Loading...O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Collect for Proper 9, Book of Common Prayer, p. 230
As I read our Collect for this week, the phrase, "may we be devoted to you with our whole heart" jumped out at me. I decided to look up the word "devotion." Devotion is characterized by love, loyalty or enthusiasm.
Loving ourselves and loving our neighbors is certainly a challenge. So our prayer this week rightly asks that we so love God, be so loyal to God and be so enthusiastic in our worship of God, that we can love ourselves and love our neighbors.
When we love God, are loyal to God, and enthusiastic in our relationship with God, we become "united to one another with pure affection."
Think about your relationships and how they are strengthened and transformed by your devotion to God.
Many blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
Cookout at Honnamon House after the service Sunday. Plan to stay for lunch with residents of Honnamon House. If possible, bring a side dish or dessert to share.
Centering Prayer and Taize' is canceled for this Tuesday. We'll meet July 12, 19, 26 and then take off the month of August.
Joint Service with St. Paul's Lutheran, July 10, 10:30am. 320 Market Street, Newport.
First garden harvest taken to Perry County Food Bank. Swiss chard, cucumbers, yellow and zucchini squash were taken to the Food Bank for distribution this week. Quite a harvest for our small garden.
Thanks to all who donated and prepared meals for the St. Barnabas program this week. Breakfast, lunch and snacks were prepared for 115 children and staff.
Upcoming Meetings
July 18, 5pm, Finance Committee
July 20, 6:30pm, Vestry
Men's Breakfast - Wednesday, 9:00am, Espresso Yourself Cafe'
Women's Breakfast - 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 9:00am, May's Railside. Next dates are July 13 and 27.
Bishop's Visit to Harrisburg Convocation. A number of activities are planned for Bishop Scanlan's tour of the Harrisburg Convocation. Our Convocation is the region of the Diocese between Chambersburg and Hershey. This tour is a chance for the Bishop to learn more about the region. You are invited and welcome to participate in any of the following activities:
Friday, July 22, 11:30am - lunch at Houlihan's and tour of Hershey Chocolate and Hershey Gardens. Limit to 30 and cost for lunch and Gardens. Please let Rebecca know if you will attend.
Friday, July 22, 5:30pm - Pop-up Eucharist on Walnut Street Bridge, Harrisburg, followed by pot luck dinner in Bishop's Garden at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. Free parking available at St. Stephen's.
Saturday, July 23, 9 or 9:30am until 11:00am - Gleaning in the Shippensburg/Chambersburg area. We'll pick produce for a local food bank. Limited to 30 people. Please let Rebecca know if you will attend.
Saturday, July 23, Noon, Lunch at Espresso Yourself Cafe, Newport, PA. Limited to 25 people. Please let Rebecca know if you will attend.
Sunday, July 24, 10:15am, St. Stephen’s Cathedral. A Convocation Choir is being formed to sing for the Eucharist. If you wish to sing, meet in the catherdral choir room at 9:15am to learn an anthem for the day. Each church is asked to bring a parish banner to be used in a festive entrance. Choir robes will be available at the cathedral if you are unable to bring one. Let Rebecca know if you will participate and want to take our banner.
On July 17 we will commission Bill Rohm as a Verger. Please pray for him in this new ministry.
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 dogs 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!
Brownies Needed. Ann and Tony Roland are in need of brownies for their feeding ministry. They feed lots of children during the summer. Boxes of brownies are available in the undercroft. Baked brownies can be returned to the church in the bag provided, uncut. They can be put in the freezer.
Join Hands Items of the Month - Diapers size 4, 5, and 6 and Clean plastic grocery store bags.
Honor or Remember a loved one or a special occasion with flowers on the altar! Flowers make our worship space more beautiful alnd 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 signn-up chart is in the Undercroft.
Help People in Need when you buy your Groceries! See Gail LShull 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.
