St. Edward’s Monday Message – December 28th

Dear parishioners & friends of St. Edward’s,

We wish you Great Joy during this Christmastide as we journey towards our New Year!  We will not be sending out a Thursday email, as the office is closed this week and there is very light news to share.  Our next email will be Saturday, January 2nd with details for Sunday worship and fellowship offerings.  Then, stay tuned for many happenings starting in January, 2021!  For now, let us be at peace and in contemplative prayerful moments, as we bask in the Good News and Glory of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

In case you missed it, we invite you to view our Sunday worship offering from the Diocese:

Sunday, December 27th – Shaped by Faith Virtual Liturgy

Be well.  Stay safe.  Keep the faith.

Michelle

As we reflect on this past year, you may wish to visit the St. Edward’s YouTube Channel,
by clicking here.

It is a wonderful way to reflect on all that St. Edward’s, as a community of faith, has accomplished in 2020, weathering this Covidtide with a resilience that is found when we confront challenges together, lean on each other, and put our faith in God.

Not only do we say, “Thanks be to God,” but we also give thanks to and for Father Rick – for his  pastoral guidance, faithful spirit, and strong leadership in shepherding our parish every day, and to Katrina, Ricky, and Christian; to each and every parishioner, ministry leader, ministry participants; and to friends and visitors of St. Edward’s, all of whom have made our community stronger and who have helped serve our wider community in generous ways that show our commitment to loving and serving God.

Noteworthy Items:  The January Scepter, January grocery cards, and 2021 giving envelopes will be available starting Monday, January 4th.  Please do not forget to sign up for altar flowers in 2021 by contacting the parish office.  There will be announcements in our Sunday bulletin regarding this very important ministry that pays tribute to your loved ones and serves to beautify our altar each Sunday.

Hempfield Area Food Pantry:  We continue to receive monetary donations, from our parish family and friends, that are so needed at HAFP.  The new year, 2021, is only days away and it is a crucial time for many families as they await the continuation of their lapsed benefits.  Let us continue to show our support for those in need in our wider community. Please keep these families in your prayers. Thank you for your dedicated and continued support.

WORSHIP DURING THIS CHRISTMASTIDE WEEK


Friday Evening Prayer – January 1st
We invite you to Evening Prayer this Friday evening at 7:00 PM.  This is a wonderful way to peacefully end our week and is led by Patrick Ishler.
Join us on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86327105082
Join Code:  863 2710 5082

Saturday Taize Service – January 2nd 5:00 PM – Members of St. Edwards are cordially invited to join St. Luke’s for our Zoom Taize service. A service of deep prayer and worship, sacred darkness, and the singing of chants in candlelight. We cannot meet in person at present, so the services will be held on Zoom, to create a greater sense of community. Prepare by lighting some candles. Connect to the service:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84847298680.

Please contact St. Luke’s to let us know you will attend – at [email protected] Secure services – waiting room enabled.

Sunday Online Worship at St. Edward’s – First Sunday after Christmas – December 27, 2020

Dear friends of St. Edward’s,

We welcome you to a wide variety of online worship and ministry offerings, to view in reflection, and to view as new, for this peaceful weekend after Christmas Day.  All essential links are noted below. 

Due to the alarming rise in cases within Lancaster County and here in our own township, as your rector, I prayerfully request that we continue to 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

PA Department of Health

Father Rick +

Click here to connect to The First Sunday after Christmas Shaped by Faith Virtual Liturgy offered by The Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, on Sunday, December 27th

Click here to view the Service of Lessons and Carols from our own Lancaster Convocation

Click here to view St. Edward’s Christmas Eve service:  The Feast of the Incarnation

Click here to view the wonderful music of the Central PA Episcopal Collaborative Choir

As you snuggle in your warm homes today, staying in from the winter’s chill, perhaps basking in the glow of a warm fire and a beautifully lit Christmas tree, let us remember that today, December 26th, is the Feast of Saint Stephen and is remembered in the traditional Christmas carol “Good King Wenceslas” – a wonderful message of struggle and piety in a journey to deliver alms to a poor peasant.  There are many versions of this famous carol, but one you may find lovely to listen to is performed by The Roches – Maggie, Terre, and Suzzy – three Irish-American sisters who formed their trio in the 1970s and performed as a group until 2017.  We share this YouTube link with you, to enjoy, on this feast day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-G4TWr4Zi8


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.

During this Christmastide, while we must stay socially distanced and refrain from in-person worship, in our sanctuary, there are many opportunities for us to worship together during this Covidtide. Please see a listing below and stay tuned to our weekly emails, web site posts, and Sunday bulletins for updates on specific details as we are updated with times and links. We invite you to celebrate with us, as a community of faith! Let us read the Collect for today, The Feast of Saint Stephen:

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.


Did you miss viewing the Virtual Christmas greeting card?  Well, the great thing about YouTube is it is there, anytime, for all to see and remember the members of your St. Edward’s parish family!  Click here to view.


