Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan,
Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
24 September 2015
[A]ll life is a
mystery, but the answer to the mystery is outside ourselves, and not
inside. You can't go on peeling yourself
like an onion, hoping that when you come to the last layer you will find what
an onion really is. At the end you are
left with nothing. The mystery of a
onion is still unexplained because like man, it is the issue of an eternal
creative act ... I stand in God's shoes, but I can't tell you any more. Don't you see? This is what I am here to teach-a mystery! People who demand to have Creation explained
from beginning to end are asking the impossible. Have you ever thought that by demanding to
know the explanation for everything you are committing an act of pride? We are limited creatures. How can anyone of us encompass infinity...?
These words come
from the mouth of the fictional Pope Kiril I in Morris West’s 1963 novel The Shoes of the Fisherman. Some things never change in
fiction or in reality. We want answers,
and we want answers “from A to Z” because we believe that if we have complete
knowledge we will somehow be in control.
The desire to be
in control is the sin of pride if our desire is one in which we think that our
will must control over God’s. The
problem is compounded, because we might get something other than what we think
we seek. This has been true from the
beginning of our life as a species. In
the story of the fall of Adam and Eve, the serpent tells Eve that she should
eat of the tree to gain the knowledge of good and evil, to be “like God”.
But there is no evil in paradise, in Eden, and so how can Eve “know”
this? She and Adam (and we) come to know
this because once humans disobey God’s will they participate in evil. That’s what “knowledge” is in the Bible, to
participate in something.
Kiril speaks of
God’s answer. He says that life is a
mystery, and when we read or hear this word we tend to think that we’re not
getting an answer, but a evasion. But
“mystery” is an answer in the same way that “knowledge” is, for mystery does
not mean that a thing is unknowable, but that it must be participated in in
order to be known and understood. You
can’t explain love to someone. They have
to experience it.
When we
incarnate God’s love, those around us come to know God, and the world—which
thinks “mystery” means something unknowable—knows that love is real, that God
is real, that God loves the world. The
“onion” of self gets peeled back a layer, but only to reveal the new life which
God alone gives.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§
Bob
and Ann Hanlon, and Paul and Andrea Aparicio for the Sunday coffee hours.
§
Many
people helped to make Mass in the Grass a success! Please thank Bryan Stenz for organizing the
event, helped by:
o
Acolytes: Paul Aparicio, Dee Crouse, Scott Fabiano
o
Music: Nick Whitford
o
Set
up and cleanup: Paul Aparicio, Randie
and Austin Barrows, Nicci Beeck, Sutton Cecil, Julie Davidson, John and Dillon
Davis, Jennifer Pawlus, Kevan and Traci Revis, Elizabeth Schaffenburg, Grace
Zangara
o
Snacks
and Desserts: Jessica Ambelang, Don and
Nicci Beeck, Mary Clabots, Mary Evans, Katy Larson, Scott Lubbers, Pat von
Rautenkranz, Hannah Sanders, Elizabeth Schaffenburg, Jill Stagner
o
Donations
for food: Karl Schaffenburg, Mary Snyder
Music
this Week: The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost,
Proper 21B
Prelude Chorale
Preludes on Jesus, lead thou on
and Let us ever walk with Jesus Paul
Manz
Entrance Hymn 408 “Sing praise to God, who reigns
above” Mit Freuden zart
Mass Setting: Deutsche Messe Franz Schubert, arr. Proulx
Offertory Anthem O
how amiable are thy dwellings Ralph
Vaughan Williams
Communion Hymn 609 “Where cross the crowded ways of life”
Gardiner
Closing Hymn 594 “God
of grace and God of glory” Cwm
Rhondda
Postlude Prelude & Fugue in G J. K. F. Fischer
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.
Grace Abounds: Notice the Italics and
capitalization, as opposed to the part of this blog in which we thank
people? That’s because Grace Abounds
is our reference to the entirety of our web-based ministries as they expand.
Some have
asked why we are expanding our web-based ministries. The answers have been elaborated elsewhere in
detail, but a short answer involves is that people are looking for answers, and
are not getting the right answers.
