Loading...Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every
race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad
this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it
may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen. Collect for Pentecost, p. 227, Book of Common
Prayer
When I was a teenager in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the church I attended had a large and active youth group. We formed a singing group called “The Celebration.” Our performances included contemporary music, folk songs, interspersed with commentary and poetry. Practicing and performing was a big commitment of time. I loved it. That time of singing and learning shaped my faith life. I still have the notebook with the words to the songs we sang.
One of the songs we did at each show was “They’ll know we are Christians by our Love.” It was important that our behavior and our daily actions embodied our faith. Life was about not only our words, but just as significant, our actions.
This Sunday, we’ll celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, the birthday of the church. We’ll welcome Alivia and Joshua into the body of Christ. No longer was faith in the one God only for the Hebrew people, this faith of God, love of Christ, and breath of the Holy Spirit was for ALL people and ALL of the world.
The Christian faith grew and spread. We pray this Sunday that the gift of the Holy Spirit, that the gift of God, that the love of Jesus Christ, be spread all over the world. Will others know you are Christian by your love?
Blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
Today we welcome Alivia Lyn Hoover and Joshua Tussey Heffner into our family through the sacrament of baptism. We also welcome their parents, sponsors, family and friends.
Bulletin
Parlor People, Sunday, 11am – noon.
Today at Parlor People Bill Rohm and Glenn Holliman will lead a discussion “Toward a Theology of Stewardship.” Next Week, we conclude our Parlor People series. Spero Lappas, PhD Candidate and Adjunct Professor at Penn State Harrisburg, will lead our discussion on Wrongful Convictions. You can read more about this at //blog.pennlive.com/life/2013/02/nancy_eshelman_lawyer_follows.html. This presentation will conclude our Parlor People series until September 11.
Godly Play will be May 22 and June 12.
Congratulations to Julia Cramer as she receives her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Rutgers University Monday, May 16. Prayers for her at this time of transition and for finding meaningful employment.
Church Rummage Sale, June 10-11, 8am-2pm each day. Collect items for this rummage sale and bring them to the church with prices marked.
May 29 and June 5 services will be held at St. Stephen. We will also meet at St. Stephen on the first Sundays in July (3), August (7) and September (4).
Bible Study at Thompsontown? Would you be interested in a Bible Study to be held in Thompsontown weekly or twice monthly? Let Rebecca know.
Upcoming Meetings
May 17, Program and Mission, Honnamon House
May 18, Stewardship, 10:00am
May 18, Vestry, 6:30pm
May 19, Program and Mission, Episcopal Commons
Applications are being accepted for the Kyle Weller Scholarship. Active baptized and/or confirmed members of the parish are eligible for this scholarship to support their first post-secondary degree for up to four years. Deadline is June 1. Application is online or available at the back of the church.
Applications being accepted for home repairs/improvements through May 25. Cornerstone Christian Church is accepting applications for needed home repairs and improvements to be done June 20-24 through their work camp. Please see Rebecca if you’d like an application or know of someone who would benefit from this program.
Volunteers are needed for the 2016 Perry County Work Camp, June 20-24. If you’re interested in assisting with home repairs/improvements for people in Perry County, sign up for this camp. Volunteers under 12 years of age must have a parent or guardian working with them. Applications are due by May 25. See Rebecca for applications.
Perry County Rotary Club 23rd Annual Golf Outing, Friday, June 17, Carlisle Barracks Golf Course. Proceeds benefit Rotary scholarship fund and community programs. Lunch, greens fees, cart, & dinner included. For more information, see Rebecca or email rotaryclubperrycountypa@gmail.com.
Men’s Breakfast - each Wed., 9am, Espresso Yourself Café.
Women’s Breakfast - May 25, 9am, May’s Railside.
Check out the monthly Creation Care Newsletter with items of interest related to the environment.
The choir practices Wed. mornings after Women’s Breakfast. Next practice is May 25.
Join Hands items of the month are diapers – sizes 4, 5 and 6. For their latest newsletter, including a detail of where our donations go, click here.
Let Rebecca know if you’d like her to come visit. She can come to your home or another location you suggest. This helps her to know you better and hopefully you will also know her a little better. Let Rebecca know your availability on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday days or evenings and she'll be in touch to arrange a time to get together. You can send an email to nativityrector@pa.net or leave a message at the church at 717-567-6514.
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
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, ot to celebrate your thanksgivings. Flowers are $30. A sign-up chart is in the Undercroft.
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.
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.
Thank you to everyone who sponsored geraniums for this Sunday.
Criminal Justice is Gaining Momentum! Raise Your Voice for Reform Today!
Last month, U.S. senators unveiled new changes to the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act (S. 2123), including provisions that would increase sentencing benefits for non-violent offenders and measures that would preclude violent offenders from receiving sentence reductions.
Contact your senator today and ask them to cosponsor S. 2123! While S. 2123 is not a perfect bill, this legislation takes modest steps toward reforming our criminal justice system through reducing certain mandatory minimum sentences, restoring some discretion to the federal trial judges, and making the Fair Sentencing Act retroactive.
To send a letter, click here.
Here is the letter, which you can modify:
As an Episcopalian and your constituent, I am deeply concerned by the growing prison industrial complex. The federal prison system is currently operating at nearly 140% of its capacity despite the fact that over 60% of its inmates are non-violent offenders. Mandatory minimum sentences contribute to prison overcrowding and often perpetuate racial disparities. To create a prison system that is both just and compassionate, we must reform sentencing guidelines and implement policies that support inmates as they transition from prison back to their communities.
The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 (S. 2123) takes constructive steps to achieve these goals. S. 2123 modestly reforms sentencing policy through reducing some mandatory minimum sentences. The bill also expands recidivism reduction programming for eligible inmates and limits the use of juvenile solitary confinement. Finally, S. 2123 makes the Fair Sentencing Act retroactive, allowing thousands of prisoners serving disproportionately harsh sentences to apply for a sentence reduction. While I object to the new mandatory minimum sentences introduced in this bill, overall I believe that S. 2123 is a positive step in the right direction.
The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act not only promotes a more holistic, humane approach to sentencing; it also cuts down on taxpayer dollars. With federal prisons swallowing a quarter of the Department of Justice’s budget, it’s time to take a hard look at reforming U.S. prisons. S. 2123 is a step in the right direction. I urge you to help to heal a broken system through supporting the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act today.
