Discipleship as Recovery

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

31 August 2017

The 12 steps of recovery used by Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) should make sober Christians take notice.  The 12 steps  (http://www.recovery.org/topics/alcoholics-anonymous-12-step/) require a level of honesty and self-examination that we too often ignore.  This is not to say that I must figuratively beat myself up as “unworthy”, that I must “acknowledge and bewail my manifold sins and wickedness” in all things (as the old prayer book service would have us do).  It is to say, however, that in standing before God, in seeking spiritual growth, I must first acknowledge that I need help.  No matter how smart, gifted, and blessed with resources I may be, my relationship with God will not be determined on the basis of what I can add to the equation.  I can add nothing, for God, as the source and summation of all, needs nothing from me.  But I need something, many things, indeed all things, and admitting this need—this dependence on God—is an important step in being in right relationship with God and with my fellow human beings. 

At 6:30 this evening a group will gather in Deland Park.  The group is WIRCO (Wisconsin Recovery Community Organization), and the focus is on recovery for individuals and for the community from the opioid abuse crisis.  WIRCO have received a grant to provide training for Recovery Coaches, trained volunteers who can meet (for example) with  overdose patients in the hospital emergency room, to intervene once the victim is medically stabilized, and focus on what comes next, on how recovery starts now.  Recovery Coaching training will take place on 30 September—1 October, and 7—8 October.  (Details can be gained by contacting WIRCO at wirco.sheboygan@gmail.com .)

A real strength of recovery programs is the emphasis on how sufferers need not only a “higher power” (God) but also each other.  This is an important witness to the Church, to remind us that—as revealed throughout Scripture—we need each other.  Each part of the Body of Christ is a part of all others.  “The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you.’” (1 Cor. 12.21)  God has appointed each of us to be a witness to each other and to all.  An important part of this witness is that we are seen to gather to offer worship, even if we do nothing more than just be present to each other. 

In substance abuse, a common problem encountered is a failure of community; the sufferer does not have a real support network.  Even for challenges and afflictions far less acute and deadly than substance abuse, when community fails whatever the challenge may be becomes far more daunting and far more lasting.  Let us each commit to one simple, first step beyond the fundamental reality that we need God:  We need each other, which means that each of us must take the step to show up, to be present to and for each other, that we may always “coach” each other in following Our Lord.

Grace abounds:  Please thank: 

§  Brian Heck and Joyce Wessel for the Sunday coffee hour.

§  All who helped in the parish project (maintenance and repair) day:  Randie Barrows, Nicci and Carver Beeck, Sutton Cecil, Tom Crouse, Julie Davidson, Elizabeth Schaffenburg, Bryan Stenz, Nick Whitford.

§  Julie Davidson for janitorial help.

§  Randie Barrows for extensive maintenance work.

§  Scott Gedemer for lawn care.

§  Jennifer Pawlus for pastoral care.

§  Pat Ford Smith and Cindy Weiss for cleaning the Sunday School classrooms.

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 Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 17A)

                                       Organist:  R. Benjamin Dobey

Prelude      Prelude on ‘Rendez à Dieu’                                    Geoffrey Vintner   

Entrance      477 – “All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine,”  Engelberg     

Offertory     450 – “All hail the power of Jesus’ name,”               Coronation

Communion 302 – “Father, we thank thee who hast planted”      Rendez `a Dieu    

Closing        555 – “Lead on, O King eternal,”                            Lancashire

Postlude    Voluntary in C                                                      William Croft

Parish Notices    

§  One Mass only: Sunday, September 10^th there will be at 9:00 a.m. Sung Mass with hymns followed by a Ministry Fair and picnic style luncheon. A sign-up sheet can be found on the Narthex table to indicate your choice of sandwich.

§  Choir: Choir rehearsals begin this week, Wednesday, September 6^th at 6:00 pm. All voices are welcome, but we especially need tenors and basses. You don’t need to be a trained singer, an opera star, or a Broadway sensation – you just need a desire to share the love of Christ through music!  “Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:19

§  Biblical Greek begins this week: on Thursday, September 7^th 7—9 p.m. 

§  Believing God: A Women’s Bible Study by Beth Moore will be held every Monday in Nicholas Hall 10:00-11:00 a.m., September 11^th through November 13^th. Do you believe that God has a plan for your life? Come and find out the power and promises that are yours.  A sign-up sheet can be found on the table in the Narthex.

§  Sunday School Begins: We are getting excited about Sunday School! The teachers are making plans for another wonderful year of learning about the love of Jesus Christ! Sunday School will begin on September 17^th at 9:00am.

