Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan,
Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
23 July 2015
A guest column on Evangelism: I had no intention of writing about this
topic but recently my thoughts were pulled in this direction. When one is turned toward it three times it
must be time to listen to what God is saying!
And so I speak to all of you.
Recently I was interviewed for a volunteer
position at Love, Inc. Towards the end
of the interview I was asked as a Christian what did Jesus Christ mean to me.
The question caught me completely off guard, I didn’t know how to respond to
such a witnessing question and quickly composed myself and chose to reply with
the story of my Christian upbringing and my experience in Nigeria
Several days later at Bible study we were
discussing Luke 24:36-48 where Jesus proclaims that we are to be His
witnesses. We are all witnesses and we
are to go out into the world and tell the good news that Jesus Christ is our
Lord and Savior. We are called. This is God’s specific commission to us.
The third event that inspired me to write
this article came from a book I was reading by Rachel Simon, “The Story of
Beautiful Girl.” On the inside cover was
a quote by Rev. Nancy Lane, PhD. who wrote “Telling our story is holy
work.” I love this! It was the icing on
the cupcake that week! When we share our faith on a one to one encounter we are
witnessing to what Jesus Christ means to us.
OK, so I got the message on evangelism but
I remembered that only God can change the human heart. As one person what can I do? At a class I attended awhile back, Fr.
Charleston Wilson suggested and I paraphrase,
“Being who you are is the essence of evangelism. It is a reality that is lived and embraced;
it is the art of living.” And now I
challenge each one of us to take some quiet time, think about why you are a
Christian, and write out your “I” story, practice saying it aloud several times
to yourself and then to a friend and then you too will be ready when challenged
with the question, “why are you a Christian?”
Meanwhile, let us all continue to live our lives day by day as an
example of the person God created us to be.
I’d like to end with the following excerpt from St. David of Wales
Indeed, our lives speak loudly for or
against Christ. We bear witness for or
against Christ everyday. Most people
won’t read the Bible. Many won’t go to
church. But they cannot help but notice
how we live, and how we love, and how we serve.
You are writing a Gospel,
A chapter each day,
By the deeds that you do,
And the words that you say.
Men read what you write,
If it’s false or it’s true.
Now what is the Gospel
According to you?
―Eugenia
Price
All
blessings, Barbara MacEwen
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§
Bryan
Stenz and Elizabeth Schaffenburg for the Sunday coffee hour.
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 Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, 26 July,
Proper 12B
Prelude Prière Jongen
Entrance
Hymn 377 “All people that on earth
do dwell” Old
100th
Offertory
Hymn 690 “Guide me, O thou great
Jehovah” Cwm
Rhondda
Communion
Hymn 308 “O food to pilgrims given” Psalm 6
Closing
Hymn 438 “Tell
out, my soul”
Woodlands
Postlude Prelude to the Te Deum Charpentier
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.
Parish
Notices
The Grace Walsingham Foundation: is actively
seeking a candidate or candidates for the positions of bookkeeper and recording
secretary. For its bookkeeping functions, the Foundation utilizes Quickbooks
2010 software. Time requirements currently average 5 hours per month. For the
recording secretary functions, duties include preparing agendas, attending
meetings (four times per year) in order to record minutes, and corresponding
with the board members and donors. Time requirements fluctuate based on meetings
and other communication requirements between the board and outside parties
(typically averages 10 hours per meeting). Interested parties looking for a way
to use their bookkeeping and/or secretarial gifts for ministry should contact
Steve Larson by July 31st.
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.
Six Flags Great America: August 4 is a
multi-diocese day at the theme park in Gurnee, IL. Visit diofdl.org for more
info.
General Convention Forum: August 6, 6:30PM
at Episcopal Church of the Intercession in Stevens Point. Please bring a pot
luck dish to share. Come early to celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration at
5:30PM.
Bishop’s Night at the Ballpark: August 14, 5:30PM
all-you-can-eat picnic on 3rd base picnic deck, 7:05PM first pitch Timber
Rattlers vs South Bend Cubs, at Fox Cities Stadium, Grand Chute, WI. Picnic and
game tickets: $22,50 ages 11+, $16.50 ages 2-10, no cost under age 2. Game
tickets only: $9. Parking: $5 per vehicle. Visit diofdl.org for more info.
Women’s Mini-Week: August 13-16
“Surprised by Joy” retreat for adult women offering refuge, friendship,
relaxation, fun, and NO dishes! Held at Camp Lakotah in Wautoma, WI Thursday
supper through Sunday brunch. Varied lodging or program/meal is available.
