Dear friends of St. Edward’s,
We welcome you to our online worship this weekend.
As you know, in accordance with the Bishop’s pastoral letter to the parishes in our diocese, delivered last weekend, we are closed for in-person worship and fellowship gatherings. You can read Bishop Scanlan’s letter, here.
Due to the alarming rise in cases within Lancaster County and here in our own township, as your rector, I prayerfully request that we refrain from gathering with other parishioners in public groups, particularly in restaurants, indoor spaces, or even outdoors without masks. COVID-19 is not a hoax. We are all in this together, and honoring our parish community, by complying with the recommendations set forth during this time, conveys our love for God in Christ, the members of our parish family, and the wider community.
Here are two links that may be helpful:
Lancaster County, PA COVID-19 Hub
Father Rick +
Please note the NEW TIME of 10 AM for our one Sunday Service via our YouTube Channel, which will be followed by a virtual coffee hour (detailed below).
We offer an opportunity for those viewing our online service to Donate to St. Edward’s via our Paypal link directly from our YouTube Channel. On the St. Edward’s Channel Home Page, in the lower right corner of the image of our church is a “Donate to St. Edward’s” link. You can also find it in the “About” section, just scroll down to “links” in that section. We have installed it, tested it, and it works securely and wonderfully!
Click here to download the Sunday Service 10:00 AM bulletin – Liturgy of the Word
We also wanted to take this opportunity to share with you important announcements regarding upcoming events, as well as prayer and adult spiritual formation opportunities.
Krist Kindling assignments have been distributed by Meredith Westgate! We look forward to this fun, outdoor fellowship opportunity!
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Our Annual Stewardship Campaign is progressing at a good pace and we are continuing to work towards our goal of full participation from our parish community. This is a very important component to the continuing ministry of St. Edward’s. Matthew Sternberg will be delivering our Stewardship message during the service for this week. Pledge commitments can be mailed to the office. If you have any questions, would like more information about stewardship, or did not receive a packet, please contact the parish office. We thank you for your prayerful consideration.
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Annual Jesse Tree Project Has Begun
Please mail or drop off your form and check to the parish office by November 29th (next Sunday).
For many, Thanksgiving and Christmas represents a ‘season of giving’. Giving to the foster children of COBYs during the holidays has been a long-time favorite of this parish.
Click here for information and sign up form.
Join us for our Virtual Coffee Hour, right after the 10 AM service, each Sunday, from 11:00 AM – 11:40 AM, on Zoom. It will be hosted by Christina McLaughlin. During these holidays, and because we cannot gather in-person through the end of this calendar year, sharing fellowship with our community is not only a connective thread for the fabric of our parish life, but it is wonderful “social outreach.” We invite you to join us! Your join code and passcode are in your Saturday email.
Welcome to Congregational Care! Each Saturday, we will include in our messages any submissions we receive from our parish community, as we invite you to share prayer requests or news about yourselves or your family. We believe this outreach to be incredibly important to keep our spiritual community connected to each other and to Jesus Christ, our Lord, as we walk in love with one another in our daily journeys. Please submit your “news” to the parish office by Friday of each week and we will feature it in the Saturday email, bringing it to our hearts and minds in our Sunday prayers.
For this week, we pray for all those who have lost their lives to COVID-19 this year, and for all who are struggling with the disease. Let us especially remember those who are on our front lines, every day and in every way administering to the sick, the friendless, and the needy; for those who work in our essential businesses to make our lives run as smoothly as possible; for all of our teachers; for the parents of our young; for our young & young adults; and for those who are caregivers to their parents; and for those who are alone. Our collective prayers and compassion is what our world needs right now, for everyone!
Prayer For Guidance
O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Join us, at St. Edward’s, and with our convocation churches, for wonderful offerings, each week, of prayer and adult spiritual formation, via Zoom. Join in, anytime! Click here to learn more.
Besides prayers, calls, cards and emails, there is one more thing you can do to support St. Edward’s. Please keep up-to-date with your pledge or regular contribution. Pledges/giving can be mailed to the church, and we also have an easy-to-use “Give to St. Edward’s” button on our website that links to our secure Paypal page, as well as a “Donate” button on our YouTube Channel home page.
To assist parishes, the diocese has set up online giving for each parish. If you feel comfortable making your weekly giving or pledge donation in this manner (it is a secure giving tool), simply go to the diocesan web site, click on the tab up top and it will take you to a page where you can scroll down, find St. Edward’s, and continue with making your contribution! Thank you for maintaining your faithfulness through your financial stewardship!
To learn more about St. Edward’s, please click our website, YouTube, or Facebook icons at the bottom of this email.
Be well. Stay safe. Keep the faith.
– Michelle