§  How to be Holy! Will be the subject of Adult Formation beginning September 17^th.  Come and discover how you can become holy as we read Peter Kreeft’s How to be Holy: First Steps in Becoming a Saint. Jerry Molitor will facilitate this course. The book is easy to read, and we will limit the weekly reading to 20—25 pages. We will gather for seven weeks from 9—10 a.m. in the fellowship hall, beginning Sunday, September 17th, to discuss this spiritual guide. Do you wish to be holy? Do you want to see yourself as a saint? If so, let’s explore this together. We hope to see you here!  Bring friends! Please let us know if you wish to attend by signing up on the sheet in the Narthex so that we can order enough copies of the book. Copies can be purchased at the discounted price of $10, from the parish office. (Mark checks “Adult Ed”.) If you need a scholarship for this, just ask.

§  Catechumenate: will begin Tuesday, September 26^th 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and will continue until May when Bishop Matthew Gunter makes his annual visitation. Catechumenate is a nine-month course in the basics of the Faith and its practice. It is a period of training and instruction in Christian understandings about God, human relationships, and the meaning of life. It includes the Sacrament of Baptism, if you are not already baptized, and culminates in Confirmation, Reception, or Renewal of Baptismal Vows. The study is led by Mother Michele Whitford, the Parish Catechist. If you would like more information, please call the office 452-9659 or email Mthr. Michele at mwhitford@gracesheboygan.com. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex.

§  Paper Drive: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Plymouth is having a paper drive! Please bring in ONLY newspapers (inserts included). We cannot accept magazines or anything with a binding. A semi-trailer will be in the Plymouth Furniture parking lot, 2133 Eastern Av, Plymouth, the month of September. Drop off times are Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00 – 6:00pm and Saturdays 9:00 – 4:00pm. Pickups can be arranged by calling Jesse Cortinaz at 920-464-0303.

§  Walsingham Music and Flowers: The Walsingham Pilgrimage is just around the corner and preparations are being made. We will have a quiet day with meditations concluding with Solemn Evensong on October 13^th; and a Solemn Pontifical Mass with the Gaudete Brass again this year on October 14^th. Please donate so we can once again offer beautiful music that has become so much a part of the pilgrimage and the flowers that add so much to the beauty of holiness. Please make you check out to Grace Church with Walsingham music or flowers or both in the memo. Thank you.

§  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.

§  Love INC Monthly Bulletin is now available online at:

§  http://mailchi.mp/538d2add4a38/love-inc-monthly-bulletin-1109929.

§  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

§  We Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!

§  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-church-sheboygan/id982836791 

Distracted Navigation?

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

24 August 2017

It has become familiar to hear about (and witness!) “distracted driving”.  The most common problem involves texting while driving, but a related problem involves the complexity of the controls on newer cars and trucks.  (For example, where there used to be a knob to change a fan setting or temperature, many cars with computer interfaced controls require the driver to make a menu selection on a computer screen.)  Distracted driving is a leading cause in the increase in vehicular accident rates within the past five years, and has been identified as the cause of more than one fatal rail accident.  A related phenomenon is what might be called “distracted navigation”, whether this relates to the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 on 6 July 2013, in San Francisco, in which the cabin crew focused on the computer interfaces to the point that the aircraft crashed short of the runway (what the National Transportation Safety Board calls a “controlled flight into terrain”), or the two collisions, within three months, of U.S. Navy destroyers with tanker vessels in open waters.

Allowing your warship to collide with anything is absolutely a “cardinal sin” in the Navy.  Careers end.  The Navy has yet to determine what caused the collisions involving the USS Fitzgerald and the USS John S. McCain, but one possibility is that distracted navigation and distracted driving are both symptoms of changes in how we relate to reality.

In the September 2017 edition of The Atlantic, the Psychology professor Jean M. Twenge explores her question “Has the Smartphone Destroyed a Generation?”  She notes that post-Millennials (which would not include Navy bridge officers!) are more comfortable online than in many social gatherings, and catalogues the data of a generational shift in the boundaries between individual life and social life.  What professor Twenge writes about, and what may be happening in distracted driving and distracted navigation, is that we are becoming creatures who more and more relate to reality not through our primary senses of perception and proprioception, but as mediated through a device, like a smart phone or computer.  We can come to rely on what the device shows, even when our own senses may be sending conflicting data.  If this is true, then we can speculate that the effects on the life of faith can include:

§  An inability to truly relax, to “be still, and know I am the Lord”.

§  An interaction with reality in which my will is paramount.  If I can’t control something, or if the information I need is not something presented to me, the thing or information gets excluded.

§  An interaction with reality in which unless something is useful to me (in the ways I define usefulness), it gets excluded.

These are speculations, only, but ones that must be placed in the context of increasing self-focus and how this is facilitated by technology, combined with Jesus’ promise that God will be present when we gather in His Name (Mtt. 18.20).  When we are still before God, when we focus our beings upon His presence and His will, the “sixth sense” of faith becomes a guide that will not fail us.

Grace abounds:  Please thank: 

§  Leslie Kohler, Sutton Cecil and Julie Davidson for the Sunday coffee hour.

§  All who helped in the birthday reception:  Ellen and Paul Aparicio, Mary Snyder.

§  Bobbie May for gardening, and for janitorial help.

§  Julie Davidson for janitorial help.

§  Mary Snyder for hospitality for R. Kraft’s mission presentation.

§  Randie Barrows and John Davis for extensive maintenance work in the parish.

§  Ben Crouse for lawn care.

§  Pat Ford Smith and Cindy Weiss for cleaning the Sunday School classrooms.

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 Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 16A)

                                       Organist:  R. Benjamin Dobey

Prelude:               Matines Communion                                              Louis Vierne

Entrance      436    “Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates”                     Truro

Offertory     525    “The Church’s one foundation”                               Aurelia

Communion 475    “God himself is with us”                                         Tysk

Closing        460    “Alleluia!  Sing to Jesus!” (vv.1-3)                          Hyfrydol

Postlude              Thou art the Rock, and the gates of hell shall not             

                             prevail against thee                                               Henri Mulet

Parish Notices    

§  Blessing of the Backpacks! Today we will be blessing all the backpacks and school children as well as all the teachers, at both 8:00 and 10:15 services. We will invite everyone, young and old, who are starting school to come forward with their backpacks for a blessing. We will also ask all the teachers to come forward to be blessed in their important work as well.

§  Choir: Choir rehearsals begin Wednesday, September 6^th at 6:00 pm. All voices are welcome, but we especially need tenors and basses. You don’t need to be a trained singer, an opera star, or a Broadway sensation – you just need a desire to share the love of Christ through music!  “Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:19

§  Biblical Greek to be offered:  Join us on Thursday evenings, beginning on Thursday, September 7^th. (Classes will meet 7—9 p.m.) This is not a course about learning to speak Greek, and it is unlikely that you will become fully literate in the biblical language but, what you will learn is how to really dive deeply into the Bible by using a myriad of resources (online and in print) that will allow you to study the words in the original and what the grammar in the original may point to in meaning. There is a cost: $100—hence, the early notice. There will be limited scholarships available. We are opening this course to other churches, and will limit overall class size, so if you are curious explore your interest with Fr. Karl or Mthr. Michele.

§  Believing God: A Women’s Bible Study by Beth Moore will be held every Monday in Nicholas Hall 10:00-11:00 a.m., September 11^th through November 13^th. Do you believe that God has a plan for your life? Come and find out the power and promises that are yours.  A sign-up sheet can be found on the table in the Narthex.

§  Sunday School Begins: We are getting excited about Sunday School! The teachers are making plans for another wonderful year of learning about the love of Jesus Christ! Sunday School will begin on September 17^th at 9:00am.

§  How to be Holy! Will be the subject of Adult Formation beginning September 17^th.  Come and discover how you can become holy as we read Peter Kreeft’s How to be Holy: First Steps in Becoming a Saint. Jerry Molitor will facilitate this course. The book is easy to read, and we will limit the weekly reading to 20—25 pages. We will gather for seven weeks from 9—10 a.m. in the fellowship hall, beginning Sunday, September 17th, to discuss this spiritual guide. Do you wish to be holy? Do you want to see yourself as a saint? If so, let’s explore this together. We hope to see you here!  Bring friends! Please let us know if you wish to attend by signing up on the sheet in the Narthex so that we can order enough copies of the book. Copies can be purchased at the discounted price of $10, from the parish office. (Mark checks “Adult Ed”.) If you need a scholarship for this, just ask.

