Loading...The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah. 1 Kings 17:16
Do you remember this story of Elijah? He had told Ahab that there'd be a drought in the land, due to the actions of Ahab against God. God guides Elijah each step of his journey, including to this widow of Zarephath. She has so little food and is getting ready to prepare one last meal for she and her son before they die. She has just a small jar of meal.
God told Elijah he would find this widow and the widow would feed him. Elijah trusted God's promise and told the woman to go ahead and make food that would feed all of them. The widow trusted, too, and did as Elijah suggested. In the end, they all had enough to eat throughout the drought.
How many times do we fret and worry that we don't have enough... enough money, enough food, enough.....? Now, there is real scarcity and poverty in this world, but many of us truly have plenty and even more than we need.
The story of Elijah reminds me to try to live in abundance, rather than living in scarcity. The story of Elijah reminds me to ask, "do I have enough for today?" rather than worrying about the future.
Many blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca
My Schedule - Next week I will be in Danville on Tuesday for a Vital and Effecive Leadership Institute meeting. I will be working on Wednesday, but take a holiday on Thursday. My sabbath days are Monday and Friday. You can reach me via email at nativityrector@pa.net or by phone at 717-204-7642 or cell at 717-433-1556.
This Sunday during our announcement time, we honor the Veterans in our parish. Thank you for your service!
Roger Chappelka, Navy Medical Corps, 1950-1978
Bill Day, Naval Reserve, 1973 - 1979
Mike Day, National Guard, 7 years
Sean Day, Army Reserve, 2007 - pres. 1 tour Iraq, 1 Afghanistan
Glenn N. Holliman, US Army, Vietnam 1968-1970
Bill Rohm, Captain US Navy retired 30 years, 1963-1993
Brian Shull, Army Reserves, 2001- 08, 2 tours in Iraq.
Andrew Tuzinski, U.S. Army
Tom Way, Army, 1955 - 1958
O Judge of the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This Sunday we welcome Sue Beamer to the pulpit. Rebecca will celebrate the Eucharist.
Parlor People, Sunday, 11am – noon. We begin our celebration of spiritual discipline. This Sunday, Jane Hoover will speak about spiritual direction. Next Sunday, Kay Cramer will talk about pilgrimage, sharing her experience walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Godly Play is this Sunday and November 22.
Upcoming Meetings
Sunday, November 8, 11:00am, Property Committee Meeting
Wednesday, November 11, 5:30pm, Finance Committee Meeting
Wednesday, November 18, 6:30pm, Vestry
Perry County Food Bank Day A representative of the Perry County Food Bank will join us this Sunday. Bring your food or financial donations. A table and information will be available at coffee hour.
United Thankoffering Box Ingathering Today. Help people in need around the world! A Thankoffering box is available by the coffee pots in the kitchen. United Thankoffering is a project of the ECW. Boxes are available to collect your offering, which is brought to church twice a year. A wonderful spiritual practice is to put something in the box each time you are thankful to God. If possible, count the money in your box and write a check to the church in that amount.
Observance of Native American Heritage Month, November 15. Our service will contain hymns in the Native American tradition, as well as prayers.
We'll sing some new hymns. One was sung at the Installation of the Presiding Bishop. Here's a link to the video with the words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3Pb77ylz_Q&list=RDW3Pb77ylz_Q
We'll sing the first verse to Amazing Grace in Cherokee:
Oo nay klah nah ee oo way gee
Ee gah goo yah hey ee
Nah gwoo joe sah wee oo low say
Ee gay goo yah hoe nuh
Our Processional hymn will be Many and Great. Here's a wonderful version of this hymn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nuy5j1uYuY
Annual Meeting, Sunday November 22. Elect Vestry members and Delegates to Diocesan Convention, as well as receive reports from our committees and adopt our 2016 spending plan. A pot luck will be held after the service. Please sign up for what dish you will bring.
The slate for elections to Vestry and Diocesan Convention Delegates are: Vestry (3 year term): Becky Crup, Mary K. (Tootser) Davis, William Day Diocesan Convention Delegates: Becky Crup, Miguel Gonzales
Diocesan Convention Alternate: Sue Beamer
Through Join Hands, we’re buying Christmas gifts for 50 children in 18 families. Each child will receive a set of clothing, shoes, and a toy. If you’d like to buy for a family or support this effort, please see Susan Rice or call her at 834-4001 or 329-0690. A wrapping party will be held on December 9, 10am and gifts taken to Join Hands for distribution by December 14.
