Notes from the Jail

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

9 August 2018

I’ve been doing a Bible Study at the Sheboygan Detention Center for over a year now every other Monday night.  It’s been a privilege for me.  At no other time in a long pastoral ministry have I had 12 men (let that register, twelve men), many of them desperate, wanting something to hang on to during what for most of them are uncertain times. 

·         Will I be going to prison?

·         What will happen to my family?

·         When will I get out?

·         Can I make it on the outside this time?

I try carrying on a discussion; sometimes it works, sometimes not.  But sometimes it’s obvious that the Holy Spirit is much at work. 

A couple of months ago after class before the guard came to open the door, a Hispanic man, embraced me and wouldn’t let go chattering in Spanish.  He finally did and started in English.  I still couldn’t understand him, but I gathered he’d been powerfully moved.  I haven’t seen him since, but then the group is continually changing. 

A few weeks ago, it was after class again, and a man, I’d not met before, came to me passionately confessing, “I am a thief, a liar, and a cheat; and, I’m sick of it.  Here’s your pen that I was going to steal.”  Could that have been the Spirit?  A turning point, maybe his life will never be the same?  I do pray that it’ll be so.

Fr. John Ambelang

An “editorial comment”?  A typewritten 2 x 3” note was found this morning, propped on a tree branch outside of the parish entrance:

Our job is to love others without stopping

to inquire whether they are worthy.

An additional note (from Fr. Karl):  A group of 20 churches working together is seeking to recruit and train a cadre of volunteers willing to work with prisoners as mentors.  The specific need, at this time, is for women to work with women.  If you want more details, contact Fr. Karl.  This project is in early days, and will require more definition and training.  Keep the initiative (and your own possible involvement) in prayer.

Grace abounds:  Please thank: 

§  Nick and Jennifer Whitford, and Julie Davidson for the Sunday coffee hours.

§  Ben Dobey for gardening.

Special “Thank You’ s” :  A supply of Thank You note cards can be found on the table at the back of church nave.  When someone in the parish does something special, take the time to write them a personal note.  Also, from time to time, think about who you might want to thank for ongoing service, and let them know you have noticed!

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.

Special call!  Clergy discretionary accounts are provided for by church canon.  At Grace Episcopal Church the regular contributions to these funds are the loose plate offering for the first Sunday of each month.  This amount is not, on its own, sufficient to continue to fund things like jail commissary costs for prisoners (including parishioners), medical and housing costs, and work with victims of human trafficking.  Please give generously, with gifts designated “Clergy Discretionary Accounts”.

Please contribute for photocopies:  The photocopier is being subjected to frequent use that relates to parishioner’s needs and not those of the whole parish.  If you need to make copies (and please keep this to a minimum), please inform a member of the parish staff and make a contribution toward the costs of the copies.  A suggested contribution is $0.6/page.  (We are trending above budget on copy costs!)

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 Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 14B)

                                      Dr. R. Benjamin Dobey, Music Director

Prelude                          Prelude on ‘Song 46’                                    Leo Sowerby

Entrance Hymn 408         “Sing praise to God who reigns above”     Mit Freuden zart     

Offertory Hymn 523        “Glorious things of thee are spoken”             Abbot’s Leigh

Communion Hymn 328    “Draw nigh and take the Body of the Lord”          Song 46  

Closing Hymn 657          “Love divine, all loves excelling”                      Martyrdom

Postlude                         Finale on ‘Hyfrydol’                                 Charles Callahan

Parish Notices:

§  The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: On Wednesday, August 15 there will be a Solemn Mass at 6:00 p.m., followed by a potluck brat fry. A sign-up sheet can be found on the Narthex table. All are welcome!

§  All Saints’ Chapel in Elkhart Lake: The Chapel offers services at 9:00 a.m., continuing through Labor Day weekend.

§  Save the Date: Mass in the Grass celebration on Sunday, September 9.

St. Paul’s and Grace Episcopal Churches will come together in celebration for outdoor worship with Mass at 10:15 a.m. and a picnic lunch to follow. Location: Deland Community Center, 901 Broughton Drive in Sheboygan. There will be games and activities for children’s enjoyment and inviting guests is encouraged. More details to be shared in the upcoming weeks. If you are interested in participating in the planning committee, please contact the office at (920) 452-9659 or office@gracesheboygan.com.

