Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Worship at St. Edward’s – December 24 & 25, 2022

Of the Incarnation

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

– The Book of Common Prayer (page 252)

Dear parishioners and friends of St. Edward’s,

Our Christmas Eve service for 2022 will begin with Prelude music at 7:30 PM.  The service begins at 8:00 PM

For Christmas Day, we will host a festive coffee hour from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM.

Our Christmas Day service begins at 10:00 AM.

Christmas Bulletin and live stream links:

Click here to connect to the service for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Both services will be live streamed

Click here to download our Christmas Eve service bulletin

Click here to download our Christmas Day service bulletin

Merry Christmas to all,

Michelle

Christmas 2022

Dear Members of the Episcopal Church in Central Pennsylvania,

Grace and Peace in the name of Jesus!

On Sundays as we pray the Great Thanksgiving and celebrate Holy Eucharist, there is a phrase (Prayer B, pg. 369 BCP) that always catches me: “…in the fullness of time.” The celebrant bids the Holy Spirit to come and sanctify the communion elements- and us- and then prays that “in the fullness of time” we will be made one with all of God’s creation for eternity in the consummation of God’s dream.

This Advent we have been preparing for the coming of Christ. In my Friday video messages we’ve explored the different ways that we get ready for the festival celebration: by imagining a vision of a deep and loving relationship with Jesus, issuing an invitation for Christ to enter our hearts, participating in acts of confession and reconciliation, and, finally, by finding the balance between action and contemplation as the excitement of the season takes hold.

Now, we are ready. Scripture is not a literary form that is completely linear. The ideas of salvation, redemption, reconciliation and “the fullness of time” fold in on each other and God’s time of restoration is both already and not yet. Advent looks to both the coming of Christ in the manger and to the end of all time in glory. St. Paul writes in Galatians: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.” (Galatians 4: 4-5)

My prayer, this Christmas, is that in the fullness of this time, you will receive the gift that God wants to give you, in Jesus. This gift will strengthen you, teach you compassion, grant you the grace to be an agent of God’s healing love, and bring you peace. It is a gift that is meant to be shared as it extends from God’s heart to our heart, and for the blessing of the nations.

Merry Christmas to all of you. Share the gift of love that is ours, now, in this fullness of time.

The Rt. Rev. Audrey C. Scanlan

XI Bishop


*If you enjoy the St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster, PA YouTube channel, and you have a Gmail or YouTube account, the next time you tune in, please click the red SUBSCRIBE button on the home page to be included as a subscriber to St. Edward’s!  We would welcome the support and we will not generate any unwanted notifications to you.  Become a part of our St. Edward’s community!   Thank you to those who have subscribed!

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.

Worship at St. Edward’s – The Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 26 – October 31, 2021

A Blessing
Earth Gospel  – A Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation

Sleep tonight
knowing that you –
and all creation –
are secure in the arms
of our Shepherd.

Dear parishioners and friends of St. Edward’s,

Father Rick and all of us at St. Edward’s welcome you to our Sunday worship, tomorrow, the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 26.  Whether you will be joining us in-person, or via our live stream on our St. Edward’s YouTube Channel, please know we are glad to be worshipping with you!  All of the important links you need to our YouTube channel and our Sunday service bulletins are listed below.   

If you are joining us for in-person worship and fellowship, we prayerfully ask that you wear your mask as we gather together in community.

In preparation for All Saints Sunday, November 7th, we have a clipboard in the narthex for those who wish to have their loved ones, who have passed, remembered.  We will print the names in our Sunday service bulletins.  Please print clearly so that we do not capture the spelling of names incorrectly.  Thank you!

Please join us for “Coffee House” live music tomorrow at our coffee hour from 9 AM – 10 AM. This is a wonderful new ministry provided by our guitar group:  Randy Westgate, Jay Miller, Mike Freshwater, and Rich Dombach and we are excited to be in fellowship sharing in their talents!

As a cautionary reminder, particularly as we enter the “season of giving” – Scams are prevalent and come in many forms from email phishing schemes to new ways to reach individuals, via text on our cell phones.  This instance occurred this past week whereby an entity impersonated Father Rick to reach out to a parishioner, via text, requesting gift cards.  Please know that we will never reach out to individual parishioners, in any of these ways, requesting this type of assistance and if you do receive an email or text requesting such, please contact Father Rick or the parish office.

Rest well.  Keep the faith. Journey in peace.

Michelle

Click here to connect to the service for the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 26, October 31st, which will be live streamed at 10:00 AM on Sunday. 

Click here to download our 10:00 AM Rite II service bulletin for the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 26 service

Click here to download our 8:00 AM Rite I service bulletin for the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 26 service

*If you enjoy the St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster, PA YouTube channel, and you have a Gmail or YouTube account, the next time you tune in, please click the red SUBSCRIBE button on the home page to be included as a subscriber to St. Edward’s!  We would welcome the support and we will not generate any unwanted notifications to you.  Become a part of our St. Edward’s community!   Thank you to those who have subscribed!

Our 5-week Basket Raffle Fundraiser is in its LAST WEEK! With incredible generosity of spirit, we have now raised $4,300. Perhaps we can challenge ourselves to exceed our fundraising goal of $5,000, in our remaining week!! You can purchase tickets in the parish hall at coffee hour, tomorrow. People can also come by the parish office Tuesdays – Fridays, 11 – 4, to purchase tickets and make their raffle selections. The drawing for the baskets is scheduled for coffee hour on Sunday, November 7th! We will have 10 raffle prizes this week for individuals who purchase ticket bundles!!!Our catalog is also available to download by clicking HERE.

Our lucky winners from our WEEK FOUR drawing are:
Beth Hake
Patrick and Dina Ishler
Mark and Barb Jakiel
Deborah Fast

Your prizes are in your parish mailboxes!

KRIST KINDLING SIGN UP:  Join us for the wonderful family fun event that takes place through Advent.  FORMS ARE IN THE NARTHEX.  To learn more and download the pdf CLICK HERE!

There will be a Faith in Action ministry meeting tomorrow at 9:15 AM in the library.

The November Scepter is in print and online.  It is a GREAT issue.  Click here to download or pick up your copy at church tomorrow!

