Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
22 June 2017
In an opinion
column appearing in the 21 June edition of The
Wall Street Journal, the author refers to the concept of an “availability
cascade”. Citing an analysis of the alar:
apple cancer scare, a 1999 law review article argues that at a certain point of
information availability human beings decide to believe what others
believe. Members of society decide that
everyone else must be right. One can
think, of course, about the current battles over “fake news” and cultural
“memes”, but one must think, as well, about the role of ingrained
prejudice. (Think, for example, about
the link between the rise of the Nazis and the widespread domestic German
belief in the 1920’s that an undefeated Germany Army had been “stabbed in the
back” at the end of WWI by disloyal elements at home.)
Let’s look at
another piece of “information”, that a person can be “spiritual but not
religious” or can just have an individual relationship with God apart from the
Church. This “knowledge” has wide
currency in our culture; it is widely available. But the idea that a person can find their own
way in this way is, in reality fake news and not the Good News. Fake news allows me to believe what I want;
it meets my expectations. Fake news
reinforces me in what I believe already.
The Good News changes me, because the Good News—when I really receive
and live it—is so far beyond my expectations that I have to stop an examine all
that I already deem a given.
I might expect that
if I live a life without fault, I should be rewarded. But then I must admit that my life—no life—is
without fault. I might expect that
forgiveness might be earned, but then I can never reasonably expect that
forgiveness can be offered without price.
I might expect that if am “right with God” then I can enjoy His
blessings, but I can never expect (let alone imagine) that the all-powerful
Creator of the universe would not only forgive His creatures while we were
still His enemies, but would pay the price of our forgiveness by offering His
own Son.
Fake news requires
nothing of me. The Good News challenges
me. It is by engaging with the latter
that I can be changed, transformed. If I
ever decide that something has been repeated enough that it must be right, then
I am in danger of just giving in to the lowest common denominator. God calls us to more than we can imagine.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Mary Ann Neuses for
the Sunday coffee hour.
§ Zachary and Joann
Sorensen for lawn care. Ben Dobey for
gardening.
§ Sandie Palmer for
administrative help.
§ Bobbie May for
janitorial 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 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 Third Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 7)
Organist:
R. Benjamin Dobey
Prelude Aria Paul Manz
Entrance Hymn 410 “Praise, my soul, the King of heaven” Lauda
anima
Offertory Hymn
594 “God of grace and God of glory” Cwm Rhondda
Communion Hymn 655 “O Jesus, I have promised” Nyland
Closing Hymn 564 “He who would valiant be” St. Dunstan’s
Postlude Prelude
and Fugue in G Major Dietrich
Buxtehude
Parish
Notices
§ Volunteers still
needed at All Saints’ Chapel: We are in need of help for the following Sundays: July 16, August 13,
August 20 and September 3. 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.
§ Mutual Support Group:
Do you provide care for a spouse, child, parent or
friend? This can be physical help, household help, taking people to
doctor appointments or anything in between. If you do,
consider joining our mutual support group which meets on the
fourth Wednesday of each month. So far, we have about eight of us
from Grace Church. The group will next meet at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 28th,
at the church. Wendy Limberg, a social worker with Embrace Care
Management, will lead a discussion about finding the balance between
caring for ourselves and for others. For more information, please contact
Mary Clabots at 762-0550.
§ Please keep Bill in
prayer: 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.
§ 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.
§ Grace Notes is here: http://gracechurchgracenotes.blogspot.com/.
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