Michele will be on vacation Monday, November 9th - Friday, November 13th and will return on Monday, November 16th.
Connect with us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ TheEpiscopalChurchOfTheNativityStStephen
Twitter: @ChnatssChurch Instagram: https://instagram.com/chnatss/
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/
Men's breakfast - Every Wed., 9am, Espresso Yourself Cafe.
Women's breakfast - 1st and 3rd Wednesdays in November and December, 9am, May's Railside Cafe.
Upcoming breakfast dates - November 18 and December 2 and 16.
Schedule a time for Rebecca to come visit you! I'm enjoying visiting. If you haven't scheduled a visit, yet, plan to sign up this week! I'll come to your home or another location you suggest. This helps me to know you better and hopefully you will also know me a little better. Let me know your availability on Tues., Wed., Thur., and Sat. days or evenings and I'll be in touch to arrange a time for us to get together. You can send an email to me at nativityrector@pa.net or leave a message at the church at 717-567-6514.
Pictorial Directory - Marion Fluchere is putting together a pictorial directory for us. She will be asking to take photos of each family for the directory. A draft with contact information is available. Please review the information, make any corrections and initial the entry.
Stitchers meet in Undercroft on November 19 and December 17, 10am. Knit and crochet prayer shawls and other items. The prayer shawls go to Perry Village and baby items go to families with Join Hands. See Edna Baker, Sue Beamer or Wendy Day if you'd like more information and don't worry about not knowing how to knit or crochet, because I bet this would be a great place to learn how!
Join Hands items of the month are gift cards for stores such as Walmart, Target, Old Navy, etc. to be used for gifts for older children in the Christmas program. Or grocery store cards (Karns/Giant/Mutzabaughs/Weis).
Honor or Remember a loved one or a special occasion with flowers on the altar! Flowers help make our worship space more beautiful and remind us of the blossoming life we have in Christ. Please consider sponsoring the flowers in memory of a loved one, or to celebrate your thanksgivings. Flowers are $35. A sign-up chart is in the Undercroft.
Help People in Need when you buy your Groceries! See Gail Shull or Pat Szabo to purchase cards in various amounts to use at Giant, Mutzabaugh's, or Weis Stores. 5% of the cost of each card stays with the church and is used for outreach and mission projects.
Want to know more about the Refugee Crisis?
Background
Prayers
How to Help
Take Action to Prevent Maternal and Newborn Deaths
Representatives Dave Reichert (WA-8), Barbara Lee (CA-9), Michael McCaul (TX-10) and Betty McCollum (MN-4) have introduced the Reach Every Mother and Child Act of 2015 (H.R.3701), a piece of legislation that will help to end preventable maternal, newborn, and child deaths. This bi-partisan bill would improve upon current child and maternal health programs, ensuring the U.S. does its part to help countries to end preventable child and maternal deaths by 2035. Earlier this summer, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate (S.1911).
Specifically, the legislation requires the President to:
- Implement a coordinated U.S. government strategy to end preventable maternal, newborn, and child deaths by 2035
Set ambitious and tracked targets, and report on results annually - Focus on the poorest and most vulnerable populations, recognizing the unique needs within different countries and communities
- Complement strong U.S. bilateral investments with innovative, public-private financing mechanisms
Improve coordination among U.S. government agencies and relevant foreign governments, international organizations, and civil society - Improving child and maternal health is one of the priorities of The Episcopal Church as called for by the General Convention. With over 300,000 women dying every year from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, we need to do more to prevent such unnecessary deaths.
Support the Reach Every Mother and Child Act today!
Here is the sample letter:
As an Episcopalian and your constituent, I urge you to co-sponsor the Reach Every Mother and Child Act. Introduced both in the House of Representatives (H.R.3701) and the Senate (S.1911), this bi-partisan legislation will accelerate efforts to end preventable maternal, newborn and childhood deaths within a generation.
In particular, the Reach Every Mother and Child Act directs the U.S. government to expand on solutions that are evidence-based and cost-effective; improve coordination among various agencies, foreign governments, civil society and international organizations; and encourage innovative public-private financing mechanisms to save the lives of vulnerable mothers and children.
There has been tremendous progress in mother and child survival in the past two decades. However, Over 5 million children and 300,000 women die each year from preventable causes, 99 percent of which occur in developing countries.
I am grateful for the work that our government is already doing to help prevent these unnecessary deaths. I do believe, however, that there is room to do more to achieve optimal efficiencies and results. The Reach Every Mother and Child Act seeks to do just that. I urge you to support this legislation.