Our UTO November 2021 Gratitude Challenge craft for UTO boxes and pamphlets are in the parish hall and narthex.  Let’s participate as a community of faith in this important effort.  The grant money awarded for 2022 is for Creation Care – such an important mission of our faith. If you do not have a box, please collect your change in a jar and we will be getting more boxes in the next two weeks.

There are two web page updates you may want to check out:

Adult Spiritual Formation

Faith In Action

Faith In Action Initiatives:

Hempfield Area Food Pantry Update:  Requested items for November: Cereal; small & large oatmeal; instant oatmeal; canned carrots; canned mixed vegetables; canned corn; canned peas; canned green beans; large jelly (prefer no glass jars); small jelly (prefer no glass jars); canned chicken noodle soup; canned peaches; canned mixed fruit; canned mandarin oranges 

The 3rd Annual Turkey Drive will start on Monday, November 1st and run through Sunday, November 21st! The turkeys will be donated to the Hempfield Area Food Pantry. We can collect them and store them in our freezer. Tuesdays – Fridays from 11 AM-4 PM are best for weekday drop off.

Jesse Tree Giving Project: Our annual Jesse Tree project begins Sunday! Parishioners are invited to shop or donate funds toward gifts for the foster children at COBYS Permanency Unit. Detailed instructions and sign-up forms are located in the narthex. Questions? Please contact: Leslie Arnold at [email protected]



Sunday Evening Prayer – October 31st at 7:00 PM:  We use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the readings for the Sunday Lectionary.  It is a quiet service and a good way to end the weekend and prepare for the week to come.  Anyone interested can send me an email to be put on an email distribution list:  [email protected]

Sunday Evening Prayer @ 7:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95355083080
Meeting ID: 953 5508 3080

Opportunities to gather in community in spirituality and fellowship:

Here you will find news of gatherings outside of St. Edward’s that we offer in community with our sister parishes and other spiritual resources.



Spiritual Retreat Opportunity:
Anticipating Winter:  Silent Retreat at The Wittel Farm
https://parishresourcecenter.org/events/silent-retreat-at-the-wittel-farm/
November 6, 2021
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cost: $90
Location: 1753 Mill Road, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, 17022

Questions? Please contact Joyce Kamm

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.


We are providing links, below, that may be helpful and informative to you:

Lancaster County, PA COVID-19 Hub

PA Department of Health

Vaccine Distribution Information PA DOH
 

Worship at St. Edward’s -The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 25 – October 24, 2021

Dear parishioners and friends of St. Edward’s,

Father Rick and all of us at St. Edward’s welcome you to our Sunday worship, tomorrow, the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 25.  Whether you will be joining us in-person, or via our live stream on our St. Edward’s YouTube Channel, please know we are glad to be worshipping with you!  All of the important links you need to our YouTube channel and our Sunday service bulletins are listed below.

If you are joining us for in-person worship and fellowship, we prayerfully ask that you wear your mask as we gather together in community.

In preparation for All Saints Sunday, November 7th, we have a clipboard in the narthex for those who wish to have their loved ones, who have passed, remembered.  We will print the names in our Sunday service bulletins.  Please print clearly so that we do not capture the spelling of names incorrectly.  Thank you!

In looking for a brief blessing to close out the week I was drawn to “Themed Prayers and Liturgies for the Home” in the Celtic Daily Prayer – Book Two.  After all, St. Edward’s is our spiritual home and what better way to end the week than with a prayer for such an important space in our lives.

The prayer was introduced by speaking about a mezuzah. I have a lifelong Jewish friend and 32 years ago, I gifted his family home with a beautiful mezuzah in thanks for our friendship.  For those who do not know the tradition of a mezuzah, it is a small, enclosed scripture-scroll that is attached at the outside doorpost of one’s home, at eye-level.  When one enters the home, or building, the mezuzah is touched or looked at as a reminder for prayer. Such a rich tradition.  The prayer offered below, “could act as a mezuzah does by becoming a simple way of blessing every time spent at home.” 

Jesus the Door,
my heart is open.

I also wanted to mention one other insight I gained today:  In looking at the calendar in my office, I noticed a little notation and drawing that was from last week.  Simply stated, it read:  “Call someone who is lonely today.” 

Perhaps these two messages are an invitation to look beyond the busyness and distractions in our lives and focus on what is most important.  And that is love.

Rest well.  Keep the faith. Journey in peace.

Michelle

Click here to connect to the service for the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 25, October 24th, which will be live streamed at 10:00 AM on Sunday. 

Click here to download our 10:00 AM Rite II service bulletin for the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 25 service

Click here to download our 8:00 AM Rite I service bulletin for the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 25 service

*If you enjoy the St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster, PA YouTube channel, and you have a Gmail or YouTube account, the next time you tune in, please click the red SUBSCRIBE button on the home page to be included as a subscriber to St. Edward’s!  We would welcome the support and we will not generate any unwanted notifications to you.  Become a part of our St. Edward’s community!   Thank you to those who have subscribed!


We are now in WEEK FOUR of the St. Edward’s Basket Raffle Fundraiser!  Ticket sales are tomorrow, at coffee hour, from 9 AM – 10 AM, in the parish hall. You can also buy tickets during the week:  Tuesday- Friday, from 11 AM – 4 PM, in the parish office. We have 33 curated baskets, lovingly created by our parishioners, in support of this major fundraising event where our fundraising goal is $5,000++.  At the end of WEEK THREE, we have raised $3,750 which is FANTASTIC!  Let’s keep it going to meet (CAN YOU HELP US EXCEED) our goal?!? Imagine if we challenged ourselves to “best” our fundraising goal?!?!  Tell your friends and family!  Our catalog is also available to download by clicking HERE.

Our lucky winners from our WEEK THREE drawing are:
Dick and Gail Irons
Curt and Mary Ann Franck
Mary Snyder
Joe and Christina McLaughlin

Your prizes are in your parish mailboxes!

There are some amazing prizes for the WEEK FOUR drawing!

Thank you, to all, for your generous spirit and support!


KRIST KINDLING SIGN UP STARTS TOMORROW!  Join us for the wonderful family fun event that takes place through Advent.  FORMS ARE IN THE NARTHEX.  To learn more and download the pdf CLICK HERE!

