February 17, 2012
Dear Emmanuel Brothers and Sisters,
This Sunday, February 19th, is the Last Sunday after the Epiphany.
This last Sunday before Ash Wednesday offers a very interesting view of
the time between now and Easter. It is as though we could stand on the
Mount of the Transfiguration with Jesus and the apostles, look across
the valley of daily life and Lenten disciplines and see the empty tomb
of Easter Morning. It may be that the experience of Jesus gloriously
present not only then but now offers what we need to engage the mystery
of God active and present in a more recollected and reflective way. I
look forward to sharing not only the mountain top but also the valley’s
traverse with you.
We celebrate Holy Eucharist, Rite I at 8:00 a.m., and Holy Eucharist, Rite
II at 10:00 a.m., and invite you to join us at coffee hour following each service.
During Adult Forum this Sunday morning at 9:10 a.m., please plan to be present
for the first part of our Annual Meeting when we will have an overview of our
annual report—reviewing the year just ending, reflecting on what has been done
and inquiring into what programs or events were most valuable.
Sunday school, this Sunday, February 19, meets as usual on the top floor of the Parish
Hall at 10:00, all ages welcome, the older helping the younger. After welcome, prayer,
and snack, we have the story of the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain with three
disciples (Mark 9:2-9). We'll finish decorating placements for the February 21st
pancake dinner. In Sunday school, we'll talk about "best friends," learn how to pray for them by
drawing in our sketchbooks, and join everyone else for communion.
For those of you who have occasion to go around the back of the Church,
please continue to watch your step! You will notice yellow
construction-site tape blocking access to the back porch area of the
building. The back porch is still in the process of being restored,
thanks to the diligent labors of our Junior Warden, Kent Bein, our
Assistant Junior Warden, Viviane Warren, the Vestry, and Mastercraft
Homes. Weather permitting, we expect the restoration to be complete in
the next month.
Planning ahead...
The Annual Meeting is planned for two successive Sundays this year.
The first part is planned for Adult Forum time this Sunday (see above).
The second part is next Sunday, the 26th of February, after the 10 a.m. service.
At that time, we will review and approve the 2012 budget, acknowledge the
service of outgoing Vestry members (Kent Bein, Helen Brettell, and Curtis Prins),
and present the Vestry’s nominees for Vestry service for 2012-2015.
This coming week…
The Seekers meet on Tuesday, February 21st at 7:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall
dining room to continue discussion of: "The Meaning of Life: Perspectives from
the World's Great Traditions", based on material from one of "The Great Courses"
programs. We will watch the second video in the series on the Bhagavad Gita
and the Hindu principles of living. Following Seekers, at approximately 8:10 a.m.,
please join me for Morning Prayer in the church sanctuary.
Education for Ministry (EfM) also meets on Tuesday, February 21st, at 11:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall dining room.
For all you do…
Thank you to Rab Thompson and to Shellie Womelsdorf for hosting our coffee hours
last Sunday, and for providing such delicious fare!
George Devorshak and Rick Buckley send a big thank you to the folks who were able
to attend the first "Pizza Bytes" meeting last Wednesday. Carol O'Malley, Laurie and
Ron Maggiano, Andy Bergner, George Drexel, Anne Marstiller, Steve Hallmark,
and especially Rev Anne, your ideas, insights and constructive criticism have pointed the way
forward to continuing improvements that will make the Emmanuel website increasingly
beneficial to parishioners and attractive to our Internet visitors. The outcomes of the meeting
will be available at the congregational meeting on 26 February.
This coming week…
At noon on Monday, February 20th, we hold our monthly Healing Service
in the sanctuary. This simple, moving service is a time when we offer
prayers for our own healing or for that of others whose lives touch our own.
Pancake Supper! On the 21st of February we celebrate Shrove Tuesday
in the Parish Hall from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Children can come
early (5:30) to decorate the tables. Our lead pancake chef, Norris Beavers,
and his faithful crew will offer us a wonderful pancake supper, and Marlene Baldwin
and her talented friends and students will offer musical entertainment,
including four Irish dancers and the singing and playing talent of Ron
Maggiano. There will be a special table set up for making Mardi Gras
masks. Our young people will have placemats to color and “jewelry” to
wear for the party. Come and bring family and friends!
*On Ash Wednesday, the 22nd of February, we will have Holy Eucharist and the
Imposition of Ashes at Noon, and at 7:00 p.m. I invite you to attend at one of these
times for a powerful beginning to the “observance of a holy Lent.”
The Vestry holds its February meeting on Thursday, February 23rd at 7:00 p.m. in the
Parish Hall dining room. Please pray for the work of the Vestry.
For the good of the order…
It bears repeating (just once more!) that the routine set-up of the
Fellowship Hall is four round tables with four chairs placed at each
table. Extra green chairs are stacked in the closet, and may be used for Adult
Forum or other group events. Please return them to the closet after your
meeting is finished so that our fellowship space is ‘lovely to look at and delightful to’ behold!
Future possibilities…
Feb. 26th at 5 p.m.: The seasonally appropriate song cycle Winterreise
by Franz Schubert will be performed by Tenor Byron Jones and pianist
Michael Adcock. This dramatically intense masterpiece reflecting the
spirit of deep midwinter is a special bonus of Grace Church Concert
Series, with a free will offering and no advance tickets required. Grace
Church, 6507 Main St., The Plains; www.gracetheplains.org or 540-253-5177 for more information.
Here at Emmanuel, beginning on February 29th and continuing each Wednesday of Lent wil
be the Sondance Lenten Film Festival. With this series we will be looking at movies
that will serve as a vehicle for spirited Lenten discussion. Come for growth, fellowship,
pizza, popcorn, and potluck salad. The first movie will be ‘The Hiding Place’ and a
description of this and the other four films will appear in J&P the week before they are shown.
On Tuesday, March 6, at 11:30 a.m., Long Branch Baptist Church at Halfway invites those over
50 years of age to join them in their first Friendship Lunch in the church social hall.
There is no cost. Please RSVP to Joanne Glascock in Warrenton (540-428-0029) or
Susan Schulz in Halfway (540-253-5311). Long Branch Baptist Church is located on Route 626
halfway between The Plains and Middleburg.
Attention all poets/writers and poetry enthusiasts! Our next Arts at Emmanuel evening
on Saturday, March 31st will focus on poetry and the art of the written word. Our hope is to
have a few of the poets and writers among us share and discuss some of their work while
other poetry lovers read and discuss their favorite works. If you would like to participate,
please contact David Sheronas (dsheronas@verizon.net) or Helen Brettell (helenbrettell@me.com).
*Loudoun Habitat for Humanity is seeking the assistance of churches in its effort to locate
qualified applicants for three homes in St. Louis. Two of five homes in the Erin Petersen
subdivision in St. Louis have already been completed, with three more waiting
for qualified partners who have a housing need, a steady job, have
lived/worked in Loudoun for 1 year, are income qualified, and are
willing to assist in the actual construction process. Pamela McGraw,
Chair of the Family Selection Committee, says “We are certain there are
many families with whom Habitat could partner, but assistance from
people who care about their neighbors has always proven to be our best
referral source.” If you know of any potentially qualified
applicant/family, please contact the church office for more detailed
information, or call Loudoun Habitat for Humanity at 703-737-6772.
Grateful blessings always,
Anne
