February 2019

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The Messenger

Dear Friends, Moses went to the mountaintop to speak to God. Jesus fled to the desert to be alone to be in prayer. For

many of us, the most regular place we escape to pray is our pew on Sunday morning. That is, of course, a

great place to pray and communal worship is the central practice of our faith but this 2019 “year of

prayer” initiative will turn our focus to new places to pray and new ways to pray. Our prayer life should

be the gasoline that keeps our faith fire blazing all year round. So, here are a few of my thoughts to

consider as we enter deeply into what I hope will be a spiritually transformative year for us.

You are worthy

Do not feel guilty about the quality of your prayer life nor fall into despair about your worthiness to talk

to God.

Practice makes perfect

Like anything, a good strong prayer life takes practice. So, do it…and don’t be afraid to try new things!

The more you pray the richer your prayer life will become.

Make prayer your steering wheel not your spare tire

Prayer was the backbone of Jesus’ ministry. He often went away to spend time with God. So, it should

be the same for us. Find time to break away from your daily routines to pray.

God doesn’t require eloquence

If you can’t find the words- don’t worry. Consider asking God for help in your prayers. Many saints

wrote about prayer as a time of sitting quietly in silence with God. So, consider silence and deep breathing

and think about the breath of God breathing life into you. If words are necessary for you look at pages

810--841 in the Book of Common Prayer to find prayers that may help you get started.

Listen

Remember that when we pray, we are not the only ones with something to say. So, listen, listen, listen!

St. Benedict wrote as his first rule of living “listen with the ear of your heart.”

Prayer can happen anywhere

You need not climb the mountain top or retreat to the desert or even to the sanctuary of the church.

Be attentive to God always.

There is much for us to discuss and explore so I hope that you will take the opportunities to engage in

these conversations. On Sunday, February 24, join me for a parlor chat to “check- in” on our year

of prayer so far. Then in Lent, join me for a study on the practice of prayer.

As always, I ask for your prayers during this year and know that I remember you all in my prayers daily.

God bless you. Kyle

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing”- Martin Luther

February 2019

2

Dear Friends, Last night, Dan and I talked about where we’d like to move, if we ever do. (We’re talking quite some

years from now.) We agree that it would need to be someplace warmer, but beyond that, we could come

to no consensus. Well, Hawaii is a winner for both of us, but it’s so far away. Otherwise, there’s no

particular place that calls to us, and no particular place that is off limits for us. It’s very weird to think

about trying to get used to a new place, meeting new people. It’s different when you’re young; you count

on meeting people at the kids’ school and at new jobs. But now, where would you meet people, how

would you become part of a community again?

This causes me to think of the many people we all know and love who are moving in their elder years to

senior communities, personal care facilities, and nursing homes. It must be difficult for them to leave

behind cherished items as they move to smaller living spaces. They give up so much autonomy in

exchange for needed care. I remember Andy France’s mother once telling me, “I know that there are lots

of people who will do anything for me that I need, but you just don’t call someone and ask them to take

you to the store for a candy bar.”

In the best of places, our friends’ needs are well taken care of, but what about their whims? What about

staying up to all hours to finish a thrilling book, or wearing PJ’s all day during a snowstorm? Who will

help me dye my hair purple or green?

I don’t have any answers; just ruminating on this cold winter night, I guess. I’m thankful my mother could

live at home until the end, grousing all the way. I’m even a little happy that my father seemed unaware of

where he was (or even who he was) in his last years in a nursing home.

And I’m praying tonight, for all of us as we age, for our friends who are already there, that grace and love

and graciousness might be with each of us every moment of every day until the trumpet calls.

Veronica +

Gracious God, we ask you to bless especially your children who have grown old. When they can no

longer care for themselves, send them loving caretakers who appreciate their wisdom and the richness of

their experience. Send your angels to keep them safe as long as they live and to lead them home to you

when their work is done. Bless the families of the elderly with insight and good judgment. Send your Holy

Spirit to help them make wise decisions, and grant them the patience to care for those who once cared for

them. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Dear Christ Church Family

Epiphany was certainly a fun service. Our scholars had a wonderful time dressing up as kings. It's not

every day a lay person gets the privilege to wear a cope!

We look forward to a late winter filled with some great music. We will have a service of Choral Evensong

on Saturday, February 2 at 7:00 PM to celebrate the Presentation of our Lord. A reception will follow.