People have not just stopped wondering about God and faith, even if they
have stopped regular worship. It’s these
people that we especially need to reach, to establish a truthful, healthy
Christian presence to lead them back (or to call them) to real faith.
Here’s an
example of the problem. What happens
when you ask Wikipedia or Google a faith question. Relevant magazine explored this. Here’s what they found:
What’s the other
most common source, besides Wikipedia and Google, when people enter questions
about faith in an internet search engine?
The Mormons.
Parish
Notices
§ A
blog worth visiting: If you enjoy The Living Church you
will enjoy the blog supported by the magazine, http://covenant.livingchurch.org The blog is updated daily.
§ Sunday
School: Grace
offers classes for children of all ages at 9 am on Sundays:
―3-k through 1st Grade with
Mrs. Andrea (Aparicio), Ms. MaryAnn (Portz) and Mrs. Danielle (Whitford)
―2nd through 5th Grade
with Mrs. Nicci (Beeck)
―6th-12th with
Mr. Nick (Whitford)
§ Adult
Formation: Continues a four week series at 9:00am on Giving
Faith a Voice. We are molded by language, by what we call things. How we
“process” information about life affects how we understand these data. This can
determine, for example, how we experience the reality of faith, but also how we
share this reality. For example, if you are overwhelmed in worship this may
relate to “the beauty of holiness”. Or, how you identify as one sealed and
“marked as Christ’s own for ever” can help you relate to another what
“holiness” itself is. In our course we will discuss absolutes like love, truth,
beauty, good, being—how we get glimpses of these eternal realities “as through
a glass darkly” but shall one day see face to face. We will explore how we
understand our own experiences in ways that allows us to share them with
others, to let them too know how God is present in their own lives and the life
of the world. Join with us as we explore the connections between experience and
understanding, and how to give faith a voice. Come prepared to listen and to
share.
§ Blessing of the Animals: Grace Church will
offer a Blessing of Animals in commemoration of the feast of St. Francis of
Assisi. On Saturday, 3 October, we will gather for a celebration of Holy
Eucharist at 9 a.m., with the blessing of animals to take place at the close of
the service (9:30). All are welcome. Join us in bearing witness
with St. Francis that all of God’s Creation is to be honored.
§ Catechumenate will begin: Catechumenate is a
nine-month course in the basics of the Faith and its practice. It is a period
of training and instruction in Christian understandings about God, human
relationships, and the meaning of life. It includes the Sacrament of Baptism
(if you are not already baptized,) and culminates in Confirmation, Reception,
or Renewal of Baptismal Vows. The Catechumenate will meet on Tuesday evenings
each week starting at 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The class will begin September
29th and will continue until May 1st when Bishop Matthew
Gunter makes his annual visitation. The first class, on the 29th,
will begin immediately following St. Michael and All Angels Solemn Mass. The
study is led by Deacon Michele Whitford, the Parish Catechist. If you would
like to be a part of this exciting study and fellowship or would like more
information, please call the office 452-9659 or e-mail Deacon Michele at mwhitford@gracesheboygan.com. There is a
sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex.
§ You
are Invited! The Catholic Parishes of Sheboygan invite you and
your family on Sunday, September 27th to the live streaming of the
Papal Mass for the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. Doors to St.
Dominic Parish, 2133 N. 22nd Street, Sheboygan, will open at 2:00pm
and the Mass will begin at 3:00pm. Fellowship and light refreshments will be
served at 5:00pm in the Parish Activity Center.
§ Fundraising
for All Saint's Chapel: We are in the
process of replacing the roof for All Saint's Chapel. In recent years its age
has started to show where shingles are missing and some leakage is occurring.
Our hope is that funding will be available from a private foundation but nothing
is guaranteed especially if the funding will be available this year. Would you
be interested in contributing towards this project? We are looking to start
work on this project before winter before more damage occurs. If funding does
come from the foundation your donations will be dedicated to other maintenance
items at the chapel and St. Hubertus Hall. Feel free to make donations in the
offering plate, noting “Roof” in the memo, or contact our main office at office@gracesheboygan.com. Thank you so much
for your generosity.