Virtual Coffee Hour this Sunday, December 27th, from 11:00 AM – 11:40 AM, on Zoom. Hosted by Christina McLaughlin. Let us share our fellowship with one another during this stay-at home holiday season!  Your join code and pass code can be found in your Saturday email message.

Grocery Cards:  We will be ordering grocery cards for January and you will be able to pick them up on January 4th.

Giving Envelopes:  YES!  Our 2021 giving envelopes are in and if you are a household who gets giving envelopes they can be picked up starting January 4th from 11 AM-3 PM.

Office Closed:  December 24th – January 3rd.  BUT, if there is an emergency or a need, you can always reach out to leave a message on the parish office phone, via email, or contact Father Rick, for pastoral needs, or Michelle for church “business.”



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.

We continue to pray for so many, during this Covidtide.  Those who are ill or recovering from illness; all of our essential and front-line workers; those who are hungry and in jeopardy of losing their shelter, as their most essential lifeline benefits they rely upon expire today; and those who struggle in their own lives, yet find alms to help others – they all need our prayers.  And, we especially keep all those who are experiencing loneliness, during this holiday season, in our prayers.  There are so many stories of people, stricken with COVID19 and struggling, and people who continue to self-isolate to be safe, but are experiencing deep loneliness.  So, for this week, our message is the same as last week:   Let us be gentle and kind, to ourselves, and each other, continue to find ways to “pay it forward,”  take deep breaths, be safe, and thank God for all of our blessings.


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!

Click here if you would like to donate online through the diocesan portal. You will scroll down to find St. Edward’s under Lancaster. The portal is a secure giving site.

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

Christmas Eve Online Worship at St. Edward’s – December 24, 2020

Dear parishioners & friends of St. Edward’s,

Christmas Eve is near!  We count our blessings and give thanks for the generosity and love that we have felt at St. Edward’s this year.  As evening descends upon us, let us remember A Collect for Peace, from page 123 of the Book of Common Prayer, as we quietly prepare for The Feast of the Incarnation, where we commemorate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

A Collect for Peace
Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.

Be well.  Stay safe.  Keep the faith.

Michelle

Our St. Edward’s Virtual Christmas Greeting is here!  Click here to view!   Enjoy!!!

Here is everything you need for our Christmas Eve Services.  Please remember to tune in at 7:45 PM , tomorrow, so you can hear our lovely prelude music.

Click here to link to the St. Edward’s Christmas Eve Service

Click here to download our Christmas Eve Service Bulletin

We have a lovely shared offering, from our sister parish, St. Luke’s in Mt. Joy, of their Zoom nativity play.  Let us share in the joy they had in making it happen. Click the link below to view.

 https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JB2ipGvPOHsOfAECYaqPcxBWCdHBwXOW?usp=sharing

Everything is attributed. The Ecumenical Virtual Choir put these carols together for churches to use this year. 


We are so fortunate to have an invitation to a wonderful spiritual offering by The Community of Francis and Clare, and Br. David Rutledge, for Christmas Eve morning.  If you were able to join us for the Thanksgiving Morning Prayer, you know how meditative and special these offerings are and we encourage you to join us!

Christmas Eve Morning Prayer @ 9:00 am ET
Time: Dec 24, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85396362496?pwd=R1lGR0hIOFk5NllJSlN4VUpuSzE1QT09

Meeting ID: 853 9636 2496
Passcode: 062205

One tap mobile
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Meeting ID: 853 9636 2496
Passcode: 062205
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcXmijjIhf

 

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!

Click here if you would like to donate online through the diocesan portal. You will scroll down to find St. Edward’s under Lancaster. The portal is a secure giving site.

To learn more about St. Edward’s, please click our website, YouTube, or Facebook icons at the bottom of this email.

Sunday Online Worship at St. Edward’s – Fourth Advent – December 20, 2020

Dear friends of St. Edward’s,

We welcome you to our online worship this weekend as we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

Due to the alarming rise in cases within Lancaster County and here in our own township, as your rector, I prayerfully request that we continue to 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

PA Department of Health

Father Rick +


Please note our Sunday Service is at 10 AM, via our YouTube Channel, which will be followed by a virtual coffee hour (detailed below).

Click here to connect to our YouTube Channel to enjoy the Fourth Sunday of Advent Liturgy of the Word service, with a Prayer for Spiritual Communion, live at 10:00 AM, on Sunday, December 20th.

This is a special service this week, filled with a variety of music ministries!

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 Fourth Sunday of Advent Liturgy of the Word service bulletin, with a Prayer for Spiritual Communion, for Sunday, December 20th.

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.

