Loading... Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *
whose hope is in the Lord their God; Psalm 146:4
Happy is another meaning for the word "blessed." And what does it mean to be happy? We often think it means to be laughing and filled with joy, maybe even a little loud or boisterous.
Being happy, in my mind, means being at peace with onself. It doesn't mean an absence of sorrow or grief or difficult. It means that even in the challenges, I am at peace with my actions or my place in the world, or my absolute trust that God is with me.
One of my favorite hymns is "It is Well With my Soul." I've sung this at a number of funerals over the years or other occasions that have been challenging and emotional.
The hymn was written by hymnist Horatio Spafford after great tragedies in his life. His two-year old son was killed in the Chicago Fire in 1871. The fire also affected him financially, since he owned lots of property in Chicago. An economic downturn in 1873, further affected his business as a lawyer and property owner.
In 1873, he and his family, including four daughters, were going to Europe. At the last minute, business matters kept him in Chicago. His wife and daughters boarded the ship for Europe without him. The ship collided with another ship and sank rapidly. Only his wife survived.
It was after these tragedies in his life that he wrote the words to this hymn with the refrain:
It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Midst all of the tragedies, which we hope no one person has to live through, Horatio Spafford was nonetheless a happy man.
Blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
For more about this hymn: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_with_My_Soul
The Morgan State Choir Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8l6tuCRcAg
Join us for Coffee Hour after the service. We're continuing our taste testing of the Equal Exchange coffee and chocolate. Let us know what you like and might purchase.
Parlor People, Sunday, 11am – noon. Today Dick Price leads our discussion. Next week Jane Hoover leads a
discussion on Labyrinth or Maze: What’s the difference?
Also, Jane Hoover, Bill Rohm and I are interested in hearing about what you believe are your spiritual needs and/or the spiritual needs of the congregation. Our Mission statement says we’re “called to grow: in service, in numbers of disciples, and in grace.” How can Parlor People help us fulfill our mission? Let us know, so we can plan some Parlor People sessions around these needs.
Godly Play is this Sunday.
Rebecca will be away for CREDO continuing education Sept. 28-Oct. 4. For pastoral care, please contact The Rev. Carenda Baker, cell # (343-5238) or Home (240-0288).
Next Sunday we welcome Darlene Amsler as Officiant and Preacher at Morning Prayer.
Men’s Breakfast - each Wed., 9am, Espresso Yourself Café.
Women’s Breakfast - September 28, 9am, May’s Railside.
Canal Day, October 1, 9am—2pm Nativity will have a table with a variety of information about our work in the parish. We're also sponsoring a table for various services for domestic
violence and crime victim assistance.
Upcoming Meetings
September 28, 10:30am, Sewing Hearts on teddy bears, Home of Maud Fluchere
October 9, 11am—Confirmation Class
October 18, 3:30pm - Parlor People Planning Committee
October 19, 6:30pm –Vestry Meeting
October 23, Dedication of Labyrinth
October 23, Outdoor Space Plan after Parlor People
October 25, 11am – 1pm, Craft and Lunch, Episcopal Commons
October 26, 7:00pm – Racism Awareness Group
Taize’ Tuesdays, 5:00pm. Twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by a Taize’ service.
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.
Shoes Needed for School Kids Darlene Amsler and Susan Rice are collecting monetary contributions to purchase school shoes for elementary students in need in Perry County. 27 pair of shoes have been requested so far. If you would like to make a contribution, please see Darlene or Susan.
International Day of Peace, Camp Curtin State Park,
2221 N. 6th Street, Harrisburg, 4-6:00 pm Sunday, September 25, 2016 Join in an interfaith commemoration of the International Day of Peace. Heeding God's Call To End Gun Violence is a faith-based grassroots movement to prevent gun violence and promote a violence-free community. For more info: www.heedingharrisburg.org or 717-461-3540
Electronic Recycling, Saturday, October 1, 10am—2pm, Newport Fairgrounds Items will be accepted and recycled (some for a fee) at the Newport Fairgrounds. Please see the list posted in the undercroft for accepted items and fees or go to //www.perrycd.org/Pages/Home.aspx
Recommendations for Giving To Others (GTO) funding will be accepted until October 2. Each year our parish, through the Program and Mission Committee, donates nearly $20,000 to organizations in our counties and our Diocese. Here's the list from 2015: //nativityandststephen.diocpa.org/dfc/newsdetail_2/3174176 If you’d like to make a recommendation to the committee, please contact Lynne Mitchell, chair, in person or ldmitchell612@aol.com
Diocesan Committee on Refugees Meeting, Monday, October 3, 4:00pm, Diocesan Offices. Assist with the Diocesan support for settling people who are refugees by attending this meeting.
"An Environment of Justice," Sunday, Oct. 30, from 1 to 5 pm
at the Church of the Good Shepherd in State College, PA.
People of faith are invited to deepen their commitment to climate justice at Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light’s annual conference. The conference gathers people from throughout Pennsylvania to learn, network and act on the impacts of climate change. Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome of the Kresge Foundation will offer the keynote address on ‘Climate Change: The Path to Inner Resilience.’ Break-out sessions will explore the intersection of climate change with justice issues such as racism, hunger, and poverty. A Green Fair will introduce participants to Pennsylvania organizations committed to caring for the earth. Kay Cramer will be attending. Please see Kay if you’d like to participate. Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light (PA IPL) is a state-wide organization that engages people of faith to respond to climate change as a moral issue. Learn more and register at paipl.org
Bye Bye Birdie at Oyster Mill Playhouse on Tuesday, November 15, 6:30pm to benefit Christian Churches United (CCU). If you’d like to attend, please let Rebecca know.
Ingathering for United Thank Offering, October 16. Bring your thankoffering to be received on Sunday, October 16. If you’ve been putting offering in your thankoffering box at home, please count it up and write a check for the amount. Be sure to include ECW Thankoffering in the memo line. If you use envelopes, one is available for the ingathering on October 16. To learn more visit their website //www.episcopalchurch.org/page/united-thank-offering
Canon for Diocesan Finance and Operations Position Opening Canon Bill Graffius has given notice of his retirement, with his last day in the office to be Oct. 31. This is a full-time, salaried position working for the Episcopal Church of Central Pennsylvania. If you or someone you know is interested in
applying for this position, please get in touch with Carolyn Patterson (cpatterson@diocesecpa.org ).
Join Hands items of the month are Personal Toiletries & Paper Towels - Soap, Shampoo, Conditionor, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Deodorant, Tweezers, Disposable Razors and Shaving Cream.
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.
