Emmanuel Episcopal Church Advent/Christmas 2015
the Emmanuel Way Enter the Story Beloved in Christ Jesus, Emmanuel: God with us. Every year we grapple to understand what this great mystery means. 152 years ago, on Christmas Day, 1863, a handful of faithful people gathered for the first time in our then-‐new Emmanuel Church, to pray for peace. But our story is much older than that, of course, and much newer.
This Issue Worship…………….2 Parish Life…………3 Christian Formation………….4 Outreach……………5 Support……………..6
Our story stretches back to the dawn of time, when God first breathed life into our earliest ancestors. Two thousand years ago, God entered into our time and space as a vulnerable baby, born on the edge of a violent empire, soon to be exiled to avoid genocide at the hands of a fearful tyrant. But Love prevailed. That tiny Baby, God-‐with-‐us, returned from exile, grew up to become a man, and then went to the cross for us. Rising from the grave, He destroyed death, and made the whole creation new. Every year we gather to tell the story of that amazing, priceless, unlikely Birth. On Christmas Eve, at 3 p.m., our youngest members create a Christmas Pageant as the Liturgy of the Word for our first Christmas worship service. Later that afternoon, we gather for the traditional service of Lessons and Carols, and we hear the story again, this time in Scripture and song. In the middle of the dark night, we proclaim the story in Festival Holy Eucharist, as we shout the Light against the dark. All of these are different ways of entering into the same great Mystery.
Worship Enter the Story, continued You and I are part of that story, God’s great love story. The story is as old as time itself, yet as long as humankind continues, the story will be ever new, because God never stops reaching out, to each one of us, in love. I hope you will join us on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day, and every Sunday throughout the new year, and let the story connect with you. The Birth we celebrate is not some historic abstraction, but a personal invitation, meant especially for you.
Christmas Worship Schedule Christmas Eve 3:00pm, Children’s Christmas Pageant & Holy Eucharist 5:30pm, Lessons and Carols
11:00pm, Festival Holy Eucharist The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ: Christmas Day 11:00am, Holy Eucharist
Parish Life Connected and Caring:
How Emmanuel Connections Worked for Its Founder When Doris Savage helped established Connections, Emmanuel’s lay-‐guided service ministry, she had no idea how much she would later depend upon it. The morning after enduring open-‐heart surgery in July, Doris suffered a stroke, leaving her left side completely paralyzed. And although she doesn’t remember those initial days after, she knows for certain that the people of Emmanuel were there for her and her husband, John. “I felt really cared for,” she said. John Savage confirmed: “That’s the thing about Emmanuel. The people care.” The couple credit Connections, which Doris co-‐chairs and which Father Christopher calls “a model for pastoral care.” It organizes Emmanuel’s lay ministry so that, if a member needs help, he or she can find it. Furthermore, any parishioner who wants to provide help can get connected and serve. “Before it would take 20 phone calls,” John said; but now connecting to the rest of the parish is a simple online process, yet no less personal. “It was family support,” Doris called it. And the Savages needed that. Doris was in ICU for over a week, and then she spent more than a month recovering at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital. When she finally came home, John was suddenly a round-‐the-‐ clock caretaker. But if he needed a break, or anything at all, “I knew all I had to do was m ake one or two phone calls,” he said. The people of Emmanuel also provided meals for a month and a half. Get-‐well cards arrived every day in the mailbox and no few visitors popped in to give encouragement and offer assistance. Today Doris is persistently learning to walk again and she continues with therapy several times a week. Nevertheless, she looks forward to a Connections-‐sponsored technology training at church, so that everyone can learn to use the network. Doris and John say that caring is the nature of Emmanuel, and that the communication system being offered by Connections makes us able to do that efficiently. Parishioners in need of meals, transportation, home upkeep, and other kinds of support can use the system to submit a request for assistance. In addition to finding or volunteering help, this ministry includes the parish’s list of recommended vendors and service providers, as well as a “Marketplace” where you can find, sell, borrow, or share needed items. Connections can be accessed on the Emmanuel website, under the “Parish Life” heading. Click the links to join the network and get connected! As Doris said, “We offer it to everybody, because everybody needs help sometimes.” ~Dara Powers Parker
Christian Formation Confirmation Classes offered Spring 2016 The Episcopal Church welcomes everyone, including infants and young children, into the household of God by Holy Baptism. Parents and godparents often make the promises contained in the Baptismal Covenant on behalf of children who are too young to speak for themselves. Confirmation evolved so that those baptized at an early age could make a mature profession of faith and a commitment to Christ when they were ready to do so. In the sacrament of Confirmation, we receive the laying on of hands by a bishop, linking us to the apostles in an unbroken Emmanuel’s 2014 Confirmation Class chain. We receive strength from the Holy Spirit to live life according to our baptismal promises, which are reiterated Confirmation Class Dates: in the confirmation liturgy. January 10, 24, 31 Prerequisites for Confirmation are Holy Baptism, February 21, 28 instruction in the Christian faith, and an intention to profess March 13 that faith and to enter into the baptismal covenant in the March 20-‐27: attend Holy Week presence of the Emmanuel Church community. Typically, services confirmands who were baptized as infants join April 3, 10, 17, 24 confirmation classes between the ages of 14 and 16. May 1, 22 However, young people who wish to explore their faith and get to know their church in a new way are welcome. If you Confirmation will take place on have questions about Emmanuel’s 2016 Confirmation class, October 2, 2016 when the Bishop visits Emmanuel. please contact the Rev. Brockenbrough.