A message of thanks from our New Member Ministry


Faith In Action Initiatives:

Hempfield Area Food Pantry Update:
Requested items for October:  Cereal; Large jelly; Egg noodles; Penne pasta; Canned carrots; Canned yams; Canned green beans; Canned corn; Canned mixed vegetables; Canned kidney beans; Canned garbanzo beans; Canned black beans


Sunday Evening Prayer – October 24th at 7:00 PM:  We use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the readings for the Sunday Lectionary.  It is a quiet service and a good way to end the weekend and prepare for the week to come.  Anyone interested can send me an email to be put on an email distribution list:  [email protected]

Sunday Evening Prayer @ 7:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95355083080
Meeting ID: 953 5508 3080

Opportunities to gather in community in spirituality and fellowship:

Here you will find news of gatherings outside of St. Edward’s that we offer in community with our sister parishes and other spiritual resources.

Spiritual Retreat Opportunity:
Anticipating Winter:  Silent Retreat at The Wittel Farm
https://parishresourcecenter.org/events/silent-retreat-at-the-wittel-farm/
November 6, 2021
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cost: $90
Location: 1753 Mill Road, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, 17022
Questions?  Please contact Joyce Kamm

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.


We are providing links, below, that may be helpful and informative to you:

Lancaster County, PA COVID-19 Hub

PA Department of Health

Vaccine Distribution Information PA DOH
 

Worship at St. Edward’s – The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 24 – October 17, 2021

Dear parishioners and friends of St. Edward’s,

Father Rick and all of us at St. Edward’s welcome you to our Sunday worship, tomorrow, the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 24.  Whether you will be joining us in-person, or via our live stream on our St. Edward’s YouTube Channel, please know we are glad to be worshipping with you!  All of the important links you need to our YouTube channel and our Sunday service bulletins are listed below.   Please note Sunday School classes are tomorrow during the 10 AM service.

If you are joining us for in-person worship and fellowship, we prayerfully ask that you wear your mask as we gather together in community.

Our New Member Ministry will be meeting tomorrow at 9:15 AM in the library area.  Please join us!

Scepter articles, announcements, and photos, are due Wednesday, October 20th for the November Scepter.  Please submit your items to Mac Miller at:  [email protected]

We were immersed in creation care this week, at St. Edward’s, with the completion of our parish landscaping.  It truly is a beautiful transformation of our front-of-church space and our first project completed with the generous donations to the Stephen C. Casey Memorial Fund.  Stay tuned in the weeks ahead as we anticipate the installation of our new monument sign, to complete our exterior projects.  We will also be beautifying our sanctuary space with the Slabbinck tapestries – arriving, next week, from Belgium; our new Baptismal font – arriving in early November; and our Allen Organ, which is in the final stages of being built.

As we wind down the week, we work to be “light” on announcements in Saturday’s emails.  All that being said, there is A LOT happening at St. Edward’s for the balance of October and throughout November.  We will be messaging important news and events starting Monday, October 18th, so please, keep “tuned in” to your 3x/week emails so you don’t miss out!!  I will “tease out” one event to mark on your calendars – October 31st:  Lots of special happenings during our 9 AM coffee hour with the kick-off of our “coffee house” live music.  Details to follow on Monday!    

So much to be thankful for in our community as we lovingly embrace our spiritual home.  For this and all things in life, we end this last day of the week with a Blessing from Earth Gospel – A Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation.

In your sleeping, in your waking,
you are cherished by the God who made you.
May you arise tomorrow
ready to live the love you have received
and to cherish the life of creation.

Rest well.  Keep the faith. Journey in peace.

Michelle

Click here to connect to the service for the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 24, October 17th, which will be live streamed at 10:00 AM on Sunday. 

Click here to download our 10:00 AM Rite II service bulletin for the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 24 service

Click here to download our 8:00 AM Rite I service bulletin for the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 24 service

*If you enjoy the St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster, PA YouTube channel, and you have a Gmail or YouTube account, the next time you tune in, please click the red SUBSCRIBE button on the home page to be included as a subscriber to St. Edward’s!  We would welcome the support and we will not generate any unwanted notifications to you.  Become a part of our St. Edward’s community!   Thank you to those who have subscribed!

We are now in WEEK THREE of the St. Edward’s Basket Raffle Fundraiser!  Ticket sales are tomorrow, at coffee hour, from 9 AM – 10 AM, in the parish hall. You can also buy tickets during the week:  Tuesday- Friday, from 11 AM – 4 PM, in the parish office. We have 33 curated baskets, lovingly created by our parishioners, in support of this major fundraising event where our fundraising goal is $5,000++.  At the end of WEEK TWO, we have raised $2,800 which is fantastic!  Let’s keep it going to meet our goal. Tell your friends and family!  Our catalog is also available to download by clicking HERE.

Our lucky winners from our WEEK TWO drawing are:
Jerry and Julie Hoff
Beth Lynch
Stephen and Catherine Donohue
David Rutledge

Your prizes are in your parish mailboxes!

There are some amazing prizes for the WEEK THREE drawing, which include a packet of 40 tickets!

Thank you, to all, for your generous spirit and support!

Faith In Action Initiatives:

Hempfield Area Food Pantry Update:
Requested items for October:  Cereal; Large jelly; Egg noodles; Penne pasta; Canned carrots; Canned yams; Canned green beans; Canned corn; Canned mixed vegetables; Canned kidney beans; Canned garbanzo beans; Canned black beans


Sunday Evening Prayer – October 17th at 7:00 PM:  We use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the readings for the Sunday Lectionary.  It is a quiet service and a good way to end the weekend and prepare for the week to come.  Anyone interested can send me an email to be put on an email distribution list:  [email protected]

Sunday Evening Prayer @ 7:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95355083080
Meeting ID: 953 5508 3080


Opportunities to gather in community in spirituality and fellowship:

Here you will find news of gatherings outside of St. Edward’s that we offer in community with our sister parishes and other spiritual resources.

A fun family event at the Oregon Dairy Corn Maze.  Click here for details.  This event is TOMMOROW.

