nativity news - amazon s3 · 2018. 12. 20. · gift to a king. frankincense, used as incense, is a...
TRANSCRIPT
January 2019
A note from the Rector…
“We three kings of orient are….” This hymn is probably familiar to most of us. Henry Hopkins wrote the words
and lyrics to this hymn in 1857, while serving as the first music instructor at General Theological Seminary and
also as Rector of Christ Church in Williamsport. It was first sung at a pageant at the seminary. It is considered
the first Christmas hymn in English from the United States.
This year Epiphany (January 6) actually occurs on a Sunday and we
will remember the journey of the wise men, who follow the bright star
in the east, seeking the baby Jesus.
They bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold is brought as a
gift to a king. Frankincense, used as incense, is a symbol of God.
Myrrh was a spice used on a body at the time of death.
Epiphany is the 12th day of Christmas. In parts of the Christian world, especially Italy, Spain, Latin America
and the Caribbean, it is the day children receive presents. They often put grass in their shoes for the camels to
eat. Three Kings Day also marks the beginning of Mardi Gras, with the kings’ cakes and the baby Jesus baked
into them.
For us, the day is especially important as it represents Jesus being revealed to the Gentiles. Jesus came for all of
creation all over the world. Even people from distant places were drawn to him and knew his birth was special
and would change the course of the world.
This year the season of Epiphany is especially long. Ash Wednesday is on March 6. During this time, let us
reflect upon how Jesus has changed us, changed our lives and changed the world.
Thank you for the year-end gift of $385. I am grateful to be your Rector, and walk together on our Christian
journey.
Love, Rebecca+
NATIVITY NEWS
The newsletter of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen
Newport and Thompsontown, PA
159 South Second Street, Newport PA 17074
Phone: 717-567-6514 E-mail: [email protected]
Parish Website: www.nativityandststephen.diocpa.org
Commons and Gardens Upcoming Activities
If you are able to help out or contribute to any of the Episcopal Gardens or Commons activities, please see a
member of the Program and Mission Committee.
Episcopal Gardens Activities:
Thursday, January 24, 11am - 1pm, - Lunch and Winter Craft
Tuesday, March 5, Invite residents to our Shrove Tuesday pancake supper, bus to
leave Honaman House at 5:30, return approx. 8pm.
Thursday, March 14, 11am - 1pm - BINGO and Lunch
Sunday, June 2, after church at St. Stephen’s - Cookout
Episcopal Commons Activities:
Tuesday, February 13, 11am - 1pm - Lunch and Valentine’s Craft
Tuesday, March 5, Invite residents to our Shrove Tuesday pancake supper
Wednesday, April 10, 11am - 1pm - Easter/Spring Activity and Lunch
Wednesday, June 5, 11am - 1pm – Cookout
The Good Book Club invites you to join in reading Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans during Epiphany 2019.
Episcopalians will start reading Romans on January 7, 2019 and read a section every day (except Sundays)
through the Epiphany season. A list of daily readings in below. Please visit www.goodbookclub.org for more
information.
JANUARY
Monday, January 7 - Romans 1:1-7
Tuesday, January 8 -Romans 1:8-17
Wednesday, January 9 - Romans 1:18-32
Thursday, January 10 - Romans 2:1-16
Friday, January 11 - Romans 2:17-29
Saturday, January 12 - Romans 3:1-8
Sunday, January 13 - Hear God’s Word at church
Monday, January 14 - Romans 3:9-20
Tuesday, January 15 - Romans 3:21-31
Wednesday, January 16 - Romans 4:1-12
Thursday, January 17 - Romans 4:13-25
Friday, January 18 - Romans 5:1-11
Saturday, January 19 - Romans 5:12-21
Sunday, January 20 - Hear God’s Word at church
Monday, January 21 - Romans 6:1-14
Tuesday, January 22 - Romans 6:15-23
Wednesday, January 23 - Romans 7:1-6
Thursday, January 24 - Romans 7:7-13
Friday, January 25 - Romans 7:14-25
Saturday, January 26 - Romans 8:1-8
Sunday, January 27 - Hear God’s Word at church
Monday, January 28 - Romans 8:9-17
Tuesday, January 29 - Romans 8:18-30
Wednesday, January 30 - Romans 8:31-39
Thursday, January 31 - Romans 9:1-18
FEBRUARY
Friday, February 1 - Romans 9:19-33
Saturday, February 2 - Romans 10:1-4
Sunday, February 3 - Hear God’s Word at church
Monday, February 4 - Romans 10:5-13
Tuesday, February 5 - Romans 10:14-21
Wednesday, February 6 - Romans 11:1-10
Thursday, February 7 - Romans 11:11-16
Friday, February 8 - Romans 11:17-24
Saturday, February 9 - Romans 11:25-36
Sunday, February 10 - Hear God’s Word at church
Monday, February 11 - Romans 12:1-2
Tuesday, February 12 - Romans 12:3-8
Wednesday, February 13 - Romans 12:9-13
Thursday, February 14 - Romans 12:14-21
Friday, February 15 - Romans 13:1-7
Saturday, February 16 - Romans 13:8-10
Sunday, February 17 - Hear God’s Word at church
Monday, February 18 - Romans 13:11-14
Tuesday, February 19 - Romans 14:1-6
Wednesday, February 20 - Romans 14:7-12
Thursday, February 21 - Romans 14:13-18
Friday, February 22 - Romans 14:19-23
Saturday, February 23 - Romans 15:1-6
Sunday, February 24 - Hear God’s Word at church
Monday, February 25 - Romans 15:7-13
Tuesday, February 26 - Romans 15:14-21
Wednesday, February 27 - Romans 15:22-29
Thursday, February 28 - Romans 15:30-33
MARCH
Friday, March 1 - Romans 16:1-7
Saturday, March 2 - Romans 16:8-16
Sunday, March 3 - Hear God’s Word at church
Monday, March 4 - Romans 16:17-23
*NRSV omits v. 24
Tuesday, March 5 - Romans 16:25-27
Wednesday, March 6 - Back to normal reading
Nativity Happenings
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Parlor People Sessions January 6 - Bill Rohm -
An Epiphany Bucket List Part I
January 13 - Bill Rohm -
An Epiphany Bucket List Part II
January 20, 27, February 3 -
Issues of aging – Presenters and topics to TBD
Godly Play will be
January 13, 20 and 27.
