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On this Pentecost Sunday, our reading from Ezekiel speaks to rebirth. Many of the Israelites were in Babylon, where they had been forcibly taken. The belief at the time was that God only resided in the Temple and since they were living in Babylon and their Temple had been destroyed, they thought there was no way to connect to God.
God sent word through Ezekiel that God was everywhere; they did not need their physical temple to connect with God.
You can also imagine how tiring and unnerving it was to be living in this captive exile. Ezekiel has the vision we read about on Sunday of a valley of dry bones. These dry bones represent the Israelites in exile. They are like dry, lifeless bones. God assures Ezekiel that these dry bones will be made alive again. The reading is very descriptive and we catch the vision too.
When we feel like those dry bones, we can hold fast to God's promise that new life can and will come. We see this in our own church, where those who came before us, left their financial resources so we could continue to live on as a parish in these sacred spaces. God's mission and the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement would continue in this region.
The Johnson brothers, James Weldon and J. Rosamund, set the spiritual, Dry Bones, to music. It was first recorded in 1928. Here's a version of it for you to enjoy. https://youtu.be/pYb8Wm6-QfA
Love,
Rebecca+
Announcements
Please include the following in your daily prayers.
The Rev. Joe Mitchell, Scot, Randy, Matthew, Meta, Jim, Tootser, Jacob, Stephanie, Chris, Wendy, Deb, Scott, Laura, Jai, Nelson, Sue, Taran, Zach, Julie, Charles, Jill, Karrie, Debbi, Balda, Edna, Father Bill Warne, Anne, Charles, Jane, Jamey, Drew, Daris and June.
Lunch at Little Buffalo, Monday, May 24, noon.
Meet at the Boat Launch. Bring your own lunch and a chair.
Vestry Meeting, May 26, 1pm
Memorial Day Prayer Service at St. Stephen, Saturday, May 29, 10am
Join us for a special Morning Prayer service in observance of Memorial Day.
Friends of Newport Farmer's Market, Church of the Nativity, noon - 4pm.
May 30, June 27, July 25, August 29, September 26, October 31, and November 21.
Shaped by Faith Celebrating our Stories Wednesdays, May 26, 6 -7pm
Topics will include preserving oral history, creating parish history exhibits, writing your parish history, and creating and maintaining a parish archive. Please contact The Rev. Canon Chris Streeter with any Shaped by Faith questions by email: cstreeter@diocesecpa.org
Tri County Community Action needs your help with a short survey!
The survey helps assess the community's needs to determine where to invest resources to fight poverty. To complete the survey, go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TCCA2021
2021 CCU Highmark Walk during the month of May Due to the pandemic, Highmark and CCU are encouraging walkers to walk on their own or in small, properly distanced groups.
Go to www.ccuhbg.org/walk to join an event, host an event of your own, or make a donation.
Perry County Animal Rescue 12th Annual Pet Walk and Fun Fest, Sunday, May 23, 12pm -4pm, Little Buffalo State Park
Vendors, food, a rabies and microchip clinic will be available from 11am -2pm. You can make monetary donations to Joanne Pinaire or by mailing a check payable to PCoAR, 379 Sugar Run Road, Millerstown, PA 17062
The Poor People’s Campaign for a virtual Mass Poor People’s and Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington to take place online Monday, June 21, 2021.
Link for the online march will be available soon. Plans are being made for an in-person March on Washington in June 2022.
HELP Ministries Golf Tournament, Monday, June 7, 7:15am registration, 8am Start, 1pm Outdoor Lunch and Awards, Sunset Golf Course, 2601 Sunset Drive, Middletown
For more info or to register call 717-230-9550 or visit www.ccuhbg.org/golf
Racial Justice Audit of Episcopal Leadership
The report outlines the racial makeup of our church leadership and their experiences of race & racism & details the nine dominant patterns of systemic racism that were identified during interviews with church leaders. To learn more, or register, visit: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/racial-reconciliation/racial-justice-audit/
Tuesday, June 1 at 6pm: exploring the nine dominant patterns of systemic racism, that emerged from the interviews. https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMkd-GvqDgtH9IBgYf-M34qyIhqfy_TBkPo
Tuesday, June 29 at 6pm: where do we go from here, or how to transform this important work into action in our communities, https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEudeCrqjMqE9dqHRcAyca8tJ0eflsK6xlN
Picture Perry, Help Shape Perry County’s Future by Completing Surveys
Visit https://www.tcrpc-pa.org/picture-perry and completing up to all nine surveys to help shape Perry County’s Comprehensive Plan.
Active, baptized members of the parish seeking their first college degree are encouraged to apply for the Kyle Weller Scholarship by June 1.
Applications and further requirements are available at
/digital_faith/documents/3263855 and /digital_faith/documents/3252600 for the application.
Teach English to your neighbors! Meet new people from your community and work with them as they build literacy skills and achieve their goals. Contact Charity for more details at cstowell@cchbg.org or 717-704-6564.
Volunteer as a classroom aide at Catholic Charities’ free English classes for adults!
No experience needed – we’ll provide all necessary training
English speakers of all levels are welcome and encouraged to volunteer
Time commitment is 2 hours per week on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday morning or evening
Willingness to work with technology as all of our classes are on Zoom currently
Must be 18 years old to volunteer
Bachelor’s Degree preferred but not required
We strongly encourage immigrants and refugees to volunteer