Here is a great way to support members of our parish family, Aaron and Angela Breneman, AND give your self a night off from cooking!  NEXT SATURDAY, October 23rd, from 12 Noon – 6 PM, in the St. Edward’s parking lot, there will be a Benefit BBQ for the Aaron & Angela Breneman Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Fund.  Pork or Chicken Dinners – $10/meal – Rain or Shine.  Stop by  St. Edward’s!

Spiritual Retreat Opportunity:
Anticipating Winter:  Silent Retreat at The Wittel Farm
https://parishresourcecenter.org/events/silent-retreat-at-the-wittel-farm/
November 6, 2021
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cost: $90
Location: 1753 Mill Road, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, 17022
Questions?  Please contact Joyce Kamm

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.


We are providing links, below, that may be helpful and informative to you:

Lancaster County, PA COVID-19 Hub

PA Department of Health

Vaccine Distribution Information PA DOH
 

Worship at St. Edward’s – Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 22 – October 3, 2021

We officially kick off the St. Edward’s Basket Raffle Fundraiser with ticket sales starting tomorrow between services, in the parish hall, and after the 10 AM service, in the narthex. It truly is a wonderful event this year with 33 curated baskets and fun surprises with special drawings each week.  Join us in supporting what has become our MAJOR fundraising event of the year to support the mission and ministry of St. Edward’s!  Tell your friends and family.  Our catalog is also available to download by clicking HERE.

 

Dear parishioners and friends of St. Edward’s,

Father Rick and all of us at St. Edward’s welcome you to our Sunday worship, tomorrow, the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 22.  Please note our Rite II service is at 10 AM.  Whether you will be joining us in-person, or via our live stream on our St. Edward’s YouTube Channel, please know we are glad to be worshipping with you!  All of the important links you need to our YouTube channel and our Sunday service bulletins are listed below.  To all parents:  We will have our Sunday School class session for children right after the Collect for Purity at the 10 AM service.

If you are joining us for in-person worship and fellowship, we prayerfully ask that you wear your mask as we gather together in community.

We also invite you to stay a little late, if you attend the 8 AM Rite I, or come a bit early, if you attend the 10 AM Rite II, as we welcome Martin Faith of Scottish Group Companies – the designers of our sanctuary stained glass project.  Martin will be presenting the design concept of our Western view sanctuary windows (Harrisburg Pike side) during our coffee hour time, in the parish hall!  This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the artisan and see, first-hand, how our project is coming to life.

As we begin our quiet journey into a peaceful evening, filled with the crisp air of a fall night, let us pray for:

For the Conservation of Natural Resources 

Almighty God, in giving us dominion over things on earth, you made us fellow workers in your creation: Give us wisdom and reverence so to use the resources of nature, that no one may suffer from our abuse of them, and that generations yet to come may continue to praise you for your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rest well.  Keep the faith. Journey in peace.

Michelle

Click here to connect to the service for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 22, October 3rd, which will be live streamed at 10:00 AM on Sunday. 

Click here to download our 10:00 AM Rite II service bulletin for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 22 service

Click here to download our 8:00 AM Rite I service bulletin for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 22 service

Our October Scepter is in print and online!  Another fantastic issue with LOTS of upcoming events in October and great photos from so many events in September.  Click here to download a copy.

Please check with the office on Tuesday for your October grocery cards. 

*If you enjoy the St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster, PA YouTube channel, and you have a Gmail or YouTube account, the next time you tune in, please click the red SUBSCRIBE button on the home page to be included as a subscriber to St. Edward’s!  We would welcome the support and we will not generate any unwanted notifications to you.  Become a part of our St. Edward’s community!   Thank you to those who have subscribed!

Faith In Action Initiatives:

Hempfield Area Food Pantry Update:
Requested items for October:  Cereal; Large jelly; Egg noodles; Penne pasta; Canned carrots; Canned yams; Canned green beans; Canned corn; Canned mixed vegetables; Canned kidney beans; Canned garbanzo beans; Canned black beans

Spiritual Formation and Evening Prayer Offerings:
We have so much going on during our fall season, don’t miss out on the many opportunities available, in-person, and via Zoom. Our link, below, to our Adult Spiritual Formation page has detailed information regarding our upcoming Lunch & Learn, commencing Friday, October 1st.  If you click here, you can download our Fall Adult Spiritual Formation pdf.

Adult Spiritual Formation at St. Edward’s – click here.


Sunday Evening Prayer – October 3rd at 7:00 PM:  We use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the readings for the Sunday Lectionary.  It is a quiet service and a good way to end the weekend and prepare for the week to come.  Anyone interested can send me an email to be put on an email distribution list:  [email protected]

Sunday Evening Prayer @ 7:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95355083080
Meeting ID: 953 5508 3080


Opportunities to gather in community in spirituality and fellowship:

Here you will find news of gatherings outside of St. Edward’s that we offer in community with our sister parishes and other spiritual resources.

Spiritual Retreat Opportunity:
Anticipating Winter:  Silent Retreat at The Wittel Farm
https://parishresourcecenter.org/events/silent-retreat-at-the-wittel-farm/
November 6, 2021
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cost: $90
Location: 1753 Mill Road, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, 17022
Questions?  Please contact Joyce Kamm

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.


We are providing links, below, that may be helpful and informative to you:

Lancaster County, PA COVID-19 Hub

PA Department of Health

Vaccine Distribution Information PA DOH
 

Worship at St. Edward’s – Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 21 – September 26, 2021

Dear parishioners and friends of St. Edward’s,

Father Rick and all of us at St. Edward’s welcome you to our Sunday worship, tomorrow, the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 21.  Please note our Rite II service is at 10 AM.  Whether you will be joining us in-person, or via our live stream on our St. Edward’s YouTube Channel, please know we are glad to be worshipping with you!  All of the important links you need to our YouTube channel and our Sunday service bulletins are listed below.

If you are joining us for in-person worship and fellowship, we prayerfully ask that you wear your mask as we gather together in community.

We welcome Father David Bateman as our celebrant this Sunday.  David+ served as interim rector of St. Edward’s during our transition from 2019 – 2020, when our time together was cut short due to COVID-19.  We never had the chance, as a parish, to thank David+ for his ministry at St. Edward’s.   We are filled with gratitude and joy to have Father David with us this Sunday! Please join us during our coffee hour as we gather together in fellowship and take time to thank David+ for his ministry to our parish family during our transition.

Our faith guides us to place our “Trust in God.”  As we conclude our week, enveloped in such a glorious day, let us give thanks for this day and for the blessing of such faithful and pastoral shepherds of our parish flock as we pray:

For Knowledge of God’s Creation

Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its marvelous order, its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures: Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rest well.  Keep the faith. Journey in peace.

Michelle

Click here to connect to the service for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 21, September 26th, which will be live streamed at 10:00 AM on Sunday. 

Click here to download our 10:00 AM Rite II service bulletin for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 21 service

Click here to download our 8:00 AM Rite I service bulletin for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 21 service

*If you enjoy the St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster, PA YouTube channel, and you have a Gmail or YouTube account, the next time you tune in, please click the red SUBSCRIBE button on the home page to be included as a subscriber to St. Edward’s!  We would welcome the support and we will not generate any unwanted notifications to you.  Become a part of our St. Edward’s community!   Thank you to those who have subscribed!


Well. .  October is just around the corner and with the fall season comes what has become a St. Edward’s tradition. . .our St. Edward’s Annual Basket Raffle.  We have transformed the Children’s Chapel space in our Sunday School wing into a wonderful “Giving Sanctuary” with 33 beautiful basket offerings filled with Peace, Love, and Joy curated by members of our parish family.  There is something for everyone!!!  You will not want to miss out on a chance to participate in this year’s raffle!!! We launch next Sunday, October 3rd with pre-bundled ticket packages for sale and small catalogs with raffle instructions available in the narthex and in the parish hall near the coffee table.  Your viewing and selections can be done at your leisure. To make it convenient to all, we will be selling tickets Sundays, as well as Tuesdays – Fridays.  Please know that if you miss a Sunday, you can stop by on those weekdays between 11-3 to purchase tickets.  We will also post details online, on our Fundraising page, in the event that you would like to view virtually.  And, you can always reach out to the parish office for guidance and help in participating in whatever format you are comfortable with.   Special treats and prizes will be featured each week!  Join us for 5 weeks of FUNdraising all to support the ministry and mission of St. Edward’s and help us meet our fundraising goal of $5,000!

Faith In Action Initiatives:

Hempfield Area Food Pantry Update:
Requested Items for October:  Cereal; Large jelly; Egg noodles; Penne pasta; Canned carrots; Canned yams; Canned green beans; Canned corn; Canned mixed vegetables; Canned kidney beans; Canned garbanzo beans; Canned black beans

Spiritual Formation and Evening Prayer Offerings:
We have so much going on during our fall season, don’t miss out on the many opportunities available, in-person, and via Zoom. Our link, below, to our Adult Spiritual Formation page has detailed information regarding our upcoming Lunch & Learn, commencing Friday, October 1st.  If you click here, you can download our Fall Adult Spiritual Formation pdf.

Adult Spiritual Formation at St. Edward’s – click here.


Sunday Evening Prayer – September 26th at 7:00 PM:  We use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the readings for the Sunday Lectionary.  It is a quiet service and a good way to end the weekend and prepare for the week to come.  Anyone interested can send me an email to be put on an email distribution list:  [email protected]

Sunday Evening Prayer @ 7:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95355083080
Meeting ID: 953 5508 3080

Opportunities to gather in community in spirituality and fellowship:

Here you will find news of gatherings outside of St. Edward’s that we offer in community with our sister parishes and other spiritual resources.

Spiritual Retreat Opportunity:
Anticipating Winter:  Silent Retreat at The Wittel Farm
https://parishresourcecenter.org/events/silent-retreat-at-the-wittel-farm/
November 6, 2021
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cost: $90
Location: 1753 Mill Road, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, 17022
Questions?  Please contact Joyce Kamm.

Blessing of the Animals:  Friday, October 1st starting at 6 PM at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 321 West Chestnut Street, Lancaster.  In partnership with St. Edward’s and St. Thomas, St. John’s will be hosting the Blessing of the Animals service in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the environment and animals. The service will be outside, in their courtyard.  For more information, please visit the St. John’s website. We are also seeking 2-3 volunteers to help at St. John’s that evening to help set up and direct people.  If you wish to volunteer, please call St. John’s and let them know!!  Their phone number is: 717.299.1188

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.


We are providing links, below, that may be helpful and informative to you:

Lancaster County, PA COVID-19 Hub

PA Department of Health

Vaccine Distribution Information PA DOH

Worship at St. Edward’s – Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 20 – September 19, 2021

 

Dear parishioners and friends of St. Edward’s,

Father Rick and all of us at St. Edward’s welcome you to our Sunday worship, tomorrow, the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 20.  Please note our NEW TIME for Rite II which is 10 AM.  Whether you will be joining us in-person, or via our live stream on our St. Edward’s YouTube Channel, please know we are glad to be worshipping with you!  All of the important links you need to our YouTube channel and our Sunday service bulletin are listed below.

After the 8 AM Rite I service, at 9:30 AM, during our coffee hour, we will be burying the time capsule, led by Father Rick, adjacent to our Memorial Garden.  If you would like to be a part of this moment in the life of St. Edward’s, please stay a bit late, or come a bit early to participate!  Also, if you have not added your “mark” to our Tree of Life, please take a moment on Sunday to do so.  You will find it set up in the parish hall.

At the 10 AM service, we will be celebrating the sacrament of Holy Baptism for Quinn Arthur Landin, son of John and Lindsay Landin and grandson of John and Susan Landin.  The image above gently reminds us of 5 very important words we carry in our hearts and in our minds throughout our spiritual journey, giving us strength and purpose for all we promise to be, as faithful servants.

As we look forward to Sunday, let us pray, on this last day of the week For the Care of Children  (BCP, page 829)

Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Rest well.  Keep the faith. Journey in peace.

Michelle

Click here to connect to the service for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 20, September 19th, which will be live streamed at 10:00 AM on Sunday. 

Click here to download our 10:00 AM Rite II service bulletin for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 20 service

Click here to download our 8:00 AM Rite I service bulletin for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 20 service

*If you enjoy the St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster, PA YouTube channel, and you have a Gmail or YouTube account, the next time you tune in, please click the red SUBSCRIBE button on the home page to be included as a subscriber to St. Edward’s!  We would welcome the support and we will not generate any unwanted notifications to you.  Become a part of our St. Edward’s community!   Thank you to those who have subscribed! 

