Holiness and Happiness

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

30 January 2014

Holiness & Happiness

Last Summer I heard of a book, Sacred Marriage: What if God Created Marriage to Make You Holy Rather Than Happy?  I was intrigued because culturally few any longer think of marriage as sacred.  In addition, most think of holiness as arduous & somber as well as believing if my marriage isn’t making me happy, I’ll have to find someone else.

Sometime later I ran across an article that made the point that holiness & happiness aren't opposites: one doesn’t need to choose one or the other.  In fact the article continued, if you truly want to be happy, you must be holy.  That’s a culturally shocking statement.  Surely, though, we catch indications of that truth on Sunday mornings … there is the collect that says in part: 

Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; ... (emphasis mine).

The article also pointed mentioned a book by a 17^th century Puritan, Thomas Brooks, who devotes a whole book towards discussing the contention that there is no true joy without holiness.  Having a Kindle, it was only a few moments, a couple of dollars, & there it was.  It's aptly subtitled, Holiness, the Only Way to Happiness.

Now I don’t want to belabor the point, but rather go onto what in the book has recently captured my interest; Brooks talks of the tongue, the mouth, & the lips, saying among other things:

A holy heart & a holy tongue are inseparable companions.  If there be grace in the heart – there will be grace in the lips.  If the heart is pure—the language will be pure.

Righteous men keep open house, they keep free hospitality for all comers and goers; & if they have not always bread in their hands—yet they have always grace on their lips, to feed many.  Though they may be outwardly poor, yet they have a treasure within to enrich many.

Physicians say that the nature of diseases is as well known by the tongue as by the pulse.  The spiritual diseases that are in the heart will quickly discover themselves by the tongue.

The philosopher being asked which was the best member of the body, answered, “The tongue; for if it's good, it's the best trumpet of God’s glory.”

You may remember Jesus words:  The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.  (Luke 6:45) (emphasis mine).

Join me in praying:  “Let the words of our mouths & the meditations of our hearts always be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Strength & our Redeemer.  Amen.”         ―Fr. John Ambelang

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  All those who brought dishes to the pot luck luncheon.

§  Dcn. Michele for her extra work in preparing the annual meeting handouts.

§  Jane Hanson for office help.

Episcopal Youth Community:  Reset. Reboot. Restart... Right in the Middle of Everything

Sometimes, when I'm going along with my daily routine I find that I'm stuck, and I need to take the time to "restart" in order to correct the situation. Sometimes when working through my responsibilities that I have been unintentionally missing one or more of them, and I have to "reboot" so that I can bring everything back together in its proper place. And sometimes when the big things in my life seem out of sync, and there is doubt and stress with nothing I can really do about it, I need to take the time to "reset" and allow the changes to happen, without my intervention, without my need to press my point, without it taking up so much head-space.

And after saying that I am so thankful that we have a God who does not overlook us, that does not forsake us, and listens to us. Especially when our hearts ache, and our soul groans with pain, and our mouths call out for relief.

For future strength, a calm mind, and focus on the what is important we pray to you Lord God. Lord hear our prayer.                                                                                                 ―Nick

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 in the week of publication.

Music this week:  Candlemas, The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

Proc. Hymn 257          “O Zion, open wide thy gates”                       (alternate tune: Richmond)

Offertory Anthem       There shall a star come out of Jacob                                      Mendelssohn

Communion Motet      Nunc dimittis in B flat                                                              Stanford

Comm. Hymn 524      “Let all mortal flesh keep silence”

Closing Hymn 657      “Love divine, all love excelling”

Postlude                      Chorale Prelude on Lord Christ, thou only Son of God          Walther

Parish Notices

§  Adult Formation-Liturgical Workshop: Adult formation will continue February 2 at 9 a.m. with the second of a four week series of liturgical workshops intended to allow participants to become much more familiar with a life of prayer, and the resources in the Book of Common Prayer. The workshops will be led by parish clergy and seminarian. Those who do not already have their own prayer book at home can also get one to use at home!

§  Galatians Study: Grab a cup of coffee and join us in the small conference room this morning to study Galatians following the 10:15 service.

