Three Points in Light of Ascension

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

29 May 2014

Today is Ascension Day, on which we commemorate the inauguration of Our Lord’s reign as King over all in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.  We do well to remind ourselves of this reign, for all-too-often we see around us assumptions spoken and unspoken, and actions which indicate a common perception that humankind is in charge.

Three points to consider:  (A)  Does the State create or protect rights?  Are human rights the inheritance of being human, of being created in the image and likeness of God?  Or, are they granted by the fiat of the State acting (in theory) on the basis of shared consent?  The surfeit of litigation and litigiousness in our culture points to a common assumption that many have that the government owes them something in addition to the protection of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

(B)  The anguish of the families whose loved ones were lost on Malaysia Airlines flight 370 is, of course, real, but their explicit demand that Malaysia find the plane is symptomatic of a common assumption that if we just apply enough resources and “science” any problem (like finding one needle in a the million haystacks of the Indian Ocean) can be solved by human beings.  This assumption is implicit, as well, in the reality that 90% of all Medicare costs occur in the last six months of life, as additional medical resources are deployed against the inevitable.  (Death is not optional.)

(C)  The crazed ranting of the mass killer in Santa Barbara focus on a sense of entitlement to pleasure.  This is symptomatic of the reality that our society celebrate desire as an expression of self.  Fulfilling our own wills is what is considered important, with God’s will (even when He is acknowledged) taking a back seat.

These are just three points for consideration, but think about how each “problem” looks different when we recognize and acknowledge that God is in charge—not us—and that His reign is that of loving Father, self-giving Son, and life-giving Spirit.  He is risen, indeed!  He reigns!

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  Steve and Polly Schmeiser and Crawford and Pat Ford Smith for the Sunday coffee hours.

§  Nicci Beeck, Jack Britton, Julie Davidson, Mary Kohler, Mary Massey, Jennifer Pawlus, Pat Ford Smith and Danie Wilson for hosting the reception for The Society of Mary this past Friday.

§  Jane Hanson and Pat Ford Smith for help in the office.

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.

A Testimony and Thanksgiving:  On May 20, 1989 Crawford and Pat were married at Grace Episcopal Church by Fr. Andrew Sloane.  Three years earlier Crawford invited me to come to church with him on Palm Sunday.  He said it was the longest gospel of the year and that I was going to love it.  At the time I was actively seeking a church home.  This was the beginning of finding out what it means to have a "church family".  Fr. Mills, Rachel Annis and Val Burg and several others were so welcoming and friendly that first Sunday and it had been a long time since I'd experienced this warmth.  For the next few years I watched and learned that Grace was a very holy and special place filled with wonderful people who loved and served the Lord on a daily basis and that I truly wanted to be a part of this.  We both went to Cursillo shortly before we married, invited by Bill and Deb Gagin.  Faith grew even more.  Fr. Mills left and Fr. Sloane arrived at Grace.  We asked permission to be married in the church, sent letters to the bishop and the date was set.  It has been a marriage consisting of 3 parts, Crawford, God and Pat.  During our marriage counselling it was explained that there would be times when life could be difficult and that our Christian family would be there to help us along the way with the guidance given through the Holy Spirit.  We have found this to be absolutely true through the many good times and tough times too.  Several priests have come and gone through the years, but Christ has steadfastly manifested His love through the members of this parish, young and old alike.  

Twenty-Five years later on May 25th, 2014 we would like to thank Fr. Schaffenburg for officiating as we reaffirmed our marriage covenant before God, our family, and friends.  Thank you to Danie Wilson, Mary Massey, Polly Schmeiser, Julie Davidson, Bobbi and Kaleigh Kraft, Barb MacEwen, Jack Britton, Bill May and the many others who helped cut and serve cake, put out beverages, clean up, take photos and celebrate with us.  Thank you to Bishop Gunter for taking time to join us at the altar so we could have our photo with him.  We are so blessed to be a part of the Family of God here at Grace Episcopal.  

God's peace be with all of you, Crawford and Pat Smith

In Search Of:  When I was young there was a TV show called “In Search Of”.  Leonard Nimoy was the narrator.  I hear his voice in my head whenever I use the words “in search of” in my everyday life.  I share that now because I/we are “In Search Of” the following:

-          We have the opportunity to host one of the Festival Foods Brat Frys held on Saturdays throughout the summer.  We are “in search of” those who would be willing to (first and foremost) man the grills.  Without grillers we have no need of additional workers to sell the brats, or bakers to donate baked goods for selling.  If you’d be willing to grill for a few hours on a Saturday, please let us know and we can choose a date.

o   Update:  One person has signed up to help.  We need more people if this is to go forward.

-          Do you know a thing or two about selling items on Ebay?  We are “in search of” those who may know a thing or two about Ebay.  An idea has been raised that would allow parishioners to donate items that could be sold for the benefit of the parish on Ebay.  It would be nice to get some guidance from those who have already sold items on Ebay.  The church now has a PayPal account that can accept payments and donations.  We also have members with items they’d be willing to donate.  If you know a thing or two about selling on Ebay, please let us know.

o   Update:  For details on what is envisioned for this ministry, please contact Fr. Karl.

