Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
1 December 2016
The twelfth month begins. Most of us know, vaguely, that the number
twelve has some kind of biblical significance.
Most calendars that are based on the solar as opposed to lunar cycle are
divisible into twelve units. In
mathematics the number 12, being divisible by 2, 3 4, 6 and itself is a
“superior highly composite number,” a natural number which has more
divisors than any other number scaled
relative to some power of the number itself.
Twelve sons of Jacob yielding twelve tribes
of Israel—twelve apostles of Jesus—12 x 12,000 identified in Revelation as
“sealed” with the mark of the lamb—The Twelve Days of Christmas—and the twelve
great feasts of the undivided Church pre-1054:
the list goes on, and speaks of 12 having a unique identification with
completeness. (Indeed, remember the
hubbub about 12-12-2012 and the Mayan calendar?)
When we think of completeness we recognize
that we are at all times “a work in progress,” but as we enter the ultimate
month of the year it is a good time to be intentional about taking stock in our
own lives and the life of the Church. This
is not about going back and grading
myself against any “New Year’s Resolution”.
Rather, a year-end review can most profitably focus on how I participate
in how we grow into the full stature of Christ.
Romans 12 (that number again!), verse 2, St. Paul writes that we are to
“… not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your
mind, that you may prove what is the will of God …” He then elaborate the gifts of the Spirit in
the Body, the Church, a theme further explicated at Ephesians 4, before
continuing to exhort us to “Put off [our] old nature … [to] be renewed in the
spirit of [our] minds ...” (Eph. 4.22).
To this trajectory in thought we must add Philippians, chapter 2: “Have this mind among yourselves, which was
in Christ Jesus, who …” And what
follows? The example of Jesus emptying
Himself, giving all of Himself.
When we think of completeness let us not
consider what we have accomplished so much as focus on how we have given of
ourselves. In this “season of giving”
which the world so celebrates, may our hearts and minds focus on the example of
giving of self—to each other, to those who challenge us, to all.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Wayne and Pat Sather,
and Bobbie May for the Sunday coffee hours, with cleanup by Julie Davidson.
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.
Energy
Conservation! Please treat Grace as
your home. If you turn something on,
turn it off! Don’t assume anyone else
will lock or turn off.
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
Second Sunday of Advent
Organist: Ben Dobey
Choir
Direction: Sandie Palmer
Prelude Partita on ‘Comfort, comfort ye my people’
Johann Pachelbel
Entrance
Hymn 76 “On
Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry”
Winchester New
Offertory
Hymn
75 “There’s a voice in the wilderness
crying” Ascension
Communion
Motet Isaiah the Prophet Early American, arr. Alice Parker
Communion
Hymn 67 “Comfort,
comfort ye my people” Psalm
42
Closing
Hymn
73 “The King shall come when morning dawns” St.
Stephen
Postlude Toccata on ‘Winchester New’ Bruce Neswick
Parish Notices
§ The
Art of Neighboring: On Sunday,
December 4th at 9:00 a.m., we will continue with the second session
of a short three-part course on how we can better reach out into our immediate
community by using simple skills and methods of how to meet and engage our
actual neighbors. This course uses discussion materials from http://www.artofneighboring.com/ a ministry of Dave Runyon and Jay Pathak, pastors in Colorado. Dave
Runyon was the recent headliner at the Fall event sponsored by LoveINC, and
those who attended came away impressed enough to want to focus on practical
follow-through.
§ Advent
Lessons and Carols: Please join
us on Sunday, December 4th at 4:00 p.m., for a festival of Advent Lessons and
Carols. This festival prepares us for the coming of the Messiah by following
the scriptural record through nine lessons, each followed by a seasonal carol
offered by choir and congregation. The choir will also offer seasonal
anthems, and music will include Dr. R. Benjamin Dobey on organ. The festival
will be followed immediately by a High Tea reception.
§ Area
Ultreya: There will be an
Ultreya, for people who would like to go on Cursillo or who have been, on
Saturday morning Dec 10th from 10 to 11:45 am at St. Peter’s Church
in Sheboygan Falls at the Parish House behind the church on the corner of
Buffalo and Elm Streets. Bring a snack to pass if you can, but don’t let
that keep you home. There’ll be singing, prayer, teaching, and
fellowship.
§ Youth
and Children’s Choir: Youth and
Children’s choir rehearsals for the Christmas Eve service continue on
Wednesday, December 7th, downstairs in the choir room at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30
p.m. Additional rehearsals will be on December 14th, and 21st. The
final rehearsal will be Wednesday, December 21st at 5:30 p.m. The
choir is open to 2nd graders through high school, and will sing for
the 4pm service on Christmas Eve. Please see the sign-up sheet in the Narthex.
§ Christmas
Pageant Rehearsals: will now be
held during Sunday School classes,
starting on Sunday, December 4th at 9:00 a.m. and continuing on December
11th and 18th. Participation is open to youth of all ages. The
Pageant will take place during the 4:00pm Christmas Eve Mass.
§ Meals On Wheels Christmas Cookies: Volunteers will be
delivering a box of homemade cookies to their clients again this Christmas
season. (As many of you know, for some, this is the only gift they will
receive). The boxes have already been donated, so now all they need are
the cookies! If you would like to donate cookies, please call Maureen at
Meals On Wheels at 451-7011. Drop off sites are in both Sheboygan and Plymouth
and they will be packaging cookies on December 20th. Your
response in the past has been overwhelming and they cannot thank you enough for
your continued support.
§ Salvation
Army Adopt a Family Gift Drop-Off: Please return all gifts unwrapped, with value attached, to
Grace Church by Monday, December 19th. Distribution to families is
Thursday, December 22nd. Any questions, please call Nancy Yurk at
453-9948.
§ Christmas
(Castle) Sort and Shop: On Monday,
December 19th, 10:00 - 1:00 p.m., volunteers are needed to sort and
organize all toy donations. This will be at 710 Pennsylvania Ave, Sheboygan.
And on Wednesday, December 21st, 10:00 – 1:00 p.m., volunteers are
needed to shop for each member of the families using the lists provided by the
parents. Sign-up sheets can be found on the table in the Narthex. If you have
any questions, please contact Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.
§ Christmas
Gifts Distribution Volunteers! On Thursday, December 22nd, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m., at 710
Pennsylvania Ave, Sheboygan you can assist local families pick gifts from the
Toy Shop. This gives those in need an opportunity to “shop” for Christmas gifts
for their families. A Sign-up sheet can be found on the table in the Narthex.
If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Yurk at 453-9948.
§ Christmas
Joy: is scheduled to
meet on Thursday, December 22 at 11:00 am in the church kitchen. At that time,
we will assemble winter greens and flowers and bag cookies, and then make
deliveries. (There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex.) We need helping hands.
Can you bake, make a delivery and/or help arrange? Please join us for this
fulfilling and fun ministry to our home-bound and elderly. They will appreciate
it. Questions, please call Barb MacEwen at 920-912-4505.
§ God
Willing and the People Consenting: Bishop Matthew Gunter shall ordain Archdeacon Michele Whitford to the
Sacred Order of Priests in Christ’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on
Saturday, December 17th at 10:00 a.m., St. Paul’s Cathedral in Fond
du Lac. Your prayers and presence are requested. A reception will follow.
§ 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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