Feburary 10,2012
Dear Emmanuel Brothers and Sisters,
This Sunday, February 12th, is the Sixth 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.
For the 10:00 a.m. service, we have the privilege of singing an original hymn setting of Psalm 30. Ron Maggiano has authored this very sing-able version and given us permission to use it in worship.
During Adult Forum this Sunday morning at 9:10 a.m., in honor of and anticipating—just a little bit—St. Valentine’s Day, Jane Jones will lead a conversation on "Lasting Love—what makes for a quality relationship?" Bring yourself and your valentine!
Sunday school this Sunday, February 12, meets at 10:00 a.m. on the top floor of the
Parish Hall. After welcome, prayer, and snack, we have the story of Jesus healing a leper,
found in Mark 1: 40-45. We'll also focus on the gift of friendship
because Valentine's Day is this Tuesday. All will put hand prints on a
large mat to be used on Shrove Tuesday, February 21, at Emmanuel's
pancake supper, and we'll also decorate placemats for the pancake supper
tables. We'll join everyone in the sanctuary for communion.
Special prayer request…Today, February 10th,
marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Hugh Wiley, a child who
was deeply loved by all who were part of his life. Please pray for his
family and all those who are still struggling with this devastating loss.
Planning ahead...
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 review the year
just ending, reporting on what has been done and inquiring into what
programs or events were most valuable. The second Sunday, the 26th of February,
will occur after the 10:00 a.m. service and deal with reporting on the
2011 budget, approving the 2012 budget, acknowledging the service of
outgoing Vestry members (Kent Bein, Helen Brettell, and Curtis Prins),
and presenting the Vestry’s nominees for Vestry service for 2012-2015.
This coming week…
For those of you who have occasion to go around the back of the Church this
coming week…PLEASE GO CAREFULLY! You will notice yellow
construction-site tape blocking access to the back porch area of the
building. Thanks to the diligent labors of our Junior Warden, Kent
Bein, our Assistant Junior Warden, Viviane Warren, the Vestry, and
Master Craft Builders, the back porch is in the process of being
restored. Weather permitting, we expect the restoration to be complete
in the next month.
The Seekers meet on Tuesday, February 14th
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 first video in the series on "The Meaning of the Meaning of Life".
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 14th, at 11:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall dining room.
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. This is a conversation for everybody; no technical
expertise required.
For all you do…
We remembered to thank those who led and fed us during the most recent Arts at Emmanuel evening; now let us express heartfelt gratitude to the all the people who sang and played beautiful or funny familiar songs, classical works, new compositions, and inspired comedy. Thank you, each and everyone.
Our sincerest appreciation is extended to Bill and Sylvia Worrall for hosting a lovely 10:00 coffee hour last Sunday, and also to the 8 o’clocker’s who brought food offerings!
George Lengauer, President of Seven Loaves, writes, “Seven Loaves Food Bank
wishes to thank all the churches, schools, and organizations who
participated in our annual 2011 Christmas shop. This year’s shop was a
great success; thanks to your generous gifts we were able to provide
Christmas gifts for 167 families with a total of 433 children. We are
deeply grateful to all who worked together in this wonderful community
outreach program. Needy families in our community were able to have
happier Christmases because of you.”
For the good of the order…
…and the orderliness of the good(?) Jill Winter tells us that “wandering green chairs appointed for service in the Fellowship Hall have been restored to their rightful place in the closet next to the
kitchen, and others brought down from the attic. The routine set-up of
the Fellowship Hall is 4 round tables with 4 chairs placed at each
table. 20 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!”
Pancake Supper!
SAVE THE DATE—Tuesday, the 21st of February! We celebrate Shrove Tuesday
in the Parish Hall from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Families with young
children are encouraged to arrive at 5:30 if possible, so children can
decorate tables for the supper. 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. 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!
More possibilities…
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.
*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.”
Beginning on February 29th and continuing each Wednesday of Lent will be the Sondance Lenten Film Festival.
Beth Glenn explains that “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.”
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.
*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
