Grace
Episcopal Church
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Grace
Notes
4 April 2019
In the 1986 Oliver Stone film Platoon the protagonist describes his life in a letter, in which he states
“Someone once wrote, ‘Hell is the impossibility of reason …’”. The quotation sounds like something written
by Friedrich Nietzsche, but no source has ever been identified, and the
“quotation” is probably the product of Stone’s own thinking. Consider, however, the reality the statement
describes. If that which makes us
uniquely human includes our ability to reason and communicate, then an
environment in which no real argument shall be weighed, and where reality
becomes “stimulus and response” writ large, is hellish by virtue of how it
reduces us to something not quite human.
In such an environment we would become the sum of our appetites, of our
desires, of our fears, and of our ability to project power.
If we were to become no more than sum of appetites, desires, fears, and
power, we would, in fact, inhabit an existence as described by the 17th
C. English philosopher, Thomas Hobbes—the existence of humans in a state of
nature without government, described as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and
short" (Leviathan, 1651). In 21st C. America we do not live
in a state of nature; government is an ever-present force, and a common
complaint is one of over-regulation. And
yet it is in this environment that we do find an emphasis in daily life on appetites, desires, fears, and
power. We do find this societal and
personal anxiety lived because our ability to listen to and reason with each
other is much diminished, and the easiest retreat into “safety” is into the
echo chamber provided by people with whom we agree and with whom we share interests
in our own small circles or our own social media platforms.
The opposite of the life described by Hobbes, and the opposite of the
hell described by Stone, is the life promised by Jesus, life lived “abundantly”
(Jn. 10.10), lived as those gathered with God and with each
other. This gathering is named in the
Bible as ekklesía, Greek for “gathering” or “assembly”. There is no word in the Bible for church,
just gathering. There is no concept in
scripture for membership in a church as an institution. A believer is defined to be a member of the
gathering/assembly precisely because he/she has gathered/assembled with those
who follow God.
When we do gather we find, of course, others in the assembly with whom
we do not share other interests. We find
others with whom we don’t have common histories or sympathies. We find others who may frankly annoy us, and
we certainly find others with whom we disagree about many things. We may even disagree about how to follow Jesus, and about where He calls us
to. But provided that we can each
endeavor to truly seek to follow Jesus, God’s grace is more than sufficient to
allow us to live in tension together.
The “pasture” of life described by Jesus at Jn. 10.10—life lived abundantly—is
the very opposite of the hell described by Stone or Hobbes. It is a place in which appetites, desires,
fears, and power are subsumed in common life.
It is a place in which reason is responded to because we listen to each
other and care about each other, even when (precisely when) we don’t agree.
Jesus declares victory over Hell in this world and in the next. Live into this victory now in how you
participate in His life, in how you gather.
Grace abounds: Please thank:
§ Wayne and Pat Sather, and Sandie and Jasmine Palmer for
the Sunday coffee hours.
§ Bobbie May for janitorial help.
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.
Music this Week: The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Dr. R. Benjamin Dobey, Music Director
Prelude Chorale
Prelude on O Lord. Turn not thy face from
me
C. Hubert H. Parry
Sequence H. 488 “Be thou my vision O Lord of my heart” Slane
Offertory H. 149 “Eternal Lord of Love” Old 124th
Communion Motet Lord for ever at thy side Orlando Gibbons
Comm. Hymn 474 “When I survey the wondrous cross” Rockingham
Closing Hymn 441 “In
the cross of Christ I glory” Rathburn
Postlude Quasi lento: teneramente (from Six Short
Pieces) Herbert Howells
Parish Notices:
§ Retirement
and Farewell Save the Date: On Sunday April 28,
we come together for ONE MASS at 10:15 as Fr. Karl celebrates his final
service as the Rector of Grace Church; this will be a day of celebration at Grace!
A reception lunch will be held after Mass in St. Nicholas Hall to show our
appreciation for the many years of service by Bill May as our Sexton, as well
as celebrating the 7 ½ years of service and friendship by Fr. Karl and
Elizabeth Schaffenburg. Stay tuned for details.
§ Adult
Formation: Growing a Rule of Life: Adult Formation participants meet for the final class today, using a
tool from monastic spirituality and the Society of Saint John the Evangelist to
develop their own personal Rule of Life.
§ Sacrament
of Reconciliation: Lent
is a time of self-examination preparing for the death and resurrection of our
Lord. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered by appointment. Please
contact Fr. Schaffenburg to set up an appointment to make your confession.
§ Lenten
Program:
On Friday nights during Lent, we will have Stations of the Cross at 5:30pm,
followed by a simple Lenten supper at 6:00pm. At 6:30 the program will be Entering
the Passion of Jesus: A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week, author, professor,
and biblical scholar Amy-Jill Levine explores the biblical texts surrounding
the Passion story. The six-session DVD features Dr. Amy-Jill Levine offering a
fresh, timely reinterpretation of the Passion of Jesus. The video segments are
approximately 10-12 minutes each. The program will be facilitated by Fr. Karl
and Mother Michele.
§ Cooking
on Friday Evenings in lent: If you are interested in cooking and hosting a dinner on
the Fridays during Lent, there are sign-up on sheets on the Narthex.
§ Easter Flowers and Music: Please prayerfully
consider donating for Easter Flowers and Music. Please be as generous as you
are able and call the office or fill out the slip found in the pews to indicate
your wish for memorials and/or thanksgivings.
The deadline
for returning to the Parish Office is Monday, April 8 at noon.
§ Parish Spring Clean-Up Day: Next Saturday, April
13 has been set for clean-up of the Grace Church buildings and grounds. We will begin at 8:30am and work until noon.
Many hands will make light work. Refreshments will be provided. A sign-up sheet
is on the Narthex table and a list of projects will be available for
organization of duties.
§ Maundy
Thursday Foot Washing: The Gospel of John (13:1-17) records that Jesus washed
the feet of the disciples at the Last Supper. Jesus urged the disciples to
follow his example of generous and humble service. Jesus' washing of the
disciples' feet was a live expression of his teaching that "whoever wishes
to be first among you must be slave of all" (Mk 10:43-44). Everyone will
have the opportunity to have their feet washed and to wash someone else’s;
please wear socks and shoes that are easily removed.
§ Vigil
before the Altar of Repose: Please sign up to watch and pray for an hour
at the Altar of Repose beginning immediately following the Maundy Thursday Mass
on April 18 and concluding Friday, April 19 as the Good Friday Liturgy begins.
There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex; more than one person may
sign up for any given hour.
§ Easter
Vigil Dinner:
The first Mass of the Resurrection is on Saturday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m. The
Easter celebration then continues at Trattoria Stefano, 522 South 8th
Street, at 9:30 p.m. The actual cost of the meal is a gift to the parish, so
you not only get a delicious meal but you help the church by purchasing a
ticket for the dinner. Tickets can be bought in the parish office or in the
Narthex after mass for $50 a person. Everyone is invited, but seats are
limited. There are scholarships for anyone wishing to attend but are challenged
by the cost.
§ Easter
Gala Reception: We
will continue our Easter celebration with a Gala Reception after the 10:15 a.m.
Mass on Sunday, April 21. A sign-up sheet is on the Narthex table.
§ Summer Camp registration for camp
sessions are now open:
The Diocese of Fond du Lac Summer Camp is for kids age 4 through graduating 12th
graders.
The registration
process is now completely online and includes availability to make payments. www.diofdl.org/camp
*Scholarships
are available; inquire at the Parish Office.
§ Save the Date-Chrism Mass: On Tuesday, April
16, at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Fond du Lac.
§ Annual Bake and Plant Sale: This annual event
takes place, in conjunction with St. Luke United Methodist Church Rummage Sale,
on Friday, April 26 (noon–3:00 p.m.) and Saturday, April 27 (9:00 a.m.–2:30
p.m.) We need volunteers to provide baked items, staff tables, set-up and take
down. Look for a more detailed list and sign-up sheet in the upcoming weeks.
§ Good
News Jail & Prison Ministry Banquet: The annual banquet in support of
ministry in the local jail is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7 at 6:00 p.m. (Blue
Harbor Conference Center) Nicci has 8 tickets available. There is no
charge, but the cost of the meal to the ministry is $28.00; donations in
support are accepted. There will also be a silent auction. For more
details, contact the Parish Office.
§ Save the Date-Eucharistic Festival, Saturday June 29: The Festival will be followed by the Bishop’s Picnic; there is no cost for
the Picnic which include hot dogs, brats and ice cream. For more details, visit
www.diofdl.org/ef
§ 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; become a part of
this ministry today!
§ Meeting of Lectors: Following the 10:15
service and some short time after the start of coffee hour on April 7, Bob
MacEwen will lead an informational 20-minute meeting in St. Mark’s Room, Lower
Level, for current Lectors and those interested in becoming a Lector.
§ Reservations Required: Grace Church has
been blessed with many assets used for hospitality. Parishioners are welcome to
use rooms and these items. This is a gentle reminder that Grace’s policy is to
complete a form listing the items being borrowed and rooms being used. This
form can be obtained from the parish office.
§ Something Extra for Grace: Envelopes are
available in the pews if you are moved to give an extra gift, beyond your
pledge or regular plate donation, toward the life of the church. Gifts are tax
deductible; please write your name on the envelope.
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