Please spread the word or bring a friend!

On February 22 at 7:00PM our Choral Scholars will be presenting a Broadway review in the parish hall.

Refreshments will be available. Please take a poster to help advertise.

On Friday, March 22 at 7:00PM will be our Spring Concert featuring guest ensembles from the

community and our Choir’s performance of John Rutter’s Requiem.

Looking forward to seeing you at Evensong… Jeff

February 2019

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February 2 @ 7:00 .............................................................. Evensong

February 5 @ 5:30 .......................................................... Liturgy Com

February 10-17 .......................................................... Family Promise

February 12 @ 7:00 .................................................... Outreach Com

February 18 @ 5:30 ...................................................... Finance Com

February 19 @ 5:30 .............................................................. VESTRY February 22 @ 7:00 ............................................... Broadway Review

March 5 .................................................................... Shrove Tuesday March 6 ................................................................... Ash Wednesday March 19 ............................................................................... VESTRY March 22 .................................................................... Spring Concert

THE LOOSE OFFERINGS on the first Sunday each month are designated for the Parish Discretionary Fund. Special envelopes are also

provided for this purpose in your stewardship envelope boxes. The fund is administered by the rector and is

used for numerous and sundry needs that arise–assisting persons with past due rent, electric or heating bills,

and providing food for those whose benefits just don’t reach.

In this cold weather, many are suffering or turning to unsafe ways to heat their homes.

You can help!

Thank you, in advance for your support of the Parish Discretionary Fund.

Veronica+

February 2019

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Feb. 16 @ 11:30 South Side Restaurant & Pizzeria

in South Williamsport Please sign up so we can make reservations.

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The Idea of God Thursdays @ 7 PM

The Idea of God is a continuing study of humans' belief in God from primitive tribal religions to current views.

Anyone is welcome to join at any time—each session is a discrete topic. We

will begin looking at the development of ancient Eastern religions this month.

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Christ Church is hosting a Convocational

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

March 5 Serving at 6 pm

The men cook; the clergy race!

The Olney in Buckinghamshire, England, pancake race has been run since 1445, so there is no doubt that

it is the spiritual home of the event. Whilst the reason for its invention is not certain, the most widely

accepted tale is of a woman so busy making pancakes that she was about to miss the Shrove Tuesday

church service. On hearing the church bells she ran out of the house and had to flip the pancake in her pan

to stop it burning on the way to the church.

Our clergy will re-enact the famous pancake race for your entertainment.

February 2019

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UNITED CHURCHES FOOD PANTRY Currently we especially need:

• canned soups

• canned juices

• canned fruit

• tea and coffee

• healthy snacks

• popcorn

• hot chocolate

• oatmeal

AMERICAN RESCUE WORKERS distributes hygiene items to those staying

at Saving Grace Shelter and transients. All sizes of men’s’ and women’s’

hygiene items are needed.

The list follows:

Toothpaste and Toothbrushes Shaving Cream and Razors

Shampoo and Conditioner Women’s Hygiene Products

Towels and Wash Cloths Bedding and Blankets

Tissues and Toilet Paper Soap, Deodorant, Combs and Brushes

Baby Diapers, Shampoo, Oil, Wipes Powder

It would be great to build up our donations to the ARW as we sent TONS of stuff to the Episcopal

Home at Christmas.

MILES OF PENNIES

There are 84,480 pennies in a mile. $844.80 will provide clean water for FOUR families for a year! We can bring water to people in need with just the pennies that clutter our pockets and purses. Please don’t let your pennies lanquish on your bureau at home—bring them in!

February 2019

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WISH LIST Cat Litter – Clay Type (not clumping type) Kitten food

Powdered kitten milk replacer Home-grown cat nip

Dye-free dog food Soft dog treats and pig ears

Laundry detergent – liquid or pods only, please Bleach

Dryer sheets Heavy-load trash bags

Cash donations to help pay for medicines Copy paper

Laser photo paper (no inkjet, please) File folders

Gift cards for office supplies, department stores Postage stamps

Gasoline cards for our Humane Officer’s trucks Cotton balls

Family Promise

Feb. 10—18 Think about how YOU can participate in this most important ministry. There

are dinners to make and serve, transportation to provide (the van is supplied),

and most importantly, we need folks to sleep over here at church with the

families. It’s the easiest job—just come in around 8 PM and go to sleep

whenever you want, in our new comfortable bedroom upstairs.

