Loading...For he shall give his angels charge over you, *
to keep you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11
My mother loved angels. She had a whole collection of them. Some in wood. Some in crystal. Some for Christmas. After my mother died, my father was deciding what to put on their tombstone and we agreed there had to be an angel on there.
My mother was raised Roman Catholic until she became Lutheran in her early 30s. She used to tell me that all through her 8 years in a Roman Catholic school, the used to sit on only part of their chairs, so they could leave room for their guardian angel.
It's that wonderful, protective being we often envision of great beauty, living close to God all of the time. Yet, in the Bible we also read about angels that are destroyers.
We often read that people visited by angels were initially afraid of them or at the very least perplexed. Getting a visit by an angel could mean protection, but could also mean God was calling you to do something hard to even imagine.
And then there's the human angels that seem to be all around us. They are those who seem to come visit at just the right moment or bring us something we need at just the right time.
Think of the angels God has given to you and be thankful for how they help you in your life, even when it means doing the hard and challenging things.
Blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
Join in the conversation on Radical Welcome
Meets Sunday at 11am until noon through October 25
Jane Hoover reports:
Sunday's Parlor People pushed us to examine just how radical our welcome at Nativity really is.
Susan Rice led us in a challenging self-examination starting with the question, "What is reality?" After stumbling around a bit, we settled on something close to what she had in mind: "Reality is our perception of what is actually there."
Then she asked us to put ourselves in the shoes of The Other (the people systematically cast out or marginalized within a church, a denomination and/or society) and say how those Others would see The Church of the Nativity. First we had to imagine who those people might be. Then we had to try to see us as they would see us.
After we struggled with that one, she invited us to tell our own stories about how we came to be Episcopalians. That was easier.
We closed with talking about how one family who was clearly from a different culture had found a comfortable home at Nativity. Interestingly, everyone's comfort level had grown during a casual wedding reception on the lawn where church members had offered support to prepare and serve the meal. The family became active members and stayed until they moved out of the area.
This Sunday we look at The Sound of Fear, how congregations talk when they really are fearful of radical welcome.
Godly Play, a spiritual guidance for children program for children and youth ages 3 to 12 usually meets the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 9:30am. This month, they'll meet October 18 and 25.
Recent research shows that children who "have positive active relationships to spirituality are 40 percent less likely to use and abuse substances, and have 60 percent less depression than other teenagers. There are also differences in the brain structure." Listen to the full story.
My Schedule Next week. I'll be available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. My sabbath days will be Monday and Friday. 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.
Prayerfully Consider your giving intentions to The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen during 2016 and return your pledge card and Time and Talent sheet by October 25. The Finance Committee and Vestry are working on our spending plan for 2016. You should have received information about our mission and activities. As of earlier this week, we’ve received 7 pledges totaling $14,412 of the $62,665 needed from the parish. If you need a packet, please let Rebecca know.
Upcoming Meetings
Wednesday, October 21, 6:30pm, Vestry
Thursday, October 22, 10:00am, Stitchers
Join Us For Breakfast!
Men's breakfast - Every Wednesday, 9am, Espresso Yourself Cafe.
Women's breakfast - 2nd and 4th Wednesdays in October, 9am, May's Railside Cafe. Upcoming breakfast date is October 28.
In November and December, the women meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays for breakfast - November 4 and 18; December 2 and 16.
Diocesan Convention to discuss important topics regarding church mission, the environment, prison reform, addressing racism, the death penalty, and education October 16-17, Altoona, PA
Sue Beamer, Jill Brownfield and Rebecca will be representing The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen at the upcoming Diocesan Convention to be held in Altoona.
There will be elections for the Diocesan Council of Trustees, Disciplinary Committee and Standing Committee. The Diocesan Budget for 2016 will also be voted upon. There are eight resolutions that will be considered. Some have come from within our Diocese, while others are as a result of work to implement resolutions passed at the 2015 General Convention.
For more information and copies of the resolutions and reports, go to the Diocesan webpage. The Bishop's address on Friday evening at 6:30pm and the Saturday business meeting at 11:00am will be livestreamed.
