Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace Notes
23 April 2015
Today is
the feast day of St. George. George was
a soldier in the Roman Army, a Greek-speaking Christian from what is now
Syria. George was an Tribune (commanding
officer) of the guard of the emperor Diocletian, at Nicomedia in Asia
Minor. The emperor ordered his death (A.D.
303) when George refused to renounce his faith. Diocletian has ordered all soldiers to
publicly renounce Jesus Christ, and to offer sacrifice to the emperor. Not only did George refuse, but he personally
approached the emperor to attempt to dissuade him from his order. When the emperor refused, George denounced
the order in front of the assembled troops.
He was permitted to give his considerable wealth to the poor, and was
then decapitated after lengthy torture.
George
is that patron saint of England, Georgia (the country), Portugal, of many
churches and dioceses, and of soldiers.
His red cross on a white field comprises the flag of England (and is
incorporated in the Union Jack, and by this in the national flags of Australia
and New Zeeland.
George
is perhaps best remembered in the legend in which he slays a dragon, rescuing
an imprisoned maiden. The details of the
legend vary, but they have no real relationship to the actual life of
George. The legend probably originated
in the tales of returning Crusaders, who sought to increase their own chivalric
prestige. They would likely have visited
his shrine in Beith Jala, Palestine.
(This shrine is a traditional site of veneration by Christians and
Muslims, who also venerate George. Jews
have a tradition of visiting the shrine, as well, but this relates to their
understanding of the location as related to Elijah.) But, George did encounter a dragon,
and did inflict a deadly wound upon him.
George confronted the most powerful man on earth, Diocletian, and stared
him down. This public confrontation,
even though it resulted in George’s execution, was important in the death
throes of the imperial cult. Nine years
after the death of George the Christian faith was declared legal throughout the
empire, in part because the witness of those like George resulted in so many
imperial officers embracing faith in Jesus Christ.
George
reminds us that humility and pacifism must never be confused with
“passivism”. Passivism involves being
completely passive, and never standing up for the faith. Proclaiming and defending the faith requires
real courage. Passivism assumes the
character of that postmodern disease, the chief symptom of which is the phrase
“Whatever!” George could have said
“Whatever!” He could have just complied
“with a wink and a nod”. He didn’t. He stood before all the power of the earth and
said “No” when called upon to renounce his Lord. May his witness inspire us to face the daily
dragons that would seek to make us conform to the world.
Grace abounds:
Please thank:
§
Pat and Wayne Sather, and Art and Nancy Imig for the Sunday coffee hours.
§ All who helped on parish clean-up day: Paul Aparicio, Jack Britton, Mike Burg, Ed
Clabots, Julie Davidson, John Davis, Bill Gagin, Deb Gagin, Scott Gedemer, Bob
Hanlon, Barb MacEwen, Bob MacEwen, Elizabeth Schaffenburg, Mary Snyder.
Podcasts! Podcasts
are found on the website under “Media”.
You can also subscribe on ITunes or with RSS full feed at:
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: The
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Prelude Pastorale J. S. Bach
Entrance Hymn 495 “Hail, thou once despised Jesus” In Babilone
Gloria in excelsis S-278 William Mathias
Psalm 23 Chant: R. Benjamin Dobey
Offertory Hymn 645 “The King of love my shepherd is” St. Columba
Sanctus S-128 Mathias
Fraction Anthem Christ our Passover David Hurd
Communion Motet Brother James’s Air arr. Gordon Jacob
Communion Hymn 312 “Strengthen for service, Lord” Malabar
Closing Hymn 208 “The strife is o’er” Victory
Postlude Acclamations sur ‘Christus Vincit’ Jean Langlais
Parish Notices
§ Adult
Formation: we will continue to offer a six week course
on the nuts-and bolts of the Old Testament and how God’s Word continues to
speak to us through this living testimony. Classes will meet on Sunday mornings
at 9 a.m. in the fellowship hall, and will be facilitated by Fr. Karl.
§ Bake
Sale/Plant Sale/Rummage Sale:
Friday, April 24th from 12:00-3:00pm and Saturday, April 25, from
9:00-2:00, in conjunction with St. Luke Methodist rummage sale, Grace will be
selling baked goods with proceeds going to Sunday School’s outreach projects. Baked goods will be accepted by anyone who
would like to bake: pies, breads, muffins, cookies or anything you would like
to donate. Baked goods can be dropped off at the church anytime before
Friday at noon. We will be once again selling plants from our cutting garden.
Proceeds go to maintain the garden. Grace will also have a small rummage.
Please bring your items pre-priced. The proceeds will go to Grace Church fund
raising. Please contact Jessica Ambelang if you have questions.
§ Spring
Cheer: is coming to the parish elderly and shut ins
on Thursday, April 30. We will meet
in the kitchen at 11:00 to assemble bouquets of daffodils and bags of
cookies. Won't you join us and plan on making a delivery or two? Sign
up sheet for delivery and cookie baking is on the table in the
narthex. Our home bound parishioners and elderly will appreciate
you! Thank you for volunteering.
Questions?, please call Barb MacEwen at 467-6909.
§ Simple
Potluck Supper and Compline: Sunday,
May 3rd we will have our first Sunday of the month Simple Potluck
Supper at 6:30pm. Come and enjoy the fellowship then stay for Compline at
8:00pm. The Schola Cantorum will be singing Compline which is the night time
prayers said or sung just before retiring. It is a wonderful and peaceful way
to end the day.
§ Bishop’s Visitation: May 17th
we welcome Bishop Matthew Gunter for his first visitation. The Bishop will
preach and celebrate at both 8 and 10:15 services. We will have a First
Communions celebration at 8:00am. We will celebrate the Sacrament of
Confirmation and First Communions at the 10:15 am service. Please join us for a
gala reception to welcome Bishop Gunter and honor the Confirmed. Please sign up
to bring sweets and savories and to clean up.
§ Summer
Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for
kids age 4 through graduating 12th 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 14 (Sun 3pm) –
June 20 (Sat 12noon)
o
Middler
Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 21 (Sun 3pm) – June
25 (Thu 5pm)
o
Junior
Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 21 (Sun 3pm) – June
25 (Thu 5pm)
o
KinderCamp
(parent & kids ages 4-7) June 25 (Thu 2pm)
– June 27 (Sat 12noon) There are application forms on the Narthex table.
§
We Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment