Loading...You will show me the path of life; *
in your presence there is fullness of joy,
and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11
Our Psalm this week emphasizes how we can trust in God always. God will show us the path of life. I recently saw something that reminded me to be grateful for the simplest of things in life. I can find it easy to think about the things I want to do in my life that will take some time.
A big dream of mine is to save enough money to take my whole family to Italy, especially to the town where my grandfather was born. That will take a few years for me to save up enough money to do that.
Yet, while that would be a wonderful trip and experience, I hope, there are many simple things that I often take for granted. Right now, for instance, I live in a country that is peaceable and in a community that is fairly safe. I have always had a roof over my head and food enough to eat. I am fortunate to have a loving and close family. I take these things for granted and then I think about places in the United States and in our world, where these things are just a dream.
Right here in Newport, I learned that 55% of the children in the school district receive free and reduced lunch at school. That's why the Newport Ministerium is seeking volunteers to assist with a summer breakfast and lunch program at Perry Manor. We chose to serve the food on Fridays, so children will have some good meals prior to going through the weekend. We're looking into providing bags of food for the children to take home on the weekends. The food is provided by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and the Perry County Food Bank. We just need to provide the volunteers.
Please let me know if you'd like to help with this program or contribute money to support the program. A training session will be scheduled for May and the program will begin June 16 and go each Friday until August 18.
Because we follow God, we have joy, riches and pleasures beyond compare. Let us help others to have those neccesary things, too.
Blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
Thursday through Saturday, I'll be accompanying Bishop Scanlan and Shayna Watson to the Bishops Against Gun Violence conference in Chicago. While I hope to be with you on Sunday morning, if there are difficulties with my returning flight, I may not be back in time. Bill Day is scheduled to preach; however, he is also prepared to lead Morning Prayer if I am delayed.
This Sunday we'll have some events honoring our earth. Earth Day is Saturday April 22:
Clean-up along Little Buffalo Road. Meet at the church on Saturday at 9am for this annual clean-up. You can also meet at the Pennsy Supply entrance parking area on Little Buffalo Road. Gloves and bags are provided.
Michael Mark, Citizens' Climate Lobby, guest at Parlor People. Mr. Mark will speak about bi-partisan proposal for a carbon fee and dividend (//citizensclimatelobby.org/carbon-fee-and-dividend/), an innovative solution to reducing our carbon footprint. You can find more information about Citizens' Climate Lobby at //citizensclimatelobby.org/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwldzHBRCfg_aImKrf7N4BEiQABJTPKLoTtKEi4hJAue7cfLaHGRHjmnHSAuseatlfd97vhaoaAob08P8HAQ
Sacred Stitches, 10am this Saturday, April 22. Meet with others who knit and crochet from across the Diocese. We provide dessert and drinks. You can also bring snacks.
On April 30, we commission our Eucharistic Ministers.
Godly Play will be April 30, May 14 and May 21.
Men’s and Women’s Breakfast - each Wed., 9am.
Men meet at Espresso Yourself Café.
Women meet at May’s Railside Grill.
Choir Practice - Weds.at 10:15am.
Taize’ Tuesdays, 5:00pm. Twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by a Taize’ service.
Upcoming Meetings:
April 30, 1pm – SURJ, Perry County
Food Demonstration and Lunch at Honamon House, Tuesday, April 25, 11am – 1pm. We’ll provide lunch and Maryann will provide a food demonstration. Please let Lynne Mitchell or Wendy Day know if you can provide something for lunch or will attend.
Prayer Shawl Ministry of Newport meets, April 27, 10am. Bring your projects and learn how to knit or crochet.
Baking needs and chocolate items available through Equal Exchange. See the cart in the parish hall.
People’s Climate March, April 29, Washington, DC. Take a bus from the Harrisburg Mall at 6am, returning at 9pm. The cost is $60. Help make this event a significant statement of our conviction that the earth and its climate are God's gift to us to love and nurture as she does us. To reserve your seat, visit this page and sign up: //rallybus.net/peoples-climate-march/from/harrisburg-pa
Can't make the trip to Washington? Consider supporting the People's Climate Sister March in Harrisburg, also on April 29, starting from the Broad Street Market at 10:00 and walking to the Capitol. There is a sign-up sheet here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/peoples-climate-sister-march-harrisburg-pa?referrer=sierra-club&source=org-signup Other sister marches are occurring in Selinsgrove and State College. For more information, contact Kay Kramer at falconrider1@ymail.com or 570-541-1175
Volunteers needed for Newport Ministerium summer breakfast/lunch program, Perry Manor, 9am – noon, Fridays from June 16 – August 18. Volunteers are needed to assist with serving a simple breakfast and lunch for children at Perry Manor. Volunteers will also assist with activities designed and led by the CASSP program. If you’d like to volunteer, please let Rebecca know.
Tickets are now available for the Race for Reading to benefit Perry County Literacy Council, Saturday, May 6, Little Buffalo State Park, 5pm. Dinner tickets are $35. A pre-race Mint Julep Party in memory of Susan Connell will be held at the home of Todd Saner, at 4pm. Tickets for the pre-race party are $50.00. There are also supporting levels for the event from $25 through $2,000. Send your ticket request with check payable to Perry County Literacy Council, PO Box 37, Newport, PA 17074.
Perry Human Services ‘Take a Swing at Drug Abuse’ Miniature Golf Tournament, Sat., May 6, Paradise Stream Family Campground, Loysville. Form a team of 2 – 5 members. Each member commits to rasing a minimum of $25. More info and registration sheet are on the bulletin board in the Undercroft.
Cookout and Craft at Episcopal Commons, May 10, 11am – 1pm. If you can attend or donate a side dish or dessert to go along with our cookout, please let Lynne Mitchell or Wendy Day know.
Newport Public Library 9th Annual Golf Outing, Thurs., May 18, 8am, Rich Valley Golf Course, Mechanicsburg. Registration due by May 12, $70/person. More information and registration form can be found on the event bulletin board in the undercroft.
Electronics Recycling, Saturday, May 20, 10am – 2pm, Newport Fairgrounds. Bring your old electronics to the Fairgrounds for recycling. Cost is $5 per car, $25 per CRT TV and $10 per computer monitor. For a list of items accepted, see the bulletin board in the undercroft.
Connect with us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEpiscopalChurchOfTheNativityStStephen
Twitter: @ChnatssChurch
Instagram: https://instagram.com/chnatss/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thechurchofthen/
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMdhiksmcXv0kyz9M2uio6Q
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 or to celebrate your thanksgivings. Flowers are $30. 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.
