NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 2017

EMMANUEL, ST. ANDREWS, & ST. MATTHEWS EPISCOPAL CHURCHES

Christ Shining Through by Cheryl TenWolde

This month as we enter Epiphany, it
becomes apparent to us that the days are
feeling visibly longer; what began with the
Winter Solstice is now being manifested
more and more each day. The word
epiphany means the lowest point of light
shining forth. The beginning of the season of
Epiphany is a public holiday in many
countries. It marks two events in Jesus
Christs life that showed his Divinity. The
first event was when the Wise Men visited
Jesus. The Radiant Star they followed
symbolizes the showing forth, or
illumination of God to all people. The
identity of Jesus is symbolized by the gifts
they brought him: Gold, symbolic of wealth
to a King; Frankincense, symbolic of
adoration to one Divine; and Myrrh, symbolic
of self-sacrifice to one who would die.
Another event marked by Epiphany is
the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptizer.
This is the second event in which the divinity
of Jesus Christ is manifested. In Greece and
some other countries, this important holiday
has some beloved customs. On the Eve of
Epiphany, the first sanctification takes place in
the church. Afterwards, the priest goes from
house to house holding a cross and a basil
branch. As he walks through each house, he
sprinkles all areas to bless them, and
sprinkles the people too. Epiphany is a wonderful time for house blessings.

On the following day, a procession

forms outside for the big sanctification.
All of them follow whatever road leads to
the largest body of water: it may be only a
fountain, or maybe the great sea. The
priest throws a cross into the sea to bless
the waters, and all who dare to compete
dive into the icy cold water and strive to
be the one to retrieve the cross. That
person is thought to enjoy good luck and
health for the entire year. As the cross is
held up high by the winner, the priest
releases a white dove as a symbol of the
Holy Spirit. Thus, not only the finder of
the cross is blessed, but the entire village
is renewed in the spirit.
We can each renew our Baptismal
Vows this Epiphany Season. We do not
need to plunge into icy cold waters to
hold high the cross of Christ. We are all
blessed and christened by means of our
baptism, and through this covenant, we
are ambassadors of Christ. As such, we
are each an epiphany to other people in
the world.
This month we are invited to look
backward and forward to see where we
have been, and where we can possibly go.
We have been given gifts to equip the
saints for the work of ministry, for the
building up of the body of Christ
(Ephesians 4:12). Renewing our baptismal
vows means we can renew our

commitment to something we have

already been doing, or maybe we can
consider doing something new. Some
gifts given to us are to be artists,
musicians, crafters, teachers, visitors of
shut-ins, shoppers for food banks,
lectors, accountants, generous donors,
worship leaders, cooks, bakers,
talkers, listeners and many other gifts.
What if right now some of us feel
powerless to do anything? Maybe we
can pray. If we feel too weak even to
do that, we can allow others to pray
for us. That may be the most difficult
thing to allow ourselves to be
vulnerable enough to do nothing but
allow the prayers of others to
surround us. If we keep God at the
center of our lives, Christ will come
shining through us to the world.

Almighty God, Whose Son our

Savior Jesus Christ is the light of
the world: Grant that thy people,
illumined by thy Word and
Sacraments, may shine with the
radiance of Christs glory, that he
may be known, worshipped, and
obeyed to the ends of the earth.
(from the collect of the Third
Sunday in Epiphany)
Thanksgiving Dinner at

Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Over 400 dinners were served via
deliveries, take outs and the sit
down meal. Fellowship was enjoyed
by all.

The Unadilla Valley Food Pantry is requesting the following food items: 1st week in January Spaghetti Sauce, 2nd
week Cereal, 3rd week Canned Fruit, 4th week Canned tuna or chicken, 5th week Soup.

Lessons for January

1

1st Lesson

Numbers 6:22-27

15 1st Lesson

Psalm

Psalm

40:1-11

2nd Lesson

Galatians 4:4-7

2nd Lesson

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Gospel

Luke 2:15-21

Gospel

John 1:29-42

1st Lesson

Isaiah 42:1-9

Psalm
2nd Lesson

29
Acts 10:34-43

Psalm

27:1, 4-9

2nd Lesson

Corinthians 1:10-18

Gospel

Matthew 3:13-17

Gospel

Matthew 4:12-23

22 Isaiah

Isaiah 49:1-7

29 1st Lesson

Micha 6:1-8

Psalm

15

2nd Lesson

Corinthians 1:18-31

Gospel

Matthew 5:1-12

9:1-4

Emmanuel Episcopal Church

St. MatthewS & St. andrewS

JANUARY Birthdays

January Birthdays & Anniversaries

3 Cheryl Loomis

4
5
7
9
12
15
17
19
20
23
25
26
27
28
29

4
6
7
8
9
11
12

Jessie Gronwall Switzer, Frank & Michele Garguilo

Mary Lou Parker
Becky Chapin Brown, Cassandra Izard
Sara Malloch Charles
Fiona Catherine Beardslee
Eunice Prentice
Kay Nearing

