Loading...He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarrelled and tested the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’ Exodus 17:7
In recent weeks, I have been transfixed and overwhelmed by the destruction from the hurricanes and earthquake. I give monthly, from the discretionary fund your contributions provide, to Episcopal Relief and Development and I'm thinking I should give more. Yet, the tremendous suffering of the people who have no food, no shelter, or no water is unimaginable. I understand the question of the Israelites, "Is the Lord among us or not?"
My spiritual director constantly asks me "Where do you see God in all of this?" I should know by now to be prepared for this question, since I've been working with her about 8 years now. Yet, I always need to stop and think about it.
It's not always easy to see God working midst such suffering and utter destruction. There are some stories that pop out, showing great love and blessing in the midst of crisis. I guess sometimes it takes some time to find all of the places where God is among us.
As the Israelites thirsted for water in the desert, God provided the water they needed. In the Exodus story, we see time and time again how God did provide. We see how God was among the people. We can take the actions we know will help and then trust that God is in the midst working through us.
Blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
Grow In Faith Together (G.I.F.T)
Our faith formation webpage has been redone. We’ve labeled it G.I.F.T. for Grow In Faith Together. Our overarching theme is Micah 6:8
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
The webpage provides faith formation activities you can access any time. There are email Bible Studies you can sign up for. There are activities that can be done with the whole family. Some are centered around our upcoming holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you’re a Star Wars fan, there is a Bible Study for you, too. Check it out and tell Bill Rohm or me what you think. If you try any of the activities, also let us know what you liked and didn’t like.
//nativityandststephen.diocpa.org/worship.html
Godly Play is October 8, 15 and 22.
Parlor People, 11am—noon
This Sunday, “We disagree. Now What?” led by Professor John Dernbach. Next week, Early Christian Writings Part I led by Bill Rohm
At Church of the Nativity
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 also take a special offering for our flower fund. Support the beauty of our worship services through your donations.
Taize’ Tuesdays, 4pm. Twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by a Taize’ service.
We are starting our prayer list over again.
If you have a name you’d like for the list, let Michele know at 717-567-6514 or chnatss@pa.net.
Upcoming Meetings
Canal Day, Saturday, October 7, 9am—2pm. Blessing of the animals, 11:30am—1pm.
Sunday, October 8, 11am – Noon, Confirmation Class
Wednesday, October 11, 6:30pm, Vestry Meeting
Let's read the Gospel According to Mark.
As part of living into our baptismal covenant to "continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers," the confirmands are reading the Gospel According to Mark. I invite you to join us. Mark is thought to be the earliest of the Gospels, written around 66CE. It is thought to have relied upon the oral traditions about Jesus and even was told orally. Today, there are a number of people who continue this tradition. The Gospel is thought to have been a source for Matthew and Luke. The Gospel is mostly about Jesus' actions and disputes with Scribes and Pharisees. We hear Mark during Year B of our Revised Common Lectionary. Year B begins this year at Advent I - December 3.
If you’d like to be baptized, confirmed, or received into The Episcopal Church, please let Rebecca know by today. The Bishop will be visiting on December 3 and will conduct these rites for us. If you’ve been baptized and confirmed in another Christian denomination, you can be received into The Episcopal Church. Otherwise, you can be baptized or if you’ve been baptized, you can be confirmed. Rebecca will work with you on a convenient time to discuss these rites and provide information and background on The Episcopal Church. If you’ve been a member of an Episcopal Church and would like to transfer your membership, let Rebecca know. To be a member of Nativity, you need to have your
baptism recorded in the parish register.
Men’s & Women’s Breakfast, Wednesdays, 9am.
Men meet at Espresso Yourself Café. Women meet at Bitting’s.
The choir practices Wednesdays at 10:15am.
Notecards of Nativity for Sale.
$2 each or 5 for $8. The photo on the 4X5½“ cards is of the pews and was taken by Irene VanBuskirk. They are in the undercroft.
Prayerfully consider what you will pledge to contribute to the ministry of The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen for 2018.
All pledges should be turned in by October 29.
Loving God, you alone are the source of every good gift. We praise you for all your gifts to us, and we thank you for your generosity. Everything we have, and all that we are, comes from you. Help us to be grateful and responsible.
You have called us to follow your son, Jesus, without counting the cost. Send us your Holy Spirit to give us courage and wisdom to be faithful disciples.
We commit ourselves to being good stewards. Help us to be grateful, accountable,
generous, and willing to give back with increase. Help us to make stewardship a way of life.
We make this prayer through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. AMEN
Help support our college students with items for their care packages.
(Popcorn, candy, granola bars, individually wrapped crackers, cookies, etc.)
Darlene will mail boxes at the beginning of October.
During 2017, we will be celebrating baptism on November 5 and December 3. Let
Rebecca know if you or someone you know would like to be baptized on any of these days.
From the Diocese
Parish Music and Liturgy Day, Saturday, October 21, 9am – 3pm, St. Luke’s, Lebanon.
Keynote: Dr. David Hurd. Choir members, Eucharistic ministers, acolytes, readers, prayers and
anyone interested in liturgy is invited to attend this day for all ages. Let Michele know if you will attend by email at chnatss@pa.net or calling 717-567-6514.
Diocesan Convention collecting Personal Care Items for Love, Inc.
If you have items you can donate, please bring them to church by October 8. Items requested are: feminine hygiene pads (regular and overnight); body wash; laundry detergent pods; dish soap; household cleaner; shaving cream; disposable razors; men’s and women’s deodorant; baby wash.
Community Events and Opportunities for Service
Tuesday, October 3, 7-8:30pm. Hannah Smith-Brubaker, Executive Director of PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA), former Pennsylvania Agriculture Deputy Secretary and farmer in Juniata County will speak, Unitarian Church, 1280 Clover Lane, Harrisburg.
Local, Organic, Free-range, Grassfed, Vegetarian, GMO Free. What does it all mean and can you really make food choices that will have a positive impact on our planet?
Canal Day and Animal Blessing, October 7, 9am – 2pm
We will have a table at Canal Day in Newport Square. Rebecca will conduct a Blessing of the Animals service at 11:30am on the square. Bring your pet, or a photo to receive the blessing. Medallions and certificates will be handed out.
Crop Walk, Little Buffalo Main Entrance, Sunday, October 8, Registration- 12:30, Walk- 1pm.
Join other churches and individuals in an effort to end hunger. 25% of funds raised stay in Perry County. For sponsorship envelopes and more information, call 582-6753 or visit crophungerwalk.org to learn more about the program.
PA Interfaith Power and Light (PA-IPL) statewide conference,
Sunday, October 29, 1:30-5:30pm, State College, PA.
The theme is Gratitude, Lament and Renewal: Walking Faithfully in a Time of Climate
Disruption. See the conference page for more information
//paipl.us/what-do-we-do/annual-meeting/
Join Hands Items of the Month –
Clothing (especially infant and toddler, hats, gloves, scarves, socks), toiletries, household cleaning supplies, blankets, quilts, towels, wash clothes.
Help people in need around the world! Fall ingathering next week.
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.
