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Thursday, April 21, 2016

Rule of Recognition

Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes
21 April 2016

Today is the feast of St. Anselm of Canterbury (d. 1109), who is most famous for his “ontological argument” for the existence of God.  (“Ontology” refers to what is knowable about being and existence.)  Anselm defined God as “that than which nothing greater can be conceived”.  Another way of thinking of how this argument works is to consider what kind of “rule of recognition/decision” applies in your life.  A rule of recognition is what determines how you gauge whether a given decision or action is more or less valid, more or less good.  For example, you could be an avowed atheist (which we’ll not suggest in a parish blog!), in which case your rule of recognition would essentially be one in which the human mind and will are sovereign (at least for you).
What an ontological argument or rule of recognition illustrates is that how we perceive existence and function in life is not something that happens in a vacuum with ourselves as the only thing/person in that vacuum.  We perceive and function is a broader creation, and must decide how to relate to all others (both objects and people) in this creation.  How we decide is determined by what we consider to be the most important.  All too often this can be defined as “me,” and our culture now offers a rule of recognition in which we are encouraged to say that nothing greater can be conceived (for me) than me.  Jesus, however, teaches that we must deny ourselves—I must say that the most important thing/person is not me.
What happens when my rule of recognition is not me but is God’s will?  The first thing that happens is that I need to focus outside of myself.  I need to measure my actions, plans, hopes and dreams against some standard/rule of recognition outside of myself, and when I pay attention I find that this “rule” reveals Himself and His will!  And then what?  I find that in discerning and following God’s will whatever decision I make—so long as it is God’s will—is godly, and I am as wise as Anselm!

Grace aboundsPlease thank: 
§  Sunday coffee hours:  Wayne and Pat Sather, Mary Snyder and Tom Wright, for the Sunday coffee hours.  (Cleanup by Julie Davidson.).
§  Bobbie May and Ben Dobey for garden cleanup.
§  Randie Barrows, Bill and Deb Gagin, and BSA Troop 801 for Spring cleanup at All Saints’, Elkhart Lake.
§  Pat Ford Smith for help in the office.
§  Nick and Zach Whitford for video productions for Grace Abounds and LoveINC.
§  Randie Barrows and Tom Crouse for helping a parishioner move furniture.

Call for ContributionsIf 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 Fifth Sunday of Easter

Prelude                           Chorale Variations on Lord Jesus Christ, be present now
                                                                                                    Johann Gottfried Walther
Entrance Hymn #404      “We will extol you”                                            Old 124th
Gloria S-278                                                                                             Mathias
Offertory Hymn #477      “All praise to thee, for thou O King divine”        Engelberg
Sanctus S-128                                                                                          Mathias
Communion Hymn #488  “Be thou my vision”                                               Slane
Closing Hymn #657         “Love divine, all loves excelling”                         Hyfrydol
Postlude                         Prelude & Ricercar in F                              Johann Krieger

Parish Notices

§  Sunday, May 24, 2016:  There will be one Mass only at 9:00 a.m. 
§  Our Diocese’s Commission on Congregational Vitality (CCV): Following Sunday’s mass there will be a meeting with the CCV from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (refreshments will be provided). Our Vestry leadership is asking you to make every effort to participate in this conversation.
§  Parish Life Survey: During this season of Eastertide your parish has been in celebration and examination of the love that God offers to us all. To further the examination, please take a moment to participate in the Parish Life Survey.  In conjunction with the "What's My Gift?" sessions in Adult Formation each week and the Commission on Congregational Vitality event today, this survey will continue our efforts to live as members of the Body of Christ. Printed copies of the survey can be found in the Narthex or to complete the survey electronically go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K2PT7KF
§  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. Classes will take place in Ms. Nikki’s classroom (located in the basement) each Thursday in April, 5-6:00 p.m.  Should you have any questions, please call Pat Ford Smith at 920-918-1492.
§  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 those Received and Confirmed. Please sign up to bring sweets and savories and to clean up. – We are still in need of someone to organize this event.
§  Celebrations Committee: We are looking for a small group of people to form a committee or rotating list of people to take charge of the occasional celebrations such as teas, gala receptions, etc. These events occur approximately once a month.  If you feel called to this ministry, please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex.  Once a list of people has been established, the office will call you to discuss details.
§  Parish Music Survey:  We have concluded our open forums and the Music Committee is working towards forming a proposal of what this ministry is called to be after Dr. Dobey's retirement.  An additional aid in that effort is the following survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RDMKWB8.  Please take a few minutes and offer your thoughts so that we as a family can best listen to how our Lord is guiding us.  
§  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.
§  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 sale. 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.
§  Spring Cheer: is scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 5th at 11:00 AM in the church kitchen.  At that time, we will assemble freshly emerging daffodils (!) and bag cookies, and then make deliveries (there is a signup sheet in the narthex.) We need your helping hands! Can you bake, make a delivery or help arrange?  Please join us for this fulfilling ministry to our shut-ins.  They will appreciate it.  If you have any questions, please call Barb MacEwen at 912-4505. 
§  Summer Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12th graders. Camp is an opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community, about themselves and have fun! If you have questions about what camp is like, please call Michele at the office.
Scholarships are available.
§  Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 12 (Sun 3pm) – June 18 (Sat 12noon)
§  Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 19 (Sun 3pm) – June 23 (Thu 5pm)
§  Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 19 (Sun 3pm) – June 23 (Thu 5pm)
§  KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 9 (Thu 2pm) – June 11 (Sat 12noon)
§  There are application forms on the Narthex table.
§  Love INC: Cadre Ministries is looking for volunteers who are interested in mentoring. “Ministry is Relationship” will take place on Saturday May 14th 9:00 pm- 1:00 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sheboygan Falls. For further details, see the notice board in the Narthex or go to www.loveincsheboygancountry.org.
§  Like Grace Church on Facebook
§  Follow Grace Church on Twitter: @GEC_Sheboygan
§  Follow Grace Church on Instagram: @GEC_Sheboygan
§  We Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!


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