Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
29 March 2018
Maundy Thursday takes its name from the Middle
English for “command”, from the Latin mandatum, with reference to what
Jesus says at the Last Supper, after washing His disciples’ feet and after
foretelling His betrayal. He gives the
new commandment (Jn. 13.34) that followers of Christ are to love one another as
He has loved us, in self-giving. So the
words “commandment” and “love” figure prominently, but in focusing on how we
can live into this commandment of self-giving love, it is in another two words
that we get the directions we must take to heart. These words are “do this”.
The biblical accounts of Jesus’ institution
of the Holy Eucharist all describe Him taking bread, blessing it and breaking
it, and giving it to His disciples as His Body.
Luke’s account adds the specific command, “do this”, as does Paul’s
description of the testimony of witnesses (1 Cor. 11.24—5). “Do” is a verb stated in the plural form of
address (“y’all do this”), with “this” being what Jesus does. And what is this? It is, in fact, the Holy Eucharist: that we gather in the Lord’s Name; that we
relive His teaching; that we make an offering of ourselves as He offers
Himself; that we take and bless bread and wine, and then participate in this
offering with Jesus. Combine the
plurality of the verb with Jesus’ promise that God will be present when “two or
three” are gathered in His Name (Mtt. 18.20), and we receive the prototype of
our principal act of worship, and (and this is the point) it is in real
worship, in real participation in Jesus’ life, that we can, in fact live
into Jesus’ commandment that we love one another as He has loved us.
By ourselves we cannot love in the ways that Jesus
does; in the way that God loves us without reservation. But in Christ we can, and we are in Christ
when we gather in His Name and “do this” to make Holy Eucharist and to
participate in this supreme self-giving.
In following Our Lord through the passion of
Good Friday, through the descent into Hell on Holy Saturday, to the victory of
life and love over death in the triumphant resurrection of Easter, let us
remain focused on the reality and gift that He goes before us, and that we can
participate in His triumph, in the fulfillment of God’s plan, in how we gather
and “do this”.
Stations
of the Cross: If you
were unable to make it on 18 March to experience the Stations of the Cross with
the youth group, you're in luck! You can view the full program right now.
The link below will take you to a Google Drive folder which includes the
full program video, and the booklet that goes along with it. If you don't use
Google Drive that's okay, they don't require anything of you to use my link.
The program is basically an hour long. For the best experience, try to
give yourself at least an hour of uninterrupted time. I would love to hear your
reactions, you can find me at church, or email me at njwhitford@gmail.com
For any who are unfamiliar: Stations of the Cross is a tradition in some
churches where, essentially, we tell the story of Jesus' arrest, condemnation,
death, and burial through a series of locations, or stations (kind of like the
chapters of a story). This version is special because we are using so-called
secular movies to show how we can find God through our cultural storytelling.
Thank you to everyone who came out on Sunday, there were about 30 people.
I appreciated the conversation afterward, and am glad that you found it
worthwhile.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Bob
and Barb MacEwen for the Lenten supper.
§ Wayne
and Pat Sather, and Bryan Stenz for the Sunday coffee hours, with cleanup by
Steve and Katie Larson.
§ Julie
Davidson and Bobbie May for janitorial help.
§ Bobbie
May and Bernie Markevitch for church decoration.
§ Andrea
Beeck for donating children’s play mats for the nursery.
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:
Maundy Thursday
Prelude Meditation
on ‘Ubi caritas’ Larry
Visser
Prelude on Adoro
te devote Healy Willan
Tract “Psalm 145:14-20” Plainsong
Entrance “Hail,
Zion praise thy Savior, singing” St. Thomas
Offertory 315 “Thou
who at thy first Eucharist” Song 1
Communion
Motet Ave Verum Corpus Plainsong
Communion 314 “Humbly
I adore thee” Adoro
devote
Procession
to the Altar of Repose
Now my tongue
the mystery telling Pange
lingua
Good Friday
Tract “Psalm 40:1-3, 12-14” Plainsong
Veneration
of the Cross
Adoramus te
Christe
W.A. Mozart
God so loved the
world John Stainer
Behold the Lamb
of God Healy
Willan
Procession
of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar
Sing my tongue ,
the glorious battle Pange
lingua
Easter Vigil
Offertory
Anthem Fanfare: Dextera Domini R. Benjamin Dobey
Christus Vincit Joseph Noyon, arr. Gerre Hancock
Communion
Motet Most glorious Lord of life William H. Harris
Communion
305 “Come risen Lord and deign to be
our guest” Rosedale
Closing 208 “Alleluia,
the strife is o’er”
Victory
Postlude Sinfonia from the
Easter Oratorio J.S. Bach
Trumpets:
Michael Winkler
Scott Winkler
Easter Sunday
Organ Prelude Concerto in F Major, op 4 no. 5
G.F. Händel
Entrance
207 “Jesus Christ is Risen today,
Allelulia” Easter
Hymn
Offertory
Anthem Regina Coeli
W.A. Mozart
Communion
Motet Jesus, Sun of Life G.F. Händel
Communion
174 “At the Lamb’s high feast we sing” Salzburg
Closing 210 “The day of resurrection” Ellacombe
Postlude Toccata from the Fifth
Symphony Charles-Marie
Widor
The String
Quartet:
Beth Warne, violin
Katherine Brooks, violin
Amanda Koch, viola
Trischa Loebl, cello
Parish Notices:
§ Sacrament
of Reconciliation: Lent
is a time of self-examination preparing for the death and resurrection of our
Lord. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered by appointment. Please
contact Fr. Schaffenburg to set up an appointment to make your confession.
