Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan,
Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
28 January 2016
It is the feast
of the “Dumb Ox”. St. Thomas Aquinas (d.
1274) was given this nickname by fellow students in Paris because he spoke very
little. His mentor retorted, “You call
him the dumb ox, but in his teaching he will one day produce such a bellowing
that it will be heard throughout the world.”
This proved to be the case.
Thomas’ influence on Western thought is considerable, and much of modern
philosophy developed or opposed his ideas, particularly in the areas of ethics,
natural law, metaphysics, and political theory.
Which leads us
to the question posed in thinking about Thomas:
How do we think about God? Put more finely, do we think about God, and
gain knowledge of Him and His will, by the application of first principles,
such as those of logic? Such an approach
has certainly been tried, for example in the “ontological argument” of St.
Anselm. An important element in Thomas
so-called Natural Theology was reflected, in fact, in the psalm we prayed this
last Sunday, in which we sang:
The heavens declare the
glory of God,
and the firmament shows his handiwork.
One day tells its tale
to another,
And one night imparts knowledge to another.
Although they have no
words or language,
And their voices are not heard,
Their sound has gone
out into all lands,
And their message to the ends of the
world. (Ps. 19.1-4)
In other words, our knowledge of God is founded less on
first principles in thought and more on how God has chosen to reveal Himself to
us, a fact even the great “natural theologian” Thomas recognized.
We need to
spend less time searching and pondering, and more time paying attention, being
open to the revelation which God provides.
How do we do this? We can begin by first noticing that the natural world has created
order, and that this order reflects the existence of a Creator. We can notice, as well, that beauty both draws
us and is to be found even in the midst of squalor and ugliness when we resolve
not to focus only on the squalor and ugliness.
The best place
to start paying attention is, however, in our engagement with Scripture. The primary means by which God has chosen to
reveal to us who He is, and what His will is for us, is in the Bible. Just as an ox chews straw, we must “chew” the
words of the Bible on a daily basis; to experience these words that we may be
enlightened, strengthened, challenged—above all formed.
Few will choose
to study Thomas or any other theologian or philosopher. But all may engage directly with God’s
creation. All may engage directly with
His Word. Don’t worry about
“searching”. Just intend to engage, and
pay attention.
Annual Meeting! This Sunday! One Mass only at 9:00am
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Wayne and Pat Sather, and Polly Schmeisser for the Sunday
coffee hours.
Education Alert! Diocesan Deacons’ School will meet again next
on 13 February, at Grace in Sheboygan. We will begin at 8:45 with Holy
Eucharist, followed by classes beginning at 9:15. We meet every second Saturday.
§ Old Testament: 3 contact hours. An in-depth survey of the origins,
composition, canonization, contents and theology of the Old Testament.
§ Church History: 3 contact hours. The history of the Church from the apostolic
age to today, with specific focus on theological development.
If you wish to do all of the reading,
contact the office regarding acquisition of the necessary texts. However, you
are free to attend without reading the text books. You can just come to listen and learn.
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 after the Epiphany
Prelude Psalm-Prelude
(Psalm 139 v.11) Herbert Howells
Yea, the darkness
is no darkness with thee, but the night is as clear as the day:
the darkness and
light to Thee are both alike.
Entrance Hymn 598 “Lord Christ, when first thou cam’st to
earth” Mit Freuden zart
Offertory Hymn 444 “Blessed be the God of Israel” Thornbury
Communion Motet Jesus,
Sun of Life G. F. Handel
Communion Hymn 302 “Father, we thank thee who hast
planted” Rendez a Dieu
Closing Hymn 438 “Tell out, my soul” Woodlands
Postlude Trumpet
Voluntary in D William Boyce
Parish
Notices:
§ § The Annual Meeting: This year’s Annual
Meeting will take place today
Sunday, January 31, 2016. We will have one
Mass at 9:00 a.m. followed by the Annual Meeting held in the Church. We
plan to have an all parish pot-luck lunch in St. Nicholas Hall at the
conclusion of the meeting. The agenda of the meeting will include committee
reports, new Vestry and Warden elections, 2015 financial review and 2016
budget, review Vestry actions, and an overall review of the 2016 calendar.
