How many days do you

wake up in need of encouragement to

face the daily routine? Or come to the

end of the day and wondered where

you would get the strength to face

tomorrows challenges? If we are to

face each day with courage and hope

we need to recognize that God is our

strength and sustainer.

Gods steadfast love never

ceases. God never gives up on us.

When we come to the end of our

ourselves and fall short, Gods mercy

is there every day. Know that God

wants to see you and be near you

everyday. Stay connected to the true

source of power, God , and grace,

mercy and love will be yours!

Here we are in March and I am

looking back to one of the resolutions I

made for 2015. I was going to lose some

weight. Guess what, I am doing it , but I do

miss those double cheeseburgers with

fries for lunch. I still have a way to go and

I doubt Ill get back to my high school

weight goal. I feel a lot healthier.

I have the same goal for my

spiritual life. I may never get to where I

want to be in my relationship with God . I

want to be close and tight with God. Just

when I start to feel good about it, I slip up

and fall short. You know the feeling , I try

so hard ,one step forward and then its

two steps back. Then I fall back on the

promise of never failing grace and love.

One day a rabbi was teaching

his students about the miracle of the

manna in the wilderness, one of the

students asked, why didnt God give

them enough manna for the full jour-

ney? The rabbi gave him this parable,

Once there was a rich man who had a

son to whom he promised an annual

allowance. Every year on the same day

he gave the son the allowance? After

a while it came that the father only

saw his son on the day he was to

receive the allowance. So, the father

changed his plan and gave the son

only enough for the day. If the son

wanted to receive his allowance he

had to return the next day. The father

then saw his son every day. I believe

that God wants to see us and be with

us every day.

The point is to trust God

day by day and our challenge is to

maintain the relationship.

Visioning Ahead

Greetings from Fr. Chuck

Newsletter April 2015 Emmanuel Episcopal Church

We know the story as it is familiar to us.

The women arrive to discover the empty

tomb. They came with grief and sadness.

Each one of us can relate to loss,

disappointment, and sorrow. The

emptiness leaves us with a hollow feeling

inside.

And yet out of the tomb, comes the

Risen Christ. Jesus Alive! Easter is

about resurrection. Out of despair can

come something new with the promise

of life and hope. Just as new life was

experienced by the disciples, we too,

can share the hope as we experience

Easter anew. Easter is about new

life and a promise. New life can

grow inside of us. The Easter story

is our story as we are Gods Easter

People. The story lives in us. How

might we witness this new life in

the days ahead?

1 Devin Keator

2 Lindsey Markham

3 Andrew Everard

4 Lawrence & Anne Tucker

5 Madison Loeffler

7 Tim Thompson

Nicole Thompson

10 Linda Turner

10 Brayden Supensky

11 Brandon Smith

12 Nancy Gibbon

Alice Angle

16 Dylan Gladstone

19 David Loomis

Brian Frink

Elverd Jack Frink

20 Gary Brookins

Mary Alice Whitney

21 Jason Woodard

22 April Woodard

23 Amy Hart

24 Sarah Carnachan

Terri Ann Woodard

25 Sarah Spittler

Jason was driving his car on a busy two-lane highway when suddenly his cars engine failed. The cars around

him were going the speed limit. Jason knew he had to get his car to the side of the road.

Within twenty seconds of his car stalling, four foot ball players dressed in uniforms stopped behind Jason and

asked if he needed help. They and their sturdy Ford pushed the disabled car to the side of the road. Like angels

of mercy, they disappeared before Jason could offer them something for their kindness. One of them simply said,

Hope you day gets better.

Little did they know that they had made Jasons day better, they helped Jason understand the power of giving

to others. Giving that does not expect or demand anything in return is an example of Jesus loving spirit in ac-

tion. Small sacrifices, such as being delayed a few minutes in order to assist others, reaps harvests of hundreds.

One should make the stewardship of time a regular component of each day.

Stewardship

April Lessons

12 1st Acts 4: 32-35

Psalm 133

2nd 1 John 1: 1-22

Gospel John 20: 19-31

April Birthdays

Page 2 Newsletter

28 Daniel Andrew

Drew Macintosh

29 Megan Carnachan

30 Mark Hitchcock

19 1st Acts 3: 12-19

Psalm 4

2nd 1 John 3: 1-7

Gospel Luke 24: 36-48

26 1st Acts 4: 5-12

Psalm 23

2nd 1 John 3: 16-24

Gospel John 10; 11-18

EASTER

5 1st Acts 10: 34-43

Psalm 118: 1,2,14-24

2nd 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11

Gospel John 20: 1-18

Page 3 Newsletter

Holy Week Worship Schedule

March 29 PASSION SUNDAY

9:30 A.M. Passion Sunday

Palm Sunday Liturgy with reading of the Passion

Narrative and Holy Eucharist

April 1 Wednesday

9:00 A.M. Holy Eucharist

April 2 Maundy Thursday

5:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday Liturgy with Stripping of the Altar

April 3 Good Friday

1:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross with Good Friday Liturgy

April 5 THE DAY OF THE RESURRECTION EASTER DAY

9:30 a.m. The Lighting of the Pascal Candle, Vigil of Prayers

and Festive Holy Eucharist

Egg-stra facts

Although Easter eggs were once part of pagan spring festivals, theyve become Christian symbols of new life. A cracked-open shell also represents Jesus empty tomb on Easter morning.

The early Christians of Mesopotamia began staining eggs red in honor of Jesus blood shed on the cross. Red eggs remain part of Greek Orthodox celebrations today.

For Lent, some families used to give up eggs and dairy, so they prepared a pancake feast on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. They solved the egg surplus by hard boiling them in various broths, which led to colored eggs.

In medieval times, churches held egg-throwing festivals. The priest threw a hard-boiled egg to-ward the choir boys, who tossed it back and forth. When the clock struck 12, whoever was holding the egg got to keep it.

In some European countries, children go from house to house to collect Easter eggs

Each year, the PAAS Dye Co. sells more than 10 million egg-coloring kits, which consumers use to decorate 180 million eggs.

Peach Dump Cake by Joan Chapin

This is super easy and super delicious.

1 29 oz. can sliced peaches Spread cake mix over the top 1 yellow cake mix Slice butter over the cake mix

1 stick of butter Pour peach juice over the top

Drain peaches, save juice

Lay peaches in bottom of 9 x 13 dish that has been sprayed. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes

After a long winter, spring appears to be starting to arrive. The demand for food in the community is not seasonal, and your continued support of Our Daily Bread Food Pantry is much needed. Monetary contributions are always appreciat-ed, as are any food items you may be able to contribute. Thanks for your generosity, past, present and future. Some of the items much needed for the month of April are: canned

fruit and vegetables, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, canned tuna or chicken.

Barb and Gary Tompkins, Volunteer Coordinators

Page 4 Newsletter

The Bible is not written as a historical narrative. It is stories from God to teach us lessons on what

life is like and what happens to us when we make our choices.

Such is the story found in Genesis Chapter 4, the story of Cain and Abel. The story of Cain and Abel

mirrors life. It is also a story of the increase of sin and the growth of the human race.

Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain, the first born and then Abel. Cain was a farmer and Abel a

shepherd. Cain brought some of his harvest to the Lord. Abel brought the first born lamb, killed it, and

offered the best part to the Lord. The Lord was pleased with Abels offering, but rejected Cains (Genesis

4:4,5). Cain was furious.

The Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? Why that scowl on our face? If you had done the right

thing, you would have been smiling. But because you have done evil, sin is crouching at your door. It wants

to rule you, you must overcome it. (Genesis 4:7)

Cain did not listen to the Lord. Cain was very jealous of his brother. He

led his brother Abel out into the field and killed him.

When the Lord asked Cain where Abel was, Cain lied and said he did not

know. Am I supposed to know, am I my brothers keeper. (Genesis 4:9)

The Lord then bestowed a consequence on Cain. He cursed him and said

you can no longer farm the soil. If you try, nothing will grow. You will become a

homeless wanderer of the earth. Cain is afraid that he will be killed as he wanders

the earth.

In Genesis 4: 13, 14 Cain said to the Lord, This punishment is too hard

for me to bear. You are driving me off the land and away from your presence. I will be a homeless wanderer

on the earth, and anyone who finds me will kill me.

The Lord answers in Genesis 4:15, No, if anyone kills you, seven lives will be taken in revenge.

Here the Lord shows that even when we do wrong, He still loves us. The Lord put a mark on Cain, so

anyone who met him were warned that he was not to be killed.

Cain left Gods presence and went east of Eden to Nod which means wandering.

Cain married and had a son named Enoch and a civilization was created. Cain built a city and named

it after his son.

God blessed Adam and Eve with another son, Seth.

Cain was still under Gods care and the advancement of civilization was begun.

Genesis Chapter 4 The Story of Cain & Abel by Joan Chapin

Page 5

Fr. Chuck Taylor, Rector

PO Box 203

Norwich, NY 13815

Phone: 334-8801 or 847-6361

Email: frchuckt@frontiernet.net

Editor: Fran Nash

Phone: 607-334-8801

Email: emmanuelchurch@frontiernet.net

Newsletter

NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE

Norwich, NY 134815 PAID

PERMIT # 8

MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS:

We Worship Together

To Know God and To Make Him Known

Remember the church in your Will!

A different sort of church school Because the ocean is vast, fish surviveand thrive by living and working together. A shoal is a loose grouping of fish that forage individually but deter predators by staying close together. A school of fish is more tight-knit. Thousands of small creatures move as one great organism, shimmering through the water to confuse and fend off larger fish on the prowl.

God also sets humans in groups to help us thrive. Worldwide church denominations function somewhat like shoals, while our local congregations are like schoolsto teach us, yes, but also to nourish us with both physical and spiritual food, give us a sense of belonging, and empower us to accomplish good things together that we could never do alone.

Jesus called his disciples to fish for people. The Holy Spirit, gathering us as Church, calls people to live like fish!

Emmanuel Soul Kitchen

April 9, 2015 @

Emmanuel Episcopal Church

5:30 6:30

Free Meal

Goulash, tossed salad, & dessert

Come for the fellowship

Hosted by Emmanuel Episcopal Church