Loading...How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Thessalonians 3:9
Each year our celebration of Thanksgiving is a time to count all of our blessings. In our day-to-day lives, we can become run down, stressed out and tired. We lose touch with how many blessings we have in our lives.
Thanksgiving brings us back to reality. And actually taking time each day to remember our blessings is good for our health! According to research, being grateful provides the following health benefits:
- Boosts our immune system
- Helps us handle stress
- Helps us be healthy
This Sunday we'll hear the verse above from Thessalonians. Often Paul started his letters with great thanks for the community of believers he was addressing. Yes, Paul provided guidance and advice to the challenges these young communities were facing, but first he expressed his gratitude for the community.
A Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving and may we like Paul recall all of our blessings and live in gratitude.
Love, Rebecca+
Rebecca’s schedule. I'll be available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday next week. You can reach me at nativityrector@pa.net or 717-433-1556 (cell) or 717-204-7642 (home).
Parlor People continues our celebration of spiritual discipline this Sunday when Sue Beamer shares her experience of the spiritual discipline of service.
Godly Play for children ages 3-13 is offered the second and fourth Sundays of the month during the worship service. December 13 will be the next date.
Upcoming Meetings
Sunday, November 29, Noon, Worship Committee
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 717-329-0690 (c). A wrapping party will be held on December 9, 10am at Espresso Yourself Cafe and gifts taken to Join Hands for distribution by December 14.
This Sunday, November 29, we welcome Bill Rohm to the pulpit. Rebecca will celebrate the Eucharist.
Join Us For Breakfast!
Men's breakfast - Every Wednesday, 9am, Espresso Yourself Cafe.
Women's breakfast - 9am, May's Railside Cafe. Upcoming breakfast dates are December 2 and 16.
Christmas Flower Memorials Honor or remember a loved one at Christmas with flowers. Donations are being accepted for flowers to decorate our churches during the Christmas holidays. Use your provided ‘Christmas Flowers’ pledge envelope to submit your donation. Additional envelopes can be found at the back of the church.
Come all singers! Choir Practice
Wednesday, December 9 and 16, 10:30am
Every Sunday at 8:30am
If you cannot attend the Wednesday practices, see Sue Beamer so you can get the music you’ll need.
Youth event, December 5, 1:00-6:00pm. Start at the drop-in art class at the Landis House and then travel to the home of Bill and Shirley Rohm to see the train display modeled on the town of Patterson, as well as hear their story of faith. We'll stop for pizza afterwards. Please let Rebecca know if you will attend.
2015 Christmas House Tour, December 5, 10am – 4pm. The Newport Revitalization and Preservation Society is sponsoring this House Tour of five private homes and four Newport Landmarks. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 day of the event. Go towww.nrps.pa.net for more information. Newport Christmas Tree Lighting will be from 5-6pm that evening.
Advent Lessons and Carols followed by dinner, December 6, 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.
Join members of the Program and Mission Committee for a lunch and activity at Episcopal Commons in Newport on December 8, 11am – 1:30pm. We’ll be making soup mixes for people to use and to give as gifts. See Wendy Day if you can attend.
Stitchers meet in Undercroft on December 17, 10am. Knit and crochet prayer shawls and other items. The prayer shawls go to Perry Village and baby items go to families with Join Hands. See Edna Baker, Sue Beamer or Wendy Day if you'd like more information and don't worry about not knowing how to knit or crochet, because I bet this would be a great place to learn how!
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.
Greening of the Church, December 20. Join us for the greening of the church, followed by a potluck lunch.
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.
Pictorial Directory - Marion Fluchere is putting together a pictorial directory for us. She will be asking to take photos of each family for the directory. A draft with contact information is available. Please review the information, make any corrections and initial the entry.
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.
Food Bank Donations of peanut butter are needed! The food bank gets many donations this time of year, but they are in great need of peanut butter.
Join Hands Items of the Month - November/December - 582-7844
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).
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 $35. 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.
Connect with us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEpiscopalChurchOfTheNativityStStephen
Twitter: @ChnatssChurch
Instagram: https://instagram.com/chnatss/
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMdhiksmcXv0kyz9M2uio6Q
