Loading...
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, p. 219)
What jumps out at you when you read this prayer for the upcoming Fifth Sunday in Lent? This week, I focused on the words, "unruly wills and affections of sinners." As I watch the news around the world, I see how difficult it is when health care officials emphasize that we must physically distance ourselves from each other.
It is hard to totally change the way we live our lives when we cannot see this virus or its effects in our own situations. It is hard for us to do something now for benefits we will see much later. Sometimes we are defiant and want to do what we want to do. At other times, we just forget that we are called to live our lives differently at this time.
Because this virus has been in other parts of the world, we have the advantage of seeing what works and what doesn't work. We have the advantage to do things differently and in ways that show great love for each other and for our communities.
May we now more than ever live into Jesus' command to love God, love our neighbor, and love ourselves.
Love,
Rebecca+
Church services conducted online or by phone at least until the end of May
For the foreseeable future, we will have church together through Zoom. You can join through your computer, phone or tablet by downloading the Zoom app or program.
You can download the program ahead of time or click on the link for the Zoom meeting and the app or program will start a download if you approve.
To download ahead of time for your computer go here: https://zoom.us/download and click on Zoom Client for Meetings. For your tablet or mobile device, go to your app store.
Sunday services will occur at this link and by this phone number:
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/578743215
Meeting ID: 578 743 215
Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
If you need assistance, please call me and I can walk you through it. My number is 717-433-1556.
Wednesday Morning 9am Devotions and coffee/tea
Join us by Zoom (computer, mobile device or phone) for devotions Wednesday mornings at 9am. We'll have time to check in and see each other and hear how we are doing. Bring your coffee, tea or favorite morning beverage. Here is the mobile device and phone sign in:
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/119032570
Meeting ID: 119 032 570
Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) Meeting ID: 119 032 570
Stations of the Cross Online
We've taken the beautiful paintings by Dick Price and put them online with the Stations of the Cross. You can find them here: https://nativityandststephen.diocpa.org/dfc/newsdetail_2/3202288
Grocery Cards available by mail
If you would like Weis, Giant or Mutzabaugh gift cards, you can mail a check to the church for your order. Please note which store and the denominations you would like and where they should be mailed. You may want to mail some as gifts or donations. There will be a form in our April newsletter.
Ways to send your pledges and offerings to the churchThere are many ways to continue to give to the church during this time.
Send your offering to the church at 159 S Second St., Newport, PA 17074
Give via our PayPal site: Go to our homepage and click on Give online: https://nativityandststephen.diocpa.org/
The Diocese has set up online giving for each parish:
here: https://diocesecpa.org/stewardship/
Our parish is listed as Newport-Nativity
