We are in the middle of the season of Advent anticipating and preparing for the bold proclamation “A Savior has been born.”
A story – A woman was Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two children.
She felt what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of year: overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, get that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping g list, make sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of responding to everyone who sent us a card.
Finally the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two children in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot."
From the back of the car everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, "Don't worry we already crucified him." For the rest of the trip down the elevator it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. (Story is from an unknown source.)
As we hustle around readying our homes for company or thinking about what to pack in our suitcases and buying gifts to please, what are we
doing to ready ourselves to receive the perfect Gift, to please the Spirit of love asking for a
warm and welcoming reception? Spend some time preparing your heart and your spirit to welcome anew the real Spirit of Christmas, the Spirit of love, the Spirit of Jesus.
Keep the One who started this whole Christmas thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and word. Think of how different this whole world would be if we all did that.
On Christmas Eve beginning at 11 PM we will receive and celebrate the extraordinary Gift from God, Jesus incarnate in our lives. What gift can we give the Christ Child? The gift of ourselves offered humbly and lovingly is pleasing to God. As we enter these final weeks of Advent, we anticipate this amazing exchange of gifts and prepare our hearts, minds and spirit to welcome again the presence of Christ within.
I give you, the people of Emmanuel, a large “Thank you” for your time and energy given to God and to the church this past year and for your fellowship and kindnesses to me. In thanksgiving I am giving donations in your honor to our local Helping Hands and Faith in Action food pantry and to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) for their work throughout the world for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals to eliminate extreme poverty and preventable diseases that kill.
I will be in Texas Dec. 25 – Jan. 2 and have arranged clergy coverage for emergencies. Please contact Kim Pifer if there is a need.
May you have a blessed Christmas and abide in the peace, love and joy of Christ,
Joyce
If you would like to designate Christmas poinsettias in memory of, in thanksgiving for, or
in honor of someone,
please turn those in [printed] by Sunday, December 16.
Sunday, December 23 –Pot luck lunch and “greening” of the church
Advent Wednesday noon lunches continue at Emmanuel – December 12 and 19
KAMA sponsors the lunches with a message from Rejoicing in Hope by James A. Harnish continuing on December 12 and 19 at Emmanuel. Food and program are provided by other KAMA churches
Take a few moments for refreshment of both body and spirit during this busy, even hectic season.
Pass the word, especially to those who may be losing hope in this season.
Advent prayer study continues with Keyser Presbyterian Church
Advent is an opportunity to reconnect with what is holy, and since the pre-Christmas days tend
to be hectic, a time of quietness is especially appropriate during this season.
The four-part Advent study on the discipline of prayer sponsored by Keyser Presbyterian and Emmanuel continues:
Tuesday, December 11th at 6 PM at Emmanuel: learn about prayer beads through the centuries,
create prayer beads and participate in a Taizé music and prayer service.
Thursday, December 13th at 6 PM at Keyser Presbyterian: ways to approach prayer using
contemporary methods as well as the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to boldly pray.
Previous sessions included an introduction to the labyrinth and a labyrinth walk, breath prayers,
centering prayers, and the ancient practice of Lectio Divina.
Alternative gifts – Birthday Gifts for Jesus
On birthdays we honor the one whose birth we are celebrating. To give to Jesus, we find him in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned (Matthew 25: 31-46). We can help in our own community or aid people far away. You may give a donation in honor of family members and friends as a Christmas gift and for any gift-giving occasion.
Local and international organizations: Helping Hands, Faith in Action food pantry, the crisis shelter, Episcopal Relief and Development, Heifer International, and others will be represented to accept your gift for people in need on Sunday, December 9, and you may donate afterward also.
Dates to Remember
Sunday, December 16 Names for poinsettias due; vestry meeting at noon
Sunday, December 23 Greening of the church after pot luck lunch
Monday, December 24 Candlelight festive Nativity of our Lord Holy Eucharist, 11 PM
Sunday, December 30 Morning Prayer, 8 AM; Lessons, carols and pageant, 10 AM
Sunday, January 6 Epiphany; committee reports due for annual meeting
Sunday, January 20 Annual meeting, 9 AM
Saturday, January 26 Vestry retreat
Wednesday, February 6 Ash Wednesday
Christmas pageant of a different sort on Sunday, December 30 at 10 AM
There were these four angels … young people, although they had been around in Old Testament times … and the thing they most wanted to do was to sing in the heavenly choir. But they had bumbled around with all their angel-school homework and seemed to be stuck on this side of the clouds. And then came their really big assignment, location Bethlehem! Their story is the subject of a short skit which will be paired with scripture and congregational singing of beloved Christmas carols on Sunday Dec 30 at the ten o’clock service. Sharon Floyd cast the skit from Emmanuel Episcopal Characters Inc.
Come early for a good seat!
From your Senior Warden
Merry Christmas Friends! This year has been a challenging and enlightening time, yet much remains to be done. Our vestry will be losing two members, Phyllis Bruce and Andrew Rankin. Andrew has the opportunity to serve a regular three year term since he has only served a one year replacement. We appreciate the hard work this young man has done for Emmanuel and know he is only beginning his service to the Lord.
May we continue to pray for those suffering illnesses, loss of loved ones and times of loneliness and confinement. This year we ask each of you to help our church grow with love and support for each other and for those who lead us in our search for a closer relationship with Christ. I give many thanks to you for helping me with my duties as senior warden. I wish each of you a joyous Christmas and a healthy, loving New Year.
I received these holiday thoughts below in a Christmas card from loved ones. To me, they are a new look at an old theme, that of gratitude for the many mundane things that constitute our everyday lives.
God’s Love to you.
Kim Pifer
On Being Thankful
I love the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
I love the taxes I pay because it means that I’m employed.
I love the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.
I love a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need
fixing because it means I have a home.
I love all the complaining I hear about our government because
it means we have freedom of speech.
I love a spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.
I love my huge heating bill because it means I am warm.
I love the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby,
and we have clothing to wear.
I love weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means that I have been productive.
And I love all the many cards I have to write over the holidays, because it means
I have friends and family that I care about deeply!
Triangulate or talk with the one involved?
In Family Systems Theory, triangulation is when one person has a problem with another, or two people have a problem with each other, and one or both "triangle in" a third member. This is not helpful; neither is it biblical. Matthew tells us that one talks with the other directly. For healthy communication, if you have a concern, complaint, recommendation, question, or compliment, please take those directly to the person involved, especially if it is the rector.
The Rector Search Committee Update
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
To the People of Emmanuel Church:
You have most likely been reading the monthly updates in The Vine Newsletter from the Rector Search Committee of Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Keyser regarding the process of searching for and calling the fourth permanent rector of our parish. Since many of you are anxiously awaiting the conclusion of this process, we felt that we should present our sisters and brothers in Christ with a more formal report.
The process has been a long and sometimes difficult venture for all involved, but it was entirely necessary since we wish to find the priest best qualified for our needs as a community of faith. We have read and analyzed numerous profiles and resumes of priests who are available, and all of us have been working together in a prayerful manner to find ordained men and women who exhibit the personal and pastoral characteristics crucial to sustain Emmanuel Church now and for growth in the future. Tough questions have been asked and even tougher decisions have been made.
We are pleased to announce to you that there are three highly qualified priests who have engaged in mutual discernment with Emmanuel Church, and we have been quite impressed with the evidence of their education, personalities, pastoral skills, compassion, outreach ministries, work with children and youth, and an abiding love for Jesus Christ and His Church. The telephone interviews that the members of the Rector Search Committee have conducted with both the priest-candidates and their ministerial references were very moving, spiritually uplifting experiences for all involved; we are confident that any of these individuals would be an asset to our congregation. Therefore, the Rector Search Committee has voted to end the consideration of any new candidates by December 15, 2007 so that we can focus upon the next steps in the endeavor.
During the months of December 2007 and January 2008 the Committee will observe the priest-candidate celebrating a Sunday Holy Eucharist in his/her own parish, complete with a sermon. Once these observations have been completed, the next step will be to prepare a final list of candidates from which the Vestry of Emmanuel Church will conduct the actual personal interviews here in Keyser. Then the priest-candidate who is deemed to be best suited for our parish will be called and installed as rector. It is our intention to conclude the liturgical/homiletic observations no later than mid-January, and we have committed ourselves to completing this very important venture by no later than Easter of 2008.
We want to thank you for your continued prayers and your patience in our work for Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Please be assured of our diligence in finding the next permanent rector for our church, and that we can now see the “finish line” in the days ahead. May our Lord Jesus Christ bless and strengthen Emmanuel Church as we strive to do His work in the lives of others.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
THE RECTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE:
Ken Dyche (Chairman)
Sue Riley (Recording Secretary)
Michael Summers (Corresponding Secretary)
Beverly Davis, Spring Fertig, Andrew Rankin,
Francine Shanahan, Ralph Smith
If you have not returned you Time/Talent and pledge forms, please do so soon.
Thank you to all who have returned them.
Thanks – to Emmanuel from KAMA for sharing your Patchett parish hall with the Keyser community during
the KAMA Advent lunches [see top of this page]. (I’ve received many compliments on the hall from
people experiencing it for the first time. - Joyce)
- to Francine Shanahan, Marcy D’Elisa, Kim Pifer, and Ginny Poland for set-up assistance at the
KAMA lunches.
- to Kim Pifer, Karen Naylor and Francine Shanahan for leading Sunday adult formation
- to Sue Riley, David and Tamela Rankin, and Michael Miller for ministry with the youth
- to Sharon Floyd and Kim Miller for children’s formation and church school.
- to Karen Naylor for assistance at the labyrinth walk
- to the Ken Dyche, chair, and the rector search committee (page 4) for their time and discernment
- to Beverly Davis for the ECW presentations and Sonny Rhodes for the Men's Breakfasts
- to Michael Summers for the extensive website, leading the Guild of Sts. Peter and Paul, and newspaper
contributions
- to David Rankin and the choir for the fine music enriching our worship
- to the altar guild, coffee hour hosts, counters, and the many faithful Emmanuel parishioners who give of
themselves in innumerable ways and hours
- a special Thanks to Kim Pifer, senior warden who gives countless hours and energy to parishioners
and to the church buildings and grounds
- to June Cooper, parish secretary, for her work in the office
Christmas is for Healing
by Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr
Loving you, of course
I am not at all interested in how much money
you are spending on Christmas gifts this year
but rather, in how much blood, sweat, and tears
you are shedding
to make Christ a vital part of your life
for you and I will never be able to erase
the fact that he came:
to touch lives – to break bread
to heal hurt – to forgive sins
to wash feet – to calm seas
to walk on water – to give us the Spirit
and to care immensely
Yes, to care enough
to be born in our Bethlehem
to live in our land, and weep over our cities
and die and rise again.
So now it’s Christmas
and I am not sure what part of you is crippled
or where you need to feel God’s saving power
but with everything in me
I believe that Christmas is for healing
And he came to heal.
So if you can trust Jesus enough to
walk out on the waters of getting involved,
of washing feet and anointing people,
of breaking bread and working miracles,
I am almost sure his saving presence
will touch those blind and crippled parts of your life
and Christmas will come to you.
More than anything else
I want to give you Christmas this year
It’s a gift, an offer
You can take it if you like
but I can’t really give it to you
like a wrapped up package.
It is deeper than that,
It is warmer, brighter, holier,
It is more personal.
Christmas is more challenging
than a wrapped up package.
It is an offer
It is a mystery
It is birth
It is hope.
It is Christmas and
God can never be born enough…
Sunday, January 6, committee reports are due for the annual meeting on January 20.
“O Antiphons" featured in 10 AM Advent Prayers of the People
and “O come, O come, Emmanuel”
An antiphon is a response, often chanted to a psalm or some other part of a religious service.
The “O Antiphons” refer to the seven antiphons for the Octave before Christmas, Dec. 17-23, with Dec. 24 being the Christmas Vigil. In the Church of England they have traditionally been used as antiphons to the Magnificat (the Song of Mary, Luke 1:46-55) at Evening Prayer during this period. Today the O Antiphons are most familiar to us in the hymn "O come, O come Emmanuel" with each verse of the hymn paralleling one of the antiphons.
The origin of the “O Antiphons” is not known, but they were mentioned around 500. Each one highlights a title for the Messiah from scripture (mainly from Isaiah) with praise, a petition and a call for him to come. They are in Latin: O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord, Ruler of the House of Israel), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Morning Star or Rising Dawn), O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations), and O Emmanuel (O Emmanuel, God-with-us).
The Benedictine monks arranged the antiphons so that the first letter of each taken backward form a Latin acrostic, ero cras, meaning, “Tomorrow I will come,” giving a joyful conclusion to our Advent preparation on Christmas Eve.
Sharing the bounty – Bring your clean jars and plastic containers: pint, quart, half-gallon to the kitchen so we can share leftovers.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Thursday, November 1, 2007
The Vine Newsletter (November 2007)
as Advent approaches
Advent, the beginning of the church year and the four week time of spiritual preparation for the coming of Jesus, begins December 2. We will offer several opportunities to prepare our hearts for new life in Christ within, time for calm and thoughtfulness before and during the hustle and bustle of preparation for Christmas.
“Advent” Wednesday noon lunches at Emmanuel, November 28 – December 19
Keyser Area Ministerial Association (KAMA) is sponsoring four “Advent” lunches with the theme “Rejoicing in hope” on Wednesdays November 28, December 5, 12, and 19 at Emmanuel. Food and program will be provided by other KAMA churches. We welcome participation and your help in preparing sufficient coffee and tea for the attendees, set-up and basic cleaning afterward. Please let us know when and how you will assist.
Labyrinth and Advent prayer study with Keyser Presbyterian Church
Because Advent is an opportunity to reconnect with what is deep and holy and because the pre-Christmas season is so hectic, a time of quietness is especially appropriate during this season.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church in cooperation with Keyser Presbyterian Church is pleased to announce a four-part Advent study on the discipline of prayer.
Thursday, November 29th at 6 PM at Emmanuel: an introduction to the Labyrinth, Breath Prayers, and Centering Prayers.
Saturday, Dec. 1st, 10 AM to 3 PM and Sunday, Dec 2nd, Noon to 5 PM, at Keyser Presbyterian: a Labyrinth will be available for your pilgrimage
Thursday, December 6th at 6 PM at Keyser Presbyterian: investigate the ancient practice of Lectio Divina.
Tuesday, December 11th at 6 PM at Emmanuel: learn about prayer beads through the centuries, create prayer beads and participate in a Taizé music and prayer service.
Thursday, December 13th at 6 PM at Keyser Presbyterian: conclude with ways to approach prayer using contemporary methods as well as the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to boldly pray.
Emmanuel is borrowing an 11-circuit labyrinth from St. John’s, Frostburg. Since it is too large for our facilities, it will be placed in the parish hall at Keyser Presbyterian across the street.
Advent Event – Sunday, Dec. 2: Wreath-making, alternative gift market, make cards
On the 1st Sunday of Advent, we will light the Advent wreath during worship. During the 9-10 Christian formation time and during and after coffee hour, you may make an Advent wreath.
Alternative gift market –December 2 – Birthday Gifts for Jesus
How will we celebrate Jesus' birth this year? To give to Jesus, we find him in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned. You will have the opportunity to give a donation in honor of family members and friends as a Christmas gift instead of [or in addition to] another sweater, DVD, or dust-collector for a shelf. See page 2 for continuation.
Give “alternative” gifts year round; alternative gift market on Sunday, Dec. 2
Most of us have far more sweaters, ties, videos, CDs, and “dust catchers” on shelves, than we need. Instead of accumulating more, give alternative gifts for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, any gift giving occasion or just to give thanks from our abundance. If you must, give a small ‘real’ gift and also a contribution to help better the world. This is the time of year to stack up contributions for income tax deductions. Whatever motivation causes you to act! We can give a donation in honor of Uncle Ned or sister Joan. Some families discuss and decide on a recipient each year. If they like the outdoors, give to protect the mountains, to plant trees or to help the homeless. Is your family sports minded? Give to an organization for boys and girls locally or for AIDS orphans in Africa or for clean water to drink. Suggestions are virtually endless. Give to Habitat for Humanity for decent housing around the world. Give to Heifer International so people can have animals for food and a livelihood. As they become self-sufficient, they pass on the gift, an animal offspring, to another person, and the joyful story begins again. Give to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) to help people in need from natural disasters, war, poverty, diseases as AIDS, for education, and more.
Local and international organizations: Helping Hands, Faith in Action food pantry, Energy Express, Episcopal Relief and Development, Heifer International, and others will be represented to accept your gift for people in need.
Our prayers go out to the families of Ralph Smith on the death of his wife for 57 years, Leona, and
Patty Redman and Thelma Stewart in the death of Susan Mitchell, respectfully mother and sister.
Thank you, Emmanuel, for $205 in support of the Rev. Joyce walking for Helping Hands. Total for Helping Hands Walk was around $2500.
Faith in Action food pantry needs for foods for Thanksgiving baskets and for every day. Thanksgiving foods include dressing mix, desserts as cake mix and icing, cranberry sauce, canned vegetables.
Angel Tree is gathering names. We hope to provide for some families this year. Details to follow.
Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) to begin the First Sunday of Advent
as mandated by General Convention 2006 and our bishop.
A Lectionary is a table of readings from Scripture appointed to be read at public worship. The association of particular texts with specific days began in the 4th century. The Revised Common Lectionary provides these new features: the option of semi-continuous reading of the great Old Testament narratives on the Sundays after Pentecost and the inclusion of women and their role in salvation history. The Revised Common Lectionary preserves around 90% of the Gospel readings in the Lectionary of The Book of Common Prayer 1979.
