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Thursday, July 9, 2015

A Rule of Life

Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes
9 July 2015

This coming Saturday is the feast of St. Benedict of Nursia (d. 540), the father of The Rule of St. Benedict, the basic statute for the governance of monastic life.  The Rule was intended to regulate the excesses (ranging from morbid mortification of the body to the opposite extreme of libertinism) which had been found in monasteries, and to provide a solid framework for daily life dedicated to God in community.
Benedictine spirituality is an important component in the spiritual heritage of this parish.  St. Benedict is depicted in the second statue from the right (facing the altar) on the reredos of the parish, in partial recognition of the connection between the parish and the Benedictine spirituality practiced at Nashotah House.  The parish is, in this sense, sons and daughters of The Rule.
This raises the question:  How does a rule of life work?  Whether or not we follow Benedictine practice, it is useful for each of us to observe a rule of life.  When all of our life is recognized to be service to God and to each other we not only participate in how the kingdom of heaven breaks into this world, but we are, ourselves, changed.  We become more and more Christ-like.
What might a rule of life look like in your life?  It can involve daily prayer, spending time every day talking to God and listening to Him.  A rule can involve setting aside a particular time every day to make sure that prayer doesn’t get lost in the hustle and bustle of life.  A rule can involve the daily study of Scripture, listening to the Word which is alive.  It can involve making sure to pray not only for yourself, but for others, for the Church, the nation and the world.  It can involve being intentional in giving, to share of your own blessings in the life of the Church and the community.  It can involve focusing on listening before speaking.
A rule of life can involve many things.  Under the Rule of St. Benedict life is focused around work, study, and prayer.  “To work is to pray,” and if all we do is offered to God our work becomes a witness in prayer.  Study involves living for more than the day; it involves being formed either in new knowledge and/or in greater knowledge of God’s Word.  And prayer is, above all else, about being intentional to make time for God.
As we remember St. Benedict this week, let us remind ourselves that in all we do we stand before God.  When we are intentional about who we are and about who we are called to be, the transforming grace of God will bring us ever closer to a life in which we may manifest His love to all.  His kingdom come!

Grace abounds:  Please thank:
§  Jessica Ambelang for the Sunday coffee hour, and Julie Davidson for clean-up.
§  Ben Dobey and Bobbie May for extensive garden maintenance.

Podcasts!   Podcasts are found on the website under “Media”.  You can also subscribe on ITunes or with RSS full feed at:

Music this Week:  The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, 12 July, Proper 10B

Prelude                           Two Slow Airs                                          Herbert Howells
Entrance Hymn 686        “Come, thou fount of every blessing”               Nettleton
Offertory Hymn 541        “Come, labor on”                                            Ora labora
Communion Hymn 419   “Lord of all being, throned afar”                                   Mendon
Closing Hymn 555           “Lead on, O King eternal”                                         Lancashire
Postlude                         Carillon                                                     Herbert Murrill

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.

A recent article in the magazine of The New York Times setting out the parameters of debate on religious liberty:

Parish Notices

§  We are in need of help for August 9th at Elkhart Lake Chapel. 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 call the office at 452-9659. Thank you.

§  Raise Bail!  Fr. Karl will serve time in the Muscular Dystrophy Association annual lock-up event, on 22 July, at Highland House.  He needs to raise $1,600 in total donations to make “bail” for release.  (In the spirit of Tripartite Ministry, it was Fr. Phil who issued the arrest warrant!)  Fr. Karl has already donated $100.  He needs your help.  Go to http://www2.mda.org/site/TR?fr_id=20453&pg=entry to make a donation.

§  Love INC’s very first “Product Drive”: Grace Church is partnered with Love INC and Love INC is partnered up with Anti Sex Trafficking Coalition and all Law Enforcement of Sheboygan County to provide 20 “Restoration Bags” for survivors of Human Trafficking. Here are the details!
·       Grace Church has volunteered to provide Underwear, teddy bears and socks. There was a separate email with the specific products to be purchased. Please call the office for more information. We have to be very sensitive to triggers for the survivors so we have pulled the information from the FBI and we would like to give you the specifics on the product style and color.  When the specifics are available that information will be distributed with pictures.
·       ·    The drive needs to be in July and all products need to be arranged for drop off by July 27th.
·       Events like the Super bowl and PGA are prime events that girls and women are trafficked.  Did you know that Sheboygan is 2nd highest in the State for Sex Trafficking.  Stay tuned for more ways the Churches are looking at getting involved to bring awareness to our Community!

§  What's it Worth Antiques and Appraisal Event: Back by popular demand Grace Church is hosting What's it Worth Antiques and Appraisal Event on Thursday,
§  July 23, 4-7 PM.  Mark F. Moran, antique author and appraisal expert featured on the popular PBS Series, Antiques Roadshow will return to appraise your valued item as well as discuss his experience in buying and selling antiques for more than 30 years. Pre- Registration is required and is now open (at $15 per item) and can be made by calling Barb MacEwen at 920-912-4505. Spread the word among your friends, flyers available in the narthex and in the Angelus. Spectators are also welcomed. It promises to be a very entertaining time. This is one of our fundraisers for the church. Want to work? Sign up sheet is in the narthex.

§  Brat Fry and Bake Sale: is August 8, 2015 at Miesfeld’s. Do you have an interest in baking goodies for our bake sale? (This proves to be a major part of a brat fry event and your help is most appreciated!) And/or could you help package the baked items on Friday, August 7th at 1:00 PM? All sign up sheets including working at the brat fry are in the narthex. Thank you so much for your participation.

§  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.

§  Follow Grace Church on Twitter: @GEC_Sheboygan
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