The season of Advent is upon us, and while we must stay socially distanced and refrain from in-person worship, in our sanctuary, there are many opportunities for us to worship together during this Covidtide. Please see a listing below and stay tuned to our weekly emails, web site posts, and Sunday bulletins for updates on specific details as we are updated with times and links. We invite you to celebrate with us, as a community of faith! We are all in this together and we are all connected as we walk in hope, peace, joy, and love, during this season of Advent, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

. . . .It’s almost here!

We hear the Virtual Christmas card is receiving its finishing touches and will go “live” on our YouTube Channel, with a link to access, in a special email that will be sent on Wednesday, December 23rd, with all of our Christmas Eve service information and Christmas greetings.  So, email messages for next week will be Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.


Virtual Coffee Hour after our Sunday service 11:00 AM – 11:40 AM, on Zoom. Hosted by Christina McLaughlin. Let us share our fellowship with one another during this stay-at home holiday season! Your join code and pass code were in your Saturday email message.

Christmas Flowers at St. Edward’s: We will be offering our traditional Christmas Flower sign-up with your “In Memory of” or “In Thanksgiving for” names to be placed in the Christmas Eve bulletin. Please prayerfully consider signing up for Christmas flowers this year. Flowers are $20 and can be submitted, via email, with your check mailed into the parish office, made payable to St. Edward’s and marked “Christmas Flowers” in the memo line. Deadline is Monday, December 21st.

Lessons & Carols Virtual Convocation Event – This is a wonderful service with 10 parishes from our Lancaster Convocation, including St. Edward’s, offering readings and wonderful music!
Click here for the service on our YouTube Channel
Click here for the service bulletin. 

At-Home Communion for Christmas Eve at St. Edward’s:  We have put together packets of pre-consecrated communion wafers for our virtual live-streamed Christmas Eve service.  Following all health and safety protocols, and utilizing food-safety envelopes, each packet is ready for you to pick up at St. Edward’s from Monday, December 21st – Wednesday, December 23rd, from 11 AM – 4 PM.  If you cannot get to St. Edward’s and would like communion wafers, PLEASE contact the parish office via email or phone message and let us know.  We will form a list and make sure your packet is delivered to you.  It is important to us, to have all of you have the ability, at your discretion, to participate in communion on Christmas Eve, with us, virtually.

Grocery Cards:  We will be ordering grocery cards for January and you will be able to pick them up on January 4th.
Scepter:  Mac is requesting articles, photos, etc. to her by tomorrow, December 20th for the January Scepter.
Giving Envelopes:  YES!  Our 2021 giving envelopes are in and if you are a household who gets giving envelopes I will make sure they are ready to be picked up when you pick up your communion wafers this Monday – Wednesday.
Office Closed:  December 24th – January 3rd.  BUT, if there is an emergency or a need, you can always reach out to leave a message on the parish office phone, via email, or contact Father Rick, for pastoral needs, or Michelle for church “business.”



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.

We pray for the family of Harry West,  Harry passed away last Saturday, in Winston-Salem, NC where he lived near his daughter, Wendy Martin.  Harry and Barbara West were long-time members of St. Edward’s and were faithful parishioners attending the Rite II and Contemporary services each Sunday.  Barbara passed away last year and is interred in our Memorial Garden.  Harry will also be interred in our Memorial Garden, next to his beloved Barbara.

We pray for Eric and Jackie Sandblade as they mourn the passing of Eric’s sister, Julie Sandblade.  Please keep the Sandblade family in your prayers, tonight and in the days to follow.

We are praying for so many, as there are just so many to keep in our thoughts and prayers every day.  Those who have been so generous and helpful in every way during this Covidtide that no simple “thank you” can ever be enough to express our immense gratitude.  Whether they be on the front lines, in our schools and essential businesses; in the food pantries, shelters, and services to help those in need; or those keeping their homes and families safe, they all need our prayers.  And, we especially keep all those who are experiencing loneliness and illness, during this holiday season, in our prayers.  There are so many stories of people, who we now know, stricken with COVID19 and struggling, and people who continue to self-isolate to be safe, but are experiencing deep loneliness.  So, let us be gentle and kind, to ourselves, and each other.  Take deep breaths, be safe, and thank God for all of our blessings.

Click here to read Bishop Scanlan’s Christmas Message to the Diocese.

Looking for a way to brighten someone’s day during the holidays? We can all participate in our own personal “social outreach.”  Click on the link below to find a list of Retirement Homes in our area that are accepting cards for their residents.  What a nice way for us to reach out to the wider community to let them know that we care!

Retirement Home List for Christmas Cards


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!

Click here if you would like to donate online through the diocesan portal. You will scroll down to find St. Edward’s under Lancaster. The portal is a secure giving site.

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

St. Edward’s Thursday Message – December 17th

Dear parishioners & friends of St. Edward’s,

Tonight, we offer a prayer For Joy in God’s Creation, in this Third Week of Advent:

O heavenly Father, who hast filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works; that, rejoicing in thy whole creation, we may learn to serve thee with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(BCP, pg. 814)

Be well.  Stay safe.  Keep the faith.

