Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
11 October 2018
“A Prefiguring”
While sitting in
church one morning, I noticed a woman holding a little baby in her lap. The baby was looking into the woman’s
face. As I watched, I could almost see
the substance of love moving from the one to the other. The little child, who
was only a few months old, would look a moment and then its face would spread
out in a great big grin. Of course, the
woman was looking back into the eyes of the child. A little child can look endlessly into your
eyes without any self-consciousness or uneasiness.
Dallas
Willard, A Life Without Lack
In jail, sometimes, I
tell the prisoners of the two passages in Revelation, both prayer book funeral
options. Each has the Lord coming down
from his throne and wiping away the tears from the eyes of the redeemed. And I suggest that in order to wipe away
those tears it’s only to be expected that your eyes will lock, looking into
each other.
Now, I can’t imagine
what that’s going to be like. It’s only
a metaphor, for God has no eyes. What then does it mean to look into the eyes
of the Living God? I tell the prisoners we can make some guesses and, if not
accurate, it’ll be even better. Regardless, they will feel fully accepted. Furthermore, they will feel fully loved. How could it be otherwise? And they will feel fully known and forgiven. Nothing, anymore, do they need hide. Not surprisingly, things get awfully quiet as
I’m telling this.
Isn’t this what we
have longed for all of our lives and never known? To be fully known, fully loved, and fully
forgiven? It will be the most intimate
time ever experienced, better than any pleasure or joy experienced on this
earth. What a start to the life
eternal. No wonder it’s recounted twice
in this last book of the Bible.
Now, to be clear,
this isn’t said in so many words in the two accounts. Instead, what is emphasized in the first, is
that in the kingdom there will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore; death
will have passed away. In the second,
the emphasis is no more hunger, thirst, or scorching heat. All wonderful things, but I’d claim these
assertions about being fully known, loved, and forgiven aren’t new but are
found throughout Scripture. And there’s more, much more. What did Jesus say in the Gospel of John, “If
I tell you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell
you heavenly things?” We have so much
yet to experience as God expresses his love for us.
Now lest I be accused
of being too sentimental, I end with the question, “Why the tears?”
Fr. John Ambelang
Grace abounds: Please thank:
§ Bill and Deb Gagin, and Steve and Polly Schmeiser the
Sunday coffee hour.
§ Jack Britton for building maintenance.
§ Bill and Deb Gagin for lawn care.
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.
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
Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23B)
Dr.
R. Benjamin Dobey, Music Director
Prelude Alma Redemptoris Mater Léonce de Saint-Martin
Entrance
Hymn 408 “Sing praise to God who
reigns above” Mit Freuden zart
Offertory
Hymn 680 “O God, our help in
ages past” St. Anne
Communion
Motet
Angelus Edward Elgar
Communion
Hymn 488 “Be thou my vision, O lord of
my heart” Slane
Closing
Hymn 438 “Tell out my soul”
Woodlands
Postlude Le Salut à la
Vierge: Ave Maria, Ave Maris Stella
Saint-Martin
Parish Notices:
§ Choir rehearsals have begun: All voices are
welcome, but we especially need tenors and basses. You don’t need to be a
trained singer, an opera star, or a Broadway sensation -you just need a desire
to share the love of Christ through music! “Sing and make music from your heart
to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:19
§ Catechumenate has begun: Catechumenate is a
nine-month course in the basics of the Faith and its practice. It is a period
of training and instruction in Christian understandings about God, human
relationships, and the meaning of life. It includes the Sacrament of Baptism,
if you are not already baptized, and culminates in Confirmation, Reception, or
Renewal of Baptismal Vows. The class meets on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. until
8:30 p.m. in the Church’s Lower Level. For more information, please call the
office 452-9659 or email Mother Michele at mwhitford@gracesheboygan.com.
§ Walsingham Pilgrimage Music and
Flowers: The
Walsingham Pilgrimage is just around the corner and preparations are being
made. Music will once again include the Gaudete Brass. As you are able,
prayerfully consider contributing so that we can once again offer beautiful
music that has become so much a part of the pilgrimage and the flowers that add
to the beauty of holiness. Please make your check out to Grace Church with
“Walsingham music” or “flowers” or both in the memo.
§ Walsingham Volunteers Needed: There are many
opportunities to help with hospitality for the Walsingham Pilgrimage. We will
need volunteers to greet pilgrims as they arrive for both the quiet day on
Friday as well as Saturday morning for the Solemn Mass and for the musical
offering, healing prayer and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. We will also
need help with clean-up after lunch. Please sign up on the sheet on the Narthex
table.
§ Raffle to benefit Bridgeway: Choose
Your Own Adventure 2018:
The goal of this
raffle is to support Women and Children living at Bridgeway and assist them in
gaining the skills and support that will allow them to become independent.
The winner can choose
between a $3000 gift certificate to Fox World Travel, or $2500 cash payout.
What is Bridgeway? It is a residential transitional
living program for single women with children who are homeless or living in
vulnerable situations. Upon entry into our residential program, mothers commit
to living at Bridgeway for 3-6 months, and are able to reside at Bridgeway for
up to two years.
§ Coats For Kids: Reinbold-Novak
Funeral Home, in conjunction with The Sheboygan Press, for the past 27 years,
runs from September through November 1st. Area residents are asked to donate
clean coats in good repair. Accepted are: coats of all sizes for people of all
ages, with the need being greatest for children’s coats.
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§ 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.
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