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Christmas Services at St. Edward’s & Christmas Message From Bishop Scanlan – The Diocese of Central Pennsylvania

December 18, 2019January 10, 2020 administrator

Please join The Reverend David Bateman for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services at St. Edward’s. Our service schedule is as follows:

Christmas Eve

4:30 pm Family/Children’s Service with Holy Communion

Praise Band begins playing at 4:15 pm and nursery is available for ages infant – 4 years of age.

9:00 pm Festival Holy Eucharist with Choir

Nursery is available for ages infant – 4 years of age.

Christmas Day

10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II

We look forward to sharing Christmas with you at St. Edward’s!

III Advent 2019

Dear Members of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania,

I often speak and write about the Christian path as opening oneself to transformation. Transformation is the process by which we come to know, deeply, the love of God for us and all creation. We can put ourselves in the path to be transformed, but it is only the grace of God, in God’s good time, that affects our growing in holiness.

In a culture that prizes achievement, entrepreneurship, and “get up and go,” it feels counterintuitive to wait on God to fill us with grace. I think that God is moving and acting with grace all the time; we need to sharpen our focus to see God at work around us and in us.

Sometimes, God’s grace sneaks up on us, and we find ourselves awash in holiness as the Holy Spirit breaks in. Last Sunday afternoon, I experienced such a moment: I was sitting in a cavernous Roman Catholic church in Baltimore- St. Cyprian- attending a performance of Handel’s Messiah. Like many in the audience, I knew the music well, having sung it several times in choirs through the years. I knew what to expect. I enjoyed the choir, the orchestra, the exceptional soloists, the ornate sculptures and frescos decorating the church, the strong beam of sunlight reaching through the stained glass, landing in a colorful puddle in my pew. Everything felt good and fine- just as I had imagined it would. What I was not prepared for was the sudden breaking in of the Holy Spirit, bringing sharp tears to my eyes as the bass soloist sang his recitative from 1 Corinthians 15:

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep; but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

All at once, I recognized the power of God in my life, my absolute inability to push away or control such a deluge of love, the conviction that God’s dream for us is to be changed, and that this gift of being changed would make me- and all who have gone before- whole. It was certainty. It was mighty. It was about deep love, and it was for me. (It’s for you, too!)

It was grace.

I left, having had a good cry, filled with the glorious sounds of a time-tested musical masterpiece, and ever more certain of God’s love and power in my life. Much more than I’d bargained for with the price of my ticket.

God loves with grace in and through our lives all the time. Grace- and our faith that God will turn up- is what changes us; we are Shaped by Faith.

We are about to celebrate one of the moments in which God gave us a gift for all time- the gift of our Savior, Jesus. Jesus came as a small baby but filled with the grace of God- grace to teach, shape, and save us.

My Christmas prayer for each of you is that you will experience God’s love this season- in little ways that will continue to work on you, in you, to shape you in faithfulness, as God’s beloved.

A holy Christmas to you all as we welcome the babe Jesus, God’s gift of love for us.

+Audrey

The Rt. Rev. Audrey C. Scanlan

XI Bishop

Download Bishop Scanlan letter here.

Christmas Services at St. Edward’s & Presiding Bishop Curry Christmas Message 2019

December 17, 2019December 17, 2019 administrator

Please join The Reverend David Bateman for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services at St. Edward’s. Our service schedule is as follows:

Christmas Eve

4:30 pm Family/Children’s Service with Holy Communion

Praise Band begins playing at 4:15 pm and nursery is available for ages infant – 4 years of age.

9:00 pm Festival Holy Eucharist with Choir

Nursery is available for ages infant – 4 years of age.

Christmas Day

10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II

We look forward to sharing Christmas with you at St. Edward’s!

Presiding Bishop Curry’s Christmas Message 2019

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it,” Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry said in his Christmas Message 2019.

The video of the Presiding Bishop’s message is here

The text of the Presiding Bishop’s message follows:

In the first chapter of John’s Gospel, sometimes referred to as the prologue to the Gospel, sometimes spoken of as the whole Gospel in miniature the Gospel writer says this. As he reflects on the coming of God into the world in the person of Jesus. As he reflects on Christmas. He says, the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

I don’t think it’s an accident that long ago, followers of Jesus began to commemorate his coming into the world when the world seemed to be at its darkest.

It’s probably not an accident that we observe Christmas soon after December 21, the winter solstice. The winter solstice being in the Northern Hemisphere the darkest time of the year.

Undoubtedly, these ancient Christians who began to celebrate the coming of God into the world, they knew very well that this Jesus, his teachings, his message, his spirit, his example, his life points us to the way of life itself, a way of life, where we take care of each other. A way of life, where we care for God’s world. A way of life, where we are in a loving relationship with our God, and with each other as children of the one God, who has created us all.

