Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
28 September 2017
Tomorrow’s Feast of St. Michael and All
Angels (Michaelmas) makes it timely to review what scripture reveals about
angels.
The Greek word for angel (‘αγγελλος/angellos)
means “messenger”. Angels are
supernatural created beings (not gods, Col. 1.16). They are pure spirit (Heb. 1.7, 14), lacking
any physical body. As such, they can
assume different forms (normally as a human being) to act as agents of God’s
will, and are generally described with terms that refer to bright light,
precious stones, and shining fire, i.e.
as reflecting God’s glory (Dan. 10.5-6), and as dressed in white (Dan.
12.6). Angels lack gender and transcend
time (Mtt. 22.30ff.) Their knowledge is superior to that of
humans, but not unlimited (1 Pet. 1.12).
Their strength is greater than that of humans (2 Thess. 1.7), and they
speak a language of their own (1 Cor. 13.1), but can speak to humans.
The Bible says there are seven ranks of
angels. These are angels, archangels, thrones, powers, dominions,
cherubim and seraphim. Lucifer was the highest seraph, i.e., the
highest created being, before he fell, and he can appear disguised as an angel
of light (2 Cor. 11.14).
The three archangels named in Scripture include
Michael (the name means “Who is like God?”), the captain of the host of heaven,
as described in Revelation, Gabriel (the name means “Messenger of God”),
mentioned, e.g., in the Annunciation to Mary in Luke 1, and
Raphael (the name means “God has healed”), who is in The Book of Tobit.
Tobit is found in the Apocrypha in Protestant bibles. This raises the
issue of the fourth archangel, Uriel (“the light of God”). Uriel is not
found in the Bible, but in a deuterocanonical work of the Old Testament period,
The Book of Enoch, and is recognized in Judaism. His name is
invoked in the version of hymn 282 (“Christ, the fair glory”—an eighth century
hymn) found in The English Hymnal, but not in our hymnal. This may
be because he was recognized by Pope Gregory the Great, who sermonized about
the four archangels in the context of the four cardinal points of creation.
No archangel is thought to rank the
others. Michael is generally thought of first because of his being
described as the captain of the army fighting Satan. Note, as well, that
the archangels are not the highest order, but the second lowest. We have
no names for any in the other orders, other than Lucifer/Satan.
In terms of angels who interact with us, the
rank is not defined. We think of them as ordinary angels, but remember
that the word angel just means “messenger” (making Gabriel’s name rather
redundant). Angels have free will, with
those in heaven choosing to obey God (Mtt. 6.10). Angels worship Jesus Christ (Heb. 1.6).
Much outside of scripture has been written
about angels. This includes the writing
of saints, but also a lot of speculation that can border on the deranged. But before you dismiss the reality of angels,
consider again that the word means “messenger”.
For God, nothing is impossible (Mtt. 19.26; Mk. 10.27; Lk. 18.27), so
why should we question His ability to appoint any messenger? Such messengers will normally be other humans
given words for us, but we cannot dismiss the existence of supernatural beings
without dismissing the supernatural.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Mary
Snyder for the Sunday coffee hours.
§ Mike
Burg, Mary Snyder and Connie Stanley for the newcomers’ welcome reception.
§ Julie
Davidson for janitorial help.
§ Paul
Aparicio, Randie Barrows, Jim Gardner and Bryan Stenz for moving services for
donated property.
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
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 21A)
Organist: R. Benjamin Dobey
Prelude Prelude on “Malabar’ (“Strengthen for service, Lord”)
Leo Sowerby
Offertory no. 435 “At
the Name of Jesus” King’s
Weston
Communion Motet Thy perfect love John Rutter
Comm. Hymn no. 564 “He
who would valiant be” St.
Dunstan’s
Postlude Toccata in G Johann Speth
Parish Notices
§ Stewardship Kick-Off Event: After the
10:15 a.m. mass coffee hour on Sunday, a presentation will be given by the
Stewardship Committee in addition to a meal of Italian cuisine prepared by the
Hospitality Committee.
§ White Board Selfie
Project. Following Mass on Sunday, a member of the vestry will
be present in St Nicholas Hall to take a photograph of each parishioner. We ask
that you hold up a white board with a word or phrase you choose to express what
you are passionate about at Grace Episcopal Church. This will be an ongoing
project to help us discover connections and priorities amongst ourselves.