Join others from the Parish for the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" Walk, Saturday, October 17, City Island, 8:30am. Walk is 5k (3.1 miles)
Annual CROP Walk for Hunger at Little Buffalo Park, Main Entrance, October 18, 12:30pm This annual event raises money for hunger programs throughout the United States. Twenty-five per cent (25%) of the money raised stays int he local community and will support the Perry County Food Bank. Online donations and more information is available here.
All Saints’ Sunday at St. Stephen, November 1. As part of our remembering all of the saints, during communion, we’ll be reading the names of loved ones who have died. If you’d like to have the name of a loved one read that day, please contact Michele by October 25, 717-567-6514 or chnatss@pa.net. The names will also be printed in the bulletin.
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 (chnatss@pa.net or 717-567-6514) know your name, branch of service, and years of service.
Interested in singing in a choir at Nativity and St. Stephen? If 
you're interested in singing in a choir for the church, please let Sue Beamer or Rebecca know. We'll work to find a practice day and time that works for everyone. At a minimum, you'll lead the parish in the hymns and singing of the service, and hopefully some special music occasionally.
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 that day
(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. See Lynne Mitchell if you have items or need more information.
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.
United Thankoffering will be collected Sunday, November 8.
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. On June 26, all of those donation boxes added up to $1.5 million dollars in grants!
Pick up your box today and get the benefits that gratitude and thankfulness bring to you, and do great works for others at the same time! The next ingathering is November 8. If possible, count the money in your box and write a check to the church in that amount.
For more information, click here.
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!
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!
Join Hands Items of the Month - October - Personal Hygiene Items soap, shampoo, razors, shaving cream, washcloths,
toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, etc.
Follow Join Hands on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Join-Hands-Ministry/155578531190411
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, ot 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.
Stitchers meet in Undercroft on October 22, 10am
Stitchers meet the 4th Thursday of every month at 10am with changes in November and December to 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!
Refugee Crisis
Barbara Holliman is exploring ways we can help with the current Refugee Crisis. The coordinating agency in our area is Catholic Charities. Let Rebecca or Barbara know if you're interested in this project.
World Food Day: Take Action to End Hunger
On October 16, individuals and communities around the world will come together to commemorate World Food Day. This is an opportunity for all of us to commit ourselves in the fight against global hunger. Globally, over 800 million people lack sufficient food to eat. It's time to raise awareness and take action so that everyone, no matter where they live, can have enough food to eat.
One of the ways in which you can help fight hunger is by urging your members of Congress to support the Global Food Security Act.
Introduced in Congress by Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ 4th), Betty McCollum (D-MN 4th) and Senators John Isakson (R-GA) and Bob Casey (D-PA), this bill will enhance Feed the Future, a U.S. global food and nutrition program. Through Feed the Future, the U.S. government works with small holder farmers and local governments to increase their food production.
Go here to send the letter below to your Members of Congress.
Sample Letter
As an Episcopalian and your constituent, I urge you to support H.R. 1567/S. 1252 – the Global Food Security Act of 2015.
Food insecurity is one of the greatest development challenges confronting the world today. The passage of the Global Food Security Act of 2015 will help build upon best practices and improve our international food and nutrition programs. This legislation will ensure that every dollar spent in funding Feed the Future accrues value in global productivity, expands opportunities for education, reduces violence, and helps those who suffer from food scarcity. Specifically, the Global Food Security Act will:
-
Require the Administration to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy across relevant agencies to promote global food security;
• Improve maternal and child nutrition, especially during the 1,000 days from pregnancy until a child is 2 years old, to help reduce stunting and life-long poor health;
• Strengthen existing monitoring and evaluating practices to ensure efficacy and accountability;
• Require the Administration to submit a report to the appropriate Congressional committees describing the strategy, its outcomes, and how funds are used;
• Engage the expertise and resourcefulness of non-governmental organizations, academic and
As a person of faith, I believe that we are called to share our abundance with our neighbors in dire need, and create opportunities for those working to lift themselves out of poverty. Please consider co-sponsoring H.R. 1567/S. 1252. Thank you for your service and commitment to fight hunger here at home and around the world.
