Loading... He makes me lie down in green pastures *
and leads me beside still waters. Psalm 23:2
This Sunday is often called good shepherd Sunday. The scriptures speak about Jesus and God as a good shepherd. We will read the well-known Psalm 23.
Psalm 23 creates a vivid picture of our walk with God. Verse 2 speaks of God making us to lie down or causing us to lie down in green pastures. This verse says God will lead us beside still waters or calm waters. In other words, rest and calm are important.
Recently a friend told me she does not know how to rest...not really. She made me think about whether I know how to rest. Do you? A spiritual director emphasized over and over again that when I became a priest, I had to fiercely protect my sabbath days. I knew she was right and it's a hard thing to do. I usually read and reply to email at some point, but try really hard to give myself a rest from work. It's not easy at all.
Yet, the psalmist knows that to do God's work...to walk with God as our companion in this earthly journey, we need true rest and times of calm. Personally, that's why I love the Tuesday Centering Prayer and Taize time. It was Kay Cramer who suggested we offer this. And I am one who needs it. I slow down and rest and sing in God.
How do you rest and find calm in your earthly journey?
Love,
Rebecca+
This Sunday we install Suzanne Beamer as Verger. Sue has completed the Verger's Course created by The Verger's Guild. It's an extensive and in-depth course. While Sue already assumed many of the responsibilities of a Verger, she also learned some new things about the liturgy and responsibilities of this position. Learn more at //www.vergers.org/
This Sunday, we take an additional offering for Caring for Nativity’s Neighbors Heating and Health. Donations are sent to Join Hands, so people in our community have support for their needs.
This Sunday we take a special offering for our flower fund. Support the beauty of our worship services through your donations.
Today at Parlor People, Carla Christopher presents about her organization, Put People First, especially regarding health care and immigration issues. Parlor People takes a break until September.
Next week is Stand for Refugees Sunday. Grace Klauer and Rebecca will be preaching. A special offering will be taken for Episcopal Migration Ministries. We’ll also observe Asian-Pacific American Heritage month.
Men’s and Women’s Breakfast - each Wed., 9am.
Men meet at Espresso Yourself Café.
Women meet at May’s Railside Grill.
Choir Practice - Weds.at 10:15am.
Taize’ Tuesdays, 5:00pm. Twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by a Taize’ service.
Upcoming Meetings:
May 9, 1:00pm – Property Committee
May 10, 6:30 – Vestry
May 17, 10:30am – Meeting with SDG re: organ
6:30pm - Diocesan Eliminating Racism Task Group
May 24, 6:30pm – Perry County SURJ
Baking needs and chocolate items available through Equal Exchange. See the cart in the parish hall.
During 2017, we will be celebrating baptism on June 4, November 5 and December 3. Let Rebecca know if you or someone you know would like to be baptized on any of these days.
Active, baptized members of the parish seeking their first college degree are encouraged to apply for the Kyle Weller Scholarship by June 1. Applications/further requirements available online.
Volunteers needed for Newport Ministerium summer breakfast/lunch program, Perry Manor, 9am – noon, Fridays from June 16 – August 18. Volunteers are needed to assist with serving a simple breakfast and lunch for children at Perry Manor. All food is prepared by the Central PA Food Bank. No cooking is required. Volunteers will also assist with activities designed and led by the CASSP program. If you’d like to volunteer, please let Rebecca know.
Cookout and Craft at Episcopal Commons, May 10, 11am – 1pm. If you can attend or donate a side dish or dessert, please let Lynne Mitchell or Wendy Day know.
Newport Public Library 9th Annual Golf Outing, Thurs., May 18, 8am, Rich Valley Golf Course, Mechanicsburg Registration due by May 12, $70/person. More information and registration form can be found on the event bulletin board in the undercroft.
Electronics Recycling, Saturday, May 20, 10am – 2pm, Newport Fairgrounds Bring your old electronics to the Fairgrounds for recycling. Cost is $5 per car, $25 per CRT TV and $10 per computer monitor. For a list of items accepted, see the bulletin board in the undercroft.
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?page
name=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.
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.
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.
Church and State: Some things to discuss
Some have raised concerns about "political action" and the church. Most church organizations raise positions on issues, rather than with political parties. Every position of the Episcopal Public Policy Network, for instance, is rooted in actions taken by The Episcopal Church General Convention. Here are some guides to the work the church does in the public arena regarding policy. How do you think we can live out our baptismal covenant, be the church as defined in our catechism, and live out The Five Marks of Mission? What do you think about the quotes from The Very Rev. Francis Sayre? Let me know!
The Baptismal Covenant
From The Book of Common Prayer, pg. 304-305
Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?
People: I will, with God's help.
Celebrant: Will you persevere in resisting evil, and , whenever
you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People: I will, with God's help.
Celebrant:Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
News of God in Christ?
People:I will, with God's help.
Celebrant:Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
your neighbor as yourself?
People:I will, with God's help.
Celebrant:Will you strive for justice and peace among all
people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
People:I will, with God's help.
The Catechism: The Church
From the Book of Common Prayer, pg. 855
Q. What is the mission of the Church?
A. The mission of the Church is to restore all people to
unity with God and each other in Christ.
Q. How does the Church pursue its mission?
A. The Church pursues its mission as it prays and
worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice,
peace, and love.
Q. Through whom does the Church carry out its mission?
A. The church carries out its mission through the ministry
of all its members.
Five Marks of Mission (//www.episcopalchurch.org/library/topics/five-marks-mission)
To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
To teach, baptize and nurture new believers
To respond to human need by loving service
To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation
To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth
Words from The Very Rev. Francis Sayre, Dean, Washington National Cathedral, 1951-1978, grandson of President Woodrow Wilson and last child to be born in the White House.
"There is a tendency today to make a shibboleth of ‘separation of Church and State.’ But this distorts the meaning of the Constitution. The first amendment simply says that there is to be no legal preference for any one church. It does not say that we are a godless people."
Of the interaction between Church and State, Sayre said, “The Church’s role is to clarify the moral issues involved, to help them see the principles that must be part of a Christian solution.”