§ Parish Directory: As
you may know, a picture directory is ‘in the works’ for this fall. The first
step is to get the written information up to date. A print out of what we have
can be found on the table in the narthex. Please check your entry. Initial
the entry if it is correct, or write in any corrections necessary.
§ Coffee Hour:
Thank you to all who have volunteered for coffee hour and all who have stepped
in and made coffee and put out snacks. We do have a sign-up sheet in the white
binder on the Narthex table. Some of the upcoming Sundays have been taken but
we are still in need of more volunteers. The weeks that are open are 8:00am:
10/8,10/15. 10/22, 10/29, 11/12. 11/19, 11/26, 12/10, and 12/17. For 10:15am:
10/15, 10/29, 11/5, 12/3 and 12/10. If you can help please sign up on the sheet
in the white binder on the Narthex table. Thank you so much.
§ As a community, are
we really helping? Love
INC is sponsoring a community event and volunteer training. The community event is entitled “The Defining
Difference: Helping in Ways that Transform, based on the book Redemptive
Compassion, by author, Love INC of Treasure Valley Executive Director, Lois
Tupyi. This community event will take place at First Reformed Church, 927
Superior Avenue, Oostburg on Friday, October 6th 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm.
Registration fee is $10 The following day, Saturday, October 7th
volunteer training will be held, details of which can be found on the notice
board in the narthex, and at www.loveincsheboygancountry.org For those of you who would like to attend,
four free tickets are available by calling Grace Church office.
§ Walsingham Pilgrimage
Music and Flowers: The Walsingham Pilgrimage is just around the corner and
preparations are being made. Music will include the Gaudete Brass again this
year. As you are able, 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 your check out to Grace Church with
Walsingham music or flowers or both in the memo. Reservations are required for lunch at a cost of $20 per person and
will be served at noon on Saturday October 14th. Please make your
reservations by using the sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex or by
calling Grace office at 452-9659.
§ Walsingham Volunteers
Needed: There are many opportunities to help with hospitality for the
Walsingham Pilgrimage. We will need volunteers to greet pilgrims as they arrive
for both the quiet day on Friday as well as Saturday morning for the Solemn
Mass and for the musical offering, healing prayer and Benediction of the Blessed
Sacrament. We will need help with the set-up of St. Nicholas Hall for lunch and
especially for clean-up after lunch. Please sign-up on the sheet on the Narthex
table.
§ Walsingham Accommodation: We need
accommodations for 12 choir members from Nashotah House (eight men and two
couples) for Friday, 13 October. If you can take 1—2 choristers, please
see the sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex. You will not need to provide
dinner. (A light breakfast on Saturday, 14 October will be appreciated.)
You will need to provide pick-up and drop-off at the parish.
§ Our Lady of Walsingham Pilgrimage
§ Friday, October 13, 2017 - Quiet Day of Prayer and Meditation.
o
12:00pm Service for
Noonday and Meditation
o
3:00pm Service of
Prayer and Meditation
o
5:15pm Holy Rosary
o
6:00pm Solemn
Evensong and Meditation
§ The Meditations will be led by Ms. Adowa Lewis-Wilson, Episcopal laywoman active in Boston,
Massachusetts and an Oblate of the Order of Julian of Norwich.
Solemn Evensong will include the
choirs of the parish and of Nashotah House Theological Seminary, under the
direction of The Rev. Fr. Alexander Prior, Director of Music at the
Seminary
§ Saturday, October 14, 2017 - Pilgrimage
§ 10:30 am Solemn Pontifical Mass with procession of Our Lady. Celebrant is The Right Reverend Matthew A.
Gunter, Eighth Bishop of Fond du Lac.
§ The preacher is The Rev. Jeffrey Queen, Rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, in
Ft. Thomas, Kentucky
§ Choral and organ music will include
Dr. R. Benjamin Dobey Organist and the Gaudete Brass Quartet
of Chicago.
§ 12:00 pm Harvest Lunch. The cost is $20.00.
§ Please make reservations by October 7, 2016.
§ 2:00pm Anointing with Walsingham water and Healing Prayer, musical
offering, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
§ To register and for
more information: (920) 452-9659,
office@gracesheboygan.com www.gracesheboygan.com
office@gracesheboygan.com www.gracesheboygan.com
§ 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.
§ 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.
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
§ Like Grace Church on Facebook:
@gracesheboygan
§ We Are on Itunes!
Check out the new podcast!!!