Why is the Revised Common Lectionary of value to the Episcopal Church?
• It is an ecumenical lectionary shared by most Protestant denominations and widely used throughout the Anglican Communion.
• It provides new opportunities for ecumenical Bible study and shared resources for teaching and preaching.
• It has improved the choice of appropriate texts for Sundays and Festivals.
• It incorporates most of the readings with which the church is familiar.
• Most new resources for preaching, teaching and the planning of worship are already being developed to support the Revised Common Lectionary.
[From the Episcopal Church Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music.] The lectionary is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/RCL_pages_for_BCP-cropped.pdf and other sites.]
A brochure about the RCL will be available at the church and will be sent to our yahoogroups site.
Christmas Eve time[s] of service
We’ve had requests to consider the Christmas Eve worship time. Some of the young and the older and the in between say 11 PM is too difficult. So we are polling our readership.
Do you want one worship service or two: early only, late only, or one of each, realizing attendance would be split between two, if offered.
Return this form to 301 S. Mineral Street, Keyser 26726, or call the office [304-788-4475], or email us [withus@verizon.net] with your vote by Wednesday, November 21.
One service (select 1 time) Two services (select 2 times)
___ 5 PM ___ 5 PM
___ 6 PM ___ 6 PM
___ 7 PM ___ 7 PM
___ 8 PM ___ 8 PM
___ 9 PM ___ 9 PM
___ 10 PM ___ 10 PM
___ 11 PM ___ 11 PM
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Saints’ Sunday, November 4
In commemoration of All Saints’ Day and All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) on November 1 and 2, we welcomed James Scotty Hicks as a new saint of God through baptism and Sandy and Dennie Wolfe as new members by transfer. We also welcomed several long time attendees who were not entered in the parish register previously. A table of remembrance for living saints and saints who have died held pictures of our beloved, including a sonogram of a future grandson. During the Prayers of the People we remembered family members and friends who have died.
**********************************
As we remember the saints who have died, we also are reminded of our own deaths some day in the future. A funeral arrangements guidelines and workbook is available for preplanning.
The Minister of the Congregation is directed to instruct the people, from time to time, about the duty of Christian parents to make prudent provision for the well being of their families, and of all persons to make wills, while they are in health, arranging for the disposal of their temporal goods, not neglecting, if they are able, to leave bequests for religious and charitable uses. Book of Common Prayer, page 445.
The Blessing of the Animals was held on the back parking lot with lots of life in attendance: 46 people, 26 cats, 14 live dogs + 1 large stuffed dog, 2 goats, and numerous pet pictures. The Humane Society and the group wanting a cat shelter were present. Pet lovers brought cat and dog food and donations for the Humane Society and for Mineral County Animal Control for bedding.
Register for West Virginia Major State Day at Washington National Cathedral: January 27, 2008.
Go to the National Cathedral Website , and under programs, find Major state day info and registration. www.nationalcathedral.org OR http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/programs/stateday.shtml.
Our WV chair for this event is Hollie Mitchell, WMitch8315@aol.com, 304-776-8315.
World AIDS Day is December 1. 39.5 million people are living with HIV, including 2.3 million children.
Episcopal Youth Fellowship on the move
Episcopal Youth Fellowship continues to happen’! Our youth gather in the loft at 9:00 AM on Sunday mornings for Christian Formation and again every other week after school for “Manic Mondays!” Recently, the group has also enjoyed two trips out of town and has planned a third.
Six of our acolytes and four sponsors traveled to Washington National Cathedral last month for our church’s first-ever participation in the National Acolyte Festival: Codi and Shawnee Gourlay, Andrew and Ian Rankin, Alyssa Williams, Chalet Roy (acolyte-in-training), Kim Pifer, David Rankin, Sue Riley, and Joyce Wilkinson. Upon an early arrival, one of our youth, when looking up at the spires still shrouded in morning mist, said it must look like the school Harry Potter attended! Over a thousand robed young acolytes processed down the center aisle of the great cathedral while carrying church banners, candles & high-flying streamers from home; the colorful procession took an hour! The stained-glass window with the moon rock was not far from our seats and also drew our attention. As the morning worship drew to a close, we claimed our spot on the cathedral grounds to fuel up (tasty bag lunch) for afternoon workshops. Our kids elected to see how the celebratory processional streamers operated; they come with really long poles! And then off to a slide show and remarks about the famous gargoyles of the cathedral. Darth Vader? Who knew he’d be there?
Most of our teens had only read about the Lincoln Memorial, Viet Nam Wall, Washington Monument, the White House, and the Capitol. They never imagined they’d actually get to see them! But see them we did; just ask our feet! The weather was gorgeous and prayers from at least one of our parishioners back home helped us find not one, but two parking spaces downtown! “I didn’t really want to go, my mom made me go, but I never thought I would have this much fun”. That sums it up. We “did good” for our youth on that one!
So who wants to sign up to be scared half to death? Some of us did; some said “no” at the outset. The brave ones left for Cumberland’s CiCi’s Pizza and then off to Cumberland’s Emmanuel Episcopal Church for their youth-sponsored fund raiser in which the tunnels beneath the church were transformed into a haunted house for Halloween. “Three dollars a victim.” Some of our kids turned back at the chain saw!! (Seems like a good idea.) Participating were Alyssa, Ian and Andrew, Chalet, Codi and Shawnee, David Rankin, Michael and Carla Miller, and David Gourlay.
Coming up, some of us will stay overnight at the Cumberland YMCA. This event is sponsored by the Potomac Highlands Mission Community. Activities scheduled include swimming, basketball, playing on the indoor soccer field, devotions, climbing wall (that must be for the adults!) and pizza. Hanging out overnight with 75 youth! Imagine!
Thanks to volunteers who have helped our youth staff or plan to help our EYF. Sandy and Sheila will help Tamela with our “MMon!” meals. Carla was thrilled to accompany the brave souls in the tunnels. Thanks to all of you for keeping us in your prayers. – by Sue Riley
Jottings by Joyce
Originally, in the Eastern Church, Advent focused on the Annunciation when the angels told Mary that she would bear a child; but in the West it came to concern the first coming at the nativity, the future coming at the end of time, and the present coming, through grace, to our hearts. Thus the themes of the coming judgment and of joyful expectation.
From Growing together: spiritual exercises for church committees by Rochelle Melander and Harold Eppley: Emmanuel, God with us, we rejoice in the opportunity to grow closer to you and to one another. Dwell with us as we meet, unite us as we work, and awaken us to your presence. Amen.
Questions from the book I invite us to consider: * What does it mean to grow spiritually?
* In what ways have you been spiritually nurtured by the Christian community?
* What can we do, both inside and outside the church, to help each other grow spiritually?
One Advent hymn begins “Sleepers, wake!” May we awaken to new opportunities to live as followers of Jesus.
Joyce
The Rector Search Committee Update
October has been a very busy month for the Rector Search Committee of Emmanuel Church. Thus far we’ve sent out 29 introductory packages to prospective candidates from the Church Deployment Office database, and as of this writing we now have three priests who have submitted their resumes and other documentation for our consideration. Believe me; it’s totally exciting to see the many months of our labors showing fruit! We will continue to send out information packages to CDO matches and other priests who express an interest in possibly submitting their resumes so they can be in the running as well.
Archdeacon Faith Perrizo came in October to instruct the Committee members how to conduct telephone interviews with the priest-candidates and the reference contacts they’ve submitted. The primary goal for November will be to review the resumes we’ve received thus far (and in the days to come), and then begin the process of conducting initial telephone interviews with priests we feel would be well-suited for our parish.
The telephone interviews are crucial because they will provide the Committee with greater insights into the personality and ministry of the candidates, not only from the candidates themselves but also from the personal references that have been provided. Each candidate must submit at least three names, addresses and telephone numbers of individuals who are current or past members of the candidate’s congregation, or who have participated in the candidate’s pastoral/ministerial endeavors. The Committee has prepared very specific questions for both priest-candidates and their reference contacts that are directed to the needs and goals of Emmanuel Church; of course, the members of the telephone interview teams will be able to ask questions of their own in order to clarify matters.
Teams of two to three Committee members will be assigned to conduct the interviews with the reference individuals, with each team handling only one reference. In this way all of the references can be contacted with greater efficiency. Detailed notes of the conversations will be prepared and submitted to the full Committee for review.
While the references are being interviewed, another team of at least three members (but may include the entire Committee membership) will meet at Emmanuel Church to conduct the telephone interview of the candidate via speakerphone. Again, the Committee members may ask questions that aren’t on the official interview question form, and the candidate will be encouraged to ask questions of the Committee.
Once the telephone interviews have been completed, the Committee will then meet together to discuss the results and determine whether a particular candidate is suitable for our parish. If it is the case that the Committee finds that the qualifications and ministry style of the candidate aren’t a good match with Emmanuel Church, we will notify the individual of our decision; otherwise we’ll continue the dialogue with candidates who have “made the cut.”
The next step following the telephone interviews would be to send representatives of the Rector Search Committee to visit the parishes of those candidates who are still being considered so that we can see the priest in action, as well as speak with the Vestry leadership of the parish for additional information. It is anticipated that the on-site visitations will not be scheduled until after January 2008. After the on-site visits the field of candidates will be narrowed, and those priests seriously recommended by the Rector Search Committee will then be invited to Emmanuel Church for interviews with the full Vestry.
The Diocese’s established procedures for selecting and calling the next Rector of Emmanuel Church may sound complicated and arduous – and they definitely are. However, when you consider that we are seeking out the next priest who will lead our parish into the future, bringing fresh insights and vision so that we can make the most of our great potential for the growth and expansion of our ministry, it is necessary for us to take such pains. The search process is designed to be a very thorough and prayerful time of discernment, and in the end Emmanuel Church will benefit from it.
The Rector Search Committee once again asks for the prayers of the people of Emmanuel Church during our work, that the Holy Spirit will direct and guide us in seeking the right priest for our community, and that the Spirit will inspire the right person to be attracted to us. Additionally, please remember that you may submit the names and contact information to the Committee of priests in good standing who you believe would be good matches for our parish – but make sure that you get their permission first. – by Michael Summers
We give thanks to God for all the blessings in our lives.
A Litany of Thanksgiving (Book of Common Prayer, page 837) – suitable for Thanksgiving Dinner
Let us give thanks to God our Father for all God’s gifts so freely bestowed upon us.
For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky and sea.
We thank you, Lord.
For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ,
We thank you, Lord.
For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our friends,
We thank you, Lord.
For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve,
We thank you, Lord.
For health and strength to work, and leisure to rest and play,
We thank you, Lord.
For the brave and courageous, who are patient in suffering and faithful in adversity,
We thank you, Lord.
For all valiant seekers after truth, liberty, and justice,
We thank you, Lord.
For the communion of saints, in all times and places,
We thank you, Lord.
Above all, we give you thanks for the great mercies and promises given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord;
To him be praise and glory, with you, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
For stewardship of creation (Book of Common Prayer, page 259)
O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Advent, the beginning of the church year and the four week time of spiritual preparation for the coming of Jesus, begins December 2. We will offer several opportunities to prepare our hearts for new life in Christ within, time for calm and thoughtfulness before and during the hustle and bustle of preparation for Christmas.
“Advent” Wednesday noon lunches at Emmanuel, November 28 – December 19
Keyser Area Ministerial Association (KAMA) is sponsoring four “Advent” lunches with the theme “Rejoicing in hope” on Wednesdays November 28, December 5, 12, and 19 at Emmanuel. Food and program will be provided by other KAMA churches. We welcome participation and your help in preparing sufficient coffee and tea for the attendees, set-up and basic cleaning afterward. Please let us know when and how you will assist.
Labyrinth and Advent prayer study with Keyser Presbyterian Church
Because Advent is an opportunity to reconnect with what is deep and holy and because the pre-Christmas season is so hectic, a time of quietness is especially appropriate during this season.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church in cooperation with Keyser Presbyterian Church is pleased to announce a four-part Advent study on the discipline of prayer.
Thursday, November 29th at 6 PM at Emmanuel: an introduction to the Labyrinth, Breath Prayers, and Centering Prayers.
Saturday, Dec. 1st, 10 AM to 3 PM and Sunday, Dec 2nd, Noon to 5 PM, at Keyser Presbyterian: a Labyrinth will be available for your pilgrimage
Thursday, December 6th at 6 PM at Keyser Presbyterian: investigate the ancient practice of Lectio Divina.
Tuesday, December 11th at 6 PM at Emmanuel: learn about prayer beads through the centuries, create prayer beads and participate in a Taizé music and prayer service.
Thursday, December 13th at 6 PM at Keyser Presbyterian: conclude with ways to approach prayer using contemporary methods as well as the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to boldly pray.
Emmanuel is borrowing an 11-circuit labyrinth from St. John’s, Frostburg. Since it is too large for our facilities, it will be placed in the parish hall at Keyser Presbyterian across the street.
Advent Event – Sunday, Dec. 2: Wreath-making, alternative gift market, make cards
On the 1st Sunday of Advent, we will light the Advent wreath during worship. During the 9-10 Christian formation time and during and after coffee hour, you may make an Advent wreath.
Alternative gift market –December 2 – Birthday Gifts for Jesus
How will we celebrate Jesus' birth this year? To give to Jesus, we find him in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned. You will have the opportunity to give a donation in honor of family members and friends as a Christmas gift instead of [or in addition to] another sweater, DVD, or dust-collector for a shelf. See page 2 for continuation.
Give “alternative” gifts year round; alternative gift market on Sunday, Dec. 2
Most of us have far more sweaters, ties, videos, CDs, and “dust catchers” on shelves, than we need. Instead of accumulating more, give alternative gifts for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, any gift giving occasion or just to give thanks from our abundance. If you must, give a small ‘real’ gift and also a contribution to help better the world. This is the time of year to stack up contributions for income tax deductions. Whatever motivation causes you to act! We can give a donation in honor of Uncle Ned or sister Joan. Some families discuss and decide on a recipient each year. If they like the outdoors, give to protect the mountains, to plant trees or to help the homeless. Is your family sports minded? Give to an organization for boys and girls locally or for AIDS orphans in Africa or for clean water to drink. Suggestions are virtually endless. Give to Habitat for Humanity for decent housing around the world. Give to Heifer International so people can have animals for food and a livelihood. As they become self-sufficient, they pass on the gift, an animal offspring, to another person, and the joyful story begins again. Give to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) to help people in need from natural disasters, war, poverty, diseases as AIDS, for education, and more.
Local and international organizations: Helping Hands, Faith in Action food pantry, Energy Express, Episcopal Relief and Development, Heifer International, and others will be represented to accept your gift for people in need.
Our prayers go out to the families of Ralph Smith on the death of his wife for 57 years, Leona, and
Patty Redman and Thelma Stewart in the death of Susan Mitchell, respectfully mother and sister.
Thank you, Emmanuel, for $205 in support of the Rev. Joyce walking for Helping Hands. Total for Helping Hands Walk was around $2500.
Faith in Action food pantry needs for foods for Thanksgiving baskets and for every day. Thanksgiving foods include dressing mix, desserts as cake mix and icing, cranberry sauce, canned vegetables.
Angel Tree is gathering names. We hope to provide for some families this year. Details to follow.
Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) to begin the First Sunday of Advent
as mandated by General Convention 2006 and our bishop.
A Lectionary is a table of readings from Scripture appointed to be read at public worship. The association of particular texts with specific days began in the 4th century. The Revised Common Lectionary provides these new features: the option of semi-continuous reading of the great Old Testament narratives on the Sundays after Pentecost and the inclusion of women and their role in salvation history. The Revised Common Lectionary preserves around 90% of the Gospel readings in the Lectionary of The Book of Common Prayer 1979.
Why is the Revised Common Lectionary of value to the Episcopal Church?
• It is an ecumenical lectionary shared by most Protestant denominations and widely used throughout the Anglican Communion.
• It provides new opportunities for ecumenical Bible study and shared resources for teaching and preaching.
• It has improved the choice of appropriate texts for Sundays and Festivals.
• It incorporates most of the readings with which the church is familiar.
• Most new resources for preaching, teaching and the planning of worship are already being developed to support the Revised Common Lectionary.
[From the Episcopal Church Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music.] The lectionary is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/RCL_pages_for_BCP-cropped.pdf and other sites.]
A brochure about the RCL will be available at the church and will be sent to our yahoogroups site.
Christmas Eve time[s] of service
We’ve had requests to consider the Christmas Eve worship time. Some of the young and the older and the in between say 11 PM is too difficult. So we are polling our readership.
Do you want one worship service or two: early only, late only, or one of each, realizing attendance would be split between two, if offered.
Return this form to 301 S. Mineral Street, Keyser 26726, or call the office [304-788-4475], or email us [withus@verizon.net] with your vote by Wednesday, November 21.
One service (select 1 time) Two services (select 2 times)
___ 5 PM ___ 5 PM
___ 6 PM ___ 6 PM
___ 7 PM ___ 7 PM
___ 8 PM ___ 8 PM
___ 9 PM ___ 9 PM
___ 10 PM ___ 10 PM
___ 11 PM ___ 11 PM
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All Saints’ Sunday, November 4
In commemoration of All Saints’ Day and All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) on November 1 and 2, we welcomed James Scotty Hicks as a new saint of God through baptism and Sandy and Dennie Wolfe as new members by transfer. We also welcomed several long time attendees who were not entered in the parish register previously. A table of remembrance for living saints and saints who have died held pictures of our beloved, including a sonogram of a future grandson. During the Prayers of the People we remembered family members and friends who have died.
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As we remember the saints who have died, we also are reminded of our own deaths some day in the future. A funeral arrangements guidelines and workbook is available for preplanning.
