February 3, 2012
Dear Emmanuel Brothers and Sisters,
This Sunday, February 5th, is the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany.
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.
Our 8:00 coffee hour this Sunday will be potluck,
so we invite our intrepid 8 o’clocker’s to bring a small plate to
share! Our 10:00 coffee hour will be hosted by Sylvia and Bill
Worrall.
During Adult Forum this Sunday morning, our senior warden Hurst Groves and I will report
on last weekend’s 217th Annual Council of the Diocese of Virginia.
[After my signature, I have included the just-arrived announcement of the six
candidates for the position of Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese along
with the places and dates the candidates will appear later in March to
get to know the Diocese better and to answer questions. A Suffragan
Bishop is elected specifically by the Diocesan Council to assist our
Diocesan Bishop, not to be his successor.]
Sunday school
on February 5 for all children will meet on the top floor of the Parish
Hall at 10:00, the older children helping with the younger ones. After
our welcome snack, we will hear from Mark 1:29-39 the story of Jesus
healing many people and taking time away from everyone to pray. We may
decorate placemats for the February 21st Shrove Tuesday pancake supper
or draw in our sketchbooks. We join the rest of the congregation for
communion. During coffee hour, the children may continue with their
sketchbooks.
This Sunday is the final day to submit nominations for Vestry service.
Please remember to speak with people you would like to nominate and, if
they agree, to submit their names to the office. Forms are available
as inserts in the Sunday bulletin and as an attachment to this
newsletter.
This coming week…
On Monday, February 6th at 7:00 p.m., Anne and Phil Marstiller, Dale Thompson, and other Christmas Shop
team members will meet to review last year’s event, celebrate what
worked so well, and examine what might be improved in 2012. If you have
ideas to offer or would like to volunteer to assist in some aspect of
this year’s Christmas Shop, you are invited and encouraged to join us!
The Seekers meet on Tuesday, February 7th
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
discuss the DVD's we watched the last two weeks on "Job's Predicament --
Life is So Unfair."
Following Seekers, at approximately 8:10 a.m., please join me for Morning Prayer in the church sanctuary.
Education for Ministry (EfM) meets on Tuesday, February 7th, at 11:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall dining room.
For all you do…
Last Saturday’s Arts at Emmanuel was a wonderful evening of varied musical offerings ranging from the splendid to the hilarious. Special thanks to David Sheronas and Helen Brettell
for organizing this delightful event, and to everyone who brought
delicious fare. Those who attended were invited to make a donation to
Middleburg FISH, and $281.00 was collected! Thank you, one and all.
We are so appreciative that Viviane Warren and Kathy and Yurij Holowinsky hosted
our coffee hours last week following the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services,
respectively. This fellowship time was made even more welcoming by
their dedicated effort. Special thanks and recognition also go to Penny Denegre and June Thompson for their service as Altar Guild volunteers for the month of January.
Viviane Warren’s amazing energy has been evident recently in the parish hall as well as
our church grounds, as she has de-cluttered and organized the kitchen
pantry area, supervised work on the rebuilding of a section of stone
wall loosened by the roots of a forsythia grown too invasive, and made
arrangements for needed work on the church gutters, among other things,
both large and small. Her cheerful presence always produces action
where it is most needed!
Viviane’s energy is closely matched by that of Courtney Kohler,
who faithfully keeps watch over the Sunday School room, where she puts
fresh flowers and has had hangings made for the small altar. She has
also put much effort into tracking, cleaning, and organizing the
tablecloths in the Fellowship Hall, hanging them in place and making
helpful signs to assist those who use them. Please take time to read these signs if you are setting up for coffee hour or for any fellowship event.
Future possibilities…
*Emmanuel Pizza Bytes: How can our parish website better serve you and the mission of Emmanuel Episcopal Church? Join us on Wednesday, February 15,
at 6:00 p.m. for an informal gathering in the Fellowship Hall to
briefly review the features of our recently renewed website. The new
platform is merely a launch pad for exciting future possibilities. Most
importantly, we need energy and creativity from across the parish to
identify, plan and prioritize our harnessing technology to "radiate
God's love and knowledge beyond our doors". Pizza will be available to
fuel the discussion. Watch the website http://www.emmanuelmiddleburg.org for more information. This is a conversation for everybody; no technical expertise required. Got ideas already? Send them to: webmaster@emmanuelmiddleburg.org.
Ready or not, here comes Lent!
On Tuesday, the 21st of February, we celebrate Shrove Tuesday
in the Parish Hall from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. 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. Our young people will have
place mats to color and “jewelry” to wear for the party. Come and bring
the family. Let us know by e-mail (parishsecretary@emmanuelmiddleburg.org)or
voice mail (540-687-6297, ext. 5) if you can be with us that evening.
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 Annual Meeting is planned for two successive Sundays this year. The first Sunday, the 19th of February,
will be at 9:00 a.m., the Adult Forum time, and will deal with the year
just ending, reporting on what has been done and what we are thinking
about for the year ahead. The second Sunday, the 26th of February,
will occur after the 10:00 a.m. service and deal with approving the
2012 budget, acknowledging the service of outgoing Vestry members (Kent
Bein, Helen Brettell, and Curtis Prins), and presenting the nominees for Vestry service for 2012-2015.
*February 18 & 19…The Middleburg Business and Professional Association kicks
off its Winter Sale! You are invited to help us greet visitors to
Emmanuel during some part of the two day sale which draws a fair number
of visitors. Please let Jill or me know of your availability on
Saturday, the 18th of February or Sunday, the 19th of February. And, meanwhile, check
out The Middleburg Business and Professional Association's website for more information.
*The Community Music School of the Piedmont
presents ‘The Joy of Bach’, featuring J. Reilly Lewis and performers
from The Washington Bach Consort. This fundraising event will take place
on Sunday, February 19th, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. at Barton Oaks Ballroom in
The Plains, VA. Visit www.piedmontmusic.org for more information.
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).
*Mary Ann Rudy brings to our attention the rich variety of camp experiences for children and teens ages 9-15 at Shrine Mont,
a retreat center of the Diocese of Virginia located in Orkney Springs,
VA, west of Interstate 81, just south of the Rt. 66 and 81 intersection.
It's in the beautiful Shenandoah Mountains. The 2012 camp season
begins June 23, and offers one-week sessions that focus on such themes
as Explorers, Art, Music and Drama. A family camp for all ages
is scheduled from July 8-14. For more information on Shrine Mont camps,
please contact Paris Ball or Kathlyn Jones in the Diocesan Christian
Formation Office, 800-DIOCESE or 804-643-8451 ext. 1031, or email summercamps@thediocese.net.
Grateful blessings always,
Anne
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