Thursday, December 14, 2017

Plan to take part in Cursillo #164, April 18-22


Plan now to take part in the co-ed Cursillo #164 weekend to be held at Chanco on the James April 18-22. The rector of this weekend will be Tina Sinclair.
 
Cursillo is Spanish for "short course" - a short course in Christianity. On the three day weekend, candidates learn how to grow as leaders in their communities and in their own personal journey with Jesus. Cursillo is a living expression of Christ's love for us. It is filled with color, and joy, music and a new life of friendship in the church. It may be just what you are thirsting for.
 
For more information and application forms, go to www.cursillodiosova.org.

Santa's elves come to Jackson-Feild


On December 13, members of two different groups traveled far and wide to Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services' main campus in Jarratt, VA to wrap all the children's Christmas presents
 
The volunteers included members from the PEO Chapter C-D-Littleton, N.C. and the Lake Gaston Ladies Club. They both have been actively involved with Jackson-Feild in a variety of ways over the years. This will be the 12th Christmas they served as Santa's helpers wrapping the presents for the boys and girls.
 
The day began when the women arrived bright and early in the morning and got right to work. By the end of the day over 250 presents were carefully wrapped with loving by these special ladies. They made sure no presents went unwrapped and each ribbon curled to perfection.
 
The children are very grateful to these special elves for their wonderful efforts to make Christmas special for children who have never experienced a "real" Christmas.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Presiding Bishop's Christmas message

Video of the Presiding Bishop's message is here. The text is available in Spanish here.  
   
In 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul says, "If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new is come." At a point in that passage, St. Paul says, "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself," and he also says at another point in the same passage, "and we have been given the ministry of reconciliation."  
 
Have you ever gone to the movies or read a story or a novel, and the novel starts with the end, so you know where the story ends, but then the rest of the story or the novel is actually the story behind the story. We know about Christmas. We know about Mary.  We know about Joseph. We know about the angels singing Gloria in excelsis deo. We know from our childhood the animals in the stable. We know of the magi who come from afar, arriving around Epiphany, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. We know of the angels singing in the heavens, and the star that shown above them.  Therein is the story.  
 
But the story behind the story is what St. Paul was talking about. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and Jesus has now given us that same ministry of reconciliation. God was reconciling the world to himself by becoming one of us. The divine became human. God entered history. Eternity became part of time. God was reconciling the world to himself by actually living it himself. In Jesus, God came among us to show us the way, to be reconciled with the God who has created us all and everything that is. And God has likewise come in the person of Jesus, to show us how to be reconciled with each other, as children of the one God who is the Creator of us all.  That's the story behind Christmas.
 
God is showing us the Way to become God's children, and as God's children, brothers and sisters of each other. God is showing us in Jesus how to become God's family and how to change, and build, and make a world where everybody is a part of that family. Where children don't go to bed hungry. Where no one has to be lonely. Where justice is real for all and where love is the ultimate law. Know there is a story behind the story, and it's a story worth singing about, and giving thanks for, and then living.
 
One of my favorite writers, the late Howard Thurman, composed a poem many years ago about Christmas, and he says it probably better than I:
     When the song of the angels is stilled,
     When the star in the sky is gone,
     When the kings and the princes are home,
     When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
     Then the work of Christmas begins:
     To find the lost,
     To heal the broken,
     To feed the hungry,
     To release the prisoner,
     To rebuild the nations,
     To bring peace to others,
     And alas, to make music in the heart.
 
The story behind the story is that God so loved the world, and so loves you, and so loves me.
Have a blessed Christmas, a wonderful New Year, and go out and make music in the heart of the world.
 
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate 

Clergy transitions

The Rev. Dr. Katherine Dunagan started as interim rector at Epiphany, Danville on November 1, 2017.
 
The Rev. Marjorie Holm started as interim rector at Emmanuel, Franklin on December 1, 2017.

The Action Bible and Jackson-Feild


Thanks in part to the generosity of the members of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Williamsburg, the boys and girls at Jackson-Feild have brand new Action Bibles! The best-selling Action Bible - created by a member of Marvel Comics - is designed to be action-grabbing through illustrations full of rich color and bold designs that brings to life the emotions and significance of the stories and figures of the Bible.  
 
Jackson-Feild's chaplain The Rev. Dr. Robin Jones will use the Action Bible's four-step lesson path to engage teens at every step. The path starts by setting the stage to help teens feel comfortable with the Bible, and then brings the Bible stories and passages to life through animation. It helps readers make a connection and prompts them to ask questions. The Action Bible helps the boys and girls understand who God is and what they mean to Him, and it helps them develop their own value system.
 
Everyone involved in the Spiritual Program at Jackson-Feild is grateful to St. Martin's for helping to fund the purchase of these Bibles that will help to connect timeless truths to life today.

Young Adult Service Corps applications

Young adults (21-30 years old) have an opportunity to transform their own lives while engaging mission and ministry in the Anglican Communion by joining the Young Adult Service Corps. Now, applications are available for 2018-2019 placements in the Young Adult Service Corps, commonly known as YASC. Currently YASCers are serving throughout the Anglican Communion, working alongside partners in administration, agriculture, communication, development, and education. They are serving in Brazil, Costa Rica, England, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa and Tanzania.
 
Among possible placements for 2018-2019 include (but not limited to) Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, England, Honduras, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Jerusalem, Mexico, Panama, the Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan, and Tanzania. The application for a 2018-2019 placement with additional information and instructions is available here. The application deadline is Friday, January 12, 2018.

Pilgrimage Opportunities

Scotland & England in May 2018
A Pilgrimage to Scotland and England is being organized for May 2018. After a time for quiet and reflection on Iona, the group will travel to Melrose. At Melrose, they will walk the Way of St. Cuthbert, approximately 70 miles, to Lindisfarne.  After completing the Way of St. Cuthbert, they will visit The Shrine of St. Cuthbert at Durham Cathedral. Pilgrims will conclude their time with a visit to Edinburgh. For more information, contact Doris Custer (CusterDD@gmail.com) or Dale Custer (rdalecuster@gmail.com).
 
Ireland in May 2018
If you're interested in a 12-day tour of Ireland, the Friends of Bruton invite you to join them May 1-12, 2018. Go to bit.ly/brutonireland for trip brochure.
 
Holy Land in April 2018
Westminster-Canterbury, Virginia Beach, is hosting a pilgrimage to Israel April 6-15, 2018. Cost is $4690 per person, double occupancy, or $5710 per person, single occupancy. Air travel, lodging, transportation in Israel and meals (except lunches) are included. For more information contact the Rev. Doug Gray, 757-496-1651 or doug.gray@wcbay.com.
 
Holy Land for Advent 2018
St. John's, Portsmouth, is pleased to announce our next international pilgrimage opportunity, Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus, from November 29 to December 9, 2018. This pilgrimage is open to anyone who desires to take this journey but is limited to a total group size of 17-30. Is God calling you to join this group? Cost from the Norfolk airport for this 11-day spiritual adventure (including all expenses and two meals daily) is $3,379 double occupancy (excluding airline taxes and fuel surcharges) and decreases depending on the number of Pilgrims over the minimum number of 17 taking the journey. Your spot can be reserved by making a $300 deposit using this form. Pilgrimage is truly praying with your eyes open. Come walk in the footsteps of Jesus next Advent! Click here for a detailed brochure. Contact the Rev. Derek Harbin, derek@stjohnsportsmouth.org.