Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
12 March 2015
A guest column from Jane Hanson: When the Christ in Me Meets the Christ in
You
We are ALL made in the image of
the Creator (Genesis 1:26.) Scripture tells us we are His children. This we are comfortable with. We are comfortable when we are with people
who are warm, loving and who believe what we believe, live like we live and
worship God like we worship Him. But our
journey of faith often takes us to landscapes that are not serene and
familiar. In front of us are strange
sights and sounds. We find ourselves
sharing the path with unexpected companions.
And now we are uncomfortable, tense, fearful even. Most certainly we are suspicious. They don’t look like us, talk like us, worship
God like us. Yet our faith tells us
these strangers are God’s children. Our
faith tells us to see the Christ within each person we meet. How do we look beyond all the differences,
the voices so unfamiliar, the appearance so unsettling. Beliefs and ideas we find disturbing. We can’t!
Not by our own power. It seems
that most of the time we do not stop and tap into the Spirit within us. That Holy Spirit so ready to guide our
thoughts, our words. So, the fear, the
suspicions arise. Then the bigotry and
hatred takes over, at the most, or we simply turn and walk away, at the
least. How do we master the tapping into
the Christ within? How do we reign in
those powerful negative feelings toward those who challenge our status
quo? Have we forgotten that “His divine
power has given us everything needed for life…“ 2Peter1:3. We learn to live and walk the words of The
Christ. “Our love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that
one has died for all…..” 2Cor5:14. Only then can we see beyond the differences
in those who walk onto our path, see beyond the
uncomfortable, beyond the distain.
We can then see as our Creator sees.
With merciful, grace filled love for all the travelers we meet on our
life’s journey. Yes, within you and me
is the ability to embrace the differences of others, to love them. Because within each of us dwells The Christ.
Grace abounds: Please
thank:
§
Traci and Kevan Revis for
the simple supper at our last Friday in Lent meeting.
§ Boy Scout Troop 801 for the Sunday pancake breakfasts.
Adult Education:
For the next two Sundays adult education will focus on the “how to’s” of
praying the Daily Office. This is
intended to be a very practically-oriented class on the ins-and-outs devloping
and maintaining the habit of daily prayer using the prayer book. The class will meet in the fellowship hall at
9 a.m. each Sunday.
Youth and Family Ministry: Prayers Please This weekend our own Dee C. will be a
candidate at Happening, and Nick W. will be on staff. Please lift up these two,
and the rest of the staff and candidates as they enter a time of prayer,
questions, talks, community building, and fun. Happening is a youth lead youth
organized retreat for youth, and has been a staple of Christian Development in
our diocese for many years. Please pray for us. Our time begins Friday evening,
and ends with Eucharist on Sunday.
All are welcome to the closing
Eucharist, All Saints Church, Appleton, 2pm.
Thank you for your prayers and support!
Happening is a high school
lock-in/retreat that focuses on faith, Jesus, and refection. On March 13-15
they will be meeting, and sharing, and there is an outpouring of love that goes
into a Happening. Caritas, is one way for us as a community to share the love
with those participating. If you are a Happener (have participated in
Happening) or if you are part of the Cursillo community you have experienced
this kind of love.
As our Lent continues, perhaps you
would like to take a couple of moments and share the love with each other. If
you would like to learn how to participate with Happening in this way, please
contact Nick or the Office, and they can give you more details.
―Nick
Call for Contributions: If you
have a spiritual reflection to share, or want to point your fellow worshippers
toward a resource, submit your contributions to Fr. Karl (by email) by
Wednesday in the week of publication.
A relevant reflection in Lent, on how slowing
down allows us to listen to God: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/practical-faith/want-hear-god-slow-down?utm_source&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=1%20Title&utm_campaign=RELEVANT%20Newsletter
Music this week: The Fourth Sunday in Lent (Laetare Sunday)
Prelude Jesu dulcis memoria
Henry Walfor Davies
Introit Rejoice, Jerusalem Plainsong
Kyrie Missa ‘Alme Pater’ Plainsong, adapt. Wayne Wildman
Offertory Hymn 523 “Glorious
things of thee are spoken” Abbot’s
Leigh
Communion Motet My spirit longs for Thee Traditional Irish, arr. Leopold Dix
Comm. Hymn 321 “My God, thy table now is spread” Rockingham
Closing Hymn 541 “Come,
labor on” Ora labora
Postlude Prelude on ‘Amor Patris et Filii’ Charles Villiers Stanford
Parish Notices
§
Adult Education: Adult
education will focus on the “how to’s” of praying the Daily Office.
