. Contact Linda at
920-918-0251 or lindaq@nourishfarms.org or www.nourishfarms.org.
§ The
Blessing of the Animals: On
Saturday, 5 October, we will observe the “translated” feast of St. Francis of
Assisi. Following the 9 a.m. service of Holy Eucharist, at 9:30 a.m. we will
bless animals outside the church entrance on Ontario Avenue (rain
or shine). If you have an animal companion for blessing, please secure
your friend on a lead or in a suitable cage. If your companion would suffer
undue stress from being brought to the parish, you can request a “house call”
for a blessing, and a schedule can be agreed for blessings that will take place
after 5 October.
§ Simple
Potluck Supper and Compline:
Sunday, October 6th we will have our first Sunday of the month
Simple Potluck Supper at 6:30pm. Come and enjoy the fellowship then stay for
Compline at 8:00pm. The Schola Cantorum will be singing Compline which is the
night time prayers said or sung just before retiring. It is a wonderful and
peaceful way to end the day, and an ideal opportunity for your invited friends to experience simple prayer.
§ Game
Night at Grace: Game Nights are
times when people of all ages can come together to play different games that
are enjoyed by everyone. There will be board games, card games, and almost any
type of game that you’d want to play. Invite your parents or your friends or
anyone who you’d want to come. Game Night is open to all: young and old,
singles, couples or families. The next Game night will be Sat, Oct 19th
6:30-9:00 PM. Feel free to bring snacks and drinks. We hope to see you there!
No comments:
Post a Comment