Loading...When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, and said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.’ Exodus 20:18-19
I don't know why, but I often find Exodus to be humorous. Maybe it's because I see myself in the people. It's a wry humor, I suppose. Just before the verses above (and we'll hear them this Sunday) Moses has communicated The Ten Commandments. It must have been a scary experience as we note in the verses above - thunder, lightning, sound of a trumpet, a smoking mountain!
And the peoples' response is that if God speaks to them directly, they will surely die. I guess I find humor in that, because of my own experience. When God has spoken to me in many cases, my life is upended...my nice, quiet, peaceful life. My first response is not always to be happy about God speaking to me. My first response is one of feeling like I would die if I did what I truly hear God asking me to do.
Yet, once I follow the path God has set out for me, in most cases, it is an AMAZING time. Yes, it's challenging, and also fun and fulfilling.
As you finish your week, may you hear the voice of God speaking to you and know that you will not die, but have abundant life.
Love, Rebecca+
Announcements
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 today, October 15 and 22.
Parlor People, 11am—noon
Today, Early Christian Writings Part I led by Bill Rohm.
Next week, Early Christian Writings Part II led by Bill Rohm.
At Church of the Nativity
Taize’ Tuesdays, 4pm. Twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by a Taize’ service.
Upcoming Meetings
Sunday, October 8, 11am – Noon, Confirmation Class
Monday, October 9, 7-8:30pm – Newport Anti-Racism League
Wednesday, October 11, 6:30pm, Vestry Meeting
Thursday, October 26, 7-8:30pm – Newport Anti-Racism League
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.
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 today. 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?
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
Halloween Craft and Lunch at the Commons, October 12, 11am—1pm.
Items needed are acrylic paints in fall colors (orange, purple, green, white, black, yellow), bamboo skewers and floral tape. If anyone would like to make a soup, please let Wendy know.
Connect with us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEpiscopalChurchOfTheNativityStStephen
Twitter: @ChnatssChurch (https://twitter.com/ChnatssChurch)
Instagram: https://instagram.com/chnatss/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thechurchofthen/
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMdhiksmcXv0kyz9M2uio6Q
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 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.
Baking needs and chocolate items available through Equal Exchange.
See the cart in the parish hall. We are now a wholesaler for Equal Exchange, a company that supports small farmers who use sustainable practices for chocolate, cocoa, coffee, tea, nuts, olive oil and other baking items. A price list and basket are available to pay for the items you choose to buy. Also, be sure to write down what you’ve purchased to help us maintain our inventory. A catalogue is also available. If there’s an item you’d like us to order, please see Jane Hoover.
From the Diocese
Donations of backpacks are being collected for refugee children in the Harrisburg area.
This is an on-going project as children arrive throughout the year. If you have backpacks or monetary donations, please see Rebecca.
Community Events and Opportunities for Service
Prayer Shawl Ministry of Newport meets the last Thursday of the month, 10am.
Bring your projects and also learn how to knit or crochet.
Gently Worn used and new shoes collection.
Lillian Hoover is collecting gently worn, used and new shoes for the class of 2022 as a fundraiser while helping those in need. The shoes that are collected will be donated to those living in other countries. So as you are cleaning out your closets please think of her. They will be collecting shoes until November 30. A box is located in the undercroft.
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/
Volunteers Needed for Emergency Shelters in Harrisburg.
Safe Harbor and Downtown Daily Bread are in need of overnight volunteers at their Winter Overnight Safe Haven. These are drop-in shelters during the cold winter. Volunteers arrive at 7:30pm and work alongside a paid staff person. They help provide snacks and socialization, then are able to sleep in volunteer quarters from 10pm-6am. After waking and seeing the men off, volunteers can leave by 7am. If you would like to help, please let Rebecca know.
Rotary Club of Perry County, Pints for Polio, Tuesday, October 24, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. River Bend Hop Farm & Brewery with Artisan Pizza, 1800 Lower Bailey Road, Newport.
Proceeds to benefit Rotary International’s Polio Foundation. Tickets are $5.
Please see Rebecca if you’d like a ticket.
Join Hands Items of the Month –
Clothing (especially infant and toddler, hats, gloves, scarves, socks), toiletries, household cleaning supplies, blankets, quilts, towels, wash clothes. They are also currently in great need of diapers.
Help people in need around the world! Fall ingathering today.
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.
