A Good Wine

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

16 August 2018

A Good Wine

“What’s a good wine?”  I asked a friend of mine who had a wine show on Milwaukee radio.  He gave a simple answer, “It’s any wine you like.”  Most of us are familiar with the books of CS Lewis, but fewer with his poetry.  This is one I like:

The Apologist's Evening Prayer  

From all my lame defeats and oh! much more

From all the victories that I seemed to score;

From cleverness shot forth on Thy behalf

at which, while angels weep, the audience laugh;

From all my proofs of Thy divinity,

Thou, who wouldst give no sign, deliver me.

Thoughts are but coins.  Let me not trust, instead

of Thee, their thin-worn image of Thy head.

From all my thoughts, even from my thoughts of Thee,

O thou fair Silence, fall, and set me free.

Lord of the narrow gate and the needle's eye,

Take from me all my trumpery lest I die.

Fr. John Ambelang

Grace abounds:  Please thank: 

§  Bryan Stenz and Joyce Wessel for the Sunday coffee hour.

§  Scot Fabiano and Bryan Stenz for maintenance.

§  All who provided food for the Assumption pot luck.  Bobbie May, Elizabeth Schaffenburg and Mary Beth Snyder for cleanup.

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 Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15B)

                                      Dr. R. Benjamin Dobey, Music Director

Prelude                          Adagio in E Flat                                            John Stainer

Entrance Hymn 390         “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation”     

    Lobe den Herren    

Offertory Hymn 477        “All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine”        Engelberg

Communion Hymn 324    “Let all mortal flesh keep silence”                         Picardy 

Closing Hymn 542          “Christ is the world’s true Light”                           St Joan

Postlude                         Two Chorale Preludes on ‘Lobe den Herren’      Max Reger                                  

Parish Notices:

§  All Saints’ Chapel in Elkhart Lake: The Chapel offers services at 9:00 a.m., continuing through Labor Day weekend.

§  Jail Ministry for Women:  A group of 20 churches working together is seeking to recruit and train a cadre of volunteers willing to work with prisoners as mentors.  The specific need, at this time, is for women to work with women.  If you want more details, contact Fr. Karl.  This project is in early days, and will require more definition and training.  Keep the initiative (and your own possible involvement) in prayer.

§  Blessing of the Backpacks! Fr. Karl will be blessing all the backpacks and school children on August 26 at both 8:00 and 10:15 services. We invite anyone, young or old, who is starting school to come forward with their backpacks for a blessing. We also invite all teachers to come forward to be blessed in their important work, as well.

§  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. A food sign up can be found on the Narthex table. 

§  Thinking Theologically will be offered in Adult Education on Thursday evenings (7—9 p.m. beginning September 13).  This class is intended to allow the student to understand that the postmodern, Materialist worldview itself is in opposition to any classical understanding of reason and science, and that faith—far from being opposed to reason—is founded upon reason.

Thinking Theologically will allow the student to know and use the language of formal thought to explore his/her own faith, and to defend this faith.  The first term will focus on methodology.  No prior experience or knowledge in/of philosophy or theology will is assumed. 

§  Children’s Sunday School Begins: The teachers are making plans for another wonderful year of learning about the love of Jesus Christ! Classes will begin on September 16 at 9:00 a.m.; classrooms are found on the lower level of the Church. If you would like more information or to enroll your child(ren) in Sunday School, contact the Parish office at (920) 452-9659 office@gracesheboygan.com.

§  Healing Conference: The St. John, New London's Order of St. Luke healing ministry is hosting a healing conference, "How to Live in the Power of Christ,"  September 22, 2018 from 8:30-3:00. Subtitles include: Praying in the Power of Christ's Faith; Living in the Power of Christ's Life; Healing in the Power of Christ's Love. Opportunity for healing prayer will also be offered. The guest speaker is the Rev. Josh Acton, North American Director for the Order of St. Luke International Healing Ministry. He has been a pastor for 27 years at Anglican, Episcopal and Vineyard churches and is the spiritual leader for OSL. Cost for attendance is $30, includes presentation, lunch and breaks. For more information about the healing ministry or to register, contact Jan Peskie 920-716-5757 or joejanpeskie@gmail.com.

§  Celebration of New Ministry: The Cathedral of St. Paul, Fond du Lac will host this celebration with its new Dean, the Very Rev. Patrick Perkins on Saturday, September 29 (re-scheduled from August 25). The Rev. Ezgi Saribay Perkins will be installed as Canon Precentor. All are welcome and invited to attend. The service marks the transition of ministry for the congregation and the priest as they live into a new relationship in serving the Gospel.

§  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 office@gracesheboygan.com.