The Minister of the Congregation is directed to instruct the people, from time to time, about the duty of Christian parents to make prudent provision for the well being of their families, and of all persons to make wills, while they are in health, arranging for the disposal of their temporal goods, not neglecting, if they are able, to leave bequests for religious and charitable uses. Book of Common Prayer, page 445.
The Blessing of the Animals was held on the back parking lot with lots of life in attendance: 46 people, 26 cats, 14 live dogs + 1 large stuffed dog, 2 goats, and numerous pet pictures. The Humane Society and the group wanting a cat shelter were present. Pet lovers brought cat and dog food and donations for the Humane Society and for Mineral County Animal Control for bedding.
Register for West Virginia Major State Day at Washington National Cathedral: January 27, 2008.
Go to the National Cathedral Website , and under programs, find Major state day info and registration. www.nationalcathedral.org OR http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/programs/stateday.shtml.
Our WV chair for this event is Hollie Mitchell, WMitch8315@aol.com, 304-776-8315.
World AIDS Day is December 1. 39.5 million people are living with HIV, including 2.3 million children.
Episcopal Youth Fellowship on the move
Episcopal Youth Fellowship continues to happen’! Our youth gather in the loft at 9:00 AM on Sunday mornings for Christian Formation and again every other week after school for “Manic Mondays!” Recently, the group has also enjoyed two trips out of town and has planned a third.
Six of our acolytes and four sponsors traveled to Washington National Cathedral last month for our church’s first-ever participation in the National Acolyte Festival: Codi and Shawnee Gourlay, Andrew and Ian Rankin, Alyssa Williams, Chalet Roy (acolyte-in-training), Kim Pifer, David Rankin, Sue Riley, and Joyce Wilkinson. Upon an early arrival, one of our youth, when looking up at the spires still shrouded in morning mist, said it must look like the school Harry Potter attended! Over a thousand robed young acolytes processed down the center aisle of the great cathedral while carrying church banners, candles & high-flying streamers from home; the colorful procession took an hour! The stained-glass window with the moon rock was not far from our seats and also drew our attention. As the morning worship drew to a close, we claimed our spot on the cathedral grounds to fuel up (tasty bag lunch) for afternoon workshops. Our kids elected to see how the celebratory processional streamers operated; they come with really long poles! And then off to a slide show and remarks about the famous gargoyles of the cathedral. Darth Vader? Who knew he’d be there?
Most of our teens had only read about the Lincoln Memorial, Viet Nam Wall, Washington Monument, the White House, and the Capitol. They never imagined they’d actually get to see them! But see them we did; just ask our feet! The weather was gorgeous and prayers from at least one of our parishioners back home helped us find not one, but two parking spaces downtown! “I didn’t really want to go, my mom made me go, but I never thought I would have this much fun”. That sums it up. We “did good” for our youth on that one!
So who wants to sign up to be scared half to death? Some of us did; some said “no” at the outset. The brave ones left for Cumberland’s CiCi’s Pizza and then off to Cumberland’s Emmanuel Episcopal Church for their youth-sponsored fund raiser in which the tunnels beneath the church were transformed into a haunted house for Halloween. “Three dollars a victim.” Some of our kids turned back at the chain saw!! (Seems like a good idea.) Participating were Alyssa, Ian and Andrew, Chalet, Codi and Shawnee, David Rankin, Michael and Carla Miller, and David Gourlay.
Coming up, some of us will stay overnight at the Cumberland YMCA. This event is sponsored by the Potomac Highlands Mission Community. Activities scheduled include swimming, basketball, playing on the indoor soccer field, devotions, climbing wall (that must be for the adults!) and pizza. Hanging out overnight with 75 youth! Imagine!
Thanks to volunteers who have helped our youth staff or plan to help our EYF. Sandy and Sheila will help Tamela with our “MMon!” meals. Carla was thrilled to accompany the brave souls in the tunnels. Thanks to all of you for keeping us in your prayers. – by Sue Riley
Jottings by Joyce
Originally, in the Eastern Church, Advent focused on the Annunciation when the angels told Mary that she would bear a child; but in the West it came to concern the first coming at the nativity, the future coming at the end of time, and the present coming, through grace, to our hearts. Thus the themes of the coming judgment and of joyful expectation.
From Growing together: spiritual exercises for church committees by Rochelle Melander and Harold Eppley: Emmanuel, God with us, we rejoice in the opportunity to grow closer to you and to one another. Dwell with us as we meet, unite us as we work, and awaken us to your presence. Amen.
Questions from the book I invite us to consider: * What does it mean to grow spiritually?
* In what ways have you been spiritually nurtured by the Christian community?
* What can we do, both inside and outside the church, to help each other grow spiritually?
One Advent hymn begins “Sleepers, wake!” May we awaken to new opportunities to live as followers of Jesus.
Joyce
The Rector Search Committee Update
October has been a very busy month for the Rector Search Committee of Emmanuel Church. Thus far we’ve sent out 29 introductory packages to prospective candidates from the Church Deployment Office database, and as of this writing we now have three priests who have submitted their resumes and other documentation for our consideration. Believe me; it’s totally exciting to see the many months of our labors showing fruit! We will continue to send out information packages to CDO matches and other priests who express an interest in possibly submitting their resumes so they can be in the running as well.
Archdeacon Faith Perrizo came in October to instruct the Committee members how to conduct telephone interviews with the priest-candidates and the reference contacts they’ve submitted. The primary goal for November will be to review the resumes we’ve received thus far (and in the days to come), and then begin the process of conducting initial telephone interviews with priests we feel would be well-suited for our parish.
The telephone interviews are crucial because they will provide the Committee with greater insights into the personality and ministry of the candidates, not only from the candidates themselves but also from the personal references that have been provided. Each candidate must submit at least three names, addresses and telephone numbers of individuals who are current or past members of the candidate’s congregation, or who have participated in the candidate’s pastoral/ministerial endeavors. The Committee has prepared very specific questions for both priest-candidates and their reference contacts that are directed to the needs and goals of Emmanuel Church; of course, the members of the telephone interview teams will be able to ask questions of their own in order to clarify matters.
Teams of two to three Committee members will be assigned to conduct the interviews with the reference individuals, with each team handling only one reference. In this way all of the references can be contacted with greater efficiency. Detailed notes of the conversations will be prepared and submitted to the full Committee for review.
While the references are being interviewed, another team of at least three members (but may include the entire Committee membership) will meet at Emmanuel Church to conduct the telephone interview of the candidate via speakerphone. Again, the Committee members may ask questions that aren’t on the official interview question form, and the candidate will be encouraged to ask questions of the Committee.
Once the telephone interviews have been completed, the Committee will then meet together to discuss the results and determine whether a particular candidate is suitable for our parish. If it is the case that the Committee finds that the qualifications and ministry style of the candidate aren’t a good match with Emmanuel Church, we will notify the individual of our decision; otherwise we’ll continue the dialogue with candidates who have “made the cut.”
The next step following the telephone interviews would be to send representatives of the Rector Search Committee to visit the parishes of those candidates who are still being considered so that we can see the priest in action, as well as speak with the Vestry leadership of the parish for additional information. It is anticipated that the on-site visitations will not be scheduled until after January 2008. After the on-site visits the field of candidates will be narrowed, and those priests seriously recommended by the Rector Search Committee will then be invited to Emmanuel Church for interviews with the full Vestry.
The Diocese’s established procedures for selecting and calling the next Rector of Emmanuel Church may sound complicated and arduous – and they definitely are. However, when you consider that we are seeking out the next priest who will lead our parish into the future, bringing fresh insights and vision so that we can make the most of our great potential for the growth and expansion of our ministry, it is necessary for us to take such pains. The search process is designed to be a very thorough and prayerful time of discernment, and in the end Emmanuel Church will benefit from it.
The Rector Search Committee once again asks for the prayers of the people of Emmanuel Church during our work, that the Holy Spirit will direct and guide us in seeking the right priest for our community, and that the Spirit will inspire the right person to be attracted to us. Additionally, please remember that you may submit the names and contact information to the Committee of priests in good standing who you believe would be good matches for our parish – but make sure that you get their permission first. – by Michael Summers
We give thanks to God for all the blessings in our lives.
A Litany of Thanksgiving (Book of Common Prayer, page 837) – suitable for Thanksgiving Dinner
Let us give thanks to God our Father for all God’s gifts so freely bestowed upon us.
For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky and sea.
We thank you, Lord.
For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ,
We thank you, Lord.
For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our friends,
We thank you, Lord.
For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve,
We thank you, Lord.
For health and strength to work, and leisure to rest and play,
We thank you, Lord.
For the brave and courageous, who are patient in suffering and faithful in adversity,
We thank you, Lord.
For all valiant seekers after truth, liberty, and justice,
We thank you, Lord.
For the communion of saints, in all times and places,
We thank you, Lord.
Above all, we give you thanks for the great mercies and promises given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord;
To him be praise and glory, with you, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
For stewardship of creation (Book of Common Prayer, page 259)
O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Monday, October 1, 2007
The Vine Newsletter (October 2007)
Blessing of the Animals to be Saturday, October 20, 10 AM
The Blessing of the Animals will provide an opportunity to support local animal care facilities. Mineral County Animal Control is in need of bedding, linens and rugs, to provide warmth and softness for its concrete floor enclosures. The Humane Society requests canned dog and cat food for animals requiring a special diet. Monetary donations also will be accepted. Animals for adoption will be present.
Bring your animals on a leash or in a carrier for a blessing. For animals unable to attend, those who are lost or who have died, a photograph may be brought. Stuffed animals are welcome also.
Refreshments for animals and their human friends will be available.
(If you'd like to bring treats, please contact the church office, 304-788-4475. Thanks.)
The Blessing of the Animals reminds us of the sacredness of all life and to celebrate the animals who share our lives. The blessing is in honor of Francis of Assisi (c.1181-1226), whose feast day is October 4, and who is known for his delight in God’s creation, his preaching, poverty and gentleness. Tradition holds that animals responded to his kindness by listening to his sermons. The son of a wealthy Italian cloth merchant, Francis publicly renounced his wealth and future inheritance in order to devote himself to serving the poor.
Francis saw all creation—humanity, fauna, flora, the environment, stars, planets, water, air, all the Earth—as good, as brothers and sisters revealing God. Recent blessing services honoring Francis have considered not only animals but environmental and ecological justice also. Scripture calls for humankind to exercise dominion over creation, to practice stewardship. Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines "stewardship" as "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care."
God’s care extends beyond the human family to the whole family of creation, as we are all creatures of God. Blessing of the Animals recalls both the goodness of God’s creation and invites fuller participation as partners with God in stewarding creation.
All Saints’ Sunday, November 4, baptismal and remembrance day
If you know of someone who desires to be baptized or who would like to become a member of Emmanuel on All Saints’ Sunday, please contact the Rev. Joyce so any instruction and forms can be completed. During worship we will read your names of saints who have died and will recall saints on the church calendar from every period of time. On Sunday mornings we will collect your names to be remembered, or call the church office, 304-788-4475.
In addition, in the parish hall we will have two tables of remembrance: for living saints and saints who have died, in commemoration of All Saints’ Day and All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) on November 1 and 2. You are invited to bring pictures and/or mementos. We celebrate all Christian people as saints, made holy as the people of God.
Daylight Saving Time ends 2 AM Sunday, Nov. 4 – fall back!
Manic Mondays begin manically
Editors’s note: Both Sue and David were asked to contribute an article about “Manic Mondays,” and they both did! Thanks. Your participation is welcome and desired for these events.
“Manic Mondays” blasted off after school on October 1st. Two of our church’s youth from the middle school, three from the high school, one from Potomac State College and one short person from Keyser Primary showed up for wind-down-from-school time, help with homework, pizza, youth group meeting and choir practice. The youth seemed to have a fine time; the only improvement heard so far in the lineup of activities was a suggestion to end the evening with a dish of ice cream. Better then than before we sing!
The adults who showed up to chaperone are identifiable in church as the ones equipped with GPS (where are we and where did we go wrong?) and crutches; seriously, only one of us was limping and he arrived that way. We plan to meet every other Monday. Come visit if you’re feeling adventuresome. And pray for rich blessings of the Holy Spirit!!! - Sue Riley
Our first "Manic Monday" certainly lived up to its name! The idea was to combine several activities on one evening, beginning with a meal and homework help, and concluding with a youth group session and choir practice. It all happened for the first time on October 1st. I'd like to say it went off without a hitch, but let's just say there's a learning curve!
Manic Monday will be repeated every other week, so the dates for October will be the 15th, 22nd, and 29th. The evening begins with supper at about 5:00, followed by a youth meeting around 6:00, and choir practice at 7:00. Events for other age groups could be scheduled for this evening as well, so there would be simultaneous activities. It promises to be lots of fun; anyone who would like to participate in any way is welcome. As always, volunteers to assist with organizing and with feeding people are especially encouraged! - David Rankin
Emmanuel has 2-sided “business cards” for you to give to friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances, to leave on your restaurant table, to distribute to local businesses, to get the word out about your faith community. One is attached. More are available for you to spread around town.
United Thank Offering (UTO) offering
Thank you for your offerings of thanksgiving to help people in need, approximately $365.
Episcopal Mental Illness Network: Mental Illness Awareness Week is October 7-13
The Episcopal Mental Illness Network (EMIN) reminds us that the first week of October every year is Mental Illness Awareness Week. During this week take the time to learn more about brain disorders and pray for those with mental illnesses and those who love them. One person in every four in our congregations either has or loves someone with a major brain disorder. Help EMIN ensure that our churches are places of welcome and inclusion. For more information, see EMIN’s Web site at www.eminnews.org and the web site of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at www.nami.org. You can also contact EMIN coordinator, The Rev. Bean Murray at beanmurray@swbell.net
October is Domestic Violence prevention month and breast cancer awareness month.
November – early December Upcoming events and opportunities at Emmanuel
Alternative gift market – Advent 1, December 2
Birthday Gifts for Jesus
On birthdays we honor the one whose birth we are celebrating. How will we celebrate Jesus' birth this year? To give to Jesus, we find him in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned.
We can help in our own community or provide a goat for a farmer in Honduras, anti-malarial bed nets for a family in Africa, a decent home for a family in rural Mississippi, or food for those who are victims of war. You can give Jesus a birthday gift he really wants.
On the first Sunday of Advent you will have the opportunity to give a donation in honor of family members and friends as a Christmas gift instead of another sweater, DVD, or dust-collector for a shelf. Local and international organizations: Helping Hands, Faith in Action food pantry, the crisis shelter, Episcopal Relief and Development, Heifer International, and others will be represented to accept your gift for people in need.
For other ideas about celebrating Christmas, see Alternatives for Simple living, www.simpleliving.org
Labyrinth walk – Saturday and Sunday, December 1 & 2
Emmanuel is borrowing an 11-circuit labyrinth from St. John’s, Frostburg. Since it is too large for our facilities, it will be placed in the parish hall at First Presbyterian across the street. We don’t know the hours yet; more information will be available in November.
A labyrinth is a walking meditation. They have been known for over 4,000 years; the oldest known form is a seven-circuit labyrinth from Crete. A labyrinth is one path in and out and is not a maze, no dead ends or tricks.
Christianity embraced the labyrinth during the Middle Ages when they were incorporated in numerous Gothic cathedrals. Pilgrims who were unable to make the long, arduous journey to the Holy Land could walk these symbolic paths instead.
“Advent” Wednesday noon lunches at Emmanuel, November 28 – December 19
KAMA is scheduling these lunches with a message for November 28, December 5, 12, and 19 at Emmanuel. Food and program will be provided by other KAMA churches. We’ll need your help in preparing sufficient coffees and teas for the participants.
Jottings by Joyce
We are excited about the National Acolyte Festival on October 6 at Washington National Cathedral in DC. Six acolytes are anticipating the grand procession with vested acolytes and their processional crosses and church banners for a Eucharist with rededication of their acolyte ministry and a festival medal. Then there's lunch and workshops and a tour available. Some of the girls live down country roads, which you know means windy, narrow, hilly travel. So instead of someone driving at 5:30 AM to pick them up, they're having a sleep over at Sue's house with Francine’s assistance. Stars in their crowns for that! I'm exempt since I'll be a driver and need to sleep! Sounds like a good excuse to me. Read the accounts in the next newsletter. Thanks also to David Rankin, the second driver, and Kim Pifer.
Across my street I notice that in these fall mornings the sun takes longer to climb over the mountain and wake us. I am looking forward to the blazing tree colors reaching halfway up the sky.
We have many activities planned these next few months, and we need your assistance to be able to do them. We also would appreciate assistance in the Sunday morning 9-10 time with children to adults.
As the days grow shorter, we can remember to let our Christian light shine brighter.
Blessed autumn, Joyce
The Rector Search Committee Update
Now that the intensive preparation work has been completed by the Rector Search Committee of Emmanuel Church, we’re beginning to see some significant progress in the process of calling our new rector.
First of all, the electronic profile for the Church Deployment Office (CDO) database has been completed and uploaded to the system at Church Center in New York City by Archdeacon Faith Perizzo. The text and design for the hardcopy church profile booklet that will be sent to all prospective candidate priests has also been approved and is ready to be published and distributed. It was determined there is so much information and photographs about Emmanuel Church, elements which are necessary to give candidates a solid view of what we are about, that instead of using a standard brochure format, we should create a small booklet.
Secondly, and perhaps the most exciting news of all, the Committee has received a rather large stack of profiles from priests who matched our criteria in the CDO database, and it has been reviewing them. Each profile is reviewed by the Committee, and those priests who match our needs closely will be sent an “introductory packet”, including the profile booklet, newsletters and brochures, and a letter expressing the Committee’s interest in learning more about them. The first mass-mailing will be done during the first full week of October, with many more to follow. It is interesting to think that we’re possibly handling the profile of the next rector of Emmanuel Church!
