Loading...Our help is in the Name of the Lord, *
the maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8
There are some sentences in scripture that we know by heart. We've heard them so often. Verse 8 of this week's Psalm is one of those. The Psalm starts off with thanksgiving for God's protection and the certain knowledge that they would have been swallowed up by their enemies if God had not been on their side.
This verse is beloved because it simply states that all of our help comes from God and acknowledges that God created everything.
Did you see the eclipse this past Monday? I stumbled upon some glasses in 
early July and thought it would be fun to have them and view the eclipse with my grandchildren.
I'd never gotten glasses before during a partial eclipse, a couple of which I remember. I always found it so hard to remember not to look at the sun during an eclipse, too.
Well, the glasses were wonderful and it was easy to share them with others. A small group of my son's neighbors came outside at one point and I shared the glasses with them and with a neighbor walking his dog. My grandson and two of his friends all took turns looking at the eclipse through the pair of glasses they shared.My granddaughter and I kept going outside at various intervals. My son ended up taking a pair to work with him where they were a big hit. The response was always the same: WOW!
An eclipse is easily explained. This one was relatively short and yet we were in awe of God's wonderful creation.
As you finish your week, may you give praise for our awesome God who helps us and who created an amazing world for us to live in.
Love, Rebecca+
This Sunday we take an additional offering for our Building Fund. The money donated helps us pay down our mortgage and pay for major repairs.
The September 3 service will be held at St. Stephen’s in Thompsontown.
Godly Play and Parlor People will resume September 10.
Choir Practice will resume September 13.
Upcoming Meetings
Wednesday, August 30, 7:00pm, Anti-Racism Perry County
Thursday, September 7, 10:00, Program and Mission Committee
Sunday, September 10, 11am-Noon, Confirmation Class
Wednesday, September 13, 6:30pm, Vestry Meeting
Suggestions for Giving To Others Funds. If you have a new recommendation for GTO funding, please contact Lynne Mitchell by September 1. We are planning to give away $20,000 once again. For a list of previous donations, go to /digital_faith/documents/3228746
Taize’ Tuesdays, 4pm. Twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by a Taize’ service.
Espresso Yourself is closed this week. The women will meet for breakfast at the home of Darlene Amsler, 272 Creek Road, Newport.
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.
From the Diocese
ECW Retreat, September 15th – 17th, 2017 “Sacred Ceremonies of Everyday Life: Exploring the Divine through Food, Song, Poetry, Nature and Meditation”, Claggett Retreat Center, 3035 Buckeystown Pike, Adamstown, MD Presented by Reverend Rowena Gibbons, St. James Episcopal Church, Mansfield PA. Brochures are available here: //bit.ly/2r0kX08. Online registration is available here until September 1: //bit.ly/2raunVW
Strengthen your faith through online courses offered by The Stevenson School for Ministry. Registration opens September 1 with courses beginning September 22. Learn more at: //www.diocesecpa.org/formation/stevensonschoolforministry A flyer with course descriptions is on the bulletin board in the parish hall. Here is a list of courses: Meeting God’s Call, Module II – A Discovery of Gifts, Conversations in Celtic Spirituality, Church History I, Hebrew Scripture Survey Course, New Testament Survey Course, Prayer Book Studies I, Theology I, and The Deacon’s Path. Also, let Rebecca know if you’re interested in a course. We could form a group to take a course together.
Donations of backpacks are being collected for refugee children in the Harrisburg area. This is an on-going project as children arrive throughout the year. If you have backpacks or monetary donations, please see Rebecca.
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.
Volunteers needed for Newport and Greenwood Release Time. Volunteers are needed for Central PA Youth Ministry’s Release Time for elementary school children. It’s once a month from October through March for an hour. Please let Rebecca know if you’d like to volunteer.
Central PA Youth Ministries Adult Fundraising Dinner, Sunday, October 1, 6pm, Newport Family Life Center.
Let Rebecca know by September 13, if you’d like to attend this dinner to support this ministry in our area. Rebecca and Sue Beamer assist with Newport Release Time, which is one of the ministries sponsored. We support this program each year with Giving To Others (GTO) funds. A free will offering to support the
program is taken at the end of the meal.
Volunteers are needed to clean apartments at Linda House. Apartments would be cleaned when residents leave in preparation for a new resident’s arrival. Currently, this work needs to be done between 8am and 4pm Monday – Friday. Signing a confidentiality statement is required. Please see Rebecca if you are available.
Volunteers are also needed September 5, 5:30pm at Espresso Yourself to put cleaning kits together.
Creepy Crawlers: Bugs you don’t want biting you, Presented by Dion Lerman, MPH, Wednesday, September 6, 6-7pm, Newport Public Library Come learn how fleas, lice, scabies, ticks and bed bugs survive, grow, reproduce and how to control pests safely. Hosted by the Newport Public Library and The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy. Questions? Call the Library at 567-6860.
PA Family Support Alliance’s Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse Training for Mandated Reporters, Monday, September 25, 6-9pm hosted by Join Hands Ministry – Training is provided free and is for adults who have contact with children through work, practice of profession or a volunteer position. You must pre-register online at:
//www.pafsa.org/Calendar/view_645/detail/cid_645/846.
A flyer with additional information is posted in the undercroft.
7th Perry County Family Fun Fest and Wellness Day, Saturday, September 23, 10am – 2pm, Newport Life Center
Many local Human Service Agencies with free and fun activities for all ages. Free healthy snacks provided. Other foods are available for purchase from bThe Tin Cup Food Truck. Free car seat inspections.nSponsored by the Perry County Family Center,
582-3656.
Team Joining Hands for Jeri’s 7th Annual Charity Auction, September 23, 10:30am, Otterbein UMC, Duncannon Michele is the Team Leader for ‘Joining Hands for Jeri’. The team will participate in their 12th Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk this October. ‘Joining Hands for Jeri’ has donated nearly $40,000 over the last six years, with most of the funds raised through the auctions. Check out our Facebook page, Team ‘Joining Hands for Jeri’, to see all the great items that will be up for bid! Hope you can come out and join us!
The team is also accepting donated items to be auctioned off at the event. If you have an item you’d like to donate, please contact Michele.
