Balanced Rule

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

12 July 2018

Yesterday was the feast of St. Benedict of Nursia (d. 540), the originator of The Benedictine Rule, which remains the basic constitution of most monastic orders, including those of the Anglican Communion.  The Rule (as it is known) was originally developed to provide a happy and holy rule of life, in the face of wide variation in what was happening in monasteries—everything from extreme laxity to unhealthy mortification.  The Rule has stood the test of time.

What about The Rule in the daily life of faithful outside of religious orders?  How can Benedictine spirituality inform your own walk of faith?  You will be happy to know that The Rule focuses on balance, on how life must be balanced between work and study and prayer.  One basic precept is ora et labora, “pray and work”.  We are to undertake all that we do, both work and leisure, as an offering to God.  For example, if I were a gifted woodworker, in making any article of wood my spiritual posture is called to be that of thanking God for the gifts that allow me to make things, and to consider those things made to be in some way an offering to God.  Added to this work is the balance of study, under which I continually study Scripture to better listen to how God speaks to us in all things.  And to this I am to add prayer as a habit of being.

Work, study and prayer are to all relate.  This may seem more obvious in a monastery setting, in the vowed life, but when my daily routine (whatever my work may be) includes going deeper into God’s word and then offering my own prayer in response, the balance I seek in life will be given to me by God’s abiding presence.

In study The Rule specifies the practice known as lectio divina, “holy reading”, in which I am to read slowly, in small portions, “chewing” over each word or phrase that strikes me, to better attune myself to what God speaks.  When I can do this, when my life becomes one of listening to God, and making all that I do an offering in thanksgiving, then my life may too become an offering which becomes holy in ways that the witness of Benedict directs.

In our crazy 24/7 world one thing lacking is balance.  The Rule redirects us into balance, into a rhythm of life in which holiness becomes the waters in which we swim daily, and are daily cleansed by God’s abiding Spirit.  If you wish to further explore how The Rule, or how lectio divina, can better bring your life into the balance which is God’s will, contact one of the parish clergy for resources for your own formation.

Grace abounds:  Please thank: 

§  Bryan Stenz and Ed Clabots for the Sunday coffee hour, with cleanup by Julie Davidson, Pat Ford Smith and Cindy Weiss.

§  Scott Gedemer for lawn care.

§  Bobbie May for library management.

§  Leslie Kohler for providing labor and equipment for tree trimming.

Special thanks for the brat fry!

Congratulations and thank you for all the hard work the following parishioners did to make the Miesfeld brat fry on July 7th a smashing success!  A net total of $1,869 (includes $601 from the bake sale) was raised to help fund mission outreach!  That translates into grilling and selling 440 brats and 160 hamburgers!

Please thank and hug the following volunteers:

Jill Stagner, Nicci Beeck, Andrea Aparicio for advertising and media promotion.

Bernie Markevitch for onion preparations.

Homemade baked goods:  Leona Aparicio, Andrea Aparicio Jessica Ambelang, Pat Mahlendorf, Anne Weeden, Nicci Beck, Nancy Imig, Anne Hanlon, Mary Clabots, Deb Gagin, Joyce Wessel, Pat Ford Smith, Pat Sather, Nicole Marcus, Bobbie May, Katy Larson, Barb MacEwen.

For those who packaged goodies on Friday:  Deb Gagin, Anne Hanlon, Pat Ford Smith, Katy Larson.

Volunteers at  bake sale tables:

Paul, Andrea, Leona, and Paul, Jr. Aparicio, Deb Gagin, Mary Ann Neuses, Ellen Aparicio, Linda Molitor, Bobbie May, Barb MacEwen.

Brat hut volunteers who handled orders:

Nancy Imig, Bryan Stenz, Sutton Cecil, Elizabeth Schaffenburg, Pat Ford Smith, John Ambelang, Ed Clabots, Paul Aparicio, Bob Imig

And the brat boys of Grace fryers that made it happen:

Art Imig, Steve Larson, Bill Gagin, Jerry Molitor, Bob Imig, Mike Newton, Bryan Stenz, Scott Gedemer, Jack Britton, Randie Barrows, Paul Aparicio, Bob MacEwen.

And many thanks to parishioners and friends who came to eat and buy goodies!

Please mark your calendar for the next brat fry on June 29, 2019!

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 Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 10B)

                                      Sandie Palmer, Guest Organist

Prelude                           Adagio                                                         W. A. Mozart
                                      Meditation in the Chapel                                 E. J. Lorenz

Entrance Hymn 686         “Come thou fount of every blessing”                  Nettleton

Offertory Hymn 680        “O God, our help”                                              St. Anne

Communion Hymn 508    “Breathe on me, Breath of God”                        Nova Vita  

Closing Hymn 551           “Rise up, ye saints of God”                           Festal Song

Postlude                         Toccata in C                                               Carlos Seixas

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. 

§  The Ordination of the Reverend Roberta (Bobbi) Ann Kraft to the Priesthood: This blessed event will take place on Saturday, July 21, 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Paul the Apostle in Fond du Lac at 11:00 a.m. If you are interested in carpooling, please contact the parish office at (920) 452-9659. Please note: The Revered Bobbi will serve as the Celebrant at both Masses on Sunday, July 22.

§  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.

§  Volunteer Opportunities-Transformational Ministry Program, Love INC: Help local lives transform by sharing your time and your God-given gifts to bless our Neighbors across Sheboygan County. To learn how you can provide a hand-up call or email Jenna at (920) 783-6701 or jenna@loveincsheboygancounty.org

§  Education for Ministry (EfM): Do you sometimes wonder why you go to church & what it means for your life today?  Do you hear or read scripture & wonder what it means to your life now?  EfM or Education for Ministry was created to accompany people on the Way of Jesus to help them reinterpret their lives & their world in light of the gospel with a trusted group of friends.  Our identities are gifts from our Creator & are grounded in trusting God’s calling in our lives.  We don’t have to write our own stories for we are already part of God’s story.   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. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Prayer Team, contact the office.