Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
21 July 2016
Tomorrow is the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. Mary has for centuries been known in the
Orthodox Church as “the apostle to the apostles”, because at Jn. 20.17 Jesus
specifically commissions her to tell the disciples that He is risen. This year the Roman Catholic Church will also
proclaim the title for Mary, a title which has been used in many Anglican
circles for a long time.
In popular understanding many think of Mary
as a reformed prostitute. (She is
depicted this way in the 2016 movie Risen.) There is no biblical evidence of this. Mary is described by Luke as having been
cleansed of seven demons (8.2). She is
further described as a member of a group of women providing for the disciples’
needs. The fact that she has a surname
(Magdalene = “of Magdala”) is highly unusual, and indicates a high status. (Another of the women in her group is the
wife of Herod’s steward.) The
association of her with prostitution is an artifact of the how Luke’s first
mention of her relates to his story of Jesus being anointed by a sinful woman
(Lk. 7.36—50). Until the early fifteenth
century bibles were not organized in chapters and verses, and the flow of the
story in what is now chapter 7 into chapter 8 is an assumption that Pope Leo I
made in preaching bout Mary in a famous sermon given in A.D. 451. (But note that not
even the sinful woman at Lk. 7.36—50 is anywhere described as a prostitute.)
“The figure of the Magdalene” became a theme
in Medieval and Renaissance thinking. One
need not be a feminist to note that this supreme example of a reformed sinner
was one written about by men in patriarchal societies.
We may remember Mary as one who gave her life
to Jesus. She provided for His
needs. She did not abandon Him at the
cross. She went to anoint His body, at
great risk to herself. And it was to her
that Jesus first appeared. May the faith
that animated her serve as an example to all of us—dedication to the Christ
brings transformation in this life, and salvation to life everlasting.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Polly Beebe, and
Steve and Polly Schmeisser for the Sunday coffee hour.
§ Bobbie May for
gardening, and for work in the parish library.
§ John Davis for lawn
care.
§
Archdeacon
Michele Whitford and Bryan Stenz for preparing studio space for Grace Abounds.
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.
Don’t forget
“Something Extra for Grace”: Supplemental
giving envelopes can be found in pews.
If you want to give something extra, please use an envelope to ensure
that you are credited.
Music
this Week: The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 12C)
Prelude Chorale
Preludes by J. S. Bach and Max Reger on Our
Father,
thou in heaven above
Entrance
Hymn
410 “Praise, my soul, the King of heaven” Lauda
anima
Offertory
Hymn
477 “All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine” Engelberg
Communion
Hymn
664 “My
Shepherd will supply my need” Resignation
Closing
Hymn
613 “Thy kingdom come, O God” St.
Cecilia
Postlude Allegro assai vivace (Sonata I) Felix Mendelssohn
Parish
Notices
§
Ben Dobey, our
Organist & Choirmaster, is retiring Sunday, 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.
§
Point In Time
Semi-Annual Homeless Count: Volunteers are needed on Wednesday, July 27th,
11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. Training will be provided on that day at 10:00 p.m.
Please see the notice board in the Narthex for more details.
§
Love INC - Love In The Name of Christ:
§ The Guild of Martha & Mary: launched their “Feed
Your Soul” cooking ministry last week Saturday, here at Grace Church, with 3
Neighbors-In-Need referred through Love Inc. Please pray for the new cooking
ministry! If you want to get involved please call Jenna, Love Inc. Coordinator,
at 920-783-6701, ext. 103 or call Paul Aparicio at 920-912-6009.
§ “Freedom Cry Anti-Sex Trafficking: This Coalition is
hosting a lantern walk on August 19th. They are looking for 150
mason jars and 150 battery operated
tea lights to place along the walk. They will need these supplies
to be dropped off at Love INC. by July 31st.
§
For
more information regarding Love INC, items needed and volunteer opportunities
please see their July bulletin in the Narthex.
§
Caleb
Klinzing and the Spanish students from IDEAS Academy: (A public charter
school part of the Sheboygan Area School District)
are hosting a brat fry on Sunday, July 31st to raise funds for a service
learning trip to Costa Rica in the summer of 2017. If you are unable to attend,
please consider making a donation on the gofundme page: https://www.gofundme.com/24jwby5k
§
ESTHER: IT’S TOUGH
BEING A WOMAN: Grace
Church Women’s Bible Study will begin on Monday August 29that
10:00am. Join us for a faith journey through
the Book of Esther. Beth Moore will take
us through a very personal examination of this Old Testament story of Esther as
she peels back the layers of history and shows us how very contemporary and
applicable the story is to our lives today. If you’ve ever felt inadequate,
fearful or find yourself in situations that seem overpowering, this is the
study for you. Just as it was tough being a woman in Esther’s time, it is tough
being a woman today. During this nine-week study we will watch a lecture on DVD’s,
use a workbook ($15.99), and talk about Beth’s teachings. The Book of Esther
contains treasures to aid us in our sometimes hurried, harried and pressured
lives. For those of you who are interested, there is a sign-up sheet in the
Narthex.
§
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!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment