Sermon by The Rev. Canon Stephen C. Casey, Rector
QUILTS OF VALOR FOUNDATION
How St. Edward’s works with this foundation to honor those serving in the military who are members of St. Edward’s:
Sunday, August 6, 2017, we were pleased to be able to acknowledge and award Kate Peterson for her military service during World War II with the quilt approved by the Quilts of Valor Foundation and provided by the local Quilts of Valor group. Father Casey has created the opportunity for additional award presentations each November on the Sunday closest to Veterans Day. All are invited to make a recommendation for a Quilts of Valor for any military in our congregation who has been touched by war, by visiting the Quilts of Valor website at www.qovf.org For any questions about this process you can contact any of the following: Dina Cerase, Sharon Hubbard, or Donna Holwager, listed in the St. Edward’s directory. These quilts are not a charity and they are awarded to the military member in a proper setting as will be the presentation at St. Edward’s. The deadline for nominations for the November, 2017 St. Edward’s presentation is September 30th.
Obedience to believe
Sermon by The Rev. Canon Stephen C. Casey, Rector
Dear Members of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania,
As this new day dawned I turned on the news for an update on hurricane Irma and learned of the magnitude 8.1 earthquake off of Mexico’s southern coast that hit last night and has, so far, claimed the lives of at least 29 people and now threatens to bring tsunami waves ashore for further damage.
Category Five/Four Hurricane Irma is, this morning, making her way past Cuba and towards Florida, leaving small islands that she has flattened behind her and dozens dead.
The Eagle Creek Fire and the Indian Creek Fire in Oregon have merged in to a blaze that is now 33,000 acres wide in the Columbia River Gorge. The fire is just 5% contained as of this writing. A haze from the fire has blanketed the Pacific Northwest.
It is a collage of disaster that calls for our fervent prayer and intercession.
The Christian tradition is grounded in Hope. The knowledge of God’s boundless love for us, God’s desire for our wholeness and eternal reconciliation is demonstrated in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This is what allows us to persist in the face of tragedy and loss. When we are overwhelmed, we know that God is near us. When we do not know how to pray, we need only open our hearts, for the Spirit “intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8: 26-27)
It is time to support relief efforts. My earlier appeal for contributions to Episcopal Relief and Development after the recent hurricane in Texas and Louisiana still stands as one of the best ways for us to assist in national and international crises. We will learn in the days and weeks to come about opportunities for service in the torn parts of our country and elsewhere, and it is appropriate to begin discussing the resources that we have in Central Pennsylvania to contribute to the relief effort: housing for those who are suddenly without homes; sanctuary for displaced pets; food, household goods, vehicles. When I return to Pennsylvania early next week, I will learn what our own Disaster Coordinator, Mr. Ed Robertson, has to recommend to us. I would also encourage you to follow his good advice to work as parish communities to update your own disaster plans.
For now, I urge your continued prayers. To remain steadfastly faithful to the God who will not abandon us, and in whom we find our courage. I have been praying this portion of Psalm 46 and invite you to join me:
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
6 The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge
With love in Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Audrey C. Scanlan
XI Bishop
Sermon by The Rev. Canon Stephen c. Casey, Rector
Sermon by Guest Celebrant and Preacher, The Rev. John H. Emmert
Where: Ironville Park, 786 Prospect Road, Columbia
When: Saturday, September 9th – 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Who: Everyone is encouraged to come, rain or shine!
At the park: The park comes equipped with pavilion, picnic tables, two charcoal grills (charcoal will be provided), restrooms, lots of room to play lawn games, etc. and a sand volleyball court.
Here is how it works: Grill at the park or bring your own picnic lunch. WE WILL PROVIDE: HOT DOGS, HAMBURGERS, ROLLS, CONDIMENTS, DRINKS AND CHARCOAL. You will need to bring your own place settings and a table cloth if you like. A folding chair is optional. There will also be a table where you may place a salad or dessert to share if you so choose.
Activities: There will be trivia and guessing games for EVERYONE! Also, if you would like to bring a board game or lawn game to share, please do!
Please, come join your church family for a fun and relaxing afternoon together. We hope to see you there!
Directions to Ironville Park
From Lancaster: Take 30W to the Prospect Rd. exit. Make a right on to Prospect Rd. and continue to first stop sign. *Go straight. Continue on Prospect Rd. Prospect Rd. makes a hard right turn at the Fairview Tavern where you will see the sign for the Ironville Park on the right. Go up the hill. You have arrived! (Directions from York: Take 30 E to Prospect Rd. exit and turn left. Follow above directions from *)
Please make note: This is where we had our picnic in 2015 (the park on the hill).
Presented by Reverend Rowena Gibbons
St. James Episcopal Church, Mansfield, PA
Diocese of Central Pennsylvania
Episcopal Church Women
The Diocese of Central Pennsylvania Episcopal Churchwomen invite women to come together in fellowship as the Body of Christ, The Church, at the Claggett Center – 3035 Buckeystown Pike, Adamstown, MD 21710 on September 15th – 17th, 2017.
Retreat Program for 2017:
“Sacred Ceremonies of Everyday Life: Exploring the Divine through Food, Song, Poetry, Nature and Meditation”, presented by Rev. Rowena Gibbons. This retreat will explore the importance of ceremony in our everyday lives to root us in living out a gospel of love that seeks to do no less than transform the world. We will connect ceremony to a recovery of the sacred wonder of the cosmos and how this is expressed in Episcopal liturgy, hymns, Christian mystics and biblical texts. Participants will be encouraged to develop spiritual practices around food, body, song, word, mysticism, nature, and meditation.
The Rev. Rowena Gibbons has been the rector of St. James Episcopal Church since 2005. She is bi-vocational and has been practicing holistic health coaching since 2014. Rowena has particular interest in the healing and transformation of Christian communities through the recovery of the sacred, which is intrinsically holistic, and expressed through individual and communal practices.
Recommended reading: Participants are encouraged to chose a Christian mystic to study over the summer, and bring a sampling of the author’s works to the retreat.
All lodging will be in the Christiane Inn, which is a two story hotel featuring 60 guest rooms with queen size beds and private bathrooms in both single and double rooms. This facility is fully accessible, with centrally located microwaves and full size fridges on each floor as well as gathering space with fireplaces for socializing. All lodging will be on a first come, first served basis.
Register Online at: http://bit.ly/ECW2017retreat
You will be able to choose your lodging type, request special needs such as: dietary restrictions, mobility and/or allergy concerns. If you are requesting more than one person in a room, you must indicate your roommates during registration. Retreat committee members are not responsible for finding any participant a roommate.
Lodging Options and Pricing:
42 Single rooms w/1 queen bed – 1 person = $225.00,
If sharing the room with 2nd person = $195 per person.
18 Double rooms w/2 queen beds – 2 people = $195 each,
May have up to 4 people in room = $195 per person.
Registration fee includes: Retreat fee, 2 nights’ accommodations, 4 meals (3 Saturday and Sunday breakfast plus snacks) and all supplies for activities.
The retreat starts with Registration between 4:30 – 6:30 pm on Friday and runs through Sunday morning 11:00 am.
If you have any additional questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]
Blessings,
Amy Swiernik
Retreat Chairperson
Diocese of Central PA
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