Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
14 November 2013
The Church year ends on 30
November, and in the lessons appointed for the Sundays ending the year there
are many references to end times. In the
lessons for the new Church year this theme continues, setting the stage for the
coming of the Lord as the Word who dwells among us. Endings have new beginnings. As we pray in the burial service celebration
of Holy Eucharist, “... life is changed, not ended ... .”
We are experiencing endings and
new beginnings in the life of the parish.
One new beginning is manifest in how we live together. We are in the midst of our stewardship
campaign. Two-thirds of the pledges
received at New Consecration Sunday represented increases in giving over 2013,
and we have also received new pledges.
Thanks be to God, and to all who have responded to Him with giving
hearts!
The pledges received to date
represent about half of the total number, based on historical patterns. If you were not at New Consecration Sunday,
you will receive a pledge card in the mail, and we should know in about another
fifteen days what our financial projection for 2014 will be. Please consider in prayer how you are called
to participate. If you are unable to do
so financially, then let’s discuss the other offerings you can make in the life
of the parish, and how your brothers and sisters in Christ can help you.
Each one of us has offerings to
give, offerings which have been given to us a blessings to share. We have received new pledges this year, and
of continuing pledges received about two-thirds represent increases, with the
average increase exceeding 6%. Thank you!
We are a part of each other in Christ, and participate in community by
and through our Lord’s blessing. Just as
our Lord is always with us to the end of the age, now He appoints us to be with
each other by and through Him. In prayer
discern how you will participate.
Grace Abounds: Please thank Barbara Knauf for taking the
lead in organizing our stewardship campaign this year. Please thank Mary Clabots for her work in
tabulating the results. In connection with the splendid New Consecration Sunday
luncheon, please thank:
§
Bernie Markevitch for preparing the wonderful
New Consecration Sunday luncheon, assisted by Mary Snyder.
§
Bill May and Bobbie May for all of the extra
set-up and take-down involved.
§
Jessica Ambelang, Ed Clabots, Pat Ford Smith,
Mary Snyder, and Jon Whitford for clean-up.
Call for
Contributions: 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.
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: Please Pray
This weekend at St. Thomas,
Menasha, Happening #66 in the Diocese of Fond du Lac will take place. There are
over 20 candidates, including our own Emily B. and Beth B. and over 20 team
leaders including our own Kaleigh K., Bobbi K, and Dcn. Michele W. Please pray
for the Holy Spirit to make himself known to the community as they study,
discuss, and learn about their faith and God.
ALSO! At Happening there is a
closing Eucharist to celebrate the conclusion of Happening, this is a public
Eucharist, and all parents, family, and church family are encouraged to support
their Happeners by the witness of their attendance. If you are able to go, Mass
begins at 2pm.
Save the date!
On November 21st there
will be a Game Night at Grace! Specific times to be announced. This is an all
ages open invitation event for anyone to come together and play games or
socialize with others.
On November 22nd there
is a group of people going to the Milwaukee Admirals hockey game. Specifics are
available on the signup sheet in the narthex, but transportation is provided.
If you are interested in going please sign up by the end of Sunday so that
tickets can be purchased!
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
Music this week:
Prelude Lord Christ, on thee my hope is stayed Pachelbel
Entrance Hymn 616 “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” Es flog ein kleins
Waldvögelein
Offertory Hymn 598 “Lord Christ, when first thou cam’st to
earth” Mit Freuden zart
Communion Motet Lord,
make us servants of your peace Bristol
Comm. Hymn 615 “Thy kingdom come! On bended knee” St. Flavian
Closing Hymn 555 “Lead on, O King eternal” Lancashire
Postlude Trumpet Voluntary in D Croft
Parish Notices
§ Fall
Clean-Up: Winter is coming and it
is time to prepare the church for the new season. Please join us on Saturday
November 16 from 8:30 to Noon. We will be clearing the grounds and doing
some cleaning inside. Refreshments will be provided. Even if you can
only come for a short while, your help is greatly appreciated.
§ Happening
Closing Eucharist: The Happening
Closing Eucharist is a time of joy, and you're invited. Show your support for
our youth by showing up for the Closing at 2:00 pm on Sunday, November 17th at
St. Thomas, Menasha. We hope to see you there! More details at diofdl.org/happening.
§ 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.
§ 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 Thursday, November
21st 6:30-9:00 PM. Feel free to bring snacks and drinks. We hope to see you
there!
§ 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.
§ 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.
§ 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 Thursday, November 21st 6:30-9:00 PM.
Feel free to bring snacks and drinks. We hope to see you there!
§ 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. Contact person is Mary
Kohler.
§ "So
many books so little time".
I am interested in starting/being a part of a book club centered at
Grace. My initial thought is a once a month meeting at Grace to discuss
the months selection. At this point I am simply throwing out a few ideas I have
seen work in the past. All "rules" would be decided by the
participants. Since we have made some progress in developing "Faith
Alive" small groups revolving around mostly spiritual issues I thought a
"literary" small group might be nice. Any thoughts,
suggestions, interest would be welcome. Dale Massey (920) 254-3034, masseydale51@gmail.com.
§ Meals On Wheels Christmas Cookies: Meals On Wheels
volunteers will be delivering a box of homemade cookies to our clients again
this Christmas season. (As many of you know, for some clients, this is the
only gift they will receive). So all we need are the cookies. If you
would like to donate some of your goodies to our project please call or email
Maureen at Meals On Wheels at 451-7011 or client1@shebmow.org. We have
cookie drop off sites in both Sheboygan and Plymouth and we will be packaging
cookies on the 17th of December. Your response in the past has
been overwhelming and we cannot thank you enough for your continued support.
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