§  Lenten Booklet: Grace Church will prepare our own parish book of Lenten meditations, written by parishioners. For each of the forty days of Lent season, a Gospel lesson taken from the Eucharistic lectionary for the weekdays in Lent, plus the Sunday Eucharistic lectionary, are provided on a clip board on the Narthex table. Following each Gospel lesson will be the Collect prayer for the celebration of Eucharist on each day. The Collect “collects” our prayers as founded in the Scripture appointed for each day. The method envisaged for use of this booklet is that parishioners will read the Gospel lesson– perhaps more than once, perhaps underlining the words or phrases that resonate with them on that day–then reflect on the Collect, and then write down their own reflections on the page appointed for the day. These reflections will be gathered by February 21^st to allow for production lead-time. The publication of a parish devotional will be published to the whole parish, in print and on our website. Please submit your meditations anonymously or for attribution to Tasha Crouse at gpvehicle@yahoo.com.

§  English as a Second Language teaching group: This ESL group helps immigrants learn the English language to better their lives and job prospects. The group will meet Wednesday evenings beginning February 5^th at 6:00pm on the lower level in the youth room. Contact Scott Lubbers at 698-2002.

§  Metropolitan Opera:  On Saturday, 8 February, we will gather at the Marcus Cinema for 11:55 a.m. live broadcast of Dvoŗak’s Rusalka, with Renée Flemming in the title role.  The broadcast concludes about 3:45 p.m., and we will gather afterward for light refreshment.  If you are interested and need a ride, call the parish office. 

§  Simple Potluck Supper and Compline: Sunday, February 9^th we will have our 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.

§  Second Sunday Small Groups: February 9^th Small groups will meet between services at 9:00am and after the 10:15 service today. Questions will be provided to reflect on the lessons for the Day. Please meet in St. Nicholas Hall and the groups will be divided up and rooms will be assigned.

§  Flower Schedule for 2014: Giving the gift of flowers is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to offer thanksgiving for your blessings. If you wish to sign up for a specific Sunday, the Flower Schedule is available on the table in the narthex. More than one person can sign up for each Sunday.

§  Coffee Hour Schedule: There is a new sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour in 2014. If you would like to host please sign up for either 8:00am or 10:15am. We are in need of someone to oversee the schedule and be the point person for questions. If you would be able to spend a few minutes a week double checking the sign-up sheet and giving reminders or if you have questions please see Deacon Michele or Bobbi Kraft. Thank you so much.

§  All Saints' Chapel Ownership - Sunday services at All Saints' Chapel will continue to be a shared ministry this year which means volunteers will be needed to have ownership of opening and closing the chapel. A sign-up sheet is located in the Narthex.  If you have questions regarding responsibilities, please ask any member of the Vestry.

§  Love Bowls: an annual fundraiser to benefit Meals On Wheels will be held on Sunday,

• February 9th from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm at Sheboygan South High School. Purchase a beautiful Talavera pottery bowl or plate for $20 and enjoy unlimited soup from nearly 70 local restaurants. Live entertainment provides a great environment for family and friends. Pewter, glassware and other Talavera pieces are available at our silent auction!

§  Lakeshore Chorale's Valentine Visions: This Valentine's Day, February 14^th, we invite you to Lakeshore Chorale's very special Valentine Gala, "Valentine Visions." The first half of the evening will feature the Lakeshore Chorale Adult Choir performing a variety of love songs in the excellent acoustic environment of Grace Episcopal Church. The second portion of the concert will be held in Grace Church's St. Nicholas Hall, beautifully decorated for the holiday by Bernie Markevitch. While you are enjoying scrumptious desserts made by The Cookie Jar Girls, you will be treated to a cabaret performance by members of the Lakeshore Chorale - vocal solos, duets, small ensembles, and instrumental interludes. Please be our Valentine and join us for this very special evening! Tickets are $20 and are selling quickly. Please reserve or purchase your tickets today by calling 920-451-1863, or purchase on line at: http://www.lakeshorechorale.org/Tickets.html

Annual Meeting

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

23 January 2014

Our Parish Annual Meeting will be held this Sunday, following one 9 a.m. service of Holy Eucharist.  The meeting will take place in the church nave, to be followed by a pot luck luncheon in St. Nicholas Hall.

An annual meeting is a time to take stock, and to consider how we can best continue to live into the identity to which God calls us.  The best strategic plan we can have is to discern God’s will and then do it.

In addition to elections (Vestry, wardens, diocesan convention delegates), we will receive financial reports, both for the parish budget and from the Grace Walsingham Foundation, and we will also hear from clergy and lay leadership about overall health and direction.

