The Epistle February 16, 2014 Sharing the Joy and Power of Life in Christ Rector’s Corner I will offer an abbreviated Inquirer's Class of 4 weeks length on Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. beginning February 27. The sessions will be "An Introduction to the Episcopal Church" (2/27); "Worship as Episcopalians" (3/6); An Overview of the Old and New Testaments" (3/13); and "Christian Theology and Spirituality" (3/20). This series would be particularly appropriate for anyone new to Emmanuel or the Episcopal Church, and for any adults interested in being confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church on May 10. This will be my last offering of Inquirer's courses at Emmanuel. I have enjoyed giving them very much over the years. Staff Resignation The Rector and Senior Warden accepted the resignation of our Church Custodian, Mike Lee, on February 6. Mike has served Emmanuel faithfully for the past 6 ½ years. Going forward we will be served by Barb Acela, who is moving from part-time to full-time on our staff, assisted by Kevin Bates. Odds and Ends * This weekend (2/14-15) is the annual Vestry/Staff Retreat at Camp Chanco. The Rev. Michael Spear-Jones is facilitating. * Last Sunday (2/9) was Scout Sunday. Our thanks to Doug Irwin who has served as Cub Scout Master for Troop 991 for which Emmanuel serves as Institutional Sponsor. Under Doug's able leadership the troop has grown from an initial 9 boys to over 30, and several now in 5th grade will soon be moving to a Boy Scout troop under the leadership of David Maple. Later in the year, Doug will be handing over leadership to another adult leader. It was great to have several scouts present in uniform on Sunday. Transitions * Congratulations to Kevin and Stephanie (Banks) McGurty on the birth of a daughter, Cassidy, on February 8 at Sentara Norfolk. Rev. Julia’s Corner Ready for the next big event at Emmanuel? Father John is planning to retire in May and we would like to plan a HUGE party to celebrate his and Ann’s ministry and time here at Emmanuel! So let’s “do this party up big” in Emmanuelite style. We will have our first Celebration meeting on February 19 at 7 p.m. in the Library. At that time, we will lay out ideas and forming smaller party planning groups. If you cannot make this meeting but would like to be a part of the fun, please contact Rev. Julia at assistant@emmanuelvb.org 1 Christian Formation Club 45 meets this Sunday, February 16 and we’re going bowling! Cost is $7; time 3:00-5:00 p.m.; meet at AMF Indian River Lanes by 3:00 p.m. Contact Vicky, (804) 241-5461 or vickykch@gmail.com. Lenten Reflections Pick up in the Parish Hall Lent will be here before you know it (Ash Wednesday is March 5!) Each year, our members prepare a Lenten meditation booklet for the benefit of the entire parish. Each year I find inspiration, wisdom and knowledge in the submissions we receive. If you like doing reflections of this sort, please consider taking a scripture passage and offering your own reflection to be published in our booklet. Passages are ready and waiting for you in the church office. There is a STRICT deadline for submissions so that we can have plenty of time for editing and formatting. I am looking forward to reading what you write! Upcoming Events…. Mark your calendars now for our annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper! Tuesday, March 4. 5:30-8 p.m. Join us in the Parish Hall for fabulous flapjacks by our epicurean experts! $6 per person, kids under 6 eat free. Seatings at 5:30 and 6:30. Be on the look-out for those inevitable sign-up sheets in the Parish Hall! Adult Retreat February 28 – March 1 The annual Emmanuel Adult Retreat is a yearly favorite. We head down to Nags Head on Friday afternoon; enjoy a leisurely dinner on our own before gathering at St. Andrews-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church. Opening ice breakers and the program intro precede evening prayer and fellowship on Friday night. Our program this year will be led by Vicky Koch and will be based on the movie Lilies of the Field starring Sidney Portier. Following breakfast on our own on Saturday, we get down to the meat of our time together. We start the day with Morning Prayer then have a presentation/small group discussion format for the morning session. We bring lunch