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Thursday, October 10, 2013

Hail Mary!

Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes
10 October 2013

The parish just received a statue of the blessed Virgin Mary.  The statue (of Mary crowned as queen of heaven) has been placed in the columbarium.  Formerly, this statue was at the bishop’s residence, but it is diocesan and not personal property, and at Bp. Jacobus’ suggestion the diocesan trustees have agreed that she will remain on permanent loan to Grace.  This legacy of Bp. Jacobus will serve to remind us of his own devotion.  How fitting that this development has come about during the week of our annual pilgrimage festival honoring Our Lady of Walsingham.
Marian devotion is extremely important to some believers.  For many Christians, however, devotion to Our Lady is peripheral to their faith.  This may be because of unfamiliarity, but there is also an undercurrent of mistrust over how Marian devotion relates to faith in God.  It’s useful, then, to take a closer look at the Ave Maria—the Hail Mary—prayer used in the rosary and the Angelus prayers.  A closer look reveals that Marian devotion is just a part of the practice of the faith which is truly universal.
The first line, “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee” is right out of Luke, spoken by the angel Gabriel (Lk. 1.28).  We’ll hear this line in the gospel lesson at Christmas.  The second line, “blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,” is also from Luke (1.42), spoken by Elizabeth.  “Holy Mary, Mother of God” labels Mary the Theotokos, the title given her at the Council of Ephesus in 431, with Ephesus being one of the first four ecumenical councils, recognized universally as authoritative by all branches of Anglicanism.
What about “Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death”?  This concluding line of the prayer recognizes the communion of saints, as set forth both in the prayer book Catechism (BCP 862), in the Prayers of the People at Holy Eucharist, and in the canon of the Eucharist itself.
Whether or not you practice Marian devotion daily, or it is something peripheral to your practice of the faith, join us this Friday and Saturday for our annual pilgrimage festival, to offer praise and worship to our Lord, together with the prayers of Mary.  In gathering, please remember, as well, that if you or anyone you know is challenged by the cost of the Saturday luncheon, that you should feel free to attend as a guest.  [If you plan on coming as a guest, alert the parish office, because we need a headcount!]

Grace Abounds:  Please thank Steve and Claudia Fischer and Ed and Mary Clabots for the wonderful coffee hours this past Sunday.  Please thank Ellen Aparicio and Elizabeth Schaffenburg for cleaning up after the Compline meal.

Call for Contributions:  Brian Heck’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:    My intentions to take part in the Faith Alive Weekend at Grace Church actually didn’t occur until a week before the event took place.  A letter to consider being part of the weekend seemed to arrive in my mailbox just at the right time.  There was just something about this whole event that seemed very intriguing.
     The task of clearing my plans for that weekend were immediately enacted upon and much to my amazement seemed to be well received by those affected by it.  Participation in all aspects of the Faith Alive Weekend were encouraging to the spiritual aspects of my life but done is such a graceful way.  From the large gatherings in the parish hall and the small group discussions it seemed like a Grace Church Family Reunion that should have occurred years ago. 
     The weekend offered a vast amount of environments in a short amount of time to find the opportunity to identify where each individual stands in their faith.  All activities respected an individual’s privacy yet addressed the need to share with others personal needs and issues.  Basically, we all have our own personal ideas about the best way to allow our Beloved Lord to work in our lives but the Faith Alive Weekend renewed the importance of remembering that gathering together as a family only enhances that opportunity.  Hopefully the opportunities abounding as a result of the weekend will
encourage others to take part in future activities.
“FAITH ALIVE”:  What a blessing it is to know other individuals are praying for you as we all come together as a Christian Family and be forever thankful!
Respectfully and spiritually submitted,
―Brian S. Heck
  
Following Up on the Weekend  (Correction:  The October edition of The Angelus is incomplete in its listing of the Follow-up Committee.  Nancy Yurk is also a member of the committee.)

 Two different meetings have been scheduled.  The First called, “Talk & Share,” will be held monthly in the Education Hour between services the second week of the month (in October, it’d be the 13th) running between 9:10ish & 10:00 am.  It will consist of a process much like the FA weekend; counting off & going off in small groups to discuss several open-ended questions that would encourage people to share on a Spiritual Level.  The same expectations will be in effect:  begin with introductions; there should be no attempts to 'fix'; listening with non-judgmental attitudes; permission given not to share; maintaining confidentiality, & possible closing prayer(s) of some nature.  It’s a new beginning, open to anyone.  There will be facilitators & a few questions to guide the small group discussions.
 The Second meeting will be held the last weekend of October the 27th, at the same time between the services, but will be of a different nature.  At the follow-up meeting concluding the weekend there were a number of very focused suggestions for small groups aloud & in the evaluations: among them were book studies, mutual support groups, service (outreach) groups, entertainment (social groups) as well as others.  This meeting will help facilitate the establishing of these groups & be a one-time event. People interested in these groups would get a chance to meet & plan how to proceed with organizing themselves.