Our Lord continues to bless this parish.  We continue to make progress in how we are invested in common ministry together, in participation in ministry, in life in the Holy Spirit, and in discipleship.  Challenges remain, but our Lord continues to equip us to follow Him.

Come to the meeting prepared to listen, prepared to ask questions, prepared to offer insights, prepared to share.  All members of Grace are full members in this Body.  You have a voice.  Come prepared to share it, that our growth as the Body in this place may continue.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  Wayne and Pat Sather, and Paul and Andrea Aparicio for the wonderful coffee hours this past Sunday.

§  Bernie Markevitch for church decorating.

§  Please thank Crawford and Pat Ford Smith for flowers.

§  Please thank Elizabeth Schaffenburg and Pat Ford Smith for catering the meeting of deanery clergy.

§  Please thank all members of the Vestry for investing their entire day this past Sunday to parish business, including a four hour meeting to finalize financial planning for 2014.

§  Ben Dobey for donating a humidifier for the parish hall.

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 in the week of publication.

REFLECTIONS

As I began to reflect on what living out my faith “with skin” (to borrow from Father Karl) would really look like, I was led to thoughts going back some forty years.  Up until my thirties I pretty much lived by “the rules.”

Mass on Sundays, confession once a month and the usual short daily prayers we were taught as children.  Then one day, into my life came some anointed, faith filled people who led me into a Spirit filled walk with my Lord and Savior.  Profound changes began.  A deeper prayer life, love for the scriptures, thoughts centered on praise and thanksgiving for His amazing love.  This look back has reminded me of how swiftly the years have passed.  What have I taken, what have I learned, from the joys and sorrows each year brought with it?  How steady have I been holding onto those first glimpses into His amazing grace?    I hear more, read more as life passes, about how God has a plan and purpose for each of us.  He does indeed have one.  How that must have gone astray in my life as decisions were made, plans carried out without seeking Him for counsel.  But He is a God of mercy and His love for his children is eternal.  How then does my creator gently guide me into seeing His purpose and plan?  I see constant  renewal each day.  I see the hope to remain faithful, to seeking a closer union with Him through prayer, and I especially see the desire within me for the need to recover God’s plan, to know His will for me.  I do not know what the future holds, but I do know that “Everlasting love shall be the pillow for my head this night.“  (C.H. Spurgeon) 

Faith filled living looks like that to me.   Trusting in God’s leading, me prayerfully following.  May I fulfill the plan He still has for me.  To Him be the Glory and Praise!

Jane Hanson

Music this week:

Low Mass with hymns at 9am

Delpha MacAloon, guest organist

Entrance Hymn 7        “Christ, whose glory fills the skies”                                        Ratisbon

Offertory Hymn 381   “Thy strong word did cleave the darkness”                           Ton-y-botel

Comm. Hymn 661      “They cast their nets in Galilee”                                             Georgetown

Closing Hymn 539      “O Zion, haste”                                                                       Tidings

Parish Notices

§  Being the Body: Our final session for our current discipleship program will be held on Saturday, 1 February, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. This session will focus on living into The Great Commission, on how we live out our vocation as disciples of our Lord. All are welcome.

§  Adult Formation-Liturgical Workshop: Adult formation will continue February 2 at 9 a.m. with the second of a four week series of liturgical workshops intended to allow participants to become much more familiar with a life of prayer, and the resources in the Book of Common Prayer. The workshops will be led by parish clergy and seminarian. Those who do not already have their own prayer book at home can also get one to use at home!

§  Dcn. Roger Patience will be offering a liturgical workshop on Saturday, 15 February, at St. Thomas, Menasha.  The focus is “Daily Office Basics”.  Participants will not only learn about the office and its place in Christian devotion and discipline, but will also learn practical tips about how to do the offices.  The workshop will begin with refreshments at 8:30 am. Morning Prayer is at 9 am, and the session will conclude promptly at noon.  A workshop like this is itself a "special act of discipline or self-denial" in Lent, and will allow participants to understand how they may continue in the Daily Office as an ongoing spiritual discipline.  Please RSVP to Deacon Roger at dcnpatience@gmail.com .

