Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
16 March 2017
In Lent we remind ourselves of the ways in
which we fall short of who and what God calls and equips us to be. We remind ourselves that God will transform
us when we turn to Him. This process of
transformation can appear to be quite “passive”, particularly from the
perspective of the broader culture, a culture which counsels that we are to
make of ourselves whatever it is we will become.
What is our answer to the criticism that
relying on God is passive? What do we
say to those who think we are just throwing our hands up, and that we need to
better “self-actualize”?
For purposes of brevity, I’ll characterize
the position from which transformation in Christ is questioned as “Secular Humanism”. This isn’t entirely fair, but let’s just use
it to keep the argument focused. It is
the weakness of Secular Humanism to fall short in the imagination of ecstasy,
of new life, or union with the divine.
At its best Humanism is noble. It
is reasonable, but also cold. However
optimistic a Humanistic perspective may be about balanced happiness in this
world, it is pessimistic about or dismissive of a rapturous eternity. A confirmed Humanist may be wistfully aware
that others claim the experience of positive bliss, but the Humanist can
neither accept this supernatural reality by faith, embrace it by hope, nor
abandon himself or herself to it is charity.
How to live remains a calculation about how I can make myself better, and help to make the world around me
better.
There’s certainly nothing wrong in my seeking
to be a better person, and seeking to make the world a better place. The problem is that when I limit this
“project” to human imagination the scope is too limited. I cannot, on a purely rational basis, bring
myself to the level of altruism which begins to look like real love. More dangerously, when I begin to explore how
to really make the world around me “better”, I find that this must involve the
imposition of my will (or the will of some collective group), and even as a
purely rational soul I’ll at some point admit that any imposition of will shall
not remain disinterested and altruistic.
Some of the greatest tyrannies of the past century arose from the
rational desire to make society “better”, a desire which was corrupted into
practices in which society was “improved” by the elimination of “problems” (e.g., “undesirable” or
“counterrevolutionary” people).
Love
doesn’t
make sense. “Sense” involves some level of
self-interest. But love transforms, and
when we focus on God we focus on love.
We are transformed. In Lent,
let’s remember that we aren’t trying to figure out how to better. We are seeking to abandon ourselves to God by
stripping away the barriers we have erected in our lives, to experience the
reality of new life.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ BSA Troop 801 for the
Sunday pancake hours!
§ Elaine Dinstuhl and
Jennifer Pawlus for the Friday Lenten supper.
§ Dale Massey for help
in the office.
Special
“Thank You’ s” : A supply of Thank You note cards can be found
on the table at the back of church nave.
When someone in the parish does something special, take the time to
write them a personal note. Also, from
time to time, think about who you might want to thank for ongoing service, and
let them know you have noticed!
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.
Taking God’s Mercy
and Delight into the Neighborhood: The
Diocese has a new website (www.diofdl.org). One link you can find is for the 13 May
conference which will take place in Waupaca, at http://www.diofdl.org/sc.html . Please check out the details and register. We will plan to carpool. With enough people we’ll take a van. Limited scholarship funds are available for
registration.
This is a conference focused on equipping you
to reach out. For details, please ask
Fr. Karl.
Music
this Week: The
Third Sunday in Lent
Organist: Ben Dobey
Prelude Chorale Preludes on Lord, keep us steadfast by thy Word
Johann Pachelbel & Dietrich
Buxtehude
Entrance Hymn 401 “The
God of Abraham praise” Leoni
Sequence Hymn 658 “As
longs the deer for cooling streams” Martyrdom
Offertory Hymn 149 “Eternal Lord of love, behold your Church” Old 124th
Communion
Motet Like
as the hart Healey Willan
Comm. Hymn: 684 “O for a closer
walk with God” Caithness
Closing Hymn 344 “Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing;” Sicilian Mariners
Postlude Prelude
and Fugue in G Minor
J. K. F. Fischer
Parish
Notices
§ Adult
Education: On Sunday, March 19th, at 9:00 a.m. we continue the
course on Sacramental Identity – Holy Eucharist. This course
follows the scheme set forth in the 2008 book of David A. deSilva, Sacramental
Life: Spiritual Formation Through The Book of Common Prayer, exploring how
liturgies of The Book of Common Prayer give us a language and a
context for encountering God.
§ Sunday School Snacks: We are in need of some healthy snacks for our Sunday School
classes. Each class has a moment of prayer followed by fellowship with snacks
and a drink. The kids have fun serving each other as well. If you are
able, we would appreciate donations of snacks and juice boxes to be placed on
the desk of our craft supply room in the basement. We have some children who
have gluten allergies so including a few options without gluten would also be
appreciated. Thank you!
§ Stations
of the Cross, Simple Suppers and Teaching: We will meet
each Friday at 5:15 pm for a Prelude of Lenten Organ Music and Stations of the
Cross at 5:30 p.m., followed by a simple supper and Christian
formation. Our formation program this year will be Bishop Matt’s Lenten
series for parishes focusing on the Diocesan Vision for us to be communities of
God’s mercy and light. This is not a study but rather a time of listening to
God and one another; a time for storytelling and reflecting on our stories; a
time of beginning or continuing discernment, both for ourselves and for our
community of faith. Please sign up on the sheets in the Narthex so we will know
how much food needs to be prepared.
§ Cooking on Friday Evenings in Lent: If you are interested in cooking and hosting a dinner on the
Fridays during Lent, April 7th
is still open - please sign-up on the sheet in the Narthex. Thank you for
your willingness to serve in this manner.
§ Happening #73: Happening #73 will take place Friday evening, March 31 through
Sunday afternoon April 2, 2017 at All Saints Appleton. This is a unique
Christian experience for youth who are in grade 9 through 12 - a weekend of
singing, fellowship, surprises, prayer, fun and friendship. Deadline to
register is March 24, 2017. Pamphlets regarding this event can be
found on the table in the Narthex. For more
information or to discuss financial assistance go to happening@diofdl.org.
§ Easter Flowers and Music:
Please donate for Easter Flowers and Music. We enjoy the Beauty of Holiness in
both the flowers that adorn the church and the special music which includes
strings at the Solemn Mass on Easter morning. Please be generous as you are
able. Please call the office or fill out the slip found in the mass booklet to
indicate your wish for memorials and/or thanksgivings. The deadline is Monday, April 10th at noon.
§ Easter
Vigil Dinner: The first Mass of the Resurrection is on
Saturday, April 15th, at 7:00 p.m. The Easter celebration then
continues at Trattoria Stefano, 522 South 8th Street, at 9:30 p.m.
The actual cost of the meal is a gift to the parish, so you not only get a
delicious meal but you help the church by purchasing a ticket for the dinner.
Tickets can be bought in the parish office or in the narthex after mass for $50
a person. Everyone is invited, but seats are limited. There are scholarships for
anyone wishing to attend but are unable to donate.
§ Volunteer needed to organize the Annual
Bake/Plant Sale: This annual event takes place, in
conjunction with St. Luke United Methodist Church Rummage Sale, on Friday,
April 28th (noon – 3:00 p.m.) and Saturday, April 29th
(9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) – the first weekend after Easter. As well as an
organizer we will need volunteers to bake brownies (Jessica Ambelang will
provide pans, ingredients and instructions), and help set-up and take down.
Anyone interested in organizing or helping in this event, please call the
office at 920-452-9659 or call/text Jessica Ambelang on 920-918-5667.
§ Rummage Sale: In the past, a rummage sale has always taken place
in conjunction with the Annual Bake/Plant Sale. If anyone is interested in
organizing a rummage sale, please call the office at 920-452-9659
or call/text Jessica Ambelang on 920-918-5667.
§ Like Grace Episcopal Church on Facebook: @gracesheboygan
§ Follow Grace Church on Twitter: @gracesheboygan
§ Follow Grace
Church on Instagram: @gracesheboygan
§ We Are on Itunes! Check
out the new podcast!!!
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