NATIVITY NEWS
The newsletter of the Episcopal Church of
the Nativity and St. Stephen
Newport and Thompsontown, PA
159 South Second Street
Newport PA 17074
Phone: 717-567-6514 E-mail:
Parish Website:
June, 2014
From the Rector
Hello,
I always inwardly chuckle when I hear someone say “Easter is early this year” or “Easter is late this year.” What does that mean? It’s early or late compared to what? I have never heard anyone say “Easter is just right this year.” Actually the date of Easter is determined by a consistent formula. Easter Day is always the Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox on March 21. So, Easter Day can be no earlier than March 22 or no later than April 2. So why all this talk about Easter, that was weeks ago. That was weeks ago. Actually we are in the Easter Season.
Easter season ends Sunday, June 8 with the celebration of Pentecost (late this year!). This day, which comes 50 days after Easter has many parallel identities, including the birth of the church. It is on this day that the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, and from that point on there was new life in the church. Following this celebration, often commemorated with red vestments, flowers, balloons or symbols of fire, the liturgical season is known as “the season after Pentecost” or “ordinary time.” Life as a Christian is hardly “ordinary.” What this means is that all of the specialness – the miracles, the gifts, the insights -- of the liturgical seasons of Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost become part of our daily lives. Those seasons have prepared us for the Ordinary time. The time that we live out God’s commandments, with examples set by Jesus and support given by the Holy Spirit.
May ordinary time be a special blessing to you.
Faithfully, Meredyth+
Rector’s Ramblings
PICNIC JUNE 22: The annual Church of the Nativity/St. Stephen’s picnic will be held Sunday, June 22 at the Landis Farm. The picnic will begin with Eucharist at 11 a.m., followed by more food and fun. Please bring a dish to pass to the picnic, no sign up necessary. The meat, beverages and table ware will be provided. Also, bring your own chairs.
If you are unable to make the 11 a.m. service and picnic, a “quiet” (meaning no music) Eucharist will be held at the Church of the Nativity at 9:30 a.m.
Directions to the Landis Farm: Coming from church, when you get to the Newport River Bridge turn west (left) on Juniata Parkway. Travel approximately 3 miles to Owl Hollow Road, (Perry Valley Grange is on the corner) turn right. Travel approximately 1.1 miles and you will see a white hour and white barn on the left. Balloons will mark the driveway.
VISITING YOUTH GROUP JUNE 21: A youth group from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Burke, Virginia will be staying at Church of the Nativity on Saturday night June 21. We have been asked to provide the group with a welcome/evening snack and breakfast on Sunday morning. Julie C. will be coordinating volunteers to provide snacks and help with breakfast; and to help with any other preparations that are needed. Detailed information will be shared in the next week or two. The group’s visit here is the night before it heads to Mifflintown where it will join several hundred youth from around the country to perform service projects. The youth and their leaders, about 17 in all, will arrive mid to late afternoon, do some team building exercises, go to dinner at a local restaurant, come back to Nativity for prayer and reflection and hopefully get some sleep before their big week. The youth and their chaperones will join us for one of the services on Sunday.
DIOCESAN CONVENTION -- Marion F. and Joanne P. are the Church of Nativity/St. Stephen’s delegates to the diocesan convention to be held June 13 and 14 in State College. I also plan on attending. At this convention, it is anticipated the Bishop Robert Gepert will be elected provisional bishop to serve until September, 2015
Yard Sale: Spring cleaning? Save those unwanted items for our yard sale to be held at Mother Meredyth's home on Friday and Saturday, June 6th and 7th. Please have all items clean and priced. You can make arrangements with Mother Meredyth to drop them off at her house to eliminate the need for double transports.
First Sundays at St. Stephen’s
During the months of July, August and September, services on the first Sunday of the month will be held at St. Stephen’s Church in Thompsontown. There will be no service at Nativity on those Sundays. The 9:30 a.m. service will be July 6, August 3 and September 7. This is an opportunity for us to worship in the beautiful historic building established in the early 1800s.
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Godly Play will be held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in June.
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ALTAR FLOWERS: The opportunity to sponsor altar flowers is ongoing. A sign-up sheet for flowers for the remainder of the year is in the undercroft. The cost to sponsor flowers is $35. This is a great way to remember a loved one, or honor someone or something special in your life. Changes or requests for wording for the bulletin announcement should also go through the office.