Get up in the morning, say hello to the guests, and go on your way

February 2019

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Lent Madness, inspired by college basketball tournaments, pits 32 saints against

each other in a bracket, as each saint seeks to win the coveted Golden Halo.

Throughout Lent, fans vote for their favorite saints at www.lentmadness.org.

Each pairing remains open for a set period of time as people vote for their favorite

saint. 16 saints make it to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen; eight advance to the

Round of the Elate Eight; four make it to the Faithful Four; two to the Championship;

and the winner is awarded the coveted Golden Halo.

The first round consists of basic biographical information about each of the 32 saints.

Things get a bit more interesting in the subsequent rounds as we offer quotes and

quirks, explore legends, and even move into the area of saintly kitsch.

The Saintly Scorecard is the official guide to Lent Madness, featuring the biographies

of all 32 saints in contention for the coveted Golden Halo.

Combining his love of sports with his passion for the lives of the saints, Lent Madness

began in 2010 as the brainchild of the Rev. Tim Schenck. In seeking a fun, engaging

way for people to learn about the men and women comprising the Church’s Calendar

of Saints, Tim came up with this unique Lenten devotion.

Scorecards available soon

February 2019

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Feb. 4-10 Jean Dunn, Beth Ecker

Feb. 11-17 The families of Family Promise

Feb. 18-24 Chuck & Jamie Ellis, Bob Esposito

Feb. 25-Mar 3 Andrew & Ashely Evick and Isaac

Mar. 4-10 Beth Folk, Joan Forster & Neddie Mauck

Mar. 11-17 Andy & Dottie France

Mar.18-24 Alan & Phyllis Girven, Gini Gonzalez

Mar. 25-31 Tim Hanner & Bart Shade, Doris Herritt

April 1-7 Mary Hockenberry, Mary Holstein

April 8-14 Henry & Alison Hopper, Jim Horton

April 15-21 Holy Week- Meditate on the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ

April 22-28 Pat Houser, Kristina Hutchinson

April 29-May 5 Donna Ickes, Jeff Johnson

May 6-12 Tim & Samantha Jutsum and Ezra

May13-19 Susan & N. Kemnitz

May 20-26 Matt & Shannon Knight, Michael & Peggy Knight

May 27-June 2 Charles Lamade, Joe & Carol LaRue

June 3-9 Charlie & Sharon Levering, Patti Levering

June 10-16 The Families of Family Promise

June 17-23 Scott & Jean Lowery, John and Janie Matter

June 24-June30 Deb Mechtley, Mike Mechtley, Pat Miller

July 1-7 Brian & Geri Mitchell, Ed & Karen Mitchell

July 8-14 Ann & Charlie Morrison, Kyle Murphy

July 15-21 Larry Nevel, Tom Nicholson

July 22-28 Walt and Trish Nicholson, William and Connie Nicholson

July 29-Aug. 4- Dorothy & Calvin Packard, Anne Parsons

Aug. 5-11 David & Elanor Phillips, Bev Porter

Aug. 12- 18 Jeff & Deb Porter, Pam & Scott Rider

Aug. 19-25 The Families of Family Promise

Aug. 26-Sept. 1 Martha Rommelt, Donald Schemery

Sept 2-8 Bishop Audrey Scanlan & Glen Scanlan

Sept 9-15 Jim Schoch, Carole Smith

Sept. 16-22 Janie Smith, Helga Sanso & Rick Speary

Sept. 23-29 Our Choral Scholars

Sept. 30-Oct. 6 Scott & Jill Taggart, John Toner

Oct. 7-Oct. 13 Ana White, Salvatore, Giancarlo, Santino, Giovanni

Oct 14-20 Mark Wilkins, Glenn & Mary Ann Williams

Oct. 21-27 Mike & Michelle Yaw

Oct. 28- Nov. 3 Vicki Yeagley & Eileen Georg

Nov. 4-10 The Al- Anon Group of our Parish

Nov. 11-17 The Narcotics Anonymous Group of our Parish

Nov.24- Dec 1 The Alcoholics Anonymous Group of our Parish

Dec. 2-Dec. 8 The all faithful departed of Christ Church

Dec. 9-Dec 15 All future members of Christ Church

Dec. 16- Dec. 22 The Families of Family Promise

Dec. 23-29 Meditate on the Nativity of our Lord

PARISH PRAYER

REQUESTS

Pray for

Olivia, Declan, Shannon,

Scott, Jennifer, Rick,

Sora, Vicky, David,

Dulcey, Dan, Sue,

Paulette, Todd, Javier,

Amy, Jose

February 2019

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Heavenly Father,

Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine

hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few

precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly

is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not

getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really

ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking

our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back

last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not

enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us,

but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

Amen.

Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that you lead us on all our paths. Together we praise your name.

We plead with you, stay with us, especially when the world grows darker. Stay with us and send down

your power. Send your power in answer to our prayers.

For all people we pray, “Father in heaven, these are our brothers and sisters in spite of their failures and

sins.” Help them, O God. May they soon come to recognize who you are, what you do, and what you will

still do, so that the whole world can be joyful and all people on earth may know the blessing of being your

children. Amen.

There is a winter in all of our lives, a chill and darkness that makes us yearn for days that have

gone or put our hope in days yet to be. Creator God, you created seasons for a purpose.

Spring is full of expectation buds breaking frosts abating and an awakening of creation before the

first days of summer. Now the sun gives warmth and comfort to our lives reviving aching joints

bringing color, new life and crops to fruiting. Autumn gives nature space to lean back, relax and

enjoy the fruits of its labor mellow colors in sky and landscape as the earth prepares to rest.

Then winter, cold and bare as nature takes stock rests, unwinds, sleeps until the time is right. An

endless cycle and yet a perfect model. We need a winter in our lives a time of rest, a time to stand

still a time to reacquaint ourselves with the faith in which we live. It is only then that we can draw

strength from the one in whom we are rooted take time to grow and rise through the darkness into

the warm glow of your springtime to blossom and flourish bring color and vitality into this world

your garden.

Thank you Creator, for the seasons of our lives. Amen.

Animals praise a good day, a good hunt. They praise rain if they're thirsty. That's prayer.

They don't live an unconscious life; they simply have no language to talk about these

things. But they are grateful for the good things that come along. Mary Oliver (September 10, 1935 – January 17, 2019) RIP

February 2019

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Episcopal News Service LIVING NATIVITY SCENE OFFERS ROADSIDE EVANGELISM IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA By Mary Frances Schjonberg

Take a centuries-old tradition. Find a church with a big front lawn on a busy

street. Get a priest who is also a carpenter. Recruit volunteers – lots of

volunteers. Get your friends to donate costumes. Figure out who has farm

animals. Get the bishop to deliver some hay.

Put it all together, and it’s the living nativity scene at St. Andrew’s in the

Valley Episcopal Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that was staged Dec. 19

from 5 to 7 p.m.

If the estimated 300 people who drove past the scene, and those who took

advantage of the chance to get a photo with St. Nicholas, learned something

about Jesus and the nativity and realized that “the heart of the season is open to

them,” then the effort was a success, Central Pennsylvania Bishop Audrey

Scanlan told Episcopal News Service.

If those folks make the connection that what she called this “creative and

novel” effort came to them via the Episcopal Church, “that’s bonus to me.”

ATLANTA EPISCOPALIANS JOIN SOAP CAMPAIGN TO FIGHT SEX TRAFFICKING Advocates for victims of child sex trafficking warn that the problem spikes around big sporting events,

like the Super Bowl, which is taking place this weekend in Atlanta. That warning sparked a call to action

among Episcopalians in the Diocese of Atlanta, who have turned thousands of bars of soap into weapons

in the fight against exploitation and abuse. The campaign, dubbed SOAP UP Atlanta, was organized by

members of the diocese’s Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Commission. Bars of soap were wrapped with

anti-trafficking hotline numbers and given to hotels around Atlanta, along with informational materials

and posters with the pictures of missing children. Attention to this issue during the lead-up to the Super

Bowl on Feb. 3 already appears to be producing results. At least four victims were rescued and 33 people

arrested this week through a law enforcement crackdown, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

PRIEST TO WALK FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO CALIFORNIA TO BENEFIT YOUTH By Lynette Wilson

In February, Rev. Peter Munson, 61, will resign as rector of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church in South

Boulder – a church he’s served for more than 17 years – to walk 3,600 miles from Charleston, South

Carolina, to San Francisco.His cross-country journey is set to begin on Monday, March 4; raising money

through his nonprofit 6 Million Steps for Kids to benefit four charitable organizations serving youth and

young adults: REMAR Children’s Home and School in El Salvador; Street Fraternity, a mentoring

program for 14- to 25-year-old males from refugee families living in Denver; Episcopal Relief &

Development; and the Episcopal Church in Colorado’s various children’s programs.