-          On Saturday, Sept 20^th, every congregation in the diocese is invited and urged to bring a visioning team to St. Anne’s in DePere.  We are asked to bring a team of 4-6 people who have a passion for young people.  The event is not a one-day workshop but the beginning of an entire new way to address the needs of young people and the need of the church to embrace a whole new vision.  It will be facilitated by Fr. John Palarine…and is not confined to those parishes with youth ministry in place or those who have a large number of youth.  We are “in search of” individuals who feel called to get involved with this aspect of our church.  If God is tapping your heart to do so, please let us know.

o   Update:  For further details talk to Nick Whitford, Bobbi Kraft, or Fr. Karl.

If you can help with any of the above items, please contact let Fr. Karl, Deacon Michele or Bobbi Kraft.

Episcopal Youth Community:  Hello all! The staff for camp has been set, trained, and are praying for those of you who are coming, and that includes those of you who haven't signed up yet!  Please use this link to get your camp application! www.diofdl.org/camp

Kindercamp - June 12-14 - Ages 4-7 with parent or adult family member - Session Director Amy Heimerl

Senior Camp - June 15-21 - Completed Grades 9-12 - Session Director Michele Whitford - Chaplain Fr. Aran Walter

Middler & Junior Camp - June 22-26:

Completed Grades 6-8 - Session Directors Ben & Erin Wolf - Chaplain Mthr. Jane Johnson

Completed Grades 2-5 - Session Directors Matt Peterson & Rachel Mills - Chaplain Fr. Ralph Osborne

We believe in this ministry, and want everyone to go, the cost of camp should never be a reason not to go, if you need assistance of any kind please contact the office to let us know.

Grace and Peace,

Nick

Music this week:  

Music for Ascension Day

Prelude                         Au Soir de l’Ascension du Seigneur                        Dom Paul Benoit

Entrance Hymn 214                  “Hail, the day that sees him rise”                                              Llanfair

Gloria in excelsis S-278          Communion Service                                                 William Mathias  

Offertory Hymn 216                 “Hail thee, festival day”                                    Salve festa dies

Sanctus S-128                                                                                                                         Mathias

Communion Motet                    Above all praise and majesty                               Felix Mendelssohn

Closing Hymn 494                    “Crown him with many crowns”                                          Diademata

Postlude                                   Festal Flourish                                                            Gordon Jacob

Music for Sunday, June 1^st

The Seventh Sunday of Easter

Prelude                         Alla Sarabanda; Musette                           Ralph Vaughan Williams

Entrance Hymn 495                  “Hail, thou once despised Jesus”                                        In Babilone

Offertory Hymn 307                 “Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendor”             Bryn Calfaria

Communion Motet                    If ye love me                                                                Thomas Tallis

Communion Hymn 603 “When Christ was lifted from the earth”                  St. Botolph

Closing Hymn 460                    “Alleluia, sing to Jesus”                                             Hyfrydol

Postlude                                   Prelude on ‘Bryn Calfaria’                                  Vaughan Williams

Parish Notices

§  Ascension Day: We celebrate The Ascension of our Lord on Thursday, May 29^th with a Solemn Mass at 6:00pm. Please come and celebrate with us.

§  Visitation of the Blessed Virgin: We will celebrate the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth on Saturday, May 31 at 9:00am with Mass followed by a brunch in St. Nicholas Hall. Please come and celebrate with the parish family.

§  Coffee Hour: Currently there is no one signed up to host coffee hour for either the 8:00 or the 10:15 services for the entire month of June. Coffee hour generally in the summer are simple light snacks with coffee and juice and can be served from a cart in the Narthex. If you are able and willing to take a Sunday during the summer please sign-up on the sheet in the Schedules binder on the Narthex table.

§  First Communion Instruction: All those who are ready to receive their First Communion are invited to First Communion classes that will be held at Grace Church, in the Sunday School room, Thursday May 22, June 5 and June 12. We will meet at 4:00pm for an hour. Each participant will receive a book entitled This Bread & This Cup. The instructors will be Pat Ford Smith and Nicci Beeck. We will celebrate with First Communion class on Trinity Sunday, June 15, 2014 at the 10:15 service. If you have any questions please call the office or one of the instructors.

§  Meet the Gunters: Please join us at one of the following informal events to get to know Bishop Matt and Leslie. It is an opportunity for you to engage in conversation with the Gunters in order to get to know them a little better and for them to get to know you and your congregation better. Beverages and light snacks will be served.

• Saturday  May 31 - Trinity Oshkosh  1-3pm
• Sunday  June 1 - Intercession Stevens Point  3-5pm with Evensong at 5
• Saturday  June 7 – Holy Nativity Jacksonport 10-12noon
• Sunday  June 8 -  St. James  Manitowoc 1-4pm
• Saturday   June 21 -  St. Augustine Rhinelander 2-5pm
• Sunday  June 22 - St. Paul's  Suamico 1-3pm

We look forward to seeing you!

§  Summer Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12^th graders. Camp is an opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community, about themselves and have fun! If you have questions about what camp is like please call Michele at the office. Scholarships are available.

• Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 15 (Sun 3pm) – June 21 (Sat 12noon)
• Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 22 (Sun 3pm) – June 26 (Thu 4pm)
• Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 22 (Sun 3pm) – June 26 (Thu 4pm)
• KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 12 (Thu 5pm) – June 14 (Sat 11:30am)

There are application forms on the Narthex table.

§  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 questions about any of these things please call the office.

