Rector's Reflections In this issue

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Emmanuel Episcopal Church













December 2016

the Emmanuel Way

Thank you to all who prepared for and came to our Advent Wreath Workshop on the First Sunday of Advent, November 27!

Rector’s Reflections

When I was a young boy, I thought that Christmas would never come – the wait seemed endless. As an adult, I now wonder where the year went and how it could be December already. By any measure, 2016 has been very full. The presidential election and all that went with it has demanded much of our attention and likely will continue to do so well into 2017.

Yet despite this, or perhaps because of it, here at Emmanuel, our mission remains unchanged: we live in Christ and seek to do His work from this place. We love. We love in Christ’s name. We love the community around us – particularly those who are afraid, marginalized, or alone. We love all who come through our doors. We love each other. Especially at Christmas, we remember that in Jesus, God loved us enough to put on human flesh and live and die as one of us, reconciling us to God, and opening the way to eternal life. So we live for Christ and Christ lives in us, feeding us and equipping us every week to “go in peace to love and serve the Lord,” doing His work from this place.

Many members of our parish have asked if we can consolidate our two Sunday services into one worship service at 10 a.m. throughout the year, just as we do in the summer. Combining into one service offers increased community, an unhurried opportunity for Christian formation after the service (no rush to get done by 11), and allows us to focus our attention and our resources on one principal service each Sunday. Please join us as we discuss this at the Rector’s Forum on Sunday, 4 December. The vestry will continue the discussion at our next regular vestry meeting on 13 December; please share your thoughts and concerns with any vestry member.

Mark your calendar now to be with us as we celebrate Emmanuel, God-with-us, in the birth of Jesus. • Sunday, 18 December, Children’s Pageant and Holy Eucharist, consolidated service at 10 am • Christmas Eve: Holy Eucharist at 3 pm; Lessons and Carols at 5:30 pm; Festival Holy Eucharist at 11 pm • Christmas Day (a Sunday this year): Holy Eucharist at 11 am (no 9 am Rector’s worship) • New Year’s Day (a Sunday this year, and always the Feast of the Holy Reflections……..….1 Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ): Holy Eucharist at 11 am (no 9 am Worship ……………2 worship)

In this issue





Outreach…………....3 Parish Life……….…4

Emmanuel Episcopal Church















December 2016

May we strive to live in Christ… Advent Devotionals: Wednesday Holy Eucharist, Lunch, & Author’s Hour

We will gather on Wednesdays in Advent (30 Nov, and 7, 14, and 21 Dec) for midweek Holy Eucharist at noon. Anointing, laying on of hands, and prayers for healing will also be offered. Join us in the Parish Hall about 12:30 on those days for a brown-bag lunch and author's hour. The Rev Jane Sigloh will share readings and reflections from her forthcoming second book, Gracious Uncertainty - Faith in the Second Half of Life. Please come to either the Eucharist, the lunch and talk, or both, as your schedule permits.

Acolyte Training

Youth who want to help us lead worship as acolytes will gather in the church on Sun, Dec 4, noon - 1pm, and Thurs, Dec 8, 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Both new and experienced acolytes should attend one of these trainings. If you cannot attend but still want to serve, please contact Rev Sarah at 540-456-6334.

Greening of the Church

Join fellow parishioners on Wednesday evening, 21 Dec. at 5:30 pm for the annual greening of the church. We will hang garland and wreaths, then enjoy an informal meal. Sign-up on the sheet in the Parish Hall to let us know you are coming and to give us an idea of how much food to get.

Christmas Pageant

You spoke, we listened! This year, our Christmas Pageant will be held on Sunday, December 18 at 10am (not on Christmas Eve). All children and youth are invited to join! We have a role for everyone and many parts are still available. We ask that people with major parts, like narrators, holy family, Angel Gabriel, and lead shepherd, come to as many rehearsals as possible. For “chorus” parts, we welcome “walk-ons,” like grandchildren or visiting cousins.

The rehearsal and pageant performance schedule is as follows: • 12/4, Second Sunday of Advent: 10am, December Birthday Celebration & Pageant Practice • 12/11, Third Sunday of Advent: 12pm, Pageant Practice & Snacks • 12/18, Fourth Sunday of Advent: 10am, Children's Christmas Pageant & Service of Holy Eucharist

Also welcome are middle and high school pageant assistants for leading cast members and organizing costumes. Questions? Please call Cathy Boyd at 540-456-6334.

Theological Book Group

Join us as we begin 2017 with a meeting of the Women’s Theological Book Group. Members will gather every six weeks to discuss works of fiction and non-fiction through a theological lens, reading each title between meetings. The January meeting will take place in the Ledford House at 1pm on January 10th. Our first book of the year is Here if You Need Me: A True Story, by Kate Braestrup. Five copies of the title are available at the Crozet Library; it is also available for purchase through Amazon and other booksellers. Please contact the office if you have difficulty obtaining a copy. Please contact Rev. Sarah at 540-456-6334 with any questions.



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Emmanuel Episcopal Church















December 2016

…and do His work… Disciples Kitchen – more than just an eating experience

Emmanuel is a member of Disciples Kitchen, a league of over 30 churches in Waynesboro that has taken turns serving three hot meals a week to those in need for over ten years. On odd months, we serve breakfast, including our famous breakfast casserole, at Basic Memorial in Waynesboro. On even months, we serve lunch, including our famous chili, at Second Presbyterian in Waynesboro.

