Loading...For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them. Matthew 18:20
This verse has provided great comfort to Christians for centuries. It was a big deal to say that God was in the midst of two people, because in Judaism, a minyan or ten people were required for certain religious obligations, including public prayer. Jesus tells his followers that even two people are enough for this religious obligation of public prayer.
As I read this, I was reminded of one of the closing prayers for Morning Prayer. It is the prayer of St. John Chrysostom. It goes like this:
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one
accord to make our common supplication to you; and you
have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two
or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the
midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions
as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of
your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. (p. 201, Book of Common Prayer)
St. John Chrysostom was born in 349 in Antioch, modern-day Syria. He was baptized in 368 and became a Deacon in 381. He was concerned with caring for all people. Here's a portion from one of his homilies:
"Do you wish to honour the body of Christ? Do not ignore him when he is naked. Do not pay him homage in the temple clad in silk, only then to neglect him outside where he is cold and ill-clad. He who said: "This is my body" is the same who said: "You saw me hungry and you gave me no food", and "Whatever you did to the least of my brothers you did also to me"... What good is it if the Eucharistic table is overloaded with golden chalices when your brother is dying of hunger? Start by satisfying his hunger and then with what is left you may adorn the altar as well."
Chrysostom, John. In Evangelium S. Matthaei, homily 50:3–4, pp 58, 508–509
We are comforted in knowing that even two or three of us can do much of God's work together. We also thank St. Chrysostom for his powerful words, reminding us of God's love for all people.
Many blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
At Church of the Nativity
Parlor People, Sunday, 11am – noon. This Sunday, Matt Baldwin of Susquehanna Organs meets with us in the Undercroft about the Digital Organ proposal for the church. Next Sunday, Bill Rohm will lead a session on the book of Exodus. See our G.I.F.T. for more information.
Godly Play resumes this Sunday.
Choir Practice will resume September 13, 10:15am.
Next Sunday we observe Latina/Latino Heritage Month.
Upcoming Meetings
Today, 11am-Noon, Confirmation Class
Wednesday, September 13, 6:30pm, Vestry Meeting
Wednesday, September 27, 6:30pm, Diocesan Eliminating Racism Task Group
Taize’ Tuesdays, 4pm. Twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by a Taize’ service.
Men’s & Women’s Breakfast, Wednesdays, 9am, Espresso Yourself Café.
Are you being called to serve the parish? The nominating committee of Miguel Gonzales, Lynne Mitchell and Gail Shull are looking for people who would like to serve on Vestry, Delegates to the 2018 Diocesan Convention and Delegates to the Harrisburg Convocation. If you are interested, please see one of them.
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.
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?
If you’d like to be baptized, confirmed, or received into The Episcopal Church, please let Rebecca know by October 1. 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.
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.
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.
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.
The Episcopal Home in Shippensburg is refurbishing their heavily-used activity room. Donations in any amount are being accepted for flooring and a new chair donation is $100. Send donations to: The Episcopal Home, 206 E Burd St, Shippensburg, PA 17257. Mark your donation for activity room.
Community Events and Opportunities for Service
Prayer Shawl Ministry of Newport meets September 28, 10am. Bring your projects and also learn how to knit or crochet.
Central PA Youth Ministries Adult Fundraising Dinner, Sunday, October 1, 6pm, Newport Family Life Center. Let Rebecca know by September 13, if you’d like to attend this dinner to support this ministry in our area. Rebecca and Sue Beamer assist with Newport Release Time, which is one of the ministries sponsored. We support this program each year with Giving To Others (GTO) funds. A free will offering to support the program is taken at the end of the meal.
Volunteers are needed to clean apartments at Linda House.
Apartments would be cleaned when residents leave in preparation for a new resident’s arrival. Currently, this work needs to be done between 8am and 4pm Monday – Friday. Signing a confidentiality statement is required. Please see Rebecca if you are available.
7th Perry County Family Fun Fest and Wellness Day, Sat., September 23, 10am – 2pm, Newport Life Center Many local Human Service Agencies with free and fun activities for all ages. Free healthy snacks provided. Other foods are available for purchase from The Tin Cup Food Truck. Free car seat inspections. Sponsored by the Perry County Family Center,
582-3656.
On Thursday, October 19 from 5-7pm, we will host a Perry County Chamber Mixer. This is an opportunity to showcase our church community, as well as welcome business people in our community. Chamber members network with each other and also learn more about us. Adam Britcher and Miguel Gonzales will provide refreshments for the evening. We need others who will talk about the ministry of our church, give tours and greet people. If you are interested and available, please see Rebecca.
PA Family Support Alliance’s Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse Training for Mandated Reporters, Monday, September 25, 6-9pm Hosted by Join Hands Ministry – Training is provided free and is for adults who have contact with children through work, practice of profession or a volunteer position. You must pre-register online at: //www.pafsa.org/Calendar/view_645/detail/cid_645/846. A flyer with additional information is posted in the undercroft.
Team Joining Hands for Jeri’s 7th Annual Charity Auction, September 23, 10:30am, Otterbein UMC, Duncannon Michele is the Team Leader for ‘Joining Hands for Jeri’. The team will participate in their 12th Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk this October. ‘Joining Hands for Jeri’ has donated nearly $40,000 over the last six years, with most of the funds raised through the auctions. Check out our Facebook page, Team ‘Joining Hands for Jeri’, to see all the great items that will be up for bid! Hope you can come out and join us!
The team is also accepting donated items to be auctioned off at the event. If you have an item you’d like to donate, please contact Michele.
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.
Christian Churches United 40th Anniversary Celebration, Tuesday, November 14, 5:30pm, Best Western Premier Hotel.
Join Christian Churches United in their celebration. Keynote speaker is Shane Claiborne, a founding partner of a faith community in Philadelphia that seeks to follow Jesus, rediscover the spirit of the early church, and incarnate the “Kingdom of God.” If you are interested in attending, please let Rebecca know.
From the Diocese:
Dear members of the Episcopal Church in Central Pennsylvania,
Please join us in praying for all those who have suffered from Hurricane Harvey and who are in the path of Hurricane Irma.
Gracious God, Holy One,
Source of all life and Creator of the world:
We implore your protection for those in the path of powerful storms.
Shield them from fear and anxiety.
Fill their hearts with courage and peace.
Fill us with wisdom and compassion, tenacity and generosity, and so we can respond with healing strength.
And keep us ever mindful of your abiding presence, even in the shadow of the cross.
All this we ask in the name of Christ.
Shared by The Rev. Amy Welin, Acting Dean, St. Stephen's Episcopal Cathedral, Harrisburg.
Pennsylvania is the most flood prone state in the United States.
In the past, many of Pennsylvania’s major floods were caused by hurricanes or tropical storms. In 2004, Pittsburgh received more rain in 24 hours from the remnants of Hurricane Ivan than ever before.
Now is the time to start preparing for potential flooding in Pennsylvania from Irma. The current best estimate (track is still uncertain) is that we will start to feel the effects of this storm Tuesday or Wednesday of next week (September 12-13).
Does each church in the Diocese have a Disaster Plan? If not, start with this link to download a template.
Download Church Disaster Plan
Does each family in the Diocese have a Disaster Plan? If not, follow this link for guidance https://www.ready.gov/make-a- plan
Start now! A week is not very much time for disaster planning.
