Manifestation

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

3 January 2019

At a time when it is customary to think about what shall be new in the new year, or to think about what we would will to be new or different, we find that our first Sunday of the year is not a standard Sunday, but is, rather, The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  We’ll certainly get to sing We, three kings of orient are, but more to the point, as we gather for this first Sunday celebration of the new year, we may well ask ourselves “How will my life, and the life of this church, be a part of God’s manifestation (epiphany) of Himself and His will to the world?”

The manifestation of who God is, and of what His will is, is the “showing forth” of the reality that life in Christ is different.  In the Bible, for example, we encounter two different words for life, one of which (bios) refers to life as observed in the fact that an organism is alive—that it processes nutrients, consumes oxygen, etc.  The second word (zoé) refers to life as the experience of self-awareness, of blessing, of life-everlasting.  In the world around us the experience of bios is “a fact of life”.  All can distinguish a live person from a dead one!  But what about the experience of  zoé?  When you encounter someone who is stuck in a mode that looks a lot like no more than survival, no more than a day-to-day routine of hanging on, how will you manifest to them that life can be much more than survival?  How will you manifest blessing?

We manifest blessing principally in how we are seen to be different because of our experience of Christ.  In the Prayer of Humble Access found in Rite I in Holy Eucharist, and used in this parish (in Rite II) during Lent we pray that “we may evermore dwell in [Christ], and he is us”.  It is in this dwelling, this Presence, that we become vessels whereby God’s presence can be experienced by others.  Be seen to be different because Jesus dwells in you.  Manifest His presence, His love, His invitation to all.

But how to do this?  Allow me to suggest a simple New Year’s resolution:  Be present to all who you encounter.  To do this stop multitasking.  Don’t, for example, attempt to talk while responding to a text message or typing on a computer.  Turn off the television if you are having a conversation.  Turn your phone off in church!  By not allowing ourselves to be distracted (“multitasking” is just a positive spin on “being distracted” or “less than focused”) we can be present to others.  They will sense this presence, that we care, and it is then that we can begin to manifest the zoé within, the life-everlasting of being in Christ.

Grace abounds:  Please thank: 

§  Steve and Katie Larson for the Sunday coffee hour.

§  Thanks to all of you who answered the call to prepare a devotional for the Advent Booklet.  The booklet is another way we can live and grow in community with each other. I was fed by the readings, and they are an important part of my Advent preparations.  I trust each writer also grew from the time spent preparing the devotional. 

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 the Epiphany of Our Lord

                                      Dr. R. Benjamin Dobey, Music Director

                                     

Prelude        Chorale Prelude on ‘How brightly shines the Morning Star’

                                                                      Johann Pachelbel

Entrance Hymn 109         “The First Nowell”                                   The First Nowell

Offertory Hymn 128        “We three kings of Orient are”         Three Kings of Orient           

Communion Motet           Saw you never in the twilight

                                                                          French carol, harm. Charles Wood

Communion Hymn 112    “In the bleak midwinter”                                   Cranham

Closing Hymn 117           “Brightest and best of the stars of the morning”   

                                                                                                      Morning Star

Postlude                          Chorale Prelude on ‘How brightly shines the Morning Star’                                                                                                                        Max Reger

Parish Notices:

§  Sung Compline and Potluck: Sunday, January 6, in celebration of The Epiphany of Our Lord, there will be a potluck supper at 6:30 p.m. followed by Sung Compline at 8:00 p.m. Compline, or night prayer, is a Christian service of worship dating back to monastic life in the Middle Ages. The choir sings The Office of Compline by candlelight; this is a beautiful and restful way to nurture one’s soul. The sign-up sheet for the potluck can be found on the Narthex table.

§  Diocesan Deacons’ School: Begins Saturday, January 12, 2019 at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in De Pere (347 Libal Street, DePere 54115). Two courses will be offered for instruction: Theology (taught by Fr. Glen Kanestrom of St. Paul’s, Marinette) and New Testament (taught by Mother Barb Sajna of St. Luke’s, Sister Bay). Classes meet 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month, January – May, and September – December. Auditors are welcome. If you wish to audit deacon school, contact the office to receive details. 

§  The Annual Meeting: On Sunday January 20, there will be one Mass at 9:00 a.m., followed by the Annual Meeting at 10:15 a.m. in St. Nicholas Hall. The agenda of the meeting will include committee reports, new Vestry Elections, 2018 financial review and 2019 budget, review of Vestry actions and an overall review of the 2018 calendar. If you have been in leadership of any group or committee, please submit an annual report to the office@gracesheboygan.com. You are encouraged to make every effort to attend, as your participation is valued.

§  A draft of the 2019 Parish Directory: can be found on the Narthex table. Please initial your information if it is current, otherwise make changes as necessary.

§  Ushers Needed: Ushers are often the first people seen by newcomers, visitors, and even regular parishioners when coming to Grace Church. People enjoy being greeted by a smile.  Contact the office at office@gracesheboygan.com  to become part of this ministry today.

§  Flower Schedule for 2019: Giving the gift of flowers is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to offer thanksgiving for your blessings. If you wish to sign up for a specific Sunday, the Flower Schedule is available on the table in the narthex. More than one person can sign up for each Sunday.

§  The Bible Challenge: Videos for all 52 weeks of the year are now available on Grace Abounds. If you take this challenge, you will find that in one year you will read all of the Bible! This will require less than an hour of your time, six days a week. A schedule of readings is provided on the parish website, along with weekly study summaries and a weekly video summary of the readings. If you need a good study bible for the challenge, contact the parish office. When we immerse ourselves in Scripture, the mantle of the Lord does fall upon us. We are equipped to discern God’s will and to lead others to know and love and serve the Lord.