Sunday School Workshop Rotation in Epiphany: What is Worship? This past fall, we tried out a new way of doing Sunday School by using a format called Workshop Rotation. Our Emmanuel: Mission Possible unit focused on gaining a greater understanding of the Emmanuel mission statement and the ways we live it out in our community. We met as a “one room schoolhouse,” all ages together, and then broke into smaller groups that rotated around to different stations where students learned about Emmanuel history, worship, and outreach. This Epiphany, we will begin a unit called What is Worship? As the curriculum guide says, “Our hope is that this cycle on worship will help children understand some of what happens in our church services and help them find more and more ways to connect with it, as their understanding of God and their relationship with God continues to grow. “ Activities planned include compiling prayers from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) into our own prayer books, baking communion bread, and leading some of the worship from the BCP. Please join us, starting January 10, 2016 at 10am in the Marston-‐LaRue House!
Outreach Miss Margaret’s Tea Party: A Ministry of Love at Mountainside Love is something if you give it away, Give it away, give it away. Love is something if you give it away, You end up having more. ~ Magic Penny, Malvina Reynolds, 1949
Our beloved Margaret Washington
These are the words to a song that has become part of the fabric of life at Mountainside Senior Living, Crozet, thanks to the people who began the Mountainside Tea Party, “way back when.” Dick Brandt, Karin & Charley Mott, Bill Rodman, and Margaret Washington were among the core group who started the Mountainside Tea Party. Margaret was such a loyal hostess that it became known as “Miss Margaret’s Tea Party.”
The format of the party has not changed from the early days: on the second and fourth Thursday of every month, from 3–4pm, Emmanuel hosts come to Mountainside with refreshments, a songbook, and good cheer. Carolyn Rhondeau and Sara Reynolds play tunes (old-‐timey hymns are popular) on the piano. Sometimes Nancy Avery brings one of her therapy dogs. Friends visit. The hour always ends with the group singing “Magic Penny.” Gren and Jeri King, who are frequent hosts at the Mountainside Tea Party, enjoy contributing to a ministry that allows people to connect and tell their life stories. They agree that, as the “Magic Penny” song describes, they end up having more love from giving their time and energy at Mountainside. Miss Margaret’s Tea Party has spawned additional ministries at Mountainside. Gren and Chick Carman host a “Men of Mountainside” Bonnie Mitchell serves group that encourages the guys to come out of their rooms for refreshments. fellowship and storytelling. Under the leadership of the Blundin Family, the Emmanuel Youth Group has adopted a “bingo ministry” at Mountainside. And for the second year, Emmanuel parishioners generously gave gifts to Mountainside residents through the Angel Tree outreach project at Christmas. Margaret’s service at Mountainside is a reminder that we can all make a difference. Our ministries change over the course of our lives. God is always calling us.
Support Vestry Slate
A message from our Senior Warden, Kathy Stone At our annual meeting on Sunday, 31 January 2016, we will elect four new members to three-‐year terms on the vestry. Our nominating committee – Kris Bourque, Doug Connell, Keith Davis, Andrew Rader, and Sally Wallace -‐ and our vestry recommend the four candidates below. In addition to this select or recommended slate, “[o]ther nominations may be m ade from the floor and are encouraged; provided, however, any person who nominated a person from the Floor shall be a Communicant in Good Standing and shall state that the person so nominated has agreed to serve on the Vestry.” Many thanks to our nominating committee and to our four candidates.
Barbara Furhman Barbara was born and raised in the Midwest, being both christened and confirmed in the Episcopal Church. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education and has taught students of varying ages in both public and private schools. Her administrative experience includes working with American Indian children and the Head Start program. Barbara and her husband, Bob, have four children, two grandchildren, and have hosted many international students. The couple joined Emmanuel when they moved to Nellysford in 2010. Recently retired, Barbara now devotes more time to her grandchildren and personal interests. She’s also active in the Emmanuel Bread Fund, Virginia Bluebird Society, Rockfish Valley Natural History Museum, UVA Fralin Art Museum, and the Edgewood Homeowners’ Association.
Carter Elliott A native of Danville, Virginia, I was raised in the Methodist church and have been attending Emmanuel since early 2006. My wife, Ellen, a life-‐long Episcopalian, and son, Nicholas a fourth-‐year college student, share my love for animals and nature. For the past three years, I’ve enjoyed participating in Bread Fund packing days. I’ve also served as an usher, counter and hosted Coffee Hour with Ellen My family and I are thankful to be a part of this welcoming church community. I received a BS in Physical Science from Hampden-‐Sydney College. After graduation, I entered the US Navy and served active duty for almost 4 years. I then accepted a civilian position with the US Government, retiring after a 35 year career as an analyst and Division Chief. During much of this time, I continued my Naval career by serving in the reserves and retired at the rank of Captain. It would be an honor to continue serving on the vestry of Emmanuel. I would work to represent all parishioners and support Emmanuel’s ministries and programs.
