Resurrection Episcopal Church, Rockdale We Gather Together November, 2016 Some Thoughts at the Anniversary of the Admission of Resurrection, Rockdale, as a Parish by the Diocesan Convention: History and Tradition as a Keel, not a Rudder or Anchor This month is our Diocesan Convention. We will remember the time at a previous Convention just a few years ago when the Diocesan Convention voted to admit our newly-formed parish Resurrection, Rockdale as a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. We will commemorate this in the prayers of the people at our worship on All Saints; Sunday, November 6. As we build our parish together, it s good to remember some of the special moments we ve had in our brief history. One question which arises from that is pondering what we remember and commemorate as the present and future of Resurrection at this time. What is Resurrection, Rockdale, all about? What is it in the process of becoming as this anniversary arrives? Part of the answer to that is being decided right now as we each decide what the resources we will make available for developing and carrying out that mission and ministry will be. Resurrection has a short but lively illustrious history. One thing Resurrection strives well is to wear its history [and the history of its predecessor congregations] just tightly and just lightly enough it informs us, it inspires us, but it does not control or limit us as we follow God in Christ into new times and new situations. As some of you may remember from long-ago confirmation classes, the part of a Gothic-style church [the architectural style of our building] where the congregation sits is called the Nave of the church. This word comes from the Latin word navis, meaning ship [Words in English like nautical come from this root as well]. In gothic architecture, the ceiling/roof above the nave looks like the inside of the bottom of a ship [Thus the name]. This goes along with a lot of traditional imagery in Christian tradition about how the Church is like a ship which carries us through the rough seas of life to a safe harbor with God at the end of our earthly lives. I d like to take this nautical imagery and look at it for some insights about history and tradition in the life of the Church, and of our parish in particular. One of the first parts of a ship to be constructed is the keel, the large beam which forms the basis for the rest of the hull, and thus the ship as a whole. It is thus like the character of a parish, often formed early on in a parish s life. The keel forms a structural part of the ship, often protruding into the water from
the front to the back. It helps the ship move straight ahead, and not see-saw in the water. It converts sideways motion to forward motion. The history and traditions of a parish are at their best when they act like a keel, keeping things even and moving in a forward direction. Unfortunately, keels are not the only parts of a ship whose function, history, and tradition a parish can imitate. In some parishes, parts of its history and tradition are viewed as unchangeable and eternal; the guiding motto of the parish is what clergy call The Seven Last Words of the Church : We have always done it this way. No adjustment is allowed for changing circumstances or new needs or mission possibilities. The tradition of the parish is not a keel, but a rudder, determining for all time the same direction for the life of the parish. No leader or set of leaders is allowed to change the eternal direction set by the fixed rudder. Usually eventually the ship (parish) grounds itself or crashes on the rocks of irrelevance as it fails to adjust to the new calls to mission God gives it. Using tradition as a rudder is deadly. In the same way, in some parishes the history and tradition function as an anchor. The parish becomes fixed in one spot, always seeing itself and its life as relating to a particular time and condition. There are still parishes whose view of their life is that of the 1950 s. In the late 1970 s and early 1980 s, I was Rector of a parish which had been enriched in the 1950 s by the students from a nearby college who came down the hill to take part in the life of the parish [One of those students was a young man named Lyman Ogilby, later Bishop of Pennsylvania]. Although the character of the student body and religious needs of the students had changed almost totally, the parish still waited for a new group to come down the hill to revitalize the parish. The parish had dropped anchor in one place, and that place no longer existed except in their hopes and dreams. The parish isn t there now. So we celebrate and commemorate the history and traditions of Resurrection [building on those of Calvary and St. James ]; at the same time we look forward to what that will mean as we work to discern our parish s mission during this coming year, and we remind ourselves to ride easy with how much we embrace our past because in our ship, this wonderful past is our keel, not either our rudder or our anchor. Our ship is sailing on into the new waters to which we are called by Christ Jesus our Lord. Thanks be to God --Fr. Wand