Please make every effort to attend and participate.
§ All Parish Potluck Lunch: Following the Annual Meeting we will have an All Parish Potluck Lunch.
Please stay and join in the celebratory fellowship.
§ Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple: This holy day is also known as Candlemas in
which all the candles used for the year are blessed. You are welcome to bring in your own candles
to be blessed during this service. Please
mark your calendars and plan to attend this Solemn Mass on February 2nd at 6:00
p.m.
§ Maki Family Fund: A fund has been set up at Associated Bank in Sheboygan by the
Maki’s home church for people who wish to provide a donation to help the
family. People can make checks payable to “Crossroads Community Church” and
“Maki Family” written on an attached note, but please do not write their name
on the check memo line. These donations can be dropped off at the Sheboygan
Associated Bank location or can be mailed to Crossroads Community Church, PO
BOX 1427,
§ Sheboygan, WI 53082-1427. The
Maki Family will receive 100% of all funds donated.
§
Lenten Booklet: Grace Church will prepare our own parish book of Lenten
meditations, written by parishioners. For each of the forty days of Lent
season, a Gospel lesson taken from the Eucharistic lectionary for the weekdays
in Lent, plus the Sunday Eucharistic lectionary, are provided on a clip board
on the Narthex table. Following each Gospel lesson will be the Collect prayer
for the celebration of Eucharist on each day. The Collect “collects” our
prayers as founded in the Scripture appointed for each day. The method
envisaged for use of this booklet is that parishioners will read the Gospel
lesson– perhaps more than once, perhaps underlining the words or phrases that
resonate with them on that day–then
reflect on the Collect, and then write down their own reflections on the page
appointed for the day. These reflections will be gathered no later than
February 1st to
allow for production lead-time. The publication
of a parish devotional will be published to the whole parish, in print and on
our website. Please submit your meditations to the office at eaparicio@gracesheboygan.com.
§
Bible Challenge: Grace Abounds
launched The Bible Challenge on
Monday, January 4, 2016. 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.
§
Shrove Tuesday Feast before the Fast: Shrove Tuesday is February 9th. We will be having a Potluck
Dinner following a 5:30pm mass. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend
this festive occasion. There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex.
§ Ash Wednesday: February 10th,
Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is a day of fasting and penitence. We
will observe this day with Mass and Imposition of Ashes at 12:10 p.m., and
Solemn Mass with Imposition of Ashes at 6:00 p.m. This is a holy day and a
wonderful way to begin your Lenten observance.
§ Stations of the Cross
and Simple Suppers: Beginning
on February 19th we will meet at 5:15 p.m. for a prelude of Lenten organ
music followed at 5:30 p.m. by Stations of the Cross. Afterwards a simple
supper will be hosted in the parish hall with a presentation and pictures of
Jordan, Israel and Palestine by the pilgrims who went to the Holy Land. Please
sign up on the sheets in the Narthex so we will know how much food needs to be
prepared.
§ Cooking
on Friday Evenings in Lent: If you are interested in cooking and hosting
a dinner on the Fridays during Lent, please sign-up on sheets in the Narthex.
All of the Fridays are open. Thank you for your willingness to serve in this
manner.
§
Sunday School Snacks: Ms. Nicci and Ms. Andrea's Sunday school classes are in need of
donated non-perishable snacks. Each class consists of a prayer around our classroom
altar followed by snack and craft time. Having snacks to offer during this time is a wonderful
opportunity for the classmates to serve each other and come together in
fellowship. It would be wonderful if anyone who is willing could place
non-perishable snack options such as applesauce, goldfish cracker bags, fruit
cups, as well as juice boxes, in our craft room to replenish our supply. Thank
you!
§ Coffee Hour Schedule: There is a new sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour
in 2016. If you would like to host, please sign up for either 8:00 a.m. or
10:15 a.m. If you have any questions, please see Mary Massey. Thank you so
much.
§ 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.
§ 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.
§ Like
Grace Church on Facebook
§
Follow Grace
Church on Twitter: @GEC_Sheboygan
§
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