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Thursday, December 17, 2015

Diakonia


Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin



Grace Notes

17 December 2015



Ten years ago today I was ordained a deacon.  (It’s too bad I’m not a pilot.  Being ordained on the anniversary of the first flight by the Wright brothers would have made for comment!)  It is well, therefore, that I remind myself today—and all days—that all priests are also deacons.  This does not make deacons a lesser or order of ministry.  It means that different orders are called to different ministries, with the deacon being called especially to proclaim the Gospel in the community (both in worship and outside the church), to serve as the bridge between the needs of the world and the gifts of the Church (e.g., in servant ministry), and to preach, teach, and provide pastoral care.

One way to remember and celebrate the day I first became a deacon is to remind that all are called to servant ministry.  Each one of us is called by God, and equipped by Him, to seek and serve Christ in all persons, to respect the dignity of every human being.  As servants we are on the front line between the grace of God and the needs of the world.  God will use each one of us as an instrument of His grace when we make ourselves available to Him, when we follow His Son.  The deacon is on this front in very focused ways, and with specific education and training intended to strengthen gifts held by the deacon.  The rest of us are on the front line above all in who we are, in how we embody Christ.  When we approach all encounters in life from the perspective of servanthood—seeking to serve God, and to serve God through our service to His people—then we experience continual formation in ministry and in our own faith.

Glory be to God!, that He has not only come among us, but remains with us, dwells with us, empowers us, that we may incarnate His presence in a fallen world.  It is by our witness that those who do not know God may come to know Him.  He will use each one of us, giving each different gifts, but giving each the gifts needed to do His will together.  As we continue our journey through Advent, as we prepare for the celebration of God becoming one of us, seek to serve first, knowing that in serving you bring God’s light into dark places.



Grace abounds:  Please thank:

  • Kevan and Traci Revis, and  Steve and Polly Schmesier for the Sunday coffee hours.

 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 Advent, Year C



Prelude                  Three Verses on ‘Creator of the stars of night’       Jean Titelouze

Entrance Hymn 72 “Hark! the glad sound! the Savior comes”                   Richmond

Trisagion S-102                                                                                Archangelsky

Offertory Hymn 56 “O come, O come, Emmanuel”                           Veni Emmanuel

Sanctus S-114                                                                                                         Willan

Agnus Dei S-158                                                                                          Willan

Communion Motet Ave Maria                                                           Jacob Arcadelt

Comm. Hymn 60   “Creator of the stars of night”                             Conditor alme

Closing Hymn 436 “Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates”                               Truro

Postlude                Venez Divin Messie              “French Noel,” arr. Dom Paul Benoit



Parish Notices


  • End of Year Pledge Reminder: Please make every effort to pay the remainder of your pledge before the end of the year. If you need to know your balance, please call the office at 452-9659. If you want tax credit for your pledge paid in 2015, you must have the payment in the office by Wednesday, December 30th. A check dated the 30th, but arriving later cannot be counted as paid in 2015. All payments received after the 30th will be credited in 2016. Thank you so much.



  • Christmas Flowers/Music: If you would like to contribute to the Christmas flowers/music in memorial or in thanksgiving, please complete and submit the form inserted in this mass booklet by noon on Monday, December 21st.



  • Youth and Children’s Choir: Youth and Children’s choir final rehearsal is today at 9:00am. The choir is open to 2nd graders through high school, and will sing for the 4pm service on Christmas Eve.



  • Christmas Pageant: The final rehearsal is today at 9:00am. Please do not let this stop any child from participating. The pageant is open to youth of all ages. Please be at the church for costuming at 3:00pm December 24th. The Pageant will take place during the 4:00 p.m. Family Christmas Eve Mass.



  • Adopt a Family Gifts: Thank you to all who participated in this special giving.  Once again our “Adopt a Family” was a great success!



  • Christmas Joy: is scheduled to meet on Monday, December 21st at 11:00 a.m., in the church kitchen. At that time, we will assemble winter greens and flowers and bag cookies, and then make deliveries (there is a sign-up sheet in the narthex.) We need helping hands. Can you bake, make a delivery or help arrange? Please join us for this fulfilling and fun ministry to our elderly and shut-ins. They will appreciate it. If you have any questions, please call Barb MacEwen at 467-6909.



  • Fr. Schaffenburg will be on Vacation: Fr. Karl & Elizabeth will be on vacation December 28, 2015 through January 2, 2016. If you have a pastoral emergency, please call Deacon Mike Burg at 918-9944 or Deacon Michele Whitford at 918-1230 or the office 452-9659.



  • Something Extra for Grace: Envelopes are available in the pews if you are moved
  • to give an extra gift, beyond your pledge or regular plate donation, toward the life of the church.  Gifts are tax deductible if you write your name on the envelope.
  • The Feast of the Epiphany: We will celebrate the Eve of the Feast of Epiphany Tuesday, January 5th. Parishioners and their guests are invited to Solemn Mass beginning at 6:00 p.m. followed by Twelfth Night Reception. Please sign up in the narthex or by calling the church office at 452-9659.



  • Bible Challenge: Grace Abounds will launch The Bible Challenge on the First Monday of 2016, January 4th. If you take this challenge, you will find that in one year you will read all of the Bible! This will require less than an hour of your time, six days a week. A schedule of readings will be provided on the parish website, along with weekly study summaries and a weekly video summery of the readings. If you need a good study bible for the challenge, contact the parish office. When we immerse ourselves in Scripture, the mantle of the Lord does fall upon us. We are equipped to discern God’s will and to lead others to know and love and serve the Lord.



  • Resting in the Heart: On Saturday, January 9, 2016, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m, the Rev. Paul Feider, nationally known author and speaker, will be presenting a Healing Conference called “Resting in the Heart – a search for inner peace.” This conference is for those who are searching for inner healing or those who seek to help others find inner healing. There will be a Healing Eucharist at 1pm with time for healing prayer. All are welcome to share in this conference which takes place at St. Thomas Church, 226 Washington St, Menasha. Please register online at www.stthomaswi.com or by calling (920) 725-5601
  • The Annual Meeting: This year’s Annual Meeting will take place on Sunday, January 31, 2016. We will have one Mass at 9:00am followed by the Annual Meeting at 10:15am. If you have been in leadership of any group or committee please submit an annual report to the office@gracesheboygan.com. Please make every effort to attend and participate.



  • Flower Schedule for 2016: Giving the gift of flowers is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to offer thanksgiving for your blessings. If you wish to sign up for a specific Sunday, the Flower Schedule is available on the table in the narthex. More than one person can sign up for each Sunday.



  • 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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