Our New Member Ministry group, along with Father Rick and our vestry, will be hosting our booth at the Amos Herr Community Festival tomorrow from 11 AM – 4 PM.  Tell your friends and family to stop by and see what St. Edward’s is all about!! Fun crafts and good conversation!!!   We are booth #C-18.

Articles, pictures, and announcements for the October Scepter are due TOMORROW, Monday September 20th. All pictures from Sunday’s anniversary party are welcome. Also, any story about a little act of kindness that you have experienced would be welcome for the “Ripples of Kindness” page. Please send items to [email protected]

For the entire month of October, we will be holding our major fundraising event. . .Our famous Annual Basket Raffle.  A friendly reminder for those who are building a basket to raffle off:  Please drop them by the parish by Tuesday, September 21st.  Stay tuned in the weeks leading up to October 3rd for information on where to buy tickets and how to view the baskets.  As this will be our main fundraising event this year, we prayerfully invite your support.

Faith In Action Initiatives:

Hempfield Area Food Pantry Update:
Requested items:  Canned fruit; Canned mixed vegetables; Canned garbanzo beans; 1 lb. packages of rice; 2 lb. packages of rice; Noodles; Boxed pasta; Pasta sauce; Cereal; Oatmeal (regular or quick NOT instant).

Spiritual Formation and Evening Prayer Offerings:
We have so much going on during our fall season, don’t miss out on the many opportunities available, in-person, and via Zoom. Our link, below, to our Adult Spiritual Formation page has detailed information regarding our upcoming Lunch & Learn, commencing Friday, October 1st.  If you click here, you can download our Fall Adult Spiritual Formation pdf.

Adult Spiritual Formation at St. Edward’s – click here.

Sunday School for youth begins TOMORROW, September 19th!  Children will join classes on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, just after the Collect for Purity Rite II service time changes to 10:00 AM starting on 09/19 so mark your calendars with this new service time!  Click here for the Christian Formation page.


Sunday Evening Prayer – September 19th at 7:00 PM:  We use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the readings for the Sunday Lectionary.  It is a quiet service and a good way to end the weekend and prepare for the week to come.  Anyone interested can send me an email to be put on an email distribution list:  [email protected]

Sunday Evening Prayer @ 7:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95355083080
Meeting ID: 953 5508 3080

Opportunities to gather in community in spirituality and fellowship:

Here you will find news of gatherings outside of St. Edward’s that we offer in community with our sister parishes and other spiritual resources.

Spiritual Retreat Opportunity:
Anticipating Winter:  Silent Retreat at The Wittel Farm
https://parishresourcecenter.org/events/silent-retreat-at-the-wittel-farm/
November 6, 2021
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cost: $90
Location: 1753 Mill Road, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, 17022
Questions?  Please contact Joyce Kamm.

Blessing of the Animals:  Friday, October 1st starting at 6 PM at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 321 West Chestnut Street, Lancaster.  In partnership with St. Edward’s and St. Thomas, St. John’s will be hosting the Blessing of the Animals service in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the environment and animals. The service will be outside, in their courtyard.  For more information, please visit the St. John’s website. We are also seeking 2-3 volunteers to help at St. John’s that evening to help set up and direct people.  If you wish to volunteer, please call St. John’s and let them know!!  Their phone number is: 717.299.1188

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.


We are providing links, below, that may be helpful and informative to you:

Lancaster County, PA COVID-19 Hub

PA Department of Health

Vaccine Distribution Information PA DOH

 

Worship at St. Edward’s – Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 16 – August 22, 2021

Today, in Christ
you are a new creation.
Today, in Christ,
the creation itself is made new.
With Christ’s own courage and compassion,
may you begin your new life
in this new creation
today.
– Earth Gospel – A Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation

Dear parishioners and friends of St. Edward’s,

Father Rick and all of us at St. Edward’s welcome you to our Sunday worship, tomorrow, the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 16.  Whether you will be joining us in-person, or via our live stream on our St. Edward’s YouTube Channel, please know we are glad to be worshipping with you!  All of the important links you need to our YouTube channel and our Sunday service bulletins are listed below.

We prayerfully request all who will worship with us, in-person on Sunday, to wear your masks.  We have included links at the bottom of this email message, for those who may be looking for informative County resources.

As we begin a new week, tomorrow, and gather together in community worship and prayer, let us keep in our prayers those who are suffering in the midst of the humanitarian tragedies in Afghanistan and Haiti.  Please click here to read the pastoral letter from Bishop Audrey Scanlan.

Rest well.  Keep the faith. Journey in peace.

Michelle

Click here to connect to the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 16th service, August 22nd, which will be live streamed at 10:15 AM on Sunday. 

Click here to download our 8:00 AM Rite I service bulletin for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 16 service

Click here to download our 10:15 AM Rite II service bulletin for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 16 service

*If you enjoy the St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster, PA YouTube channel, and you have a Gmail or YouTube account, the next time you tune in, please click the red SUBSCRIBE button on the home page to be included as a subscriber to St. Edward’s!  We would welcome the support and we will not generate any unwanted notifications to you.  Become a part of our St. Edward’s community!   Thank you to those who have subscribed! 


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 via direct links noted below.  Stay tuned to our weekly emails and web site posts for updates on specific details. We invite you to celebrate with us, as a community of faith!

Faith In Action Initiatives:

Our ministry meeting is tomorrow, between services, in the library area.  See you there!!


Backpack Drive
What a wonderful act of generosity and compassion!  Father Rick will bless the backpacks tomorrow at the 10:15 AM service!   

Hempfield Area Food Pantry Update:
Requested items:  Canned fruit; Canned mixed vegetables; Canned garbanzo beans; 1 lb. packages of rice; 2 lb. packages of rice; Noodles; Boxed pasta; Pasta sauce; Cereal; Oatmeal (regular or quick NOT instant).

