Rector's Reflections


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Emmanuel Episcopal Church













November 2016

Rector’s Reflections

The photo above captures just a taste of the joy and celebration on Sunday, October 2, when Bishop Gulick visited us: two babies baptized, eight teenagers confirmed, and four other adults received in The Episcopal Church. It was a great celebration of our community and our life together. As in the summer, our 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. crowds gathered to worship God together at 10 a.m. We welcomed newcomers. We greeted old friends. Jesus met us and fed us with himself at the Table and in the Word.

We celebrate life together in so many ways. Each Sunday we gather to worship together. This past week we gathered to celebrate your stewardship generosity in four thank-you receptions (see more inside). On Sunday afternoon, October 23, forty of us gathered to carve pumpkins, eat chili, and enjoy each other’s company. We celebrate life together as we serve others in Jesus’ name at Mountainside, at Bread Fund, at Disciples’ Kitchen, and in so many other ways. We will gather on Saturday, 12 November, to celebrate together at fall clean up, as we enjoy each other’s company, rake leaves, tend the grounds, and polish up the church interior.

Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these . . . you did it to me (Mt 25:40). When we celebrate together, we celebrate with Jesus. When we care for those who come to us for help (whether parishioners or strangers), we care for Jesus. When we reach out to the stranger, someone who is hurting or lonely, we reach out to Jesus. When we welcome newcomers, we welcome Jesus. Each one of us, through our own words and actions, decides what type of community Emmanuel will be. Thank you for making Emmanuel a celebrating, nurturing, caring community as we gather together to “live in Christ and seek to do His work from this place.”



In this issue

Rector’s Reflections……..….1 Worship ……………2 Outreach…………....3 Parish Life……….…4

Emmanuel Episcopal Church















November 2016

May we strive to live in Christ… Pledge Celebration

Our stewardship season is off to an amazing start. As we go to press, we have received 68 pledges, totaling $240,245, to support the ministries and mission of Emmanuel in 2017. Most pledges included very generous increases. Thank you for your tremendous generosity and vision. Jesus said . . . , ‘Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life’ (Jn 4:13-14). We need the pledges of every family and individual to sustain our life together. If you have not pledged yet, please do so as generously and as soon as possible, so we can include your promise of support for 2017 when we give thanks celebrate your stewardship generosity on Sunday, 6 November.

United Thank Offering Ingathering

The United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Through UTO, men, women, and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. Our next ingathering is Christ The King Sunday, 20 November. Please take home a UTO box or envelope; they can be found in the Narthex. For more information about the United Thank Offering, please visit www.episcopalchurch.org/page/united-thank-offering.

Thanksgiving Service

Come, ye thankful people, come! ~Hymn 290

Come to our Thanksgiving Service of Holy Eucharist at 10am on Thursday, November 24.

Advent Wreath Workshop

Thinking of pruning your evergreens? Please wait!

We would love to have your fresh evergreens...boxwood, pine, holly, magnolia...for the Advent Wreath Workshop for all ages on Sunday, 27 November, at 10am in the Parish Hall. We will provide the wreath forms, pins, candles, and ideas to observe a holy Advent; you come with your creativity. Guidance provided!

Many thanks to Kat Connell and team for preparing this favorite Emmanuel tradition. O come, all ye faithful!

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 with any questions.



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Emmanuel Episcopal Church















November 2016

…and do His work… Bread Fund: “it was pretty amazing…”

Bread Fund volunteers offered amazing efforts last distribution day, Saturday, 1 October. Because of work on Craig’s Store Road near Holy Cross, Bread Fund distribution was relocated to Rockfish Elementary School. Nancy Avery, a leader of the Bread Fund ministry, said she “had to rely on a lot of people to pull it off…it was pretty amazing!” She wants to extend thanks to the volunteers who went the extra mile by: • Securing a place for temporary distribution, • Driving the rental truck, • Loading ~85 boxes of food, 50 boxes of snacks, 800 pounds of produce, and all the supplies into the truck in the pouring rain (photos at right), • And, showing up on Saturday morning and bringing extra helpers (especially youth). Co-leaders Cindy Kirchner and Nancy Avery are pleased to report that VDOT is on schedule repairing Craig’s Store Road, so the November Bread Fund distribution will take place right at home, at Holy Cross, on 5 November. Join us at 8 o’clock!

