Loading...Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Collect for the Last Sunday in Pentecost, Proper 29, p. 236, Book of Common Prayer
This Sunday is the last Sunday in the long season of Pentecost or Ordinary Time. It is the last Sunday in our church year and is known as Christ the King Sunday. On this Sunday we are reminded of that Christ is our leader and our pattern for our lives. Christ is the King we follow.
Unfortunately, it is so easy to relate to this prayer of the week. We the peoples of the earth are divided and enslaved by sin. Did you know that genetic science has determined that every person alive today is descended from the same woman? She's known as Mitochondrial Eve. She lived 100,000 to 200,000 years ago in sub-saharan Africa. The whole diversity of humans alive today is only a result of genetic mutations and changes that occurred over these many years. Look at all of the relatives we have and how amazingly diverse they are!
We pray this Sunday, that we can remember we are all related and that we can be unified in our diversity and live out the love that Jesus taught us. It is certainly a prayer for our times.
Many blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
Rebecca’s schedule. I'll be available Monday this week and on vacation until Saturday for the Thanksgiving holiday. You can reach me at nativityrector@pa.net or 717-433-1556 (cell) or 717-204-7642 (home).
There is no parlor people this Sunday due to the Annual Meeting. We continue our celebration of spiritual discipline next week when Sue Beamer shares her experience of the spiritual discipline of service.
Here's a report from November 15: At Parlor People last Sunday, Kay Cramer addressed the topic of spiritual disciplines by describing her 2-month walk through northern Spain to the historical pilgrim site of Santiago de Compostela. Walking 500 miles from St. Jean Pied-a-Port, France, to Muxia on the Atlantic Coast of Spain, she experienced both physical and emotional pain that refined the experience. Her daughter Maria and sister were her companions on the Way, greatly changing the way she experienced the Camino. A most unlikely person to undertake a walk of this length and difficulty, she grew along the Way in physical and spiritual strength.
Kay described the highlights of the pilgrimage: the caring strangers and fellow pilgrims; the iconic Camino sites such as the Alto de Perdon, Leon cathedral, the Cruz de Ferro and Compostela itself; the culture of Holy Week; the food; and the Camino culture of trust and openness. She feels that, through her long walk, she experienced the Franciscan rule of simplicity (carrying everything in her backpack, narrowing the focus of her daily activities); poverty; humility (knowing that she was unprepared for the task, and indeed any task); abandonment (letting go of the need to plan her life and trusting in 'the Camino'); and conversion (change to an active, but deeply quiet and trusting person).
Godly Play for children ages 3-13 is offered the second and fourth Sundays of the month during the worship service.There is Godly Play this Sunday. December 13 will be the next date.
Upcoming Meetings
Monday, November 23, 1:30pm, Licensed Lay Preachers
Sunday, November 29, Noon, Worship Committee
Annual Meeting this Sunday. Adopt the budget, elect Vestry members and Delegates to Diocesan Convention, as well as receive reports from our committees. A pot luck will be held after the service. Sign-up for what 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
The funeral for Bud Wallis is this Sunday at 3pm at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1000 N Front St., Liverpool. Visitation is at 2pm. Bud was the father of Jill Brownfield and grandfather of Eric and Joann Weller and great-grandfather of Kyle and Kaleb Weller. Please pray for Bud and for his family. You can read his obituary here.
Report from Vestry Meeting
We continued our discussion on managing the polarity of tradition and innovation. Polarities are not problems to be solved. Polarities are not either/or. Polarities are to be managed. A healthy congregation keeps the polarities balanced. This month, we talked about the downside of innovation and the downside of tradition.
Pre-voting discussion included decisions about the elevator, remainder of the elm tree, roof repair and fire alarms. A Vestry retreat will be held in January or February. It is possible the installation of Rebecca as Rector will occur in January. There will be no December meeting.
It was also agreed to send a letter of notice to cease our maintenance contract with Kone' regarding the elevator.
Votes Taken
1. Move the Kyle Weller Scholarship to The Foundation for Enhancing Communities in order have the possibility of a matching grant amount. (Information already sent to Vestry with the agenda.)
2. Maintain six months of operating expenses, currently estimated at $135,000, in the checking and savings accounts. Going forward, at least annually, after closing out the financial statements for the calendar year, use funds in excess of $135,000 to pay down the outstanding mortgage.
