Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
22 November 2018
Happy Thanksgiving!
When we are tempted as clergy to worry that
“this might be the year” (in any given year) that a stewardship campaign will
fizzle, may we be reminded of the giving hearts found in those who follow
Jesus. I write this before we know the
results of our current stewardship campaign.
Results to date are very positive, but the examples of giving
independent of the campaign include:
1 We
made an appeal over two weeks for a $750 donation to complete a parish
commitment as part of a campaign to establish a sober living facility for women
in Sheboygan. In two weeks you gave a
total of $1,168.
2 We
made one appeal for funds to aid in disaster relief in The Episcopal Diocese of
Northern California, following the devastating fire in Paradise, CA, and you
gave $930 in one day.
Examples
such as these speak to hearts formed in faith, hearts which are open to the
Holy Spirit and formed in ways to then reach outward. And it is in being formed by the Holy Spirit
to reach outward that we come to know what thanksgiving truly is, for when we
recognize the many ways in which God blesses us we are drawn to share this
blessing.
I recently spoke with a parishioner who
related how, upon awaking that morning, he had turned to his cat and said “God
has given us another beautiful day to enjoy!”
Contrast this statement to what life can look like when we never give
thanks. To never give thanks means that
I can focus only on what I don’t have, what I want and what I somehow feel is
owed to me. And whenever I feel I am
owed something, the sin of covetousness and envy rears its ugly head. To take a trivial example: In a prior career I traveled extensively, and
flew First Class with the many privileges of a “Million Mile Club” premier
customer. Or from time to time I flew in
a corporate jet. The contrast between
this kind of travel and the awfulness of what now passes for being a customer
in most airports, with most airlines, in Coach, could not be greater. And yet, if I allow the contrast to prevent
me from traveling, what is the result?
The result is that I won’t get to see those whom I love, or that I’ll
not experience new locations. To ever
act like I am “owed” a premium travel experience is to fail to give thanks that
I have people who I want to see and places I want to experience.
It is sometimes said that faith is a posture
of the heart. To pursue this metaphor,
if this posture allows us to stand, then it is by this faith that our hearts
incline to the other. We “lean in” to
the calling God places before us, offering thanks that we are called and
equipped; offering thanks that God has given us another beautiful day to enjoy;
offering thanks that it is by God’s grace that we may receive each new day as a
gift.
If you wish to make a separate gift to the
disaster relief campaign, follow this link:
Parish
news! Effective 20 November Nicci Beeck has been
named as a Postulant to Holy Orders for further formation for ordination to the
Sacred Order of Deacons. Nicci’s
formation is scheduled to continue for another year. Please continue to support her in her formation
for the diaconate!
Grace abounds: Please thank:
§ Bob and Anne Hanlon, and Dcn. Paul and Andrea Aparicio for
the Sunday coffee hours.
§ Jennifer Pawlus.
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
Feast of Christ the King (Proper 29B)
Dr.
R. Benjamin Dobey, Music Director
Prelude Benedictus Alec Rowley
Entrance Hymn 544 “Jesus shall reign where e’er the sun” Duke Street
Offertory Hymn 483 “The
head that once was crowned with thorns”
St. Magnus
Communion Motet King of glory, King of peace David Charles Walker
Communion Hymn 383 “Fairest
Lord Jesus”
Schönster Herr Jesu
Closing Hymn 494 “Crown him with many crowns” Diademata
Postlude Allegro
from Symphony
William Boyce
Parish Notices:
§ Holiday
Parade: Grace
Church Youth Group will be selling treats before and during the Sheboygan
Holiday Parade this Sunday, November 25. The money raised goes to outreach
projects both near and far. Please come by the front of the church and enjoy a
warm treat as you enjoy the parade. Be sure to bring your friends!
§ Advent
Lessons and Carols:
On Sunday, December 2, a festival of Advent Lessons and Carols will be offered
here at Grace beginning at 4:00 p.m.
§ Featured
will be Dr. R. Benjamin Dobey, Organist and the Grace Episcopal Church Choir.
The service is followed immediately by an Afternoon Tea reception. If you are
willing to volunteers to bring food and/or clean-up, please see the sign-up
sheet in Narthex.
§ St Nicholas’ Visitation: St. Nicholas will
visit Grace Church on Sunday, December 9 during the 10:15 service. We invite
all children to come and receive a special treat.
§ Salvation Army gift tags for 2
families:
The tree is up, and gift tags for our two Salvation Army Families are on
it. If you are interested in participating, please follow the instructions on
the table next to the tree. If you have any questions, please call Jessica
Ambelang at 918-5667.
§ Emmaus Meal Volunteers Needed: The Tripartite
Emmaus Meal will be Saturday, December 1 at the Salvation Army Center. We will
need 8 people to serve the meal, greet the guests and clean up from 10:30-1:15.
The sign-up sheet can be found on the Narthex table.
§ Advent
Meditations: Our
book of meditations, written by parishioners, has become a treasured tradition
to enter into the Advent season. To participate:
§ Choose
from the scripture readings on the Narthex table. All are welcome to choose
more than one.
§ Read
and reflect on the scripture for the scripture(s) chosen.
§ Write
a meditation based on what resonated with you, or you feel called to share
based upon the readings. The meditation can be 10 words or 300 words (maximum,
please); there are no rules and no right or wrong ways.
§ Submit
your meditation to the office, office@gracesheboygan.com by
November 26 to allow production time. These meditations will be published in
print and online before Advent begins. In addition, meditations can be
read aloud on Grace Abounds, as part of our podcast series.
§ Children’s
Christmas Pageant Rehearsals: Three (3) practice will take
place on Sunday, December 2, 9 and 16 during the Sunday School hour.
Participation is open to youth of all ages. The Children’s Pageant will take
place during the 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass.
§ 2nd Annual Ugly Sweater
Contest: It’s
back! The Sunday School children will once again host and judge the ugly
Christmas sweater contest on Sunday, December 9 in St. Nicholas Hall after the
10:15 service. The winner will receive a coveted award and have their picture
on display in the Children’s Library.
§ Christmas Joy: On Thursday, December
20 at 11:00 a.m., interested members can meet in the church kitchen to assemble
winter greens and flowers, bag cookies and then make deliveries. We need
helping hands. Can you bake, make a delivery and/or help arrange? Please join
us for this fulfilling and fun ministry to our homebound and elderly. They will
appreciate it. Call Barb MacEwen (920.912.4505) if you have questions. The
sign-up sheet can be found on the Narthex table.
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