Loading...When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Matthew 28:17
I was struck by this verse from our Gospel this Sunday. I explored a little further and it is indeed true that this was said of the eleven disciples -- some doubted.
These are some of Jesus' closest followers. They knew him well, yet Jesus' death and resurrection was so astonishing, that even with his appearances to them, some still doubted or didn't fully understand who he was.
In other words, the disciples were human! Even the disciples did not have perfect faith.
Sometimes we feel ashamed or "not worthy" when we have our doubts and questions about God and about Jesus Christ. That is often a part of faith. In an odd way, our doubts lead us to greater and stronger faith.
The important thing is to stay connected. Read the Bible or other religious and spiritual materials. Continue to be a part of our church community and even increase your connection and involvement.
Even though some doubted, as we will hear this Sunday, all were commissioned with these words from Jesus:
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Many blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
At Church of the Nativity
Join us after the service for Coffee Hour.
Godly Play, Parlor People and Choir Practice will resume in the fall.
Next week Bill Rohm will lead us in Morning Prayer.
Rebecca will be on vacation June 17-24. For pastoral care during this time, please contact Shannon at 717-801-8899.
Thanks to everyone who made our 130th Anniversary celebration a success. The planning committee of Lynne Mitchell, Wendy and Bill Day, Suzanne Beamer, and Tootser Davis, the choir and everyone who brought food for coffee hour.
This Sunday we observe LGBTQI Pride Month.
Taize’ Tuesdays, 5:00pm. Twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by a Taize’ service.
Upcoming Meetings
June 14, 2pm, Program & Mission Committee
June 14, 6:30pm, Vestry
June 27, 7:00pm, Perry County SURJ
June 28, 6:30pm, Diocesan Eliminating Racism Task Group
Church Picnic, June 25, 11am, Landis Farm. Quiet Eucharist at Nativity at 9:30am. There will be sign-up sheets for dishes to bring.
Men’s & Women’s Breakfast, Wednesdays, 9am, Espresso Yourself Café.
Baking needs and chocolate items available through Equal Exchange. See the cart in the parish hall. We are now a wholesaler for Equal Exchange, a company that supports small farmers who use sustainable practices for chocolate, cocoa, coffee, tea, nuts, olive oil and other baking items. A price list and basket are available to pay for the items you choose to buy. A catalogue is also available. If there’s an item you’d like us to order, please see Jane Hoover.
Honor or Remember a loved one or a special occasion with flowers on the altar! Flowers 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 $30. A sign-up chart is in the Undercroft.
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.
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. Canned vegetables, fruit, nut butters and protein are always needed.
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.
Let Rebecca know if you’d like her to come visit. She can come to your home or another location you suggest. This helps her to know you better and hopefully you will also know her a little better. Let Rebecca know your availability on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday days or evenings and she'll be in touch to arrange a time to get together. You can send an email to her at nativityrector@pa.net or leave a message at the church at 717-567-6514.
Community Events and Opportunities for Service
Ageless Grace-Timeless Fitness for the Body & Brain, Free Class, Friday, June 16, 10am, King’s Fitness 235 Walnut St., Newport.
The Perry County Relay for Life, June 16-17, Newport High School Athletic Field. There are many ways to participate in this event. You can order luminaria ($10 each) in honor or in memory of a person by going online at //bit.ly/2sp7H5i or completing a form in the Undercroft. Darlene Amsler and Jodi Hoover can be credited or their team, Newport Staff and Friends.
Miguel Gonzales has been cast as Noah and part of Adam in the musical, Children of Eden, at the Hershey Playhouse Theatre. Performances are the weekends of July 20 and 27. Tickets are available online at //bit.ly/2rlgu9f
Gently Worn used and new shoes collection. Lillian Hoover is collecting gently worn, used and new shoes for the class of 2022 as a fundraiser while helping those in need. The shoes that are collected will be donated to those living in other countries. So as you are cleaning out your closets please think of her. They will be collecting shoes until November 30. A box is located in the undercroft.
Join Hands Items of the Month –
Clothing: socks, hats, gloves, scarves, and toddler/baby clothing
Toiletries: Adult Diapers, Combs, Hair brushes, Hair care products, Conditioner, Deodorant, Diapers and Wipes - sizes 1 to 6, Feminine hygiene products, Lotion, Mouthwash, Paper Towels, Shampoo, Shaving Cream, Soap/shower gel, Tissues, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Toilet Paper, Medical supplies such as band-aids and cough drops
Other Items: Quilts, Blankets, Towels, Wash Cloths
The Bishop's Pentecost message. There are many opportunities
for service to other parishes and to the Diocese. Opportunities include:
1. Board Member for The Episcopal Home.
2. Committee Member for Diocesan Finance Committee
3. Regional Discernment Committee - rather than having each parish have a discernment committee, there will now be regional committees.
4. Diocesan Disciplinary Board, Standing Committee and Council of Trustees nominations. Please see the website www.diocesecpa.org or contact the Chair of the Nominating Committee, The Rev. Hank Morrow, Deacon at deaconhank@gmail.com to learn more about these positions.
5. Convocational Mission Resource Teams At Convention last year, we looked at some important ways to support each other in our parish lives in Christ through the formation of Convocational Mission Resource Teams. Each Convocation will have a team of at least four trained individuals to help in congregations when invited. The four ministry areas for the teams will include: Transition Ministry, Evangelism & Community Engagement, Parish Finance, Stewardship. Ministers will receive training in both their area of discipline and principles of leadership. They will be sent to work in parishes under the supervision of Canons Dan Morrow and Chad Linder. If you would like to be considered for training as a member of a Convocational Resource Team, please contact Canon Morrow at dmorrow@diocesecpa.org or Canon Linder at clinder@diocesecpa.org. More information will be available soon through Convocational Conveners and your parish clergy.
The Bishop urges us to say this prayer as we discern how we may serve the Diocese and each other:
A Prayer of Self-Dedication
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP pg. 832)
