Loading...For we see that the wise die also;
like the dull and stupid they perish *
and leave their wealth to those who come after them. Psalm 49:9
Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, *
as we have put our trust in you. Psalm 33:22
This Sunday, July 31, our readings focus on the vanity of putting our trust in our wealth and in our possessions. I must confess, since I read them a number of times in preparation for the sermon, I can tell you that these readings definitely engender futility. Why work? Why try to do anything to make things better in the world, when we can't have any faith that those who come after us will appreciate it?
Then I recall that our church community is extremely blessed by people who took the risk to leave their wealth to us. They let go of a valuable possession and returned it to God's community. They hoped that we would continue to do God's mission in Newport and Thompsontown. They valued their experience of the church community in their time so much, they wanted to try to make sure it was here for us.
They put their trust in God and hoped we would too.
Blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
Rebecca will be away after service on July 31-August 9. If you have a pastoral care need, please call Carenda Baker at 717-343-5238.
Sunday, August 7 service will be held at St. Stephen. Bill Rohm will be the Officiant and Preacher for the Morning Prayer service. Rebecca will be on vacation.
We would like to update the prayer list and start fresh. If you have a name you’d like for the list, let Michele know at 717-567-6514 or chnatss@pa.net.
Church Work Day, Wednesday August 3, 10am.
Men’s Breakfast - each Wed., 9am, Espresso Yourself Café.
Women’s Breakfast - August 10 and 24, 9am, May’s Railside.
Racism Awareness Meeting, Wednesday, August 17, 7-8:30pm. This group will meet to talk about personal and community experiences in addressing racism. All are welcome.
Re-Imagining Faith Formation, Saturday, August 13, 8:30am – 3:00pm, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Lancaster. This Diocesan THRIVE has workshops for children, youth and adults. Sign up at www.Diocesecpa.org. Cost is $20, lunch included.
Queens Who Cook! September 10, 2:00-4:00pm, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 248 Seneca St., Harrisburg. This fundraiser supports St. Paul’s Building Fund and the St. Barnabas Summer Camp Fund. Tickets are $20 for the afternoon of food, fun and fellowship. They are also looking for additional cooks. For more information, contact Carol Stevenson at 717-623-0335.
Volunteers are needed for the Newport Elementary and Greenwood Elementary “Release Time” programs. Children who receive parental permission are released from school early (1:30pm in Newport and 1:15pm in Millerstown) to attend this 1-hour religious program. Background checks are required. The programs run monthly from October through March. Contact Shirey Little at 717-395-0058 or bestestbuds@gmail.com.
Diocesan Youth Reunion, Knoebel’s Grove, August 6, Pavilion K, 11:00am – 8:00pm. Hamburgers and hot dog provided. Bring a dish to share. Open to people of all ages. For families that would like to camp, we have a block of sites reserved. Please contact cpayouthcom@gmail.com to reserve a site. All ages are welcome! The cost is $10.00 per person or $25.00 per family. Join us for a fun day at Knoebel's. Reconnect with friends, meet new friends!
Blessing of the backpacks and carry bags, August 14 worship service. All teachers and students are encouraged to bring your backpack/carry bags to worship on August 14. We will be blessing you and them and praying for an excellent school year!
Bishop’s Open Golf Tournament and Dinner, Mon., Sept. 12, Mountain View Golf Club, Boalsburg, 10am. Golfers and sponsors are needed for this tournament, which benefits food and hunger ministries in the Diocese. Brochures are at the back of the church or register online at //www.diocesecpa.org/event/bishops-open-0 A buffet dinner will be served at 4pm. Dinner only is $30.
Youth Confirmation Classes begin August 14 after church with meeting for youth and parents. All youth grades 5 and up who wish to be confirmed in December 2017, and their parents are invited to this first meeting from 11:15 – noon.
Subsequent classes will be held the second Sunday of each month after church. There will be some additions or changes based upon special events. Please let Rebecca know who will attend on August 14.
119th Island Grove Campmeeting, Mexico PA. Aug. 5 - 12 Church Service nightly at 7:30pm. Special Music each night. Bring a lawn chair. Sunday, August 7, there will be a Children’s Fun Fair and Ice Cream Social from 2-4pm.
Join Hands Items of the Month –SCHOOL SUPPLIES
*Pencils #2
*Pens: red,green,purple,blue
*Highlighters
*Erasers
*Washable markers
*Colored pencils (pack)
*Post-its 3x3
*Zippered Pencil pouch/large Ziploc bag
*Extra large book covers
*Notebook paper
*3 ring binder w/clear cover & pockets inside, 1 -1/2 and 2 in.
*Double pocket folder w/ prongs
*Yellow homework folder
*Double pocket folder
*5-tab divider (w/pockets preferably)
*Sheet protectors
*Math calculator
*Backpacks
Join Hands is also looking for some volunteers to help with this year's school supply give-away. Please call 582-7844 if you would like to help on any of these dates.
Thurs., Aug. 18 from 3-7pm,
Fri., Aug. 19 from 11-3pm and 3-7pm
Mon., Aug. 22 from 10-1pm
Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Volunteer Victim Advocate Training, September 12 – October 4, 2016, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 5-9pm. The YWCA Greater Harrisburg is now accepting applications for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Volunteer Victim Advocate Training. For ap-plicant qualifications and volunteer opportunites, please contact Amanda Owens, Crisis Advocate at 717-234-7931 ext. 3022 or aowens@ywcahbg.org.
Deadline to register is August 8.
Team ‘Joining Hands for Jeri’ 6th Annual Charity Auction September 24 at 10:30am, Otterbein UMC, Duncannon Michele, Parish Administrator, is the Team Leader for "Joining Hands for Jeri". The team will participate in their 11th 'Making Strides Against Breast Cancer' walk this October. They walk in memory of Jeri Lynn (Deiter) Johnson,
They are happy to share that they raised over $5100 at the 2015 auction and donated a total of $7270 to the event last year. “Joining Hands for Jeri” has donated nearly $30,000 over the last five 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 see Michele.
From Episcopal Public Policy Network:
Support Increased Humanitarian Assistance for South Sudan
The recent outbreak of violent clashes in South Sudan has left tens of thousands of people displaced and hundreds killed or injured. This new crisis, which began on July 8 in the capital city of Juba, comes as South Sudan is still grappling with one of the worst humanitarian situations as a result of multiple armed conflicts.
According to the United Nations, the new clashes have displaced nearly 40,000 people, and many of them have taken shelter at various churches and U.N. compounds. Prior to the current fighting, the U.N. reported that South Sudan is experiencing unprecedented levels of food insecurity, and that 1 in 5 people are displaced. To make matters worse, only 40 percent of the funds required to meet this humanitarian emergency has been met, which means only a fraction of people in need of humanitarian assistance are receiving it.
This is unacceptable; we must not stand by while many of our sisters and brothers in South Sudan suffer from extreme starvation, lack of medical care, and without the very basics of human needs. Please urge President Obama to increase humanitarian assistance to South Sudan and to work with other donor countries to meet the needed emergency funding requests.
