Loading...But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; *
let them also be merry and joyful. Psalm 68:3
Remember this phenomenon from three years ago -- "Happy" sung by Pharrell Williams. It was a sensation all over the world. People from all over the world and all ages made video recordings showing them dancing to this song. It was a worldwide happiness event.
This song with its beat and simple lyrics personally moved me. And then seeing people from all over the world dancing, made my heart sing.
This is the last Sunday in Easter. Easter is one of the happiest seasons in our church year. We thought Jesus had died. We thought we had killed Jesus, because living into his teachings seemed so hard. Yet, Jesus rose from the dead. The authorities of his time could not keep him in the grave. Our failing to follow him perfectly could not keep him in the grave.
As Christians, we are happy merry and joyful!
Many blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
This Sunday our service will be at St. Stephen's in Thompsontown. After the service, Jean Tuzinski will lead us on the Cemetery Tour. A cookout at Honaman House will follow. All are welcome!
This Sunday we take an additional offering for our Building Fund. The money donated helps us pay down our mortgage and pay for major repairs.
Thanks and best wishes to Seth Jacoby This is Seth's last Sunday with us as organist. We thank him for his music ministry here with us and wish him well in his next position. Sue Beamer and Andrea Jezewski will be our organist once again. Sue Beamer will also direct the choir.
130 th Anniversary of Nativity, June 4. Next Sunday we’ll be celebrating the 130th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone at Nativity Church. A reception will follow the service.
Taize’ Tuesdays, 5:00pm. Twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by a Taize’ service.
Men’s and Women’s Breakfast – each Wed., 9am. Men and women meet at Espresso Yourself Café.
The choir practices Wednesdays at 10:15am.
Upcoming Meetings
June 14, 6:30pm, Vestry
June 28, 6:30pm, Diocesan Eliminating Racism Task Group
Geraniums for Pentecost If you wish to order geraniums in memory or honor of a loved one for Pentecost and have not yet emailed me, please let Kay know how many you would like to order today. They cost will be between $4 and $5 each. Please call or email Michele at chnatss@pa.net with who you would like them in memory/honor of for the bulletin.
Free Information Session and Middle Eastern Dinner, May 30, 5:30pm, Trinity Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 58 S. Second Street, Chambersburg to learn more about Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, November 7 – 15, 2017. Join The Rev. Carenda Baker, Cheryl Stearn and The Rev. Barbara Hutchinson for an informative evening regarding the Holy Land Pilgrimage. For more info and to RSVP, contact Cheryl Stearn at 717-496-7652, 717-369-4864 or by email at cstearn@comcast.net. A flyer is also posted on the bulletin board in the undercroft.
Newport High School Class of 2017 Baccalaureate, Wednesday, May 31, 7:00pm, Newport High School Auditorium. All are invited to attend and to pray for the graduates.
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 online.
CCU 40th Annual HELP Ministries Golf Tournament, Monday, June 5, 7:45am, Sunset Golf Course, 2601 Sunset Drive, Middletown. Register as an individual or pull together a foursome. Download a brochure and registration form at www.ccuhbg.org, or call Steve Burlew at CCU: 717-230-9550. There is also information posted on the bulletin board in the undercroft.
Volunteers needed for Newport Ministerium summer breakfast/lunch program, Perry Manor, 9am – noon, Fridays from June 16 – August 18. Cold breakfasts and lunches, made by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, will be distributed in the community center to any child under the age of 18. Volunteers are needed to distribute the food, as well as interact with the children. The Perry County Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) will develop activities for the children and will most often lead those programs. Working with Perry County Food Bank, we may be able to provide bags of food to help the young people eat over the weekend. If you are interested in volunteering, please let Rebecca know. A training session will be held June 6, 6:30pm at Perry Manor.
Rotary Club of Perry County Scholarship Fund 25th Annual Golf Outing, June 16, Carlisle Barricks Golf Course, Four person Scramble. The cost is $100 per golfer and includes a light lunch, green fees, cart, dinner and prizes. See Rebecca if you are interested in registering. Deadline is June 9.
Volunteers needed for Perry County Work Camp, June 12-16. Skilled and unskilled labor needed to provide home repairs to those who cannot do them. The project is coordinated by Cornerstone Church. See Rebecca or our website for the application.
The Perry County Relay for Life, June 16-17, Newport High School Athletic Field. There are many ways to participate in this event. You can order luminaria ($10 each) in honor or in memory of a person by going online at https://secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=relay_luminaria&PROXY_TYPE=21&PROXY_ID=79736&fr_id=79736&search=event or completing a form in the Undercroft. Darlene Amsler and Jodi Hoover can be credited or their team, Newport Staff and Friends. You can find a schedule of events list on the bulletin board in the undercroft.
Church Picnic, June 25, 11am, Landis Farm. Quiet Eucharist at Nativity at 9:30am. There will be sign-up sheets for dishes to bring.
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 her at nativityrector@pa.net or leave a message at the church at 717-567-6514.
Baking needs and chocolate items available through Equal Exchange. See the cart in the parish hall. We are a wholesaler for Equal Exchange, a company that supports small farmers who use sustainable practices for chocolate, cocoa, coffee, tea, nuts, olive oil and other baking items. A price list and basket are available to pay for the items you choose to buy. Also, be sure to write down what you’ve purchased to help us maintain our inventory. A catalogue is also available. If there’s an item you’d like us to order, please see Jane Hoover.
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/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thechurchofthen/
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. Canned vegetables, fruit, nut butters and protein are always needed.
Join Hands Items of the Month –
Clothing: socks, hats, gloves, scarves, and toddler/baby clothing
Toiletries: Adult Diapers, Combs, Hair brushes, Hair care products, Conditioner, Deodorant, Diapers and Wipes - sizes 1 to 6, Feminine hygiene products, Lotion, Mouthwash, Paper Towels, Shampoo, Shaving Cream, Soap/shower gel, Tissues, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Toilet Paper, Medical supplies such as band-aids and cough drops
Other Items: Quilts, Blankets, Towels, Wash Cloths
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.