It is important to note that the profiles the Committee has received thus far are only of those individuals whose qualifications match the criteria established by Emmanuel Church – they are not priests who have specifically shown interest in being considered for the position of rector. We will be receiving the names and addresses of priests seriously inquiring about the position from Archdeacon Faith by the next meeting of the Committee.
There is a very important resource in this calling process that we need to address: YOU. Not only do we need your prayers each day that we will be directed by the Holy Spirit in selecting the priest who will lead our congregation, but we could also use your help in attracting that priest. You can help by contacting priests you know and inviting them to submit their names for consideration by the Rector Search Committee. You can also provide the names and addresses of priests you would recommend directly to the Committee, but it is asked that you inform the priest(s) before you make such a submission; we don’t want to surprise anyone with an unexpected package. Please have interested priests contact Michael Summers via email at Shakjula@mindspring.com, or send a letter of interest to him, care of Emmanuel Episcopal Church.
It is also important that the members of Emmanuel Church recognize that the process of calling our new rector to serve in our community is very exacting and intensive. While it is the goal of the Rector Search Committee to select the final candidates for the position here by the beginning of 2008, and we are doing everything we can to expedite the undertaking, it would be imprudent for us to move so quickly that we wind up calling an individual who would not be right for Emmanuel Church. That is precisely why the Diocese of West Virginia has established very rigid directives in the way a parish goes about seeking a new rector, and we ask for your patience and understanding while we fulfill this responsibility. – Michael Summers
A LIVE WEBCAST with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on Oct. 16 at 3 PM with her responses to questions asked by telephone and email. Access via the websites of the Episcopal Church
(http://www.episcopalchurch.org) and Trinity Wall Street (http://www.trinitywallstreet.org).
Diocesan Convention Report…by Emmanuel delegate Michael Summers
The Rev. Joyce, Tammy Rankin and I attended the 130th Convention of the Diocese of West Virginia, which was held on September 27, 2007 through September 29th at the Flatwoods Convention Center in Braxton County, West Virginia. The location was significant because Braxton County is actually the geographic center of the state – and this fact was made quite apparent because of the enormous sign located not too far from the hotel off Route 79.
The theme for the Convention was “This Little Light of Mine,” with the emphasis being upon encouraging the maximum participation of children and youth, as well as increasing an awareness of the needs for outreach to this group. Special seminars and discussion groups were held where noteworthy authors (both lay and ordained) gave the participants innovative ideas on how to minister to children. One of the authors, the Rev. Anne Kitch, spoke at one of the evening banquets on the Sacrament of Baptism and parenting, encouraging the audience to develop parish ministry for children around the special promises we made during the Baptismal Covenant. Another author presented ideas for story-telling, which involves an innovative and creative approach to children’s ministries. I highly encourage everyone to obtain a copy of Mother Anne’s book, which is entitled Taking the Plunge: Baptism and Parenting; it is available through Morehouse Publishing, and it contains great food for thought. Mother Anne was particularly generous to me. While she was autographing a couple of her books, she found out that I was involved with parish evangelism and decided to give me one of her out-of-print works that teach children how to reach out to other children, and it’s a great little item.
An underlying theme for the Convention was the participation of the National Church and the Diocese of West Virginia in the Millennium Development Goals, and during the first session Joyce and other members of her commission for Global Reconciliation presented information concerning what the Church can do to eliminate extreme poverty throughout the world. In fact, during the actual legislative session of the Convention, the Diocese reaffirmed its commitment to assisting with the United Nation’s eight Millennium Development Goals, and also committed itself to assisting the needy in the Gulf Coast areas that were devastated by Hurricane Katrina, along with the Church in Mississippi.
There’s an interesting side-note about our Church’s great desire to assist those in need. Someone had left a relatively new leather Bible in the lobby of the Conference Center proper, and Bishop Mike asked all of the participants if any of us had misplaced a Bible. No one claimed it, so he mentioned that he would just keep it. Then one of the delegates raised his hand and said, “I’ll bid $10 for the Bible.” At that point, Bishop Mike decided to become an auctioneer and announced to the room that any funds raised by the impromptu auction would be sent to assist in purchasing anti-malaria nets in support of the Millennium Development Goals. He ended up raising $110 for the Bible, which was totally amusing for me.
The actual legislative session, which was held on Friday, went very smoothly. There were two resolutions in particular which were somewhat contentious, but the Resolutions Committee hammered out the details and managed to come up with recommendations that satisfied the majority of the Convention. The other resolutions weren’t problematic in the least, and so were passed without too much effort.
On a very positive note, a new parish – St. Christopher – was established by the Convention; the parish was formed out of three smaller, struggling parishes in the Charleston area, and according to all reports the new consolidated parish is doing very well. I am pleased to report that the Diocese as a whole is doing very well, and judging from the energy and Christ-centered attitudes exhibited by the numerous priests and delegates, I feel it is safe to say that God is going to continue performing a great work in our Church.
At the closing Holy Eucharist we renewed our baptismal vows, the clergy of the Diocese renewed their ordination vows, and Bishop Mike consecrated the Holy Chrism to be used for anointing in all of the churches. Tammy Rankin also went forward to present our United Thank Offering with the other representatives from parishes throughout the state. I have to say that the liturgy was wonderfully Spirit-filled and was the perfect ending to what is perhaps the biggest family reunion in West Virginia.
St. Francis of Assisi's vocation prayer:
Most High, Glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of our minds.
Give us a right faith,
a firm hope and a perfect charity,
so that we may always and in all things act according to your holy will. Amen.
Meditation Prayer of Francis of Assisi:
My God and My All!
Two greetings of Francis of Assisi:
Good Morning, Good People!
Peace and all Good!
The Blessing of the Animals will provide an opportunity to support local animal care facilities. Mineral County Animal Control is in need of bedding, linens and rugs, to provide warmth and softness for its concrete floor enclosures. The Humane Society requests canned dog and cat food for animals requiring a special diet. Monetary donations also will be accepted. Animals for adoption will be present.
Bring your animals on a leash or in a carrier for a blessing. For animals unable to attend, those who are lost or who have died, a photograph may be brought. Stuffed animals are welcome also.
Refreshments for animals and their human friends will be available.
(If you'd like to bring treats, please contact the church office, 304-788-4475. Thanks.)
The Blessing of the Animals reminds us of the sacredness of all life and to celebrate the animals who share our lives. The blessing is in honor of Francis of Assisi (c.1181-1226), whose feast day is October 4, and who is known for his delight in God’s creation, his preaching, poverty and gentleness. Tradition holds that animals responded to his kindness by listening to his sermons. The son of a wealthy Italian cloth merchant, Francis publicly renounced his wealth and future inheritance in order to devote himself to serving the poor.
Francis saw all creation—humanity, fauna, flora, the environment, stars, planets, water, air, all the Earth—as good, as brothers and sisters revealing God. Recent blessing services honoring Francis have considered not only animals but environmental and ecological justice also. Scripture calls for humankind to exercise dominion over creation, to practice stewardship. Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines "stewardship" as "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care."
God’s care extends beyond the human family to the whole family of creation, as we are all creatures of God. Blessing of the Animals recalls both the goodness of God’s creation and invites fuller participation as partners with God in stewarding creation.
All Saints’ Sunday, November 4, baptismal and remembrance day
If you know of someone who desires to be baptized or who would like to become a member of Emmanuel on All Saints’ Sunday, please contact the Rev. Joyce so any instruction and forms can be completed. During worship we will read your names of saints who have died and will recall saints on the church calendar from every period of time. On Sunday mornings we will collect your names to be remembered, or call the church office, 304-788-4475.
In addition, in the parish hall we will have two tables of remembrance: for living saints and saints who have died, in commemoration of All Saints’ Day and All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) on November 1 and 2. You are invited to bring pictures and/or mementos. We celebrate all Christian people as saints, made holy as the people of God.
Daylight Saving Time ends 2 AM Sunday, Nov. 4 – fall back!
Manic Mondays begin manically
Editors’s note: Both Sue and David were asked to contribute an article about “Manic Mondays,” and they both did! Thanks. Your participation is welcome and desired for these events.
“Manic Mondays” blasted off after school on October 1st. Two of our church’s youth from the middle school, three from the high school, one from Potomac State College and one short person from Keyser Primary showed up for wind-down-from-school time, help with homework, pizza, youth group meeting and choir practice. The youth seemed to have a fine time; the only improvement heard so far in the lineup of activities was a suggestion to end the evening with a dish of ice cream. Better then than before we sing!
The adults who showed up to chaperone are identifiable in church as the ones equipped with GPS (where are we and where did we go wrong?) and crutches; seriously, only one of us was limping and he arrived that way. We plan to meet every other Monday. Come visit if you’re feeling adventuresome. And pray for rich blessings of the Holy Spirit!!! - Sue Riley
Our first "Manic Monday" certainly lived up to its name! The idea was to combine several activities on one evening, beginning with a meal and homework help, and concluding with a youth group session and choir practice. It all happened for the first time on October 1st. I'd like to say it went off without a hitch, but let's just say there's a learning curve!
Manic Monday will be repeated every other week, so the dates for October will be the 15th, 22nd, and 29th. The evening begins with supper at about 5:00, followed by a youth meeting around 6:00, and choir practice at 7:00. Events for other age groups could be scheduled for this evening as well, so there would be simultaneous activities. It promises to be lots of fun; anyone who would like to participate in any way is welcome. As always, volunteers to assist with organizing and with feeding people are especially encouraged! - David Rankin
Emmanuel has 2-sided “business cards” for you to give to friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances, to leave on your restaurant table, to distribute to local businesses, to get the word out about your faith community. One is attached. More are available for you to spread around town.
United Thank Offering (UTO) offering
Thank you for your offerings of thanksgiving to help people in need, approximately $365.
Episcopal Mental Illness Network: Mental Illness Awareness Week is October 7-13
The Episcopal Mental Illness Network (EMIN) reminds us that the first week of October every year is Mental Illness Awareness Week. During this week take the time to learn more about brain disorders and pray for those with mental illnesses and those who love them. One person in every four in our congregations either has or loves someone with a major brain disorder. Help EMIN ensure that our churches are places of welcome and inclusion. For more information, see EMIN’s Web site at www.eminnews.org and the web site of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at www.nami.org. You can also contact EMIN coordinator, The Rev. Bean Murray at beanmurray@swbell.net
October is Domestic Violence prevention month and breast cancer awareness month.
November – early December Upcoming events and opportunities at Emmanuel
Alternative gift market – Advent 1, December 2
Birthday Gifts for Jesus
On birthdays we honor the one whose birth we are celebrating. How will we celebrate Jesus' birth this year? To give to Jesus, we find him in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned.
We can help in our own community or provide a goat for a farmer in Honduras, anti-malarial bed nets for a family in Africa, a decent home for a family in rural Mississippi, or food for those who are victims of war. You can give Jesus a birthday gift he really wants.
On the first Sunday of Advent you will have the opportunity to give a donation in honor of family members and friends as a Christmas gift instead of another sweater, DVD, or dust-collector for a shelf. Local and international organizations: Helping Hands, Faith in Action food pantry, the crisis shelter, Episcopal Relief and Development, Heifer International, and others will be represented to accept your gift for people in need.
For other ideas about celebrating Christmas, see Alternatives for Simple living, www.simpleliving.org
Labyrinth walk – Saturday and Sunday, December 1 & 2
Emmanuel is borrowing an 11-circuit labyrinth from St. John’s, Frostburg. Since it is too large for our facilities, it will be placed in the parish hall at First Presbyterian across the street. We don’t know the hours yet; more information will be available in November.
A labyrinth is a walking meditation. They have been known for over 4,000 years; the oldest known form is a seven-circuit labyrinth from Crete. A labyrinth is one path in and out and is not a maze, no dead ends or tricks.
Christianity embraced the labyrinth during the Middle Ages when they were incorporated in numerous Gothic cathedrals. Pilgrims who were unable to make the long, arduous journey to the Holy Land could walk these symbolic paths instead.
“Advent” Wednesday noon lunches at Emmanuel, November 28 – December 19
KAMA is scheduling these lunches with a message for November 28, December 5, 12, and 19 at Emmanuel. Food and program will be provided by other KAMA churches. We’ll need your help in preparing sufficient coffees and teas for the participants.
Jottings by Joyce
We are excited about the National Acolyte Festival on October 6 at Washington National Cathedral in DC. Six acolytes are anticipating the grand procession with vested acolytes and their processional crosses and church banners for a Eucharist with rededication of their acolyte ministry and a festival medal. Then there's lunch and workshops and a tour available. Some of the girls live down country roads, which you know means windy, narrow, hilly travel. So instead of someone driving at 5:30 AM to pick them up, they're having a sleep over at Sue's house with Francine’s assistance. Stars in their crowns for that! I'm exempt since I'll be a driver and need to sleep! Sounds like a good excuse to me. Read the accounts in the next newsletter. Thanks also to David Rankin, the second driver, and Kim Pifer.
Across my street I notice that in these fall mornings the sun takes longer to climb over the mountain and wake us. I am looking forward to the blazing tree colors reaching halfway up the sky.
We have many activities planned these next few months, and we need your assistance to be able to do them. We also would appreciate assistance in the Sunday morning 9-10 time with children to adults.
As the days grow shorter, we can remember to let our Christian light shine brighter.
Blessed autumn, Joyce
The Rector Search Committee Update
Now that the intensive preparation work has been completed by the Rector Search Committee of Emmanuel Church, we’re beginning to see some significant progress in the process of calling our new rector.
First of all, the electronic profile for the Church Deployment Office (CDO) database has been completed and uploaded to the system at Church Center in New York City by Archdeacon Faith Perizzo. The text and design for the hardcopy church profile booklet that will be sent to all prospective candidate priests has also been approved and is ready to be published and distributed. It was determined there is so much information and photographs about Emmanuel Church, elements which are necessary to give candidates a solid view of what we are about, that instead of using a standard brochure format, we should create a small booklet.
Secondly, and perhaps the most exciting news of all, the Committee has received a rather large stack of profiles from priests who matched our criteria in the CDO database, and it has been reviewing them. Each profile is reviewed by the Committee, and those priests who match our needs closely will be sent an “introductory packet”, including the profile booklet, newsletters and brochures, and a letter expressing the Committee’s interest in learning more about them. The first mass-mailing will be done during the first full week of October, with many more to follow. It is interesting to think that we’re possibly handling the profile of the next rector of Emmanuel Church!
It is important to note that the profiles the Committee has received thus far are only of those individuals whose qualifications match the criteria established by Emmanuel Church – they are not priests who have specifically shown interest in being considered for the position of rector. We will be receiving the names and addresses of priests seriously inquiring about the position from Archdeacon Faith by the next meeting of the Committee.
There is a very important resource in this calling process that we need to address: YOU. Not only do we need your prayers each day that we will be directed by the Holy Spirit in selecting the priest who will lead our congregation, but we could also use your help in attracting that priest. You can help by contacting priests you know and inviting them to submit their names for consideration by the Rector Search Committee. You can also provide the names and addresses of priests you would recommend directly to the Committee, but it is asked that you inform the priest(s) before you make such a submission; we don’t want to surprise anyone with an unexpected package. Please have interested priests contact Michael Summers via email at Shakjula@mindspring.com, or send a letter of interest to him, care of Emmanuel Episcopal Church.
It is also important that the members of Emmanuel Church recognize that the process of calling our new rector to serve in our community is very exacting and intensive. While it is the goal of the Rector Search Committee to select the final candidates for the position here by the beginning of 2008, and we are doing everything we can to expedite the undertaking, it would be imprudent for us to move so quickly that we wind up calling an individual who would not be right for Emmanuel Church. That is precisely why the Diocese of West Virginia has established very rigid directives in the way a parish goes about seeking a new rector, and we ask for your patience and understanding while we fulfill this responsibility. – Michael Summers
A LIVE WEBCAST with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on Oct. 16 at 3 PM with her responses to questions asked by telephone and email. Access via the websites of the Episcopal Church
(http://www.episcopalchurch.org) and Trinity Wall Street (http://www.trinitywallstreet.org).
Diocesan Convention Report…by Emmanuel delegate Michael Summers
The Rev. Joyce, Tammy Rankin and I attended the 130th Convention of the Diocese of West Virginia, which was held on September 27, 2007 through September 29th at the Flatwoods Convention Center in Braxton County, West Virginia. The location was significant because Braxton County is actually the geographic center of the state – and this fact was made quite apparent because of the enormous sign located not too far from the hotel off Route 79.
The theme for the Convention was “This Little Light of Mine,” with the emphasis being upon encouraging the maximum participation of children and youth, as well as increasing an awareness of the needs for outreach to this group. Special seminars and discussion groups were held where noteworthy authors (both lay and ordained) gave the participants innovative ideas on how to minister to children. One of the authors, the Rev. Anne Kitch, spoke at one of the evening banquets on the Sacrament of Baptism and parenting, encouraging the audience to develop parish ministry for children around the special promises we made during the Baptismal Covenant. Another author presented ideas for story-telling, which involves an innovative and creative approach to children’s ministries. I highly encourage everyone to obtain a copy of Mother Anne’s book, which is entitled Taking the Plunge: Baptism and Parenting; it is available through Morehouse Publishing, and it contains great food for thought. Mother Anne was particularly generous to me. While she was autographing a couple of her books, she found out that I was involved with parish evangelism and decided to give me one of her out-of-print works that teach children how to reach out to other children, and it’s a great little item.