2016 Calendar 1 2 3 FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING 6 PM 4 Diocese Convention 5 ECW Meeting at 10 PM Diocese Convention all day Lenni Lifeline AA meeting 7 pm 6 All Saints Sunday Today s altar flowers are given to the Glory of God in memory of Linda Granbolce by the Allen Family 8am Rite I Service Altar Guild: Nancy Webber and Sandy Byrne Lay Reader: Linda Leiby Chalicer: Linda Leiby Ushers: Charlie Simpson and Joe Bardroff 10am Rite II Family Service with Good News Readings Altar Guild: Karen Warren Lectors: 1st Lesson: Marissa Schwitters 2ndLesson: Kylie Benditt Intercessor: Joan Riccardi Chalicer: Karen Warren Crucifer: Ellen Stone Ushers: Bruce Warren and John Gallen 7 8 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 9 10 VESTRY MEETING 7 PM 11 12 Lenni Lifeline AA meeting 7 PM
13 Twenty -Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Today s altar flowers are given to the Glory of God in memory of Maurice Dunlap by the Dunlap Family 8am Rite I Service Altar Guild: Nancy Webber and Sandy Byrnes Lay Reader: Janet Russello Chalicer: Janet Russello Ushers: Charlie Simpson and Joe Bardroff 14 15 16 10am Rite II Service Altar Guild: Karen Warren and Kate Idun Lectors: 1 st Lesson: Debbie Ney 2 nd Lesson: Amy George Intercessor: David George Chalicer: Phyllis Russell Crucifer: Ellen Stone Ushers: Bruce Warren and John Gallen 17 STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE Meeting 6 PM 18 19 Lenni Lifeline AA meeting 7 PM 20 LAST SUNDAY after Pentecost Today s altar flowers are given to the Glory of God 8 am Rite I Service Altar Guild: Helen Dunlap and Gail Spencer Lay Reader: Diane Mundell Chalicer Diane Mundell Ushers: Charlie Simpson and Joe Bardroff 10am Rite II Service Altar Guild: Karen Warren and Kate Idun Lectors: 1 st Lesson: Rosemary Bezuidenhout 2 nd Lesson: Pieter Bezuidenhout Intercessor: Jude Winters Chalicer: Karen Warren
Crucifer: Ellen Stone Ushers: Bruce Warren and John Gallen 21 22 23 24 25 26 Lenni Lifeline AA Meeting at 7 PM 27 First Sunday of ADVENT Today s altar flowers are given to the Glory of God 8am Rite I Service Altar Guild: Helen Dunlap and Gail Spencer Lay Reader: Helen Dunlap Chalicer: Helen Dunlap Ushers: Charlie Simpson and Joe Bardroff 28 29 30 27 10am Rite II Healing Service Altar Guild: Karen Warren and Kate Idun Lectors: 1 st Lesson: Jude Winters 2 nd Lesson: Karen Warren Intercessor: Phyllis Russell Chalicer: Phyllis Russell Crucifer: Ellen Stone Ushers: Bruce Warren and John Gallen
During November-prayers are requested for this congregation, especially those in any need or trouble Debra Bell, The Boswick Family, Maria Castaldo,Nan Chapin, Bruce Coffin, Ellie Evans, Will Evans,Dolores Gray, Ardythe Hope, Isobel Jones, Pastor Daniel Nicewonger,KurtRappold, Jr. (in Florida), Russello Family, Jeffrey Simpson, Brad Speakman, Ken Steitz, Sue St. John White, Becky Thomas, Aileen Traynor, Treece Family, Russell Turner, and Mike Wilson BEAT THE BUG ANNOUNCEMENTS Who should get the vaccine? Everyone 6 months of age and older. How to prevent the flu: Cover your cough with a tissue Wash your hands frequently If you feel sick and have a fever, STAY HOME Get the flu shot DAYLIGHT SAVINGS November 6 th Check/replace batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms Adjust any timers on household gadgets such as indoor/outdoor lights, sprinklers, thermostats, etc. Check/replace the expired medications Check/replace expired items in First Aid kits Clean rain gutters Don t Wait Check the Date Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 years Remove the smoke alarm from the wall or ceiling. Look at the back of the alarm for the date of manufacture. Smoke alarms should be replaced 10 years from the date of manufacture. Put the alarm back on the ceiling or wall it if is less than 10 years old.