Michelle

Scepter articles, photos, submissions are due to Mac Miller by Sunday, December 20th.  Submit to Mac at [email protected].

Please remember the Hempfield Area Food Pantry in your holiday “gift” giving.  They are so thankful for our robust support throughout this year. But, as we enter the 2 week holiday season there are so many families in need of food that any monetary gift we can continue to give to them would be received with immense gratitude.  Thank you!

Looking for a way to brighten someone’s day during the holidays? 
We can all participate in our own personal “social outreach.”  Click on the link below to find a list of Retirement Homes in our area that are accepting cards for their residents.  What a nice way for us to reach out to the wider community to let them know that we care!

Retirement Home List for Christmas Cards

Look for our Virtual Holiday Card to be revealed this weekend!  I have had a sneak preview and it is just lovely!  Thank you to Christina McLaughlin and Ellen Milligan for putting this special Christmas sentiment together for our St. Edward’s parish family!

Be a part of a St. Edward’s tradition by contributing to our Christmas Altar Flowers.   We will continue with our tradition of offering people the opportunity to donate to our Christmas Flowers for our Christmas Eve service, live streamed at 8:00 PM, with the names of your loved ones remembered in the service bulletin.  Flower entries are at a suggested donation of $20.  Please email the parish office by December 21st with your names and amount donated.  When sending in your check, please make it payable to St. Edward’s and mark in the memo line “Christmas Flowers.”  Click here for more information.

We have 2021 Episcopal Church calendars in.  If you would like to pick one up next week when you stop by to pick up your consecrated wafers for Christmas Eve services, we will have them available.  The wafers may be picked up Monday, December 21st – Wednesday, December 23rd from 11 AM – 3 PM.  The office is closed on Thursday, December 24th.

We are so fortunate to have an invitation to a wonderful spiritual offering by The Community of Francis and Clare, and Br. David Rutledge, for Christmas Eve morning.  If you were able to join us for the Thanksgiving Morning Prayer, you know how meditative and special these offerings are and we encourage you to join us!

Christmas Eve Morning Prayer @ 9:00 am ET
Time: Dec 24, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85396362496?pwd=R1lGR0hIOFk5NllJSlN4VUpuSzE1QT09

Meeting ID: 853 9636 2496
Passcode: 062205

One tap mobile
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Meeting ID: 853 9636 2496
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Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcXmijjIhf


MINISTRY, WORSHIP & FELLOWSHIP CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK VIA ZOOM
Friday, December 18th,  Lunch & Learn Adult Spiritual Formation – 12 Noon – 1 PM
Join us for this series led by Father Rick, Bob Mosebach, and Wanda Stoltzfus.  Scroll down to note the Zoom meeting join information.


Lessons & Carols – Virtual Convocation Event, which will go LIVE at 9:00 AM on Friday, December 18th.
Click here to go directly to the service.

Click here to download the service bulletin.

 

Friday Evening Prayer – December 18th
We invite you to Evening Prayer this Friday evening at 7:00 PM.  This is a wonderful way to peacefully end our week and is led by Patrick Ishler.
Join us on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86327105082
Join Code:  863 2710 5082

Blue Christmas Service at St. Luke’s Mt. Joy via Zoom – December 19th at 7 PM 
Please do follow the link to the RSVP, at https://forms.gle/qvMd9A43TidGcG9z6 so that we know to welcome you into the service. This is to ensure that the Zoom meeting is secure.

Friday Lunch & Learn:  December 18th 12 Noon – 1 PM via Zoom
Our conversation continues, this week, with Chapter Six, in our text.  We have had engaging and enlivening discussions each week! Perhaps you would feel comfortable in delivering the closing prayer, this week?  There are many wonderful Prayers and Collects in our BCP!  We  would welcome your participation. Attendance at every session is not required.

Chapter Six Handout, click here to download.

We encourage you to have your Book of Common Prayer for each session and the text, Walk In Love is optional, but can be ordered at forwardmovement.org or by contacting the parish office (we have copies on hand).  If you do not have a copy of the BCP on hand, this link will give you the downloadable pdf.

With Peace,
Father Rick, Bob Mosebach, and Wanda Stoltzfus

Join Zoom Meeting

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Meeting ID: 844 7970 9447

Passcode: 228332

One tap mobile

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Meeting ID: 844 7970 9447

Passcode: 228332

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbq2eaazXj

St. Edward’s Monday Message – December 14th

Dear parishioners & friends of St. Edward’s,

As we journey through the third week of Advent, let us know the meaning of joy in our hearts, minds, and prayers of gratitude.

A prayer for Grace at Meals

Give us grateful hearts, our Father, for all thy mercies, and make us mindful of the needs of others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In case you missed it, we invite you to view our Sunday worship:

Sunday, December 13th – Rite II – 10:00 AM

Be well.  Stay safe.  Keep the faith.