§  Lenten Booklet: Grace Church will prepare our own parish book of Lenten meditations, written by parishioners. For each of the forty days of Lent season, a Gospel lesson taken from the Eucharistic lectionary for the weekdays in Lent, plus the Sunday Eucharistic lectionary, are provided on a clip board on the Narthex table. Following each Gospel lesson will be the Collect prayer for the celebration of Eucharist on each day. The Collect “collects” our prayers as founded in the Scripture appointed for each day. The method envisaged for use of this booklet is that parishioners will read the Gospel lesson– perhaps more than once, perhaps underlining the words or phrases that resonate with them on that day–then reflect on the Collect, and then write down their own reflections on the page appointed for the day. These reflections will be gathered by February 21^st to allow for production lead-time. The publication of a parish devotional will be published to the whole parish, in print and on our website. Please submit your meditations anonymously or for attribution to Tasha Crouse at gpvehicle@yahoo.com.

§  English as a Second Language teaching group: This ESL group helps immigrants learn the English language to better their lives and job prospects. The group will meet Wednesday evenings beginning February 5^th at 6:00pm on the lower level in the youth room. Contact Scott Lubbers at 698-2002.

§  Simple Potluck Supper and Compline: Sunday, February 9^th we will have our 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.

§  Flower Schedule for 2014: Giving the gift of flowers is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to offer thanksgiving for your blessings. If you wish to sign up for a specific Sunday, the Flower Schedule is available on the table in the narthex. More than one person can sign up for each Sunday.

§  Coffee Hour Schedule: There is a new sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour in 2014. If you would like to host please sign up for either 8:00am or 10:15am. We are in need of someone to oversee the schedule and be the point person for questions. If you would be able to spend a few minutes a week double checking the sign-up sheet and giving reminders or if you have questions please see Deacon Michele or Bobbi Kraft. Thank you so much.

§  Love Bowls 2014 is right around the corner!  This annual event benefits Meals on Wheels of Sheboygan County for the purpose of providing meals for our neighbors who are homebound or unable to prepare meals for themselves. This year’s event will take place on Sunday, February 9^th at South High. Patrons can purchase a bowl for $20 to take home and enjoy plus eat soup from over 70 local restaurants. 

• Another way to support this local event is by volunteering. 
• There are volunteer forms in the narthex with volunteer information. If you are interested or have questions about volunteering contact Susan Mooney at the MOW office 451-7011 or volunteers@shebmoww.org. There is a special need for volunteers during set-up on Saturday, February 8^th 10:00 am-2:00 pm and then during clean up on Sunday, February 9^th 3:00-4:30 pm. If you’d like to hear from those who’ve volunteered in previous years, talk to Kaleigh or Bobbi Kraft. 
• Whether you volunteer, buy a bowl or both, your support of Meals on Wheels is appreciated by many who are served in our community.

Identity in Christ

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

16 January 2014

It is our identity in Christ that allows us to advance the kingdom of God.  This past Sunday we celebrated the Baptism of our Lord, and we were challenged in a fine sermon from our senior deacon to consider what the Church and world would look like were we to all live into the identity we assume in Christ in baptism.  Each time there is a baptism in the Church, we all reaffirm the promises we have each made in our own Baptismal Covenant (BCP 304-305), but it is all too easy to “cherry pick” the covenant, and to ignore that it is an organic whole which is complete only insofar as it relates to the Apostles’ Creed and to the foundational promise made in the first covenant clause, that we will “continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship”.

We cannot separate any of the promises made in baptism.  For example, if we “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being”—and we really do this—it matters not unless our participation in justice and peace, and in the dignity of every human being is one in which we live into our identity as defined in the apostles’ teaching.  Justice, peace, and dignity become words without real meaning if they are ever separated from who God is, and what His will is for us, as revealed in the teaching of the apostles, i.e., in holy Scripture and in the Tradition of the Church.  Otherwise, our frame-of-reference is human only—not revealed—and we can decide how others participate in our humanity.

The Holocaust which took place under Nazi rule was perpetrated in a culture which was the most modern of its day.  The Germany of the interwar and WWII years was by all measures a country of advanced culture and development.  But this same culture was subverted by the perverse dream that some (the “Aryans”) could decide the “dignity of every human being”.  What the Nazis did was to decide that some people were not human beings.  They made “scientific” and economic and cultural arguments to this effect, and so decided that some lives were “not worthy of life” (whether these lives were defined with reference to ethnic or functional norms). 