§  Eucharistic Festival: Plan to attend the 55th Annual Diocesan Eucharistic Festival at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 28th, at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. The Homilist will be the Rt. Rev. Matthew A. Gunter, Eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac. Picnic to follow.

Catholicity

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

22 May 2014

Friday is the feast of St. Vincent of Lérins, and his commemoration is a good occasion for us to remind ourselves of what we mean when we say that the Church is catholic (universal).  St. Vincent lived in the fourth and fifth centuries, and is the father of what has come to be known as the Vincentian Canon:  "Care must especially be had that that be held which was believed everywhere [ubique], always [semper], and by all [ab omnibus]." By this triple norm of diffusion, endurance, and universality, a Christian can distinguish religious truth from error.

Obviously, innovations in belief and practice have always been present in the Church, and when we vow (in the Baptismal Covenant) to “continue in the apostles’ teaching” we recognize that this teaching is alive and not static.  The Vincentian Canon provides a healthy brake, however, on the momentum of any claim that we “are being led in a new direction” in the practice of our faith.  When Vincent writes (in his Commonitorium of A.D. 434) of that “which was believed” he is writing about how we interpret Scripture.  It is fair to say that even in Vincent’s time not all people came to the same conclusions in interpreting Scripture, but at the same time we must be aware that whenever we speak of belief we have to question whether it is novel and personal, or whether there is a common consent within the Church.

What is most important for each one of us is that we can say we have belief which is informed.  In order to interpret Scripture I have to know it; I have to study and wrestle with it, and open my ears to the arguments of others.  I can’t make a vow to continue in the apostles’ teaching if I don’t really know what that means.  I must take responsibility for my own participation in a faith which is active, for the Church which we confess as “one, holy, catholic and apostolic” can only be universal in how she encompasses those who know and practice their faith.  Catholicity, in this respect, in about ownership.  Do you own your faith?  Do you profess it?  When challenged can you defend it?  When we can say “yes” to each of these questions we participate in a whole which is truly holy, catholic and apostolic. 

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  Nicci Beeck, Mary Snyder and Tom Wright for the Sunday coffee hours.

§  Ben Dobey for planting flowers in the columbarium courtyard, and Bobbie May for weeding the cutting garden.

§  Many thanks to all of you for your participation in Spring Cheer.  All your contributions of flower cutting, arranging, baking, assembling, and delivering were very much appreciated by the shut ins.  They are most grateful for your thoughtfulness.  (Barb MacEwen).  Participants included:  Dani Wilson, Deb Gagin, Mary Snyder, Mary Kohler, Mary Massey, Kaleigh Kraft, Joyce Wessel, Ben Dobey, Bernie Markevitch, Mary Clabots, Mary Ann Neuses, Dan and Linda Griswold, Barb MacEwen.

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.

In Search Of: 

When I was young there was a TV show called “In Search Of”.  Leonard Nimoy was the narrator.  I hear his voice in my head whenever I use the words “in search of” in my everyday life.  I share that now because I/we are “In Search Of” the following:

-          We have the opportunity to host one of the Festival Foods Brat Frys held on Saturdays throughout the summer.  We are “in search of” those who would be willing to (first and foremost) man the grills.  Without grillers we have no need of additional workers to sell the brats, or bakers to donate baked goods for selling.  If you’d be willing to grill for a few hours on a Saturday, please let us know and we can choose a date.

-          Do you know a thing or two about selling items on Ebay?  We are “in search of” those who may know a thing or two about Ebay.  An idea has been raised that would allow parishioners to donate items that could be sold for the benefit of the parish on Ebay.  It would be nice to get some guidance from those who have already sold items on Ebay.  The church now has a PayPal account that can accept payments and donations.  We also have members with items they’d be willing to donate.  If you know a thing or two about selling on Ebay, please let us know.

-          On Saturday, Sept 20^th, every congregation in the diocese is invited and urged to bring a visioning team to St. Anne’s in DePere.  We are asked to bring a team of 4-6 people who have a passion for young people.  The event is not a one-day workshop but the beginning of an entire new way to address the needs of young people and the need of the church to embrace a whole new vision.  It will be facilitated by Fr. John Palarine…and is not confined to those parishes with youth ministry in place or those who have a large number of youth.  We are “in search of” individuals who feel called to get involved with this aspect of our church.  If God is tapping your heart to do so, please let us know.

If you can help with any of the above items, please contact let Fr. Karl, Deacon Michele or ―Bobbi Kraft.

An Unknown Prisoner:  A prayer written on the wall of Ravensbruck (concentration camp): 

O lord, remember not only the men and women Of good will, but also those of ill-will.  But do not remember all the suffering they have inflected on us;  remember the fruits we have brought, thanks to this suffering.  Our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart which has grown out of all this, and when they come to judgement, let all the fruits Which we have borne be their forgiveness.

A powerful reminder for me that good may come out of evil, that there can be a redemptive force we do not as yet understand.  (Jane Hanson)

Episcopal Youth Community:  Hello all! The staff for camp has been set, trained, and are praying for those of you who are coming, and that includes those of you who haven't signed up yet!  Please use this link to get your camp application! www.diofdl.org/camp

Kindercamp - June 12-14 - Ages 4-7 with parent or adult family member - Session Director Amy Heimerl

Senior Camp - June 15-21 - Completed Grades 9-12 - Session Director Michele Whitford - Chaplain Fr. Aran Walter

Middler & Junior Camp - June 22-26:

Completed Grades 6-8 - Session Directors Ben & Erin Wolf - Chaplain Mthr. Jane Johnson

Completed Grades 2-5 - Session Directors Matt Peterson & Rachel Mills - Chaplain Fr. Ralph Osborne

We believe in this ministry, and want everyone to go, the cost of camp should never be a reason not to go, if you need assistance of any kind please contact the office to let us know.

Grace and Peace,

Nick

Music this week:  Rogation Sunday and Memorial Weekend

Prelude                        Andantino; Elevation                                      Eugène Gigout

Entrance Hymn  405   “All things bright and beautiful”                    Royal Oak

Offertory Hymn 400   “All creatures of our God and King”            Lasst uns erfreuen

Communion Motet      Christ hath a garden              English folk song, arr. Gerre Hancock

Comm. Hymn 292      “O Jesus, crowned with all renown”  Kingsfold

Closing Hymn 579      “Almighty Father, strong to save”                  Melita

Postlude                      Offertoire pour un Jour de Fête                      Gigout

Parish Notices

§  Christian Formation Schedule for May: 25 May: Fr. Ambelang will lead adult education on Sunday, with a discussion of the book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christ with a focus on the growth of responses to Jesus Christ in the Islamic world.

§  Ascension Day: We will celebrate The Ascension of our Lord on Thursday, May 29^th with a Solemn Mass at 6:00pm. Please come and celebrate with us.

§  Coffee Hour: Currently there is no one signed up to host coffee hour for either the 8:00 or the 10:15 services for the entire month of June. Coffee hour generally in the summer are simple light snacks with coffee and juice and can be served from a cart in the Narthex. If you are able and willing to take a Sunday during the summer please sign-up on the sheet in the Schedules binder on the Narthex table.

§  First Communion Instruction: All those who are ready to receive their First Communion are invited to First Communion classes that will be held at Grace Church, in the Sunday School room, Thursday May 22, June 5 and June 12. We will meet at 4:00pm for an hour. Each participant will receive a book entitled This Bread & This Cup. The instructors will be Pat Ford Smith and Nicci Beeck. We will celebrate with First Communion class on Trinity Sunday, June 15, 2014 at the 10:15 service. If you have any questions please call the office or one of the instructors.

§  Meet the Gunters: Please join us at one of the following informal events to get to know Bishop Matt and Leslie. It is an opportunity for you to engage in conversation with the Gunters in order to get to know them a little better and for them to get to know you and your congregation better. Beverages and light snacks will be served.

• Saturday  May 31 - Trinity Oshkosh  1-3pm
• Sunday  June 1 - Intercession Stevens Point  3-5pm with Evensong at 5
• Saturday  June 7 – Holy Nativity Jacksonport 10-12noon
• Sunday  June 8 -  St. James  Manitowoc 1-4pm
• Saturday   June 21 -  St. Augustine Rhinelander 2-5pm
• Sunday  June 22 - St. Paul's  Suamico 1-3pm
• We look forward to seeing you!

§  Summer Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12^th graders. Camp is an opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community, about themselves and have fun! If you have questions about what camp is like please call Michele at the office. Scholarships are available.

• Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 15 (Sun 3pm) – June 21 (Sat 12noon)
• Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 22 (Sun 3pm) – June 26 (Thu 4pm)
• Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 22 (Sun 3pm) – June 26 (Thu 4pm)
• KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 12 (Thu 5pm) – June 14 (Sat 11:30am) There are application forms on the Narthex table.

§  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.

§  Eucharistic Festival: Plan to attend the 55th Annual Diocesan Eucharistic Festival at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 28th, at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. The Homilist will be the Rt. Rev. Matthew A. Gunter, Eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac. Picnic to follow.

Coworkers

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

15 May 2014

The apostle Paul is credited with up to thirteen letters in the New Testament, but there is a general scholarly consensus that he actually wrote seven of these letters, with the rest being written in his name by disciples.  This practice of pseudonymous writing was a high form of praise in Paul’s time, and there is no doubt that even the six letters which may have been written by other hands reflect the thinking and faith of Paul because they were written by his fellow believers and “coworkers”.

It’s that word—coworkers—that I want to focus on.  Paul uses (just in the letters of undisputed authorship) nine different words to refer to his co-workers in Christ.  Paul calls them “brother” (nowadays we would include “sister”), “apostle,” “minister,” “fellow slave,” “partner,” “toiler,” “[fellow] soldier,” “[fellow] prisoner,” and just “coworker”.  Each of these words has a specific meaning but they each also connote common purpose in ministry and common identity in each other in Jesus Christ.  Purpose and identity are not separable in being and serving as a Christian.

We are used to identifying ourselves as Christians, and we are used to the understanding of identity as one which involves belief.  But sometimes we need to remind ourselves that our identity is inextricably bound with our purpose for being—with knowing, and loving, and serving God and each other in Christ.

We may hope to always recognize and call each other as brother or sister and in Christ, while recognizing the common brotherhood of all humans beings in what and who God has each created in His own image and likeness.  We must claim, as well, our apostleship (our status as those who bear a message).  We must claim our identity in ministries, and in recognizing that as we serve and work and suffer together we do this together, in fellowship.  Just as Paul’s coworkers could testify to the same faith, writing in his name, may we testify to our common faith in and by our life together.  To God be the sole glory!

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§   Fr. John Ambelang for the Sunday coffee hour.

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.

Book Review:  Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christ

This was a book whose title was so provocative I had to read it.

The author, Nabeel Qureshi, an American-Pakistani raised in an immigrant Muslim family spent his early life attempting to lead his friends to Islam as he was taught & encouraged by his parents.  When he went away to university through the debate team he met David Wood, a devout Christian, who becomes his best friend.  Both of them graduated in three years & were in the top six of their class. 

As they began to spar over their beliefs, Nabeel challenged David with the Koranic claims that God isn't a father, he has no son, and that Jesus didn’t die on a cross.  Furthermore while Jesus was a great prophet in time his message was so corrupted Muhammad was sent to correct the errors - Christians had even blasphemed by making Jesus into a god. He also questioned the validity of the Trinity (the belief of one God in three persons) and the Atonement (the belief that Jesus’ death somehow brings forgiveness).

There were two things about Islam that Nabeel eventually had to defend: if Jesus was as Christians claimed could Muhammad be a prophet of God?   There’s the Shahada, the identifying mark of the Muslim: “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet.”  The second being the Koran is a divinely inspired book.  As such the Koran had been directly delivered to Muhammad & nothing had been added or subtracted from the text.

As Nabeel went back to Islamic primary sources to affirm his beliefs to his horror he discovered he’d been taught a filtered version of history.  Still he didn’t want become Christian or to hurt his family.  At last he asked to be shown the truth through dreams.  He received a dream but it wasn’t enough; he asked for a second & a third; finally there was no doubt in his mind; Jesus was confirming all he’d fought so hard against. 

This is an intense & instructive book available in both electronic & book form.  If interested, you might want to check out further reviews on Amazon.com.  (Fr. John Ambelang)

Note:  Fr. Ambelang will lead adult education on Sunday, 25 May, with a focus on the growth of responses to Jesus Christ in the Islamic world.

Youth News

Diocesan Summer Camp

Calling all parents and students and people who love parents and students!

It's time to sign up for summer camp! As I've said before this is the best program our Diocese does for the youth.

Go to www.diofdl.org/camp to register.

Kinder Camp - June 12-14 - for campers ages 4-7 and an adult family member

Senior Camp - June 15-21 - for campers who have completed grades 9-12

Middler & Junior Camp - June 22-26 - for campers who have completed grades 6-8 and 2-5

We'll see you there!

Music this week:  

Prelude             Chorale Variations on Lord Jesus Christ, be present now        Walther

Entrance Hymn 525      “The Church’s one foundation”                                     Aurelia

Mass setting                                                                                                                 Mathias

Offertory Hymn 523     “Glorious things of thee are spoken”                              Abbott’s Leigh

Communion Motet        The Call                                                                 Vaughan Williams

Comm. Hymn 488        “Be thou my vision”                                                                  Slane

Closing Hymn 457        “Thou art the Way, to thee alone”                                           St. James

Postlude                       Toccata in A                                                                             Kuhnau

Parish Notices

§  Christian Formation Schedule for May:

o   18 May: Biblical Reflections:  Meditations/reflections will be offered on the Sunday lessons for all Sundays in May, as prepared by Mary Massey, Jane Hanson, Mary Snyder and Connie Schneider, for use in small group discussions. The meeting will be facilitated by Dcn. Michele Whitford.

o   25 May: Fr. Ambelang will lead adult education on Sunday, with a discussion of the book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christ with a focus on the growth of responses to Jesus Christ in the Islamic world.

§  First Communion Instruction: All those who are ready to receive their First Communion are invited to First Communion classes that will be held at Grace Church, in the Sunday School room, Thursday May 22, June 5 and June 12. We will meet at 4:00pm for an hour. Each participant will receive a book entitled This Bread & This Cup. The instructors will be Pat Ford Smith and Nicci Beeck. We will celebrate with First Communion class on Trinity Sunday, June 15, 2014 at the 10:15 service. If you have any questions please call the office or one of the instructors.

§  The Society of Mary, American Region: Grace Church will host the American Region of the Society of Mary May 23, 2014 at 3:00pm. Our time will begin with devotions followed by High Tea in St. Nicholas Hall. All are welcome to come and pray and enjoy the fellowship.

§  Meet the Gunters: Please join us at one of the following informal events to get to know Bishop Matt and Leslie. It is an opportunity for you to engage in conversation with the Gunters in order to get to know them a little better and for them to get to know you and your congregation better. Beverages and light snacks will be served.

o   Saturday  May 31 - Trinity Oshkosh  1-3pm

o   Sunday  June 1 - Intercession Stevens Point  3-5pm with Evensong at 5

o   Saturday  June 7 – Holy Nativity Jacksonport 10-12noon (Please note change of location)

o   Sunday  June 8 -  St. James  Manitowoc 1-4pm

o   Saturday   June 21 -  St. Augustine Rhinelander 2-5pm

o   Sunday  June 22 - St. Paul's  Suamico 1-3pm

We look forward to seeing you!

§  Summer Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12^th graders. Camp is an opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community, about themselves and have fun! If you have questions about what camp is like please call Michele at the office. Scholarships are available.

o   Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 15 (Sun 3pm) – June 21 (Sat 12noon)

o   Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 22 (Sun 3pm) – June 26 (Thu 4pm)

o   Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 22 (Sun 3pm) – June 26 (Thu 4pm)

o   KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 12 (Thu 5pm) – June 14 (Sat 11:30am) There are application forms on the Narthex table.

§  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.

§  Eucharistic Festival: Plan to attend the 55th Annual Diocesan Eucharistic Festival at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 28th, at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. The Homilist will be the Rt. Rev. Matthew A. Gunter, Eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac. Picnic to follow.

Participating and Leading

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

8 May 2014

In his book Grace in Practice: A Theology of Everyday Life (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eeerdmans, 2007), Paul Zahl, a notable priestly leader and writer, argues for “passivity” in the pastoral role—that pastors are to resist the temptation to “fix” anything, and to rely on God’s grace to be active.  Pastors are to focus on listening and being present.  Another way to think of this is that pastors are to “participate” in the life of those within their spiritual cure (this is Eugene Peterson’s language), always remembering that it is God who brings about change, not human agency.

There is certainly truth and wisdom in the realization that God is in charge, and it is useful to remind ourselves that clergy, for example, do not and cannot “fix” situations or people.  Clergy can be present, and can seek to embody God’s grace, and can seek to foster every opportunity for all people to encounter God’s living Word and His life-giving sacramental presence.  Clergy can encourage, at times reprove.  Clergy can teach (and learn!), but fundamentally clergy can best act as a “resonator” within a worshipping community, to maximize opportunities for all to participate in God’s grace, and to seek to identify barriers to participation.

Think of how you can make a difference be being present to another.  A great example of this can be found in this short video:  http://www.ted.com/talks/drew_dudley_everyday_leadership

At Ephesians 4.12 the apostle writes that some are called to be pastors and teachers “... to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ ...”  In all that we do in this parish we must consider how what we do builds up the body of Christ, how what we do advances the kingdom of God, how what we do furthers the opportunities of all to participate in God’s grace.  “How we do things” (let alone “How we have always done things”) is secondary to why we do what we do and how we live into the identity that god calls us to.  Grace abounds!  In this abounding grace may we each incarnate God’s presence to each other, trusting that whatever we believe needs to be “fixed” will grow into greater holiness when we are more available to God.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§   Bob and Barb MacEwen for the Sunday coffee hours.

§  The Boland-McIntosh and Crouse families for organizing last Sunday’s family game night, and all who providing food for the pot luck supper.

§  Jon Whitford and Joanne Otte for extra work in website evolution and new material loading.

§  Jane Hanson, Mary Massey, Connie Schneider and Mary Snyder for providing Bible study meditations for May.

§  Ben Dobey and the Schola Cantorum for the offering of sung Compline.

Prayer Ministry Beginnings:  A Prayer Ministry is beginning here at Grace and it will look

like this.  Saturday mornings at 10:00 am members of Grace will meet and walk throughout the church praying.  Our prayers will be focused  on asking the Holy Spirit to be released in a deeper, more powerful way into our Grace Church community.  The prayers will begin at the back of the church and continue through each pew, chapels, pulpit, sanctuary and sacristy.  Where the Spirit leads, we will pray, ending at the main altar.  In Acts1:14 we read that the early church prayed together constantly.  Paul reminds us in 1 Thess.5:17 we are to pray without ceasing.  It is with deep devotion and great conviction that we begin this Prayer Ministry by meeting once a week to pray for our Church.  If anyone feels called to join in the praying, please come.  

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.”  Romans 15:13       (Jane Hanson)

The power of prayer:  The prayer ministry described above is literally the answer to a prayer I have said during the Daily Office every day this year—that our Lord would raise up a new presence and gift of the Spirit in this place.  I cannot overemphasize the importance of such a ministry.  Here’s an example.  Church of the Incarnation, Dallas, Texas (http://incarnation.org/) is an Episcopal Church parish that can be described using any number of superlatives, in terms of faith, size, outreach, ministry, wealth—you name it.  One key, bedrock ingredient in this “success” (in living into this blessing) is the fact that for years a group of “prayer warriors” have gathered to pray about and over every decision in the life of the parish, to raise up those in need of prayer, to pray that God’s will for the parish might be revealed and lived, ... etc.  This ongoing prayer warrior ministry has made an abundant difference in the life of Incarnation (and other examples can be cited, as well).  I fully believe it will make a difference here.  Please gather in ministry.  Whether or not you gather on a Saturday morning, be constant in prayer. 

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.

Book Review:  Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christ

This was a book whose title was so provocative I had to read it.

The author, Nabeel Qureshi, an American-Pakistani raised in an immigrant Muslim family spent his early life attempting to lead his friends to Islam as he was taught & encouraged by his parents.  When he went away to university through the debate team he met David Wood, a devout Christian, who becomes his best friend.  Both of them graduated in three years & were in the top six of their class. 

As they began to spar over their beliefs, Nabeel challenged David with the Koranic claims that God isn't a father, he has no son, and that Jesus didn’t die on a cross.  Furthermore while Jesus was a great prophet in time his message was so corrupted Muhammad was sent to correct the errors - Christians had even blasphemed by making Jesus into a god. He also questioned the validity of the Trinity (the belief of one God in three persons) and the Atonement (the belief that Jesus’ death somehow brings forgiveness).

There were two things about Islam that Nabeel eventually had to defend: if Jesus was as Christians claimed could Muhammad be a prophet of God?   There’s the Shahada, the identifying mark of the Muslim: “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet.”  The second being the Koran is a divinely inspired book.  As such the Koran had been directly delivered to Muhammad & nothing had been added or subtracted from the text.

As Nabeel went back to Islamic primary sources to affirm his beliefs to his horror he discovered he’d been taught a filtered version of history.  Still he didn’t want become Christian or to hurt his family.  At last he asked to be shown the truth through dreams.  He received a dream but it wasn’t enough; he asked for a second & a third; finally there was no doubt in his mind; Jesus was confirming all he’d fought so hard against. 

This is an intense & instructive book available in both electronic & book form.  If interested, you might want to check out further reviews on Amazon.com.  (Fr. John Ambelang)

Note:  Fr. Ambelang will lead adult education on Sunday, 25 May, with a focus on the growth of responses to Jesus Christ in the Islamic world.

Music this week:  

Prelude                         Pastorale                                                                     J. S. Bach

Entrance Hymn 205      “Good Christians all, rejoice and sing”

Mass setting:                 Communion Service                                                    William Mathias

Offertory Hymn 645     “The King of love my shepherd is”

Communion Motet        Brother James’ Air                                                      arr. Gordon Jacob

Closing Hymn 208        “The strife is o’er”

Postlude                       Acclamations sur ‘Christus vincit’                             Jean Langlais

Parish Notices

§  Spring Cheer: is scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 15^th  at 11:00 AM in the church kitchen.  At that time we will assemble freshly emerging daffodils (!) and bag cookies, and then make deliveries (there is a sign up sheet in the narthex.) We need helping hands and money (to buy for packaging supplies.) Can you bake, make a delivery or help arrange?  Please join us for this fulfilling ministry to our shut-ins.  They will appreciate it. If you have questions please call Barb MacEwen at 467-6909. 

§  Christian Formation Schedule for May:

o   11 May: Care and Share:  Small group ministries formation and sharing

o   18 May: Biblical Reflections:  Meditations/reflections will be offered on the Sunday lessons for all Sundays in May, as prepared by Mary Massey, Jane Hanson, Mary Snyder and Connie Schneider, for use in small group discussions. The meeting will be facilitated by Dcn. Michele Whitford.

o   25 May: Small groups: Such as Care Givers, Galatians and other existing ministries.

§  Enthronement of the Eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac: Please plan to attend the Enthronement of Matthew Alan Gunter, the Eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. Refreshments to follow.

§  Summer Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12^th graders. Camp is an opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community, about themselves and have fun! If you have questions about what camp is like please call Michele at the office.  Scholarships are available.

o   Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 15 (Sun 3pm) – June 21 (Sat 12noon)

o   Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 22 (Sun 3pm) – June 26 (Thu 4pm)

o   Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 22 (Sun 3pm) – June 26 (Thu 4pm)

o   KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 12 (Thu 5pm) – June 14 (Sat 11:30am) There are application forms on the Narthex table.

§  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.

§  Eucharistic Festival: Plan to attend the 55th Annual Diocesan Eucharistic Festival at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 28th, at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. The Homilist will be the Rt. Rev. Matthew A. Gunter, Eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac. Picnic to follow.

An Eternal "Yes"

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

24 April 2014

The first Christians—the men and women who knew Jesus when He walked the earth and proclaimed the kingdom of God, and these same men and women to whom He appeared, risen from the grave—they did not engage in dry debate, spiritual abstractions or speculation about meaning.  They proclaimed the astounding reality experienced by them, that One whom they had seen brutally killed was alive; that death had been defeated.  They told the whole world that something so new and astounding had happened that nothing would ever again be the same.

If we ever forget that at Easter everything in all of Creation changed, if we ever allow the Resurrection to be reduced to the level of myth, metaphor, or symbol, then we will be doubly to be pitied, for having been saved we will have rejected salvation.  Even if we profess a belief in God we will have said that He has given up on His Creation, that the fallenness of the world is “just the way things are” and that there is no such thing as real Love, real Truth, real Good, real Beauty.

The biblical record is filled with examples of humans beings who, left to their own agencies, take what has been created and seen by God to be “good” and have wrecked it, and then have rejected each correction and help sent by Him (in Noah and the ark, in the prophets, in the Law and Temple, in the people of Israel themselves).  But, despite the repeated “no” of human beings, God has spoken an eternal “yes,” culminating in the “yes” of the Word Himself, the incarnate Son.  In Easter we see and experience that we always have reason to hope, for God continues to say “yes”.

Alleluia!  The Lord is risen!  The Lord is risen, indeed!  Alleluia!

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  Wayne and Pat Sather, Ed and Mary Clabots for the Sunday coffee hours.

§  Ben Dobey for providing flower plantings and general clean-up for the columbarium courtyard.

§  Dcn. Michele Whitford for leading the team which planned and implemented to bishop’s consecration, with musical consulting from Ben Dobey.

§  All the members of the parish who journeyed to Appleton for the consecration of our new bishop.

§  All the members of the parish who served in the consecration liturgy:

―    Ushers:  Bill and Deb Gagin, Steve and Katy Larson.

―    Choir:  Jack Britton, Jennifer Pawlus, Elizabeth Schaffenburg

―    Acolytes:  Dee and Tasha Crouse, Bryan Stenz and Paul Aparicio

―    Thurifer:  Scott Fabiano

―    Chaplain to the retiring bishop:  Dcn. Mike Burg

―    Flowers:  Bernie Markevitch

―    Registration assistance:  Bobbi Kraft

―    Set-up and transport of liturgical materials:  Jon Whitford

―    Transportation:  Paul Aparicio, using transport donated by Terry Kohler

―    Youth Leadership:  Bobbi and Kaleigh Kraft

Prayer Ministry Beginnings:  A Prayer Ministry is beginning here at Grace and it will look

like this.  Saturday mornings at 10:00 am (beginning this Saturday, 3 May) members of Grace will meet and walk throughout the church praying.  Our prayers will be focused  on asking the Holy Spirit to be released in a deeper, more powerful way into our Grace Church community.  The prayers will begin at the back of the church and continue through each pew, chapels, pulpit, sanctuary and sacristy.  Where the Spirit leads, we will pray, ending at the main altar.  In Acts1:14 we read that the early church prayed together constantly.  Paul reminds us in 1 Thess.5:17 we are to pray without ceasing.  It is with deep devotion and great conviction that we begin this Prayer Ministry by meeting once a week to pray for our Church.  If anyone feels called to join in the praying, please come.  

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.”  Romans 15:13       (Jane Hanson)

The power of prayer:  The prayer ministry described above is literally the answer to a prayer I have said during the Daily Office every day this year—that our Lord would raise up a new presence and gift of the Spirit in this place.  I cannot overemphasize the importance of such a ministry.  Here’s an example.  Church of the Incarnation, Dallas, Texas (http://incarnation.org/) is an Episcopal Church parish that can be described using any number of superlatives, in terms of faith, size, outreach, ministry, wealth—you name it.  One key, bedrock ingredient in this “success” (in living into this blessing) is the fact that for years a group of “prayer warriors” have gathered to pray about and over every decision in the life of the parish, to raise up those in need of prayer, to pray that God’s will for the parish might be revealed and lived, ... etc.  This ongoing prayer warrior ministry has made an abundant difference in the life of Incarnation (and other examples can be cited, as well).  I fully believe it will make a difference here.  Please gather in ministry.  Whether or not you gather on a Saturday morning, be constant in prayer. 

A Parishioner in the News:  This link will take you to a an article in Episcopal News Service on the 26 April consceration of our new bishop.  The accompanying photo has one of our parishioners (Kaleigh Kraft) with the bishop. 

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2014/04/30/matthew-alan-gunter-consecrated-eighth-bishop-of-fond-du-lac/#.U2F7eB_Ehms.facebook 

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                        Chorale on ‘Haec dies’ (This is the day the Lord hath made)            Widor

Entrance Hymn 199    “Come, ye faithful, raise the strain”

Offertory Hymn 305   “Come, risen Lord, and deign to be our guest”

Communion Motet      Most glorious Lord of life                                                                    Harris

Comm. Hymn 343      “Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless”

Closing Hymn 194      “Jesus lives, thy terrors now”

Postlude                      Trumpet Tune & Ayre                                                                   Telemann

Parish Notices

§  Potluck Dinner and Compline: Bring a dish to pass and join us this evening Sunday, May 4^th at 6:30pm, for a potluck dinner and fellowship. At 8:00pm the Schola Cantorum will sing Compline, a beautiful restful service full of candles and music.

§  Game Night at Grace: In conjunction with Compline, we invite everyone to arrive a little early for a few games beginning at 5:30pm.  Games, potluck, some more games (if time allows) and then Compline to send us peacefully home once again.  All ages are welcome.  A glorious evening of fun, fellowship and peace.

§  Christian Formation Schedule for May:

o   4 May Rector’s forum:  An open forum for questions about the Church, the parish, the faith.

o   11 May: Care and Share:  Small group ministries formation and sharing

o   18 May: Biblical Reflections:  Meditations/reflections will be offered on the Sunday lessons for all Sundays in May, as prepared by Mary Massey, Jane Hanson, Mary Snyder and Connie Schneider, for use in small group discussions. The meeting will be facilitated by Dcn. Michele Whitford.

o   25 May: Small groups: Such as Care Givers, Galatians and other existing ministries.

§  Enthronement of the Eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac: Please plan to attend the Enthronement of Matthew Alan Gunter, the Eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. Refreshments to follow.

§  Summer Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12^th graders. Camp is an opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community, about themselves and have fun! If you have questions about what camp is like please call Michele at the office.  Scholarships are available.

o   Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 15 (Sun 3pm) – June 21 (Sat 12noon)

o   Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 22 (Sun 3pm) – June 26 (Thu 4pm)

o   Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 22 (Sun 3pm) – June 26 (Thu 4pm)

o   KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 12 (Thu 5pm) – June 14 (Sat 11:30am) There are application forms on the Narthex table.

§  All About Camp: A special event will be held Sunday, May 4 from 2-5 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church in Appleton. It is for youth who have been to camp, those who have never been to camp but want to learn more about it, for parents with questions about camp, and anyone else who wants to find out what Summer Camp is all about. Many of the 2014 counselors will be there. There will be food, games, arts & crafts. For questions, contact Canon Tony Walter at twalter@diofdl.org or at 920-284-7967.

§  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.

§  Eucharistic Festival: Plan to attend the 55th Annual Diocesan Eucharistic Festival at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 28th, at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. The Homilist will be the Rt. Rev. Matthew A. Gunter, Eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac. Picnic to follow.