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Thursday, October 31, 2013

Growth in Communication and Shared Ministries

Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes
31 October 2013

A lot is going on at Grace!  Take a look at the details included below on the formation of focused ministries in small groups.  These activities are evidence of the Holy Spirit moving within the parish.  What we do is important.  How we communicate is, as well.  One of the things that we can take pride in at Grace is a parish website that is second to none.  The look, feel, interface, and content are at a level far beyond what can be found for most church congregations, and we can be grateful to the many ongoing efforts of Jon Whitford and Joanne Otte, assisted by Michele Whitford and Bobbi Kraft.  Our blog (this blog) is also quite good, but can certainly be better.  It can become better as we involve more people making contributions to the content.  (See the call for contributions, below.)
One way in which this blog can be improved is in how it cross-links to other resources.  For example, Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, the really superior blog of St. George’s Episcopal Church, Ardmore, Pennsylvania (http://stgeorgesardmore.wordpress.com/ ) was discovered as a link on Creedal Christian, http://creedalchristian.blogspot.com/ .  In particular, take a look at the page at St. George’s on which is provided a tutorial for how to pray the Daily Office (Morning Prayer, Noonday, Evening Prayer, Compline):  http://stgeorgesardmore.wordpress.com/the-daily-office-tutorial/ .  One of the things we discovered at our last session of Being the Body was that many people don’t know how to use the prayer book to pray the office.
We will keep looking for and providing useful links.  Please share your own.  As a community of disciples we can grow in faith through how we share knowledge, how we are a Body which learns together.  If you have a contribution to make (of your own thoughts or of a link), send them on.  This means that pieces may be posted that we don’t all agree with, but part of being a living Body is the reality that we will not always agree.  We will seek to avoid debates over issues.  We want to focus on matters of faith—on Christ centeredness—and not on agendas, but as well feel our way forward, please pray about how you can add to mix!

FALL BACK!  Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour when you go to bed this Saturday!

Grace Abounds:  Please thank Jessica and Tom Ambelang for the wonderful coffee hours this past Sunday, and Jack Britton and Jennifer Pawlus for helping to clean up.  At the Fessler funeral this past Saturday, food was provided by Bernie Markevitch and Mary Snyder, who also cleaned up, assisted by Ed Clabots. 

Call for ContributionsIf 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.

Small Group Ministries:  The response to the call to form more focused ministry groups has been very good.  Following a 27 October organizational meeting, the following details have emerged:
1.      Depression support group:  This is a group to offer support for those  who suffer from depression, and for their family members.  The participants will include non-professional local contact/resources for parishioners who might  develop symptoms of depression in the future.  The group will meet on the fourth Sunday after the early service in the rector's office.  Contact people are:  Ed Clabots and Martha Shad.
2.      Caregiver support group:  This group intends to offer emotional and spiritual mutual support for those of us who are responsible for or who  are caregivers for elderly or ill family and friends.   Many members of our parish are caregivers in one way or another.  The first goal is to contact individuals who fit into this category, in order to identify who wants to belong to the group.  At that point the group will be able to determine a meeting time and place.  The leader is Scott Gedemer; please contact him if you are interested.
3.      Study/discussion group:  This group decided to start with a study of Galatians.  They (six people so far) plan to meet after the 10:15 service starting Nov. 17th, hoping to meet every two weeks in the church library.  Contact people are Mary Massey and Fr. John Ambelang.
4.      Order of St. Luke/ healing prayer team:  This group will learn about healing and praying for those needing any kind of healing.  Contacts will be Dcn. Mike Burg, Dcn. Michele Whitford and Jane Hanson.  Tentative meeting place and time will be Tuesdays, 5:30 at Jane Hanson's condo.
5.      Film study:  Jane Hanson has agreed to facilitate a monthly film discussion.  This will be called “Soup and Cinema”.  The first session will be on Wednesday, 13 November, at 6 p.m., St. Nicholas Hall.  The second Wednesday of the month will be the default timing.  The plan is the start at 6, with a light supper of soup, salad, and bread.  As people are seated, the film will begin.  It will be projected on our large screen.  Afterward, Jane will facilitate a discussion.
The first film in the series is the 2005 feature (based on a true story), End of the Spear.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_of_the_Spear  Other films which may be used include Get Low (Robert Duvall), Tender Mercies (Robert Duvall), The Mission (Robert Deniro and Jeremy Irons), Of Gods and Men (Lambert Wilson, in French with subtitles).  Suggestions for future titles will be solicited from participants.
6.      Society of Mary:  The fundamental Mission is to foster devotion to Mary, Mother of God, at Grace Episcopal Church.  The Society will be revived, to qualify as an internationally-recognized named cell.  Focuses will include:  (a) Revitalize attendance at the celebration of the four annual commemorations of Mary on the Church Calendar; (b) Increase attendance support of the Walsingham protoshrine daily prayers, and for the corporate Rosary recited on Mondays at 5:30 p.m.; (c) Improve communication in the broader community of our intended missions.
Normal meeting time will be after the first service on the fourth Sunday of the month in the church library.  However, this coming Sunday, Nov. 3, there will be a special follow-up meeting led by Paul Aparicio at 9:00 in the  library.   Contact person is Mary Kohler.
7.      Social group:  This group will plan activities for the family on an informal basis.  Details are being discussed.  Contact persons are Tom and Tasha Crouse.
8.      ESL teaching group:  This group will help immigrants learn the English language to better their lives and job prospects.  Members will individually decide when and where the teaching can be done.  Contact person is Scott Lubbers.