Parish News:
Confirmation/Reception Classes:  If you would like to be a candidate for Confirmation or Reception into the Episcopal Church, during our Bishop Visitation on Sunday, October 10th. Classes will be in-person, on Thursdays: September 2, 9, and 16 from 6-8 PM with a make-up session to be scheduled.  Please contact the parish office by Monday if you are planning on participating, but have not signed up through the office. If you have questions about this sacramental rite you would like answered, as you discern becoming a candidate, this fall, please contact Father Rick.  You may also click HERE to read about this sacramental right from The Episcopal Church website.

Stephen Ministry Training:  Father Rick and Dina Ishler will be commencing training of Stephen Ministers in September.  If you feel you may be called to explore this pastoral ministry, please contact Father Rick with your questions.  You may also contact the parish office to sign up.  Once we have participants, we will put forth a training schedule.

Reminder:  If you are not coming to church for in-person worship and would like to receive your directory (or any other materials!) please contact the parish office.


 We look forward to gathering in faith and fellowship on September 12th!!!

COFFEE HOUR IS TOMORROW BETWEEN 9-10 AM.  You will have the opportunity to pick up an FAQ sheet on coffee hour hosting.  If you are interested in signing up for any Sunday, except the first Sunday of each month, through the fall, click the link below for sign-up and information!

Click here to connect to Google docs sign-up sheet and coffee hour information.

Spiritual Formation and Evening Prayer Offerings:

Our next Widow’s Group meeting is Thursday, September 2nd at 10 AM in the lounge area in the Christian Ed wing.  Please contact Peggy Hanzelman or Ethel Lawrence should you have questions.

The Book of Joy – Summer Lunch & Learn

St. Edward’s is offering a full complement of Adult Spiritual Formation during the summer months!  Click here for more information about our summer offerings.

Please visit our Christian Formation page to explore the wonderful weekly lesson and activity postings for youth, from Leslie Arnold, Sunday School ministry leader. Click here for the Christian Formation page.


Sunday Evening Prayer – August 22nd at 7:00 PM:  We use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the readings for the Sunday Lectionary.  It is a quiet service and a good way to end the weekend and prepare for the week to come.  Anyone interested can send me an email to be put on an email distribution list:  [email protected]

Sunday Evening Prayer @ 7:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95355083080
Meeting ID: 953 5508 3080

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.


We are providing links, below, that may be helpful and informative to you:

Lancaster County, PA COVID-19 Hub

PA Department of Health

Vaccine Distribution Information PA DOH

Worship at St. Edward’s: Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 12 – July 25, 2021

Dear parishioners and friends of St. Edward’s,

Father Rick and all of us at St. Edward’s welcome you to our Sunday worship, tomorrow, the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 12.  Whether you will be joining us in-person, or via our live stream on our St. Edward’s YouTube Channel, please know we are glad to be worshipping with you!  All of the important links you need to our YouTube channel and our Sunday service bulletins are listed below.

Today, on our Calendar of Saints for The Episcopal Church, we remember  Thomas à Kempis, Priest 1471. While Thomas was never declared a saint, he is widely known for his manual of spiritual advice, The Imitation of Christ. His works embody a devotional character with the intention to assist the soul with its pursuit of holiness and communion with God. Thomas belonged to the school of mystics who travelled and lived along the Rhine in Switzerland, Strasburg, Cologne, and in the Netherlands. Many people consider The Imitation of Christ an essential read and speak to the way it is so beautifully written and truly speaks to the soul.  One of my favorite quotes from the book is from Book Two – The Interior Life, The Third Chapter – Goodness and Peace in Man:

“FIRST keep peace with yourself; then you will be able to bring peace to others.”

I close with a prayer from Lesser Feasts and Fasts,

Holy Father, you have nourished and strengthened your Church by the inspired writings of your servant Thomas à Kempis: Grant that we may learn from him to know what is necessary to be known, to love what is to be loved, to praise what highly pleases you, and always to seek to know and follow your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Rest well.  Keep the faith. Journey in peace.

Michelle

Click here to connect to the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 12 service, July 25th, which will be live streamed at 10:15 AM on Sunday. 

Click here to download our 8:00 AM Rite I service bulletin for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 12 service

Click here to download our 10:15 AM Rite II service bulletin for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 12 service

*If you enjoy the St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster, PA YouTube channel, and you have a Gmail or YouTube account, the next time you tune in, please click the red SUBSCRIBE button on the home page to be included as a subscriber to St. Edward’s!  We would welcome the support and we will not generate any unwanted notifications to you.  Become a part of our St. Edward’s community!   Thank you to those who have subscribed! 


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 via direct links noted below.  Stay tuned to our weekly emails and web site posts for updates on specific details. We invite you to celebrate with us, as a community of faith!

Parish News:

SCEPTER REMINDER:  There will be no Scepter in August, but looking forward to September, Michelle will be on vacation August 30-September 10, consequently  the September Issue will need to be completed by August 29th.  Therefore articles, pictures and announcements for the September Scepter will have to be submitted no later than Friday, August 20th.  Pictures from your summer travels, family get togethers, celebrations, warm weather activities, etc. would all be welcome. Please send items to: [email protected]

Youth Summer Event:  Our parish youth have the opportunity to participate in a diocesan event at Camp Mount Luther, which you will find on our Youth page – please scroll down on the page.  Click here to connect to our Youth page on our web site to learn more about this great event.  

Reminder:  Parish directories will be in your parish mailboxes tomorrow, Sunday, July 25th.  They will include your invitation (with a required RSVP) for our 40th Anniversary worship and celebration as well as an information flyer regarding creating baskets for our fall fundraiser.

40th Anniversary – September 12th INVITATION

St. Edward’s Annual Basket Raffle – Seeking volunteers to create baskets

Stephen C. Casey Memorial Fund booklet Our parish family and friends are invited to prayerfully consider participating in this set of beautification projects.  We will be finalizing all contract details by August 15th, with the completion target date for projects of December 2021. The beautification projects welcome donations of any size.

The Book of Joy – Summer Lunch & Learn

Widow’s Group Meeting Announcement

COFFEE HOUR IS TOMORROW BETWEEN 9-10 AM.  You will have the opportunity to pick up an FAQ sheet on coffee hour hosting and there will also be a sign-up sheet for August coffee hours.  You can also click the link below for sign-up and information!

Click here to connect to Google docs sign-up sheet and coffee hour information.