Long before the Nazis started systematically killing Jews they started to systematically kill people will low or disturbed mental functioning, under the so-called “Aktion T4”.  The only organized protest against this practice (and the only half-way effective protest in the history of the Nazi state) was led by believing Christians such as Rupert Mayer, S.J. of the Roman Catholic Church and Dietrich Bonhoeffer of the Confessing Church.  And what was the foundation of these brave martyrs’ protest?  It was the apostles’ teaching, that each human being is created in the image and likeness of God, that life is precious to God, and that God reveals His will to us.  Our baptismal identity is in Christ.  Let us ever live into this identity as those who live within the revelation of God’s will as defined in the teaching of the apostles.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  Bob and Anne Hanlon, and Dale and Mary Massey for the wonderful coffee hours this past Sunday.

§  Bernie Markevitch for church decorating.

Cutting Edge:  How often do you think about Grace as being “cutting edge”—new, hip, ahead of the curve?  These descriptions may not spring to mind, considering that the life of this parish is steeped in Tradition.  But thinking of ourselves as cutting edge is closer to reality than you might think.  In the Nov/Dec 2013 edition of The American Conservative a detailed article, “Why Millennials Long for Liturgy,” describes how the “hipsters” around us are actually hungry for what we offer.  See http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/why-millennials-long-for-liturgy/  This should not surprise us.  What is timeless is, well, timeless and authentic.  We need not be surprised, but we do need to consider how we engage in outreach to those who are hungry.  Please read the article (which we will also link on the parish’s Facebook page).  In the near future we will hold an adult forum discussing implications for action.

What’s up with flowers/coffee hour?  Giving for flowers for 2014 is very incomplete.  We also do not have enough hosts signed up for coffee hour.  Please consult the sign-up sheets in the narthex a.s.a.p.

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 in the week of publication.

Music this week:

Prelude                        Two chorale preludes on All glory be to God on high            J. S. Bach

Entrance Hymn 135    “Songs of thankfulness and praise”

Offertory Hymn 444   “Blessed be the God of Israel”

Communion Motet      Eternal light, shine in my heart                                               Scheidt

Comm. Hymn 126      “The people who in darkness walked”

Closing Hymn 542      “Christ is the world’s true light”

Postlude                      Chorale Prelude on The people who in darkness walked        Parry

Parish Notices

§  Annual Meeting Reports: If you are in charge of anything, please write a short report to be included in the Annual Report and send it to the office office@gracesheboygan.com by Sunday, January 19th. Thank you so much.

§  The Annual Meeting: This year’s annual meeting will take place on Sunday January 26, 2014. We will have one Mass at 9:00am followed by the annual meeting held in the Nave 10:30am. We plan to have an all parish pot-luck lunch in St. Nicholas Hall at the conclusion of the meeting. The agenda of the meeting will include committee reports, new Vestry and Warden elections, 2013 financial review and 2014 budget, review Vestry actions, and an overall review of the 2014 calendar. Please make every effort to attend and participate.

§  All Parish Potluck Lunch: Following the Annual Meeting we will have and All Parish Potluck Lunch. Please bring a dish to pass and share in fellowship. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex.

§  Call for Vestry Nominations: Vestry elections will be held on Sunday, 26 January, at the parish annual meeting. We need at least six nominees, with names provided to the parish office by 20 January. You can nominate another person or yourself. To run for Vestry you must be a qualified elector of the parish, which means that: (1) You are regular in your attendance on worship;(2) You have received Holy Eucharist at least once in the prior year;(3) You are active in your support of the parish through a pledge or some other form of giving; and (4) Your are at least sixteen years of age. Vestry members are called to lead. Be prepared in the election process to provide a brief biographical sketch which allows your fellow parishioners to better understand your relationship with God and His Church, and your call to lead. Vestry members are called to commitment, and are expected to attend twelve meetings throughout the year (once per month).

§  Flower Schedule for 2014: Giving the gift of flowers is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to offer thanksgiving for your blessings. If you wish to sign up for a specific Sunday, the Flower Schedule is available on the table in the narthex. More than one person can sign up for each Sunday.

§  Girl Scout Cookies! Girl Scout Cookies can be preordered for $3.50/box this Sunday, January 19^th after mass. Money will be due on Sunday, February 23^rd when the cookies will be delivered at church. Any Grace Church youth member who is involved in Daisy/Girl Scouts should come in their troop uniform to help work the booth and we will divide the orders up equally between the participants.