Episcopal Youth Community:  Coming up this month we have the Fall Lock in Oct 25-27 at St Annes in DePere. All 6-12th graders are invited and encouraged to attend. If you or your child has never been to a diocesan youth event this is an excellent opportunity to have for a first time. There is more information at this website: http://diofdl.org/lockin/index.htm including what to bring what not to bring, and online registration. the cost is $45 before Oct 21 and $60 afterwards. Cost should never be a reason to not attend a diocesan or parish event, please see Nick, Fr. Karl, or Deacon Michele if you have any needs, or with to contribute financially to scholarships for events such as this.
In Film School, we will be starting a new film. For two weeks we will be watching and discussing The Emperor's New Groove. The themes we will look at in this G rated Disney animated feature are: Getting along, friendship, selfishness, selflessness, and family at the least.
Miss Pat's 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 gifts. 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. The drop off date is mid November (before Thanksgiving), and there will be more information in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned.
―Grace and peace, Nick
Music this week

Evensong Friday, Oct. 11th  at 6 p.m. with choral scholars from Nashotah House
Joseph Kucharski, conductor

Prelude                         Psalm-Prelude (Ps. 34, v. 6)                                       Howells
Psalm 45                                                                                                          Anglican chant:
                                                                                                                        Stewart
Canticles:                      Nashotah Service (plainsong with fauxbourdons)           Kucharski
Anthem                        Hail! Blessed Virgin Mary                                           Italian carol, harm.
                                                                                                                        Wood
Postlude                       Fugue on the Magnificat                                           Bach

Pontifical Mass with Procession, Oct. 12th at 10:30 a.m.

Prelude             The Gaudete Brass Quintet
Processional                 The Pilgrim’s Hymn
Mass setting                 Deutsche Messe                                                           Schubert
Offertory Hymn            “Hail, holy Queen, enthroned above”
Communion Motet        Mary the Dawn                                                          Dobey
Comm. Hymn               “Sing of Mary, pure and lowly”
Closing Hymn   “           “Ye who claim the faith of Jesus”
Postlude                       Grand Triumphal Chorus                                           Guilmant

Sprinkling, Intercessions, Musical Offering & Benediction at 2 p.m.

Prelude             Three Church Sonatas                                                  Mozart
Opening Hymn “Hail Mary, ever blessed”
During the Sprinkling     Air from the Orchestral Suite in D                                 Bach
Musical Offering           Salve Regina                                                               Scarlatti
                                    (with Barbara Hollinshead, mezzo-soprano, and string quartet)
Hymn                           “Sing we of the Blessed Mother”
Benediction                  O Salutaris                                                                  Gounod
                                    Tantum ergo                                                               Dobey
Closing Hymn               “Alleluia, sing to Jesus”
Postlude                       Sortie on Adoremus in aeternum                                Gigout

Sunday, Oct. 13th Solemn Mass at 10:15 a.m.

Prelude             Two Ave Maria settings                                               Bruckner & Potiron
Opening Hymn 390      “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
Offertory Hymn 493     “O, for a thousand tongues to sing”
Communion Motet        Tantum ergo                                                               Dobey
Communion Hymn        “O Saving Victim” (Hymn 209, t.2, 1940 Hymnal)
Closing Hymn 438        “Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord”
Postlude                       Toccata in D                                                                 Krieger

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.

§  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

§  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!

§  Autumn Aire: A concert given by Lakeshore Choral & Youth Chorale Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 7:30pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, 824 Wisconsin Avenue, Sheboygan. Together they present a concert filled with the freshness and diversity of a crisp autumn evening. The concert includes Mozart's "Regina Coeli," two great American Spirituals, poetry of Ogden Nash set to music by contemporary composer Eric Whitacre (including an ode to a Wisconsin favorite - the cow!), the poignant "Famine Song" by Vida, along with several other pieces which illuminate themes of the human experience. Join us for the first concert of our 31st season! $15.00 adults; $8.00 students OR included in Season Ticket www.lakeshorechorale.org.

§  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.

§  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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