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Thursday, December 11, 2014

He Came Down from Heaven

Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes
11 December 2014

This past Sunday we enjoyed our annual festival of Advent Lessons& Carols, a service which began as an Anglican observance and has now become more common in a number of western liturgical traditions.  Lessons & Carols is always experienced by me as a gift, perhaps because of the dramatic unfolding of the prophecies of the coming of the Christ, and the story of His coming, a story experienced both in Scripture and in song.  The song—both anthems and carols—recounts salvation history in ways that parallel and compliment the story set for in the Bible, and this should remind us that when we lift up our voices in church we are making statements of faith.  I think it is more because of these statements of what we believe, and of how these statements—when they are heartfelt—move us, that we sometimes experience something akin to strong emotion in singing.  True, the music may itself evoke a reaction (and we all have our favorite tunes), but any reaction to the music is an add-on in which the composer has first responded from the heart to what is being said.
What greater drama can there be than God coming among us?  He came down from heaven!  He abides with us now, and He will come again in power and great glory.  The final hymn sung at Lessons & Carols was (and most often is) Lo!  He comes with clouds descending, by that prince of hymn writers, Charles Wesley.  The words to this hymn have been expertly parsed by Dr. Benjamin Dobey in our December newsletter, but I want to emphasize again the drama in Wesley’s hymn.  It is in the face of the truly cosmic drama of God coming among us that we are moved, in ways that combine awe and joy, and which result in tears.  Be moved.  Be moved by all that God does in your life, and in our life together.  Pay attention to what you say in prayer, to what you sing, and let the so very strong drama in these words take hold of you.

Grace abounds:  Please thank:
§  Jessica Ambelang and Steve and Katy Larson for the Sunday coffee hours. 
§  Bernie Markevitch, Jessica Ambelang and Nicci and Chase Beeck for preparing the Lessons & Carols festival reception, with cleanup assistance from Julie Davidson and Hannah Sanders.
§  Dr. Benjamin Dobey and the choir for all of their extra work in preparing and performing the festival of lessons and carols.
§  Bobbi Kraft and Jon Whitford for help at the festival.

Call for ContributionsIf you have a spiritual reflection to share, or want to point your fellow worshippers toward a resource, submit your contributions to Fr. Karl (by email) by Wednesday in the week of publication.

Youth MinistryThe birth of Jesus was dirty, messy, scary, dangerous, and real.  We know about the birth of Jesus, right? Good. God went the full nine yards for His only begotten son: angels, porcelain faces, statuesque poses, quiet smiles, sitting-still long  enough for one of those enlightenment painters to give the moment majesty and awe. But what if Jesus was born in a barn with real live animals, dung, straw, dirt, and all the mess that goes into delivering a child. What if God going the whole nine yards means being born in the same mysterious and dangerous way as everyone else? What if it really was as scary as the idea of your car breaking down in the middle-of-no-where, with no cell-phone service, just as you (or your loved one) goes into labor? Let our conversations with my Sunday School class expand on that for a bit.
In Film School (6-12th grade Sunday School) we have been watching The Nativity Story (2006), which tells the story of Mary and Joseph leading up to the birth of Jesus. Throughout our time with this movie there have been several scenes that have raised a lot of questions, a few moments of "eww", and at least one "what in the world is that about?"
As it happens there was an appalling lack of doctors, scrubs, monitoring equipment, and bleached-clean rooms for the birth of Jesus' cousin John. This scene brought about a lot of squirming from the students, and since the movie is rated PG, the scene was shot basically from an adjoining room. I was a little surprised how uncomfortable they were with the messiness and strife that the mother was going through. This allowed us to have a great conversation about the fact that Jesus' birth is clean on paper, but realistically it was definitely not.
As the story goes along in the text (Luke 2) there seems to be an awkward repetition about naming the baby 'Jesus'. Mary is told by the angel, and then Joseph later has a dream where it is revealed to him as well that the boy would be named 'Jesus'. but then this movie pointed out, that what can happen now is that Joseph can independently corroborate Mary's story. In the movie he goes to her and quotes the angel, and she knows that he knows. From that point onward they can trust each other and be a couple together.
Later, there is a scene in the movie where King Herod takes part in the rituals of the Day of Atonement. We see Herod passing his sins into a bull cow (read Leviticus 16 for the details). This caused a disruption during the movie because one of the students wanted to know "what in the world was is that about?". From this we had a great talk about the Day of Atonement, what it was, what it was for, and then I drew the parallel from this ritual to Jesus and the way Jesus' sacrifice takes its place once and for all. The short version is this is as follows: Without the Nativity there is no Cross, without the Cross the Nativity doesn't mean much. This is one of the ways that this film shows parallels or fore-shadowing to Jesus' future life, ministry, and death.
This week I was relating these stories with a friend, and I had a thought that had never occurred to me: If this story is real, and it is dirty, messy, dangerous, and scary; and if Mary just had the baby Jesus, isn't the last thing you want, at that moment, a group of scruffy-looking sheep herders wandering up to you to ogle you and your baby?
That was until my mind wrapped itself around the idea that shepherds take care of their flock, and almost certainly have experience helping their ewes to birth lambs. So here's Mary, young girl with nothing, new in town, and doesn't know anyone. Who else could a young frightened woman who is having a baby in a barn count on to help if things went poorly? The shepherds. The Shepherds who were told by an angel that a baby was being born and they should go and see. The gospels don't go into the dirty details, but what if the shepherds were on the scene to help Mary; and to see the baby Jesus, the Lamb of God into the world?
This coming Sunday we will finish our film, and have another chance to talk about this amazingly brave and faithful woman and man, Mary and Joseph, as they anticipate the birth of their son. See you then!
―Nick Whitford

Ministry Opportunities:  At a recent parish forum questions were raised about how people are asked to serve in specific ministries.  The long and short answer is that people are not asked; rather, they ask to serve.  A complete list of parish ministries is found on the parish website, www.gracesheboygan.com.  Ministry opportunities are listed under the following headings (found in the pull-down menu in the top banner):
  • Worship:  Ministry Opportunities  Descriptions include those of lector, acolyte, altar guild, greeter, lay eucharistic minister, usher, verger.
  • Outreach:  Separate headings are found for Our Community, Our Nation, and Our World.  Under each heading ministries are described, such as work with The Salvation Army.  Contact information is provided, or, if it is left undefined you can always contact the parish office.
  • Grace Ministries and Spiritual Gifts:  A lengthy menu allows you to explore an inventory and description of spiritual gifts and how these gifts relate to ministries of the parish.
Don’t forget the choir!  Singers are needed.  You can contact Dr. Benjamin Dobey for more details about the music ministries of the parish.
What’s not on the list?  What is not on the list is what Our Lord is calling you to offer as a ministry.  If you believe you are called to a ministry not listed, please come forward so that we can recruit others to serve with you.

Who are the unchurched?  These are people in the community around us who profess some degree of faith; they speak some langauge of faith, but are not affiliated with any church.  These are the “low hanging fruit” in outreach.  Chracteristics of this group can be reviewed here:

Music this week:  The Third Sunday of Advent

Prelude                        Savior of the nations, come                                       Buxtehude & Pachelbel
Entrance Hymn 59      “Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding”                                      Merton
Trisagion S-102                                                                                                          Archangelsky
Canticle S-242                        Magnificat                                                                               Plainsong

The night is far spent, the day is at hand.
            Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness,
                        and let us put on the armor of light.
            Behold, the Lord shall come, and all his saints with him;
                        And in that day the light shall be great.
            Rejoice, O Jerusalem, behold, thy King cometh.  Alleluia!

Offertory Hymn 444   “Blessed be the God of Israel”                                               Thornbury
Communion Motet      Rejoice, O Jerusalem                                                              Willan
Comm. Hymn 615      “Thy kingdom come”                                                              St. Flavian
Closing Hymn 65        “Prepare the way, O Zion”                                                     Berenden vag
Postlude                      Prepare the way, O Zion                                                         Wood

Parish Notices

§  Memorial Service: There will be a memorial service for Betty Jackaman, Ellen Aparicio’s mother. The service will be held this Saturday, December 13th at 11:30am. There will be light refreshments served following the service in St. Nicholas Hall. All are welcome.

§  Youth and Children’s Choir: Youth and Children’s choir rehearsals for the Christmas Eve service are at 5:30-6:00pm Wednesday, December 17th, downstairs in the choir room and will be just before the Pageant rehearsal.  The final rehearsal will be Sunday, December 21st at 9:00am. The choir is open to 2nd graders through high school, and will sing for the 4pm service on Christmas Eve.
§  Christmas Pageant Rehearsals: is on Wednesday, December 17th starting at 6:00p.m. The rehearsals will begin in the church and then go downstairs for costumes. Participation is open to youth of all ages. The Pageant will take place during the 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. If your child would like to participate but cannot make rehearsals please note that on the sheet or call the office.

§  Meals On Wheels Christmas Cookies: “Every Christmas season Meals On Wheels delivers a box of homemade cookies to those receiving meals. (For some this is the only gift they will receive.) We have the boxes and the tissue paper, now all we need are the cookies! If you would like to donate some of your home baked goodies the Sheboygan donation drop off site is at Meals on Wheels, 1004 S. Taylor Dr. (across from Aldi’s), December 15th from 9:00am-3:00pm and December 16th 9:00am-Noon. If you have questions please call or email Maureen at Meals On Wheels at 451-7011 (ext. 102) or client1@shebmow.org. Your response in the past has been overwhelming and we cannot thank you enough for your continued support.

§  Christmas Joy: is scheduled to meet on Monday, December 22 at 11:00am in the church kitchen. At that time we will assemble winter greens and flowers 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 and flowers.) Can you bake, make a delivery or help arrange? Please join us for this fulfilling and fun ministry to our shut-ins. They will appreciate it. If you have questions please call Barb MacEwen at 467-6909. 

§  End of Year Pledge Reminder: Please make every effort to pay the remainder of your pledge before the end of the year. If you need to know your balance, please call the office at 452-9659. If you want tax credit for your pledge paid in 2014, you must have the payment in the office by Tuesday, December 30th. A check dated the 30th, but arriving later cannot be counted as paid in 2014. All payments received after the 30th will be credited in 2015. Thank you so much.

§  Directory Update: We will be printing a new directory to be finished in time for the Annual Meeting on January 25th. Please check your entry to make sure your address, phone and email are all correct. The draft can be found on the narthex table. Thank you.

§  Special thanks to all of you for being the special people that you are. You again made our Salvation Army --Adopt a Family a huge success. A special thanks to Jessica Ambelang for her help with the tags, and Bev Evans for all her help with the delivery of the gifts. Blessings, Nancy



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