NATIVITY NEWS. January 2017

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1 NATIVITY NEWS The newsletter of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen Newport and Thompsontown, PA 159 South Second Street Newport PA Phone: Parish Website: A note from the Rector January 2017 Happy New Year! 2017 is the 500 th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing the 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. This is considered the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. There will be numerous activities throughout the year to commemorate this event, including a six-week devotional booklet written jointly by The Anglican Communion and The Lutheran World Federation. The Reformation was filled with turmoil and I was always taught that Martin Luther did not want to start a new denomination did not want to break away from western Christianity. In England the sovereigns went back and forth and at each change, people were killed for not switching their beliefs. Things calmed down some with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I ( ). Queen Elizabeth said: There is only one Christ, Jesus, one faith. All else is a dispute over trifles. And I have no desire to make windows into mens souls. What was important, was how we prayed together. We might have differing understandings and yet, we pray together using The Book of Common Prayer. I have a book of documents of the English Reformation ( ) edited by Gerald Bray. It s very interesting. A number of things came out of this period when The Church of England was established, that continue to guide our worship today. The Elizabethan Injunctions from 1559, include a section on the form of the bidding prayers, which mostly matches the requirements of our prayers in our time. (See next page.) An event to mark the reformation, A Journey of Discovery, 500 years since the Reformation will be held Friday, January 13, Details are available on p. 4 of the newsletter. As we hold on to the best of the traditions of our denomination, we are also called to examine them and affirm those that guide us to a right relationship with God and Jesus Christ and reform those that hinder our relationship with God and Jesus Christ. Love, Rebecca+

2 The Elizabethan Injunctions from 1559 Ye shall pray for Christ's Holy Catholic Church, that is for the whole congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the whole world, and especially for the Church of England and Ireland. And herein I require you most specially to pray for the queen's most excellent majesty, our sovereign lady Elizabeth, queen of England, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, and supreme governor of this realm as well in causes ecclesiastical as temporal. You shall also pray for the ministers of God's holy word and sacraments, as well archbishops and bishops, as other pastors and curates. You shall also pray for the queen's most honourable council and for all the nobility of this realm, that all and every of these in their calling, may serve truly and painfully to the glory of God and edifying of His people, remembering the account that they must make. Also ye shall pray for the whole Commons of this realm, that they may live in true faith and fear of God, in humble obedience and brotherly charity one to another. Finally, let us praise God for all those that are departed out of this life in the faith of Christ, and pray unto God that we have grace for to direct our lives after their good example, that after this life we with them may be made partakers of the glorious resurrection in the life ever-lasting. ( From The Book of Common Prayer, p. 383 Prayer is offered with intercession for The Universal Church, its members, and its mission The Nation and all in authority The welfare of the world The concerns of the local community Those who suffer and those in any trouble The departed (with commemoration of a saint when appropriate)

3 Cleaning up our property There are things throughout our church property that we no longer use. We d like to get these cleared out. Attached are photos of most of the items that are available. Please let Rebecca know by January 22 if you d like anything you see in the photos. By the beginning of February, we will have a hauler come to take everything else away.

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5 During 2017, we will be celebrating baptism on January 8, June 4, November 5 and December 3. Let Rebecca know if you or someone you know would like to be baptized on any of these days. Upcoming Meetings January 11, Vestry, 6:30pm January 15, Racism Awareness, 1:00pm African Immigrant Welcome Center roundtable discussion, Saint Stephen s Cathedral, Undercroft Sunday, January 8, 1-3 PM. Free parking is available in the lot beside the Cathedral. Listen to the experiences of the people who have immigrated from the continent. Native food and light refreshment will be provided. Attending Friday prayers and discussion on Islam, Islamic Society of Greater Harrisburg, 407 N. Front St., Steelton, Jan. 27, 1-3pm. Please let Rebecca know if you would like to attend this service and the discussion afterwards. A Journey of Discovery, 500 years since the Reformation Friday, Jan. 13, 6:30pm at St. John s Lutheran Church, 5 Barner s Church Rd., Liverpool. The Perry Valley Grange will provide the meat, beverages and place settings for a potluck meal, followed by music, fellowship and experiencing the fascinating Reformation journey. Contact Linda Byers at with a count of attendees. Catholic Charities 2017 Calendar Our Refugee Neighbors. Show your support of refugees and immigrants in your neighborhood with your purchase of a calendar. The calendar features refugee families in Central PA, and all proceeds will benefit the English classes provided by Catholic Charities. Calendars are only $15 each! To place your order, simply call Sara Beck at (717) ext. 209 or send an to shbeck@cchbg.org with your calendar order and contact information. Pick up and delivery options available! Reimagining Faith Formation. Our Diocese in collaboration with The Central PA Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is offering consultation and training to increase our ability to be disciples of Jesus. Bill Rohm and Rebecca attended an initial session in November. We are looking for additional members of our team interested in strengthening this area of our church community. An initial training open to all is planned for January 21 in Harrisburg. Please see Rebecca or Bill to learn more.

