Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
7 July 2016
Today is the feast of St. Paladius of Ireland
(d. ca. 457—461). Paladius is remembered as apostle to Ireland,
a designation usually associated with St. Patrick. Patrick is far better remembered, and can
perhaps be better thought of as apostle “of” the Irish, because Paladius’ one
year mission was so unsuccessful that he left Ireland, and Patrick succeeded
spectacularly. This contrast, however,
begs the question “Would Patrick have succeeded absent the prior mission of
Paladius?”
This is a question of the type that we should
each ask of ourselves whenever our efforts to witness to the faith seem to
fail. The ultimate success of all
mission is that God’s will may be done, and when we witness to the faith we
witness to the reality that the message is God’s, not ours; the work is God’s,
not ours; the “success” is God’s, not ours—to God be the glory!
Paladius and Patrick each brought the Good
News to a land then considered barbarous, and populated by those who were not
disposed to receive any witness that would challenge their ways. We may each have a differing opinion on what
we now consider to be civilized ways, but we also commonly experience that most
whom we meet are not disposed to listen to any faith testimony. Our culture is one in which the sharing of
faith is itself considered “out of bounds”, just as it was out of bounds for
Paladius and Patrick to go to Ireland in the first place, and just as it was
out of bounds for them to testify to Jesus in the face of pagan belief.
When we remind ourselves that the work is
God’s, then we can focus on the reality that it is pointless to worry about
“success”. We can focus on being
available to God to do His work, to plant seeds that will be harvested by
another.
The next time you are discouraged in any
ministry, ask St. Paladius to pray for you!
Remember that he must have been very discouraged, but that the seeds he
planted for God allowed Patrick to both sow and harvest a rich bounty for the
kingdom.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Elizabeth
Schaffenburg, and Jessica and Tom Ambelang for the Sunday coffee hours.
§ Bryan Stenz and
Archdeacon Michele for their work in cleaning basement rooms to prepare for
Grace Abounds ministry space.
§ Ben Dobey for work in
the garden.
§ Scott Gedemer for
lawn care.
§
Elizabeth
Schaffenburg, Elaine Dinstuhl, Julie Davidson, and Pat Ford Smith for help with
a parish 4th of July cook-out.
Call for
Contributions: If you
have a spiritual reflection to share, or want to point your fellow worshipers
toward a resource, submit your contributions to Fr. Karl (by email) by
Wednesday in the week of publication.
Music
this Week: The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9C)
Prelude Andantino
Harold Darke
Entrance
Hymn 376 “Joyful, joyful we adore thee” Hymn to Joy
Offertory
Hymn 660 “O Master, let me walk with thee” Maryton
Communion
Hymn 609
“Where cross the crowded ways of life”
Gardiner
Closing
Hymn 529 “In Christ there is no east or west” McKee
Postlude
Toccata
in C J Johann Krieger
Parish
Notices
§ Elkhart Lake Chapel: We are still in need of help for the
following Sundays:
July 17 & 31, August 14 & 21 and
September 4.
This includes: picking up the box of bulletins at Grace Church, arriving a
little early to open the buildings, finding readers for the lessons and the
prayers of the people, lighting candles, greeting the visiting priest, various
other tasks, locking up at the end and returning the box to Grace Church. There
are instructions printed and several people who would be able to help if you have
questions. Please sign up for a Sunday or two by calling the office at 452-9659
with dates you are available. Thank you.
§ Unless volunteers come forward there will be no Coffee Hour:
for the month of August. Please see the sign-up book on the table in
the Narthex.
§ Ben Dobey, our Organist &
Choirmaster, is retiring on July 31st: Mark your calendars and sign up on the sheet
on the table in the Narthex, or call the office to make a reservation, for the
celebration brunch to be held that day in Ben’s honor. All food will be catered
by the hospitality committee.
§ Lobster Boil: Once
again, for the 24th year, on July 15th the Sheboygan Early Bird
Rotary are offering a Lobster Boil. For more details, see the notice board in
the Narthex or call Greg Burgett at 451-6264. Closing date for tickets is July
11th.
§ Education for Ministry (EfM): This class was created to help you find your
vocation and ministry with a trusted group of friends. By studying scripture,
history and reading other people’s writings, we discover more about God’s
wonderful plan for our lives. The EfM class will meet on Tuesday nights
starting September 13 at 5:30 pm. at the St Peter’s Church House, Sheboygan
Falls. Interested individuals can contact Barb Drewry-Zimmerman at: bzimmy@excel.net
or call 920-893-5189 for registration materials. Cost is $350 &
scholarships are available. Registrations are due by August 1.
They can be mailed to Barb at: PO Box 67, Boulder Junction, WI
54512.
§ 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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