Loading...Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; *
make known his deeds among the peoples. Psalm 105:1
Most of us to do not like to hear the word "Evangelism." It's the "spreading of the christian Gospel by preaching or personal witness."
We might share about a wonderful trip we had or a wonderful family time. Some of us are happy to do reviews of restaurants or businesses we love. We eagerly tell our friends about our lives and the things we like or don't like.
However, when it comes to how God has worked in our lives or what our church community means to us, we are often reticent to share or speak up. Religion is considered a private matter. We don't want to appear like we are coercing people to believe the same way we do.
Yet, don't you love to hear how God has worked in someone else's life? Doesn't it strengthen your own faith to hear about someone else's journey?
Our Psalm this week encourages us to not only thank God for all we have been given, but also to make God's presence in our individual and church lives known to others. If you use social media, consider checking in to the church or writing a post about your faith or church community. If not, then practice telling a story about how your life is different because of your faith.
Make known his deeds among the people.
Blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
I will be on vacation July 31-August 12. If you have a pastoral care need, please contact Shannon at 717-801-8899. Deacon Brenda Taylor will be providing pastoral care.
Altar Flowers for July 30 are given by Rebecca in honor of the 4th Anniversary of her ordination to the priesthood.
Honor or Remember a loved one special occasion with flowers on the altar! 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 $30. Let Michele know by email – chnatss@pa.net or phone, 717-567-6514.
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.
Next Sunday, August 6, we take an additional offering for Caring for Nativity’s Neighbors Heating and Health. Donations are sent to Join Hands, so people in our community have support for their needs.
Taize’ Tuesdays, 5:00pm. Twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by a Taize’ service.
On August 6, services will be held at St. Stephen inThompsontown. Bill Day will lead Morning Prayer and preach.
Godly Play and Parlor People will resume on September 10.
Choir practice will resume on September 13.
Upcoming Meetings
Sunday, August 13, 11-Noon, Worship Committee
Wednesday, August 16, 10:30am, Parlor People Planning Committee
Sunday, August 20, 11-Noon, Confirmation Class
Wednesday, August 23, 10:30am – Meeting with Vergers
Wednesday, August 23, 6:30-8:30, Diocesan Eliminating
Racism Task Group
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 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. Also, be sure to write down what you’ve purchased to help us maintain our inventory. A catalogue is also available. If there’s an item you’d like us to order, please see Jane Hoover.
Suggestions for Giving To Others (GTO) 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
Blessing of the backpacks, August 20. Teachers and students are invited to bring their backpacks to be blessed.
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.
Lower Your Carbon Footprint...Food Smarts /digital_faith/documents/3240057
Community Events and Opportunities for Service
Join Hands Items of the Month –SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Please bring to the church by August 13. Please see Sue Rice if you'd like to donate money to this effort.
Extra large book covers,
3 ring binders - 1 inch,
3 ring binders – 1 ½ inch,
3 ring binders – 2 inch,
5-tab divider,
Back Packs,
Calculators,
Compasses,
Crayons,
Double pocket folders,
Erasers,
Flash Drives,
Glue,
Highlighters,
Math calculators,
Notebook paper,
Notebooks,
Pencil Boxes,
Pencils,
Pens,
Pocket Folders,
post-its 3x3,
Protractors,
Rulers,
Washable markers,
Yellow homework folders,
Zippered Pencil pouches.
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.
From the Diocese
Diocesan Leadership Day, Saturday, August 12, 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 301 St. Thomas Rd., Lancaster Treasurers, wardens, all vestry members and Stewardship leaders and all volunteer and salaried Parish Administrators, this conference is for you. Keynote and workshops; Financial development within the life of congregations and expectations for monitoring endowment depreciation through the rhythm of spending and investment. Year round stewardship practices, including Planned Giving Leadership Development. 101 basics for vestries and committees—this is for vestry leadership and folks new to vestries as well as best practices for Parish Administrators.
Please let Michele know if you would like to attend.
Golfers needed for Bishop’s Open Golf Tournament, Monday, September 18th, 2017, 10:00 AM, Overlook Golf Course, 2040 Lititz Pike, Lancaster, PA. Registration required by August 5. Shotgun Start, 4-Person Scramble. Join us for a day of golf, fun, food and fellowship to benefit at-risk children and youth in our Diocese. This golf tournament is open to everyone; all are welcome. To register, go to //bit.ly/2r6UYYQ . Go to //bit.ly/2sjZC5B for a brochure.
Dinner only at Bishop’s Open Golf Tournament, Monday, September 18, 2017, 3:00pm, Overlook Golf Course, 2040 Lititz Pike, Lancaster. Cost for dinner only is $25.00. Go to //bit.ly/2r6UYYQ to register.
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.
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 21710. 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
