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Thursday, June 4, 2015

Proclamation, Not Debate

Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes
4 June 2015

The Gospel is offensive.  I write this with reference to all the red we see on the Church calendar this week:  The Martyrs of Lyons (177); The Martyrs of Uganda (1886); and St. Boniface (754).  (Corpus Christ, today, is a white feast—a feast of Our Lord—but we can certainly associate the red of martyrdom and of blood in Jesus’ real presence!)  But, to repeat, the Gospel is offensive, and Jesus makes this clear when He instructs us, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you.  If you were of the world the world would love its own, but because you are not of the world ... the world hates you” (Jn. 15.18-19).
St. Boniface certainly offended his audience when he chopped down the Sacred Oak of Geismar, an ancient tree consecrated to Thor.  The tree, of immense age and girth, fell to only a few axe blows, and was found to be rotted within.  (A perhaps fanciful legend has the tree falling in four parts, i.e., cruciform shape.)  He was offensive to all those to whom he took the Good News, for the Good News requires that we change, and to ask anyone to change is bound to cause offense.  Boniface was finally killed by Frisian warriors, as he prepared new believers for confirmation.
The Gospel is threatening and offensive to all to whom change is threatening and offensive.  The world would rather have itself celebrated and affirmed.  This does not mean that we need to condemn.  We first need to get to know.  We first need to proclaim the Gospel in who we are, for we cannot impose transformation in Christ on anyone.  They must desire change; they must seek God, and to do this their individual wills must be drawn.  We cannot motivate anyone to see any need for change, and to desire to change, by telling them that there is something wrong with them.  In all that we do we will get close to nowhere by pointing out the wrong found in others or in other teachings.  Rather, we must do what Jesus did, and what His saints in mission have always done—proclaim.  Proclaim daily the Good News of salvation.  Proclaim each day “Here’s the truth!” rather than “That’s not true!” (whatever “that” may be, and even when “that” clearly isn’t true). 
Mission involves proclamation, not debate.  The one place in Paul’s mission journeys where scripture does not record that he succeeded in establishing a church is Athens.  Acts 17.16-34 records Paul’s time in Athens, in which he is described as engaging in debate, and in debate with those who are polite to him.  (“We will hear you again about this” Acts 17.32.)  Paul is joined in belief by some, but the record is silent about the formation of a church, as opposed to what happens in Corinth, and Ephesus, and Philippi, etc., in which places Paul does not debate, he proclaims.  He let’s God’s Word do the work, not his own intellectual accomplishment. 
No one of us is ever going to argue anyone into the faith.  But we can plant seeds by being true in proclamation.  In this “red” week let’s remember the call to witness to who God is, to what the Good News is, and if we do offend anyone in the process, let’s just pray that the offense arose because a seed was planted.

Grace abounds:  Please thank:
§  Kevan and Traci Revis, and Jennifer Pawlus and Grace Zangara for the Sunday coffee hours.
§  The members of the Society of Mary for the reception following the Mass for the Feast of the Visitation, as well and Terry and Mary Kohler for wine, and Jack Britton, Julie Davidson and Jennifer Pawlus for cleanup.
§  Ben Dobey and the choir, and the altar crew of Tom, Tasha, Ben and Dee Crouse, Scot Fabiano, and Nick Whitford for putting a solemn eucharist together on less than a day’s notice!  (Please thank, as well, Archdeacon Michele for the service bulletins on short notice.)
§  Terry Kohler for providing for lawn care during the recuperation of our sexton.

Podcasts!   Podcasts are found on the website under “Media”.  You can also subscribe on ITunes or with RSS full feed at:
Study Guides for Congregational Use: Bishop Gunter has released two study guides for use by congregations and individuals of the Diocese of Fond du Lac. The King or a Fox: Configuring the Mosaic of Scripture is a 14-page document as a guide to understanding and interpreting Scripture. It was used by clergy during deanery clericus gatherings. In Dialogue With Each Other is a Study Guide created to aid congregations in studying and discussing the topic of same-sex unions. Clergy may want to encourage individuals to make use these resources or use them as a basis for forums or other study series.
Downloads are available both as PDF and Word files. Visit diofdl.org.


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.

