January 13, 2012
Dear Emmanuel Brothers and Sisters,
I can only hope your Epiphany season is as rich as mine is proving to be. Among other happenings,
there are great conversations taking place. One very recent conversation is about how we observe
Lent and celebrate Easter more fully than in the past. Another, broader conversation has to do with
what we need to do to be even more faithful “worshipping, serving, inquiring pilgrims.” Does God need
Emmanuel to grow and, if so, how would we do that in a way that makes God’s love increasingly
transparent to our world? If your curiosity is piqued by either of these conversations, please let me know
of your interest. Your participation will be welcomed.
This Sunday, January 15, is the Second 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. Please remember that during the remaining
Sundays of Epiphany, we are singing new service music for three parts of the Eucharist service at
10:00 am: Glory to God; Holy, holy, holy Lord; and, the Fraction Anthem. The words and music will
appear on a bulletin insert. Please join the choir in singing when you are comfortable doing so.
During Adult Forum this Sunday, January 15, we will share “personal” (broadly defined)
experiences of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. If you have an experience to share, let Steve
Hallmark know (703-447-7367).
Sunday school on January 15 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'll hear the Scripture
story (I Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20) of the boy Samuel being called by God, dramatize the story, and listen
to God in prayer. Our theme is "Here I Am, God." We will gather with the rest of the congregation
for communion. During coffee hour, the children will do something special in their sketchbooks.
This coming week…
At noon on Monday January 16 we invite you to join us for our monthly Healing Service.
This simple, brief service of reading, prayer, and the laying on of hands is not only spiritually
comforting; it also leads to a deeper sense of connection with God and neighbor and self…not
only our privilege but also our joy.
The Seekers meet on Tuesday, January 17 at 7:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall dining room. Following Seekers, at approximately 8:10 a.m., we offer Morning Prayer in the church sanctuary.
Education for Ministry (EfM) meets on Tuesday, January 17, at 11:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall dining room.
The Vestry meets again this Tuesday, January 17, at 7:00 p.m. in the dining room. The requirements
for Vestry service and the process we use to identify this year’s Vestry class will be on the agenda.
For all you do…
Grateful thanks to Marlene and Jeff Baldwin for hosting coffee hour following the 8 a.m. service and to Steve
Hallmark for filling in at the coffee hour following the 10:00 a.m. service last Sunday.
Future possibilities…
*On January 26-28, our senior warden, Hurst Groves, and I will be attending the 217th Annual Council
of the Diocese of Virginia at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, where we will celebrate the ministry of the
Rt. Rev. David C. Jones and attend to the annual business of our diocese.
*And, speaking of Saturday, the 28th of January, Helen Brettell writes to invite us all to a second
Arts at Emmanuel” evening on that date. This evening of shared entertainment by willing musicians of
various backgrounds along with a shared pot luck supper promises to be fun for all! Please tell David
Sheronas (dsheronas@verizon.net ) or Helen Brettell (540-270-3993) whether you are interested and also
whether you know of anyone in our community who has a musical talent and would share it!
*Grace Church, The Plains, writes to tell us about concerts on the 29th of January, Sunday, at 5:00 p.m. and
on the 26th of February, Sunday, at 5:00 p.m. Please contact Grace Church, 6507 Main Street, The Plains,
at 540-253-5177 or visit www.gracetheplains.org for more details.
For all families with children from young through high school age, you may already be thinking about 2012
summer camp plans. In support of planning ahead, Mary Ann Rudy invites you this week to take a look at
Camp Kanuga, an Episcopal summer camp open to all in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North
Carolina. “Since 1931, Kanuga campers have been forming lifelong friendships, experiencing new adventures,
and exploring their faith in a welcoming Christian community. Our campers are boys and girls ages 7-15.
They come to swim, climb, paddle a canoe, tie-dye a t-shirt, hike and, most of all, to enjoy God’s creation
away from the distractions of everyday life. Amid mountain vistas, crisp streams and towering pines, boys
and girls build independence, self-confidence, and respect for each other and world around them. Camp
Kanuga is sponsored by Kanuga Conferences, Inc., one of the nation’s largest Episcopal camp and
conference centers.” Here is the 2012 schedule: Starter Camp A, ages 7-9, June 5-9 (4 days), $460; Starter
Camp B, ages 7-9, June 10-14 (4 days), $460; Session 1, ages 7-15, June 5-14 (9 days), $935; Session 2,
ages 8-15, June 16-29 (13 days), $1350; Session 3, ages 8-15, July 1-14 (13 days), $1350; Session 4,
ages 8-15, July 17-30 (13 days), $1350; Session 5, ages 7-15, August 1-10 (9 days), $935. For more
information, visit www.campkanuga.org or call (828) 692-9136.
Grateful blessings always,
Anne
