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!