§  Catechumenate: will begin Tuesday, September 19^th 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. and will continue until May when Bishop Matthew Gunter makes his annual visitation. Catechumenate is a nine-month course in the basics of the Faith and its practice. It is a period of training and instruction in Christian understandings about God, human relationships, and the meaning of life. It includes the Sacrament of Baptism, if you are not already baptized, and culminates in Confirmation, Reception, or Renewal of Baptismal Vows. The study is led by Mother Michele Whitford, the Parish Catechist. If you would like more information, please call the office 452-9659 or email Mthr. Michele at mwhitford@gracesheboygan.com. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex.

§  Hope Bags for Safe Harbor: Love INC is running a product drive August 27^th through September 27^th. This year, their goal is to collect enough items to provide 36 Hope Bags, of various sizes, to Safe Harbor. When a victim of domestic violence is being treated at a local hospital, the treating facility is legally obligated to contact an advocate at a local Domestic Violence Shelter. The advocate from the local DV Shelter (Safe Harbor) arrives to the hospital, equipped with not only care and compassion, but a Love INC Hope Bag for the victim. The victim is often required to leave their clothing behind as evidence, and the Hope Bag provides not only a fresh change of clothing, but some important items that will be critical to their recovery.  Love INC has asked for each Church to sign up to supply one or more of the items provided in the Hope Bags. Grace Church has signed up to provide women’s boy-cut underwear. A list of sizes and quantities requested can be found in the Love INC bin in the Narthex.

§  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.

§  Love INC Monthly Bulletin is now available online at:

§  http://mailchi.mp/538d2add4a38/love-inc-monthly-bulletin-1109929.

§  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

§  We Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!

§  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-church-sheboygan/id982836791 

Building on Our Shared Past

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

17 August 2017

In this weekly column I often write about our current state, and the future to which we are called.  In who we are, and in who we are called to be, we build upon the witness of many who have come before us, and live in this witness by virtue of the dedication of all who have worked on this project.  In looking to our foundation, we can thank Betty Potter and a large team of volunteers for the project described in Betty’s report, below.

After almost one year of scanning and entering data for the parish archives, the archival material is entirely posted on one web site and almost completely posted on two other web sites.  All of the scanned material and metadata have also been saved a church owned, portable hard drive.

Sheboygan's Eastern Shores Library System has posted the material on a monthly basis.  However, Recollection Wisconsin and the Digital Public Library of America take longer to post material, usually on a quarterly basis.  Therefore, those site listings have yet to be fully completed.

For now, 699 items can be found at Ozaukee and Sheboygan Memories (ozaukeesheboyganmemories.org/jsp/RcWebBrowse.jsp)  Or, when Digital Public Library of America is Googled, 569 items come up.  If Recollection Wisconsin is Googled, 407 items will appear. 

The easiest way to bring up all the material on the Ozaukee/Sheboygan Memories site is to: 

1. Open the Simple Search drop down box at the top of the page;
2. Type Grace Episcopal Church in the search box;
3. Check only the Sheboygan location; and,
4. Hit the search button.

Specific categories can be found by typing a term other than Grace Episcopal Church in the search box, like All Saints Chapel, Angelus, annual reports, clergy names, choir, pilgrimage, youth organizations (for Boy Scouts), windows, etc.

This project has been managed by Betty Potter, the parish archivist.  In this project she was assisted by:

 The archivist was assisted in this task by volunteer photographers, scanners, and typists of metadata.  Digital photographs were provided by Paul Aparicio (Boy Scout Artifacts), Bill Gagin (All Saints’ Chapel), Jim Gardner (Grace Church Windows and Boy Scout Glass Lantern Slides), and Calvin Potter (Grace Church Artifacts).

The scanners were Sutton Cecil (Boy Scout Scrapbooks), Julie Davidson (Guild Material), Deb and Bill Gagin (Boy Scout Material), Anne and Bob Hanlon (Angeluses, Minutes, Photographs, Programs), Bobbie May (Church Registries), Jennifer Pawlus (Boy Scout Scrapbooks), Pat Sather (Books, Newspaper Clippings, Pamphlets), Connie Schneider (Church Scrapbooks), Jon Whitford (Guild Material, Journals, Manuals, Newspaper Clippings, Boy Scout Material), Betty Potter (Annual Reports, Correspondence, Documents, Photographs, Programs, Sermons).

The typists were Pat Sather, Connie Schneider, and Betty Potter.

Grace abounds:  Please thank: 

§  All who helped in the birthday reception:  Ellen and Paul Aparicio, Mary Snyder.

§  Bobbie May for gardening, and for janitorial help.

§  Randie Barrows for extensive maintenance work in the parish (3 days’ work!), including plumbing changes to meet new code, and floor cleaning.

§  Bryan Stenz and Nick Whitford for cleaning the nursery and youth room.

