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O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Collect for Fourth Sunday in Easter, BCP p. 225
This Sunday is shepherd Sunday. Our Psalm is Psalm 23 and the readings and speak about Jesus as the good shepherd.
We do love this shepherd metaphor for Jesus, don't we? Our Bishops have a crozier, modeled after a shepherd's crook. We talk about our parishes as "flocks." Our stained glass window at Nativity includes numerous shepherds.
Sheep by nature stick together. Their survival instinct is to stay close to each other, which helps ward off and fight off predators. However, this instinct can also lead them into trouble and that is why a shepherd is important and necessary.
Listening and following the shepherd is critical. How are we doing as the flock of Nativity and St. Stephen? Are we keeping together? Are we following Jesus Christ? Let me know what you think.
Love,
Rebecca+
Announcements
Sundays through May 24, 9:30am
We will hold all Sunday services via Zoom. You can connect by computer, mobile device or telephone. Here is the connection information for the Sunday, 9:30am services:
Join Sunday morning Zoom Meeting. Service begins at 9:30am and you can join by 9:00am.
Online: https://zoom.us/j/578743215
Meeting ID: 578 743 215
Call In: +1 929 205 6099
Meeting ID: 578 743 215
We are now doing zoom Centering Prayer and Taize every Tuesday at 4:30pm.
Rebecca Myers is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Centering Prayer and Taize
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86857512371?pwd=WGNZSi9STWlOS2lKSEVBNmRQVnFwZz09
Meeting ID: 868 5751 2371
Password: 022609
Dial by your location
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
Meeting ID: 868 5751 2371
Password: 022609
Wednesday Morning Devotions and coffee/tea, 9am
Join in for short devotions and conversation. Remember to bring your coffee or tea.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/119032570
Meeting ID: 119 032 570
Call In: +1 929 205 6099
Meeting ID: 119 032 570
Mail in your offering or go online
There 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:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=tN8Gqogt_bQutVp_Kjg6ytAyRDBKMFYExCyf6DX1-2ux4349nM2Cnzp9LukFyOrm3YVaam&country.x=US&locale.x=US - The Diocese has set up online giving for each parish here: https://diocesecpa.org/stewardship/
Our parish is listed at Newport-Nativity.
The EmPOWERED and Well Virtual Faith Community is designed to support the mental, physical and spiritual health and well-being of faith communities everywhere during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The health lessons consist of 12 weekly, 30-minute EmPOWERED and Well Healthier Church Challenge lessons developed by the American Heart Association. Visit https://www.empoweredtoserve.org/en/empowered-and-well/virtual-faith-community for more information and to register.
Eastertide Bible Study through Facebook Live on Tuesday nights at 7pm through May 26
Join Bishop Scanlan and Canon Morrow in "this joyful Eastertide" online Bible Study to learn from our Holy Scripture and each other as we join for study, conversation, and prayer. No previous experience in Bible Study required.
Go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/s/easter-tide-bible-study/2536005423395111/ to join.
Good Book Club to read the Gospel of Matthew during the season of Easter
Starting on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020, and continuing through the Day of Pentecost, May 30, the Good Book Club features daily readings from the Gospel of Matthew. To see a list of readings, go to:
https://www.goodbookclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Readings_Matthew.pdf
An Affirmation of Faith from the United Methodist Insight
https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/practicing-faith/an-affirmation-of-faith-for-the-self-exiled-during-the-covid/
For the self-exiled during the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Glory E. Dharmaraj, Ph.D., President, World Association for Christian Communication, Director of Mission Theology, Retired, United Methodist Women
We believe in God the Almighty who hovered in love over the primeval chaos and uttered creation into existence out of a holy mess.
We believe in the One who breathed the breath of life into human and engendered the primal family and community into being
We believe in the magnificent signature of God’s image in every human being, signed in infinite variety, and sewn in multicolored splendor, even when it is humanly difficult to experience it in our damaged bodies.
We believe in the self-revelatory signature of God in Jesus Christ who came to restore healing and wholeness into every fiber of our existence.
We believe in Jesus Christ who came to show that salvation is healing and wholeness, and who opened our eyes that we may see each other into God’s image– beyond the troubling stereotyping and systemic use of race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, disability, and other identity markers to divide and fragment us.
We believe in Jesus who came to open our hearts to the God who so-loved-the- world, and who calls forth discipleship from among us to the alleviation of human suffering. That we may see the whole world of ours, as never before, as a God-loved, God-breathed, and God-reconciled world.
We believe in the Crucified God who embraces with his wounded arms those who die alone at this time.
We believe in the Resurrected Savior who invites us to touch his wounds, if we lack belief during these times of paralyzing fear and numbing trauma.
We believe in the Holy Spirit who fosters connected relationships across the divides, while we sit with ourselves.
We believe in the Holy Spirit who always pushes the church to reach out to the margins, and enter into the exilic homes through the gifts of technology, nudging each of us to birth hope and resilience. We, also, believe that the digital divide is human-created and greed-sponsored, and the front-line workers embody flesh-and-blood communication.
We believe that beyond the ravages of time and this pandemic, we will be restored into wellness and wholeness, with different understandings of what it is to be the Church in the world.
We believe that one day, we will be fully restored into God’s image and God’s healed Body. Then wholeness will be the theme of the great orchestral music of the Church and the cosmos.
Until then, we will build bridges of healing and reconciliation with each other and God’s creation.
Therefore, we will commit ourselves every day to healing and wholeness until that day. Amen.
The CARES Act includes changes for 2020 to charitable donations.
Whether you itemize or not, you will be able to deduct up to $300 in donations. Also, if you do itemize, 100% of your donations to charity will be deductible for 2020.
Join Hands Ministry in Need of Monetary Donations
In the coming weeks our Perry County families and individuals, aka, our neighbors, are going to need financial assistance. Join Hands is asking you to prayerfully donate financially. Please put in a note in the form of payment stating, “Corona Virus” relief.
By Check: Join Hands Ministry, P.O. Box 335, New Bloomfield, PA 17068
Online: https://joinhandsministry.givingfuel.com/online-giving
Facebook: Click the donate button
Perry County Food Bank
The Perry County Food Bank is once again accepting food drive and private food donations!
If you or your organization is wishing to donate food, please phone the Food Bank to make arrangements at (717)582-9978 so they can limit the volume of people on the property and exposure to the virus through social distancing. Due to the corona virus, all donations will be placed in quarantine for a period of 72 hours on one of their trucks.
To make a monetary donation, please send a check to:
Perry County Food Bank, PO Box 37, New Bloomfield PA 17068
Eggs Available for pick up at the church.
The Cramers are bringing in about 4 dozen eggs each week at $2 per dozen. If you need access to the church, let Rebecca know.
Be sure to Complete the 2020 Census
Visit https://2020census.gov/ to complete the 2020 census.
Weis, Giant and Mutzabaugh Gift Cards Available
Use the form in your newsletter and mail to the church with your check. Gift cards will be mailed to you or the organization or person in need that you supply info for.
Forward Day by Day Available
Email Michele at chnatss@pa.net or leave a message at the church at 717-567-6514 if you would like a copy mailed to you.
Zoom Meetings
If you would like help to set up Zoom meetings with family or friends, please let Rebecca know.