13
15
11
19
22
23
24
30
31

Jessica Friedel
Gerald & Diane Howard
Adam Berdzinski
Ruth Horton, Barbie Schoonover
Pamela Lyons
Jeanne Westcott, Garrett Eiholzer
Nancy Quinn Beardslee
Alexis Dunham
Paul & Pat Lindau, Scott Grainger

Robert Michael Murray; Alek Squires

Justin McGrain; Terry Woodard
Mallery Stone
Anna Snow
Kimberly Harris
Gloria Scottie Decker
Karen Sullivan; Sabrina Carnachan
Logan Adsit; Stephen Turner
Laurel Wiltbank; Ruth Stiess
Ashley Murphy; Rachel Loomis
Lindsey Jenkins
Helen Murray
Jean McDowell; Matthew Gladstone
Michael Murray, Jr.; Ruth Mason
Matthew Murray

30 Aidan Sullivan, Jerry Kreiner

"Despite

the icy and snowy weather our Joint

Service of Lessons and Carols at St. Matthew's
was very well attended with thirty five souls
from all three of the parishes in attendance.
Cheryl TenWolde led the Service with the help
of individual Readers. Thank you to all who
were able to make the trip to St. Matthew's and
joined us at coffee hour."
Thanks again and Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year
Pat Lindau

Bruce Vermuelen

KIDS CHRISTIAN FORMATION

We had 7 kids for the second Youth Event on November 20, 2016! A holy mess was
made in the Parish Hall, pizza eaten, apple juice spilled, pudding cups gone crazy. And this
was after painting more parts for the church model, painting plaster items, and pouring
Epsom salts into jars for gifts.
The event opened with a procession and placement of the Bible, cross and a white
Candle. Everyone prayed "Thank you, God" and we talked about Sunday being Christ the
King Sunday and the last Sunday of Pentecost. Zachary knew that the new season upon
us is Advent, so our goal for the night was to make gifts to offer others, small wrapped
items for children of families coming into the Our Daily Bread food pantry.
Nathan patiently painted more grey stone walls to add to the model. All the kids
learned that the big middle part of the church is the "nave" which means ship. Addison,
Allison, Phoebe, and Emily painted lots of plaster pieces to make a nativity scene. Look for
the finished pieces in the church on Christmas Eve. Dominic and Zachary also painted
plaster pieces to be given as gifts. Then we filled painted jars with scented Epsom salts to
give as foot soaks. Emily picked the blessing prayer said before we ate the goodies.
Thank you to all the kids for being so polite and helpful. I hope they had a much
fun as I did. The next event is January 29 at the New Berlin St. Andrews Parish Hall,
4:15 PM with refreshments. Lynne Walton

Stations of the Cross

Wednesday, JANUARY 11, 2017 at
7:00 PM at
St. Andrews Episcopal Church,
New Berlin, NY

JANUARY 9, 2017
St. Andrews Pampered Chef Show
6:008:00 PM
All are welcome

Annual Meeting of Emmanuel Episcopal Church

The annual meeting of Emmanuel Episcopal Church will be held Sunday January 29, 2017 following
service.
All vestry members whose term expires this year have agreed to continue to serve. We feel this is
important in order to maintain continuity during this challenging time. Previously we have had nine
Vestry members. Currently, we have six. Therefore, we would benefit by having more members. If you
are interested in serving as a vestry member, contact our office or speak to Jim or Dave (Wardens).
Jim Everard, Warden Dave Loomis, Warden
Did you know that if you use envelopes for your pledge to church, and you put it in the offertory
at another church when there is a joint service, the counters will sort out your pledge to get it
to the correct church? Emmanuel envelopes get back to Emmanuel, St. Andrew envelopes get
back to St. Andrew and St. Matthew envelopes get back to St. Matthew.

The January 22, 2017 Joint Service will be at Emmanuel Episcopal Church at 9:30 a.m. It will
be officiated by The Very Reverend Carrie Schofield-Broadbent.

Newsletter

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PAID
NORWICH, NY
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MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS:

PERMIT #8

We Worship Together
Remember the Church in Your Will!
Chit, Chat & Chew
January 21, 2017St. Andrews, St. Matthews
February 18, 2017St. Theresa
March 18, 2017United Methodist
All are at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in New Berlin
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Church Office & the

Food Pantry will be
CLOSED on Monday,
January 16 for
Martin Luther King Day

EMMANUEL SOUL
KITCHEN
Thursday, January 12,
2017
Good Free Meal for
Body & Mind
All are welcome to come
Eat, Talk, Make Friends!
Only one seating
STARTS AT 5:30 P.M.
Parish Hall,
Emmanuel Episcopal
Church
37 West Main St.
Norwich, NY

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