Coat Drive

Has our Parish Hall turned into Burlington Coat Factory? No, it’s the Emmanuel Coat Drive! Doug Connell and Delores Smith, Coat Drive leaders, report that the collection phase of the coat drive has concluded, and thank all who contributed to the supply of warm clothing that we will offer for free to our neighbors in need. Distribution will take place Saturday, November 5, in two locations: first at Bread Fund distribution at Holy Cross Church from 8-10am, and then at the Ledford House from 11am-2pm. All are invited to help with this effort. Please contact Doug Connell at [email protected] or 434-361-0279.

Disciples Kitchen

Angel Tree





Emmanuel is a member of Disciples Kitchen, a league of over 30 churches in Waynesboro who take turns serving hot meals to those in need. Our next Disciples Kitchen dates are:

Yes! We will be sponsoring an Angel Tree for BOTH Mountainside residents and community children. Starting mid-November, look for more information in This Week at Emmanuel and the Sunday bulletin.





Saturday, November 19th: Breakfast @ Basic Memorial, Waynesboro Monday, December 19th: Lunch @ Second Pres., Waynesboro

About Angel Tree 2015: Thank you ALL again for everything you did to make this another joyous Christmas for our residents. We are blessed to have all of you in our lives, and we value your friendship more than we could ever express. ~Penny Goldman, Activities Manager, Mountainside Senior Living, Christmas 2015



We will roll out another toilet paper drive in Nov/Dec. Want to help? Call the church office at 540-456-6334.



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Emmanuel Episcopal Church













November 2016

…from this place. November Birthdays

Many, many thanks to all who planned and attended our Chili and Pumpkin Carving Party, Sunday, October 23!



Come to the Parish Hall at 10am on Sunday, November 6 to pray for and celebrate these friends’ birthdays! Lucien Bass Mary Conover Bass Steve Walsworth Joseph Blundin 2 Greer Horridge 3 Maria Neligan 3 Indie Shaw 4 Millie Smith 4 Adelaide Bragaw 5 Joseph Hawkes 5 Elly Easter 7 Madison Brown 8 Shannon Barrett-Johnson 9 Andrew Quarles 9 Davis Kauffmann 10 Robert Merhige 10 Sara Price 11 Robert Ventura 11 Stephanie Buckhart 12 Jim Kuznar 12 Richard Keffert 13 Sue Raupp 13 William Lankenau 15 Emma Schmitz 15 Caroline Scogna 18 D. French Slaughter 19 Will Moomaw 20 Bliss Abbot 23 Kathleen Capshaw 27 Alexis Price 27 Jacquie Quann 27 Lee Berti 28 Krista Davis 30 Davis Oakey 30

All Saints EHoP

Our last EHoP (Emmanuel House of Pancakes) of the year will take place on Sunday, November 6 at 10am in the Parish Hall. We will pause Christian Formation for Adults, Youth and Children that day to celebrate all the Emmanuel saints who inspire us.

Your help with preparation, cooking, serving, and cleaning up is welcome! Call the church office at 540-456-6334.

Coffee Hour Kudos…

…to Anne Dagner and her Coffee Hour ministers, who completed Coffee Hour 101 last month. Thank you for providing us with warm Emmanuel hospitality, including coffee, snacks, and smiles every Sunday at 10am in the Parish Hall. All are welcome to coffee hour, and all are welcome to join the Coffee Hour Ministry! Call the church office at 540-456-6334 or visit our webpage to sign up via SignUp Genius.

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 December edition will come out the week of November 21, approximately. Deadline for submissions is November 14.



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