An underlying theme for the Convention was the participation of the National Church and the Diocese of West Virginia in the Millennium Development Goals, and during the first session Joyce and other members of her commission for Global Reconciliation presented information concerning what the Church can do to eliminate extreme poverty throughout the world. In fact, during the actual legislative session of the Convention, the Diocese reaffirmed its commitment to assisting with the United Nation’s eight Millennium Development Goals, and also committed itself to assisting the needy in the Gulf Coast areas that were devastated by Hurricane Katrina, along with the Church in Mississippi.
There’s an interesting side-note about our Church’s great desire to assist those in need. Someone had left a relatively new leather Bible in the lobby of the Conference Center proper, and Bishop Mike asked all of the participants if any of us had misplaced a Bible. No one claimed it, so he mentioned that he would just keep it. Then one of the delegates raised his hand and said, “I’ll bid $10 for the Bible.” At that point, Bishop Mike decided to become an auctioneer and announced to the room that any funds raised by the impromptu auction would be sent to assist in purchasing anti-malaria nets in support of the Millennium Development Goals. He ended up raising $110 for the Bible, which was totally amusing for me.
The actual legislative session, which was held on Friday, went very smoothly. There were two resolutions in particular which were somewhat contentious, but the Resolutions Committee hammered out the details and managed to come up with recommendations that satisfied the majority of the Convention. The other resolutions weren’t problematic in the least, and so were passed without too much effort.
On a very positive note, a new parish – St. Christopher – was established by the Convention; the parish was formed out of three smaller, struggling parishes in the Charleston area, and according to all reports the new consolidated parish is doing very well. I am pleased to report that the Diocese as a whole is doing very well, and judging from the energy and Christ-centered attitudes exhibited by the numerous priests and delegates, I feel it is safe to say that God is going to continue performing a great work in our Church.
At the closing Holy Eucharist we renewed our baptismal vows, the clergy of the Diocese renewed their ordination vows, and Bishop Mike consecrated the Holy Chrism to be used for anointing in all of the churches. Tammy Rankin also went forward to present our United Thank Offering with the other representatives from parishes throughout the state. I have to say that the liturgy was wonderfully Spirit-filled and was the perfect ending to what is perhaps the biggest family reunion in West Virginia.
St. Francis of Assisi's vocation prayer:
Most High, Glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of our minds.
Give us a right faith,
a firm hope and a perfect charity,
so that we may always and in all things act according to your holy will. Amen.
Meditation Prayer of Francis of Assisi:
My God and My All!
Two greetings of Francis of Assisi:
Good Morning, Good People!
Peace and all Good!
Saturday, September 1, 2007
The Vine Newsletter (September 2007)
Do you want to receive the newsletter via your computer??
To conserve paper and toner and to lessen postal expense,
we ask if we may send you the newsletter by email and/or by visiting the church website,
www.emmanuelepiscopalchurchwv.org. If you’d like to receive future newsletters electronically, please email the church office, withus@verizon.net. Thanks, and trees thank you too.
Talent and Hobby Showcase – Sunday, September 9, 3 PM
What talent or hobby will you share with us? A favorite story or joke?
You all have varieties of artistic ability, musical talent, craftsmanship, storytelling; who knows what else!
Let’s have some fun, be a little silly, and enjoy being together.
If able, please bring a snack and/or drink to share.
Join us at Acolyte Festival 2007 at Washington National Cathedral
Saturday, October 6
The 28th Annual National Acolyte Festival includes a Festival Holy Eucharist with a procession and rededication of Acolytes at 10 AM, followed by lunch and workshops and tours. They will receive a festival acolyte medal too! Please let the office know if you would like to attend, and we will gather sufficient transportation. Scholarships are available for acolytes. Registration with lunch, no Acolyte Festival Medal is $23. Lunch includes a choice of turkey, cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwich!
Workshops include: Holy Smoke: The Work of the Thurifer; IM-ing w/God [prayer]; Dressing Up and Marching Around [learn about church gear]; Gargoyles of the Cathedral with a self-guided tour; Brief History of Everything Interesting to Know about Acolytes [and learn about the role of the server]. For additional information, call the office, 304-788-4475.
We need to know if you want to go and to have registration fees by Monday, September 17.
Know anyone desiring baptism or who wants to become a member of Emmanuel?
The next baptismal day of the church is All Saints’ Sunday, November 4. If you know of anyone who would like to be baptized or to become a member of the church, please contact the Rev. Joyce or the church office so arrangements or instruction can be made.
The Episcopal Church 101: Sundays at 9:00, September 23 and every other week
Originally scheduled for June during the Christian education/formation time, we will talk about the Bible, the Episcopal Church, its beginnings and history, the liturgical year, the sacraments, Anglican ethos, the Book of Common Prayer, being part of a community of faith, and other topics. This may serve as a refresher or preparation for baptism, confirmation or reception into the Episcopal Church. Please invite anyone who may be interested. This will be every other week [Sept. 23, Oct. 7, 21, etc.] with the regular formation topics on alternate weeks.
Also September 23 – an Instructed Eucharist at 8 and 10 telling us the whats and whys of our liturgy.
UTO In-gathering September 2, 9, 16
During the first three Sundays in September we will be holding our UTO in-gathering. Our offering will be sent to convention September 27th - 28th. The diocese of West Virginia has often been the recipient of UTO grants in the past. Envelopes are available on the small table as you enter the church. Contact Tamela Rankin or the church office if you need additional supplies.
Theology of the Offering
The Mission of the United Thank Offering is
to invite people to offer daily prayers of thanksgiving to God and outward and visible signs of those prayers which will benefit others. God calls each of us to grow in awareness of God, our own relationship with God, and our relationship in community with all whom God has created. As habits of daily thankful prayer mature, our personal relationship with God grows. Daily prayers of thanksgiving strengthen our being and doing. The blue box can be a reminder of our many blessings. Uniting our own gifts of thanks with those of others keeps us in thankful relationship them and with all of creation. In sharing our thank offerings with those throughout the Communion who seek to address compelling human need and extend the mission of the Church, we deepen our sense of participation in the lives of others. The shared prayer and money offerings help others to respond to God's call and to grow in their own deepened sense of living within the greater Christian community. Through our shared stories, God calls us to continue to grow into the fullness of the Kingdom.
The 2007 United Thank Offering grants responded to the call to “feed my sheep”, both physically and spiritually. The two largest grants will build a hospital in Pakistan and a church in Homer, Alaska. Other grants will help rebuild the Grace Day Care Center in New Orleans, severely damaged in Katrina; purchase a mini bus for St. George’s, in Baghdad, Iraq, enabling children to safely attend school now being held at the church because of the war damage; and purchase a former convenience store for use as a food pantry in a rural area of West Texas. The smallest grant provides a small parish in Mississippi with Sunday school materials and patterns to make children’s altar furnishings. Each spring UTO Committee members review and research each grant from their respective province. Calls to the applicants help committee members understand the area, the ministry, and particularly the compelling human need the grant, if awarded, will address. Of the 202 applications, UTO was able to fund 104 grants of $2,439,342.46. Episcopal dioceses in the United States received 48 percent; overseas and regional grants received 52 percent. UTO is a spiritual and financial partner in the mission work of The Episcopal Church, encouraging daily thankful prayer and offerings. UTO grants focus on addressing compelling human needs and expanding the mission and ministry of the church. – Tamela Rankin, UTO chair
Get well prayers are extended to Al Crall, and Leona Smith, who are recovering from surgery.
Special thanks go to
Sheila Dyche for endless work as treasurer, paying the bills and keeping the finances in order.
David Rankin for sharing his talent with us as music director and for taking our newspapers for recycling
Michael Summers for making over 200 Anglican prayer beads, rosaries. He can put one together in ten minutes; what a one person factory!
Thanks also to the congregation for donating school supplies, items for the food pantry, and for supporting the Potomac State College student information fair.
Faith in Action Food Pantry needs: macaroni & cheese, pancake mix (water) and syrup, noodles, soup, chili, crackers, cereals, oatmeal, canned vegetables and fruit, tuna, tuna helper, rice, pasta and sauce.
Dawn and Fred Downey, Emmanuel
members who work at PSC, and Sue Riley PSC Student Information Fair a Success!
For the very first time Emmanuel Episcopal Church made its presence known amongst the students at Potomac State College during the Student Information Fair, which was held on Tuesday, August 28th on the main quadrangle. We brought boxes of Episcopal literature, Anglican Rosaries, pretzels, lemonade, and used our church banner as the backdrop for our display table; even though parking was a nightmare and we had to trudge up the hill with our materials, the time and effort were totally worth it.
We distributed well over 100 Anglican Rosaries (that’s 3,300 beads, for the record) to students, faculty and staff of PSC, and they were amazingly popular with everyone. All who received a rosary also received the special brochure that contained information about Emmanuel’s church family and schedule of services, and there quite a few individuals who expressed interest in coming to worship with us. In fact, we became acquainted with an Episcopal student from Massachusetts who wasn’t aware of our existence. There were 16 students who signed up to join Emmanuel’s Yahoo news group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EmmanuelEpiscopalChurch/), and we were able to have some serious conversations about the love of Jesus Christ and His Church with many. Because of this success, the Evangelism Committee plans to attend the Student Information Fair next year.
Emmanuel Church was well-represented by the Rev. Joyce Wilkinson, Kim Pifer, Michael Summers, Sue Riley, Dawn and Fred Downey, and Mike Miller, and all of this was made possible by the generosity of several members of the parish who contributed funds for the event. The Evangelism Committee expresses its gratitude for all who assisted in this project to bring the message of Jesus Christ to the youth of our area, for we were able to plant the seeds of faith into the hearts of all who came to visit our table. – Michael Summers, evangelism chair
Rector Search Committee Update…
The Rector Search Committee anticipates seeing the initial match-results for prospective candidates through the Church Deployment Office (CDO) database system by the next meeting, which will be held in early September.
The Search Committee did approve the text for the hard-copy profile of Emmanuel Church that will be mailed out to those priests inquiring about our opening for a rector. The text itself is based in part upon that which is found in the new brochure that will be given to visitors to our parish, but with more detailed information concerning the history of Emmanuel Church, facts about the Mineral County region, expectations we have for our rector, and the compensation package. Once the vestry approves of the parish profile, it’ll be duplicated and will be disseminated to all candidates.
So now the very difficult part of the work of the Search Committee will begin, and we ask that everyone make daily use of the “Prayers for a New Rector” cards that you have received. Please pray that we will be guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit, and that the priest Jesus Christ desires for us to lead us will be attracted to our special family. - Michael Summers
The enclosed page of rector search prayers is blank on the back for you to write your own prayer.
Upcoming dates to remember Recycle our newspapers!!
September 9, Sunday 3 PM, talent and hobby showcase Bring your newspapers to the
September 14, Saturday, Helping Hands bowling parish hall for recycling.
September 17 Monday, RSVP due for Acolyte Festival on 10/6 David Rankin will take them to
September 23, Sunday, Instructed Eucharist at 8 and 10 Cumberland for their animal shelter.
September 23, Sunday, Episcopal Church 101 at 9
October 4, Thursday, United Way Day of Caring
October 6, Saturday, National Acolyte Festival; RSVP by 9/17
October 7, Sunday, Episcopal Church 101 at 9
October 20, Saturday 10:00, Blessing of the Animals
October 21, Sunday, Episcopal Church 101 at 9; Helping Hands Walk
November 4, All Saints’ Sunday, a baptismal day of the church
“This Little Light of Mine” is theme for 130th Diocesan Convention
The diocesan convention will be September 27-29 in Flatwoods. The focus is the youth and children of our diocese. For additional information see the forms on the bulletin board, in the office or see the diocesan website, http://www.wvdiocese.org/diocesanconvention. Registration is due by September 14. Michael Summers is our delegate with Tamela Rankin as alternate.
Jottings by Joyce
I grew up five blocks from the intercoastal canal on the upper Texas coast and would sit on the levy and watch the oil tankers and tugs with barges. When I moved to Charleston, WV, my house fronted on River St., and I watched coal-carrying barges traveling on the Kanawha River. The first time I visited Keyser, Sharon Floyd gave me a tour. We drove a long way on a street paralleling water. I was intrigued by that street, being drawn to the water, and had to locate it on my city map. [Yes, Keyser does have a city map!] Happily I now live on Water Street and see the changes in the creek water level due to rain, snow melt, and evaporation. Last month portions of the creek were almost dry showing the rocky bottom and causing the ducks to move to a wetter area. No more babbling water sound.
We can be like that creek, becoming almost dry in our spiritual lives. We also need to be renewed, need regular replenishment like the rain gives the creek. We can connect with God daily and weekly in worship and fellowship with our church community. This replenishment is life-giving, both for ourselves and, by extension, for others we connect with and support in our daily lives, like the water is for the ducks.
We also can recall the life-giving waters of baptism. And as we enter the last third of the long “green” season of Pentecost, we continue to learn how to live in the life-giving ways of Jesus.
I invite your participation in the upcoming fall activities and events for renewal, refreshment, replenishment.
Blessings and peace, Joyce
With the beginning of the school year, A prayer for protection for all of us:
Lord, guard us, your children, wherever we wander,
Release us from pressures we cannot withstand,
Lift us high when we falter or founder,
Place our feet on rocks and not on sand.
Give us your hand as we walk through the darkness,
Strengthen our souls with bright hope from above,
Keep joy in our hearts against all the world’s starkness,
And fill all our emptinesses with your love.
Amen. –Ms. Miranda K. Smith, p. 50, Women’s Uncommon Prayers
These are the rector search prayers we are asked to pray often.
The space below is for you to write the prayer of your heart for Emmanuel.
PRAYER FOR THE SEARCH
FOR A NEW RECTOR AT EMMANUEL CHURCH
Dear Lord, we are seeking a Rector for Emmanuel.
We ask for a priest who will lead us in teaching, preaching, prayers and duties.
May the priest not only show love for You but compassion for our parishioners.
We pray that this priest will seek Your guidance in all that is undertaken.
We also pray that You will send one who is interested in the community
and will participate to spread Your Word in our town.
We ask for a Rector who has a deep faith and a relationship with You,
who walks daily with You and will teach us the right pathway
to build up Emmanuel with an eye to the future.
May we find one with whom we can work so that we may do Your will. Amen.
Prayer by Beverly White-Davis
PRAYER FOR THE SEARCH
FOR A NEW RECTOR AT EMMANUEL CHURCH
Lord, for your tender mercy's sake
we pray for guidance in our search for the future Rector of Emmanuel Church.
We pray that we may be open to your leading;
that when the time comes we may hear that still, small voice of wisdom.
We pray also that you will send the right person to lead this flock.
And we pray especially, that during this time of renewal
we may renew our lives in Jesus Christ who died for us,
that our joy may be complete; and in the world to come, life everlasting. Amen.
Prayer by John D’Elisa
(1942-2007)
You are invited to write your own prayer for Emmanuel here.
To conserve paper and toner and to lessen postal expense,
we ask if we may send you the newsletter by email and/or by visiting the church website,
www.emmanuelepiscopalchurchwv.org. If you’d like to receive future newsletters electronically, please email the church office, withus@verizon.net. Thanks, and trees thank you too.
Talent and Hobby Showcase – Sunday, September 9, 3 PM
What talent or hobby will you share with us? A favorite story or joke?
You all have varieties of artistic ability, musical talent, craftsmanship, storytelling; who knows what else!
Let’s have some fun, be a little silly, and enjoy being together.
If able, please bring a snack and/or drink to share.
Join us at Acolyte Festival 2007 at Washington National Cathedral
Saturday, October 6
The 28th Annual National Acolyte Festival includes a Festival Holy Eucharist with a procession and rededication of Acolytes at 10 AM, followed by lunch and workshops and tours. They will receive a festival acolyte medal too! Please let the office know if you would like to attend, and we will gather sufficient transportation. Scholarships are available for acolytes. Registration with lunch, no Acolyte Festival Medal is $23. Lunch includes a choice of turkey, cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwich!
Workshops include: Holy Smoke: The Work of the Thurifer; IM-ing w/God [prayer]; Dressing Up and Marching Around [learn about church gear]; Gargoyles of the Cathedral with a self-guided tour; Brief History of Everything Interesting to Know about Acolytes [and learn about the role of the server]. For additional information, call the office, 304-788-4475.
We need to know if you want to go and to have registration fees by Monday, September 17.
Know anyone desiring baptism or who wants to become a member of Emmanuel?
The next baptismal day of the church is All Saints’ Sunday, November 4. If you know of anyone who would like to be baptized or to become a member of the church, please contact the Rev. Joyce or the church office so arrangements or instruction can be made.
The Episcopal Church 101: Sundays at 9:00, September 23 and every other week
Originally scheduled for June during the Christian education/formation time, we will talk about the Bible, the Episcopal Church, its beginnings and history, the liturgical year, the sacraments, Anglican ethos, the Book of Common Prayer, being part of a community of faith, and other topics. This may serve as a refresher or preparation for baptism, confirmation or reception into the Episcopal Church. Please invite anyone who may be interested. This will be every other week [Sept. 23, Oct. 7, 21, etc.] with the regular formation topics on alternate weeks.
Also September 23 – an Instructed Eucharist at 8 and 10 telling us the whats and whys of our liturgy.
UTO In-gathering September 2, 9, 16
During the first three Sundays in September we will be holding our UTO in-gathering. Our offering will be sent to convention September 27th - 28th. The diocese of West Virginia has often been the recipient of UTO grants in the past. Envelopes are available on the small table as you enter the church. Contact Tamela Rankin or the church office if you need additional supplies.