in (lunch is included in the fee for the event) and then have our final session from 1-3 p.m. We close the event with an afternoon prayer service. Many folks choose to spend Saturday night as well, and enjoy dinner and fellowship that night, and often worship at one of the two Episcopal Churches in the Outer Banks before heading home on Sunday. The retreat program fee is $25. The hotel price is $49 a night (this is a change from previously published price of $39). It is still an amazing bargain! Registration forms are in the Parish Hall. We do need to know if you are coming so we have program materials for you. Hotel reservations at the Orville and Wilbur Wright Days Inn can be made by calling 252-441-7211. I hope you will join us for the fun and formational event! Hey Emmanuel! Chanco is Calling…… Come join in the fun at the Emmanuel Parish Retreat! Join us May 30-June 1 We will take a look at the Theology of Dr. Seuss as we explore and read his books. There is more to the story than just the rhyme, some come to hear about Sneetches and have a good time. Many issues are raised within the pages and we will let the Lorax and Horton out of their cages. I can’t promise you Green Eggs and Ham but Yertle the Turtle may have a plan. A scavenger hunt with everyone in tow, on the last day Oh the Places You’ll Go! The leader is one Cat in the Hat otherwise know as a church lady named Pat. (AKA…Pattie Ames from St. Columba’s Episcopal Church Washington, DC). Registration begins soon! Mark those dates! 2 Adult Forum Beginning February 16 we begin a new segment called Civil Discourse. Have we lost the ability to have a discussion? Have we forgotten how to engage in conversation? Join contemporary political and moral leaders as they explore key topics triggering public debate, including abortion, racism and global ethics. Guests include Richard Mouw, Frances Kissling, Elizabeth Alexander, Nicholas Kristof and E. Ethelbert Miller. On March 9 we will begin a Lenten program that will carry us through April 6. On April 13 and 20 we will not have Adult Forum. Our final segment for the spring session will be a program called Faithful Citizens. This will carry us through early June. We are considering several ideas for a summer session….so stay tuned! Children’s Liturgy of the Word Worship Leader Schedule Sunday Feb. 16 Feb. 23 Mar. 2 8:30 Service Theresa Rice Lindsey Osborn Theresa Rice Meghann Scott Theresa Rice Beth Von St. Paul Meals on Wheels For about 30 years, Emmanuel has provided volunteer teams for Meals on Wheels. This ministry serves the elderly, convalescing, and handicapped in their own homes. Volunteers come from churches, clubs, military units, and individuals. The volunteers are assigned a week (ours is the third week in each month), and using their own vehicle, arrive at Sentara Nursing Home for the monthly assignment. Arrival time is between 9:30 and 10:00 a.m. There the team picks up TV dinners, bag lunches, and checks the route book with the inventory. The delivery begins; the route is printed clearly. The two-person team facilitates the delivery with one driving and one reading the map. There are currently 16 different routes with no more than 12 clients in each route. You should be home in 2 hours. We need a list of substitutes so please call me if you can help. It’s as easy and 1,2,3 and is a very satisfying ministry. Jane Smith Coordinator, Meals on Wheels (757) 497-5145 Altar Flower Dedications Every member of the parish is invited to contribute to the beauty of our worship by giving the altar flowers on a particular Sunday, to the glory of God and in memory, thanksgiving, or celebration for people or events that are important to them. If you would like to make such a gift, please record your dedication in the Altar Flower Book, complete the Flower Dedication Form and return it to the Church Office or place in the Sunday offering along with the appropriate payment. Make you check payable to Emmanuel Episcopal Church and please write “Flower Guild” in the memo line. The book and forms are located on the podium in the Narthex entrance. Thank you in advance for your generosity and for contributing to the beauty of our worship. Mark your calendar! Thursday, February 20, Eat at Ruby Tuesday! It’s Community GiveBack time again! 