Education for Ministry:  If you were at the late service the Sunday the bishop was here, you noted that four of us were recognized for completing the four years of Education for Ministry.  We learned a lot in those four years, both from the materials and from each other as we studied and discussed.  There was a lot to read but fortunately no tests!  Topics for the four years were:
Year 1—Old Testament
Year 2—New Testament
Year 3—History of Christianity
Year 4—Theology

This month’s Clarion (p. D) has more information about EfM.

If you would like to look at the materials to see if you would like to join the new group that begins in the fall, you can find them in a blue bin in Michele’s office.  They will be there through the end of July.  I would be very happy to talk with you further about EfM if you have questions. 

Pat Sather
920-452-4542         psather42@gmail.com 

Music this week:  Proper 5B, Octave of Corpus Christi

Prelude                                    Tranquillo                                                            C. Hubert H. Parry
                                                Chorale Prelude on ‘Melcombe’
Entrance Hymn 444                “Blessed be the God of Israel”                                         Thornbury
Gloria, Sanctus & Agnus Dei              Deutsche Messe                                     Schubert, arr. Proulx
Offertory Hymn 690               “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah”                            Cwm Rhondda
Communion Motet                  Ave Verum                                                                  W. A. Mozart
Communion Hymn 314          “Humbly I adore thee”                                               Adoro devote
Recessional Hymn 533           “How wondrous and great thy works”                                   Lyons
Postlude                                  Verse on Pange Lingua                                              Jean Titelouze
Help needed!  If you have experience in house painting, please see Fr. Karl about a project to restain and seal the doors around the church.
           
Parish Notices

§  Graduates!!! If you or someone you know is graduating from High School, University, Tech School, or any other kind of completion please let the office know and come to the 10:15 service in cap and gown or tassels or any kind of insignia to be recognized for your accomplishments. 452-9659.

§  Elkhart Lake Chapel: The Chapel will have services every Sunday through Labor Day weekend. We are in need of help for each Sunday. This would include: picking up the box of bulletins at Grace Church, arriving a little early to open the buildings, finding readers for the lessons and the prayers of the people, lighting candles, greeting the visiting priest, various other tasks, locking up at the end and returning the box to Grace Church. There are instructions printed and several people who would be able to help if you have questions. Please sign up for a Sunday or two by calling the office at 452-9659 with dates you are available. Thank you.

§  Adult Formation: We continue a series on Prayer at Grace Church at 9:00am in St. Nicholas Hall. We will discuss how Jesus prayed and how he healed; what the Bible says about prayer; the history of prayer here at Grace Church, including the Walsingham Pilgrimage and the healing ministry. This will be led by Deacons Michele and Mike.

§  Altar Guild: The Altar Guild is a very important ministry in the life of the church. This is the team that gets the vestments and the holy vessels ready for each service and then cleans up after each service. As the deacon, I will tell you that this team of people enables the clergy and people to worship in a seemingly effortless fashion. There are several members of the Altar guild who are moving away. We are in great need of a few more willing to take on a new ministry. This can be a weekday, or weekend, there will be training and support in all areas. Please speak with Claudia Fischer or Deacon Michele if you even think you may want to try it out.

§  Grohmann Art Museum: There are a couple of parishioners who are planning a trip to the Grohmann Art Museum at the Milwaukee School of Engineering on Tuesday June 9, departing Sheboygan at 10 am. The Grohmann Museum features more than 1,000 paintings and sculptures representing the evolution of human work.  It is 4 floors with a rooftop sculpture garden.  Afterwards they will be going out to lunch.  The cost of admission to the museum is $5, plus whatever one wants to spend on lunch. If you are interested please sign up on the sheet on the Narthex table or call the office.  

§  Save the Date: Thursday, July 23, 2015, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, St. Nicholas Hall
§  Back by popular demand we will again host What’s it Worth Antiques Appraisal Event Hosted by Mark F. Moran. (Contact Barb MacEwen to find out how you can help!)
§  920-912-4505, More news to follow next month.
§  It is never too late to sign up!!! 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.
    • Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 14 (Sun 3pm) – June 20 (Sat 12noon)
    • Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 21 (Sun 3pm) – June 25 (Thu 5pm)
    • Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 21 (Sun 3pm) – June 25 (Thu 5pm)
    • KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 25 (Thu 2pm) – June 27 (Sat 12noon) There are application forms on the Narthex table.

§  Follow Grace Church on Twitter: @GEC_Sheboygan

§  We Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!


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