Theology of the Offering
The Mission of the United Thank Offering is
to invite people to offer daily prayers of thanksgiving to God and outward and visible signs of those prayers which will benefit others. God calls each of us to grow in awareness of God, our own relationship with God, and our relationship in community with all whom God has created. As habits of daily thankful prayer mature, our personal relationship with God grows. Daily prayers of thanksgiving strengthen our being and doing. The blue box can be a reminder of our many blessings. Uniting our own gifts of thanks with those of others keeps us in thankful relationship them and with all of creation. In sharing our thank offerings with those throughout the Communion who seek to address compelling human need and extend the mission of the Church, we deepen our sense of participation in the lives of others. The shared prayer and money offerings help others to respond to God's call and to grow in their own deepened sense of living within the greater Christian community. Through our shared stories, God calls us to continue to grow into the fullness of the Kingdom.
The 2007 United Thank Offering grants responded to the call to “feed my sheep”, both physically and spiritually. The two largest grants will build a hospital in Pakistan and a church in Homer, Alaska. Other grants will help rebuild the Grace Day Care Center in New Orleans, severely damaged in Katrina; purchase a mini bus for St. George’s, in Baghdad, Iraq, enabling children to safely attend school now being held at the church because of the war damage; and purchase a former convenience store for use as a food pantry in a rural area of West Texas. The smallest grant provides a small parish in Mississippi with Sunday school materials and patterns to make children’s altar furnishings. Each spring UTO Committee members review and research each grant from their respective province. Calls to the applicants help committee members understand the area, the ministry, and particularly the compelling human need the grant, if awarded, will address. Of the 202 applications, UTO was able to fund 104 grants of $2,439,342.46. Episcopal dioceses in the United States received 48 percent; overseas and regional grants received 52 percent. UTO is a spiritual and financial partner in the mission work of The Episcopal Church, encouraging daily thankful prayer and offerings. UTO grants focus on addressing compelling human needs and expanding the mission and ministry of the church. – Tamela Rankin, UTO chair
Get well prayers are extended to Al Crall, and Leona Smith, who are recovering from surgery.
Special thanks go to
Sheila Dyche for endless work as treasurer, paying the bills and keeping the finances in order.
David Rankin for sharing his talent with us as music director and for taking our newspapers for recycling
Michael Summers for making over 200 Anglican prayer beads, rosaries. He can put one together in ten minutes; what a one person factory!
Thanks also to the congregation for donating school supplies, items for the food pantry, and for supporting the Potomac State College student information fair.
Faith in Action Food Pantry needs: macaroni & cheese, pancake mix (water) and syrup, noodles, soup, chili, crackers, cereals, oatmeal, canned vegetables and fruit, tuna, tuna helper, rice, pasta and sauce.
Dawn and Fred Downey, Emmanuel
members who work at PSC, and Sue Riley PSC Student Information Fair a Success!
For the very first time Emmanuel Episcopal Church made its presence known amongst the students at Potomac State College during the Student Information Fair, which was held on Tuesday, August 28th on the main quadrangle. We brought boxes of Episcopal literature, Anglican Rosaries, pretzels, lemonade, and used our church banner as the backdrop for our display table; even though parking was a nightmare and we had to trudge up the hill with our materials, the time and effort were totally worth it.
We distributed well over 100 Anglican Rosaries (that’s 3,300 beads, for the record) to students, faculty and staff of PSC, and they were amazingly popular with everyone. All who received a rosary also received the special brochure that contained information about Emmanuel’s church family and schedule of services, and there quite a few individuals who expressed interest in coming to worship with us. In fact, we became acquainted with an Episcopal student from Massachusetts who wasn’t aware of our existence. There were 16 students who signed up to join Emmanuel’s Yahoo news group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EmmanuelEpiscopalChurch/), and we were able to have some serious conversations about the love of Jesus Christ and His Church with many. Because of this success, the Evangelism Committee plans to attend the Student Information Fair next year.
Emmanuel Church was well-represented by the Rev. Joyce Wilkinson, Kim Pifer, Michael Summers, Sue Riley, Dawn and Fred Downey, and Mike Miller, and all of this was made possible by the generosity of several members of the parish who contributed funds for the event. The Evangelism Committee expresses its gratitude for all who assisted in this project to bring the message of Jesus Christ to the youth of our area, for we were able to plant the seeds of faith into the hearts of all who came to visit our table. – Michael Summers, evangelism chair
Rector Search Committee Update…
The Rector Search Committee anticipates seeing the initial match-results for prospective candidates through the Church Deployment Office (CDO) database system by the next meeting, which will be held in early September.
The Search Committee did approve the text for the hard-copy profile of Emmanuel Church that will be mailed out to those priests inquiring about our opening for a rector. The text itself is based in part upon that which is found in the new brochure that will be given to visitors to our parish, but with more detailed information concerning the history of Emmanuel Church, facts about the Mineral County region, expectations we have for our rector, and the compensation package. Once the vestry approves of the parish profile, it’ll be duplicated and will be disseminated to all candidates.
So now the very difficult part of the work of the Search Committee will begin, and we ask that everyone make daily use of the “Prayers for a New Rector” cards that you have received. Please pray that we will be guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit, and that the priest Jesus Christ desires for us to lead us will be attracted to our special family. - Michael Summers
The enclosed page of rector search prayers is blank on the back for you to write your own prayer.
Upcoming dates to remember Recycle our newspapers!!
September 9, Sunday 3 PM, talent and hobby showcase Bring your newspapers to the
September 14, Saturday, Helping Hands bowling parish hall for recycling.
September 17 Monday, RSVP due for Acolyte Festival on 10/6 David Rankin will take them to
September 23, Sunday, Instructed Eucharist at 8 and 10 Cumberland for their animal shelter.
September 23, Sunday, Episcopal Church 101 at 9
October 4, Thursday, United Way Day of Caring
October 6, Saturday, National Acolyte Festival; RSVP by 9/17
October 7, Sunday, Episcopal Church 101 at 9
October 20, Saturday 10:00, Blessing of the Animals
October 21, Sunday, Episcopal Church 101 at 9; Helping Hands Walk
November 4, All Saints’ Sunday, a baptismal day of the church
“This Little Light of Mine” is theme for 130th Diocesan Convention
The diocesan convention will be September 27-29 in Flatwoods. The focus is the youth and children of our diocese. For additional information see the forms on the bulletin board, in the office or see the diocesan website, http://www.wvdiocese.org/diocesanconvention. Registration is due by September 14. Michael Summers is our delegate with Tamela Rankin as alternate.
Jottings by Joyce
I grew up five blocks from the intercoastal canal on the upper Texas coast and would sit on the levy and watch the oil tankers and tugs with barges. When I moved to Charleston, WV, my house fronted on River St., and I watched coal-carrying barges traveling on the Kanawha River. The first time I visited Keyser, Sharon Floyd gave me a tour. We drove a long way on a street paralleling water. I was intrigued by that street, being drawn to the water, and had to locate it on my city map. [Yes, Keyser does have a city map!] Happily I now live on Water Street and see the changes in the creek water level due to rain, snow melt, and evaporation. Last month portions of the creek were almost dry showing the rocky bottom and causing the ducks to move to a wetter area. No more babbling water sound.
We can be like that creek, becoming almost dry in our spiritual lives. We also need to be renewed, need regular replenishment like the rain gives the creek. We can connect with God daily and weekly in worship and fellowship with our church community. This replenishment is life-giving, both for ourselves and, by extension, for others we connect with and support in our daily lives, like the water is for the ducks.
We also can recall the life-giving waters of baptism. And as we enter the last third of the long “green” season of Pentecost, we continue to learn how to live in the life-giving ways of Jesus.
I invite your participation in the upcoming fall activities and events for renewal, refreshment, replenishment.
Blessings and peace, Joyce
With the beginning of the school year, A prayer for protection for all of us:
Lord, guard us, your children, wherever we wander,
Release us from pressures we cannot withstand,
Lift us high when we falter or founder,
Place our feet on rocks and not on sand.
Give us your hand as we walk through the darkness,
Strengthen our souls with bright hope from above,
Keep joy in our hearts against all the world’s starkness,
And fill all our emptinesses with your love.
Amen. –Ms. Miranda K. Smith, p. 50, Women’s Uncommon Prayers
These are the rector search prayers we are asked to pray often.
The space below is for you to write the prayer of your heart for Emmanuel.
PRAYER FOR THE SEARCH
FOR A NEW RECTOR AT EMMANUEL CHURCH
Dear Lord, we are seeking a Rector for Emmanuel.
We ask for a priest who will lead us in teaching, preaching, prayers and duties.
May the priest not only show love for You but compassion for our parishioners.
We pray that this priest will seek Your guidance in all that is undertaken.
We also pray that You will send one who is interested in the community
and will participate to spread Your Word in our town.
We ask for a Rector who has a deep faith and a relationship with You,
who walks daily with You and will teach us the right pathway
to build up Emmanuel with an eye to the future.
May we find one with whom we can work so that we may do Your will. Amen.
Prayer by Beverly White-Davis
PRAYER FOR THE SEARCH
FOR A NEW RECTOR AT EMMANUEL CHURCH
Lord, for your tender mercy's sake
we pray for guidance in our search for the future Rector of Emmanuel Church.
We pray that we may be open to your leading;
that when the time comes we may hear that still, small voice of wisdom.
We pray also that you will send the right person to lead this flock.
And we pray especially, that during this time of renewal
we may renew our lives in Jesus Christ who died for us,
that our joy may be complete; and in the world to come, life everlasting. Amen.
Prayer by John D’Elisa
(1942-2007)
You are invited to write your own prayer for Emmanuel here.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
The Vine Newsletter (August 2007)
Emmanuel Church at Potomac State College… Tuesday, August 28, 11-2
The Evangelism Committee of Emmanuel Church is sponsoring a special display booth at the Student Info Fair at PSC on Tuesday, August 28th from 11-2. We will provide New Testaments, church literature, Anglican rosaries, snacks and drinks for the students, faculty and staff who visit us. This event is the first step in making Emmanuel Church more visible at the college, and the possibilities arising from it are exciting!
We are asking for your help in funding this special evangelism event to cover the cost of the food, drink and supplies. To contribute to this effort to reach out to Potomac State College, please contact Rev. Joyce, Kim Pifer, Michael Summers, or Sue Riley. Thank you very much!
In the spotlight YOU: Join the Showcase highlighting a repertoire of talent
Sounds like a good way to spend a September Sunday afternoon!
From the young to the not so young: Lots of diverse kinds of talent can be found among the people of Emmanuel, and we want to showcase its many forms. You all have varieties of artistic ability, musical talent, craftsmanship, storytelling; who knows what else!
We want to spend a few hours having a Talent Showcase on a Sunday afternoon. What talent you will share with us? Tell the Rev. Joyce, Kim, or call the church office so we can put you on the list.
Celebration of Ministry in Daily Life, Sunday, September 2 at 8 and 10
Bring a symbol of your daily life with you to worship
Remembering Labor Day, we will celebrate ministry in our daily lives and in our workplaces. We will connect our "occupations", those things we do which occupy our days – home, family, school, community, leisure, job/profession/business, political/citizen involvements – and how we as the Baptized, regardless of our age or station, live our lives as ministry in the world. During worship we will have a special liturgy for vocation in daily life, based on the baptismal covenant of showing God’s love in our daily lives and work.
Every person is asked to bring something representative of their daily life (for example, a notebook or iPod for a student, a stethoscope for a medical person, a toy for a child, a shovel for a gardener, yarn for a knitter, etc.). Someone said the couch doesn’t fit in his car, but the remote control does. You decide. These will be placed it at the baptismal font after the prayers.
You can help – School supplies and food pantry
School supplies: It's almost time for school to begin, and you can help kids be equipped. Please bring notebook paper and single subject notebooks [both wide and college ruled], pens, pencils, crayons
[8 & 16], scissors, folders, colored pencils, and lots of glue sticks by Aug 19.
Food Pantry needs: macaroni & cheese, pancake mix (water) and syrup, noodles, soup, chili, crackers, cereals, oatmeal, canned vegetables and fruit, tuna, tuna helper, rice, pasta and sauce.
Our deepest sympathy is extended to Marcy and Dawn D’Elisa at the death of spirited and Spirit-filled John, husband and father, on July 5. He is dearly missed by his Emmanuel family.
A note from Marcy
To the Emmanuel Episcopal Family,
I am writing to express my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you.
You all provided so many acts of caring and support during John's illness through his final days; and this
continues on even now.
The memorial you organized in his honor touched us all. I can't begin to express enough appreciation for
the hospitality extended to friends and family, many who came from afar, but were made to feel at home.
The prayers, praises, stories and kind words were a great comfort and honor bestowed upon us in this
most difficult time of our lives.
The Emmanuel Episcopal family is truly the friendliest and most compassionate church in the world.
With Sincerest Thanks,
Marcy D'Elisa
Get well prayers are extended to Jerry Shaver who is recovering from surgery.
Jerry appreciates the cards and caring words extended him.
Special thanks goes to Kim Pifer, senior warden extraordinaire, for her tireless energy.
Her contributions of time and care for members and facilities are invaluable.
Jottings by Joyce
Recently I saw that a newsletter named “The Vine” was begun in years past. So this issue takes up the original name, which recalls the “I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15:5) mural in the church.
The evangelism committee is preparing a church brochure for the table at the Potomac State student information fair and to have at the church for visitors. They also are preparing “business cards” with church information that we can carry to give people and to distribute around town. This can include leaving a card on your table in a restaurant to including one in an envelope with a local bill.
I am looking forward to the talent showcase. We are interested in talents of all sorts, the more varied they are, the more interesting the time will be. So don’t be bashful, kazoos, mimes, artisans are welcome!
I also am looking forward to the Celebration of Ministry in Daily Life on the Sunday of the Labor Day weekend. I always enjoy seeing what people bring to represent their lives. So, again, don’t be bashful. I expect everyone, the youngest to the oldest, to bring a symbol, or picture of one, to represent their days.
As we begin the second third of the long Pentecost season, we are changing to Eucharistic Prayer A, Prayers of the People, Form III, and the second postcommunion prayer.
Blessings and peace as we finish the summer, Joyce
Helping Hands – News and Upcoming
Bowling tournament – Saturday, September 15
Walk for Helping Hands – Sunday, October 21, 2:30, begin at Heartland for the 6 mile walk
Be on a work team; contact Helping Hands to help with construction and repair work on houses.
A big Thank You to Sharon Floyd for chairing the recent golf tournament which raised around $4,000.
Dining In for the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) – July 8 netted $238! Thank you for your contributions to help eliminate extreme poverty. The money will be divided between Five Talents for microcredit programs and the Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) program Nets for Life to prevent malaria.
The Rector Search Continues…
The Committee established to search for the next rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church met once again with Archdeacon Faith Perrizo on Tuesday, July 24, 2007, and the lengthy meeting was dedicated to assembling all of the necessary information for the creation of the special electronic profile to be submitted to the Church Deployment Office (CDO) in New York City. This electronic profile will be used to match the qualifications of priests in the Church Deployment database to the needs and goals of Emmanuel Church.
Venerable Faith provided the Search Committee with a standard database input form called a Parish/Institution Search Request; the information submitted on this form will be entered into the CDO database. First a brief formal Description of the Parish was created by the Search Committee, which will provide prospective clergy with an idea of what Emmanuel Church is about and what we are looking for. Then four Goals of the Parish were established, along with Position Responsibilities with Related Skills, items which will specifically outline what qualifications and background our parish expects of candidates. The Parish Life Orientation Form, which will express Emmanuel Church’s understanding of itself and where it wants to be in the future (based upon the Church Assessment Tool), will be completed and submitted by the beginning of August.
Once the data has been collected by the Search Committee, the Vestry will look over the documentation and make approvals or changes so that everything can be uploaded to the CDO database by the end of August. At that point, profiles of priests from all over the United States who closely match the needs and vision of Emmanuel Church will be submitted for the consideration of the Search Committee.
The Search Committee’s next step before the electronic profile is submitted to the CDO will be to create a hardcopy profile that will be sent to all priests who express an interest in being considered for the rector position. This profile or brochure will be used in conjunction with Emmanuel Church’s official website to provide prospective clergy with a solid idea of what we are all about.
In addition to the intricate paperwork responsibilities, the Search Committee approved the use of two special prayers by the members and friends of Emmanuel Church, seeking God’s blessing upon us as we seek out our new rector. We ask that everyone uses these prayers as frequently as possible so that the Holy Spirit will direct and inspire our actions and decisions. The prayers were composed by Beverly Davis and our departed brother John D’Elisa, and they are as follows:
Dear Lord, we are seeking a Rector for Emmanuel. We ask for a priest who will lead us in teaching, preaching, prayers and duties. May the priest not only show love for You but compassion for our parishioners. We pray that this priest will seek Your guidance in all that is undertaken. We also pray that You will send one who is interested in the community and will participate to spread Your Word in our town. We ask for a Rector who has a deep faith and a relationship with You, who walks daily with You and will teach us the right pathway to build up Emmanuel with an eye to the future. May we find one with whom we can work so that we may do Your will. Amen. Prayer by Beverly White-Davis
Lord, for your tender mercy's sake we pray for guidance in our search for the future Rector of Emmanuel Church. We pray that we may be open to your leading; that when the time comes we may hear that still, small voice of wisdom. We pray also that you will send the right person to lead this flock. And we pray especially, that during this time of renewal we may renew our lives in Jesus Christ who died for us, that our joy may be complete; and in the world to come, life everlasting. Amen. Prayer by John D’Elisa (1942-2007)
submitted by Michael Summers
Emmanuel had lots of Peterkin campers
The first campers were Katie Rankin and Codi Gourlay at senior camp June 17-23. The Crall family attended family camp in early July. Intermediate Camp July 22-28 had Ian Rankin, Shawnee Gourlay, Alyssa Williams, and Chalet Roy.
