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Thursday, April 3, 2014

Mission and Seeking

Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes
3 April 2014

Yesterday was the feast of James Lloyd Breck (d. 1876), “The Apostle of the Wilderness” in The Episcopal Church.  A Philadelphia native who became a missionary following his exposure to the pastoral devotion, liturgical concern, and sacramental emphasis of William Augustus Muhlenberg (d. 1877, feast 8 April), Breck (together with three classmates from The General Theological Seminary) was the founder of Nashotah House.
It was through the missionary efforts centered on Nashotah House that our parish was founded, and it is therefore appropriate that in remembering Breck we consider how his witness challenges us.  In the brief biography of Breck found in Lesser Feasts and Fasts, the missionary outreach from Nashotah House is described as involving “... probably for the first time since the Revolution, Episcopal missionaries [as] the first to reach the settlers.” 
What would we write about Episcopal missionaries, missionaries from Grace Episcopal Church, now?  What mission work are we engaged in?  The are parish members who are good about inviting friends and acquaintances to come and worship with us.  We do engage in outreach in service ministries, and when people come to us for help they are always invited to worship.  But these invitations are to have people join us here, in our own parish.  What are we doing to go to them?  How are we reaching out, beyond the service ministries we engage in?  Are we spearding the message of the kingdom?
Mission is about more than invitation.  It involves seeking people.  The missionaries from Nashotah House who gave birth to Grace Episcopal Church did not come to Sheboygan to invite people to worship with them at Nashotah House.  They came to bring the Gospel here.  How are we to take the Gospel to those who do not know Christ, both in Sheboygan and elsewhere?
The Vestry have been challenged to think and pray about what mission outreach we are called to as a parish.  All of us may think and pray about this.  It can involve local initiatives.  It can involve an annual mission trip to another area.  It can involve multiple small initiatives or a big, challenging one.  Ask God what He is calling us to do in spreading the saving message of His Kingdom.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:
§  Mary Snyder for the Friday night Lenten supper.
§  Dannie Wilson, and Zach and Dee Whitford for the Sunday coffee hours.
§  John Davis and Pat Ford Smith for leading the Friday meditations at our Lenten supper.

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 in the week of publication.

What about Noah (the film)?  YOu may have heard the debate over how faithful to the Bible the film is.  The debate misses the point.  The source material is not biblical.  This review makes it clear that the film is not really based on the Bible at all, but in Gnostic:  http://drbrianmattson.com/journal/2014/3/31/sympathy-for-the-devil?utm_source=StandFirm&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=link

Music this week:  

Prelude            Psalm Prelude (Psalm 130, v. 1)                                             Herbert Howells
                        Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord.
Introit              Judica me Deus                                                                      Plainsong
                        Antiphon:  Give sentence with me, O God, and defend the cause of my soul
                        against the ungodly people: deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man; for
 thou, O Lord, art my God, and my strong salvation.
                        Psalm:   O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me: and bring me
                        unto thy holy  hill, and to thy dwelling.
                        Antiphon:  Give sentence with me, O God…
Tract:               Psalm 129 (choir)
Offertory Hymn 665
All my hope on God is founded                                               Michael
Comm. Motet  Jesu, the very thought of thee                                                 Thomas Este

                        Jesu, the very thought of thee
with sweetness fills the breast;
                        But sweeter far thy face to see,
And in thy presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus’ Name,
The Saviour of mankind.
Jesu, our only hope be thou,
As thou our prize wilt be;
In thee be all our glory now,
And for eternity.
                                    ...Latin, 12th and 15th centuries, trans. Edward Caswall (1814-1878)           
Communion Hymn 508
Breathe on me, breath of God                                                 Nova vita
Closing Hymn 457
Thou art the Way                                                                     St. James
Postlude          Prelude on the Old 136th Psalm Tune                                     Charles Wood