3 Day School Openings Emmanuel Members, There have been some Day School families who have had to relocate recently. As a result, we have a few slots open for 2, 3 and 4 year-olds. If you know of anyone who may be interested in enrolling their child, please refer them to us. If they decide to enroll, you will receive 30% off the next month's tuition (or if you do not have a child who currently attends the school you will receive $50). Additionally, the new family will receive a discount on the registration fee. If you have any questions please contact Karen Kearse 757-499-7393. EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER Members of Emmanuel! Please support Emmanuel Episcopal Day School’s SCHOLARSHIP FUND by picking up and ordering from the JOE CORBI’S brochures in the Parish Hall. Choose from their family favorites such as pizzas, calzones, pretzels, cookie dough, cheesecakes and pies. Please return the order form with your payment to the church office no later than Thursday, February 20. Checks should be made out to “EEDS”. Scheduled delivery date for all orders will be March 12. Thank you for supporting our school and those who need assistance with tuition. Your generosity is greatly appreciated! Men’s Breakfast The next Men’s Breakfast is Saturday, February 22, at 7:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Please sign up! Ushers Needed Have you been looking for a way to become involved at Emmanuel, but do not have time for weeknight meetings? Volunteering as an usher on Sunday is a great way to serve. Ushers are usually scheduled only once a month. New ushers are teamed with experienced ushers. For more information, please contact Mike or Diann Nickelsburg at tutorlatin@verizon.net or 4676829. A Thank-you from Suzanne Pugh Upon the completion of my second memorial service as Martha's Ministry's new chairman, I am overwhelmed with gratitude! We have the most AWESOME, CAPABLE, and DEDICATED parishioners who jump in and help. Everyone knows basically what and how to do things making the job so much easier. To all who helped the last 3 funerals, please know how appreciative I am for your hard work and dedication. I would also like to thank all the people on the Flower Guild who also worked so hard to make the memorials beautiful. Last, but certainly not least, many thanks for all the delicious food people brought in! After the funeral last Saturday I had a phone call from a close friend. She said 2 friends of hers came to the memorial and raved about how delicious the food was, how beautiful everything looked, and how well organized it was! That should make all of us proud! Martha's Ministry is such a wonderful and important part of Emmanuel's history. Having been a recipient myself, I know what a burden it takes from the family and how greatly it is appreciated. With all of us continuing to work together, I know the ministry will continue to flourish. Faithfully, Suzanne Pugh 4 Yarn Wanted! The prayer shawl knitters would love to have partial skeins of yarn for knitting. Please leave in church office labeled for “Knitters.” Faith in Fiction Next meeting: Thursday, February 13, 2014, (please note this is a change from our regular meeting date) at 7:30 p.m. Emmanuel Library. Faith in Fiction is a group that enjoys reading and discussing novels. We focus on the spiritual thread and/or social consciousness running through the story line of a novel. Our book for February has been changed to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: a novel by Rachel Joyce. If there are any questions please call Patty Rapp 474-0954. Future books: Mar 6 The School of Essential Ingredients Apr 10 The Light Between Oceans Tuesday Morning Movie February 18, 10:00 a.m. The Reader Starring Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes Post Nazi Germany – brief affair with a teenage boy turns into a life-long relationship and entanglement. A compelling romance. Women’s Bible Study Women's Bible Study began February 10, 6:30 p.m.,in the Parish Hall. “Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl”, (Living the Faith after Bible Class is Over) by Lysa TerKeurst (click link for information) This is a 6-week study. We began on February 10 and end on March 17 with our Pot Luck!!! There will be a follow-on 6-week study at the close of this one. I will order 20 member books at $11 each