Things I liked about camp from Shawnee, Alyssa and Chalet: everyone was friendly, participating in all the activities, swimming, singing, taco day, dancing, meeting new people, the "Peterkin Peeper".
From Ian: I went to Peterkin Camp before. It was actually a lot of fun. The food was pretty good along with the talent show we had Wednesday night. It started out with us getting signed in and everything, then we went to the lodges to unpack our stuff, in that time you could go to the pool and try your swimming test, or just hang out with the people in the lodge.
Afterwards we went to the dining hall and had dinner. They have so many things at that camp to make you feel welcome. I also realize that some people didn’t want to go to Peterkin, but on the last day when they were packing up everything they didn’t want to leave. So they do a good job there as you can see.
The counselors are also very friendly as long as you don’t get on their nerves. Sometimes they even let you stay up late so you can hang out with people in different rooms for a little while. They have electives, which is when you get to pick two kinds of activities to do for the evening, so you won’t get bored. Then they have free time after the activities. You can go around camp and hang out with your friends for a while, play 4 square, or play Ping-Pong in the Arts and crafts room or down in the pavilion.
And something that gets everyone awake is the closing campfire. These are a few things you can
do at Peterkin Camp. I would really suggest going to this camp.
From Al: The families of Al and Sarah Crall, their daughters, Debbie Crall and Sarah Reiser and Sarah's children, Matthew, Benjamin, Jacquie, and Gregory, all attended the week-long Family Camp at Peterkin Conference center during the week of July 1-7. The highlights of the week:
1. The daily morning Eucharist followed by adult lessons and discussions and child-friendly activities.
2. The Fourth of July celebrations that included a decorated bike parade and fireworks. Benjamin's wheel chair was decorated with red, white and blue crepe paper and two American Flags.
3. The swimming pool, which was the one place where Ben could move naturally and freely.
4. The Peterkin American Flag was in dreadful shape after having served faithfully for many, many years. It was retired at the last campfire in a respectful and at times moving ceremony. It was replaced with a brand new flag.
5. Father Bennet prayed and laid hands on Ben and anointed him with Holy Oil after the last Eucharist of the week.
6. The children would disappear for long periods of time with their friends. Adults would take it easy.
7. We enjoyed meeting friends made last year and making some new ones.
All in all, it was a wonderful and unforgettable week and we wish to thank all who were responsible for making it possible.
From Matthew: I think the message that God was trying to convey to me during camp was that He will provide for His people, and prioritizes things better than we do. He may not always answer our prayers in the way that we intended, but He still listens. At camp, I thoroughly enjoyed the sense of fellowship that accompanied the beautiful rural surroundings. Peterkin had some of the most well qualified camp counselors ever, and I loved being around other Christians and being able to be true to myself.
Accessibility is church's goal, must become 'the norm' from the Episcopal News Service (ENS)
Note: Included below are parts of a recent article from the Episcopal News Service. In our own church I mention four recent instances of distress caused by lack of accessibility on all levels. At the Lenten Quiet Day an elderly man with a cane who parked in the back was quite winded after climbing the stairs. Some did not join us downstairs for the Liturgy of the Palms prior to the procession on Palm Sunday. A member’s grandson with a broken leg was limited in his mobility. A woman with a walker parked in the back for the memorial service and had to walk the long way around outside with steps to enter the church because she could not climb the flight of stairs. The elevator for people with disabilities has been ordered. - Joyce
Accessibility is church's goal, must become 'the norm', July 24, 2007, by Mary Frances Schjonberg, edited
It has been 25 years since the Episcopal Church first urged its members to make their buildings and services accessible to those with disabilities and that goal has not yet been fully achieved.
In 1982, the 67th General Convention established (Resolution D120) a task force to consider how the church could become more accessible and how to ensure that people with disabilities would be given equal standing in the church.
In 1985, the 68th General Convention (Resolution A087) re-iterated the call for the church to be accessible at all levels and in all programs to persons with disabilities.
In the hope of putting the issue "more in the front seat at least in terms of consciousness," according to Canon Victoria Garvey, the Executive Council meeting in June passed a resolution again calling the church to be accessible to all.
The Council's resolution "completes" Resolution D070 brought to the 75th General Convention in June 2006. The Council's resolution (CIM005), offered by the Standing Committee on Congregations in Ministry, urges:
• dioceses to convene committees on disability concerns to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure access for persons with disabilities to all church properties,
• congregations to designate a person or persons to be particularly responsible for disability concerns, and
• all congregations, affiliated organizations, and institutions of the Episcopal Church to use only facilities which are accessible to all persons.
Garvey told ENS that when one considers the signs that point people to Episcopal Church congregations – the ones that say "The Episcopal Church welcomes you" – calling for the church to be accessible to all is a "no-brainer." The accessibility is possible in some parts of the church, Garvey said, but it must become the norm "all across the board."
Remembering the Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 62nd Anniversary, August 6 and 9
At 8:15 in the morning of August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped from a USA B-29 bomber on Hiroshima, Japan. More than 170,000 people died instantly or within hours. Few were soldiers.
The Transfiguration of Jesus is celebrated on August 6 (Matthew 17:1-6; Mark 9:1-8; Luke 9:28-36).
Jesus took Peter, James and John to a high mountain where he was transfigured before them with a dazzling brightness emanating from his body.
Supplemental Collect for the Transfiguration and the Anniversary of the Bombing of Hiroshima:
Ineffable God, who speaks to us through clouds and in high places:
Give us the grace to hear your voice speaking to us today, not only in the clouds of incense,
Not only in the cloud when your Son was transfigured before his disciples,
Not only in the cloud leading your people through the Wilderness,
But also in the terrible cloud of death that arose over Hiroshima, the cloud arising from the latent murder in each of our hearts. Speak to our hearts that they may bear the fruit of peace, and that our cities may receive the gentle descent of your Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
From the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, written by Mary Miller and the Rev. Gary Commins
The Evangelism Committee of Emmanuel Church is sponsoring a special display booth at the Student Info Fair at PSC on Tuesday, August 28th from 11-2. We will provide New Testaments, church literature, Anglican rosaries, snacks and drinks for the students, faculty and staff who visit us. This event is the first step in making Emmanuel Church more visible at the college, and the possibilities arising from it are exciting!
We are asking for your help in funding this special evangelism event to cover the cost of the food, drink and supplies. To contribute to this effort to reach out to Potomac State College, please contact Rev. Joyce, Kim Pifer, Michael Summers, or Sue Riley. Thank you very much!
In the spotlight YOU: Join the Showcase highlighting a repertoire of talent
Sounds like a good way to spend a September Sunday afternoon!
From the young to the not so young: Lots of diverse kinds of talent can be found among the people of Emmanuel, and we want to showcase its many forms. You all have varieties of artistic ability, musical talent, craftsmanship, storytelling; who knows what else!
We want to spend a few hours having a Talent Showcase on a Sunday afternoon. What talent you will share with us? Tell the Rev. Joyce, Kim, or call the church office so we can put you on the list.
Celebration of Ministry in Daily Life, Sunday, September 2 at 8 and 10
Bring a symbol of your daily life with you to worship
Remembering Labor Day, we will celebrate ministry in our daily lives and in our workplaces. We will connect our "occupations", those things we do which occupy our days – home, family, school, community, leisure, job/profession/business, political/citizen involvements – and how we as the Baptized, regardless of our age or station, live our lives as ministry in the world. During worship we will have a special liturgy for vocation in daily life, based on the baptismal covenant of showing God’s love in our daily lives and work.
Every person is asked to bring something representative of their daily life (for example, a notebook or iPod for a student, a stethoscope for a medical person, a toy for a child, a shovel for a gardener, yarn for a knitter, etc.). Someone said the couch doesn’t fit in his car, but the remote control does. You decide. These will be placed it at the baptismal font after the prayers.
You can help – School supplies and food pantry
School supplies: It's almost time for school to begin, and you can help kids be equipped. Please bring notebook paper and single subject notebooks [both wide and college ruled], pens, pencils, crayons
[8 & 16], scissors, folders, colored pencils, and lots of glue sticks by Aug 19.
Food Pantry needs: macaroni & cheese, pancake mix (water) and syrup, noodles, soup, chili, crackers, cereals, oatmeal, canned vegetables and fruit, tuna, tuna helper, rice, pasta and sauce.
Our deepest sympathy is extended to Marcy and Dawn D’Elisa at the death of spirited and Spirit-filled John, husband and father, on July 5. He is dearly missed by his Emmanuel family.
A note from Marcy
To the Emmanuel Episcopal Family,
I am writing to express my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you.
You all provided so many acts of caring and support during John's illness through his final days; and this
continues on even now.
The memorial you organized in his honor touched us all. I can't begin to express enough appreciation for
the hospitality extended to friends and family, many who came from afar, but were made to feel at home.
The prayers, praises, stories and kind words were a great comfort and honor bestowed upon us in this
most difficult time of our lives.
The Emmanuel Episcopal family is truly the friendliest and most compassionate church in the world.
With Sincerest Thanks,
Marcy D'Elisa
Get well prayers are extended to Jerry Shaver who is recovering from surgery.
Jerry appreciates the cards and caring words extended him.
Special thanks goes to Kim Pifer, senior warden extraordinaire, for her tireless energy.
Her contributions of time and care for members and facilities are invaluable.
Jottings by Joyce
Recently I saw that a newsletter named “The Vine” was begun in years past. So this issue takes up the original name, which recalls the “I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15:5) mural in the church.
The evangelism committee is preparing a church brochure for the table at the Potomac State student information fair and to have at the church for visitors. They also are preparing “business cards” with church information that we can carry to give people and to distribute around town. This can include leaving a card on your table in a restaurant to including one in an envelope with a local bill.
I am looking forward to the talent showcase. We are interested in talents of all sorts, the more varied they are, the more interesting the time will be. So don’t be bashful, kazoos, mimes, artisans are welcome!
I also am looking forward to the Celebration of Ministry in Daily Life on the Sunday of the Labor Day weekend. I always enjoy seeing what people bring to represent their lives. So, again, don’t be bashful. I expect everyone, the youngest to the oldest, to bring a symbol, or picture of one, to represent their days.
As we begin the second third of the long Pentecost season, we are changing to Eucharistic Prayer A, Prayers of the People, Form III, and the second postcommunion prayer.
Blessings and peace as we finish the summer, Joyce
Helping Hands – News and Upcoming
Bowling tournament – Saturday, September 15
Walk for Helping Hands – Sunday, October 21, 2:30, begin at Heartland for the 6 mile walk
Be on a work team; contact Helping Hands to help with construction and repair work on houses.
A big Thank You to Sharon Floyd for chairing the recent golf tournament which raised around $4,000.
Dining In for the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) – July 8 netted $238! Thank you for your contributions to help eliminate extreme poverty. The money will be divided between Five Talents for microcredit programs and the Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) program Nets for Life to prevent malaria.
The Rector Search Continues…
The Committee established to search for the next rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church met once again with Archdeacon Faith Perrizo on Tuesday, July 24, 2007, and the lengthy meeting was dedicated to assembling all of the necessary information for the creation of the special electronic profile to be submitted to the Church Deployment Office (CDO) in New York City. This electronic profile will be used to match the qualifications of priests in the Church Deployment database to the needs and goals of Emmanuel Church.
Venerable Faith provided the Search Committee with a standard database input form called a Parish/Institution Search Request; the information submitted on this form will be entered into the CDO database. First a brief formal Description of the Parish was created by the Search Committee, which will provide prospective clergy with an idea of what Emmanuel Church is about and what we are looking for. Then four Goals of the Parish were established, along with Position Responsibilities with Related Skills, items which will specifically outline what qualifications and background our parish expects of candidates. The Parish Life Orientation Form, which will express Emmanuel Church’s understanding of itself and where it wants to be in the future (based upon the Church Assessment Tool), will be completed and submitted by the beginning of August.
Once the data has been collected by the Search Committee, the Vestry will look over the documentation and make approvals or changes so that everything can be uploaded to the CDO database by the end of August. At that point, profiles of priests from all over the United States who closely match the needs and vision of Emmanuel Church will be submitted for the consideration of the Search Committee.
The Search Committee’s next step before the electronic profile is submitted to the CDO will be to create a hardcopy profile that will be sent to all priests who express an interest in being considered for the rector position. This profile or brochure will be used in conjunction with Emmanuel Church’s official website to provide prospective clergy with a solid idea of what we are all about.
In addition to the intricate paperwork responsibilities, the Search Committee approved the use of two special prayers by the members and friends of Emmanuel Church, seeking God’s blessing upon us as we seek out our new rector. We ask that everyone uses these prayers as frequently as possible so that the Holy Spirit will direct and inspire our actions and decisions. The prayers were composed by Beverly Davis and our departed brother John D’Elisa, and they are as follows:
Dear Lord, we are seeking a Rector for Emmanuel. We ask for a priest who will lead us in teaching, preaching, prayers and duties. May the priest not only show love for You but compassion for our parishioners. We pray that this priest will seek Your guidance in all that is undertaken. We also pray that You will send one who is interested in the community and will participate to spread Your Word in our town. We ask for a Rector who has a deep faith and a relationship with You, who walks daily with You and will teach us the right pathway to build up Emmanuel with an eye to the future. May we find one with whom we can work so that we may do Your will. Amen. Prayer by Beverly White-Davis
Lord, for your tender mercy's sake we pray for guidance in our search for the future Rector of Emmanuel Church. We pray that we may be open to your leading; that when the time comes we may hear that still, small voice of wisdom. We pray also that you will send the right person to lead this flock. And we pray especially, that during this time of renewal we may renew our lives in Jesus Christ who died for us, that our joy may be complete; and in the world to come, life everlasting. Amen. Prayer by John D’Elisa (1942-2007)
submitted by Michael Summers
Emmanuel had lots of Peterkin campers
The first campers were Katie Rankin and Codi Gourlay at senior camp June 17-23. The Crall family attended family camp in early July. Intermediate Camp July 22-28 had Ian Rankin, Shawnee Gourlay, Alyssa Williams, and Chalet Roy.
Things I liked about camp from Shawnee, Alyssa and Chalet: everyone was friendly, participating in all the activities, swimming, singing, taco day, dancing, meeting new people, the "Peterkin Peeper".
From Ian: I went to Peterkin Camp before. It was actually a lot of fun. The food was pretty good along with the talent show we had Wednesday night. It started out with us getting signed in and everything, then we went to the lodges to unpack our stuff, in that time you could go to the pool and try your swimming test, or just hang out with the people in the lodge.
Afterwards we went to the dining hall and had dinner. They have so many things at that camp to make you feel welcome. I also realize that some people didn’t want to go to Peterkin, but on the last day when they were packing up everything they didn’t want to leave. So they do a good job there as you can see.
The counselors are also very friendly as long as you don’t get on their nerves. Sometimes they even let you stay up late so you can hang out with people in different rooms for a little while. They have electives, which is when you get to pick two kinds of activities to do for the evening, so you won’t get bored. Then they have free time after the activities. You can go around camp and hang out with your friends for a while, play 4 square, or play Ping-Pong in the Arts and crafts room or down in the pavilion.
And something that gets everyone awake is the closing campfire. These are a few things you can
do at Peterkin Camp. I would really suggest going to this camp.
From Al: The families of Al and Sarah Crall, their daughters, Debbie Crall and Sarah Reiser and Sarah's children, Matthew, Benjamin, Jacquie, and Gregory, all attended the week-long Family Camp at Peterkin Conference center during the week of July 1-7. The highlights of the week:
1. The daily morning Eucharist followed by adult lessons and discussions and child-friendly activities.
2. The Fourth of July celebrations that included a decorated bike parade and fireworks. Benjamin's wheel chair was decorated with red, white and blue crepe paper and two American Flags.
3. The swimming pool, which was the one place where Ben could move naturally and freely.
4. The Peterkin American Flag was in dreadful shape after having served faithfully for many, many years. It was retired at the last campfire in a respectful and at times moving ceremony. It was replaced with a brand new flag.
5. Father Bennet prayed and laid hands on Ben and anointed him with Holy Oil after the last Eucharist of the week.
6. The children would disappear for long periods of time with their friends. Adults would take it easy.
7. We enjoyed meeting friends made last year and making some new ones.
All in all, it was a wonderful and unforgettable week and we wish to thank all who were responsible for making it possible.
From Matthew: I think the message that God was trying to convey to me during camp was that He will provide for His people, and prioritizes things better than we do. He may not always answer our prayers in the way that we intended, but He still listens. At camp, I thoroughly enjoyed the sense of fellowship that accompanied the beautiful rural surroundings. Peterkin had some of the most well qualified camp counselors ever, and I loved being around other Christians and being able to be true to myself.
Accessibility is church's goal, must become 'the norm' from the Episcopal News Service (ENS)
Note: Included below are parts of a recent article from the Episcopal News Service. In our own church I mention four recent instances of distress caused by lack of accessibility on all levels. At the Lenten Quiet Day an elderly man with a cane who parked in the back was quite winded after climbing the stairs. Some did not join us downstairs for the Liturgy of the Palms prior to the procession on Palm Sunday. A member’s grandson with a broken leg was limited in his mobility. A woman with a walker parked in the back for the memorial service and had to walk the long way around outside with steps to enter the church because she could not climb the flight of stairs. The elevator for people with disabilities has been ordered. - Joyce
Accessibility is church's goal, must become 'the norm', July 24, 2007, by Mary Frances Schjonberg, edited
It has been 25 years since the Episcopal Church first urged its members to make their buildings and services accessible to those with disabilities and that goal has not yet been fully achieved.