§ Benefit
Brat Fry and Fundraiser for Michelle Markevitch: Saturday,
September 26th, 10:00am until ??? at Lakeshore Lanes 2519 South
Business Drive. Michelle is Danie Wilson’s daughter. Two days after giving
birth to her fourth daughter, in early February, Michelle had seizures in the
hospital and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She underwent surgery to remove
the tumor, followed by radiation and chemo. She has a year of chemo ahead of
her yet. The proceeds will be used for medical expenses, treatments and
chemotherapy with a portion being donated to the American Brain Tumor
Association Oligodendroglioma Research Fund. There will be music by DJ Russ
Margenau, raffles, bake sale, silent auction, food will be available all day.
Donations can be mailed to Wisconsin Bank & Trust at 3220 South Business
Drive, Sheboygan, WI 53081 or dropped off at any Wisconsin Bank & Trust
Location under “Benefit for Michelle Markevitch”.
§ Community
Prayer Summit: Praying together, loving our neighbors Monday,
September 28, 2015 beginning at 5:30pm with registration and fellowship
continuing from 6:00-8:00pm with prayer. Southside Alliance Church, 4321 County
Road A, Sheboygan. The evening will feature John Kieffer, Wisconsin State
Facilitator of City/Community Ministries. All church leaders, congregational
members and interested community members are encouraged to come and be a part
of this intentional prayer time. This event is organized by Love INC. Register
now at: www.evenbrite.com search: Community Prayer Summit.
§ 24
HOURS of Pre-Summit Prayer: To help set the
stage for a significant and meaningful Community Conversion at the Prayer
Summit sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c45aaae2babfe3-24hours for a block of time to pray ON SITE at South Side (Alliance) Church
(4321 County Road A, Sheboygan) in the Prayer Room dedicated for this purpose
OR ON MY OWN at home or work. All times
are CST and the on-site prayer room will be closed between 9:00pm Sunday and
9:00 am Monday.
§ 25th
Annual Coats for Kids: is a community service
campaign that over that last 24 years the community has donated 20,000 coats to
those in need. Area residents are asked to donate clean coats in good repair.
We accept coats of all sizes for people of all ages, with the need being
greatest for children’s coats. These coats will be distributed to Sheboygan
county residents who would otherwise go without. Drop off location:
Reinbold-Novak Funeral Home, 1535 S. 12 St. Sheboygan, Tuesday, September 1st – Thursday, October
22nd, Monday–Friday 8:30am–4:00 pm. Distribution Location: Salvation
Army, 710 Pennsylvania Ave. Sheboygan, Friday, October 23rd, from
1:00 – 7:00pm.
§ Our
Lady of Walsingham Pilgrimage
Friday, October 16, 2015
o
Quiet Day of Prayer and Meditation.
o
12:00pm Service for Noonday and
Meditation
o
3:00pm Service of Prayer and
Meditation
o
5:00pm Holy Rosary
o
6:00pm Solemn Evensong and
Meditation
o The
Meditations will be led by The Rev. George Wilcox Brown,
o Rector of the Church of the Holy Cross, Dallas
o
Musical
offering by the combined choirs of Nashotah House Seminary and the parish.
Saturday, October 17, 2015
o
10:30 am Solemn Pontifical Mass with
procession of Our Lady
o
Celebrant is The Right Reverend
Matthew A. Gunter, Eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac.
o
The preacher is The Rev. George
Wilcox Brown, Rector of the Church
of the Holy Cross, Dallas
o
Choral and
organ music will include Dr. R. Benjamin Dobey Organist and
Choirmaster and the Gaudete Brass Quintet of Chicago.
o
12:00 pm Harvest Lunch. The cost is
$15.00.
o
Please make reservations by October
12, 2015.
o
2:00pm Anointing with Walsingham
water and Healing Prayer, musical offering, and Benediction of the Blessed
Sacrament.
To register and for
more information: (920)
452-9659 office@gracesheboygan.com, www.gracesheboygan.com
§ Like
Grace
Church on Facebook
§ Follow
Grace
Church on Twitter: @GEC_Sheboygan
§ We
Are on Itunes! Check
out the new podcast!!!
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