His estimated eight-and-a-half-month, 3,600-mile journey begins in Charleston, where he grew up, and

will cross South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and,

eventually, California. He and his parish decided together that, rather than make the journey as St.

Ambrose’s rector, Munson would resign and make the journey on his own. He thought about delaying his

journey until he’s eligible to retire in four years but decided against it.

For others, he asks: “Is there something God has put on your heart? Are you going after it? What

are you telling yourself about that thing? Is God calling you to do it? Are you going to get to the end

of your life and say, ‘I didn’t do that thing I was really supposed to do’?”

February 2019

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THE GIFTS OF MARY We remember Mary as a symbol of a life surrendered to God; she said Yes. She is the author and first

member of the Christian Church. The baby within Mary was received as perfect Creation. She nurtures

her son in Tenderness as he becomes the teacher, rabbi, master and lord. She gives Him to the world as an

Offering with no limitation or ownership.

CREATION

Mary is often depicted in the East with her hands lifted up in prayer, Mary of the

Orans. In this context Mary represents surrender, a feminine “be it done unto me”,

“thy kingdom come”, “it is finished” etc. Mary, the mother of God spoke little,

loved much and received the fire of God in her womb. Such a teaching! This is

where our love of God and creation begins, and by grace we realize it happens

within each and every one of us as well. Mary was granted the awareness of love

conceived and born through her. She houses an ongoing interior conversation and

connection to the divine spirit created within. Mary was granted the awareness of

something fantastically created within and through the awareness a life of prayer

was born.

TENDERNESS

We have been designed by God to love and be loved. Mary of Tenderness is

depicted always cheek to cheek with her son, as an ideal image and model for

loving. St. Augustine wrote; “Love and do what you will. If you are silent, keep

silent by love, if you pardon, pardon with love’ . Mary is constant loving

tenderness, the kind we might strive for in all we do, think and say. Mary of

tenderness represents our interior world, and how we love the exterior world; the

love we express for another and creation. She is the ideal example to explore the

limits of our capacity to love. There are more attributes assigned to Mary than

any other image. Mary of the Light, Mary of Mercy, Mary of the Immaculate

Conception, Mary who births the Wonder Worker, Mary Queen of Heaven, along

with; Mary of Good Council, Mary of Graces, Mary of Help, Mary of Health and

Mary of Success. She is actively loving in all of them.

OFFERING

Christ was created in Mary, she nurtured that creation through constant

tenderness, and finally she gives that creation, she owned and loved, away. Christ

sits in her arms as she offers him to us, she gives the son she has taught. Mary

does not hold back or try to control what has been given to her. She does not

control the way He will be received. Although flesh and spirit became one in her

and she cannot keep it as her own but has to offer it to the world. Mary is the one

who gives the very thing to the world she loves the most, her son! We are

encouraged to follow suit; we are called to give away what we have created

before we die, before it is taken from us. It is all on loan for our benefit, not to be

kept but rather to benefit the world. Offer back to the world freely all your

knowledge, time, talent, resources, etc.

Mary is a great symbol for learning how to be in the world. There is a beginning, middle and end to the

Mary journey. We receive Him in mystery, created in us as He was in Mary, we nurture His presence with

tenderness in our life through love and finally, we are called to release our life long efforts as an offering

to the world.

Mary Jane Miller is a self-taught icon painter with over 25 years of experience.

February 2019

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The Messenger The Messenger is the monthly newsletter of Christ Episcopal Church, Williamsport,

in the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania.

The Rev. Veronica Donohue Chappell Mr. Kyle Murphy, Lay Pastor

570:322:8160 christepchurch@gmail.com

We Worship Sunday: Holy Eucharist Rite, 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday: Holy Eucharist with Healing, 10:00 a.m.

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The Three Kings: Ryan, Gabe, Harry Our beautiful Christmas altar