Dear Friends in Christ,
It has been a year since we lived through the great difficulty that was Hurricane Sandy, although certainly there are still those we know who are struggling to get back on their feet, and for whom life will never go back to the way it was before. And now, half-way across the world, there has been another storm with even greater loss of life and dislocation. And yet we know that the God who made us and loves us will provide comfort, strength, and practical help for the people of the Philippines. Some of that comfort and strength will come through our prayers; some of the help will come from our financial donations – whether through Episcopal Relief and Development, the International Red Cross, or some other aid organization that you support.
At this time of year, when the darkness comes early, and we hear about dangers and difficulties it is easy to feel discouraged, angry or afraid. At the end of this e-mail are four prayers that come from the Prayer Book service of Compline (the Church’s bed-time prayers). I hope you will find them comforting and helpful. Share them with someone who needs them. And remember that we are never outside of God’s reach and compassionate love.
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HELPING HANDS
Philippine Relief – In the wake of Typhoon Haiyan Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is working with the Episcopal Church of the Philippines to provide emergency aid of food and water through local church networks, coordinating with the Philippine National Council of Churches. There will be fliers in the Sunday bulletins with information about how you can
help. Or you can donate on-line here: https://www.episcopalrelief.org/press-and-resources/press-releases/2013/super-typhoon-haiyan . Thank you.
Homeless Shelter - Monday, Nov. 18 is our day to serve at the Family Promise Homeless Shelter housed at the Shrine of St. Joseph. We need a number of volunteers to cook dinner, serve it and visit with the shelter guests, shop for kitchen supplies, and two people to spend spend the night at the Shrine. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex. This is a valuable ministry that helps get at risk families back on their feet with support for apartments, job training and financial counseling. Questions? Speak to Kathy Pfeil.
Food for Kids Ingathering, Sunday, Nov. 24 - the children of the parish are asked to bring non-perishable food donations
for the food pantry in Dover. What particular needs are there? Peanut butter, jelly, whole grain crackers, juice boxes, mac &
cheese, raisins and other dried fruit, as well as canned tuna and chicken, soups, stews, parmalaat milk, rice, beans, pasta, canned vegetables, etc. The kids will gather in the Narthex at 9:55, carry their donations in the procession, and then go to Sunday School.
FUN & FUNDRAISING
Advent Wreath Making, Dec. 1 – materials will be available to make Advent wreaths during coffee hour. Bring scissors or clippers and gloves if you need them. The cost of materials is $7 ($5 if you bring your own wreath form). Please sign up on the sheet in the
Narthex.
Advent Mini-Ministries – Advent starts on Dec. 1. To get ready for Advent and Christmas it will be helpful to have volunteers take on various small projects and tasks. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex, and a flyer explaining all the different activities. Some have already been spoken for, but if you can help with one or more of these things it would help us to be ready:
Set up tables and supplies for Advent wreath making;
Purchase/gather simple materials to make Christmas tree decorations (plastic balls and markers – you will be reimbursed);
Assist the Altar Guild with the Greening of the Church on 12/22;
Look over existing costumes for the Nativity Pageant and refresh or repair as needed;
Set up and take down Christmas Eve lumenaria;
Purchase candy and stuff piñata for Epiphany party on 1/5;
Set up piñata and organize the game; set up tables and chairs for Epiphany Soup & Sandwich Lunch (1/5).
STEWARDSHIP
Annual Pledge Campaign: Following Jesus Generously – Thank you to everyone who has returned a pledge card. If you have not yet made your pledge to God’s mission for 2014, please read the material that was sent home, pray for God’s guidance, and then return your pledge card at your earliest convenience. If you need another card, or never received the materials there are pledge packets in the Narthex. Thank you!
WORSHIP
Thanksgiving Day will be celebrated with Communion and Thanksgiving hymns on November 28 at 10 am. Put your turkey in the oven and come give thanks to God…you’ll be glad you did!
All God’s Children, this Sunday, November 17. This is our monthly service for special needs kids and their families at 12 noon on the third Sunday of the month. Please extend an invitation to others in the wider community who might be interested; all are
welcome! Contact Mother Vicki with questions.
