Loading...In righteousness shall he judge the world *
and the peoples with equity. Psalm 98:10
Psalm 98 that we say this Sunday is so joyful and honestly, I found it difficult to read this morning, just two days after the election. I do understand differences of opinion about many policy issues.
What I don't understand is supporting a ticket that in my view has espoused vitriol and cruel actions against God's creation, including people who are Muslim, female, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, immigrant, not White, and our environment.
I hope all of us can join together and agree that these attacks we heard during the campaign and that in addition, are a part of the President-elect and Vice-president elect's past actions are NOT okay and that we will speak up and say so. I hope we can agree to look more deeply into, educate ourselves and take actions to address racism, heterosexism, sexism, classism and any oppression. I hope we can continue to act in ways that care for our environment and for people being affected by the changes taking place in our environment.
When we are righteous people, we live according to God's Will. As followers of Jesus Christ, we also live according to Christ's commandment. We will be judged based upon our actions in the commandment Jesus taught.
In Matthew 19:19, 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-34, and Luke 10:25-28, we hear Jesus tell us the most important things we need to do if we are in relationship with God and follow Jesus Christ. Mark 12, reads like this:
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’
As Christians, this is our task. Loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves. This is the standard by which we evaluate policies and government.
Blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
Parlor People, Sunday, 11am – noon.
All adults are welcome to participate in Parlor People nearly every Sunday. See our Christian Formation page for more information.
Today Jane Hoover leads our discussion on Where is God in our Suffering? There will be no parlor people next week due to our annual meeting and potluck lunch. On November 27, we’ll begin an Advent series on Practicing Simplicity.
Godly Play is this Sunday.
Taize’ Tuesdays, 5:00pm. Twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by a Taize’ service.
Upcoming Meetings
November 14, 10:30am - Environmental Stewardship Committee
November 16, 6:30pm – Vestry
Please pray for our confirmands. O God, you prepared your disciples for the coming of the Spirit through the teaching of your Son Jesus Christ: Make the hearts and minds of Ethan, Lily and Sophia ready to receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit, that they may be filled with the strength of his presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Book of Common Prayer, p. 819.
Please say yes if Lily, Ethan or Sophia asks to interview you during coffee hour this Sunday. They will ask the following questions: When you were little, what church did you go to? Where and how often? When did you start going to church? Why do you think church is important? Why do you worship God?
Nominations Slate for 2017 Vestry and Diocesan Convention Delegate and Alternate. Vestry recommends Shannon Burns, Kay Cramer, and Bill Rohm for Vestry and Miguel Gonzales for Delegate to 2017 Convention and Bill Rohm as Alternate. Jill Brownfield and Joanne Pinaire will be leaving Vestry. Voting on these recommendations will be held at the Annual Meeting on November 20.
Annual Meeting November 20, with potluck after church. We will vote on 2015 minutes; members of Vestry and 2017 Diocesan Convention Delegate and Alternate; and the 2017 Budget and receive reports from committees.
International Gifts and Bake Sale, Cedar Grove BIC Church,
287 Derrville Rd., Mifflintown, Friday November 18, 9am—7pm and Saturday, November 19, 9am—3pm. For more info, visit their FB page or www.juniatainternationalgiftssale.com
Volunteers are need to help distribute Christmas gifts through Join Hands. To volunteer you can fill out their online volunteer form at https://form.jotform.com/62764249447163 and they will schedule you the week of Monday, December 12th and Thursday, December 15th.
If you will shop for Christmas gifts for a child, please see Sue Rice.
Urgent need! Refugees are currently arriving primarily from Somali, Congolese, Syrian and Bhutanese Nepali. They are in urgent need of new or gently used pillow cases, twin flat and twin fitted sheets, (collection of bedding items will take place through November 26), and an ongoing need for toiletry items, (shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc). Please bring donations to church and items will be gathered and delivered to our Diocesan office. For more information contact Loretta at 717-836-4378 or lorettacollins209@gmail.com.
Advent Lessons and Carols led by the choir of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Lebanon, December 4, 4pm. Once again, St. Luke’s choir under the direction of Bill Claxton, will lead us in this service of lessons and hymns of preparation for the birth of the Christ child. A dinner will follow. If you can help with the dinner, please let Sue Beamer know.
Men’s Breakfast - each Wed., 9am, Espresso Yourself Café.
Women’s Lunch, Tuesday, November 22, Noon, Espresso Yourself Café
Choir Practice The upcoming practices will be Wednesday November 16 at 10:00am and Tues., November 22 at 1:15pm.
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.
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.
Help people in need around the world! 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.
Honor or Remember a loved one or a special occasion with flowers on the altar! Flowers help make our worship space more beautiful and remind us of the blossoming life we have in Christ. Please consider sponsoring the flowers in memory of a loved one, or to celebrate your thanksgivings. Flowers are $30. A sign-up chart is in the Undercroft.
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.