They also knew John’s Gospel and John’s Christmas story. Now there are no angels in John’s Christmas story. There are no wise men coming from afar. There’s no baby lying in a manger. There’s no angel choir singing Gloria in excelsis Deo in the highest of the heavens. There are no shepherds tending their flocks by night. Matthew and Luke tell those stories. In John, it is the poetry of new possibility, born of the reality of God when God breaks into the world.

It’s not an accident that long ago, followers of Jesus began to commemorate his birth, his coming into the world. When the world seemed darkest. When hope seemed to be dashed on the altar of reality. It is not an accident that we too, commemorate his coming, when things do not always look right in this world.

But there is a God. And there is Jesus. And even in the darkest night. That light once shined and will shine still. His way of love is the way of life. It is the light of the world. And the light of that love shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not, cannot, and will not overcome it.

God love you. God bless you and may you have a Merry Christmas and may this world be blessed. Amen.

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry

Presiding Bishop and Primate

The Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Church offers two digital Christmas Eve programs

December 17, 2019December 17, 2019 administrator

Perhaps your loved one or family member are home bound at Christmas but would like to experience a Christmas Eve service with The Episcopal Church. Below are links to two offerings presented via The Episcopal Church website on December 24th.

[December 17, 2019] The Episcopal Church is offering two, digital Christmas Eve programs on December 24. Available on both the Episcopal Church website and the Episcopal Church Facebook page, these programs makes Christmas Eve worship accessible to those not attending a service or program at a local church.

Both services will be available beginning on Christmas eve: St. Thomas’ at 4:00 pm and St. John the Baptist’s at 12:00 pm as well as at 6:00 pm (all times EST) and then available on demand.

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue, New York, New York

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is one of the pivotal and most popular choral services of the year. For many, it marks the beginning of Christmas. The service follows a format designed by Edward White Benson, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury, in which nine lessons are interspersed among 12 carols, motets and hymns. The lessons – which cover the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus – will be read by nine representatives of the Saint Thomas parish: a chorister, a member of the Sunday School, a gentleman of the choir, the director of music, the headmaster of the choir school, a member of the congregation, a warden of the parish, a priest of the parish, and finally the rector.

Saint Thomas is the only Episcopal church in the United States that operates a boarding school for its choristers. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Saint Thomas Choir School. The Choir of Saint Thomas is steeped in the Anglican choral tradition, offering at least five sung services a week, including weekday Choral Evensongs.

Christmas Eve liturgy

St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, Seattle, Washington

This is a traditional Christmas Eve liturgy with Holy Eucharist and congregational singing of carols, including Silent Night by candlelight towards the end of the service. In an effort to intentionally create more space for silence and listening in the liturgy and worship, following the sermon the congregation will observe a full three minutes of silence and listening indicated by the pealing of bells. The liturgy will be conducted in the expansive language version of the Holy Eucharist Rite Two. This updated version of the liturgical text was approved for trial use at the Episcopal Church’s 2018 General Convention.

Click on link below and follow their calendar of events to December 24th.

The Episcopal Church offers two, digital Christmas Eve programs

The Advent Walk

November 29, 2019November 29, 2019 administrator

We hope these resources will help guide you in your journey through Advent.

Advent Calendar

Advent Devotions – to say as you light your Advent wreath each week

Advent 1 – Saying “Yes” to the Journey

Advent 2 – Journeying with Family & Friends

Advent 3 – Journeying with Community

Advent 4 – Journeying in the World

December 1st – Choral Evensong at St. Edward’s featuring The Lancaster Chamber Singers

November 29, 2019November 29, 2019 administrator

A service of choral evensong will be held at St. Edward’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, December 1st, at 4 PM. This event is free, but an offering will be received.

The service, which takes place on the First Sunday of Advent, with The Reverend David Bateman serving as Cantor and Officiant, will feature The Lancaster Chamber Singers.

The Lancaster Chamber Singers, directed by Jay W. Risser, has played a major role in quality performances of choral masterpieces in central Pennsylvania since the ensemble’s founding in 1978. From its inception, the mission of the Lancaster Chamber Singers has been to provide a rich choral opportunity for experienced voices in the greater Lancaster area and to bring to life for both audience and performer the great choral heritage of our culture. The select group consists of 35 to 40 auditioned vocalists from varied walks of life from central Pennsylvania.

Performing primarily in Lancaster County and its immediate surroundings, the Lancaster Chamber Singers has also appeared in numerous invitation-only settings such as the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. and Longwood Gardens. In addition to performing a capella, the singers perform with Lancaster area instrumentalists and chamber ensembles.

Performances of note include Mozart’s Requiem with former Metropolitan Opera bass/baritone John Darrenkamp and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs with Met baritone Mark Oswald. LCS premiered Voices of Psalms, a unique work based on an Amish hymn, by Lancaster County composer Pomice Stoltzfus. The ensemble also presented the Pennsylvania premiere of James Bassi’s Harpsonnets, based on the works of Shakespeare and featuring New York City harpist Ray Pool. Several benefit concerts for victims of natural disasters have been sponsored and performed by the Lancaster Chamber Singers. LCS was invited to help celebrate the 400^th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown with a concert at Bruton Parish Church, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. In the spring of 2018, the Lancaster Chamber Singers marked its 40^th anniversary with a gala performance of Mozart’s Mass in C Major (Coronation Mass) with full orchestra.

The December program is the fourth event in The Rev. Canon Stephen C. Casey Cultural Event Series at St. Edward’s for 2019, showcasing the church’s fellowship outreach.

Community Fellowship Dinner Wednesday, December 11th at 6 PM

November 23, 2019November 23, 2019 administrator

WHAT: Community Fellowship Dinner

WHEN: Wednesday, December 11th at 6:00 PM

WHERE: St. Edward’s Parish Hall

BRING: Your own table setting and a hot and cold dish to share for 4-6 people

QUESTIONS? Contact Amy Swiernik at 717-682-1827 or Meredith Westgate at 717-575-2119

Our Community Fellowship dinners are a great time to get together and enjoy good food and conversation.

Come and dine and enjoy catching up with old friends and getting to know some new ones.

Advent Wreath Making & Beautiful Seasonal Music by The Lancaster Recorder Consort, Sunday, November 24th

November 22, 2019November 23, 2019 administrator

Please join us on Sunday, November 24th after the 8 AM and 10:15 AM services for extended coffee hours, wonderful seasonal music provided by The Lancaster Recorder Consort and fellowship as we gather to make Advent wreaths for our home bound parishioners, as well as those who would like to make one for their home. A devotional will accompany each wreath, provided by Father David.

We have all of the supplies and will have them all prepared to make a very simply designed centerpiece to embrace the season of Advent. We have 6 wreaths we would like to make for our home bound parishioners.

We will have a free-will offering basket for people who would like to donate to help defer the costs of he Advent wreath supplies.

Special Adult Forum, Sunday, November 17th at 9:10 AM

November 12, 2019November 12, 2019 administrator

David Manuel, a member of the Susquehanna Speakers Association, will be speaking at Adult Forum on Nov. 17 at 9:10 AM about the Navajo Code Talkers of WW II. He will explore the Navajo nation’s interactions with the US Government from their mistreatment in the late 1800’s to their creation of a code that was never broken and was instrumental in helping to win the war in the Pacific. He says that his talk is the perfect blending of historical facts and human interest stories. Please join us & welcome our special guest! Invite a friend to attend services and come to this special forum.

Amy Yovanovich Recital – November 10th 3 PM

November 12, 2019November 12, 2019 administrator

What a wonderful event on November 10th! Our Cultural Event Series, which featured mezzo-soprano, Amy Yovanovich, accompanied on piano by Donna Burkholder, was outstanding. Couldn’t make it to the recital? Take a quick look at some highlights here:

Amy presented a program of sacred music and spirituals such as Amazing Grace and Yes, My Jesus Loves Me, to show tunes from The King and I, the Music Man, and Jekyll & Hyde.

Acclaimed for her velvety tone quality, power and range, Ms. Yovanovich studied under Mr. John Darrenkamp, a well-known veteran of the Metropolitan Opera Company. She has performed with the Pennsylvania Academy of Music Opera Theatre Workshop, Lancaster and Harrisburg Opera Companies and studied in Germany. She is well-known for her solo and oratorio work, as well, and has a CD, “Great Day,” of show tunes and spirituals available at online retailers. Amy is currently the Executive Director and vocal instructor for the State Street Academy of Music, Director of Music for Westgate Baptist Church in Lancaster and vocal instructor for the Lancaster Conservatory of Music.

Donna Burkholder grew up in Blair County, PA and moved to the Lancaster area in 1967, after earning her BS in Music Education with a performance major in organ at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove. She has held teaching positions in the Lower Dauphin, Ephrata and Conestoga Valley School systems. Her love of liturgical music placed her in three Lutheran congregations over the 48 years – St. Paul’s in Lititz, Bergstrasse in Ephrata and St. Peter’s in Neffsville/Lancaster. Donna retired from teaching in 2009 and from her final Director of Music position in 2015. Over the years she has served in various offices of Ephrata Area Pennsylvania State Education Association, Ephrata Parent Teacher Association, Ephrata Area School Board and local and district area Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. Since her official “retirement” in 2015, she has greatly enjoyed substituting in area churches. She has two grown children: daughter Dara Burkholder Morales, violinist in the Philadelphia Orchestra, and son John, manager in Professional Offices Services, living in Glenside. She is delighted to spend lots of time with her six grandchildren in the Philadelphia area.

We thank all who visit us and support these wonderful events, part of The Reverend Canon Stephen C. Casey Cultural Events Series at St. Edward’s showcasing the church’s fellowship outreach. To get on the church’s email list for events’ notifications, readers should email: [email protected] with “Subscribe Events” in the subject line.

St. Edward’s Episcopal Church is a community of faith, giving to God, giving to each other, giving to the world. On the web at: www.Sainteds.org. For more information, call the church at 717.898.6276.

Author: administrator