§  Thinking Theologically will be offered in Adult Education on Thursday evenings (7—9 p.m. beginning 13 September).  This class is intended to allow the student to understand that the postmodern, Materialist worldview itself is in opposition to any classical understanding of reason and science, and that faith—far from being opposed to reason—is founded upon reason.

Thinking Theologically will allow the student to know and use the language of formal thought to explore his/her own faith, and to defend this faith.  The first term will focus on methodology.  No prior experience or knowledge in/of philosophy or theology will is assumed. 

§  Celebration of New Ministry: The Cathedral of St. Paul, Fond du Lac will host this celebration with its new Dean, the Very Rev. Patrick Perkins on Saturday, September 29 (re-scheduled from August 25). The Rev. Ezgi Saribay Perkins will be installed as Canon Precentor. All are welcome and invited to attend. The service marks the transition of ministry for the congregation and the priest as they live into a new relationship in serving the Gospel.

§  Kairos Outside Weekend Retreat, October 12-14: This is an ecumenical Cursillo-type event for women having been impacted by incarceration. Perhaps they’ve been prisoners, or had/have family members, friends in the Corrections System. The weekend is a time of support and encouragement in a Christian community of women. The cost of the weekend is covered.  If you have questions or would like more information, contact Fr. John Ambelang, (920)453-8983.

§  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 a request to office@gracesheboygan.com to have a name(s) put in the bulletin, the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham and/or out to the email Prayer Team.

What may be Given

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

2 August 2018

How are you living into the kingdom of God by showing forth His kingdom to others?  This question occurs to me following a week of travel in which I experienced the vibrancy of another Episcopal Church parish.  The parish we visited (in Santa Fe, NM) was what would be considered (in most places) out of the mainstream:  High Anglo-Catholic liturgy (much higher than at Grace, with more choral participation); overtly conservative in theology and identity; focused in service ministry to at-risk children, etc.  There were specifics in the identity of the parish (as in all) that might be questioned by some, but the strength of the place was evident in how many ministries were listed for people to participate in.

When I compare the list of ministries available for participation at Grace to those in Santa Fe, I am struck by the fact that there is a lot of overlap.  The reality is that there are many, many opportunities for you to participate.  The greater reality involves, as well, that when you are active in ministry you are living into the kingdom of God by showing forth His kingdom to others, and that when we disagree in matters of identity and/or theology, the disagreement is swallowed up in the ministries in which we serve together.

You come to church because you believe; you profess a faith.  This faith involves trust in God as well as mental assent to a number of doctrinal descriptions about who God is and what His will for us is.  This faith calls you to serve God by serving His people.  This service includes how you are transformed and strengthened in faith, and as a person, in how you serve.  In other words, a completely passive faith is incomplete, and God calls us to fullness in faith.  To be clear, however, serving does not mean that you have to go out and “do something”.  You can serve God and His people by praying, by being present to each other.  What matters is that you make an offering of yourself not just to God but to each other.  By this you will experience how much greater the life of faith is when it is focused not on what can be received but on what may be given.

Grace abounds:  Please thank: 

§  Anne and Bob Hanlon, and Polly Schmeiser for the Sunday coffee hours.

Special “Thank You’ s” :  A supply of Thank You note cards can be found on the table at the back of church nave.  When someone in the parish does something special, take the time to write them a personal note.  Also, from time to time, think about who you might want to thank for ongoing service, and let them know you have noticed!

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.

Special call!  Clergy discretionary accounts are provided for by church canon.  At Grace Episcopal Church the regular contributions to these funds are the loose plate offering for the first Sunday of each month.  This amount is not, on its own, sufficient to continue to fund things like jail commissary costs for prisoners (including parishioners), medical and housing costs, and work with victims of human trafficking.  Please give generously, with gifts designated “Clergy Discretionary Accounts”.

Please contribute for photocopies:  The photocopier is being subjected to frequent use that relates to parishioner’s needs and not those of the whole parish.  If you need to make copies (and please keep this to a minimum), please inform a member of the parish staff and make a contribution toward the costs of the copies.  A suggested contribution is $0.6/page.  (We are trending above budget on copy costs!)

