Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
26 July 2018
Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a
new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come (2 Cor. 5.17).
Leave aside the gender-specific pronoun. Paul is referring to any human being, not
just any man. Unfortunately, the gender
neutral translations make this into “there is new creation”, which blurs the
reality that in Christ individual lives/beings are changed to be the
lives/being intended by God for each of His creatures whom He has made in God’s
image and likeness (Gen. 1.26). Indeed,
a fair translation of the original Greek might render “new creation” as “new
creature”. The human person is
changed, and for this reason Paul also states that we are to look upon each
other as God sees us.
In our Baptismal Covenant each of us vows to
“seek and serve Christ in all persons”—to look upon each human being as a new
creation, despite the many ways in which God’s image may be blurred or obscured
by fallenness. Whatever the fallenness
may be which is manifested in another person, he/she remains a person, a
person of such value to God that He paid the ultimate price for her/his
salvation, by giving the life of His only Son.
Note, however, that the apostle speaks of new
creation for one who is “in Christ”. The
new creation which God brings about arises when hearts are opened and given to
God, and how God is working in the life of another will often not be something we
can witness or perceive. So, what do we
do, in terms of how we are to relate to the other each as a “new
creation”? We are to relate to every
human person as if he/she is, in fact, in Christ, and leave the rest up
to God. To do this we can best begin by
treating all persons as persons, never abstractions, never as objects. Each and every person, by virtue of his/her
creation in God’s image and likeness is always and in all things a subject,
not an object. A subject to be known, to
be invited to join in Christ’s Body, to be thanked for who she/he is, and to be
journeyed with into the new creation into which we are invited together.
Grace
abounds: Please thank:
§ The Aparicio family for
the Sunday coffee hour. Helen Mullison
for the coffee hour on 15 July (apologies for last week’s omission!)
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.
Special call! Clergy discretionary accounts are provided
for by church canon. At Grace Episcopal
Church the regular contributions to these funds are the loose plate offering
for the first Sunday of each month. This
amount is not, on its own, sufficient to continue to fund things like jail
commissary costs for prisoners (including parishioners), medical and housing
costs, and work with victims of human trafficking. Please give generously, with gifts designated
“Clergy Discretionary Accounts”.
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
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 12B)
Sandie
Palmer, Guest Organist
Prelude
Voluntary G.J Elvey
Entrance Hymn 377 “All people that on earth do dwell” Old 100th
Entrance Hymn 377 “All people that on earth do dwell” Old 100th
Offertory
Hymn 690 “Guide
me, O thou great Jehovah” Cwm
Rhondda
Communion
Hymn 488 “Be
thou my vision” Slane
Closing
Hymn 438 “Tell out, my soul” Woodlands
Postlude Allegro
Maestro from Water Music” G.F.
Handel
Parish Notices:
§ Father Karl’s vacation schedule: Fr. Karl will be out of
the office on Tuesday, July 24 through July 31. If you have a pastoral need
during his absence, please contact Mthr. Michele at 918-1230.
§ Sand Bags: As part of the landscaping
project which starts 30 July numerous sand bags which had protected the
rectory will become redundant. These will be stacked behind the church,
next to the garage, and are free for the taking. Each bag is a 70 lb. bag
of “trunk sand”, i.e., the sand is more coarse than sand box sand.
It is best used in sand bags, not as fill.
§ All
Saints’ Chapel in Elkhart Lake: The
Chapel offers services at 9:00 a.m., continuing through Labor Day weekend. We are blessed to have Fr.
Patrick Twomey serving as Celebrant for the entire season. Services will
continue to be a shared ministry, which means volunteers will be needed for
Sunday Service ownership.
§
Call
the Grace Episcopal Church office at (920) 452-9659 to schedule ownership of a
Sunday(s). Thank you for your support of such an important Ministry.
§
Save the Date:
Mass in the Grass celebration on Sunday, September 9.
§
St. Paul’s and Grace Episcopal Churches will come
together in celebration for outdoor worship with Mass at 10:15 a.m. and a
picnic lunch to follow. Location: Deland Community Center, 901
Broughton Drive in Sheboygan. There will be games and activities for children’s
enjoyment and inviting guests is encouraged. More details to be shared in the
upcoming weeks. If you are interested in participating in the planning committee,
please contact the office at
(920) 452-9659 or office@gracesheboygan.com.
§
Education for Ministry: Two groups are starting September
10, 2018. The Monday group meets at 9:30 am and the Wednesday group meets
at 4 pm. Sign up by August 1st in order to get your books before the
first class. Cost is $360 and this includes college credits and all your
materials. Scholarships are available, so don’t let the cost keep you
from participating. To get registration materials or if you have
questions, contact Barb Drewry-Zimmerman at: bzimmy@excel.net
or 920-893-5189.
§
Kairos
Outside Weekend Retreat, October 12-14: This is an ecumenical
Cursillo-type event for women having been impacted by incarceration.
Perhaps they’ve been prisoners, or had/have family members, friends in the
Corrections System. The weekend is a time of support and encouragement in a
Christian community of women. The cost of the weekend is covered. If you
have questions or would like more information, contact Fr. John
Ambelang, (920)453-8983.
§
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; please write your name
on the envelope.
§
Bulletin Prayer List and our Grace Church
Prayer Team: The
Episcopal Church believes in the power of prayer. Grace Church regularly prays
for the needs of our own members, as well as 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 a state of trouble, sorrow,
pain, or are experiencing any other adversity. Please call the Parish office at
(920) 452-9659 or email a request to office@gracesheboygan.com to have a name(s) put in the bulletin, the Shrine of Our Lady
of Walsingham and/or out to the email Prayer Team.