Stations of the Cross:  Tomorrow, Friday April 4th, the youth of Grace is hosting the Friday night Stations of the Cross. Our rendition is decidedly outside-the-box. We are using scriptures, prayer, reflection, discussion, and movie clips to bring the stations into a whole new light. The first time I experienced the stations this way, it changed me. I hope you can come and find something new or altering, or to have new life given to the stations you've known for years. I love the Stations of the Cross. I love many of the varieties through which we experience it, but this is unique. I highly encourage you to come.
I should also mention that because of the format of our presentation, we are switching the schedule around. We will meet and have dinner right away at 5:30pm and begin the stations immediately afterward.
Thank you, Nick

Parish Notices

§  Stations of the Cross, Simple Suppers and Teaching:  This Friday Stations of the Cross will be a little bit different. We will begin with dinner at 5:30pm and then we will gather in the church for a youth led Stations of the Cross that will include multi-media program that follows Jesus’ passion. This will include scripture and film clips. Please sign up to attend on the sheet in the Narthex so enough food will be prepared. Thank you.

§  Metropolitan Opera:  The Metropolitan Opera production of Giacomo Puccini’s classic La Boehme will be broadcast live on Saturday, 5 April.  We will gather at 11:45 a.m. at the Marcus Cinema, and enjoy a light meal together afterward.  Talk to Fr. Karl if you are interested and need more detail, or just show up!  La Boehme is one of the most famous and tuneful of all operas, and this new production will feauture the Metropolitan Opera debut of one of today’s most celebrated sopranos, Anita Hartwig.  For a sample from rehearsal  see http://www.metoperafamily.org/opera/boheme-puccini-tickets.

§  Violin and Organ Concert: On Sunday, 6 April, at  4:00pm we will enjoy a concert of music for violin and organ, performed by The Gough Duo of the United Kingdom, praised in American Record Guide for “spectacular playing” and “wonderful” music. For details of their repertoire see http://www.goughduo.co.uk/ The concert is free. There will be a Gala reception afterward in St. Nicholas Hall. A free will offering will be gratefully accepted.

§  Spring Clean-up!  We will gather for Spring clean-up on Saturday, 12 April.  This will allow us to get the parish in top shape before the start of Holy Week.  Please sign up to work on the indoor crew, which will focus on cleaning and painting, or the outdoor crew, which will focus on garden and grounds clean-up.  In the event of bad weather, the outdoor clean-up will be rescheduled, but the indoor crew will meet.  The day will begin at 8:30 a.m., to be concluded by 12:30 p.m.  Morning snacks will be provided.  If you can’t help with clean-up, sign up to provide help with the lunch that will conclude the effort!  Contact the office to sign up.

§  Stay Connected! There are many ways to stay connected and find all the latest announcements. Grace Church can be found by “liking” us on Facebook. You can also sign up for the Grace Notes blog at http://gracechurchgracenotes.blogspot.com/ on the right hand side there is a place to sign up and receive the blog by email. You can find the Grace Church website at www.gracesheboygan.com. At the end of each bulletin there is QR code that you can scan with your smart phone and it will take you directly to the website. If you have an email address you can receive the Angelus electronically and save the church some printing and postage costs as well as receive any gentle reminders that may pop up between Angelus publications. If you have questions about any of these things please call the office.

§  Abuse Prevention Training: In the coming months, there will be opportunities to work with our youth as well as those from around the area and Diocese.  Among these opportunities will be our parish hosting the Diocesan Middle School kids for New Beginnings. The Diocesan office provides Abuse Prevention Training for all adults to help us better identify situations that could be troublesome.  A flyer with details of who should take courses and hot to enroll can be found here. If you are interested or have questions, please talk to Fr. Karl, Dcn. Michele, or any member of the Vestry.

§  Bishop Consecration Volunteer Opportunities: Voices in all ranges are requested to sing with the choir. Music will be available in advance and there will be a rehearsal from 8:30-10:00am on Saturday morning. Please bring along a choir robe if you have one. There are many other volunteer opportunities on Friday and Saturday including greeters, collecting vessels arriving from congregations, helping with refreshments on Friday and the reception on Saturday, being a gofer or being an usher. Please go to http://www.episcopalfonddulac.org/bishopsearch/consecration.htm Click the purple volunteer button to see times and descriptions. Or ask Michele about the many ways you can be included in this historic event.

§  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.





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