and as usual we all contribute to the purchase of the DVD. Please email me at cschindler@cox.net to reserve your place in this study. Ultreya! Christ is Counting on You Where: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 201 St. Paul’s Blvd., Norfolk 23510. Church Phone: 757-6274353 Date: Friday, February 21, 2014 Time: 6:00 p.m. gather and food set-up 6:15 p.m. begin buffet meal 7:00 p.m. Ultreya begins 9:00 p.m. Ultreya ends If you need a ride, meet at Emmanuel at 5:15 p.m. 5 What Love Means to a 4 to 8 Year Old... A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, What does love mean?' The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. *When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.' Rebecca- age 8 *When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.' Billy - age 4 *Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' Terri - age 4 *Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.' Bobby - age 7 *If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate. ' Nikka - age 6 *During my piano recital , I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.' Cindy - age 8 *My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.' Clare - age 6 *Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.' Chris- age 7 Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.' Mary Ann – age 6 When you love somebody , your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' Karen - age 7 Happy Valentine’s Day 6 Schedule for February 16, 2014 PREACHER: The Rev. John Baldwin 11:00 a.m. LAY READERS: Ted Shrader, George Chafee USHERS: Lisa Jerauld, Bob Paull, Link Mueller ACOLYTES: Meca Garcia, Lydia Meredith, Alaina Lusk, Mason Barbour HEALING MINISTERS: Walt Altice, Lynne Coates VESTRY GREETER: Shawn Duesberry COFFEE HOSTS: Darla & Steve Furman WELCOMERS: Gary & Linda Ardison EUCHARISTIC VISITORS: Herb Pixley, James Carver COUNTERS: (2/17) Dave Roper, Nancy Snell, Lynne Coates, Gloria White ALTAR GUILD: (2/15-2/28) Janet Thomas, Sallie Davis, Loretta Mann, Loretta Jensen, Tracie Filipich FLOWER GUILD: (2/15) Ruth Bates, Joan Maher, Carole Seal 7:30 a.m. LAY READER: Richard Pulley ACOLYTE: Trey Kearse 8:30 a.m. LAY READERS: Paul Peter, Betty Schindler USHERS: Dave Mansfield, Jim & Sharon O’Meara ACOLYTES: Sara Orr, Townsend Larmore, Shannon Roberts HEALING MINISTERS: Art & Loretta Mann VESTRY GREETER: Dave Brown COFFEE HOUR HOSTS: John & Marlyn Lam WELCOMERS: Mary Fanshaw & Susan Etheredge Parish Care: Erin Maple – 646-0107 Please Pray for: Peace in the world; John, our Rector; Julia, our Associate Rector; Marguerite, our Deacon; Howard our retired clergy, in their daily life and work. Please pray for: Candy, Suzanne, Fran, Larry, Megan, Sandra, Michael, Denise, Vicki, Peggy, Gary, Will & Paula, Sara, Bunny, Bev, Jennette & Jeanie, Wanda & the Truett family, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Judy, Debra, Loretta, Midge, Sarah Grace, Maggie, Suzy, Glynn, John, Stephen, Marsha, Anna, Gale, Bob, James, Debi, Di Ann, Ruth, Jackie, Shannon, Patrick, Joan, Marie, Mark, Lauren, Alberto, Susan, Mike, Cobie West & family, Neil, and Dick. All those in our armed forces and their families at home and abroad: Stephen Campbell, Justin Sprehe, Michael Montgomery, David Troyer, Doug Barnhurst, and Justin Guy. Those in prison: Aki, Anthony, James, John, Ryan, David, and Matthew. To access the Epistle on our website click on http://emmanuelvb.com/newsletter.php To access the on-line church calendar ctrl + click http://www.mychurchevents.com/calendar/calendar.aspx?ci=G1G1F0L6I3F0O9L6I3%20 All sermons can be found on our website http://emmanuelvb.com/sermons.php Emmanuel’s email address: eec@emmanuelvb.org Visit Emmanuel's web site at: http://emmanuelvb.com Emmanuel Clergy & Staff The Rev. John Baldwin, Rector The Rev. Julia Messer, Associate Rector The Rev. Dr. Marguerite Alley, Deacon The Rev. Howard Purvis, Honorary Associate Phone: 757-499-1271 Fax: 757-499-4953 Day School: 757-499-7393 Director of Finance Interim Day Sch. Director Coord. Christian Form. Director of Music Assistant Director of Music Parish Administrator Building Manager 7 Gale Nicholson Karen Kearse Marguerite Alley Bob Sullivan Alex Mason Donna Clark Barbara Acela The Epistle A weekly publication Emmanuel Episcopal Church 5181 Singleton Way Virginia Beach, VA 23462