Trinity Episcopal Church, Parkersburg, West Virginia
Week of January 4, 1999
(Last updated 09/12/99)
It is the Epiphany (the word means, "manifestation") of our Lord — the time when the Magi arrived, after a long journey, at the house where the Holy Family lived. They brought gifts befitting a king: Gold – the symbol of wealth. Frankincense — the symbol of honor and power. And they brought myrrh — the spices with which one was anointed at death, a symbol of the price our Lord would be willing to pay for each one of us.
May Christ be manifest in each of us in all that we do and say and pray.
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Greetings and welcome to the first Times of the new year — volume 1, so to speak. As circumstances would have it this Times is coming to you with a slight delay — could we blame it on the snow or the cold? No, but that is just the way it happens sometimes. We believe this issue is worth the wait.
Speaking of waiting. The long season of waiting (Advent) is over. The Nativity of Our Lord has been celebrated in grand style — the pageant at 5:00 Christmas Eve, the Gloria (many thanks to the Choir, strings, etc.) at 10:30 Christmas Eve, the gentle and so very prayerful service on "the morning after" at 10:00 Christmas Day (thanks for the music, Connie). Thanks for these services and their grace and beauty also go to the Altar Guild and Flower Ministry (beautiful church!), the Ushers, the Lectors and Chalice Bearers and Acolytes; to Betty Matthews and Cathy Brookover; and, to all who came to seek and to worship Jesus.
It is now the Epiphany of Our Lord. The time recognized by the church as when Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, was made known not just to the Jewish community, but to the gentiles as well. It is the time when Jesus, and the way of Salvation made open by him, are made open to all people in all places in all time. And, in many parts of Christendom this feast, The Epiphany, is a bigger deal, a bigger celebration than the birth of Jesus.
Now, asking the question which is bigger or more important, the Nativity or the Epiphany, is like asking how many angels can dance on the tip of a pin. The real gain comes as we embrace these two occasions as two sides of the same coin. Each is distinct, but only has value when they are connected one with the other.
Christmas asks us the question, "Is Christ born in my heart?" Epiphany asks us, "How is it that Christ is manifest (the meaning of Epiphany) in my life, and through my life to others?
Some days the answers to these questions will come to us easily. Other days, the search for an answer will mystify us. Such is the nature of an honest journey — nonetheless, like the Magi who would not be dissuaded or daunted by time or distance or deceit (Herod), we are called to continue on.
May God grant you and me the desire and delight of this journey.
Blessings & peace,
Scott
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The Feast of Our Lord’s Baptism
will be celebrated January 10th,
with Baptisms at the 10:30 service.
If you desire baptism, contact the Rector
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Supper Club!!!
Supper Club will be held at La Verne Marshall's home Friday, January 15th at 6:30pm. Please let La Verne know what you will be bringing by Tuesday, January 12.
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ECW Winter Luncheon
The Winter Luncheon will be held at Parkersburg Country Club on Friday, January 22nd,
beginning at 11:30 a.m. Invitations will be mailed to all women of the Church shortly. If,
for any reason, you do not receive yours, call Shirley Lawrence-Berrey or Pat Fritch.
OTHER WOMEN’S NEWS: St. Anne's will meet at 1:30 pm Tuesday, January 19 at a location to be announced. The installation of ECW officers and St. Anne's leaders will take place during the 10:30 am service, Sunday January 24. MEETING DATE CHANGE: The ECW Board will tentatively meet at 1:30 pm Wednesday January 13, rather than the 14th, as previously listed. More information will follow.
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The Christmas Flowers were given to the glory of God and in loving memory of:
Malcolm Lowe by Eleanor Lowe; Marcelle Morrison, Clarence Morrison, and Marion and Stephenson Mason by Joan and Dick Mason; Mrs. Ruth E. Lawrence-Berrey by Dr. and Mrs. Robert E. Lawrence-Berrey; Douglass Adams, Effa Douglass Adams, and Hallie and Rob Sams by Doug and Carol Adams and family; Evelyn Ater and Jo Ellen Gorby by Bob and Linda Brantner and Mary Martin; John D. Hoblitzell, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Hoblitzell, Sr., Lucy Hoblitzell, and Jay Cook by their family; Catherine Keesee, Ernest Haynes Keesee, Dr. and Mrs. M. Murrill Ralsten, Mr. and Mrs. M. Murrill Ralsten, Jr., and Elizabeth K. Rhodes by Dr. and Mrs. John Ralsten; Nancy Bond Vincent, Mr. and Mrs. Lyle D. Vincent, Sr., Joseph H. Thompson, and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Butscher by Dr. and Mrs. Lyle D. Vincent; Jack Edmund Smith and all those dear to us by his family; Mr. and Mrs. Ross Cox, Sr., and Ross Cox, Jr., by Carma Guertin, and Carle L. Lewis, Sr., by his family.
The Christmas Flowers were given to the glory of God and in Thanksgiving by:
George and Harriett DeHoff; Helen Gerwig; Don and Ellsmore Northrup; Dorothy Wulfers and family; Jack and Emily Dowling; and Lucy Hill.
