Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
5 September 2013
As I write this, I have a pretty
good amount of cat hair on my lap, because earlier this morning I had a purring
cat sitting in my lap. He is a very
affectionate cat who runs to greet me when I come home (he thinks he’s a dog),
and takes great pleasure in sitting on top of me purring. Some people don’t like cats. They might experience affection from an
animal with a dog or horse, or something else.
Apart, however, from the obvious ways in which an animal will want to be
close to a source of food and warmth and affection, I submit that an animal can
offer real affection just of the person, and in this we can see how our faith
is informed by Reason.
Reason (capital R) is not about
how we think. When we say that our faith
is informed by Scripture, Reason, and Tradition, we are saying that God reveals
Himself to us in different ways. One way
is in nature. When we pay attention, we
notice that there is an order in creation, and this points to a Creator. We see in a beautiful sunset something that
points to the reality, the Author, of beauty.
We notice other little details, as well.
Just as the experience of beauty points to the Author of beauty, a cat
who sits and purrs points to a source of affection, of love, in the Love which
is God. But, we can only look to the
Author when our hearts and minds and spirits are open to Him.
Two weeks from tomorrow we will
begin our Faith Alive weekend. This is a
ministry focused on how we experience God, how we know to look behind beauty
and love and truth and good and the fact of our being to the God who is the
origin and summation of all that is beauty and love and truth and good and
being. Just as we engage in bible study,
in teaching and preaching, and in meditation to better understand what God is
saying to us in Scripture, when we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit we focus
on how God speaks to us through Reason and through Tradition. We share in the life of the Spirit by
experiencing this life in each other.
Jesus summarized the Law to be the
love of God with all our heart, mind, strength, love and soul, and the love of
neighbor as self. By these words God
speaks to us now, and invites us to live into this relationship with Himself
and with each other. In Faith Alive we
will work on how we experience faith, on how we are open to the Spirit, on how
we live together. Join us in this new
life. Let God reveal Himself more fully
to you because you are open to His revelation.
Grace Abounds: Please thank the Dan and Linda Griswold for a
wonderful coffee hour this past Sunday.
Please thank Pat Ford Smith and nick Whitford for organizing the Sunday
School back-to-school registration and ice cream social hour.
Faith Alive: A schedule for the retreat:
|
TIME
|
Grace Parishioners
|
ADULTS & TEENAGERS
|
|
NURSERY
|
|
THURSDAY
|
24 HOUR - Please Sign-up
|
PRAYER
|
VIGIL BEGINS at 5:00pm
|
|
|
FRIDAY
|
|
|
|
|
|
5:45 PM
|
Supper
for Everyone – Meet the Faith Alive Visitors / Guests
|
x
|
|
4:30
PM
|
|
6:40 PM
|
Program
in Parish Hall
|
x
|
|
TO
|
|
7:35 PM
|
Small
Groups
|
Note
1
|
Children’s
Activity
|
9:00
PM
|
|
8:45 PM
|
Program
in Parish Hall
|
x
|
|
|
|
9:00 PM
|
ADJOURN
|
|
|
|
|
SATURDAY
|
|
|
|
|
|
10:00 AM
|
Neighborhood
Coffees
|
Note
2
|
|
8:15
PM To
|
|
12:00 N
2:00 PM
|
Men’s
Luncheon /Women’s Luncheon
|
Note
2
|
|
2:00
PM
|
|
6:00 PM
|
Pot
Luck Dessert in Parish Hall (for all)
|
x
|
|
|
|
6:30 PM
|
Program
in Parish Hall
|
x
|
Including children's skit
|
4:30
PM
To
|
|
7:35 PM
|
Small
Groups
|
Note
1
|
Children’s
Activity
|
9:00
PM
|
|
8:45 PM
|
Prayer
Teams in Church
|
x
|
|
|
|
9:00 PM
|
ADJOURN
|
|
|
|
|
SUNDAY
|
|
|
|
|
|
8:00 AM
|
Church
Service
|
|
|
Sunday
School and Christian Education & Nursery
|
|
10:15 PM
|
Church
Service
|
|
|
|
|
12:00 N
|
FA
Team Leaves After Extended Coffee Hour
|
Coffee
Hour and Follow-Up
|
|
As
Usual
|
|
4:00 – 5:00PM
|
All
Parish Follow-up Meeting
|
|
|
Note 1: Adults will go to adult small groups, and the
teens will go to their own small group
Note2: Only adults at coffees, and luncheon. Teens will have their own activity. Teens should meet at the church at 10:00 AM
Episcopal Youth
Community: Coming Soon! To you
and your families, grace and peace.
This week I met with Tony Walter.