§  Directory (Almost Final Draft) Update: For various reasons the update was not done last fall. We hope to print it in time for the Annual meeting on January 26^th. If you did not check your entry last fall, or have a recent change please check and change it in the draft found on the narthex table.

§  Coffee Hour Schedule: There is a new sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour in 2014. If you would like to host please sign up for either 8:00am or 10:15am. We are in need of someone to oversee the schedule and be the point person for questions. If you would be able to spend a few minutes a week double checking the sign-up sheet and giving reminders or if you have questions please see Deacon Michele or Bobbi Kraft. Thank you so much.

§  Love Bowls 2014 is right around the corner!  This annual event benefits Meals on Wheels of Sheboygan County for the purpose of providing meals for our neighbors who are homebound or unable to prepare meals for themselves. This year’s event will take place on Sunday, February 9^th at South High. Patrons can purchase a bowl for $20 to take home and enjoy plus eat soup from over 70 local restaurants.  Another way to support this local event is by volunteering. 

o   There are volunteer forms in the narthex with volunteer information. If you are interested or have questions about volunteering contact Susan Mooney at the MOW office 451-7011 or volunteers@shebmoww.org. There is a special need for volunteers during set-up on Saturday, February 8^th 10:00 am-2:00 pm and then during clean up on Sunday, February 9^th 3:00-4:30 pm. If you’d like to hear from those who’ve volunteered in previous years, talk to Kaleigh or Bobbi Kraft. 

o   Whether you volunteer, buy a bowl or both, your support of Meals on Wheels is appreciated by many who are served in our community.

Church = Mission

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

9 January 2014

What is the mission of the Church?  This question is posed in the catechism found in the prayer book, with the answer being stated to be, “The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ” (BCP 855).  The catechism also teaches that the mission of the Church is accomplished through the ministry of all of her members.

Pretty basic stuff, this is, but also too small a description of a holy mystery.  Why?  It is because the Church does not have a mission, she is a mission.  The Church is the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are gathered into a holy mystery in which we incarnate God’s presence.  At John 1.14 it is famously revealed “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth ...”  We must make the revelation of a timeless reality timeless—ignore the tense in the verbs used in Scripture, and make the revelation that the Word becomes—is—flesh, and dwells among us and in us now, as the Word incarnated in the world.  That is the mission of the Church, our mission.  We are to make God present to each other and to the world.  We are to enflesh God’s presence and love, and we don’t do this unless we make God’s will our own.

Ask yourself this question today and every day:  How will God use me to make Himself present, to reveal Himself, to those with whom I meet?  When we live into the reality that we are part of the Body of Christ, then we start acting more like His eyes and ears, His hands, His back, His strong arm, and we start to recognize Him in others, as well.  May God use every one of us, to His glory!

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  Bobbi and Kaleigh Kraft for the wonderful coffee hours this past Sunday.

§  Barb MacEwen for kitchen set-up and clean-up for the parish potluck supper on Epiphany, and Jessica Ambelang and Julie Davidson for clean-up.

§  The Crouse family for serving the altar at the Epiphany Mass.

Sacrament of Reconciliation:  Reconciliation (Confession) will be offered this Satuday, 11 January, from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m.

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 in the week of publication.

Music this week:

Prelude             How brightly shines the Morning Star                                    Buxtehude

Entrance Hymn 124      “What star is this, with beams so bright”

Offertory Hymn 497     “How bright appears the Morning Star”

Communion Motet        Christ, when for us you were baptized                                   Hart

Comm. Hymn 120        “The sinless one to Jordan came”

Closing Hymn 119        “As with gladness men of old”  

Postlude                       How brightly shines the Morning Star                                    Bach

Parish Notices

Small Groups: Sunday, January 12^th  at 9:00am please meet in St. Nicholas Hall, grab a cup of coffee and a treat, we will divide up into small groups to share our reflections of the scripture passages and get to know one another better.

More Small Groups: Sunday, January 12^th after the 10:15am service there will be a small group experience in the Library. Grab a cup of coffee and a treat and join the conversation.

Girl Scout Cookies! Girl Scout Cookies can be preordered for $3.50/box this Sunday, January 12^th after both masses. Money will be due on Sunday, February 23^rd when the cookies will be delivered at church. Any Grace Church youth member who is involved in Daisy/Girl Scouts should come in their troop uniform to help work the booth and we will divide the orders up equally between the participants.