In 1982, the 67th General Convention established (Resolution D120) a task force to consider how the church could become more accessible and how to ensure that people with disabilities would be given equal standing in the church.
In 1985, the 68th General Convention (Resolution A087) re-iterated the call for the church to be accessible at all levels and in all programs to persons with disabilities.
In the hope of putting the issue "more in the front seat at least in terms of consciousness," according to Canon Victoria Garvey, the Executive Council meeting in June passed a resolution again calling the church to be accessible to all.
The Council's resolution "completes" Resolution D070 brought to the 75th General Convention in June 2006. The Council's resolution (CIM005), offered by the Standing Committee on Congregations in Ministry, urges:
• dioceses to convene committees on disability concerns to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure access for persons with disabilities to all church properties,
• congregations to designate a person or persons to be particularly responsible for disability concerns, and
• all congregations, affiliated organizations, and institutions of the Episcopal Church to use only facilities which are accessible to all persons.
Garvey told ENS that when one considers the signs that point people to Episcopal Church congregations – the ones that say "The Episcopal Church welcomes you" – calling for the church to be accessible to all is a "no-brainer." The accessibility is possible in some parts of the church, Garvey said, but it must become the norm "all across the board."
Remembering the Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 62nd Anniversary, August 6 and 9
At 8:15 in the morning of August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped from a USA B-29 bomber on Hiroshima, Japan. More than 170,000 people died instantly or within hours. Few were soldiers.
The Transfiguration of Jesus is celebrated on August 6 (Matthew 17:1-6; Mark 9:1-8; Luke 9:28-36).
Jesus took Peter, James and John to a high mountain where he was transfigured before them with a dazzling brightness emanating from his body.
Supplemental Collect for the Transfiguration and the Anniversary of the Bombing of Hiroshima:
Ineffable God, who speaks to us through clouds and in high places:
Give us the grace to hear your voice speaking to us today, not only in the clouds of incense,
Not only in the cloud when your Son was transfigured before his disciples,
Not only in the cloud leading your people through the Wilderness,
But also in the terrible cloud of death that arose over Hiroshima, the cloud arising from the latent murder in each of our hearts. Speak to our hearts that they may bear the fruit of peace, and that our cities may receive the gentle descent of your Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
From the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, written by Mary Miller and the Rev. Gary Commins
Sunday, July 1, 2007
The Vine Newsletter (July 2007)
The Search Begins…
On the evening of Tuesday, June 12, 2007, the first meeting of the Rector Search Committee was held in the Parish Hall at Emmanuel Church, under the direction of the Venerable Faith Perrizo, Archdeacon and Deployment Officer of the Diocese of West Virginia.
Now that the Church Assessment Tool (CAT) results are back – those special surveys that the members of Emmanuel Church were asked to fill out earlier this year – Venerable Faith will be assisting the Search Committee in its very important and detailed work of selecting candidates for consideration as the next rector of our church. The next step in the process will be for the Committee to create special profiles, one which will be sent to prospective priests, and the other will be uploaded to the deployment database at the Church Offices in New York City. Once the profile has been submitted to the database, priests who have qualifications that match the needs and vision of the church (as determined by the CAT) will be selected for consideration and provided to the Committee. Additionally, inquiries and resumes will be accepted by the Search Committee from all Episcopal priests who might be interested in serving our community in Keyser.
The members of the Rector Search Committee are: Beverly Davis (Prayer Chaplain), Kenneth Dyche (Chairperson), Spring Fertig, Andrew Rankin, Sue Riley (Recording Secretary), Francine Shanahan, Ralph Smith, Michael Summers (Correspondence Secretary).
From The Book of Common Prayer –
For the Selection of a Minister
Almighty God, giver of every good gift:
Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Pot luck brunch on Sunday, July 8, and Dining In for the MDGs
Celebrate summer with a pot luck brunch after the 10 o'clock worship on July 8.
In addition, with the halfway mark in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) [listed below] upon us, to raise more awareness and contributions to the cause we are "Dining In for the MDGs" on the 8th. As part of our parish pot luck brunch, everyone is invited to contribute the amount of money they would have spent if they had dined out that day. We'll give that money and any additional contributions to help achieve the MDGs.
At the 74th General Convention in June, the Episcopal Church set the MDGs as a mission priority for the Episcopal Church. In 2000, 191 nations—including the United States—agreed on a plan to cut extreme global poverty in half by 2015. They identified eight goals:
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
2. Achieve universal primary education for children.
3. Promote gender equality and empower women.
4. Reduce child mortality.
5. Improve maternal health.
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
7. Ensure environmental sustainability.
8. Create a global partnership for development.
A quick note from Kim, senior warden
Many thanks for all members who helped with the installation of the carpet. It is beautiful!
Also, keep your eyes open for construction in Patchett Hall. The vestry has approved the funding of an elevator! Installation should begin late summer and should be complete before Christmas. We give thanks to God for all these blessings.
Jottings by Joyce
We are settling into the long "green" season of the church year, the Sundays after Pentecost when we hear about events in the life of Jesus and how we are to be disciples following his example. We may consider how we can be more Christ-like with the people we encounter in our daily lives, ranging from store clerks to family members.
The Rector Search Committee is beginning their work of discernment, first in presenting Emmanuel in a profile and then in selecting rector candidates. Let us keep them and their work in our prayers.
I will be in Texas for my father's ninetieth birthday celebration in mid-July. Call Kim Pifer in case of emergency.
I give thanks for the vitality I see in this church.
Blessings on your journey,
Joyce
Youth (a vital part of Emmanuel) news
Do you like parades, fire and serving at God’s table? Become an acolyte!
Acolyte training will be on Sunday, July 15, at 9:00 led by Sonny Rhodes.
Youth are meeting after coffee hour every other Sunday in the A-frame loft with Michael Miller, Sue Riley and David Rankin as sponsors.
We thank the Youth for helping with coffee hour on July 1.
Peterkin camp is blessed to have so many of our youth participating this summer. Katie Rankin and Codi Gourlay recently returned from senior camp. Anticipating intermediate camp are Ian Rankin, Shawnee Gourlay, Carrie Miller, Alyssa Williams, and maybe some of their friends.
We give a great big "THANK YOU" to Sue Riley and Bud and Mae Summers for transporting children and youth to and from church each week.
Congratulations to Russell Miller and Kristen Gough on the birth of Layla Marie on Thursday, June 21, weighing 5 lbs. 15 oz.
John D'Elisa, Marcy and Dawn thank Emmanuel for the prayers, care and concern during his illness. Even as we miss John's humor, the Johns Hopkins medical personnel are enjoying his wit. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.
In the spotlight – YOU: Join the Showcase highlighting a repertoire of talent
From the young to the not so young: Lots of diverse kinds of talent can be found among the people of Emmanuel, and we want to showcase its many forms. You all have varieties of talent: artistic ability, craftsmanship, musical talent, storytelling, and who knows what else!
So we want to spend a couple of hours having a Talent Showcase one Sunday afternoon in August. What talent you will share with us? Tell the Rev. Joyce, Kim, or call the church office so we can put you on the list.
Outreach report for the first half of '07
Our Outreach Committee takes very seriously how we distribute ten percent of the Patchet Fund. We have had three requests for help from parishioners and friends of parishioners amounting to $750.00 for the first half of the year. We weigh each case and how much we can afford out of what we have set aside for this purpose.
We also give regularly to community agencies that help others who are in need. So for this year we have given Faith in Action $1,000.00, Helping Hands $400.00, and Energy Express $1,125.00.
We also sponsor Activities for minimal expenses under $100.00 while supporting youth. We gave $300.00 for the Teal Steel Band who entertained us May 19, 2007; and we supported the Keyser High School Softball Boosters as we have two young parishioners on the team. We gave them $250.00.
We have several larger projects in the planning but we are careful of the money we are given to responsibility take care.
Respectfully,
Sharon Floyd
Golf tournament fund raiser for Helping Hands, July 28 at Polish Pines golf course.
Cost is $30. Sign up by contacting Sharon Floyd or the golf course.
Faith in Action food pantry is in special need of canned meat and peanut butter. They also need canned vegetables, rice and pancake mix. They are at 112 Center St., and are open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1-3, and Tuesday from 10-3, or place your food in the basket by the door of the church.
Sunday school learns about people in other countries
Sharon Floyd's class of 2-9 year olds learned about people in other countries. They constructed houses representative of Ethiopia, the back country Indians of Canada, Indonesia, Thailand, Israel, Ireland, Greece, and Japan and made presentations to parishioners after coffee hour.
They had eye-opening experiences in learning that some Ethiopian children put fresh animal dung on the walls of their houses each day. They also learned that while some local children may consider themselves poor, they do have a house, food, and toys, while many children in other countries do not.
Vestry minutes are posted on the parish hall bulletin board.
One Nation Under God – In honor of Independence Day, quotes from US presidents
-It is impossible to govern the world without God. He must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith.... - George Washington
-I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. - Abraham Lincoln
-It is only when men begin to worship that they begin to grow. - Calvin Coolidge
-Without God the world would be a maze without a clue. - Woodrow Wilson
-No one can worship God or love his neighbor on an empty stomach. - Woodrow Wilson
-We could find no more appropriate way to begin our days and our duties than to pray." ... I find for myself...a sustaining strength from moments of prayer. – Lyndon Baines Johnson
-Prayer reminds us that a great people must be humble before God, searching for wisdom – constantly searching for wisdom – from the Almighty. - George W. Bush
Pentecost as “ordinary time”
In some liturgical traditions, Pentecost is known as "ordinary time." Although the word "ordinary" comes from the word, "ordinal," "to count," we think of ordinary as boring, uneventful. Seen in that way, I am bothered by the term "ordinary time" because as Christians, there is no ordinary time. All time is marked by God’s presence and grace in our lives, making all time extraordinary. Then again, it’s perhaps good to have time in the Church year officially referred to as ‘ordinary time’ as a way of reminding ourselves that God can be found in the ordinary, everyday of our lives. — The Rev. N. DeLiza Spangler, Anglican Digest, Pentecost 2003, 13.
On the evening of Tuesday, June 12, 2007, the first meeting of the Rector Search Committee was held in the Parish Hall at Emmanuel Church, under the direction of the Venerable Faith Perrizo, Archdeacon and Deployment Officer of the Diocese of West Virginia.
Now that the Church Assessment Tool (CAT) results are back – those special surveys that the members of Emmanuel Church were asked to fill out earlier this year – Venerable Faith will be assisting the Search Committee in its very important and detailed work of selecting candidates for consideration as the next rector of our church. The next step in the process will be for the Committee to create special profiles, one which will be sent to prospective priests, and the other will be uploaded to the deployment database at the Church Offices in New York City. Once the profile has been submitted to the database, priests who have qualifications that match the needs and vision of the church (as determined by the CAT) will be selected for consideration and provided to the Committee. Additionally, inquiries and resumes will be accepted by the Search Committee from all Episcopal priests who might be interested in serving our community in Keyser.
The members of the Rector Search Committee are: Beverly Davis (Prayer Chaplain), Kenneth Dyche (Chairperson), Spring Fertig, Andrew Rankin, Sue Riley (Recording Secretary), Francine Shanahan, Ralph Smith, Michael Summers (Correspondence Secretary).
From The Book of Common Prayer –
For the Selection of a Minister
Almighty God, giver of every good gift:
Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Pot luck brunch on Sunday, July 8, and Dining In for the MDGs
Celebrate summer with a pot luck brunch after the 10 o'clock worship on July 8.
In addition, with the halfway mark in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) [listed below] upon us, to raise more awareness and contributions to the cause we are "Dining In for the MDGs" on the 8th. As part of our parish pot luck brunch, everyone is invited to contribute the amount of money they would have spent if they had dined out that day. We'll give that money and any additional contributions to help achieve the MDGs.
At the 74th General Convention in June, the Episcopal Church set the MDGs as a mission priority for the Episcopal Church. In 2000, 191 nations—including the United States—agreed on a plan to cut extreme global poverty in half by 2015. They identified eight goals:
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
2. Achieve universal primary education for children.
3. Promote gender equality and empower women.
4. Reduce child mortality.
5. Improve maternal health.
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
7. Ensure environmental sustainability.
8. Create a global partnership for development.
A quick note from Kim, senior warden
Many thanks for all members who helped with the installation of the carpet. It is beautiful!
Also, keep your eyes open for construction in Patchett Hall. The vestry has approved the funding of an elevator! Installation should begin late summer and should be complete before Christmas. We give thanks to God for all these blessings.
Jottings by Joyce
We are settling into the long "green" season of the church year, the Sundays after Pentecost when we hear about events in the life of Jesus and how we are to be disciples following his example. We may consider how we can be more Christ-like with the people we encounter in our daily lives, ranging from store clerks to family members.
The Rector Search Committee is beginning their work of discernment, first in presenting Emmanuel in a profile and then in selecting rector candidates. Let us keep them and their work in our prayers.
I will be in Texas for my father's ninetieth birthday celebration in mid-July. Call Kim Pifer in case of emergency.
I give thanks for the vitality I see in this church.
Blessings on your journey,
Joyce
Youth (a vital part of Emmanuel) news
Do you like parades, fire and serving at God’s table? Become an acolyte!
Acolyte training will be on Sunday, July 15, at 9:00 led by Sonny Rhodes.
Youth are meeting after coffee hour every other Sunday in the A-frame loft with Michael Miller, Sue Riley and David Rankin as sponsors.
We thank the Youth for helping with coffee hour on July 1.
Peterkin camp is blessed to have so many of our youth participating this summer. Katie Rankin and Codi Gourlay recently returned from senior camp. Anticipating intermediate camp are Ian Rankin, Shawnee Gourlay, Carrie Miller, Alyssa Williams, and maybe some of their friends.
We give a great big "THANK YOU" to Sue Riley and Bud and Mae Summers for transporting children and youth to and from church each week.
Congratulations to Russell Miller and Kristen Gough on the birth of Layla Marie on Thursday, June 21, weighing 5 lbs. 15 oz.
John D'Elisa, Marcy and Dawn thank Emmanuel for the prayers, care and concern during his illness. Even as we miss John's humor, the Johns Hopkins medical personnel are enjoying his wit. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.
In the spotlight – YOU: Join the Showcase highlighting a repertoire of talent
From the young to the not so young: Lots of diverse kinds of talent can be found among the people of Emmanuel, and we want to showcase its many forms. You all have varieties of talent: artistic ability, craftsmanship, musical talent, storytelling, and who knows what else!
So we want to spend a couple of hours having a Talent Showcase one Sunday afternoon in August. What talent you will share with us? Tell the Rev. Joyce, Kim, or call the church office so we can put you on the list.
Outreach report for the first half of '07
Our Outreach Committee takes very seriously how we distribute ten percent of the Patchet Fund. We have had three requests for help from parishioners and friends of parishioners amounting to $750.00 for the first half of the year. We weigh each case and how much we can afford out of what we have set aside for this purpose.
We also give regularly to community agencies that help others who are in need. So for this year we have given Faith in Action $1,000.00, Helping Hands $400.00, and Energy Express $1,125.00.
We also sponsor Activities for minimal expenses under $100.00 while supporting youth. We gave $300.00 for the Teal Steel Band who entertained us May 19, 2007; and we supported the Keyser High School Softball Boosters as we have two young parishioners on the team. We gave them $250.00.
We have several larger projects in the planning but we are careful of the money we are given to responsibility take care.
Respectfully,
Sharon Floyd
Golf tournament fund raiser for Helping Hands, July 28 at Polish Pines golf course.
Cost is $30. Sign up by contacting Sharon Floyd or the golf course.
Faith in Action food pantry is in special need of canned meat and peanut butter. They also need canned vegetables, rice and pancake mix. They are at 112 Center St., and are open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1-3, and Tuesday from 10-3, or place your food in the basket by the door of the church.
Sunday school learns about people in other countries
Sharon Floyd's class of 2-9 year olds learned about people in other countries. They constructed houses representative of Ethiopia, the back country Indians of Canada, Indonesia, Thailand, Israel, Ireland, Greece, and Japan and made presentations to parishioners after coffee hour.
They had eye-opening experiences in learning that some Ethiopian children put fresh animal dung on the walls of their houses each day. They also learned that while some local children may consider themselves poor, they do have a house, food, and toys, while many children in other countries do not.
Vestry minutes are posted on the parish hall bulletin board.
One Nation Under God – In honor of Independence Day, quotes from US presidents
-It is impossible to govern the world without God. He must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith.... - George Washington
-I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. - Abraham Lincoln
-It is only when men begin to worship that they begin to grow. - Calvin Coolidge
-Without God the world would be a maze without a clue. - Woodrow Wilson
-No one can worship God or love his neighbor on an empty stomach. - Woodrow Wilson
-We could find no more appropriate way to begin our days and our duties than to pray." ... I find for myself...a sustaining strength from moments of prayer. – Lyndon Baines Johnson
-Prayer reminds us that a great people must be humble before God, searching for wisdom – constantly searching for wisdom – from the Almighty. - George W. Bush
Pentecost as “ordinary time”
In some liturgical traditions, Pentecost is known as "ordinary time." Although the word "ordinary" comes from the word, "ordinal," "to count," we think of ordinary as boring, uneventful. Seen in that way, I am bothered by the term "ordinary time" because as Christians, there is no ordinary time. All time is marked by God’s presence and grace in our lives, making all time extraordinary. Then again, it’s perhaps good to have time in the Church year officially referred to as ‘ordinary time’ as a way of reminding ourselves that God can be found in the ordinary, everyday of our lives. — The Rev. N. DeLiza Spangler, Anglican Digest, Pentecost 2003, 13.
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