Please visit our Christian Formation page to explore the wonderful weekly lesson and activity postings for youth, from Leslie Arnold, Christian Formation ministry leader. Click here for the Christian Formation page.


Please continue your support of the Hempfield Area Food Pantry.  Requested items:  Canned fruit; Canned mixed vegetables; Canned garbanzo beans; 1 lb. packages of rice; 2 lb. packages of rice; Noodles; Boxed pasta; Pasta sauce; Cereal; Oatmeal (regular or quick NOT instant)

St. Edward’s is offering a full complement of Adult Spiritual Formation during the summer months!  Click here for more information about our summer offerings.


Sunday Evening Prayer – July 25th at 7:00 PM:  We use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the readings for the Sunday Lectionary.  It is a quiet service and a good way to end the weekend and prepare for the week to come.  Anyone interested can send me an email to be put on an email distribution list:  [email protected]

Sunday Evening Prayer @ 7:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95355083080
Meeting ID: 953 5508 3080

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.


We are providing links, below, that may be helpful and informative to you:

Lancaster County, PA COVID-19 Hub

PA Department of Health

Vaccine Distribution Information PA DOH

Worship at St. Edward’s: Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 10 – July 11, 2021

Dear parishioners and friends of St. Edward’s,

Father Rick and all of us at St. Edward’s welcome you to our Sunday worship, tomorrow, the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 10.  Whether you will be joining us in-person, or via our live stream on our St. Edward’s YouTube Channel, please know we are glad to be worshipping with you!  All of the important links you need to our YouTube channel and our Sunday service bulletins are listed below.


Tomorrow, July 11th, is the Feast Day for Benedict of Nursia, Abbot of Monte Cassino. You may be familiar with St. Benedict by his writing, the Rule of Saint Benedict (516) for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot.  It combined the spiritual with the administrative tasks of their daily life.  A meaningful aspect of this writing is Ora et Labora – pray and work, meant to provide a guidance, in the monastic day, for balance between prayer, work, contemplation and/or charitable works.  It also elevated the dignity of labor in the service of God.  In reflection, maybe we can all take a little bit from the Rule of Saint Benedict and apply it to our daily lives.  We close by offering this Collect Of a Saint from The Book of Common Prayer, page 250:

Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one with your saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in our earthly pilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all our intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Image:  St. Benedict of Nursia writing the Benedictine Rule
Portrait (1926) by Herman Nieg (1849–1928); Heiligenkreuz Abbey, Austria
https://stfrancis.clas.asu.edu/gallery/art/herman-nieg-st-benedict

Rest well.  Keep the faith. Journey in peace.

Michelle


Click here to connect to the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 10 service, July 11th, which will be live streamed at 10:15 AM on Sunday. 

Click here to download our 8:00 AM Rite I service bulletin for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 10 service

Click here to download our 10:15 AM Rite II service bulletin for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost:  Proper 10 service

*If you enjoy the St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster, PA YouTube channel, and you have a Gmail or YouTube account, the next time you tune in, please click the red SUBSCRIBE button on the home page to be included as a subscriber to St. Edward’s!  We would welcome the support and we will not generate any unwanted notifications to you.  Become a part of our St. Edward’s community!   Thank you to those who have subscribed! 


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.  Stay tuned to our weekly emails and web site posts for updates on specific details. We invite you to celebrate with us, as a community of faith!

Parish News:
You may have noticed, even though it is summer, there is so much happening at St. Edward’s, ranging from our 40th Anniversary planning, to seeking volunteers to create baskets for our fall basket raffle (we have 5 baskets already!); our Stephen C. Casey Memorial Fund beautification projects, to our upcoming Faith in Action school supply-focused project and an update on our Books for Prisoners project found in your Sunday bulletin and on the Faith in Action web page; our upcoming summer Lunch & Learn Session to the formation and meeting of our Widow’s group.  While Saturday emails are devoted to Sunday Worship news, we have provided quick links to all of these items, below, for you to access so you don’t miss a thing.

Youth Summer Event:  Our parish youth have the opportunity to participate in a diocesan event at Camp Mount Luther, which you will find on our Youth page – please scroll down on the page.  Click here to connect to our Youth page on our web site to learn more about this great event.  

Reminder:  We will be updating the parish directories this week and will distribute them via your parish mailboxes by Sunday, July 25th.  They will include your invitation (with a required RSVP) for our 40th Anniversary worship and celebration. So. . . now is your opportunity to update your contact information or add your name and contact information to the directory.  Please send an email to the parish office this week with your information.

40th Anniversary – September 12th

St. Edward’s Annual Basket Raffle – Seeking volunteers to create baskets

Stephen C. Casey Memorial Fund booklet (Our parish family and friends are invited to prayerfully consider participating in).

The Book of Joy – Summer Lunch & Learn

Widow’s Group Meeting Announcement

COFFEE HOUR IS TOMORROW BETWEEN 9-10 AM.  You will have the opportunity to pick up an FAQ sheet on coffee hour hosting and there will also be a sign-up sheet for August coffee hours.  You can also click the link below for sign-up and information!

Click here to connect to Google docs sign-up sheet and coffee hour information.

Please visit our Christian Formation page to explore the wonderful weekly lesson and activity postings for youth, from Leslie Arnold, Christian Formation ministry leader. Click here for the Christian Formation page.


Please continue your support of the Hempfield Area Food Pantry.  Requested items:  Canned fruit; Canned mixed vegetables; Canned garbanzo beans; 1 lb. packages of rice; 2 lb. packages of rice; Noodles; Boxed pasta; Pasta sauce; Cereal; Oatmeal (regular or quick NOT instant)

St. Edward’s is offering a full complement of Adult Spiritual Formation during the summer months!  Click here for more information about our summer offerings.

Sunday Evening Prayer – July 11th at 7:00 PM:  We use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and the readings for the Sunday Lectionary.  It is a quiet service and a good way to end the weekend and prepare for the week to come.  Anyone interested can send me an email to be put on an email distribution list:  [email protected]

Sunday Evening Prayer @ 7:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95355083080
Meeting ID: 953 5508 3080

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.


We are providing links, below, that may be helpful and informative to you:

Lancaster County, PA COVID-19 Hub

PA Department of Health

Vaccine Distribution Information PA DOH