Led by Steve Walsworth, this ministry is fulfilled by a strong and loyal volunteer crew. They carry out their work very efficiently, often serving ~75-80 meals a turn. And they are always looking for more volunteers for different roles. At their last breakfast, they added a greeter role. In introducing the greeter role to volunteers, Steve said, “Greeters will meet folks as they arrive and visit with them during meal time. So many times we get bogged down in kitchen duties and don't get a chance to visit with the folks. We want to make DK more than just an eating experience.” According to Steve, this DK “enhancement” was a great success; Carolyn, the first to take on the role, “was a fantastic greeter that welcomed, assisted, and socialized with the folks that came for a hot meal. It's an Emmanuel DK feature that we'll carry-on. Thanks to BB for this super suggestion.”

The next Disciples Kitchen event is Chili Lunch on Monday, December 19 at Second Presbyterian in Waynesboro. Know any middle or high school students who are out of school for Christmas vacation? The Disciples Kitchen team would love their help! Last year, a group of about 8 Emmanuel Youth rallied to help. Waynesboro High School honors students help frequently, too.

During the month of December, Disciples Kitchen is rolling out a toilet paper drive. Bring your contributions to the Disciples Kitchen basket in the Parish Hall. Thank you to all who support this Emmanuel ministry!

Angel Tree

The Angel Tree is up and ready! Here are some important details about this year's Angel Tree: • Mountainside residents' tags are currently on the tree. The gifts are due back on December 4th. This gives "Santa's Helpers" at Mountainside plenty of time to "check the list twice" so that everyone has gifts. When you take a tag off the tree, be sure to sign your name on the list beside the resident's name. For additional instructions, pick up a copy of the letter from Penny Goldman, Chief of Santa's Helpers at Mountainside. New this year: salon or barber shop services are included as gift requests. Pick up a form for that on the table by the Angel Tree. • After December 4th, tags for neighborhood children will be on the Angel Tree. Each tag will have a child’s gender and age.

Many thanks to the Kauffman Family for leading this year’s Angel Tree campaign! And thank you to the very generous and loving Emmanuel congregation!

Coat Drive

Doug Connell, a co-leader of the Emmanuel-Holy Cross Warm Clothing Drive, reports that overall, Emmanuel and Holy Cross donated more than 400 coats and 400 sweaters. All but about 40 items were distributed at either the November Bread Fund distribution or in the afternoon at the Ledford House. Those 40 items will be available for people who come to the December Bread Fund distribution. Doug said the drive was a “great combined effort.”



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Emmanuel Episcopal Church





Come to the Parish Hall at 10am on Sunday, December 4 to pray for and celebrate these friends’ birthdays! Teddy Oakey Carolyn Nakasian Rosemary Atkinson Jeanette Gatje Amy Blundin Bridger Clarke Alice Karrh Brett Stearns Betty Uhrig Annelie Baldwin Emmett Haden Lukas Alton Nanette Alcaro Sharon Flynn Rex Marchman Peyton Kuznar Eleanor Hawkes Martha Oakey Lea Robinson David Gallik Jr Robert Schlicht Dennis Sigloh Matthew Wallace Robert Merhige Clark Stearns Elinor Bragaw William Horridge

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Save the Date!

Sunday, January 22 10am, Holy Eucharist 11am, Annual Meeting 12pm, Luncheon











December 2016

…from this place.

December Birthdays





Don’t miss the chance to snow tube and lunch with this bunch! à

Stewardship Update

Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of 120 parishioners, we’re up to $377,936 in pledges for 2017 – nearly our highest year ever, but still far from our goal. Thank you to all who have pledged. We are following up with about 50 more families: if you have not yet pledged, please do so as soon and as generously as possible, and help us reduce or eliminate our budget deficit for 2017: help us finish strong!

United Thank Offering Ingathering

On Christ the King Sunday, November 20, we collected our United Thank Offering gifts. Although gifts are still coming in, at last count, the Emmanuel contribution will be $760. The United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church.

This year, UTO grants will be used for new ministries that focus on young adults and seminarians. The focus this year is evangelism and reconciliation which involves any of the following: • proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, • teaching, baptizing and nurturing new believers, • responding to human need with loving service, • transforming unjust structures of society and pursuing peace and reconciliation, • safeguarding, sustaining and renewing our environment. Thank you for your generous contributions!

Annual Snow Tubing & Lunch

Take the Plunge! Thrills and chills without the spills!

The Children and Youth Formation Committee cordially invites children, youth, friends, and families to an afternoon of feast and frolic, our annual dining and snow tubing at Wintergreen event. On Sunday, January 22, plan to come to church at 10am (one service before annual meeting at 11am), then follow us to the Fuhrman’s House in Nellysford for lunch. We’ll be just in time for our tubing session from 1:30-3:00pm.

Anyone 42 inches tall & up can ride The Plunge at Wintergreen. More particular RSVP and group rate information will follow, but please save the date for this fellowship adventure. FYI, Monday, January 23 is a teacher workday for some school systems. Make snow tubing with Emmanuel part of your winter staycation!

The Emmanuel Way is a monthly publication featuring reflections from our clergy, staff, and senior warden, and other items of interest to our community. The January edition will come out the week of December 19, approximately. Deadline for submissions is December 12.



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