Loading...O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Collect for Second Sunday after Christmas Day, BCP, p. 214.
The early church viewed the incarnation more importantly than the resurrection. God created perfection in humanity, yet humans from the beginning of time continued to act in harmful ways to each other and to the world God created. God sent Adam and Eve from paradise. Then there was a flood, because humankind had become so evil. Finally God came to earth, human, yet divine, to experience our world as we do and to show us once again how to live with each other and with our earth.
We continue to struggle to follow Jesus. We work to create a community where Jesus is central and where we model Jesus to each other through our church family. We participate in and give to community projects to model Jesus to our region. There's Godly Play and Parlor People to strengthen our faith formation.
And Kay Cramer is heading a new committee to address environmental concerns both as individuals, as a parish, and within our community. Let her know if you'd like to join this effort.
As we enter this New Year, may we remember that we are wonderfully created by God and even when we forget or act in ways against God, we are restored again and again.
Love, Rebecca+
Announcements
Parlor People, Sunday, 11am – noon. Undoing Racism! Join us for Parlor People today as we begin a series on how we can work to undo racism. Rebecca and Joanne Pinaire will lead the sessions.
In preparation, you may want to read these two recent articles from The New York Times.
Godly Play is will be January 10th and 31st.
Upcoming Meetings
Sunday, January 3, Noon, Welcome Committee
Wednesday, January 6, 1:30pm, Property Committee
Wednesday, January 20, 6:30pm, Vestry
Baptisms on January 10th. We will be celebrating baptisms. Let Rebecca know if you or someone you know would like to be baptized on that Sunday.
Installation of Vestry Members and Delegates to Diocesan Convention, January 17 during the service. Please pray for our Vestry members – Shannon Burns, Tootser Davis, Becky Crup, Jill Brownfield, Bill Day, Miguel Gonzales, Lynne Mitchell, Joanne Pinaire and Gail Shull. Becky Crup and Miguel Gonzales are also Delegates to Diocesan Convention. Please pray for Sue Beamer as the Alternate to Diocesan Convention.
Worship at St. Paul’s Lutheran, January 24, 10:30 am. Light lunch to follow. We’ll worship with our neighbors at 320 Market St., Newport.
Installation of The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers as Rector, Saturday, January 30, 10:00am. This will be a service of The Renewal of Ministry with the welcoming of a New Rector with The Rt. Rev. Dr. Audrey Scanlan presiding and preaching. A reception will follow.
The choir practices every Sunday at 8:30am prior to the service. The choir will also practice some Wednesdays at 10:30am. The upcoming Wednesday practices are January 13 and 27.
Let me know if you’d like me to come visit. I can come to your home or another location you suggest. This helps me to know you better and hopefully you will also know me a little better. Let me know your availability on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday days or evenings and I'll be in touch to arrange a time for us to get together. You can send an email to me at nativityrector@pa.net or leave a message at the church at 717567-6514.
Pictorial Directory - Marion Fluchere is putting together a pictorial directory for us. She will be asking to take photos of each family for the directory. A draft with contact information is available. Please review the information, make any corrections and initial the entry.
Men’s Breakfast - each Wed., 9am, Espresso Yourself Café.
Women’s Breakfast - 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, January 13th and 27th at 9am, May’s Railside Grill
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.
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.
Connect with us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEpiscopalChurchOfTheNativityStStephen
Twitter: @ChnatssChurch
Instagram: https://instagram.com/chnatss/
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCMdhiksmcXv0kyz9M2uio6Q
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.
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 $35. A sign-up chart is in the Undercroft.
Rebecca is available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Her sabbath days will typically be Monday and Friday. You can reach her via email at nativityrector@pa.net or by phone 717-433-1556 (cell) or 717-567-0404 (home).
Altar flowers are given in loving memory of Elmer G. and Hazel L. Yocum by Connie and Janice Yocum.
