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Wednesday, December 28, 2016

With Gratitude

Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes
29 December 2016

Dear Grace Church Family,

Thank you so much for all the prayer, love and encouragement you have shown me through this journey to the priesthood. Thank you for the Book of Common Prayer/Hymnal and the portable baptismal/sick stole. They are both beautiful and will be very useful in my future ministry. Thank you for the very thoughtful purse. I am overwhelmed by your generosity. A special thank you to Ben Dobey who wrote the music for the Psalm and refrain for the liturgy. I was very blessed to have so many of our Grace Church choir members come and participate in the combined choir. Thank you also, to Bernie Markevitch and Mary Beniger who arranged the flowers at the cathedral for the ordination.
I pray our new ministry together will be fruitful and joyous.

In His Mercy,
Mother Michele +

Grace aboundsPlease thank:  Ellen Aparicio and Ben Dobey for coffee hour after the Christmas Day service.
Thank you to the Ben Dobey, Sandie Palmer and the choir for providing beautiful music to enhance our worship.
Thank you to the altar guild for all the extra hours they put in preparing for the many Christmas services.

Christmas Joy 2016 was another successful endeavor to the elderly and shut ins of this parish.  Many thanks to the following parishioners who made it happen:  Pat Sather, Elizabeth Schaffenburg, Polly Schmeiser, Bev Evans, Mary Snyder Katy Larson, Bob and Anne Hanlon, Bernie Markevitch who assembled and made the deliveries of flowers and cookies, and also to those who baked cookies:Traci Revis, Joyce Wessel, Jessica Ambelang, Ann Hanlon, Katy Larson Mary Clabots, Mary Snyder.  Thank you!

Call for ContributionsIf 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.
Special appeal:  Later this Fall we will have a grounds cleanup day that will include ground cover and shrubbery trimming.  We are, however, overdue for major reshaping of shrubbery, and the arbor vitae which flank the church entrance are out-of-control.  Quotations for shrub reshaping and removal/replacement of the arbor vitae run into the thousands of dollars.  Major work will not be a 2016 initiative, but we are appealing for your donations now, to build a fund for work in the Spring of 2017.  Keep Grace beautiful!  Give “Something Extra”.

Music this Week:          Holy Name 2017
                                      Organist:  Ben Dobey. 

Entrance Hymn 102 “Once in Royal David’s City,”  Irby
Offertory Hymn 82 “Of the Father’s love begotten” Divinum Mysterium
Communion Hymn 81 “Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming” Est ist ein Ros
Closing Hymn 100  “Joy to the World,”  Antioch


Parish Notices

§  Sunday School: There is no Christian Formation on Sunday, January 1, 2017. Christian Formation for adults and children will resume Sunday, January 8, 2017.

§  Adult Education: Beginning on January 8th we will explore The State of the Church in 2017.  We’ll use data and trend lines related to what it means to be a Christian in America and the world, to better define the broader context in which we live our faith. We will focus on how the changes around us and in us can best be identified, that we can best decide how to proactively serve in ministry.

§  The Eve of The Epiphany Solemn Mass: will be held on January 5, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Twelfth Night Potluck Supper. A sign-up sheet can be found on the Narthex table.
  A draft of the 2017 Parish Directory: can be found on the Narthex table. Please initial your information if it is current, otherwise make changes as necessary.
  Girl Scout Cookies! Calling all Grace Church Girl Scouts and cookie lovers! Inviting all Grace Church Girl Scouts to work the cookie order booth AFTER both masses on Sunday, January 15th and 22nd. Please wear your sash or vest. Cookie order forms will be available outside of the parish hall and will be evenly distributed between the participants. Cookies will once again be $4/box and money is not collected until delivery sometime in February. Thank you for supporting your local Girl Scouts! 

§  The Annual Meeting: This year’s Annual Meeting will take place on Sunday, January 29, 2017. We will have one Mass at 9:00am followed by the Annual Meeting at 10:15am. If you have been in leadership of any group or committee please submit an annual report to the office@gracesheboygan.com. Please make every effort to attend and participate.

§  Love Buckets: is a GAP Ministry of Love INC organized by our neighbors, St. Luke’s Methodist Church. As other churches have donated to our own GAP Ministry – Martha & Mary Cooking Guild – St. Luke’s is asking for donations to their Love Buckets Ministry. A list of supplies needed is posted on the notice board, and a large grey bin for donations can be found in the Narthex. This drive will run until the end of January.

§  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.

§  Bible Challenge: Videos for all 52 weeks of the year are now available on Grace Abounds. If you take this challenge, you will find that in one year you will read all of the Bible! This will require less than an hour of your time, six days a week. A schedule of readings is provided on the parish website, along with weekly study summaries and a weekly video summary of the readings. If you need a good study bible for the challenge, contact the parish office. When we immerse ourselves in Scripture, the mantle of the Lord does fall upon us. We are equipped to discern God’s will and to lead others to know and love and serve the Lord.

  Flower Schedule for 2017: Giving the gift of flowers is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to offer thanksgiving for your blessings. If you wish to sign up for a specific Sunday, the Flower Schedule is available on the table in the narthex. More than one person can sign up for each Sunday.

§  Coffee Hour Schedule: There is a new sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour in 2017. If you would like to host, please sign up for either 8:00 a.m. or 10:15 a.m. If you have any questions, please see Mary Massey. Thank you so much.



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