§
Please stop for Soup-de’-Do!
And purchase our delicious homemade soups in a variety of sizes and tastes:
Pizza, Sicilian Chicken, Bean & Ham, and Vegetarian Vegetable! Your
purchase assists us inour fundraising efforts this year. Added benefits are
they taste good and are good for you! Don’t delay, they will sellout fast!
§
Stations of the Cross,
Simple Suppers and Teaching: We will meet each Friday at 5:30 p.m. for
Stations of the Cross, followed by a simple supper and Christian
formation. Our formation program this year will be looking at our Parish
Meditations for the week. Please sign up to attend on the sheets in the Narthex
so the people who are providing the meal will know how much food needs to be
prepared.
§
Service of
Reconciliation: Please join Grace Church, Sheboygan, and St. Paul’s,
Plymouth on Wednesday, March 18th at 6:00pm. The evening will
include Holy Eucharist and self-examination. There will also be opportunity for
both corporate and private confession. Please come for an evening of hope and
forgiveness. The service will take place at St. Paul’s, 312 Main St. Plymouth.
§
Living Stations of the
Cross: Living Stations is Thursday, March 19th at 7:00 PM at St.
Dominic Church, 2133 N 22nd St, Sheboygan. Come and pray the Living Stations of the
Cross as presented by our Northside Faith Formation high school students and
music team. Contact Dianne at marshalld@archmil.org or Edie at morrison@stdominic.us or call 458-5390 for more
information.
§ Ecumenical
Stations of the Cross Hike: In cooperation
with local Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, and with the participation
of youth from congregations on the hike itinerary, we are planning an
Ecumenical Stations of the Cross Hike for Saturday, 21 March. Participants will
gather at 9:30 a.m. in Fountain Park and, as a group, will proceed to Fountain
Park UMC, Holy Name, St Luke UMC, Grace Episcopal Church and The Salvation
Army. The hike will conclude at Grace Episcopal Church where refreshments will
be provided. At each stop, a church leader will discuss their church and the
stations relevant to their order in the walk. Please join us in this focused
time of ecumenical Christian devotion and fellowship, and this Christian
witness to the wider community. All are welcome.
§
Sacrament of
Reconciliation: Lent is a time of self-examination preparing for the death
and resurrection of our Lord. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered
by appointment. Please contact Fr. Schaffenburg to set up an appointment to
make your confession.
§
Easter Flowers and Music:
Please donate for Easter Flowers and Music. We enjoy the Beauty of Holiness in
both the flowers that adorn the church and the special music which includes
brass at the Easter Vigil and strings at the Solemn Mass on Easter morning.
Please be generous at you are able. Please call the office or fill out a pink
slip to indication your wish for memorials and/or thanksgivings. The deadline is Monday, March 30th
at noon.
§
Easter Vigil Dinner:
The first Mass of the Resurrection is on Saturday, April 4, at 7:00 p.m. The
Easter celebration then continues at Trattoria Stefano, 522 South 8th
Street, at 9:30 p.m. The actual cost of the meal is a gift to the parish, so
you not only get a delicious meal but you help the church by purchasing a
ticket for the dinner. Tickets can be bought in the parish office or in the
narthex after mass for $50 a person. Everyone is invited, but seats are
limited. There are scholarships for anyone wishing to attend but are unable to
donate.
§ Fabric Donations: Boy Scout Troop
801 wants to have the boys make patrol flags. The big stumbling block has been
no materials. If you have any fabric you would like to donate, please bring
it to the office. New material is especially useful. Especially
felt cloth.
No comments:
Post a Comment