3. Proceed with a Physical Capital Needs Assessment on both Church buildings if the cost is estimated to be less than $10,000 in order to most effectively plan for maintenance, repairs and replacement.
4. Authorize recurring expenses which can be paid by credit card to be set up for automatic payment on the new credit card. Wendy will provide a specific list.
5. Authorize the Financial Secretary and Treasurer to set up automatic bill payments for recurring expenses which cannot be paid by credit card. Wendy will provide a specific list.
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 717-834-4001(h) or 717-329-0690 (c). A wrapping party will be held on December 9, 10am and gifts taken to Join Hands for distribution by December 14.
Next Sunday, November 29, we welcome Bill Rohm to the pulpit. Rebecca will celebrate the Eucharist.
Join Us For Breakfast!
Men's breakfast - Every Wednesday, 9am, Espresso Yourself Cafe.
Women's breakfast - 9am, May's Railside Cafe. Upcoming breakfast dates are December 1 and 15.
Youth event, December 5, 1:00-6:00pm. Start at the drop-in art class at the Landis House and then travel to the home of Bill and Shirley Rohm to see the train display modeled on the town of Patterson, as well as hear their story of faith. We'll stop for pizza afterwards. Please let Rebecca know if you will attend.
2015 Christmas House Tour, December 5, 10am – 4pm. The Newport Revitalization and Preservation Society is sponsoring this House Tour of five private homes and four Newport Landmarks. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 day of the event. Go to www.nrps.pa.net for more information. Newport Christmas Tree Lighting will be from 5-6pm that evening.
Advent Lessons and Carols followed by dinner, December 6, 4pm – 6:30pm. The choir of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Lebanon led by Bill Claxton will lead us in this evening worship of preparing for Christ’s birth. Readings and hymns of Advent will be heard. A dinner will follow. Please sign up for which dish you’ll bring.
Join members of the Program and Mission Committee for a lunch and activity at Episcopal Commons in Newport on December 8, 11am – 1:30pm. We’ll be making soup mixes for people to use and to give as gifts. See Wendy Day if you can attend.
Stitchers meet in Undercroft on 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!
Beat the Rush Holiday fundraiser, Friday, December 18, 7-10pm, The Maples, New Bloomfield, to benefit Rotary Scholarships and community projects. Vote for your favorite holiday dessert or appetizer (a quarter a vote), door prizes, auction. Must be 21 or older. Only 100 tickets at $15 each. Let Rebecca know if you'd like to attend.
Greening of the Church, December 20. Join us for the greening of the church, followed by a potluck lunch.
Schedule a time for me 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 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday 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.
Help people in need around the world! A Thankoffering box is available by the coffee pots in the kitchen if you'd like to make donations that way. United Thankoffering is a project of the Episcopal Church Women of The Episcopal Church. 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.
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/UCMdhiksmcXv0kyz9M2uio6Q
Food Bank Donations are needed! For a list of the items needed by the Food Bank, go to their website at //www.perrycountyfoodbank.org/ and click on their wish list.
Join Hands Items of the Month - November - Gift Cards
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, ot 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.
Voice Your Support for Refugee Resettlement
"In the Book of Leviticus, God says to the people of Israel that, "the foreigner who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the foreigner as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt." Accordingly, we welcome the stranger. We love our neighbor. The Episcopal Church has long been committed to resettling refugees in our own communities fleeing violence and persecution." Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry
Episcopalians around the world join together in expressing sorrow and grief for those who died, those injured, and those for whom peace has been shattered by the recent acts of terrorism in Paris and Beirut. In light of this tragedy, we recognize that only love can overcome hatred and evil.
As decisions are currently being made that will impact the lives of Syrian refugees and refugee resettlement in the United States, we ask you to raise your voice in support of the life-giving ministry of refugee resettlement.
As the current number of displaced people around the world exceeds 60 million, the international community must continue to care for refugees through international aid and refugee resettlement. The United States has long been a beacon of freedom and opportunity for all, especially those seeking safety and security from violence and extremism, and today we can be no less.
Episcopal Migration Ministries, the refugee resettlement service of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, has worked to assist refugees on their journey to safety and freedom for over 75 years. As Episcopalians, we are committed to upholding our nation's tradition of welcome and to seeking and serving Christ in all persons. Take action today to urge your governor and members of Congress to continue to offer safety and freedom to those fleeing persecution around the world.
Support refugees in your community today!