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Epipha-tea
Saturday, February 16, 1pm.
Meet at the church at noon to
carpool to Mary Price’s.
Snow date is Saturday, February 23.
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During 2019, we will be
celebrating baptism on January
13, April 21, June 9, November
3 and December 8.
Let Rebecca know if you or someone you know
would like to be baptized on any of these days.
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Darlene Amsler is
collecting cancelled
stamps for Eastern Stars.
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Send notes or cards to our
friends who are unable to
attend service on Sundays.
Arlene McGowan Edith Jones
92 Village Drive 232 W. Main Street
Room 108 New Bloomfield PA 17068
Mifflintown PA 17059
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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.
-----------------------------------------------
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, or to celebrate
your thanksgivings. Flowers are $30. Let Michele
know by email – [email protected] or phone,
717-567-6514.
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Baking needs and chocolate items available
through
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.
-----------------------------------------------
Wendy Day is collecting
Box Tops for Education.
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Diocesan Happenings
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Sign up for news from around our Diocese.
Monthly email available. Go to
https://diocesecpa.org/subscribe-for-newsletters/
to sign up.
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Martin Luther King Service,
Monday, January 21, 6-9pm,
First Christian Church,
442 Hummel Avenue, Lemoyne.
Sponsored by the Diocese with Anthony Alexander,
Lori Clark Robinson, Greg Welin and Rebecca
Myers involved. The event is being coordinated by
Christian Churches United.
The agenda for the evening is as follows:
6 - 7:30 pm: A Conversation on the East
Shore/West Shore divide -Presentation of ‘The
Conversation’ skit by Community Responders
Network (you can view it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-
Umz9poL2EM&feature=youtube)
Panel Discussion facilitated by Pastor Dave
Shreffler, Trinity Lutheran, Lemoyne
Current confirmed panelists: Rev. Anthony
Alexander, Rev. Lavette Paige (King Community
Center, Harrisburg), Rev. Jason Schwartzman
(Grace United Methodist, Lemoyne), Major Kristal
Turner-Childs (PA State Police).
Invited: Don Paul Shearer - President, West Shore
Historical Society
7:30 - 8 pm: Refreshments/Informal Conversation
8 - 9 pm: MLK Commemoration Worship Service
including faith leaders from multiple
denominations, as well as a Unity Choir.
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A Unity Choir is being formed to perform at
the Martin Luther King Service on
Monday, January 21.
The choir will practice on Monday, January 7 and
Monday, January 14. If you are interested in being
part of the choir, please see Rebecca.
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Diocesan In-residence Day in Harrisburg
Convocation, Wednesday, January 30,
All Saints, 310 Elm Avenue, Hershey.
Plan now to spend part of your day with the
Diocesan staff - 10-10:30, Coffee/Fellowship;
10:45-11:30, Bible Study; 11:45-12:30, Worship
Service and 12:30-1:15, Lunch (Bring your own and
enjoy fellowship with us!). If you’d like an
appointment with one of the staff, please see
Rebecca.
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Circling Around the Light, Friday, February
1 and Saturday, February 2, Hosted by
Christ Memorial Church, Danville and
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Bloomsburg.
This two day retreat will be available to 24
participants. Workshops will focus on the
Enneagram, the Circle Way, and the Way of Love.
Contact Jim at [email protected] for more info and
to register.
-----------------------------------------------
Bishop's Open. Monday, May 13,
State College
If you are interested or have questions, please
contact Shannon Pedersen,
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Happening, February 15-17,
Camp Mt. Luther, Mifflinburg.
Youth in grades 9-12 are invited for an exciting
weekend of fun, friendship, and faith! You will
have the opportunity to talk about God with your
peers, the people who will be experiencing the same
event with you. Please register by February 8 at
https://diocesecpa.org/youth/ Cost: $125.00. Scholarships are available.
Contact: Mary Ellen Kilp or Theda Tallman at
[email protected] for questions.
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A New Beginning #2,
Retreat for Youth in Grades 6-8,
Friday, April 5, 2019 – Sunday, April 17,
Camp Mount Luther, Mifflinburg, PA.
Cost is $100 per participant and includes housing in
cabins with other youth, all meals, t-shirt, and all
activities. Deadline to register is Friday, March 29.
Register at www.diocesecpa.org. For more info,
contact Mary Ellen Kilp or Theda Tallman at
cpayouthcom.gmail.com or 717-475-2785.
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Community Happenings
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Pennsylvania Interfaith Power and Light 8th
Annual PA to DC Bike Trip, May 10 - 15. There will be two groups, one originating in the
State College area and one in the Philadelphia area
making the trip to raise a faith voice for action
against climate change. This public statement of
concern is also a fundraiser for PA IPL and riders
spend a day on Capitol Hill advocating for policies
that will turn the tide of climate change and protect
Creation and God's most vulnerable people. This
year, they hope to recruit more riders and still have
a diverse group so we are asking potential riders to
fill out an application between now and January 28.
The participants will be selected and make
commitments by mid-February. The application
form is at paipl.us/what-do-we-do/bike-trip and
gives much more information about the trip.
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January Honaman House 2 Gregory Fried 15 John Albright
Jacob Rice 22 Sheryl Krebs
Ann Roland 25 Raymond Strunk
4 Emily Davis 27 Deborah Bryner
Jason Ehrhart
Kerry Jezewski
7 Joann Weller Episcopal Commons
14 Nathan Beamer 6 Phyllis Smith
17 Wendy Day 10 Karen Myers
18 Matthew Warne 11 Debbie Ramos
23 Will Davis 14 Mary Ostott
28 Stella Cox
January Service Participants Schedule
A.G. – Altar Guild GP – Godly Play
Service Participants for January 6 - March 31
Date Greeters Lector Prayers Acolyte Euch. Min. Coffee Hour
January 6 (A.G. 1) Cramers Kay C. John C. Alivia Saner Susan R. / Jean
Epiphany
January 13 GP (A.G. 2) Rolands Jane H. Jan Y. Burns Burns Lynne / Jill
Renewal of Baptismal Vows
January 20 GP (A.G. 3) Beamer / Kern Wendy D. Susan R. Amsler Amsler Anne C./Elizabeth P.
January 27 GP (A.G. 4) Yocums Connie Y. Gail S. Davis Davis Edna / Andrea
February 3 (A.G. 1) Mitchell / Shull Mary P. Dick P. Lillian Day Kay / Wendy
January 2019
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
2 Men’s Breakfast
(Espresso Yourself)
Women’s Breakfast
(Bitting’s) – 9am
3 Friends of Newport Game Night, 7pm
4
5
6 Worship - 9:30am
Special Offering Parlor People Bill Rohm - An Epiphany Bucket List Part I
7
8 Taize’ Tuesday, 4:45pm
9 Men’s Breakfast
(Espresso Yourself)
Women’s Breakfast
(Newport Family) –
9am
Property Committee Meeting, 10:15am
Sabbatical Committee Meeting, 10:30am
Vestry, 6:30pm
10
11
12 Diocesan Eliminating Racism Task Group, 9:30am – 12:30pm
13 Worship - 9:30am
Godly Play
Renewal of Baptismal Vows
Parlor People Bill Rohm - An Epiphany Bucket List Part II
14
15 Taize’ Tuesday, 4:45pm
16 Men’s Breakfast
(Espresso Yourself)
Women’s Breakfast
(Bitting’s) – 9am
PCCA Poetry Out Loud Regional Competition, Nativty 10am – 2pm
17
18
19
20 Worship - 9:30am
Godly Play
Parlor People Issues of Aging - TBD
21 Martin Luther King Service, 6-9pm, First Christian Church, 442 Hummel Avenue, Lemoyne
22 Taize’ Tuesday, 4:45pm
23 Men’s Breakfast
(Espresso Yourself)
Women’s Breakfast
(Newport Family) –
9am
24 Lunch and winter craft 11am – 1pm, Gardens
Clergy Council, 2 – 4pm
25
26
27 Worship - 9:30am
Godly Play
Special Offering
Parlor People Issues of Aging - TBD
28
29 Taize’ Tuesday, 4:45pm
30 Men’s Breakfast
(Espresso Yourself)
Women’s Breakfast
(Bitting’s) – 9am
Diocesan In-residence Day, All Saints, 310 Elm Avenue, Hershey
31 Stitchers, 10am
Special Offerings: January 6 – Caring for Nativity’s Neighbors and Flower Offering.
January 27 – Building Fund and the Kermit Lloyd Theological Education Fund.