6 Give Online to The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen! We ve added a Give Online button to our website. You can use your credit card to make a onetime or recurring monthly donation to the church. Check it out! Baking needs and chocolate items available through Equal Exchange. See the cart in the parish hall. We are now a wholesaler for Equal Exchange. A price list and basket are available to pay for the items you choose to buy. Also, be sure to write down what you ve purchased to help us maintain our inventory. A catalogue is also available. If there s an item you d like us to order, please see Jane Hoover. Host a High School Foreign Exchange Student for 3 months. The Rotary Club of Perry County is looking for people interested in hosting a high school student from another country. The student would live with you for 3 months and then move to another family. If you are interested, let Rebecca know or Patti McLaughlin at rotaryclubperrycountypa@g mail.com We are preparing our annual parochial report for The Episcopal Church. In addition to reporting our finances, we also report our membership and our worship activity. In order to be included in this report as a member, you need to have your baptism recorded in the Parish Register. Check with Rebecca if you d like to be sure to be included as a member.

7 January Episcopal Commons 2 Gregory Fried 6 Phyllis Smith Ann Roland 10 Karen Myers Jacob Rice 11 Debbie Ramos 4 Jason Ehrhart 14 Mary Otstott Kerry Jezewski 28 Stella Cox Emily Davis 7 Joann Weller Honaman House 14 Nathan Beamer 17 Wendy Day 15 John Albright 18 Matthew Warne 22 Sheryl Krebs 23 Will Davis 25 Raymond Strunk 27 Deborah Bryner Date Greeters Lector Prayers Acolyte Euch. Min. Coffee Hour Jan. 1 (A.G. 1) Prices Sue B. Julie J. Ethan J. Amsler Edna B./Andrea J. Christmas Lessons and Carols Jan. 8 GP (A.G. 2) Rice/Brownfield Susan R. Jane H. Davis Davis Mary P./Sue B. Baptism of our Lord Jan. 15 (A.G. 3) Cramers Kay C. Jan Y. Lillian H. Saner Darlene A./Ken F. Jan. 22 GP (A.G. 4) Burns/Davis Julie J. Jean T. Rohm Rohm Pat S./Gail S. Jan. 29 (A.G. 1) Days Marion F. Dick P. Sophia J. Mitchell Anne C./Elizabeth P.

8 1 Lessons and Carols January 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Men s Breakfast, 9am, Espresso Yourself Café Special Offering No Parlor People Choir Practice, 10:15am Michele will work afternoon hours. 8 Godly Play Parlor People, 11am Glenn Holliman leads a discussion on Stewardship Men s Breakfast, 9am, Espresso Yourself Café Women s Breakfast, 9am, May s Railside Grill Choir Practice, 10:15am Lunch and Craft at Episcopal Commons, 11am 1pm. Vestry Meeting, 6:30pm 12 Michele will be on vacation Parlor People, 11am Rebecca will lead the Discussion on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King s letter from the Birmingham Jail Michele will be on vacation. 18 Men s Breakfast, 9am, Espresso Yourself Café Women s Breakfast, 9am, May s Railside Grill Racism Awareness Meeting, 1pm 22 Godly Play Special Offering Parlor People, 11am Bill Rohm leads a discussion on Satan. 29 Special Offering Parlor People, 11am Jane Hoover and Rebecca lead a discussion on the Cyrus Cylinder Men s Breakfast, 9am, Espresso Yourself Café Women s Breakfast, 9am, May s Railside Grill Choir Practice, 10:15am 26 Stitchers, 10am Notes: Special Offerings this month January 1 CNN Heating and Health and Altar Flowers January 22 Kermit Lloyd Theological Education Fund January 29 Building Fund