Visit diofdl.org for more info.
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.
Eucharistic Festival: August 29,
11AM-2PM at Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Fond du Lac, WI. A traditional
celebration of the Sacrament, with an outdoor procession & adoration.
Homilist is Archdeacon Michele Whitford. Picnic meal follows. All are welcome
to this diocesan family celebration. Sign up online to help or sing in the
choir. Visit diofdl.org for more info.
Commemoration of Blessed Charles Chapman
Grafton:
August 29, 2:00-6:30PM at Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Fond du
Lac, WI. An event honoring a former bishop of our diocese. Includes
presentation by Nashotah House Dean Steven A. Peay at 2:30PM, Evening Prayer at
3:45PM, Holy Eucharist at 4:15PM, and Garden Party. Visit diofdl.org for more
info.
Mass in the
Grass: Please join us Sunday, September 13, 2015 for an
outdoor Mass and All Church Picnic at Deland Community Center, 901 Broughton Dr., Sheboygan, the Mass
will begin at 10:15 a.m. with lunch following. There will be games and
activities for our children’s enjoyment. Inviting guests is encouraged. There
will be ONE MASS only that day. We will be asking for
donations of cookies/bars, potato chips, water and monetary donations to defray
the cost. Please sign up on the sheet on the Narthex table.
91.3FM/103.3FM The Message – WSTM invites you
and your family to a day of family fun and an evening of local praise and
worship music at our annual Praise in the Park event at the Plymouth City Park,
on Suhrke Rd in Plymouth. Contact The Message at 920-893-2661 or wstmfm.org for
directions and information on where to pick up wristbands that will get you
discounted rates for mini-golf at Tom & Jerry’s, across the street from the
park, as well as $3.00 swimming at the Plymouth Aquatic Center starting the
morning of August 7. Then at 4:30
pm, come up the hill to the Plymouth bandshell for a brat fry and evening of
Praise and Worship music from local area musical groups. This is a free,
family-friendly event, and we will be accepting donations of non-perishible
food items for the Plymouth Food Pantry. We hope to see you there!
Like Grace Church on
Facebook
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Twitter: @GEC_Sheboygan
We Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!
Feed My Sheep
Jesus
asked Peter 3 times if he loved Him & each time, when Peter responded with
“Yes”, Jesus said “Feed my sheep”. Each time that Jesus asked Peter, Jesus
wanted to make sure that Peter understood that love requires action. Jesus
wanted Peter to do action that would be life-giving and nourishing to everyone
Jesus loved. We can learn from Peter that it is NOT just enough to love Jesus,
but we need to show others, by our actions, our love. We need to “feed” others.
How do we give love that is nourishing to others? How do we show love that
bears fruit? What is love if it does not give life? How we do that differs for
each one of us and with each loving encounter we have with others. Loving
others is never easy much less doing something loving for others can be a
challenge. Many times we don’t know what to do, or how to do it. But God does
if we allow Him to show us.
There
are many proven ways to learn how we can put our love into action and for 40
years Education for Ministry (EfM) has changed thousands of peoples’ lives and
helped to teach them more about themselves so they can go out into the world to
love and serve others. “EfM is a four-year study & group reflection process
for the formation of Christian ministry through the development of knowledge,
attitude, skill, and identity as Christians.” The theme for this year is
“Living Faithfully as a Spiritually Mature Christian”. In each year of study we
read from selected texts and then use what we have to read to discuss &
reflect using reflection guides that ask us questions, as well as offering
additional supportive materials.
If
you want to grow to become a more spiritual mature Christian, you can sign up
and participating in EfM group. Two groups will be offered in Sheboygan County
starting September 14, 2015. The Monday night group will meet at 6 pm, at St
Peter’s in Sheboygan Falls and the Tuesday morning group starts at 9 am in
Plymouth. Sign up by August 10th in order to get your books before
the first class. Cost is $350 and this
includes college credits and all your materials. Scholarships are available.
You can go to the EfM website at: www.sewanee.edu/EFM
and print your registration materials or contact me at: bzimmy@excel.net
or 920-893-5189.
God
wants for each one of us to grow in our spiritual walks and doing it with other
committed Christians helps to strengthen our faith and gives us a trusted group
of friends who love and support us.
In
His love because He loved us first,
Barb
Drewry-Zimmerman
EfM
mentor
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