Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
5 October 2017
Whenever we are shocked by violence we grope
for answers. In the wake of the mass
murder and mayhem in Las Vegas, news reports abound with speculation over the
killer’s motives. It is tempting, from a
secular perspective, to speak of madness and psychopathy—a sane person does not fire into a crowd of human beings—but such an answer is too convenient
in how it takes us off the hook for the broader problem of how the
intersection of mental illness and acts of violence requires us to take seriously
the identification and treatment of mental illness in ways which we have
avoided. It is tempting, from the
perspective of faith, to speak of fallenness, and how evil “just is”, but a
“just is” equation ignores that evil is the negation of/absence of good, and
lacks any positive being.
As human beings we are each created in the
image and likeness of God. As those
living in a fallen world we all cloud and shade this image with sin. As a result, even when in faith we do strive
“to seek and serve Christ in all persons” we may focus more on the clouding,
the shading, and not come to know the person.
We may come to treat other people as objects, which, in secular thinking
is one of the classic hallmarks of psychopathy, but which within faith is a
sure symptom of negation, of sin.
In the sentence, “Karl handed the book to
Elizabeth” I (Karl) am the subject of the verb.
I do the action of the verb. The
book is the direct object, and Elizabeth is the indirect object. Every human being participates in the supreme
Subject, that all being begins and is complete in God; that our humanness and
capacity to act is a participation in the Subject. But our society tempts us continually to
treat fellow humans as objects. The
killer in Las Vegas, from whatever “motive”, looked through a gun sight and saw
not people but objects, things. In
Christ we are called to, mandated to, equipped to, look upon every other human
as a person, never an object; a person against whom violence is a violation of
our own personhood.
By the grace of God the overwhelming majority
of human beings have never looked through a gun sight and seen another human
being, because there is never any reason to do so save the intention to loose
destruction on this other person. When
this happens in warfare, the soldier must himself come to view the other as an
object, as “the enemy”. (Despite this,
many soldiers come to be haunted by pulling that trigger!) The very idea of pointing a firearm at
another human being should horrify us, even if we allow for the extreme
circumstances of warfare and defense against murderous attack. But before we become too pious in our horror
over such objectification of the other, let us examine our own consciences and
pray about all of the ways in which we continually objectify each other. Do I look upon another person and see a label,
whether this be one of race, age, gender, class, origin, faith or lack
thereof? When I do, do I—by God’s
grace—catch myself, and then strive to seek and serve Christ in that person? If I don’t (when I don’t) may I, by God’s grace
take a spiritual pause to recognize how objectification is contrary to God’s
plan, and then pray that, by God’s grace, I may always encounter another
subject (a person), and with this person encounter the supreme Subject, God
with us.
A Prayer for the
Human Family (BCP p. 815):
O God, you made us
in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion
on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our
hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and
work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth;
that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around
your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ All
who worked to make the Sunday coffee hours (Bob and Anne Hanlon) and
stewardship luncheon such a success:
Ellen Aparicio, Mary Clabots, Katy Larson, Mary Snyder, JoAnn and Zach
Sorenson, Mary Tasche, with cleanup by Sutton Cecil, Julie Davidson, Bobbie
May, Elizabeth Schaffenburg and Mary Tasche.
§ Julie
Davidson for janitorial help.
§ Ben
Crouse for lawn care. Ben Dobey and
Bobbie May for gardening.
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
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22A)
Organist: R. Benjamin Dobey
Prelude
Jesu, dulcis memoria Walford Davies Entrance 495
“Hail, thou once despised Jesus! “
In Babilone
Offertory 448
“O love, how deep, how broad, how high” Deus tuorum militum
Communion
Motet Ave
Verum Corpus W.
A. Mozart
Communion 313
“Let thy Blood in mercy poured”
Jesus, mein Zuversicht
Closing 598
“Lord Christ, when first thou cam’st to earth Mit
Freuden zart
Postlude Prelude and Fugue in F Minor J.K.F. Fischer
Parish Notices
§ Third
Quarter Pledge Statements: In order to save money on
postage, please pick up your third quarter pledge statements from the table in
the Narthex.
§ Adult
Formation – How to be Holy: There will be no
adult formation next Sunday, October 15th. Classes will resume
October 22nd.
§ 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. 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:,10/15, 10/22, 11/19, and
11/26. For 10:15am: 10/29, 11/5, 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.
§ Walsingham
Pilgrimage Music and Flowers: The Walsingham
Pilgrimage is October 13th & 14th. Music will include the
Gaudete Brass. 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 - $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.
§ Our
Lady of Walsingham Pilgrimage
§ Friday,
October 13, 2017
§ Quiet
Day of Prayer and Meditation.
- 12:00pm Service for Noonday and Meditation
- 3:00pm Service of Prayer and Meditation
- 5:15pm Holy Rosary
- 6:00pm Solemn Evensong and Meditation
- The Meditations will be led by Ms. Adwoa 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
§ 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 middle of
October. 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:
§ 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!!!
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