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Why are the nations in an uproar? *
Why do the peoples mutter empty threats? Psalm 2:1
It's amazing how little changes over time. Thousands of years ago the Psalmist knew that the nations and the people were unsettled and in an uproar. We look around the world and see the same is true today. What is it about human nature that makes it so difficult to get along?
But maybe that's not the right question. Maybe it's more about what makes it so hard to follow the teachings of God and Jesus Christ? It's true many have said they were following God and Jesus Christ and created havoc and oppression.
No doubt about it, deeply internalizing what it means to love God, love our neighbor and love ourselves is challenging. We are in this world, but not of this world. We constantly evaluate our actions and those of the people around us in light of God's command. Is our behavior loving of God? Is our behavior loving of our neighbor? Is our behavior loving of ourselves?
We also evaluate our societal and governmental structures using the same criteria.
Because one thing is for sure. The governments, nations and peoples that existed at the time this Psalm was written have passed away, but the commands of God exist still.
Many blessings as you finish your week.
Love, Rebecca+
Announcements
G.I.F.T.: Growing in Faith Together
Godly Play is today.
Today at Parlor People, Bible Study of Ruth.
On March 1, Julia Mallory will join us. She will share her story of how grief manifested in her life and how she has been growing through grief after the death of her oldest son, Julian in 2017. Grief is universal. We all experience it at some point. The ability to process grief is an emotional experience that some of us feel unable to participate in. Whether we have denied its presence or been unable to understand how it functions in our life, it does not leave us. She will also share from her latest book, Survivor’s Guilt, a collection of poetry and essays about her experience with grief. A book signing will follow her presentation. Julia is the founder of Black Mermaids, an ever evolving creative literary arts company. She is a creative, poet and children’s book author from Harrisburg.
www.blackmermaids.com
At Church of the Nativity
Today we take an additional offering for our Building Fund.
The money donated helps us pay down our mortgage and pay for major repairs.
Reading materials for observing Lent are available at the back of the church.
God be in my Head, The Sarum Prayer by Ken Wilson
A Way Other Than Our Own, Devotions for Lent by Walter Brueggemann
Winged with Longing for Better Things by Sylvia Sweeney
We are creating our Lenten altar of food for the Perry County Food Bank.
Bring your donations and put them up by the altar each Sunday.
Upcoming Meetings
Each Sunday, 4pm, Perry County PRIDE
Wednesday, March 25, 1pm, Vestry
Join Us For Breakfast! Wednesdays at 9am.
Women will meet at Newport Family Restaurant this week. Men meet at Espresso Yourself Café.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake and Sausage Supper, Tuesday, February 25, 6 – 7:30pm, Undercroft
Taize’ Tuesdays, 4:45pm.
Twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by a Taize’ service.
From the Diocese
The 5th Annual Feast of the Blessed Absalom Jones Celebration, Saturday, February 29, 11am, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, 221 N. Front Street, Hbg
Special guests – Choir and Rector of The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, Philadelphia, Celebrant The Rt. Rev. Dr. Audrey Scanlan.
St. Stephen’s Episcopal School’s Lunch and Learn, March 17, 11:30am – 1pm, 215 N. Front Street, Hbg.
Come learn about the school in our Episcopal Diocese. A brief program about the school and opportunity to tour the school with follow lunch. RSVP to Ellen Hartman, ehartman@sseschool.org
Rooted in God: Sharing Our Stories, Saturday, May 30, Camp Mt. Luther, Mifflinburg
Everyone in the diocese is invited to a special Shaped by Faith event, Rooted in God: Sharing Our Stories. The guest speaker is Diana Butler Bass. There is no charge for this event.
You are invited to join Stevenson School for Ministry student Lisa Work, Deacon Marsha Roscoe, and the Stevenson School for Ministry on Facebook for a 40-day online spiritual formation Lenten experience using Mary Bea Sullivan’s Living the Way of Love: A 40-Day Devotional.
Go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WayOfLoveLentenBookGroup/ to join the Facebook group where daily reflections will be posted and you can engage in LIVE conversations on Thursdays in Lent from 8 – 9pm. You can purchase the book online. A copy is also available at the church.
Community Events and Opportunities for Service
Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence Memorial to the Lost Service, Tuesday, February 25, 7pm, Hadee Mosque, 245 Division Street, Harrisburg
Interfaith service to memorialize those who were lost to gun violence in Harrisburg since 2009. For more info, call 717-461-3540 or email info@heedingharrisburg.org
Prayer Shawl Ministry meets Thursday, February 27, 10am – noon.
Bring your projects & also learn how to knit or crochet.
March 1, 2pm, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Newport, former State Rep. Fred Noye will deliver a talk on the political history of the county with displays of political artifacts.
Sponsored by the Perry County Historical Society. There is no charge for admission.
Greenwood High School Theater presents Matilda, Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7, 7pm and Sunday, March 8, 2pm.
For tickets, visit www.GreenwoodSD.org or call 717-589-3116, ext. 1002. Tickets are $6. Saturday Dinner Theater tickets are $10/Adult and $6/Student.
Sun., March 15, 2pm, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Newport, Native Americans in Perry County.
Dr. Kurt Carr, chief archaeologist for the State, will present including the famous Wallis Dig in Liverpool.
Sponsored by the Perry County Historical Society. There is no charge for admission.
