Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
12 April 2018
It has certainly been a busy time of year. Holy Week and Easter, with attendant extra
services of worship, overlapped to a large extent with spring break for local
schools, leading to many families traveling.
The weather has felt a little bit like “piling on”. Between the Final Four and the Masters,
distractions have abounded. And yet it
is nonetheless fair to ask at what point we might just stop trying to do more
than the bare minimum. Those who served
at parish cleanup day this past Saturday worked very hard and got a lot done,
despite small numbers. The gaps in
sign-up lists for things like coffee hour continue to get bigger. The number who seek to serve in ministries
like choir, altar guild, etc. (really
anything optional outside of Sunday worship) continues to diminish in a culture
in which we have been conditioned to be consumers, and in which measures of
mutual accountability are notable for how they challenge us.
It is time to reëngage. In this season in which we celebrate the
triumph of life over death, the triumph
of good over evil, truth over falsehood, beauty over fallenness, it is time to say
“My faith is about a lot more than what I get out of it. It is about what I give, and how I build
community.” Because the alternative is
slow atrophy attendant on burning out the few who continue to serve, to the
point where we just stop doing some things that are both dear and godly.
In raising the Paschal shout of victory,
“Alleluia! The Lord is risen, indeed!”
challenge yourself about how you participate in this resurrection by how you
participate in the life of this Body, this community. Serve.
To which you might say “Lighten up,
Father! We’re all busy, and we just need
some down time.” Point taken. We are all busy. We live in a world of 24/7 news and business
cycles. We live in a world in which our
schedules may be dictated by school sports, or by other voluntary activities
that morph into obligations. (As an
aside, there is a difference between be “obligated” to do something—like
observe the Sabbath—and “obliged” to, like meet societal expectations.) I understand the need for time off, but in
deciding how to pursue down time let us not fall into the trap of treating
worship and service as just one among competing priorities. Let us, rather, keep worship and service as
those things that continually strengthen our relationship with God, that by His
grace we may face all of the challenges of life, and do so as the Body.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Anne
and Bob Hanlon, and Katy and Steve Larson for the Sunday coffee hours.
§ Bobbie
May for janitorial help.
§ Fr.
John Ambelang for cooking for the youth group.
§ Bryan
Stenz for organizing the parish indoor cleanup day, and the following who
showed up to clean: Nicci Beeck, Sutton
Cecil, John David, Bill and Deb Gagin, Bob and Anne Hanlon, Karl Schaffenburg, Mary
Snyder.
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.
Please contribute for photocopies: The photocopier is being
subjected to frequent use that relates to parishioner’s needs and not those of
the whole parish. If you need to make
copies (and please keep this to a minimum), please inform a member of the
parish staff and make a contribution toward the costs of the copies. A suggested contribution is $0.6/page. (We are trending above budget on copy costs!)
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 of Easter Dr.
R. Benjamin Dobey, Music Director
Prelude Chorale
on Haec Dies (This is the day the Lord has made) Charles-Marie
Widor
Entrance
Hymn 199 “Come ye faithful raise
the strain” St. Kevin
Offertory
Hymn 305 “Come, risen Lord, and
deign to be our guest Rosedale
Communion
Motet Most Glorious Lord of Life William H. Harris
Communion
Hymn 343 “Shepherd of souls, refresh
and bless” St. Agnes
Closing
Hymn 194 “Jesus lives! Thy
terrors now” St. Albinus
Postlude Prelude and Fugue
in G Minor J.S. Bach
Parish Notices:
§ Adult Formation-Rector’s Forum: On Sunday the adult
formation hour will include a Rector’s Forum (questions about the Church
and our ministries) and “stupid church questions”. Come and share a coffee and
questions!
§ First Communion Instruction: Pat Ford Smith is
providing Communion Lessons in preparation for the Bishop's visit on Sunday, 22
April. The final class meets Sunday
from 1:30-3:00 p.m.
§ Bishop’s
Visitation: Next 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
Communion 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.
§ Adult
Formation-Sacramental Life (Holy Eucharist): Please join Leslie Kohler next Sunday 22 April, 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
§ 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. A
sign-up sheet is located on the Narthex table.*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.
§ Summer Camp registration for camp
sessions are now open:
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! The registration process is now completely
online and includes availability to make payments. www.diofdl.org/camp
Senior Camp (completed grades
9-12) June 10 at 3:00 p.m.–June 16, noon.
Middler Camp (completed grades
6-8) June 17 at 3:00 p.m.–June 22, noon.
Junior Camp (completed grades
2-5) June 17 at 3:00 p.m.–June 22, noon.
KinderCamp (parent & kids
ages 4-7) June 22 at 4:00 pm–June 24, noon.
*Scholarships are
available; inquire at the parish office.
|
§ 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 bible for the
challenge, contact the parish office.
§ 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 office@gracesheboygan.com to identify and
claim.
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