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Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Proclamation and Power

Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes
5 May 2016

Happy Ascension Day!  We gather tonight (7 p.m.) with our brothers and sisters in Christ from our covenant partners, St. Dominic Catholic Church and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, to pray and offer thanksgiving and witness to the reality that Jesus Christ has ascended to His throne from which He rules all creation.  His reign is inaugurated at His ascension, and we witness to this reign both in how we gather and pray, and in the fact that we gather together across denominational and confessional lines.  We seek to testify to the reality that it is Our Lord’s will that all of His Church be one (Jn. 10.16).
Gathering is vital.  “Gathering,” in fact—as a noun also sometimes translated as “assembly”—is the meaning of the biblical term for “church”.  Faith is something we do together (Mtt. 18.20), and in gathering we witness to the reality that Jesus is Lord.
In our culture we are used to argument, in both positive and negative ways.  We think of argument as something we do to persuade others to think and do as we think and do.  But, the scriptural record is much, much more one of testimony, proclamation, witness than about argument.  At Acts 17.16—34 Paul is recorded as engaging in cogent, positive argument, using the methods of Greek philosophy and rhetoric to persuade the Athenians of the truth of new life in Jesus.  The Athenians are polite, but the response to Paul’s argument is very limited.  The response to any argument we can make will be limited, but the response to proclamation is another thing.  The response to proclamation will be shaped by the power of God’s Word.
We are called to proclaim, to testify, to witness.  We are called to proclaim that Jesus is Lord of all, that new life is given by and through Jesus Christ, and we testify powerfully in how we gather, in how we gather together, in how our lives are changed because of who Jesus is.  Join with those of this parish and our covenant partners who will this night gather, who will in gathering say “Jesus is our King!”  May this kingship, this reign, be experienced by all because their hearts are open to receive this reign.  And may these hearts be opened because in God’s grace our own proclamation is made, “Jesus is King!”

Grace aboundsPlease thank: 
§  Hospitality (Bishop’s Gala):  Mary Snyder and Polly Schmeiser organized the gala, including food preparation and set-up, assisted by Barb MacEwen and Bernie Markevitch.  The project was greatly aided by:  Steve Schmeiser and Tom Wright (servers); Barb and Bob MacEwen (decoration centerpieces); Michelle Abrashinsky, Randie Barrows, Julie Davidson, Leslie Kohler, Bobbie May (cleanup).  In addition, Bill and Bobbie May came in on Saturday to make sure room setup was changed to switch from the rummage/bake sale to the gala.
§  Rummage and Bake Sale:  Jessica Ambelang and Julie Davidson for organization and conduct, assisted by Mary Ann Neuses.
§  First Communion:  Pat Ford Smith for organizing and leading instruction and recognition.
§  Altar Guild:  Barb MacEwen for extra duty in visitation setup.

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 Seventh Sunday of Easter
                                     
Prelude                           Viri Galilei (Ascension Suite)                           Tournemire
Entrance Hymn 495         “Hail, thou once despised Jesus”                     In Babilone
Gloria & Sanctus                                                                                   W. Mathias
Offertory Hymn 307        “Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendor”         Bryn Calfaria
Fraction Anthem              Christ our Passover                                              D. Hurd
Communion Motet           If ye love me                                                       T. Tallis
Communion Hymn 603    “When Christ was lifted from the earth”           St. Botolph
Closing Hymn 460           “Alleluia, sing to Jesus”                                      Hyfrydol
Postlude                          Prelude on ‘Bryn Calfaria’                                      Vintner

Parish Notices

§  Ascension Solemn Evensong and Reception: Please join the Tripartite Covenant Parishes in celebrating Ascension Day. Grace Church, will host Solemn Evensong Thursday, May 5th, at 7:00pm. Evensong is a beautiful service of sung evening prayer. This will be followed by a reception in St. Nicholas Hall. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex to bring cookies or bars.

§  Adult Education: Following on the pulse-taking exercises undertaken in April (e.g., with the Commission on Congregational Vitality), in May our focus will be on our identity.  This will involve a simple format, an open forum Q & A about the faith, the life of the Church, etc.  Think of these sessions (Sundays at 9 a.m.) as a time to ask any of those questions that have bugged you, like: “Why do we …?”  “What is the origin of …?”  “Do I have to …?”  “What does the Church teach about …?”  “What is a …?”  Think of your questions in advance, but also build questions on what you hear others questioning or wondering about!

§  Choral Evensong and High Tea: Sunday May 15, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. we will have Choral Evensong followed by High Tea in the Parish Hall. Please plan to attend this beautiful service. There is a sign-up sheet to bring a sweet or savory on the Narthex table.

§  Celebration of Ministries! On May 22, 2016, at the 10:15a.m. service we will be celebrating the ministries of all the baptized of Grace Church. This includes the formalized ministries within Grace, and the ministries that go beyond the church.  Representatives of the many ministries of Grace Church will be invited to bring forth symbols of their ministry to place on and around the Altar. Just as we minister in our world through the Church, we minister to others in our daily lives. To offer to God your gifts and ministries in your daily life, we invite you to bring a symbol of your ministry with you to the 10:15 a.m. service. These symbols will be offered to God and to this community of faith and then placed at the Altar. More information on this celebration will be forthcoming, please watch for email announcements.

§  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 insert in this mass booklet or go to www.loveincsheboygancountry.org.

§  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 held last week, 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.

§  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.  

§  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.

§  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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