Tony is the Lay Canon for Youth Ministry in our diocese, and he happens to be a
really great guy, and a wealth of knowledge when it comes to youth ministry.
What came out of our meeting, amongst other things is a list of upcoming events
in the diocese for youth (mostly 6-12th grade).
For more information
about any of these please contact me:
- Fall Lock-In - Oct. 25-27 @ St. Anne's, De Pere (Grades 6-12)
- Fall Lock-In - Oct. 25-27 @ St. Anne's, De Pere (Grades 6-12)
- Happening - Nov. 15-17 @ St. Thomas, Menasha (Grades 9-12)
- New Beginnings - Dec. 7-8 @ Grace, Sheboygan (Grades 6-8)
- Happening - March/April (Dates/Location TBD) (Grades 9-12)
- Summer Camp - June 2014 - Dates vary by age - (4yo-Grade
12)
- Eucharistic Festival - Jun 28 - @ St. Paul (Cathedral),
Fond du Lac (All Ages)
- Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) - Jul 9-13 @ Philadelphia, PA
(Grades 9-12
There may changes as time goes on,
but I really wanted you to be aware that on the Diocesan level there are
several things happening. As a former youth from this diocese I can say that
these are the kinds of things I loved going to, and the friends I made here
have been life-long friends that I still have community with even though we
live all over the world now. If want to know more, please ask. If you want to
participate as an adult there are many ways you can get involved, all you have
to do is ask.
Sunday School starts this Sunday
(9-8-13), if you missed out on the registration/ice cream social you're not too
late (you're never too late), you can get all of the information you need in
the classrooms. All classes 4K-2nd, 3rd-5th, 6-12th, adult meet from 9-10am
between the services, and there is nursery service available.
―Nick
Music this week:
Prelude Aria Andrew Carter
Entrance Hymn 377 “All
people that on earth do dwell” Old
100th
Offertory Anthem O
how amiable are thy dwellings Ralph
Vaughan Williams
O how amiable are thy dwellings, thou Lord of hosts!
My soul hath a desire and longing for the courts of the
Lord;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living
God.
Yea, the sparrow hath found her a house, and the swallow
a nest where she may lay her
young;
even thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and
my God.
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house; they will alway
be praising thee.
The glorious majesty of the Lord be upon us; prosper thou
the work of our hands upon
us;
O prosper thou our handiwork.
…from
Psalms 84 and 90
O God, our help in
ages past, our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.
…Isaac Watts
Communion Motet Here, O my Lord, I see thee face to face William
W. Gill
Communion Hymn 707 “Take my life, and let it be” Hollingside
Closing Hymn 473 “Lift
high the Cross” Crucifer
Postlude Prelude
to the Te Deum M. Charpentier
Parish Notices
§ It’s
Kick Off Sunday! Sunday, September
8th we Kick Off a new academic year here at Grace Church. The Sunday
School includes 4K-5th grade will meet at 9:00am. They will be Weaving God’s Promises throughout the
year with lessons in Old Testament, New Testament and the Church Year. 6th
-12th grade will be experiencing Film School, where they will engage
in film with a focus on living into Gods will in everyday life. The Youth Group
will be meeting Sunday evenings from 5-7pm and will be practicing all aspects
of Discipleship. The Sunday morning adult class will be looking studying the
book of Romans led by Fr. Schaffenburg. Catechumenate will begin Monday,
September 30 at 6:00pm. If you are interested in Catechumenate there is a
sign-up sheet in the Narthex.
§ Faith
Alive is coming to Grace! September 20-22, 2013
I prayed that the Lord would use the Weekend to begin a time of spiritual
renewal in the parish. The result was far beyond what I had hoped. Nearly every
person who attended the Weekend recommitted his or her life to Christ at the
Sunday worship. Most have spoken of experiencing a needed spiritual renewal in
their lives. I believe that this Weekend marks a turning point in the spiritual
growth of this congregation.
·
Episcopal
Church of the Good Shepherd, LaBelle, Florida
§ "Conversations
in the Kitchen" Have you ever
heard the phrase, "Please don't make a decision about me, without
me." Well, no worries about that...we WANT your input! After the
10:15 Mass on September 15th, we invite you to grab a cup of coffee and settle
in for "Conversations in the Kitchen"; A brief, yet lively
informational sharing about all things Grace's kitchen. Together, we'll
brainstorm how to keep our kitchen user-friendly for all, learn how things
work/where things go and share in an entertaining demonstration of cross-contamination
and proper handwashing. (Hint: Get ready to sing your ABC's) Everyone is
welcome-your expertise, ideas, requests, concerns and inquiries are
valued!
§ 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.
§ 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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