Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
31 March 2016
It is fairly common for a collective sigh to reflect what it
feels like in a parish during Easter Week.
After the extra services of Holy Week, all of the extra preparations,
and the marathon of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Great Vigil of Easter,
and Easter Sunday, it’s natural to let out a collective “Whew!” and take a
little comfort in the fact that we “survived” again. This is natural because all of the extra
effort results in a need for rest, and it’s also possible to feel “churched
out,” but in the greater reality of God’s timeless plan, should we not exhale
in a much greater “Whew!,” that we have survived death through Jesus’ triumph.
Ok, most who just read that last line have perhaps raised an
eyebrow, and thought “Isn’t that a bit dramatic?” It is.
Salvation, the triumph of life over death, is as dramatic as it
gets. We just don’t often stop to
consider extent of the drama, the eternity of the actors. But when we stop and remind ourselves that
God gave His infinite substance of good, and truth, and beauty, and love and
being, in the person of His Son, for the life of each one of us—of all created
in His image and likeness—then a “Whew!” can be best subsumed into a collective
mouth agape in amazement.
Jesus didn’t die for just the most saintly person you can
imagine, but for the worst sinner you can imagine. All of creation changed in the incarnation,
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Remember Jesus’ words to Mary Magdalene in the garden—the words we just
heard on Sunday? He said “… I am
ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (Jn.
20.17). Just as He taught us to call God
“Father,” in His words to Mary He reaffirms that by His resurrection we now can call God “Father;” that how we
relate to creation has changed; that salvation happens now. Each one of us can stand before God and know
that He is our God and Father. It is
dramatic, indeed, so let your “Whew?” become some sort of combination of “Wow!”
and “Thanks be to God!”
Grace
abounds: A lot of
people worked very hard throughout Holy Week and the Easter Triduum.
Please
thank:
§ The Altar Guild, as led by Claudia Fischer.
§ Dr. Ben Dobey and the choir.
§ The acolytes, as led by Scott Fabiano.
§ Bill May (assisted by Bobbi) for extra cleaning.
§ Ellen Aparicio and Michele Whitford for extra administrative
work, service bulletins, etc.
§ Anonymous donors who hosted the fundraising dinner on
Saturday and provided reception wine on Sunday.
§ All who donated savories, and helped clean up on Sunday.
§ Bernie Markevitch for a lot of extra work in church
decoration.
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 Second Sunday of Easter
Prelude Fantasia in G Major J. S. Bach
Entrance Hymn 193 That
Easter day with joy was bright Puer nobis
Offertory Hymn 203 O
sons and daughters, let us sing! O filii et filiae
Communion Motet “This Joyful Eastertide” arr. C. H. Wood
Communion Hymn 209 We
walk by faith St. Botolph
Closing Hymn 180 He
is risen Unser Herrscher
Postlude “Offertory on ‘O Sons and Daughters’” J. F. Dandrieu
Parish
Notices
§ Vestry Meeting: Will take place on Sunday April 3rd at 11:45 a.m.
§
Potluck Dinner and Compline: Bring a dish to pass
and join us Sunday, April 3rd at 6:30pm, for a potluck dinner and fellowship.
At 8:00pm the Schola Cantorum will sing Compline, a beautiful restful service
full of candles and music.
§
Deacon School: Following the 8:45
a.m. Mass on Saturday, April 9th, we will continue with Church History
and the Old Testament. Deacon School is 9:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
§
Adult Formation: Will resume Sunday,
April 10th at 9:00 a.m.
§ First
Communion Instruction: Pat Ford Smith
will be providing Communion Lessons during the month of April in preparation
for the Bishop's visit on Sunday May 1st, 2016. If you or your child are
interested, please contact the office to sign up. Dates have been set for
each Thursday in April (April 7, 14, 21 & 28), times are still being
determined.
§ Volunteers
needed for Royal Holloway Concert: The
Choir of Royal Holloway, University of London will present a concert at Grace
Church on April 9th at 7:00 pm.
We need volunteers for: setup and cleanup for the choir supper prior to
the concert, homemade sweets for the reception following the concert, and
overnight housing for 25 choir members.
Two separate sign-up sheets for the supper and housing can be found in
the Narthex.
§ 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.
§
Cursillo: Many of you have
heard of Cursillo. It could be that you are looking for such an experience
and may not even know it. If the Holy Spirit nudges you, there is one
coming up April 21-24, Thursday evening till Sunday afternoon. For many
it's a great experience, revitalizing and memorable. Fr. Ambelang will be
the spiritual leader of this one with the Bishop assisting, as well as a team
of lay people. If you have questions talk to Ed or Mary Clabots, Jennifer
Pawlus, or Fr. John Ambelang.
§ Bake Sale/Plant Sale/Rummage Sale: Friday, April 29th
from 12:00-3:00pm and Saturday, April 30th, from 9:00-2:00, in
conjunction with St. Luke Methodist rummage sale, Grace will be selling baked
goods with proceeds going to Sunday School’s outreach projects. Baked goods will be accepted from anyone who
would like to bake: pies, breads, muffins, bars, puppy chow, cookies or
anything you would like to donate (cupcakes do not sell well). Baked goods
can be dropped off at the church any time before Friday at noon. We will be
once again selling plants from our cutting garden. Proceeds go to maintain the
garden. Grace will also have a small rummage. Please bring your pre-priced
items to the northeast room in the basement (under the office). The proceeds
will go to Grace Church fund raising. Unsold items will be taken to the
Salvation Army. If you have any questions,
please call Jessica Ambelang on 920-918-5667 or leave a message on
920-452-5667.
§ Bishop’s Visitation: May 1st we welcome Bishop Matthew Gunter for his annual
visitation. The Bishop will preach and celebrate at both 8 and 10:15 services. We
will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation and First Communions at the 10:15
am service. Please join us for a gala reception to welcome Bishop Gunter and
honor the Received and Confirmed. Please sign up to bring sweets and savories
and to clean up.
§ 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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