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Wednesday, May 24, 2017

The Global Wave of Prayer

Grace Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes
25 May 2017

Today is Ascension Day, the day on which we commemorate Jesus’ ascension into heaven to assume His universal kingship (Lk. 24.50—53; Acts 1.6—11).  Before assuming His throne, Jesus promises His disciples that they shall receive power, that the Holy Spirit will come and grant power that the Church may witness to all that Jesus has revealed and taught—to the Good News.
There is much that I could write about Ascension, although I could certainly not improve upon such hymns as no. 435, “At the Name of Jesus” and no. 544, “Jesus shall reign where’re the sun”.  Rather than disappoint, I want to call attention to an important ministry which begins tomorrow and lasts through Pentecost, a novena of prayer as part of The Global Wave of Prayer.  The resources which describe and outline this initiative are found here:
As described on the Global Wave website:
Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement, which invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus Christ. What started out as an invitation from the Archbishops’ of Canterbury and York in 2016 to the Church of England has grown into an international and ecumenical call to prayer.
The hope is that:
  • people will commit to pray with God’s world-wide family—as a church, individually or as a family;
  • churches will hold prayer events, such as 24-7 prayer, prayer stations and prayer walks, across the UK and in other parts of the world;
  • people will be empowered through prayer by the Holy Spirit, finding new confidence to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.
What shall we do as a parish?  We invite all to pray the novena.  We will include the novena prayers in the daily office of prayer in the parish.  (Join us!)
Pray about this:  Are you called to join in a 24 hour prayer vigil, in which we will lift up those in Sheboygan who do not know Jesus Christ?  If you are, consider what 1 hour you can agree to be a prayer warrior during the time period 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, 3 June, to 12:00 midnight on Saturday, 3 June (i.e., for the entire Eve of Pentecost).  If you can serve for 1 hour, join with us!  A signup sheet is to be found at the parish (in the narthex).

Grace aboundsPlease thank: 
§  Bill and Deb Gagin, and Paul and Andrea Aparicio for the Sunday coffee hours.
§  Sutton Cecil, Julie Davidson, Jennifer Pawlus and Mary Snyder for janitorial help.
§  Polly Beebe, Cathy Green, Sandie Palmer, Pat Ford Smith, and Nick Whitford for administrative help.

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 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.

Music this Week:  The Seventh Sunday of Easter (The Sunday after Ascension)
                               Organist/Choir Director:  Ben Dobey

Prelude                           Alla Sarabanda; Musette           R. Vaughan Williams
Mass Setting                                                                                  M. Matthias
Entrance Hymn 495         “Hail, thou once despised Jesus!”             In Babilone
Offertory Hymn 307        “Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendor”   Bryn Calfaria
Communion Motet           Christ hath a Garden                     Eng. Folk song, arr.
                                                                                                  Gerre Hancock
          Christ hath a garden walled around, a paradise of fruitful ground,
          Chosen by love and fenced by grace from out the world’s wide wilderness.
          Like trees of spice his servants stand, there planted by his mighty hand;
          By Eden’s gracious streams, that flow to feed their beauty where they grow.

          Awake, O wind of heaven, and bear their sweetest perfume through the air:
          Sit up, O south, the boughs that bloom, till the belovèd Master come:
          That he may come, and linger yet among the trees that he hath set;
          That he may evermore be seen to walk amid the springing green.
                                                                           Robert Bridges, after Isaac Watts
Comm. Hymn 603           “When Christ was lifted from the earth”           St. Botolph
Closing Hymn 579           “Almighty Father, strong to save”                           Melita
Postlude                         Prelude on “Bryn Calfaria”                         Geoffrey Vinter

Parish Notices    

§  Love INC is hiring:  Love in the Name of Christ Sheboygan is recruiting Clearinghouse Coordinator.  This is a 25 hour per week position central to LoveINC ministry operations.  Job specifications are available at the parish office.  Application deadline is 23 June.
§  Mass schedule:  There will be no celebration of Holy Eucharist on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week (30 May—1 June).  Fr. Karl is at a meeting at Nashotah House and Mthr. Michele is on pilgrimage in Greece.  The church will be open for Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, and the church office will be open.
§  Please keep both Ellen and Bill in prayer: It is anticipated that Ellen Aparicio will be at home for the balance of May. Weekly sign-up sheets are being posted for volunteers to help in the office. There will be times when there is no office coverage (e.g., when I am away at a meeting). At these times the office door is locked.
§  Bill May has been diagnosed with a compression fracture in a vertebra. This means that he will be on restricted duties. We have established a volunteer rota for items such as: fellowship hall set-up and take down; restroom cleaning; trash removal; floor cleaning; lawn care. Sign-up sheets are on the Narthex table. Thank you.
§  Please Pray: Leslie Kohler, Bobbi Kraft, Deacon Mike, Mother Michele, Jon Whitford Jeanna Werbeckes will be joining a group from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Bellingham, WA on pilgrimage May 25 – June 12 to Greece studying “The Footsteps of Paul” under The Rev. Dr. Kamal Farah. Please hold the pilgrims in prayer.
§  Elkhart Lake Chapel: The Chapel will have services every Sunday through Labor Day weekend. We are in need of help for each Sunday. This would include: 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 on the clipboard on the Narthex table or by calling the office at 452-9659 with dates you are available. Thank you.
§  Father Phil Reifenberg farewell: Fr. Phil’s last day at St. Dominic Parish will be June 10th. Mass will be at 5:00pm with a farewell reception following at 2133 N 22nd St. Sheboygan.  If you plan to attend please contact Fr. Karl.
§  Eucharistic Festival: Plan to attend the Annual Diocesan Eucharistic Festival at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 24th, at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. The Homilist is the Rt. Rev. Dorsey F. Henderson, retired Bishop of Upper South Carolina. He serves as Superior-General of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament and as episcopal visitor to a fledgling religious community centered in the Diocese of Atlanta. A picnic lunch and a time of fellowship will follow the Eucharist. At 3:00pm there will be afternoon prayer with Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
§  Brat Fry and Bake Sale: is July 1, 2017 at Miesfeld’s. There are many opportunities to help with this fundraiser! We will need brat fryers, brat stand attendants, bake sale attendants and homemade baked goods. Can’t fry, bake or volunteer? No problem, we also need monetary donations for condiments, paper products, etc. Any contribution make the check out to Grace Church, memo brat fry. In 2015 we made $1300, let’s set our goal at $2000. All sign-up sheets including working at the brat fry are in the narthex or call Barb MacEwen at 920-912-4505. Be sure to stop out for lunch at Miesfeld’s on July 1st and bring your friends! Thank you so much for your participation.
§  Summer Camp: Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12th graders. Camp is an opportunity for campers and staff to learn more about God, about community, about themselves and have fun! There are application forms on the Narthex table.  Deadline for registration is May 22, 2017. If you have questions about what camp is like please speak with Nick Whitford at the coffee hour following this mass.  Scholarships are available.
o   Senior Camp (completed grades 9-12) June 11 (Sun 3pm) – June 17 (Sat 12noon)
o   Middler Camp (completed grades 6-8) June 18 (Sun 3pm) – June 22 (Thu 12noon)
o   Junior Camp (completed grades 2-5) June 18 (Sun 3pm) – June 22 (Thu 12noon)
o   KinderCamp (parent & kids ages 4-7) June 22 (Thu 4pm) – June 24 (Sat 12noon)
§  Grace Notes is here: http://gracechurchgracenotes.blogspot.com/.  You can sign up to receive the blog every Thursday
§  Grace Abounds: http://www.graceabounds.online Sermons, podcasts, the Bible Challenge
§  Like Grace 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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