Michelle

This is the last week of Krist Kindling (already!?!?) It has been a BLAST!  For those participating, please be safe this week as the weather will give our hijnks a few challenges.

The Episcopal Calendars are in.  Please let the office know if you would like one put aside for you.

Christmas Flowers:  This is the last week you can sign up for Christmas flowers in memory of, or in thanksgiving for, your friends and family.  As is our tradition, each remembrance will be printed in our Christmas Eve bulletin. Please prayerfully consider donating to our altar flowers this Christmas.  We are seeking suggested donations of $20.  Those raised funds support the arrangements that will decorate our altar shelves and our pews in glorious Christmas celebration!

Hempfield Area Food Pantry:  We continue to receive monetary donations, from our parish family, that are so needed at HAFP.  With Christmas just a week away, a donation to the Food Pantry is the perfect gift to show our support for those in need in our wider community. Please keep these families in your prayers.Thank you for your dedicated and continued support.

MINISTRY, WORSHIP & FELLOWSHIP CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK VIA ZOOM
Tuesday, December 15th – 6:00 PM
 – Vestry Meeting

Wednesday Evening, December 16th – 6:30 PM Contemporary Bible Study
Led by Bill and Yvonne Gasperetti via Zoom.  Please email Bill or Yvonne if you would like to participate.

Friday, December 18th,  Lunch & Learn Adult Spiritual Formation – 12 Noon – 1 PM
Join us for this series led by Father Rick, Bob Mosebach, and Wanda Stoltzfus.  Scroll down to note the Zoom meeting join information.

Friday Evening Prayer – December 18th
We invite you to Evening Prayer this Friday evening at 7:00 PM.  This is a wonderful way to peacefully end our week and is led by Patrick Ishler.
Join us on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86327105082
Join Code:  863 2710 5082

Lessons & Carols Virtual Service – Friday, December 18th
Tune into the St. Edward’s YouTube Channel to enjoy this year’s Lessons & Carols with our diocesan parishes! Click here for the link to our YouTube Channel 

Blue Christmas Service at St. Luke’s Mt. Joy via Zoom – December 19th at 7 PM 
Please do follow the link to the RSVP, at https://forms.gle/qvMd9A43TidGcG9z6 so that we know to welcome you into the service. This is to ensure that the Zoom meeting is secure.

Drive-In Christmas Worship – December 20th 6:30 PM – Drive-in Christmas worship at Cumberland Valley Drive-in, Newville.  These services will be approximately one hour and will feature live music, lessons, Christmas Carols, and a special Christmas message. You will be able to watch the service live on the drive-in screen from the comfort of your automobile.
Father Rick, Randy Westgate, Mike Freshwater, and Jamie Alton will be providing the wonderful musical offerings at both of these services!  Let’s join them!

Friday Lunch & Learn:  December 18th 12 Noon – 1 PM via Zoom
Our conversation continues, this week, with Chapter Six, in our text.  We have had engaging and enlivening discussions each week! Please take the time, this week, to review the handout (link is below) as you read Chapter Six. Perhaps you would feel comfortable in delivering the closing prayer? There are so many wonderful Prayers and Collects to share with the group, from our BCP.  We would welcome your participation. Attendance at every session is not required.

Chapter Six Handout, click here.

With Peace,
Father Rick, Bob Mosebach, and Wanda Stoltzfus

Join Zoom Meeting

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Meeting ID: 844 7970 9447

Passcode: 228332

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St. Edward’s Monday Message – December 7th

Dear parishioners & friends of St. Edward’s,

As we journey through the second week of Advent, let us keep our vision of peace in our hearts, minds, and prayers.

Let us also start the week with a prayer for Church Musicians and Artists.  We have been so blessed, at St. Edward’s, to receive the gifts of our talented singers and musicians, each week, live and recorded, for our services.  And we are blessed to have the talents of Father Rick and all those dedicated to making this upcoming Christmas season brighter as they fill it with music in the many offerings that are being planned. And, we should pray for all those musicians and artists longing to perform, and cannot, due to Covidtide, and how their hearts are yearning to bring “joyful noise” to so many.  All of this talent is no small thing, and for that, we thank you all.

For Church Musicians and Artists
O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and
make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In case you missed it, we invite you to view our Sunday worship:

Sunday, December 6th – Rite II – 10:00 AM

Internet and Email Safety Reminder:  Please be vigilant in protecting your email accounts and your private information with online purchasing.  The office received an email today, from “Rick Bauer” asking for a favor in running an errand.  Looking at the email address attached to the name revealed it was a fake, but it is very easy to get lured in, especially when you think you are helping our rector, or fellow parishioner, especially during this season.  Please delete anything that looks suspicious, and do not reply.  If you have replied, go into your account settings and change your password.

Be well.  Stay safe.  Keep the faith.

Michelle

Let’s bless our church family with some Holiday cheer!  
Since we can’t wish each other a Merry Christmas in person this year, we are asking you to send a digital photo of you/your family holding a large piece of paper or sign displaying some sort of Christmas message.  (Santa hats and reindeer antlers are optional). We’ll put them all together to create a virtual Christmas card.

Text your photo and names of those in the photo to Christina McLaughlin at 717-415-7043 or email them to [email protected] no later than Sunday December 13th.
– Christina McLaughlin and Ellen Milligan

The December Scepter is online. If you would like to stop by for a color copy, during the week, they will be in the front entry of the church from 11 AM – 3 PM.

Jesse Tree gifts have been wrapped and are ready to be picked up this week by the COBYS representatives.  Thank you to all!

Is everyone who is participating in Krist Kindling having fun?!?!?  It sounds like there are some great stories, already!!

Those people who indicated their grocery cards should be mailed to them, they are being posted tomorrow.

The Episcopal Calendars are being shipped this week and should be available by next Monday, December 14th.


Hempfield Area Food Pantry:  We continue to receive monetary donations, from our parish family, that are so needed at HAFP.  As we continue to get closer to this holiday season, keep these families in your prayers, and prayerfully consider a monetary donation to St. Edward’s to send to HAFP.  Thank you for your dedicated and continued support.

MINISTRY, WORSHIP & FELLOWSHIP CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK VIA ZOOM
Tuesday, December 8th – 6:30 PM
 – Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday Evening, December 9th – 6:30 PM Contemporary Bible Study
Led by Bill and Yvonne Gasperetti via Zoom.  Please email Bill or Yvonne if you would like to participate.

Friday, December 11th,  Lunch & Learn Adult Spiritual Formation – 12 Noon – 1 PM
Join us for this series led by Father Rick, Bob Mosebach, and Wanda Stoltzfus.  Scroll down to note the Zoom meeting join information.

Friday Evening Prayer – December 11th
We invite you to Evening Prayer this Friday evening at 7:00 PM.  This is a wonderful way to peacefully end our week and is led by Patrick Ishler.
Join us on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86327105082
Join Code:  863 2710 5082

Friday Lunch & Learn:  December 11th 12 Noon – 1 PM via Zoom
Our conversation continues, this week, with Chapter Six, in our text.  We have had engaging and enlivening discussions each week! Please take the time, this week, to review the handout (link is below) as you read Chapter Six. Perhaps you would feel comfortable in delivering the closing prayer? There are so many wonderful Prayers and Collects to share with the group, from our BCP.  We would welcome your participation. Attendance at every session is not required.

Chapter Six Handout, click here.

With Peace,
Father Rick, Bob Mosebach, and Wanda Stoltzfus

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84479709447?pwd=OWlobm83TDgwNlVoK3hFbjBlWnZSdz09

Meeting ID: 844 7970 9447

Passcode: 228332

One tap mobile

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Dial by your location

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Meeting ID: 844 7970 9447

Passcode: 228332

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbq2eaazXj

Sunday Service Online – Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 28 – Sunday, November 15, 2020

Dear friends of St. Edward’s,

We welcome you to online worship this weekend.

For those who feel comfortable with coming to church, we are able to hold in-person worship this Sunday at 8 AM – Rite I and 10:15 AM – Rite II. We hope that you will join us!  We continue to follow healthy practices for your comfort and safety and we are mindfully complying with mitigation efforts through the governor’s office, as well as our diocesan office.

Please know that we extend our warm invitation of worship to those in the wider community and those parishioners who are still at home, via YouTube Live, with our live streaming service each Sunday. We are one community of faith and we are worshipping together!

Click here to connect to our YouTube Channel to enjoy our Sunday service of Holy Eucharist Rite II LIVE at 10:15 AM on Sunday, November 15th.

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 10:15 AM bulletin – Rite II

If you prefer the said service of Rite I, we have provided our service bulletin for you to download and enjoy the service.

Click here to download the Sunday Service 8 AM bulletin – Rite I

We also wanted to take this opportunity to share with you important announcements that are in our paper bulletin on Sundays, that may be of interest to you, at home, regarding upcoming events, as well as prayer and adult spiritual formation opportunities.

Krist Kindling sign up is in full swing!  Please contact the parish office or click here to download the pdf information and sign-up form.


Our Annual Stewardship Campaign is progressing at a wonderful pace!  You will have received a pledge packet in the mail and this Sunday we will hear testimonies from our Stewardship ministry leaders. This is a very important component to the continuing ministry of St. Edward’s.  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.


Annual Jesse Tree Project Has Begun
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.

This service is known as the Jesse Tree project.  Jesse Tree provides gifts for children in foster care, making Christmas a little brighter.  Through COBYS Family Services we obtain a list of children in foster care, their ages, and their Christmas wishes. We don’t take the place of Santa. Rather, we act as Santa’s helpers by adding another gift or two for a child to open on Christmas morning.