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 Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 13B)

                                      Dr. R. Benjamin Dobey, Music Director

Prelude                                Andante in E                                              Max Reger

                                           Melodia

Entrance Hymn 544              “Jesus shall reign where’er the sun”          Duke Street     

Offertory Hymn 307             “Lord enthroned in heavenly splendor”     Bryn Calfaria

Communion Hymn 302         “Father we thank thee”                        Rendez á Dieu  

Closing Hymn 533                “How wondrous and great thy works, God of praise”                                                                                                                        Lyons                         

Postlude                                 Fugue in G                                   Felix Mendelssohn

Parish Notices:

§  The Transfiguration of Our Lord: On Monday, August 6 at 12:10 p.m., Mass will be celebrated for The Transfiguration of Our Lord.

§  The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: On Wednesday, August 15 there will be a Solemn Mass at 6:00 p.m., followed by a potluck supper. A sign-up sheet can be found on the Narthex table. All are welcome!

§  All Saints’ Chapel in Elkhart Lake: The Chapel offers services at 9:00 a.m., continuing through Labor Day weekend. We are blessed to have Fr. Patrick Twomey serving as Celebrant for the entire season. Services will continue to be a shared ministry, which means volunteers will be needed for Sunday Service ownership.

• Call the Grace Episcopal Church office at (920) 452-9659 to schedule ownership of a Sunday(s). Thank you for your support of such an important Ministry.

§  Save the Date: Mass in the Grass celebration on Sunday, September 9.

St. Paul’s and Grace Episcopal Churches will come together in celebration for outdoor worship with Mass at 10:15 a.m. and a picnic lunch to follow. Location: Deland Community Center, 901 Broughton Drive in Sheboygan. There will be games and activities for children’s enjoyment and inviting guests is encouraged. More details to be shared in the upcoming weeks. If you are interested in participating in the planning committee, please contact the office at (920) 452-9659 or office@gracesheboygan.com.

§  Celebration of New Ministry: The Cathedral of St. Paul, Fond du Lac will host this celebration with its new Dean, the Very Rev. Patrick Perkins on Saturday, September 29 (re-scheduled from August 25). The Rev. Ezgi Saribay Perkins will be installed as Canon Precentor. All are welcome and invited to attend. The service marks the transition of ministry for the congregation and the priest as they live into a new relationship in serving the Gospel.

§  Kairos Outside Weekend Retreat, October 12-14: This is an ecumenical Cursillo-type event for women having been impacted by incarceration. Perhaps they’ve been prisoners, or had/have family members, friends in the Corrections System. The weekend is a time of support and encouragement in a Christian community of women. The cost of the weekend is covered.  If you have questions or would like more information, contact Fr. John Ambelang, (920)453-8983.

§  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 a request to office@gracesheboygan.com to have a name(s) put in the bulletin, the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham and/or out to the email Prayer Team.

New Creation

Grace Episcopal Church

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Grace Notes

26 July 2018

Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come  (2 Cor. 5.17).

Leave aside the gender-specific pronoun.  Paul is referring to any human being, not just any man.  Unfortunately, the gender neutral translations make this into “there is new creation”, which blurs the reality that in Christ individual lives/beings are changed to be the lives/being intended by God for each of His creatures whom He has made in God’s image and likeness (Gen. 1.26).  Indeed, a fair translation of the original Greek might render “new creation” as “new creature”.  The human person is changed, and for this reason Paul also states that we are to look upon each other as God sees us.

In our Baptismal Covenant each of us vows to “seek and serve Christ in all persons”—to look upon each human being as a new creation, despite the many ways in which God’s image may be blurred or obscured by fallenness.  Whatever the fallenness may be which is manifested in another person, he/she remains a person, a person of such value to God that He paid the ultimate price for her/his salvation, by giving the life of His only Son.

Note, however, that the apostle speaks of new creation for one who is “in Christ”.  The new creation which God brings about arises when hearts are opened and given to God, and how God is working in the life of another will often not be something we can witness or perceive.  So, what do we do, in terms of how we are to relate to the other each as a “new creation”?  We are to relate to every human person as if he/she is, in fact, in Christ, and leave the rest up to God.  To do this we can best begin by treating all persons as persons, never abstractions, never as objects.  Each and every person, by virtue of his/her creation in God’s image and likeness is always and in all things a subject, not an object.  A subject to be known, to be invited to join in Christ’s Body, to be thanked for who she/he is, and to be journeyed with into the new creation into which we are invited together.