 New Consecration Sunday:  Our stewardship Sunday will be on 10 November, with one service at 10 a.m., followed by a parish luncheon.  Thank you, Kaleigh Kraft, for speaking this past Sunday!  We will have speakers at both services on 27 October and 3 November, to share with us what the Church means to them, and how we can all participate in the gift of being the Body of Christ.
Special stewardship opportunity:  Whichever person has the greatest increase in a 2014 pledge, over their paid 2013 pledge amount (calculated at close of the giving year), or who has the highest new pledge for 2014 (for any person who has not pledged previously), will receive a complimentary stay at a Hyatt-managed timeshare apartment in Key West, Florida (occupancy dates are 2 March to a 9 March check-out.  These dates include Mardi Gras.)  Go To: www.hyattwindwardpointe.hyatt.com  You can find all the amenities and room pictures there.
The unit is on the 3rd level, set way back on the property, with a virtual private lani looking straight out on the grounds, pool and ocean.  Cuba 70 miles straight south.  The unit is about a 2 mile walk to the southern most point in the lower 48, on the east and quiet side of the Key, about 1 ½ mile walk to Duval St.  St. Paul's Episcopal Church is on Duval, a great place for Ash Wednesday services.
This timeshare opportunity is the gift of Bill and Debbie Gagin.

Episcopal Youth Community   This past week 50 students went to the Diocesan Fall Lock-In! They talked about Story, that is what makes a good story, and what makes your story a good one. Unfortunately I wasn't able to be there, but we had four of our youth there, and they had a great time. I know because I asked them. Please find one of the youth that went on the lock-in and ask them about it.
This Sunday at St. Thomas, Menasha their youth group is hosting Terminator Night (it's a game), our youth group is planning on carpooling with the St. Peter's, Falls youth group. We will need to be on the road at around 5pm and will return at approximately 9:30pm. More details to come (especially for traveling arrangements).
Happening is coming soon for all 9-12th graders. Register online at www.diofdl.org. Please register soon, so we can make proper preparations for you!
Grace and peace to you,                                                                                                         ―Nick

Happening - November 15-17 - St. Thomas, Menasha - is for all students grades 9-12 - http://diofdl.org/Happening
New Beginnings - December 7-8 - Grace Church, Sheboygan - is for all students grades 6-8 - http://diofdl.org/newbeginnings
Each of these is unique in style, delivery, and experience, and each one is a great way to learn more about God and our faith, as well as connect to the wider community of Christian youth in our diocese; many people have made life-long friends with those around the diocese and have stayed connected through events like these, camp and others.
Please contact me or the office with questions, but remember to sign up!
Grace and peace, Nick

Sung Compline:  This Sunday at 6:30 p.m. we will gather in St. Nicholas Hall for a light supper (pot luck), to be followed at 8 p.m. for Compline, sung in the nave.  The service is offered in a darkened, candlelit church, and is ideal way to introduce friends to a contemplative form of prayer.  Please join us!

Music this week:  All Saints’ Sunday

Prelude                                    Elegy                                                               Elgar
Entrance Hymn 287                “For all the saints”                                          Sine Nomine
Offertory Anthem                   Give us the wings of faith                                Bullock
Communion Motet                  The souls of the righteous                                Thiman
Communion Hymn 620          “Jerusalem, my happy home”                          Land of Rest
Closing Hymn 293                  “I sing a song of the saints of God”               Grand Isle
Postlude                                  Toccata on ‘Christe Redemptor Omnium’      Benoit

Parish Notices

§  New Parish Directory updates: Please find a draft copy of a new parish directory on the table in the Narthex at Grace Church. If you would please look at your entry and make any changes necessary and then initial it so we know it is correct. We are trying to have as many email addresses as possible, it saves postage and much of the communication of the church is done electronically. We never give them out but. Thank you.

§  Grace Kids and Youth: and even teachers or anyone that is so moved should come to church Sunday, November 3rd in a depiction of their favorite saint or biblical character in honor of All Saint's and All Soul's days. Come and join in the Communion of Saints right here at Grace Church.

§  Christmas Shoe Boxes: Please consider bringing toothpaste and individually wrapped toothbrushes, and mild soap bars and wash cloths to church for the Christmas shoe boxes. We will also be looking for these items in the coming weeks:  pencils, colored pencils, erasers and pencil sharpeners, paper to write on. These items must be able to fit into a shoe box. Thank you so much. Pat Ford Smith

§  Operation Christmas Child: Miss Pat's Sunday School class is spearheading the effort to put together shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, and would like to invite the whole parish to participate by donating small items for the shoe boxes, or if you desire a monetary donation that will be spent to get shoe box gift items. The goal is to have this be a parish outreach lead by the youth and children of the parish. Please participate as you can, including prayers for this to be a successful project. The drop off date is in mid November (before Thanksgiving), and there will be more information in the next couple of weeks.

§  Formation Youth Group: St. Dominic, Holy Name and St. Clement Parishes invite you to their North side Faith Formation Youth Group which will be held on the first and third Fridays of Nov. and Dec. from 6:00-8:00 in the Youth Room on the second floor of the Faith Formation Center (old St. Dominic school building).  Join us for games, faith sharing and snacks. Contact Dianne Marshall at 458-5390 or marshalld@archmil.org for more information.

§  Salvation Army Bell Ringing: Grace Church is signed up to ring bells for the Salvation Army on November 9th in two different locations. At the Piggly Wiggly on the north side from 1:30-7:00pm and at the Pick & Save on the south side from 1:30-7:00pm. Both of the locations are inside. The bells and kettle will be there, & a sign in sheet. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. If you have any questions please call Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.

§  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.



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