Click here for information and sign up form. 


Please prayerfully consider donating a turkey to St. Edward’s, so that we can make Thanksgiving comforting for those who benefit from the Hempfield Area Food Bank.  We are in need of all turkey donations by THIS WEDNESDAY, November 18th. Our goal is to have members of our parish family donate a turkey to our wider community families in need, so that they can have a fulfilling Thanksgiving.

Join us for our Virtual Sunday Social from 4:00 PM – 4:40 PM this Sunday afternoon on Zoom.  It will be hosted by Christina McLaughlin. It’s a great time to get together and say “hello” to your fellow parishioners.  Your join code and pass code are in your Thursday and 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 ask for you to pray for those in our parish family who have recently lost their loved ones:  The Dixon family; Ethel Lawrence and her family; the family of Miriam Coyne.

A Collect For the Departed

Eternal Lord God, you hold all souls in life: Give to your whole Church in paradise and on earth your light and your peace; and grant that we, following the good examples of those who have served you here and are now at rest, may at the last enter with them into your unending joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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 during this time. 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.  We have had several people engage with this newly installed Paypal giving button with great success, so please consider that as an easy way to support St. Edward’s.

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!

Click here if you would like to donate online through the diocesan portal. You will scroll down to find St. Edward’s under Lancaster. The portal is a secure giving site.

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

St. Edward’s Thursday Message – November 12th

Dear friends,

Look for all links related to Sunday worship in our usual Saturday afternoon posting.

Many happenings at St. Edward’s, all listed below with easy-to-click links for reading and downloading of materials.

Yesterday, our brother, Richard Lawrence, slipped peacefully into his next life.  Please hold his wife, Ethel, as well as their family, friends, and loved ones, in your prayers.

We also learned from Bill Coyne, that his mother, Miriam Joan Coyne, died on November 3rd at Masonic Villages in Elizabethtown.  Miriam, and her husband, Hugh, were faithful members of St. Edward’s for many years primarily attending the Wednesday noonday service.  Hugh passed away in 2012. Bill tells us that Miriam’s wishes were for a simple Commital service at their home church, All Saint’s Scotch Plains, NJ and her ashes were placed in the columbarium, there, next to her husband, Hugh’s ashes.

Prayer for the Faithful Departed
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

Father Rick +


We kicked off our stewardship campaign last weekend and have had a very good response to date, but we still need you! Pledge packets were mailed this week and testimonies from our Stewardship committee leaders continue during Sunday worship this Sunday, November 15th and November 22nd.  Click this link to learn more about our upcoming campaign. 

Two St. Edward’s traditional events/ministries are happening:  Our Jesse Tree ministry and our Krist Kindling fellowship activity.  Click the links below to sign up for either, or both!
Jesse Tree Form

Krist Kindling Form

Hempfield Area Food Pantry:   Thank you to all, at St. Edward’s, for your continued support to the HAFP.

The pantry is currently requesting the following items for November: Spam, prune juice, chicken and beef broth, large peanut butter, large jelly, 2 lb. packs of rice, canned pears, instant and regular oatmeal, cream of celery soup, cream of chicken soup, boxed pastas (ziti, rotini, etc.), canned tomatoes, pancake syrup, canned fruit cocktail.

**Please prayerfully consider donating a turkey for HAFP Thanksgiving Food Drive. Turkeys can be delivered between now and NEXT WEDNESDAY, November 18th and we will transport them to the HAFP.  Let’s meet our goal of each parish family donating a turkey so that our neighbors in need can enjoy a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.

The Community Aid bin has been removed.  Please continue to support this passive form of fundraising by bringing your soft goods to the donation center on Good Drive (near Columbia Avenue) and when you drop off your items reference St. Edward’s partner #40036.  We will earn money towards our social outreach! Every penny counts.

Continue reading below for the details for our Friday, Saturday & Sunday worship and fellowship activities.

Friday Lunch & Learn:  November 13th 12 Noon – 1 PM via Zoom
Please join us for this informative and spiritual time together.  This week, we will continue with Chapter 4 in Walk in Love – The Wonderful Sacrament| Eucharistic Beliefs. Attendance at every session is not required.  If you would like to join and need a copy of Walk In Love, please contact the parish office.

Handout for this Friday, November 13th Session click here.

We encourage you to have your Book of Common Prayer for each session and the text, Walk In Love is optional.   If you do not have a copy of the BCP on hand, this link will give you the downloadable pdf.

Remember to take some time to devote to exploring and making notations on the handout that Bob has supplied so that we may engage in our spiritual formation together, sharing our insights, thoughts, and questions, and please know that we look for those in the group to offer the closing prayer for any week!

Each week, we will provide a hand out in the Monday emails that you can download and review prior to the Friday session.