Steve Hawkes My name is Steve Hawkes, and I was baptized Catholic in Oak Park, Illinois. Soon after, I moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where I attended St. Patrick’s Church until leaving for college. I continued to attend Catholic services until moving to Greenwood in 1996 with my wife, Julia Shields, who was baptized and raised Episcopalian here at Emmanuel. At that time, we began exploring churches in the area and with the birth of our daughter, Eleanor, we decided to settle on one church. We began attending Emmanuel in 2000, and I was received into the Episcopal Church in 2011. I can say without reservation that I could not be happier with our decision to call Emmanuel our church home. I am drawn to the beauty of the church, to the clergy that have served Emmanuel so well and, most importantly, to the Emmanuel community that I consider my family. I have participated in many of Emmanuel’s programs, including serving on the Shrine Mont Committee, teaching in Sunday School, helping to lead the acolytes, attending Lenten suppers, and distributing food at Bread Fund. Early on, I realized Emmanuel w as a church where I felt at home, and I love the mix of ages and family atmosphere. I work as the Software Applications Manager for the City of Charlottesville and, as many of you know, Julia has served as the bookkeeper of Emmanuel for the past 17 years. Our daughter, Eleanor, is a sophomore at Western Albemarle High School and our son, Joseph, is in the eighth grade at North Branch School. In my free time, I enjoy coaching baseball, attending sporting events, gardening, and being w ith friends and family. I would be honored to serve on the vestry at Emmanuel Greenwood.
Vestry Slate, continued Katherine Merhige When our little girl, Avery, w as born, we were beginning a new chapter of our lives. I had decided to retire from a 17-‐year career in investment banking. Our son, Beau, was in kindergarten, and we decided w e wanted to live full-‐time in Charlottesville, where Rob and I h ad been graduate students at UVA. I became very involved with Brownsville Elementary School on a volunteer basis, and we joined Emmanuel Church. W e were attracted by the beauty, history, traditions, and congregation of Emmanuel. Emmanuel has offered us the opportunity to deepen our spiritual beliefs and become a part of the community we sought. Our children, Beau and Avery, were baptized at Emmanuel. I have enjoyed watching other kids grow, and I love that the congregation has watched our kids grow. Beau helps in the nursery, and Avery is proud to have been a junior camp counselor at Camp Emmanuel last summer. Every opportunity I have had to serve Emmanuel has been rewarding for me. I have been involved with the Fellowship Committee, the 150-‐Year Celebration, Connections, Rector Search, and Children’s Worship. I would be honored to serve on the vestry.
GreenFaith Environmental Justice Retreat To strengthen my commitment to applying my faith to the environmental movement, I (Cathy Boyd) applied for and was granted an 18-‐month fellowship with GreenFaith, a non-‐profit that inspires, educates, and mobilizes people of diverse religious backgrounds for environmental leadership. In November, I traveled to Newark, New Jersey, for the first of three retreats the program offers. Newark is the place to witness Environmental Justice, which was the theme of this retreat. We visited places, like the Port of Elizabeth and the Ironbound community, where people live and work close to or on sites that have been contaminated by chemical companies, factories, incinerators, a sewage treatment plant, and truck exhaust. Then John Piczak, a manager and environmental steward at the Bayway Refinery spoke to us about the grim aspects of his job. These experiences helped me realize the high costs of our consumer economy. In contrast, we visited places and talked to people who are revitalizing Newark and repairing the effects of industrialization. We visited the Greater Newark Conservancy, which is an urban farm and education center built around a rehabbed synagogue. (At one time, there were more than thirty vital synagogues in Newark; now there are none.) Later, Andre Thomas, from the Isles Center for Energy and Environmental Training, spoke to us about a program that trains workers (including many who have been in prison) to rehab and retrofit houses to be more energy efficient. I felt very hopeful to witness examples of an emerging restoration economy that balances our need for industry and productivity with our need to care for each other and the earth. On the second day of the retreat, we visited the Sri Guruvayurappan Temple in Morganville, New Jersey. My fellow GreenFaith classmates are from all over the country and from all different spiritual traditions (Episcopalians well-‐represented!). I found it very inspiring to learn from and with other people who are committed to applying the principles of their faith to the environmental movement. What m any have in common is that their congregations have a Green Team, a group of people who educate themselves and others on how we individually and as a community can continue to move their parishes into the future in practical, economically feasible, and environmentally sensitive ways. Who would like to join me in forming a Green Team at Emmanuel? If you feel called to this m inistry or have questions about GreenFaith, please get in touch with me at
[email protected].
Scenes Along the Way
Greening of the Church, Sunday, December 20, 2015 New to Emmanuel? Stay posted for our welcome events throughout the year. Call the church office (540) 456-‐6334 if you would like to be included in our next event in late January 2016.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church P.O. Box 38 Greenwood, VA 22943
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