PIZZA SOCIAL: The Stewardship Committee is having a PIZZA SOCIAL on Sunday, November 6th after the 10:00 service @11:45 in the undercroft. It is a great way to meet new and old friends and enjoy some light conversation. There will be DOOR PRIZES for those that attend. Please help us Create our new mission Resurrection.. OFFICE STAFFING Needed: The Church office needs to be staffed while Fr. Wand has appointments Thursday afternoons and Tuesday and Thursday early evenings. If you can assist with this occasional ministry, please contact Fr. Wand or one of the Wardens (Ernestine Franz or Helen Dunlap) OUTREACH: The Outreach Committee is getting ready for the season. We will be supplying families in need for Thanksgiving baskets if you know of someone please get their name to Leigh Oppelt (610) 497-4576. We will also Adopt a Family for Fair Acres -30 residents and Neighbors helping Neighbors for either Aston Community or Penn Delco School District. There will be more information to follow. In addition, The Life Center of Eastern DE County is asking for donations, if interested, the flyer is posted in the undercroft. COFFEE HOUR: If you are interested in helping to provide snacks, and clean-up after the 10:00AM service, please sign up in the undercroft. If there is a Sunday when no one has signed up there will be no coffee hour after the 10:00AM service. CHALICERS and READERS If you are interested in becoming a Chalicer and Reader please speak with Ernestine Franz or Helen Dunlap.
CHOIR CHOIR PRACTICE at 9:00AM Sunday. If you are interested in joining us, please see Debbie Ney. FINANCE COMMITTEE There will be a Finance Committee meeting on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 6pm in the office. CONFIRMATION CLASS Confirmation Class meets in the Priest s office on the following Sundays: The Confirmands will be offered the opportunity to be confirmed at the Cathedral on January 6, 2017. VESTRY The Vestry meets on the 2 nd Thursday of the month, November 10 at 7 PM in the undercroft. Vestry meetings are always open to everyone. ECW There will be a meeting on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. in the undercroft. Discussion will be regarding upcoming activities. Tea & cookies will be served. Please bring new dish towels to upgrade the supply in the undercroft kitchen. All women are invited. STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE Stewardship Sunday is on November 6, 2016, for the Ingathering of pledge cards, those not received by this date will be contacted. There will be a Stewardship meeting on Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 6PM in the office.
Resurrection Pre-School 9 AM until 12 noon 3 and 4 year olds We offer 5 day classes for our 4 year olds 3 day classes (M/W/F) for our 3 year olds. Reasonable Rates Children need to be toilet trained for enrollment. Please call the office for more information and pricing. DAWN VISCUSI Pre-School Administrator 610-459-2013 HOAGIE SALE Our WaWa hoagie coupon sale continues! We are selling coupons at $3.50 each for a WaWa shorie hoagie, of which we keep a small profit from each sale. The coupons can be used at all WaWa s and have NO expiration date. If you are interested, please fill out the order form below and return it with payment to the church office. Thank you for your support! NAME: Phone: # of hoagie Coupons: X $3.50 each Total Enclosed:
Resurrection Episcopal Church, Rockdale 2131 Mount Road, Aston, PA 19014 610-459-2013 The Rev. Thomas Wand, Priest in Charge Resurrctionpriest@verizon.net PHONE: 610-459-2013 Email: resurrectionrockdaleoffice1@verizon.net Website: www.resurrectionrockdale.org Vestry: Resurrection Episcopal Church, Rockdale Helen Dunlap Rector s Warden 610-485-5623 Ernestine Franz People s Warden 610-485-3958 Ken Goodman Marsha Litwin Treasurer Secretary 302-753-0371 610-485-5531 Barbara Krisack 610-497-1603 Phyllis Russell 610-358-0258 Charlie Simpson 610-494-6899 Bruce Warren 610-246-2123 Fr. Thomas Wand Priest in Charge 610-459-2013