Hand Bells for Christmas – A hand bell choir is being formed to play at the concert and late service on Christmas Eve. We need 8-12 people who are able to commit to a rehearsal schedule, as well as the service, to learn two pieces. No ability to sight-read music is needed, but we do need your presence; trying to play hand bells with a missing person is like trying to play the piano with missing keys! Here is the rehearsal schedule: Sunday, Nov. 24 – 3-5 pm; Thursday, Dec. 5 – 6:15-7:30 pm; Thursday, Dec. 12 – 6:15-7:30 pm; Sunday, Dec. 15 – 2-4 pm; Sunday, Dec. 22 – 2-4 pm; Christmas Eve, 9:15 pm set-up/rehearsal; 10 pm candlelight concert; 10:30 pm service. There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex. Questions? Please speak to Dr. Jody.
FORMATION
Women’s Book Group will meet on Wednesday, November 20th at 7:30 pm in the Rath House. We will be discussing Call the Midwife: a Memoir of Birth, Joy and Hard Times, by Jennifer Worth (Vol. 1 of her trilogy). It’s the true story of a group of young nurses and Church of England nuns who work as midwives and community nurses in London’s East End in the 1950s. Drop in, we’d love to have you join the discussion!
The Bible Challenge /Bible Study - The Bible Challenge /Bible Study: November 11 is Day 274. The readings are Ezekiel 23-24, Psalm 80, and Revelation 3. Wednesday morning group meets each week at 10:15 am. Wednesday evening group meets at 7:45 pm on the 2nd & 4th weeks, preceded by Evening Prayer at 7:15 pm. Both groups meet in the Rath House and welcome
newcomers.
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Prayers for the Night ~ Collects for Compline, Book of Common Prayer, page 133
Be our light in the darkness,
O Lord, and in your great mercy
defend us from all perils and dangers of this night;
for the love of your only Son, our
Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours
of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and
chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Look down, O Lord, from your heavenly throne, and
illumine this night with your celestial brightness;
that by night as by day your people may glorify your holy Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the
enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace;
and let your blessing be upon us always;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessings,
Vicki McGrath+
It has been a year since we lived through the great difficulty that was Hurricane Sandy, although certainly there are still those we know who are struggling to get back on their feet, and for whom life will never go back to the way it was before. And now, half-way across the world, there has been another storm with even greater loss of life and dislocation. And yet we know that the God who made us and loves us will provide comfort, strength, and practical help for the people of the Philippines. Some of that comfort and strength will come through our prayers; some of the help will come from our financial donations – whether through Episcopal Relief and Development, the International Red Cross, or some other aid organization that you support.
At this time of year, when the darkness comes early, and we hear about dangers and difficulties it is easy to feel discouraged, angry or afraid. At the end of this e-mail are four prayers that come from the Prayer Book service of Compline (the Church’s bed-time prayers). I hope you will find them comforting and helpful. Share them with someone who needs them. And remember that we are never outside of God’s reach and compassionate love.
+ + + + + + +
HELPING HANDS
Philippine Relief – In the wake of Typhoon Haiyan Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is working with the Episcopal Church of the Philippines to provide emergency aid of food and water through local church networks, coordinating with the Philippine National Council of Churches. There will be fliers in the Sunday bulletins with information about how you can
help. Or you can donate on-line here: https://www.episcopalrelief.org/press-and-resources/press-releases/2013/super-typhoon-haiyan . Thank you.
Homeless Shelter - Monday, Nov. 18 is our day to serve at the Family Promise Homeless Shelter housed at the Shrine of St. Joseph. We need a number of volunteers to cook dinner, serve it and visit with the shelter guests, shop for kitchen supplies, and two people to spend spend the night at the Shrine. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex. This is a valuable ministry that helps get at risk families back on their feet with support for apartments, job training and financial counseling. Questions? Speak to Kathy Pfeil.
Food for Kids Ingathering, Sunday, Nov. 24 - the children of the parish are asked to bring non-perishable food donations
for the food pantry in Dover. What particular needs are there? Peanut butter, jelly, whole grain crackers, juice boxes, mac &
cheese, raisins and other dried fruit, as well as canned tuna and chicken, soups, stews, parmalaat milk, rice, beans, pasta, canned vegetables, etc. The kids will gather in the Narthex at 9:55, carry their donations in the procession, and then go to Sunday School.