Flowers were given in Thanksgiving for the marriage of their daughter, Susan, and Clint Shettle by Bill and Charlotte Bee.
Flowers were given in Thanksgiving for the many blessings our Lord has bestowed upon us and in memory of our loved ones who have departed this life by Hamp and Susie Fitcher.
And flowers were given in Thanksgiving for the birth of Eva Mackenzie Baer and in memory of William Roberts by Helen Roberts and family.
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Instructed Eucharist
A special two-part Instructed Eucharist will be held on Sunday, January 31st and Sunday, February 7th. This Eucharist with narration will offer theology and history about this most precious Sacrament. The first Sunday the narration / instruction will focus on everything from the beginning of the service up to and through "The Peace." The second Sunday the focus will be on all that follows The Peace through to the Dismissal. Of course, each Sunday the service will be done in its entirety.
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Accessibility Committee At Work
A committee to seek proposals from architects about ways to make Trinity Church fully accessible to all people is underway. Dick Mason, Lee Fritch, Paul Nicholson and Sue Ellen Johnson are hard at work seeking experts in the field. They will be reporting on their progress at each Vestry meeting until they have a final report and recommendation. Please keep their efforts in your prayers.
Companion Relationship Concludes
After many years, the Diocese of West Virginia and the Diocese of North Dakota will be concluding their companion relationship on Sunday, January 10, 1999. Please keep the mission and ministry of both dioceses in your prayers as each continues to seek and serve our Lord Christ and follow the beckoning of the Holy Spirit.
"Your kingdom come, you will be done."
Congratulations to Susan Bee and Clint Shettle
who were joined together in Holy Matrimony at Trinity Church on Saturday, January 2, 1999. The wedding was presided over by the Bee’s former next-door neighbor, the now Right Reverend Ken Price. "Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder."| Connie’s Corner Happy New Year! I hope everyone survived the holidays. As we get in gear for a new year and get used to putting 1999 on our checks, please don’t forget the Church School. Many of you have probably made resolutions. One of them could be to get involved in Church School. Or, you may be thinking ahead to Lent. That is the perfect time to take on a new experience (rather than giving up "stuff"). Think about volunteering for a week or two in a class — you could observe, assist or substitute for someone who needs a break. If you like to bake, bring some snacks for the 10:15 Snack Time. Maybe you have other ideas! What a great way to serve the Lord and do a favor for a fellow parishioner AND feel good about yourself. Think about it. Pray about it. Then, do it!
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Please hold these people, events and circumstances in your daily prayers. Also, we encourage you to always say a prayer for those unknown persons who have no one to pray for them. By-the-way, please remember to renew prayer requests weekly.
Tom Patrick, Charlotte Martin, Larry Bellew, Nellie Taylor, Terri Hindman, Alex Northrup, Mary Carolyn & Bill Mildren, Sr., Donna Tyo, Ruth Greer, Wes Ray, Ray Hofmann, Dorothy Wulfers, Mazie Smith, Betty Rodda, "Butch" Shaver, Mary Glen Rice, Bob Lawrence-Berrey, Carr Leavitt, Maggie Crafton, and Jim Bailey.
This week your prayers are asked for the Diocese of North Dakota as "Companion Diocese" relationship between our diocese and theirs concludes. May God bless them and their ministry in all places and in all ways.
| Ministers for
Sunday, January 10, 1999 Chalice Bearers:
Sue Ellen Johnson, Jennifer Currey, Paul Miller, LaVerne Marshall Proper for the Epiphany 1 — The Feast of our
Lord’s Baptism Altar Guild for January: Lynette Neilson, Emily Dowling, Charlotte Bee, Helen Roberts, Cara Bowen, Charlotte Muse |
Outreach
Please place in basket at the back of the church Evangelism Committee to Meet The Evangelism Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 13th, at 7:00 pm at Trinity. All are welcome to come and participate in the work of this committee. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Currey or Eric Lawson. |
Gracias
That’s right, many thanks to the Audit Committee who met over the holidays to see that the 1997 Audit was accomplished. They are now hot on the trail of the 1998 audit. When you see Eric Lawson, Charlie Allman, Bob Brantner and Betty Rodda, pat them on the back. Charlie, Bob and Betty will be continuing as part of the 1998 Audit Committee.
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Adult Education! Hey, it is the new year. Why not get up, get out and do your mind and your faith a favor — plan to be a part of the Adult Education Class at Trinity. We begin at 9:15 in Trinity Hall. The class beginning on January 10th will feature the Reverend James Forbes’ address to General Convention. The Rev’d Mr. Forbes is Senior Pastor of Riverside Church in New York City, and is one of the most compelling preachers in American Christianity today. His focus will be —
Evangelism! |
The Lord God put the man in the garden of Eden to care and work for it. — Genesis 2:15
Take care of the earth --
For all it's worth!
In all of space,
it's the only place
That's fit for the human race.
Dear God,
You must really love the earth to make it so beautiful. How do you keep it fixed and running so well? That shows how much You love it, too. But most of all, You gave this beautiful earth to me and my friends. Help me take care of it the way You would. That will show You how much I love You and Your wonderful gifts.
as printed in God's Little Devotional Book for Kids, by V. Gilbert Beers
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