Grace abounds:  Please thank: 

§  The Aparicio family for the Sunday coffee hour.  Helen Mullison for the coffee hour on 15 July (apologies for last week’s omission!)

Special “Thank You’ s” :  A supply of Thank You note cards can be found on the table at the back of church nave.  When someone in the parish does something special, take the time to write them a personal note.  Also, from time to time, think about who you might want to thank for ongoing service, and let them know you have noticed!

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.

Special call!  Clergy discretionary accounts are provided for by church canon.  At Grace Episcopal Church the regular contributions to these funds are the loose plate offering for the first Sunday of each month.  This amount is not, on its own, sufficient to continue to fund things like jail commissary costs for prisoners (including parishioners), medical and housing costs, and work with victims of human trafficking.  Please give generously, with gifts designated “Clergy Discretionary Accounts”.

Please contribute for photocopies:  The photocopier is being subjected to frequent use that relates to parishioner’s needs and not those of the whole parish.  If you need to make copies (and please keep this to a minimum), please inform a member of the parish staff and make a contribution toward the costs of the copies.  A suggested contribution is $0.6/page.  (We are trending above budget on copy costs!)

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 Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 12B)

                                      Sandie Palmer, Guest Organist

Prelude                                Voluntary                                                   G.J Elvey
Entrance Hymn 377              “All people that on earth do dwell”               Old 100th

Offertory Hymn 690             “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah”        Cwm Rhondda

Communion Hymn 488         “Be thou my vision”                                          Slane  

Closing Hymn 438                “Tell out, my soul”                                    Woodlands

Postlude                               Allegro Maestro from Water Music”           G.F. Handel

Parish Notices:

§  Father Karl’s vacation schedule: Fr. Karl will be out of the office on Tuesday, July 24 through July 31. If you have a pastoral need during his absence, please contact Mthr. Michele at 918-1230. 

§  Sand Bags: As part of the landscaping project which starts 30 July numerous sand bags which had protected the rectory will become redundant.  These will be stacked behind the church, next to the garage, and are free for the taking.  Each bag is a 70 lb. bag of “trunk sand”, i.e., the sand is more coarse than sand box sand.  It is best used in sand bags, not as fill.

§  All Saints’ Chapel in Elkhart Lake: The Chapel offers services at 9:00 a.m., continuing through Labor Day weekend. We are blessed to have Fr. Patrick Twomey serving as Celebrant for the entire season. Services will continue to be a shared ministry, which means volunteers will be needed for Sunday Service ownership.

§  Call the Grace Episcopal Church office at (920) 452-9659 to schedule ownership of a Sunday(s). Thank you for your support of such an important Ministry.

§  Save the Date: Mass in the Grass celebration on Sunday, September 9.

§  St. Paul’s and Grace Episcopal Churches will come together in celebration for outdoor worship with Mass at 10:15 a.m. and a picnic lunch to follow. Location: Deland Community Center, 901 Broughton Drive in Sheboygan. There will be games and activities for children’s enjoyment and inviting guests is encouraged. More details to be shared in the upcoming weeks. If you are interested in participating in the planning committee, please contact the office at (920) 452-9659 or office@gracesheboygan.com.

§  Education for Ministry: Two groups are starting September 10, 2018. The Monday group meets at 9:30 am and the Wednesday group meets at 4 pm.  Sign up by August 1st in order to get your books before the first class.  Cost is $360 and this includes college credits and all your materials.  Scholarships are available, so don’t let the cost keep you from participating.  To get registration materials or if you have questions, contact Barb Drewry-Zimmerman at:  bzimmy@excel.net or 920-893-5189.

§  Kairos Outside Weekend Retreat, October 12-14: This is an ecumenical Cursillo-type event for women having been impacted by incarceration. Perhaps they’ve been prisoners, or had/have family members, friends in the Corrections System. The weekend is a time of support and encouragement in a Christian community of women. The cost of the weekend is covered.  If you have questions or would like more information, contact Fr. John Ambelang, (920)453-8983.

§  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.

§  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 a request to office@gracesheboygan.com to have a name(s) put in the bulletin, the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham and/or out to the email Prayer Team.