Directory (Almost Final Draft) Update: For various reasons the update was not done last fall. We hope to print it in time for the Annual meeting on January 26^th. If you did not check your entry last fall, or have a recent change please check and change it in the draft found on the narthex table.

Soup and Cinema: The Mission starring Robert Di Nero and Jeremy Irons will be the movie Wednesday, January 15^th beginning at 6:00pm. Come and enjoy a bowl of soup, the show and conversation. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex.

Annual Meeting Reports: If you are in charge of anything, please write a short report to be included in the Annual Report and send it to the office office@gracesheboygan.com by Sunday, January 19th. Thank you so much.

Flower Schedule for 2014: Giving the gift of flowers is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to offer thanksgiving for your blessings. If you wish to sign up for a specific Sunday, the Flower Schedule is available on the table in the narthex. More than one person can sign up for each Sunday.

Coffee Hour Schedule: There is a new sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour in 2014. If you would like to host please sign up for either 8:00am or 10:15am. We are in need of someone to oversee the schedule and be the point person for questions. If you would be able to spend a few minutes a week double checking the sign-up sheet and giving reminders or if you have questions please see Deacon Michele or Bobbi Kraft. Thank you so much.

The Annual Meeting: This year’s annual meeting will take place on Sunday January 26, 2014. We will have one Mass at 9:00am followed by the annual meeting held in the Nave 10:30am. We plan to have an all parish pot-luck lunch in St. Nicholas Hall at the conclusion of the meeting. The agenda of the meeting will include committee reports, new Vestry and Warden elections, 2013 financial review and 2014 budget, review Vestry actions, and an overall review of the 2014 calendar. Please make every effort to attend and participate.

All Parish Potluck Lunch: Following the Annual Meeting we will have and All Parish Potluck Lunch. Please bring a dish to pass and share in fellowship. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex.

Call for Vestry Nominations: Vestry elections will be held on Sunday, 26 January, at the parish annual meeting. We need at least six nominees, with names provided to the parish office by 20 January. You can nominate another person or yourself. To run for Vestry you must be a qualified elector of the parish, which means that: (1) You are regular in your attendance on worship;(2) You have received Holy Eucharist at least once in the prior year;(3) You are active in your support of the parish through a pledge or some other form of giving; and (4) Your are at least sixteen years of age. Vestry members are called to lead. Be prepared in the election process to provide a brief biographical sketch which allows your fellow parishioners to better understand your relationship with God and His Church, and your call to lead. Vestry members are called to commitment, and are expected to attend twelve meetings throughout the year (once per month).

Star of Wonder

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

2 January 2014

We remain in the season of Christmas.  Today is the 10^th day, not the 11^th, because the calculation of a day in the Church comes from Jewish practice, under which the day begins at sundown.  Christmas began, therefore, at sundown on the 24^th of December.  Christmas will end on Twelfth Night (evening of 5 January).  On Sunday, we will celebrate the second Sunday after Christmas Day, and then prepare for the Feast of the Epiphany, which falls on the 6^th.

The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek verb for “to make manifest; to reveal,” and recalls how the Messiah was revealed to all the world (personified in the three magi).  The revelation included the reality that the Messiah is the anointed One not only of Israel, but of all humanity.

In the epiphany story we can see two contrasting ways of looking at reality.  There is that of Herod, who seeks to have his own plan and will confirmed.  He looks to himself to define what is important.  And then there are the magi, who look outside of themselves.  In observing and following the star they are open to how God reveals Himself and His plan.

In our own day how we look upon the Star of Bethlehem?  We would doubtless observe and measure its presence, and be informed by the learned that it was a particular type of star, or supernova, or alignment, and how they would seek to explain its course.  But would we look upon this new and extraordinary feature in the heavens as a sign, as revealing anything?  If we were to be able to explain the mechanics of the star, would we understand it to be pointing to anything other than itself?

Ask yourself the question of how you would respond to the star.  Would it have to be explained in terms that would confirm your own view of reality, or would you be open to the fact that you might be being pointed to a reality you did not yet know?  In this season when we celebrate that God became one of us, let our hearts and minds ever be open to the reality that in Jesus Christ reality is revealed as far more and far richer than all that we can imagine, let alone measure.  When Jesus says, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21.5), may our hearts be so open to His truth that we may respond to His revelation.  Let our spiritual gaze turn to the new reality to which He points us, and may we follow Him as our true Star.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  John and Jennifer Keller for a wonderful coffee hour, and for the reception following the baptisms this past Sunday.

