Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
6 December 2018
At the reception following our 3 December
festival of Advent Lessons & Carols we were treated to a rich selection of
savories. Included was a selection of
matzoh bread, which struck me as especially appropriate, for our gathering at
sundown coincided with the beginning of Chanukah! This example of the rich weaving of
traditions and peoples that Our Lord enjoins can be instructive, as well, when
we consider how the lives of the saints offer testimonies within our own lives.
Today is the feast of St. Nicholas of Myra
(d. 342). The world in which Nicholas
lived reminds us that multiculturalism is nothing new, and that how we
communicate with those who are different from us is a challenge in how we can
testify to the truth revealed in Jesus Christ.
Nicholas lived in what is now Turkey. He was persecuted and imprisoned during the
reign of Diocletian, to be rehabilitated when Constantine assumed the
throne. In other words, he lived during
a time of rapid change in culture, and in a place in which Roman imperial
culture and power collided with the languages and cultures of the Greeks, the
Greek-speaking peoples who became the Syrians and Lebanese, the Jews, and all
who frequented this locus of trade. Many
miracles are attributed to Nicholas, but these generally are recorded only many
years after his death, and bear the hallmarks of legend. What is not disputed is the chief miracle of
Nicholas’ life, one which is not the subject of any legend.
The chief miracle of Nicholas is the same
miracle we are all called to, and this involves how God uses us to change the
world around us. Properly speaking a
miracle is something which we cannot explain with reference to nature. No natural or scientific reason can be given
for what happens, and we must recognize that we have encountered the
supernatural. And what is supernatural
in what we are called to? It is that we
are to live our lives, to testify in such ways that the lives of others—their
hearts—will be changed. This testimony
will involve who we are, and who we are will result from who we allow God to
make us; how we allow God to use us.
When we open our hearts to God, and trust in His will, He will use us in
ways that will change not only us, but the lives of those around us—the
world.
Is it not miraculous to think of your
individual life as affecting the world?
And yet, whether we look to the history and legends of saints like
Nicholas, or to the legends included in such Hollywood fiction as how George
Baily in It’s a Wonderful Life changes the lives of those around him, we
find that we are actually unsurprised with the idea of how the life of one can
change the lives of many.
Let this season of Advent, of expectancy, be
one in which you remind yourself that God’s purpose involves how you will
respond to His will, in your own life and in the life of the world.
Grace abounds: Please thank:
§ Jessica Ambelang for the Sunday coffee hours.
§ Jessica Ambelang, Polly Schmeiser, and Mary Snyder for
the reception following Advent Lessons & Carols, with cleanup by Jack
Britton and Bobbie May.
§ All who provided donated savories for the Sunday
reception.
§ Bernie Markevitch and Bobbie May for seasonal decoration
of the church.
§ Ben Dobey and all of the choir for much extra work in
preparing the festival of Advent Lessons & Carols.
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
Second Sunday of Advent
Dr.
R. Benjamin Dobey, Music Director
Prelude Partita
on ‘Comfort, comfort ye my people’
Johann Pachelbel
Entrance Hymn 76 “On
Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry” Winchester
New
Offertory Hymn 444 “Blessed the God of
Israel” Thornbury
Communion Motet O Lord, how shall I meet you Johann Crueger
Communion Hymn 67 “Comfort,
comfort ye my people” Psalm 42
Closing Hymn 73 “The King shall come when morning dawns” St.
Stephen
Postlude Toccata on ‘Winchester New’ Bruce Neswick
Parish Notices:
§ Salvation Army Bell Ringing: Thank you to all who
participated in the Salvation Army Bell Ringing this season: Jessica Ambelang,
Katie Larson, Joyce Wessel, Bobbie May, Tony Fessler, Jack Briton, Don and
Carver Beeck, Nick Whitford, Bryan Stenz and the Grace Church Youth Group.
§ Advent
Lessons and Carols:
“What glorious music!” “Look at this feast! I have never seen such a beautiful
display of food!” “Noone does hospitality better than Grace Church!” These are
a few of the comments overheard last Sunday night. Thank you to Dr. Ben Dobey, the Choir, Jessica
Ambelang, Bobbie May, Mary Snyder, Jack Britton, Bernie Markevitch, Polly
Schmeiser and all who brought sweets and savories.
§ Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family: Thank you to everyone
who so generously donated to our families this year and a a special thank you
to Jessica Ambelang for coordinating the project.
§ Children’s
Christmas Pageant Rehearsals: Practices continues this Sunday and next,
December 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 service.
§ Youth
and Children’s Choir:
Youth and Children’s choir rehearsals for the Children’s Christmas Eve service
continue at 5:30-6:00pm on Wednesday December 12 and 19. The choir is open to 2nd
graders through high school, and will sing for the 4pm service on Christmas
Eve. If your child plans to sing on Christmas Eve but cannot make the
rehearsals, please contact the office.
§ St Nicholas’ Visitation this Sunday: St. Nicholas will
arrive to Grace Church for the 10:15 service. We invite all children to come
and receive a special treat.
§ 2nd Annual Ugly Sweater
Contest this Sunday: 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 Flowers/Music: If you would like to
contribute to the Christmas flowers/music fund for memorial or thanksgiving,
please fill out the form inserted in this bulletin and place it on the offering
plate or return it to the office by Monday,
December 17.
§ 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.
§ Father Karl Schaffenburg will be
travelling: between
the dates of December 26 and January 1.
He will be back in the office on January 2. During this time, the Church
and office will be closed. In case of an emergency, please contact Mthr.
Michele Whitford (920-918-1230) or Deacon Paul Aparicio (920-912-6009).
§ Important 2018 Pledge Information: Those that intend to
receive a tax credit for their 2018 pledge must have their final payment to the
office by Friday, December 27 for deposit. Please plan accordingly, as the
Office will be closed from the 26th to the 1st of
January. Payments can also be dropped in the Church mailbox at the 7th
Street Entrance.
§ Christmas Services Schedule:
§ Eve
of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ
Monday, December 24,
2018
4:00 p.m. Children’s
Christ’s Mass
10:30 p.m. Prelude of
Christmas Music
11:00 p.m. Solemn
Christ’s Mass
§ The
Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Tuesday, December 25,
2018
9:00 a.m. Mass with
Carols
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