Loading...Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Collect for All Saints' Day, p. 245, BCP
This Sunday we celebrate All Saints' Day. We remember all of the saints, those we know and were dear to us, and those we never knew, but nonetheless shaped our faith.
We are also the saints, living right now. So, we'll renew our baptismal vows and remind ourselves what we've promised.
In doing so, we and the many others who follow Jesus Christ, are knit together. We who are that single string of yarn, become something beautiful and very hard to unravel.
Think about those who have and who continue to shape you. Pray in thanksgiving for their lives and witness. Pray, also, for those you never knew. Pray that you might follow their example and be that saint to others. In doing so, you will find ineffable joy!
Blessings as you finish your week!
AND remember to turn your clock back 1 hour this Sunday!
Love, Rebecca+
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There will be no Parlor People this Sunday, November 1; we'll be at St. Stephen's. On November 8, we begin a new series on the Celebration of Spiritual Discipline. Jane Hoover will talk about spiritual direction.
Godly Play dates for November are the 8th and 22nd. 
My Schedule Next week. I'll be available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. My sabbath days will be Monday and Friday. On Wednesday, I'll be in New York City for a Continuing Education program at General Theological Seminary. On Saturday, I'll be attending Rotary Day at the United Nations in New York City. You can reach me at nativityrector@pa.net or 717-433-1556 (cell) or 717-204-7642 (home).
Schedule a time for me to come visit you! I'm enjoying visiting. If you haven't scheduled a visit, yet, plan to sign up this week! I'll come to your home or another location you suggest. This helps me to know you better and hopefully you will also know me a little better. Let me know your availability on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday days or evenings and I'll be in touch to arrange a time for us to get together. You can send an email to me at nativityrector@pa.net or leave a message at the church at 717-567-6514.
Upcoming Meetings
Sunday, November 8, Property Committee Meeting
Join Us For Breakfast!
Men's breakfast - Every Wednesday, 9am, Espresso Yourself Cafe.
Women's breakfast - In November and December, the women meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays for breakfast - November 4 and 18; December 2 and 16.
Installation of Michael Bruce Curry as Presiding Bishop. Events will be live-streamed on October 31, 11am - 1pm, which is a vigil service by the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) and on November 1, from noon to 3pm. For more information, click here.
Bingo and Pizza Party, Sunday, November 1, Honaman House, 11am - 2pm.
Plan now for a fun lunch and afternoon of Bingo and pizza at Honaman House in Thompsontown. After our service, (we'll be at St. Stephens), we'll have pizza by Ann and Tony Roland and play Bingo. Prizes of household cleaning items, toiletries or $10 gift cards from Dollar General or Wal-Mart are needed. If you have BINGO prizes, bring them Sunday.
Join Hands November’s items of the month are gift cards— preferably for stores such as Walmart, Target, Old Navy, etc. as they can be used to purchase gifts for the older children in the Christmas program. If you wish, however, Join Hands can still use grocery store cards (Karns/Giant/Mutzabaughs/Weis).
Through Join Hands, we’re buying Christmas gifts for 50 children in 18 families. Each child will receive a set of clothing, shoes, and a toy. If you’d like to buy for a family or support this effort, please see Susan Rice or call her at 717-834-4001(h) or 717-329-069(c). A wrapping party will be held on December 9, 10am and gifts taken to Join Hands for distribution by December 14.
Are you concerned about children in your neighborhood? Attend a "Front Porch Project" session. There will be door prizes and raffles at each event.
Thursday, November 5, 5:30pm - Light supper; 6-8pm - program
Saturday, November 7, 9am - coffee and donuts; 9:30-11:30am - program
Register by calling PA Family Support Alliance, 717-238-0937 or email srehrer@pa-fsa.org or register online at www.pa-fsa.org
Helping Hands Ministry needs brownies AND some assistance on Saturday, November 7. See Ann Roland.
Boxes of brownie mix and zip loc bags are available in the undercroft. Bake the brownies and put them in the bag, without cutting them. Return them to the undercroft where Tony and Ann will pick them up for use during their feeding ministry.
They also need a couple of people to help out with feeding on Saturday, November 7.
Remembering our Veterans, November 8. We’ll be remembering our Veterans in the parish with a special prayer at our service on November 8. We’ll put a list in the bulletin, also. Please let Michele know your name, branch of service, and years of service.
United Thankoffering will be collected Sunday, November 8.
A Thankoffering box is available by the coffee pots in the kitchen at Nativity if you'd like to make donations that way. United Thankoffering is a project of the Episcopal Church Women. Boxes are available to collect your offering, which is brought to church twice a year. The next ingathering is November 8. If possible, count the money in your box and write a check to the church in that amount.
Pick up a t-shirt Bag to collect your Food Bank Donations!
A member of the Perry County Food Bank staff will join us for coffee hour November 8! Bring your food or financial donations. A table and information will be available at coffee hour that Sunday.
Members of the ECW made t-shirt bags to use for your food bank donations. A bag is at the back of the church. Take an empty bag and bring it back full of food donations! For a list of the items needed by the Food Bank, click here and then click on the wish list. Copies of the wish list are also available with the t-shirt bags.
And what a great use for t-shirts you're tired of wearing!
Sunday, November 8th, we welcome Sue Beamer to the pulpit. Rebecca will celebrate the Eucharist.
Observance of Native American Heritage Month, November 15th
Our service will contain hymns in the Native American tradition, as well as prayers.
Begin now to practice the first verse of Amazing Grace in Cherokee:
Oo nay klah nah ee oo way gee
Ee gah goo yah hey ee
Nah gwoo joe sah wee oo low say
Ee gay goo yah hoe nuh
Annual Meeting, Sunday November 22. Approve our 2016 spending plan, elect Vestry members and Delegates to Diocesan Convention, as well as receive reports from our committees. A pot luck will be held after the service.
The slate for elections to Vestry and Diocesan Convention Delegates are:
Vestry (3 year term): Becky Crup, Mary K. (Tootser) Davis, William Day
Diocesan Convention Delegates: Becky Crup, Miguel Gonzales
Diocesan Convention Alternate: Sue Beamer
Advent Lessons and Carols followed by dinner, December 6th, 4pm – 6:30pm.
The choir of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Lebanon led by Bill Claxton will lead us in this evening worship of preparing for Christ’s birth. Readings and hymns of Advent will be heard. A dinner will follow.
Please sign up for which dish you’ll bring.
Lunch and Soup Mix Gifts, December 8th, 11am – 1:30pm
Join members of the Program and Mission Committee for a lunch and activity at Episcopal Commons in Newport. We’ll be making soup mixes for people to use and to give as gifts. See Wendy Day if you can attend.
Beat the Rush Holiday fundraiser, Friday, December 18, 7-10pm, The Maples, New Bloomfield, to benefit Rotary Scholarships and community projects. Vote for your favorite holiday dessert or appetizer (a quarter a vote), door prizes, auction. Must be 21 or older. Only 100 tickets at $15 each. Let Rebecca know if you'd like to attend.