§ First Communion Instruction: Pat Ford Smith will
be providing Communion Lessons in preparation for the Bishop's visit on Sunday,
22 April. Classes have begun and will continue on 8 and 15 April from 1:30-3:00p.m. Children will meet Mrs. Pat
at the Ontario Street entrance.
§ Easter
Vigil Dinner:
The first Mass of the Resurrection is on Saturday, 31 March at 7:00 p.m. The
Easter celebration then continues at Trattoria Stefano, 522 South 8th
Street, at 9:30 p.m. The actual cost of the meal is a gift to the parish, so
you not only get a delicious meal but you help the church by purchasing a
ticket for the dinner. Tickets can be bought in the parish office or in the
narthex after mass for $50 a person. Everyone is invited, but seats are
limited. There are scholarships for anyone wishing to attend but are challenged
by the cost.
§ Parish Spring Clean-Up Day: Saturday, 7 April
has been set for clean-up of the Grace Church buildings and grounds. (Rain date is Saturday 14 April) We will
begin at 8:30am and work until noon. Please put this date on your calendar;
many hands will make light work. A subs and chips lunch will be provided. A
sign-up sheet is on the Narthex table.
§ Bishop’s
Visitation: On Sunday, 22 April we welcome Bishop Matthew
Gunter for his annual visitation. The Bishop will preach and celebrate at both
8 and 10:15 services. We will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation and First
Communions at the 10:15 am service. Please join us for a gala reception to
welcome Bishop Gunter and honor those Received and Confirmed. A sign-up sheet
is located on the Narthex table for savories, sweets and clean-up.
§ The Feast of the Annunciation: We celebrate on
Monday, 9 April at 12:10 p.m. the Eve of the Feast of the Annunciation, which
commemorates the annunciation by the archangel Gabriel to Mary that she will
bear the Messiah (Luke 1.26-38).
§ Adult
Formation-Sacramental Life (Holy Eucharist): Please join Leslie Kohler on 22, 29 April, AND 6, 13, 20 May as she finishes guiding us
through the sacrament of Holy Eucharist using the book Sacramental Life
by David DeSilva.
§ This
book explores spiritual formation through the Book of Common Prayer. “Those
that have participated before know that this is a fairly freeform guided
discussion. I am as interested in learning from you, as I am teaching you.”
-Leslie
§ Good
News Jail & Prison Ministry Banquet: The annual banquet in support of
ministry in the local jail is scheduled for Tuesday, 24 April (Blue Harbor, 6
p.m.)
§ Fr.
Karl; has 8 tickets available. There is no cost, but the cost of the meal
to the ministry is $28.00, and you are encouraged to donate in
support. There will also be a silent auction. Come and learn about
how lives can be changed through the Gospel, behind bars as well as on the
outside. For details contact Fr. Karl.
§ Annual Bake/Plant/Rummage Sale: This annual event
takes place, in conjunction with St. Luke United Methodist Church Rummage Sale,
on Friday, 27 April(noon–3:00 p.m.) and Saturday, 28 April (9:00 a.m.–2:00
p.m.)
We are in need
volunteers to provide baked items (brownies already provided) and help monitor
the tables, set-up and take down. Sign-up sheets will be on the Narthex table
after Easter Sunday.
*Do you have rummage
items to donate? Please price and bring to the lower level room marked “Rummage
Sale items”.
§ Spring Conference 2018: Faithful Innovation in a Disruptive Age,
Saturday,
28 April, 9:00
am-3:00 pm, Liberty Hall in Kimberly. https://www.diofdl.org/eventsblog/spring-conference-apr-28 Registration fee of
$30 per person, includes breakfast, lunch speaker and supplies. If you are interested in attending, but are
challenged by the fee, contact the parish office.
§ Monarch 74 Cursillo Weekend: Thursday, 3 May-
Sunday, 6 May at Spencer Lake Christian Center in Waupaca.
What is Cursillo? It is a movement of the church. Its purpose is to help those in the church
understands their individual callings to be Christian Leaders. The leadership may be exercised in work
situations, in family and social life, in leisure activities and within the
church environment. Leadership, in
Cursillo, does not mean power over others, but influence on others; all of us
need to be aware that we can exert a positive influence on those around us.
Visit http://www.monarchcursillo.org/ for more information
or to register.
§ Save the Date! Summer Camp: The 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!
Registration forms
will be available soon. *Scholarships are available.
Senior Camp (completed grades
9-12) June 10– June 16
Middler Camp (completed grades
6-8) June 17– June 22
Junior Camp (completed grades
2-5) June 17– June 22
KinderCamp (parent & kids
ages 4-7) June 22 – June 24
§ Bible
Challenge:
Videos for all 52 weeks of the year are now available on Grace Abounds. If you
take this challenge, you will find that in one year you will read all of the
Bible! This will require less than an hour of your time, six days a week. A schedule of readings is provided on the
parish website, along with weekly study summaries and a weekly video summary of
the readings. If you need a good study bible for the challenge, contact the
parish office. When we immerse ourselves in Scripture, the mantle of the Lord
does fall upon us. We are equipped to discern God’s will and to lead others to
know and love and serve the Lord.
§ Ushers Needed: Ushers are often the
first people seen by newcomers, visitors, and even regular parishioners when
coming to Grace Church. People enjoy being greeted by a smile; become a part of
this ministry today!
§ 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.
§ Lost and Found: If you have ever lost
anything while at Grace Church, it may be in the office lost and found box.
Please email the office nbeeck@gracesheboygan.com to identify and
claim.
§ Please
continue to pray for those listed in this Mass booklet. Thank you.
§ Like Grace Church on Facebook
§ Follow Grace Church on Twitter:
@GEC_Sheboygan
§ Follow Grace Church on Instagram: @GEC_Sheboygan
§ We Are on Itunes! Check out the new
podcast!!!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-church-sheboygan/id982836791
