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Thursday, February 4, 2016

Walk Alongside


Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin



Grace Notes

4 February 2016



At the parish annual meeting this past Sunday, I spoke about how each of us brings gifts to offer into the life of the Church.  These can be specific skills (like help with a computer, or fixing a bicycle) or can be ongoing ministries (such as visiting a shut-in).  What the gift is does not matter; that it is offered is what is vital, vital because it is in offering that we grow beyond a Sunday-only model of “church” into the biblical model of discipleship.

A 1 Thess. 5.14, Paul writes that we are to encourage our fellow believers.  The word he uses in the original Greek is conventionally translated as “encourage” but is closer in usage to “walk alongside”.  When we offer the gifts that God has given us we begin to walk alongside those whom God has given us to walk with.  We get to know each other better.  We begin to understand each other’s burdens and to share in each other’s joys.  In other words, we become the Body not just in a spiritual sense but in shared experience.

Prayerfully consider what it is that you can offer in this Body.  Is it a skill or some specific knowledge.  (E.g., “I can help someone to prepare his/her tax return.”)  Is it your presence as a visitor or listener?  Is it how you will pray for others?  Pray about this.  God has given you something to offer, and will equip you to grow in His love in how you offer this gift.

There will be questions?  How do I do this?  Will the sharing of gifts be coordinated through the parish office or one-on-one?  How do I set boundaries?  As we grow in this life of ministry we will explore these questions together, and plan to offer formal training in how to walk alongside later in the Spring.  For now we are in a season of prayer and discernment, to identify gifts and to prepare hearts.



Grace abounds:  Please thank:

§  Bobbie May for work in organizing the parish library.

§  Julie Davidson for cleaning the freezer after it failed.

§  All who helped clean up after the annual meeting luncheon!

§  Michele Whitford and Ellen Aparicio for all of their extra work in preparing for the annual meeting.



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.  At this session we will cover:

§  Old Testament:  Genesis (continued)—Leviticus.

§  Church History:  The Church and the Roman Empire; the Ecumenical Councils.

You can attend without having read the textbooks.  Class sessions will also be posted on Grace Abounds.

Have you ever wanted to know more about the dynamics behind the persecution of the early Church?

Have you ever wanted to better understand the narrative arc of the Five Books of Moses?



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 Last Sunday after the Epiphany



Prelude                           Diptyque for Candlemas                     Charles Tournemire

Entrance Hymn 7             “Christ, whose glory fills the skies”                      Ratisbon

Offertory Anthem             Christ, whose glory fills the skies      Frederick H. Candlyn

Communion Motet           Nunc dimittis in C                                       Charles Wood

Communion Hymn 137    “O wondrous type! O vision fair”                        Wareham

Closing Hymn 122 (alt. tune)    “Alleluia! Song of gladness”              Dulce Carmen

Postlude                          Paean on ‘Divinum Mysterium’                        John Cook



Parish Notices



§  Work needed:  A parishioner is looking for work—all work.  He has experience and skills in home repairs, general maintenance, outside work, etc.  If you have work/projects, please contact the parish office.

§  Adult Education: Today we will continue with Sunday morning Adult Education with the series on Christian Community. How do we build Christian community within and outside the Church? What are the elements of community in Christ? What are the challenges? The focus will include examining the scriptural models for community, those of the early Church, those within our own heritage, and how all of these relate to our sense of community within the wider culture.

§  Boy Scouts: Today is Boy Scout Sunday.  Please greet our Boy Scouts and let them know how much we appreciate their work; especially the work performed in the grounds of Elkhart Lake Chapel and more recently their leaf raking last Fall.

§  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. The first Friday, February 19th and March 4th are still open. Thank you for your willingness to serve in this manner.

§  Nashotah House Theological Seminary’s Lenten Program: “Reflections on Building a Christian Worldview”. The Program is free and open to the public. The presentations will be held at Nashotah House, 2777 Mission Road, Nashotah. The Schedule of Events begins on February 17th at 5:00 pm with Evensong in St. Mary’s Chapel, followed by a Soup Supper at 5:45 pm and Presentation at 6:30 pm in the DeKoven Commons. For more information, go to www.nashotah.edu.

§  Bible Challenge: 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 is 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.

§  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

§  We Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!





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