Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
3 May 2018
Silence is golden. So we are told. And yet the experience of silence is rare
enough in a world in which busyness and noise are pretty much taken for granted;
rare enough that when silence is encountered it is perceived by some as
threatening. The conceit of the current
hit movie A Quiet Place involves how silence becomes a matter of
survival, and since the movie is so quiet there are reports of audience
members becoming very annoyed with each other whenever noise is made (popcorn,
candy wrappers, etc.)
In our liturgy we seek to involves all of the
senses:
§ Sight
in color and imagery and iconography.
§ Hearing
in the spoken word and in music (and in silence).
§ Taste
in “tast[ing] and see[ing] that the Lord is good” in the Blessèd Sacrament.
§ Smell
in the aroma of frankincense.
§ Touch
in the Blessèd Sacrament and in the passing of the peace of Christ.
To
this compilation of experiences we add that of movement.
The intention in liturgy is to involve the
whole person, and to this end we are going to begin to cultivate our “sixth
sense”, the awareness of Presence. To
this end we are introducing a practice of liturgical silence. On Sundays, between the end of the sermon and
the beginning of the Creed, we will pause for two minutes of silence, to allow
ourselves to cultivate an awareness of what God is speaking to us in the
Scripture and sermon we have just experienced.
In silence we can do things like:
§ Focus
on whatever word or phrase of Scripture sticks in our minds, and ponder what
God might be saying to us that these words or this phrase are highlighted to us.
§ Offer
thanksgiving for what God is doing and what He has done.
§ Call
to mind the ways in which we have alienated ourselves from God and from God’s
will, that when it comes time to offer confession we may make a good confession.
§ Sit
in quiet adoration of the Presence of Jesus Christ; or
§ None
of the above:
just sitting in silence to listen and to see what might be revealed in silence.
When we are more aware of God we become more
aware of His love, His counsel. We
become individuals and a people who can discern where and to what we are being
called. We become people who, in
offering prayer, pray from the heart. We
begin to go deeper into God’s life.
Let God fill the silence.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ Wayne
and Pat Sather, and Art and Nancy Imig for the Sunday coffee hours.
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 sixth
Sunday of Easter Dr.
R. Benjamin Dobey, Music Director
Prelude Andantino; Elevation Eugène Gigout
Entrance Hymn 405 “All things bright and beautiful” Assisi
Offertory Hymn 400 “All creatures of our God and
King” Lasst uns erfreuen
Communion Motet Christ
hath a garden
English folk song, arr. Gerre Hancock
Communion Hymn 292 “O Jesus, crowned with all renown”
Kingsfold
Closing Hymn 432 “O praise ye the Lord” Laudate Dominum
Postlude Offertoire
pour un Jour de Fête Gigout
Parish Notices:
§ Adult
Formation-Sacramental Life (Holy Eucharist): Please join Leslie as she guides 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. This is a 5-week
course: April 22 & 29, AND May 6, 13 & 20. “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
§ Sung Compline: This Sunday evening,
May 6, there will be a potluck supper at 6:30 p.m. followed by Sung Compline at
8:00 p.m. Compline, or night prayer, is a Christian service of worship dating
back to monastic life in the Middle Ages. The choir sings The Office of
Compline by candlelight; this is a beautiful and restful way to nurture one’s
soul. A sign-up sheet for the potluck supper can be found on the table in the
Narthex.
§ Spring Cheer: Spring Cheer is
around the corner! Daffodils should be blooming! We will gather on
Thursday May 10 at 11:00 a.m. to arrange flowers, package cookies and make
deliveries to parishioners. Your help is needed. Please sign up in
Narthex.
§ Companion Diocese Sunday: On May 13, we will
be participating in liturgical worship prepared for by the Companion Diocese
Committee. Additional information to
connect us with our Masvingo, Zimbabwe brothers and sisters in Christ is
available in this bulletin.
§ All Saints' Chapel Ownership: Memorial Day will be here before we know it and that marks the
beginning of our All Saint's Chapel season! We are blessed to have Fr. Patrick
Twomey serving as Celebrant every Sunday. Services will continue to be a shared
ministry, which means volunteers will be needed to have ownership of opening
and closing the chapel. Look for a sign-up
sheet and checklist of responsibilities located on the Narthex table in the
upcoming weeks. You can also call the office at
452-9659 regarding dates you are available to take ownership. Thank you for
your support of such an important Ministry!
§ Pray. Brats. Sleep. Repeat. Save the
date:
Saturday, July 7, Brat Fry at Miesfeld’s! (More news to follow; we will need
your help) Brat fryers, stand attendants, baked goods attendants, bakers!
Contact Barb or Bob MacEwen at 912-4505 to lend a hand now.
§ Monarch 74 Cursillo Weekend begins
today: Thursday,
May 3 through Sunday, May 6 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.
§ Save the Date-Open House for
Samaritan’s Hand, Inc. Sober House: On Saturday, June 2, there will be an
Open House to showcase the new Sober House. Tours, snacks drinks and fun at
1406 N. 11th Street in Sheboygan. More details coming soon.
§ Save the Date-Eucharistic Festival, Saturday 30 June: Established in 1960
by Bishop William Brady, the Eucharistic Festival gathers the diocesan
family to be united in its faith in the Presence of our Blessed
Lord in the Bread and Wine of the Altar. In being so devoted, we
can be united in making known God's presence to all people. The Festival
includes the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Bishop's Picnic, Evening Prayer
and the Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, beginning at
11:00 a.m. at Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. If you are interested
in carpooling, contact 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. Please email office@gracesheboygan.com to identify and
claim.
§ Bulletin Prayer List and our Grace
Church Prayer Team:
The Episcopal Church believes in the power of prayer. Grace Church regularly
prays for our own members needs as well as for the needs of the country, and
our world. We would be honored to pray for your needs, and the needs of
your friends and relatives if they or you are in trouble, sorrow, pain, or
are experiencing any other adversity. Please call the Parish office at 452-9659
or email a request to office@gracesheboygan.com to have a name(s)
put in the bulletin, Our Lady of Walsingham Chapel and/or out to the email
Prayer Team. It is only necessary to share details if you are comfortable.
If you are interested
in receiving prayer requests as a member of the Prayer Team, contact the Parish
office.
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