FUN & FUNDRAISING
Advent Wreath Making, Dec. 1 – materials will be available to make Advent wreaths during coffee hour. Bring scissors or clippers and gloves if you need them. The cost of materials is $7 ($5 if you bring your own wreath form). Please sign up on the sheet in the
Narthex.
Advent Mini-Ministries – Advent starts on Dec. 1. To get ready for Advent and Christmas it will be helpful to have volunteers take on various small projects and tasks. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex, and a flyer explaining all the different activities. Some have already been spoken for, but if you can help with one or more of these things it would help us to be ready:
Set up tables and supplies for Advent wreath making;
Purchase/gather simple materials to make Christmas tree decorations (plastic balls and markers – you will be reimbursed);
Assist the Altar Guild with the Greening of the Church on 12/22;
Look over existing costumes for the Nativity Pageant and refresh or repair as needed;
Set up and take down Christmas Eve lumenaria;
Purchase candy and stuff piñata for Epiphany party on 1/5;
Set up piñata and organize the game; set up tables and chairs for Epiphany Soup & Sandwich Lunch (1/5).
STEWARDSHIP
Annual Pledge Campaign: Following Jesus Generously – Thank you to everyone who has returned a pledge card. If you have not yet made your pledge to God’s mission for 2014, please read the material that was sent home, pray for God’s guidance, and then return your pledge card at your earliest convenience. If you need another card, or never received the materials there are pledge packets in the Narthex. Thank you!
WORSHIP
Thanksgiving Day will be celebrated with Communion and Thanksgiving hymns on November 28 at 10 am. Put your turkey in the oven and come give thanks to God…you’ll be glad you did!
All God’s Children, this Sunday, November 17. This is our monthly service for special needs kids and their families at 12 noon on the third Sunday of the month. Please extend an invitation to others in the wider community who might be interested; all are
welcome! Contact Mother Vicki with questions.
Hand Bells for Christmas – A hand bell choir is being formed to play at the concert and late service on Christmas Eve. We need 8-12 people who are able to commit to a rehearsal schedule, as well as the service, to learn two pieces. No ability to sight-read music is needed, but we do need your presence; trying to play hand bells with a missing person is like trying to play the piano with missing keys! Here is the rehearsal schedule: Sunday, Nov. 24 – 3-5 pm; Thursday, Dec. 5 – 6:15-7:30 pm; Thursday, Dec. 12 – 6:15-7:30 pm; Sunday, Dec. 15 – 2-4 pm; Sunday, Dec. 22 – 2-4 pm; Christmas Eve, 9:15 pm set-up/rehearsal; 10 pm candlelight concert; 10:30 pm service. There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex. Questions? Please speak to Dr. Jody.
FORMATION
Women’s Book Group will meet on Wednesday, November 20th at 7:30 pm in the Rath House. We will be discussing Call the Midwife: a Memoir of Birth, Joy and Hard Times, by Jennifer Worth (Vol. 1 of her trilogy). It’s the true story of a group of young nurses and Church of England nuns who work as midwives and community nurses in London’s East End in the 1950s. Drop in, we’d love to have you join the discussion!
The Bible Challenge /Bible Study - The Bible Challenge /Bible Study: November 11 is Day 274. The readings are Ezekiel 23-24, Psalm 80, and Revelation 3. Wednesday morning group meets each week at 10:15 am. Wednesday evening group meets at 7:45 pm on the 2nd & 4th weeks, preceded by Evening Prayer at 7:15 pm. Both groups meet in the Rath House and welcome
newcomers.
+ + + + + + +
Prayers for the Night ~ Collects for Compline, Book of Common Prayer, page 133
Be our light in the darkness,
O Lord, and in your great mercy
defend us from all perils and dangers of this night;
for the love of your only Son, our
Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours
of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and
chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Look down, O Lord, from your heavenly throne, and
illumine this night with your celestial brightness;
that by night as by day your people may glorify your holy Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the
enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace;
and let your blessing be upon us always;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessings,
Vicki McGrath+
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