With Peace,
Father Rick, Bob Mosebach, and Wanda Stoltzfus

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84479709447?pwd=OWlobm83TDgwNlVoK3hFbjBlWnZSdz09

Meeting ID: 844 7970 9447

Passcode: 228332

One tap mobile

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+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Meeting ID: 844 7970 9447

Passcode: 228332

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbq2eaazXj


We invite you to Evening Prayer this Friday evening at 7:00 PM.  This is a wonderful way to peacefully end our week and is led by Patrick Ishler.

Join us on Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86327105082
Join Code:  863 2710 5082

Coffee Hour is Back!

Coffee (or favorite beverage!) social hour is back!!!  Join us for our Virtual Sunday Social from 4:00 PM – 4:40 PM Sunday afternoon on Zoom.  It will be hosted by Christina McLaughlin. It’s a great time to get together and say “hello” to your fellow parishioners. The join code and pass code are in your Thursday email.

Set aside Thanksgiving Morning at 9 AM for a special Thanksgiving Day Morning Prayer via Zoom.  The Community of Francis and Clare has a special invitation for us all!  Please see below for the details.

No need to register, just use the Zoom link below.  We will have a short service using the Book of Common Prayer 1979 with scripture and other readings and time of quiet.  Attendees who do not have a BCP, can simply listen if they like.

Blessings and Peace,

David

Br David Rutledge is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Thanksgiving Day Morning Prayer
Time: Nov 26, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85396362496?pwd=R1lGR0hIOFk5NllJSlN4VUpuSzE1QT09
Meeting ID: 853 9636 2496
Passcode: 062205

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+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 853 9636 2496
Passcode: 062205
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kYK0PUwZt

 

Sunday Service Online – Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 27 – Sunday, November 8, 2020

Dear friends of St. Edward’s,

We welcome you to online worship this weekend.

For those who feel comfortable with coming to church, we are fortunate to be able to hold in-person worship on Sundays at 8 AM – Rite I and 10:15 AM – Rite II. We hope that you will join us!  We continue to follow healthy practices for your comfort and safety and we are mindfully complying with mitigation efforts through the governor’s office, as well as our diocesan office.

Please know that we extend our warm invitation of worship to those in the wider community and those parishioners who are still at home, via YouTube Live, with our live streaming service each Sunday. We are one community of faith and we are worshipping together!

Click here to connect to our YouTube Channel to enjoy our Sunday service of Holy Eucharist Rite II LIVE at 10:15 AM on Sunday, November 8th.

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 10:15 AM bulletin – Rite II

If you prefer the said service of Rite I, we have provided our service bulletin for you to download and enjoy the service.

Click here to download the Sunday Service 8 AM bulletin – Rite I


We also wanted to take this opportunity to share with you important announcements that are in our paper bulletin on Sundays, that may be of interest to you, at home, regarding upcoming events, as well as prayer and adult spiritual formation opportunities.

The weather is predicted to be warm for the next week and we have kept our garden fountain running and we have completed 2 additional meditative spaces with benches and statuary.  Please stop by to see!  If you feel you would like a quiet space to pray, the memorial garden is always “open.”

Krist Kindling sign up is in full swing!  Please contact the parish office or click here to download the pdf information and sign-up form.


Our Annual Stewardship Campaign kicks off this Sunday.  You will have received a pledge packet in the mail and for the next three Sundays, we will hear testimonies from our Stewardship ministry leaders. This is a very important component to the continuing ministry of St. Edward’s.  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.


Annual Jesse Tree Project Set to Begin
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.

This service is known as the Jesse Tree project.  Jesse Tree provides gifts for children in foster care, making Christmas a little brighter.  Through COBYS Family Services we obtain a list of children in foster care, their ages, and their Christmas wishes. We don’t take the place of Santa. Rather, we act as Santa’s helpers by adding another gift or two for a child to open on Christmas morning.

Click here for information and sign up form. 


Please prayerfully consider donating a turkey to St. Edward’s, so that we can make Thanksgiving comforting for those who benefit from the Hempfield Area Food Bank.  We are accepting turkey donations through November 18th, and they can be brought in on Sundays or any weekday between 11 AM-3 PM.  Our goal is to have each parish family donate a turkey so that our community families in need can have a fulfilling Thanksgiving.

Coffee Hour is Back!

Join us for our Virtual Sunday Social from 4:00 PM – 4:40 PM Sunday afternoon on Zoom.  It will be hosted by Christina McLaughlin. It’s a great time to get together and say “hello” to your fellow parishioners.  The meeting join code and pass code are in your Thursday and Saturday emails.



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 ask for you to pray for, and with, each other in our congregation and for our wider world.  Let us strive for our walk to always be filled with grace and compassion for all God’s creation.

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.

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 during this time. 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.  We have had several people engage with this newly installed Paypal giving button with great success, so please consider that as an easy way to support St. Edward’s.

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!

Click here if you would like to donate online through the diocesan portal. You will scroll down to find St. Edward’s under Lancaster. The portal is a secure giving site.

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