§  Elizabeth Schaffenburg for shoveling snow.

§  Dcn. Michele Whitford for all of her extra work in the preparation of holiday, baptismal  and funeral liturgies.

§  Brian Heck and Dcn. Michele Whitford for their extra work in reconciling the year-end financial statements for the parish.

§  Bev Evans and Nancy Yurk for serving as ushers at the 30 December funeral.

§  Dee Crouse, Annette Fabiano, Isabella Fabiano, Noah Fabiano, Scott Fabiano, Bobbi Kraft and Kaleigh Kraft for serving the altar at the 30 December funeral.

§  Pat Ford Smith for helping in funeral hospitality.

§  Ben Dobey and the choir for serving at the 30 December funeral.

§  Sherry Smies for working over the holiday break to complete the January newsletter!

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 in the week of publication.

Music this week:

Music for Sunday, January 5th, 2014, Second Sunday after Christmas

Entrance Hymn 94                  “While shepherds watched their flocks by night”

Offertory Hymn 110               “The snow lay on the ground”

Communion Hymn 112          “In the bleak midwinter”

Closing Hymn 87                    “Hark! the herald angels sing”

Epiphany, January 6^th, 2014

Prelude                                    How brightly shines the Morning Star            Pachelbel and Bach

Entrance Hymn 109                “The first Nowell”

Offertory Hymn128                “We three kings”

Communion Motet                  Saw you never in the twilight                          French carol,

harm. Wood

Communion Hymn 127          “Earth has many a noble city”

Closing Hymn 117                  “Brightest and best of the sons of the morning”

Postlude                                  How brightly shines the Morning Star            Reger  

Thank you from Shirley Kade:  I was very pleased with all the gifts I received from you people at Grace. The cookies and cake are very delicious. The flowers are just beautiful. How lucky can I get?

Thank you very much,

Shirley Kade (Recovering stroke patient)

Parish Notices

§  Office Closed: The office will be closed January 1-3. If you have a pastoral emergency please call Father Karl at 889-7190 or Deacon Michele at 918-1230.

§  Society of Mary:  The Society will gather for corporate Rosary on Monday, 6 January, at 5 p.m., followed by a 5:30 Society meeting, and the 6 p.m. Mass for the Epiphany of our Lord.

§  Galatians Study: Grab a cup of coffee and join us in the small conference room this morning to study Galatians following the 10:15 service.

§  The Feast of the Epiphany: We will celebrate the Feast of Epiphany on Monday, January 6^th. Parishioners and their guests are invited to Solemn Mass beginning at 6:00 p.m. followed by an all Parish Potluck Dinner. Please sign up in the narthex or by calling the church office at 452-9659.

§  Flower Schedule for 2014: Giving the gift of flowers is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to offer thanksgiving for your blessings. If you wish to sign up for a specific Sunday, the Flower Schedule is available on the table in the narthex. More than one person can sign up for each Sunday.

§  Coffee Hour Schedule: There is a new sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour in 2014. If you would like to host please sign up for either 8:00am or 10:15am. We are in need of someone to oversee the schedule and be the point person for questions. If you would be able to spend a few minutes a week double checking the sign-up sheet and giving reminders or if you have questions please see Deacon Michele or Bobbi Kraft. Thank you so much.

§  Small Groups: Next week, the second Sunday, January 12, the adult education hour (9 to 10 a.m.) is designated for sharing groups.  This is an opportunity to meet with fellow parishioners, to discuss issues of faith and life.  Please come and share!

§  The Annual Meeting: This year’s annual meeting will take place on Sunday January 26, 2014.  We will have one Mass at 9:00am followed by the annual meeting held in the Nave 10:30am.  We plan to have an all parish pot-luck lunch in St. Nicholas Hall at the conclusion of the meeting.  The agenda of the meeting will include committee reports, new Vestry and Warden elections, 2013 financial review and 2014 budget, review Vestry actions, and an overall review of the 2014 calendar. Please make every effort to attend and participate.

§  All Parish Potluck Lunch: Following the Financial Meeting we will have and All Parish Potluck Lunch. Please bring a dish to pass and share in fellowship. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex.