Going Somewhere

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

26 June 2014

It’s Summer.  (Believe it, or not, given the recent weather!)  In Summer we seek to relax perhaps a bit more than at other times.  But we must not forget that despite any slackening of pace we remain on a journey.  This reality is recognized in the original name for the followers of Jesus Christ.  Before calling themselves “Christians” (see Acts 11.26) the followers of Jesus were called The Way (echoing, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life ...” of John 14.6).  This speaks to the reality that we are a pilgrim people.  We are on the move.  We journey toward our true home, recognizing that as we journey we remain exiles, resident aliens (cf. 2 Cor. 5.6).  As people of The Way we are ever directed ahead, to the future fulfillment of the promises of God.

We journey, but to where?  To the land of our true citizenship, heaven (Phil. 3.20), and toward that which is above, where Christ is seated (Col. 3.1).  How do we journey?  Together and with purpose.  Even in a “slow” season, we continue our journey, moving while taking stock; moving while girding ourselves for further effort; confident that we are continuing to come closer to the fulfillment of God’s promises.

Throughout the Summer, pray about how we continue to move forward.  What specific ministries is God calling us to, to not only keep  us focused in our journey but to show the Way to those who do not know Him?  How will you be active in these ministries?  In praying about call let us always remember that staying still, resting upon the past, is not an option, any more than it was an option for Abram to return to Ur or the Israelites to Egypt.  We cannot go back to who we were or where we were, we can only be faithful in following God to where He leads us.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  Tracey and Kevin Regis 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.

Summer adult formation:  In the 17 June web publication of the journal First Things: A Journal of Religion and Public Life is found the article “Why Do People Become Catholic?”, in which R. R. Reno examines the phenomenon and reasoning of conversion of Protestants to Roman Catholicism.  See http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2014/06/why-do-people-become-catholic R. R. Reno (a Roman Catholic) celebrates the catholicity of the Church, and enumerates the following realities about the Church Catholic, that she is:  1.  visible; 2.  universal; 3.  enduring; 4.  possessed of authority; 5.  embodies beauty; 6.  hierarchical; 7.  in communion with the saints; and 8.  a moral witness.  Our discussions will focus on these eight realities of the Church, and particularly how these are embodied in Anglicanism.  In other words, we are going to talk about how and why the Church matters, and how we participate in how she matters!  This class will meet beginning on Sunday, 13 July, at 9 a.m.

Bible study resource:  The Christian Classics Ethereal Library (www.ccel.org) is a wonderful resource provided by Calvin College, that makes available online a wealth of materials for bible study, theological research, research into hymnody, the writings of the Fathers of the Church, and current opinion.  The CCEL also provides online bible study discussion groups from time to time, and a group is forming now for the study of The Acts of the Apostles.  To get more information and explore interest act now by going to http://www.ccel.org/node/25643 .  A complete listing of study and discussion groups can be found at http://www.ccel.org/groups .

LoveINC kick-off:  The kick-off celebration for LoveINC (Love in the Name of Christ) Sheboygan was held this past Tuesday.  If you could not attend but want to learn more about how you might be involved, please contact Fr. Karl or Dcn. Michele.  A listing of the types of ministries involved is available to help you discern a call to service.

Music this week:  Proper 8A

Prelude                                     Prelude & Sarabande (Suite VI)                                Louis Couperin

Entrance Hymn 414                  “God, my King, thy might confessing”                         Stuttgart

Mass Setting                             Deutsche Messe                                                 Schubert, arr. Proulx

Offertory Hymn                        “Christ is made the sure foundation”                      Westminster Abbey

Communion Hymn 609 “Where cross the crowded ways of life”                                 Gardiner

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

Postlude                                   Rigadoun                                                                    Louis Couperin

An anthem for the week:  Given the wording of the collect for this coming Sunday, and how this message and the lessons are echoed in the hymns, I cannot resist adding an anthem composed for the celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the founding of a parish elsewhere.  You will recognize echoes of the collect, Ephesians and a number of psalms.

Christ the Cornerstone

Unless the Lord build the house,

they labor in vain that build it.

But, built on the sure foundation

of the apostles and prophets,

the household is joined

and rises, a holy Temple in the Lord.

With Christ Himself the cornerstone,

blessèd are those who dwell in the house:

they will evermore praise God and sing

“His mercy endures forever!”

Grace Episcopal Church is pleased to present an antiques and collectibles appraisal event featuring expert Mark F. Moran on Thursday, July 24, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.

Moran bought and sold antiques for more than 30 years, specializing in vintage folk art, Americana, and fine art. He has been active as an appraiser of antiques and fine art for more than 20 years. 

Formerly senior editor of Antiques and Collectibles Books for Krause Publications in Iola, Wis., he has also been a contributing editor for Antique Trader magazine. He has served as editor of Antique Review East magazine; as producer of Atlantique City, an antique show held in Atlantic City, N.J.; and as editorial director of F+W Media's Antiques Group.

He is the author or co-author of more than 25 books on antiques and collectibles, including three editions of the 800-page annual Warman's Antiques & Collectibles.

Pre-registration and payment is required. Cost is $15 per item. Cash, check or MC/VISA will be accepted. You may sign up for a maximum of 3 items. Please call 920-912-4505 to schedule your appointment.

Categories of objects for appraisal may include:

Fine art, including paintings, drawings, prints and statuary.

Furniture (usually smaller pieces are best).

Ceramics, including figural pottery, vases, dishes, kitchenware and stoneware.

Glassware, including lighting, marbles and souvenir items.

Vintage photographs, including snapshots, tintypes, Ambrotypes and daguerreotypes.

Advertising, including posters,  lithographed tin, paper and figural objects.

Folk art, including carvings, quilts, weathervanes, windmill weights and "outsider" art.

Assorted toys, including dolls (bisque, composition and plastic), windups and mechanical banks.

Metalware, including iron, bronze, brass, pot metal, silver, silver plate.

Clocks, including mantel, hanging and figural.

Costume jewelry, including brooches, bracelets, earrings.

Musical Instruments, including string, wind and reed instruments.

Books.

Sports Memorabilia.

Excluded items: all weapons, including swords and knives (though folding knives with advertising are accepted); Nazi memorabilia; coins and paper money; fine jewelry, including precious gems; Beanie Babies.

Interest in this event is already starting to build and this is exciting.  Parishioners have already started to register to have their valuable evaluated and volunteers are stepping forward to help on this date.  Won’t you consider donating one to two hours of your time that day?  A sign up in the narthex is available.  Proceeds from this fund-raiser goes towards youth outreach.

Parish Notices

International Praise, Worship, & Fellowship: In celebration of 150 years of proclaiming God’s love in Sheboygan Falls there will be a Celebration Concert on the church lawn, 104 Elm Street Sheboygan Falls, Saturday, June 28at 7:00pm featuring New Hope African Fellowship Choir from Dayton, Ohio; and Ben & Shelley Hall from Milwaukee. On Sunday, June 29^th at 10:00 am there will be Outdoor Worship & Picnic. The guest preacher will be The Rev. Wilson Roane and there will again be music by New Hope African Fellowship Choir and Ben & Shelley Hall. All of the weekend events will be outdoors, please bring a lawn chair. In case of rain the festivities will be indoors.

No Adult Formation: there will be no Adult Formation today, June 29^th.

A Prayer Ministry at Grace: Saturday mornings at 10:00am members of Grace meet and walk throughout the church praying. Our prayers are focused on asking the Holy Spirit to be

released in a deeper, more powerful way into our Grace Church community. The prayers 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 1Thess.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. If you are unable to join us in person, you can still join us in spirit by praying for those listed in our Parish Directory. Saturdays 10AM.

LoveINC kick-off:  The kick-off celebration for LoveINC (Love in the Name of Christ) Sheboygan was held this past Tuesday.  If you could not attend but want to learn more about how you might be involved, please contact Fr. Karl or Dcn Michele.  A listing of the types of ministries called for is available to help you discern a call to service.

Antiques and Collectibles Appraisal Event: featuring expert Mark F. Moran on Thursday, July 24, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Interest in this event is already starting to build and this is exciting.  Parishioners have already started to register to have their valuable evaluated and volunteers are stepping forward to help on this date.  Won’t you consider donating one to two hours of your time that day?  A sign up in the narthex is available. Pre-registration and payment is required. Cost is $15 per item. Cash, check or MC/VISA will be accepted. You may sign up for a maximum of 3 items. Please call to schedule your appointment or for further information and if you would like to help on this event please contact Barb MacEwen at 920-912-4505. Proceeds from this fund-raiser goes towards youth outreach.

Incarnation and Vocation

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

19 June 2014

Today is the Feast of Corpus Christi, a feast set aside to commemorate the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.  The feast always falls on the Thursday which follows Trinity Sunday, with this placement on the calendar arising from our need to remind ourselves that the transcendent godhead dwells among us, and abides with us.

The feast commemorates the Real Presence, but this raises the questions of how this presence “happens” and how we experience it?  Speaking very broadly, there are three approaches in theology.  In the first, transubstantiation, the substance of the bread becomes the substance of Jesus’ body (and so for the wine/blood), with “substance” being the underlying reality of the thing and the outward appearance, tastes, etc., being “accidents” (i.e., not the thing itself).  This is the Roman Catholic view which is also held by many Anglicans.  A person who believes in transubstantiation will genuflect before the tabernacle, for example, because he/she believes that Jesus is present.

The second approach is consubstantiation (a predominantly Lutheran view), which posits that the substance of the bread (for example) does not change, but that the substance of Jesus’ body becomes present within the bread.  The third approach, memorialism (dominant in Baptist and Reformed traditions) says that the bread is bread, the wine in wine, but that the sacrament memorializes and symbolizes what Jesus did.  Memorialism denies the Real Presence.

In Anglicanism one is not required to subscribe to a particular theory of Presence; merely to believe that Jesus is present.  This leads to a final approach, that of “spiritual presence,” in which the Real Presence is deemed to inhere in the assembly of God’s people, independent of the elements of bread and wine.

These debates come across as academic, but the underlying reality is that in Holy Eucharist we receive Jesus into our persons, and this poses the question we need to focus on:  How do we incarnate Jesus’ presence in and to the world?  The Church—we—are the Body of Christ.  How do we make this Body present in the world, to those who do not know God?  We cannot do this when we focus only on ourselves.  We must look outward in mission.  A church which is not in mission is in decline.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  Pat Ford Smith for the Sunday coffee hour.

§  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.

Episcopal Youth Community:  Community

Naturally there is a delay between the writing of an article and its publication, often times it is ignored because the article doesn't require  we know the time of its writing. However, I am writing this from camp on Tuesday morning (before wake up) of our Senior High week.
It is simply amazing that anything like this can happen: in a mere 30 hours of time together, we have formed community. I don't mean that we all just happen to be together, sharing the same space and eating at the same time. I mean community. People who are learning about each other; our fears, our joys, who we are, where we've been, our biggest dreams, our biggest challenges.
We listened to each other without needing to have anything to say back, but affirming what we see in them even if we've only known them for 30 hours. A group of people being intentional about knowing each other and helping each other. To quote one of the campers during a recap exercise, "it feels like we've been here for a week already" (in a good way).
This is why camp is so successful. In a matter of hours we, through God's goodness, can break barriers, build trust, open communication, and voice our inner needs as a church. A church that doesn't meet together in the same way, ever. When we are done this week we will remember our time together. When we go home we will only keep in touch with some of these people regularly. And those friendships can last a lifetime, as they have for me. But together we are a church. A group of Christians striving to learn about their Savior, in order to be more like Him, and do the things He does.

This is church camp, a powerful place where learning and healing can happen, where God is present, and is strangely and wonderfully tangible (very much like walking into the sanctuary of Grace for me).

Please pray for us at camp, if you're reading this on Thursday then we are getting into the climax of our week. Pray that the Holy Spirit is present, pray for wisdom and comfort and peace for us as we listen, learn, and teach.

Thank you for your support, and for lifting us up in prayer.

―Nick

LoveINC kick-off:  The kick-off celebration for LoveINC (Love in the Name of Christ) Sheboygan is this coming Tuesday, 24 June, from 4 to 5:30 at The Bull, on Hwy. 32 just South of Hwy. 28.  Good news!  There are now 23 churches participating, and we will meet the new Executive Director, Katy Popp.  If you think you might be interested in volunteering, come on the 24^th to get more information.

Music this week:  Proper 7A

Prelude                                    Aria                                                                                   Paul Manz

Entrance Hymn 410                “Praise, my soul, the King of heaven”                          Lauda anima

Mass setting – Schubert

Offertory Hymn 594               “God of grace and God of glory                               Cwm Rhondda

Communion Hymn 655          “O Jesus, I have promised”                                                     Nyland

Closing Hymn 564                  “He who would valiant be”                                          St. Dunstan’s

Postlude                                  Prelude & Fugue in G major                               Dietrich Buxtehude           

Grace Episcopal Church is pleased to present an antiques and collectibles appraisal event featuring expert Mark F. Moran on Thursday, July 24, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.

Moran bought and sold antiques for more than 30 years, specializing in vintage folk art, Americana, and fine art. He has been active as an appraiser of antiques and fine art for more than 20 years. 

Formerly senior editor of Antiques and Collectibles Books for Krause Publications in Iola, Wis., he has also been a contributing editor for Antique Trader magazine. He has served as editor of Antique Review East magazine; as producer of Atlantique City, an antique show held in Atlantic City, N.J.; and as editorial director of F+W Media's Antiques Group.

He is the author or co-author of more than 25 books on antiques and collectibles, including three editions of the 800-page annual Warman's Antiques & Collectibles.

Pre-registration and payment is required. Cost is $15 per item. Cash, check or MC/VISA will be accepted. You may sign up for a maximum of 3 items. Please call 920-912-4505 to schedule your appointment.

Categories of objects for appraisal may include:

Fine art, including paintings, drawings, prints and statuary.

Furniture (usually smaller pieces are best).

Ceramics, including figural pottery, vases, dishes, kitchenware and stoneware.

Glassware, including lighting, marbles and souvenir items.

Vintage photographs, including snapshots, tintypes, ambrotypes and daguerreotypes.

Advertising, including posters,  lithographed tin, paper and figural objects.

Folk art, including carvings, quilts, weathervanes, windmill weights and "outsider" art.

Assorted toys, including dolls (bisque, composition and plastic), windups and mechanical banks.

Metalware, including iron, bronze, brass, pot metal, silver, silver plate.

Clocks, including mantel, hanging and figural.

Costume jewelry, including brooches, bracelets, earrings.

Musical Instruments, including string, wind and reed instruments.

Books.

Sports Memorabilia.

Excluded items: all weapons, including swords and knives (though folding knives with advertising are accepted); Nazi memorabilia; coins and paper money; fine jewelry, including precious gems; Beanie Babies.

Interest in this event is already starting to build and this is exciting.  Parishioners have already started to register to have their valuable evaluated and volunteers are stepping forward to help on this date.  Won’t you consider donating one to two hours of your time that day?  A sign up in the narthex is available.  Proceeds from this fund-raiser goes towards youth outreach.

Parish Notices

§  Adult Education this Sunday:  Fr. Ambelang will lead a session at 9 a.m. this Sunday on that most mysterious of biblical books, Revelation.  His presentation will examine thematic elements in the book and what this thematic structure reveals about God, His will for Creation, and our ultimate end.

§  Deacon Michele at Camp: Michele will be at Senior Camp all week returning on Saturday, June 21. The office will be open from 9:00 – Noon every day. Fr. Karl will be available all week in the office and by cell phone. Please keep Diocesan Summer Camp in your prayers.

§  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.

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

We look forward to seeing you!

§  The Sixth Annual “Good Stock” Music Festival: will be held on Saturday, June 21st at the Fountain Park band shell in downtown Sheboygan. Music featuring praise bands from all over Sheboygan County, a kid's activity area and good food will all begin at 11:00 am and run until 8:30pm. Admission is free. For more information visit our website at www.goodstocksheboygancounty.com

§  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.

Take Courage; Give Courage

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

12 June 2014

The day on which I write (11 June) it is the Feast of St. Barnabas the Apostle.  The original name of this early disciple of Jesus was Joseph, but her received his second name for its meaning, “Son of Encouragement,” and the fitness of this name is testified to in the scriptural record (e.g., in introducing Saul to the church in Jerusalem; in taking John Mark under his wing in mission work).  The achievements of Barnabas, prior to his martyrdom by stoning in A.D. 61, were many, and he is considered the father of the Church in Cyprus.  More to the point, in remembering Barnabas we may examine all the ways in which we are called and equipped to offer encouragement to others. 

What does it mean to encourage someone?  Etymologically the word is accurate in its description of how we grow the courage and conviction that already lies in another.  Whatever any of us is called to do in faith we are so called by God, but it is easy to be distracted, or to doubt ourselves, or to question whether God has a use for us.  But, consider that every time you have what appears to be a random thought to call someone up and just say “I am thinking about you/praying for you,” every time you think maybe you should go visit someone, these are times when the Holy Spirit is prompting you to action.  When you respond to God’s action, your own response and your own testimony will serve to confirm in another the courage and call to action that God has placed in them.

We live in a culture in which we are quick to find fault with one another.  We live in a culture in which the dominate form of comedy is sarcasm.  It is, therefore, countercultural to look upon one another first from the perspective that we are thankful to God for each other, and then that we are thankful to each other.  When we can realize the blessing that is God’s plan, we can realize that each person given to us in ministry is a person who has been called by God, and our ministry to give them the encouragement to claim what God has given them already.

Pray for each other.  Be thankful for one another.  By thankful to each other.  Never hesitate to give voice to your thanksgiving.  May we each be a son or daughter of encouragement.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  Jane Hanson and Hans Graf for the Sunday coffee hours.

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

§  Those helping in the preparation, set-up, and clean-up for the luncheon following the Beebe funeral:  John Ambelang, Paul Aparicio, Ed Clabots, Julie Davidson, Dan and Linda Griswold, Jane Hanson, Bobbi Kraft, Barb MacEwen and Bernie Markevitch.

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: 

Episcopal Youth Community:  Recharging the Batteries Physically and Spiritually

Vacation can be a very good thing for a person. A chance to get away, break out of the normal routine, have a little extra rest and relaxation, and maybe (just maybe) get some extra sleep.

This is in direct contrast to the other type of vacation I'm going to have. In a couple of weeks I will be at Senior Camp, and there I will have what might be the best week of my year. I will come back from that week, exhausted, but in a good way. Spending time with God and godly people, in an effort to follow our Savior more closely.

As I've said before, camp is the best thing we do, and it's through the dedication of the staff, the willingness of the campers, the grace of God, and the presence of the Holy Spirit that we can do the things we do there. 

We are a community, sometimes it takes a day or two before it gels, or as has happened in the past it happens on night one. This community is a place of trust, patience, kindness, good works, and love. We listen to each other, care, pray, fight for and lift up each other; both during camp, and afterwards. I have friends from camp that I speak with regularly, and I have friends from camp whom I could call on even if we have been years apart, because we have a closeness, and an understanding of each other.

I encourage all youth to go to camp, in fact you can still sign up now! It cannot be said enough times that this is the best thing we do. If there is a question about fees please let someone in the church office know. All of the information is at the link below.

www.diofdl.org/camp

Please come to camp with us.                   ―Nick

Music this week:  Trinity Sunday

Prelude                        Kyrie, God the Father in Eternity                                           J. S. Bach

                                    Christe, Savior of the World

                                    Kyrie, God the Holy Ghost

Entrance Hymn 362    “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty”                                Nicaea

Mass setting                Deutsche Messe                                                                       Schubert

Offertory Hymn 366   “Holy God, we praise thy Name”                                           Grosser Gott

Comm. Hymn 336      “Come with us, O blessed Jesus”                                           Werde munter

Closing Hymn 368      “Holy Father, great Creator”                                                  Regent Square

Postlude                      Fugue in E Flat                                                                       J. S. Bach

Grace Episcopal Church is pleased to present an antiques and collectibles appraisal event featuring expert Mark F. Moran on Thursday, July 24, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.

Moran bought and sold antiques for more than 30 years, specializing in vintage folk art, Americana, and fine art. He has been active as an appraiser of antiques and fine art for more than 20 years. He is probably best known as a host on PBS Antique Roadshow.

Formerly senior editor of Antiques and Collectibles Books for Krause Publications in Iola, Wis., he has also been a contributing editor for Antique Trader magazine. He has served as editor of Antique Review East magazine; as producer of Atlantique City, an antique show held in Atlantic City, N.J.; and as editorial director of F+W Media's Antiques Group.

He is the author or co-author of more than 25 books on antiques and collectibles, including three editions of the 800-page annual Warman's Antiques & Collectibles.

Pre-registration and payment is required. Cost is $15 per item. Cash, check or MC/VISA will be accepted. You may sign up for a maximum of 3 items. Please call 920-912-4505 to schedule your appointment.

Categories of objects for appraisal may include:

Fine art, including paintings, drawings, prints and statuary.

Furniture (usually smaller pieces are best).

Ceramics, including figural pottery, vases, dishes, kitchenware and stoneware.

Glassware, including lighting, marbles and souvenir items.

Vintage photographs, including snapshots, tintypes, ambrotypes and daguerreotypes.

Advertising, including posters,  lithographed tin, paper and figural objects.

Folk art, including carvings, quilts, weathervanes, windmill weights and "outsider" art.

Assorted toys, including dolls (bisque, composition and plastic), windups and mechanical banks.

Metalware, including iron, bronze, brass, pot metal, silver, silver plate.

Clocks, including mantel, hanging and figural.

Costume jewelry, including brooches, bracelets, earrings.

Musical Instruments, including string, wind and reed instruments.

Books.

Sports Memorabilia.

Excluded items: all weapons, including swords and knives (though folding knives with advertising are accepted); Nazi memorabilia; coins and paper money; fine jewelry, including precious gems; Beanie Babies.

Interest in this event is already starting to build and this is exciting.  Parishioners have already started to register to have their valuable evaluated and volunteers are stepping forward to help on this date.  Won’t you consider donating one to two hours of your time that day?  A sign up in the narthex is available.

Watch for further details in the Angelus, Sunday Bulletin and Flyers.  For further information and if you would like to help on this event please contact Barb MacEwen at 920-912-4505.  Proceeds from this fund-raiser goes towards youth outreach.

Parish Notices

§  First Communion: We celebrate with Chase Addison Beeck, daughter of Don & Nicci Beeck; Mary Grace Boland, daughter of Michael Boland & Susan McIntosh and Kathryn Elizabeth Schumacher, daughter of Tom & Liz Schumacher. They have completed This Bread and This Cup instruction with Nicci Beeck and Pat Ford Smith.

§  Please share in the joy of welcoming them to the Lord’s table.

§  God and Me Program: We recognize and celebrate with Josten McMillan who has completed The God and Me program. It is part of the P.R.A.Y. program designed to help children become best friends with Jesus and tell their story of “God and Me” together. As children learn to lean on God as their Good Shepherd, they will be challenged to reach out and be “good shepherds” to those around them.

§  Congratulations Graduates! Jairus Gallimore, Martha Schmeiser and Elena Williams graduated from North High School. Jairus will attend UW Sheboygan, Martha will attend UW Whitewater, Elena will be taking her two horses and going to the University of Kentucky. Katie Williams graduated from Purdue University and will begin working at Coyote Logistics July 1. Lindsay Fischer graduated from UW Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Music, Cum Laude and will go on to study for her Master’s degree in the fall. Congratulations to all the graduates.

§  Thank you Sunday School Teachers: Thank you to Nicci Beeck, Pat Ford Smith, Mary Ann Portz and Nicholas Whitford for their time and talent in teaching our young people every Sunday. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

§  Deacon Michele at Camp: Michele will be at Senior Camp all week returning on Saturday, June 21. The office will be open from 9:00 – Noon every day. Fr. Karl will be available all week in the office and by cell phone. Please keep Diocesan Summer Camp in your prayers.

§  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.

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

§  We look forward to seeing you!

§  The Sixth Annual “Good Stock” Music Festival: will be held on Saturday, June 21st at the Fountain Park band shell in downtown Sheboygan. Music featuring praise bands from all over Sheboygan County, a kid's activity area and good food will all begin at 11:00 am and run until 8:30pm. Admission is free. For more information visit our website at www.goodstocksheboygancounty.com

§  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.

"Penmanship"

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

5 June 2014

In an article found in The New York Times is discussed the idea that teaching children cursive writing—as opposed to teaching them only to print and to type—changes how they form thoughts and ideas.  Cursive writing is not included in the Common Core Curriculum for schools.  The article (found here:  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/science/whats-lost-as-handwriting-fades.html?hpw&rref=science) is thought-provoking in itself, but consider how the model it discusses (of the formation of neural pathways in the brain) applies in the life of faith.  Faith may be understood to involve both trust (in God) and mental assent (to specific statements of belief).  Religion (from the Latin re ligio, “that which binds again”), on the other hand, is the practice of faith; it is the establishment of pathways (neural and otherwise) in our being to allow us to experience faith, to experience and trust in the personal presence of God, and to understand our experience of God for how it both reveals who He is and what His will is for us.

“Pathways” also involve pattern recognition; they involve how we classify and make sense out of reality.  On this date we remember St. Boniface (d. 754), the English monk who was the apostle to the Germans.  Boniface was martyred, hacked to death after he felled the oak which the Germanic tribes held to be sacred to the pagan god Odin.  His witness caused change in the pattern of how the Germans understood reality.  His witness began a process by which pattern recognition evolved from one in which a distant and vengeful god brooded in nature to the true one in which the self-giving of God is revealed in that supreme pattern, the Cross.

How we understand and experience reality is determined in large part by what we do.  When we practice our faith, our faith grows, and we imprint a new pattern on those around us.

Grace Abounds:  Please thank:

§  Danie Wilson, Crawford and Pat Ford Smith, Terry and Mary Kohler,  and Bryan Stenz for the Sunday coffee hours.

§  Pat Ford Smith, Terry and Mary Kohler, Bob and Barb MacEwen, Jack Britton, Jennifer Pawlus, and Polly Beebe the reception for The Society of Mary this past Friday.

§  Jane Hanson 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.

In Search Of: 

§  Jon Whitford is currently working on some updates to the website.  There have been requests to make the sight "friendlier" for those viewing via mobile devices.  There have also been ideas tossed around for mobile apps.  In light of these requests, we are currently "in search of" ideas, suggestions, wishes, dreams and those who'd like to participate.  We're looking to schedule a meeting for discussion of such...please let it be known if you'd like to attend.

§  We also are "in search of" those who can help get the "online store" up and running for the website. Do you have an eye for details? OR Do you have a gift for writing?  OR Do you have a mind for retail? OR Do you have time to photograph the items for the store?  If so, we have multiple tasks that need to take place before the items can be placed in the online store.  The tasks can be done by multiple people, each offering up their individual gifts of service.

o   As usual, please let Father Karl or Deacon Michele or any Vestry member know if you can help. Thank you for offering your gifts into service for His Kingdom.

§  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.

Episcopal Youth Community:  Recharging the Batteries Physically and Spiritually

Vacation can be a very good thing for a person. A chance to get away, break out of the normal routine, have a little extra rest and relaxation, and maybe (just maybe) get some extra sleep.

This is in direct contrast to the other type of vacation I'm going to have. In a couple of weeks I will be at Senior Camp, and there I will have what might be the best week of my year. I will come back from that week, exhausted, but in a good way. Spending time with God and godly people, in an effort to follow our Savior more closely.

As I've said before, camp is the best thing we do, and it's through the dedication of the staff, the willingness of the campers, the grace of God, and the presence of the Holy Spirit that we can do the things we do there. 

We are a community, sometimes it takes a day or two before it gels, or as has happened in the past it happens on night one. This community is a place of trust, patience, kindness, good works, and love. We listen to each other, care, pray, fight for and lift up each other; both during camp, and afterwards. I have friends from camp that I speak with regularly, and I have friends from camp whom I could call on even if we have been years apart, because we have a closeness, and an understanding of each other.

I encourage all youth to go to camp, in fact you can still sign up now! It cannot be said enough times that this is the best thing we do. If there is a question about fees please let someone in the church office know. All of the information is at the link below.

www.diofdl.org/camp

Please come to camp with us.                   ―Nick

Music this week:  Pentecost

Prelude                                    Prelude on ‘Down Ampney’                                              B. Dobey

Entrance Hymn 225                “Hail thee, festival day”                                            Salve festa dies

Mass setting                            Deutsche Messe                                                                F. Schubert

Sequence Hymn 504               “Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire”           Veni Creator Spiritus

Offertory Hymn 509               “Spirit divine, attend our prayers”                              Nun danket all

Communion Motet                  Come, Holy Ghost                                                           O. Gibbons

Communion Hymn 508          “Breathe on me, breath of God”                                         Nova vita

Postlude                                  Chorale Prelude on Come, Holy Ghost, Lord God             J. S. Bach

Parish Notices

§  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.

• 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: It is not too late to sign up!!! 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.

§  The Sixth Annual “Good Stock” Music Festival: will be held on Saturday, June 21st at the Fountain Park band shell in downtown Sheboygan. Music featuring praise bands from all over Sheboygan County, a kid's activity area and good food will all begin at 11:00 am and run until 8:30pm. Admission is free. For more information visit ourwebsite at www.goodstocksheboygancounty.com

§  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.