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 Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15A)

                                       Organist:  R. Benjamin Dobey

Prelude:     Intermezzo Melodia                                                Max Reger

Entrance      390 – “Praise to the Lord,”                                     Lobe den Herren

Offertory     544 – “Jesus shall reign wher-e’er the sun,”            Duke Street

Communion 470 – “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,”            Beecher

Closing        551 – “Rise up, ye saints of God,”                          Festal Song

Postlude    Chorale Prelude on Lobe den Herrn                         Reger

                  

Parish Notices    

§  Mission Field in Iraq: On Wednesday, August 23^rd following 5:30 pm mass there will be a simple supper with a presentation given by Bobbi Kraft on her mission field in Iraq. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex so that we will have an estimate of how much food to provide.

§  Church Projects Day: Volunteers are needed for inside and outside projects on Saturday, August 26^th 8:30 a.m. – early afternoon. Lunch will be provided. A sign-up sheet can be found on the table in the Narthex.

§  Blessing of the Backpacks! We will be blessing all the backpacks and school children as well as all the teachers, on August 27^th at both 8:00 and 10:15 services. We will invite everyone, young and old, who are starting school to come forward with their backpacks for a blessing. We will also ask all the teachers to come forward to be blessed in their important work as well.

§  Choir: Choir rehearsals begin Wednesday, September 6^th at 6:00 pm. All voices are welcome, but we especially need tenors and basses. You don’t need to be a trained singer, an opera star, or a Broadway sensation – you just need a desire to share the love of Christ through music!  “Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:19

§  Biblical Greek to be offered:  Join us on Thursday evenings, beginning on Thursday, September 7^th. (Classes will meet 7—9 p.m.) This is not a course about learning to speak Greek, and it is unlikely that you will become fully literate in the biblical language but, what you will learn is how to really dive deeply into the Bible by using a myriad of resources (online and in print) that will allow you to study the words in the original and what the grammar in the original may point to in meaning. There is a cost: $100—hence, the early notice. There will be limited scholarships available. We are opening this course to other churches, and will limit overall class size, so if you are curious explore your interest with Fr. Karl or Mthr. Michele.

§  Believing God: A Women’s Bible Study by Beth Moore will be held every Monday in Nicholas Hall 10:00-11:00 a.m., September 11^th through November 13^th. Do you believe that God has a plan for your life? Come and find out the power and promises that are yours.  A sign-up sheet can be found on the table in the Narthex.

§  Sunday School Begins: We are getting excited about Sunday School! The teachers are making plans for another wonderful year of learning about the love of Jesus Christ! Sunday School will begin on September 17^th at 9:00am. Registration will take place at Mass in the Grass on September 10^th.

§  How to be Holy! Will be the subject of Adult Formation beginning September 17^th.  Come and discover how you can become holy as we read Peter Kreeft’s How to be Holy: First Steps in Becoming a Saint. Jerry Molitor will facilitate this course. The book is easy to read, and we will limit the weekly reading to 20—25 pages. We will gather for seven weeks from 9—10 a.m. in the fellowship hall, beginning Sunday, September 17th, to discuss this spiritual guide. Do you wish to be holy? Do you want to see yourself as a saint? If so, let’s explore this together. We hope to see you here!  Bring friends! Please let us know if you wish to attend by signing up on the sheet in the Narthex so that we can order enough copies of the book. Copies can be purchased at the discounted price of $10, from the parish office. (Mark checks “Adult Ed”.) If you need a scholarship for this, just ask.

§  Catechumenate will begin: Catechumenate is a nine-month course in the basics of the Faith and its practice. It is a period of training and instruction in Christian understandings about God, human relationships, and the meaning of life. It includes the Sacrament of Baptism, if you are not already baptized, and culminates in Confirmation, Reception, or Renewal of Baptismal Vows. The Catechumenate will meet on an evening each week starting at 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The class will begin in late September and will continue until May when Bishop Matthew Gunter makes his annual visitation. The study is led by Mother Michele Whitford, the Parish Catechist. If you would like to be a part of this exciting study and fellowship or would like more information, please call the office 452-9659 or email Mthr. Michele at

§  mwhitford@gracesheboygan.com. There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex.

§  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.

§  Love INC Monthly Bulletin is now available online at:

§  http://mailchi.mp/538d2add4a38/love-inc-monthly-bulletin-1109929.

§  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

§  We Are on Itunes! Check out the new podcast!!!

§  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-church-sheboygan/id982836791