| a weekly e-newsletter from Saint Martin's Church |
January 11, 2018
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This Week
at
St. Martin's
Rite I
Quiet Worship
8 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
9:00 a.m.
Sunday School
9:30 a.m.
Rite II Worship with music
10 a.m.
Holy Eucharist service
12:15 p.m.
Bible Study
7 p.m.
Thursday
Bible & Beer at Pietro's Pizza
7pm
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Greeting
"But what about you?" Jesus asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
~ Matthew 16:15-16
On January 18, the Church celebrates a simple conversation, albeit one that changed the course of human history: the confession of St. Peter. One day Jesus asks his followers a seemingly innocent question, "Who are people saying I am?" He gets various answers and then asks them directly, "Who do you say I am?" Peter's response is considered by many to be the hinge-moment, when Jesus's real identity as the Messiah, God's own son, is finally and plainly revealed to the world. In this season of Epiphany, as we look around us for signs of Jesus, this exchange is a helpful challenge. Who do we say Jesus is? Do we say anything about him? Does Jesus the Christ enter into our conversations, and if so, how? Apparently, Jesus thought our witness and claims about him are a matter of great importance: it was upon Peter's statement of pure faith that Jesus made him, with all his imperfections and missteps, the foundation rock of his Church. Entering actively into this conversation ourselves, what sort of Church are we founding with our lives and our witness today?
Peace & blessings,
Chris+
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 This Sunday children and youth are invited to attend Sunday School starting at 9:30 in the large room downstairs. Our lesson will be on following Jesus as our Rabbi, our teacher. We will also begin to build new Lego scenes using Bible stories of Jesus' life. Children and adults are welcome to join us as we explore where Jesus leads us. The nursery will be open, too.
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Newcomers are welcome to join the discussion around the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John this Wednesday at 7 p.m. Copies of the book we are using are available for purchase or to borrow from St. Martin's. The conversation is just beginning and we'd love to have you join our spirited and spiritual conversation. St. Martin's Bible Study group is now meeting in the large Sunday School room. The evenings will offer an enlightening approach to Bible Study that's being conducted in other Diocesan churches.
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Bible and Beer kicks off 2018 in a new venue starting January 18th at 7pm!
We gather the third Thursday of every month for informal (non-political) discussions of how faithful people can interact with the world: how our view of the Gospel impacts our views of people and the challenges of our time, and how events also shape our faith.
Bible and Beer is shifting location to Pietro's Pizza at 236 North Radnor Chester Road - only 1 mile from the church! Parking is plentiful around this new, reasonably priced bar/restaurant.
To get there from the Church, follow King of Prussia south toward the Train Station, bearing right after going under the tracks onto Radnor Chester Road toward Route 30. The entrance to the restaurant parking area is on the right, just across from the Radnor High School athletic field. Go in the side entrance and turn right. Come, share from your heart, and bring a friend!
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DATES TO NOTE:
January 20: Confirmation Rehearsal at 10 a.m. - This rehearsal is for the three Confirmation youth and their sponsors, upstairs in the church. Fr. Chris and Ms. Deb will lead this special meeting in preparation for the visit from the bishop.
January 21: Confirmation - All youth are asked to arrive at 8:45 a.m. Sponsors, parents, Confirmands, and all congregants are invited to meet the Bishop at 9:15 a.m for a Q&A session. See the schedule below for more details of the Bishop's visit.
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Bishop Daniel G.P. Gutiérrez will visit St. Martin's Church
NEXT Sunday, January 21st. He will preside over one combined service at 10 a.m. for the Confirmation of Julia Nigro, Josh Penny, and Elizabeth Pettit.
Please plan on attending this special occasion!
SCHEDULE
9:00 - Arrival
9:15-9:50 - Q&A with the Bishop
10:00 - Confirmation Service
11:15 - Congregational Coffee Hour
12:00 - Bishop's Reception with the Vestry
1:00 - Vestry Meeting
PLEASE NOTE
The Q & A session is open to everyone. It will be in the Chapel area and expand into the Gurley Room if needed.
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Please pick up your 2018 Offering envelopes available in the Gurley Room. If envelopes were inadvertently not assigned to you, please contact the church office.
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The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 28th, following the 10 a.m. service. Please plan on attending to hear church news - the year in review and projections for 2018. It's also a great time to have your voice heard, so bring your comments, questions, and suggestions! Voting will take place for new Vestry members. Coffee hour goodies will be available.
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The 20th Annual Chili Cook-off will happen this year as always after the 10 AM service at Bolingbroke on February 4, 2018. The event provides the perfect prelude to the Super Bowl later that day between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers!
Contestants and attendees can sign-up in the Gurley Room. In addition to a list of the entrants, the sign-up sheet will provide space for donations of beverages, salads, bread, desserts, etc.
First, second, and third place winners will be determined by vote of the Cook-Off attendees by secret ballot, and incredible prizes will be awarded!
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The Super/Souper Bowl is quickly approaching! It's not only a day to enjoy a football championship game, but it's also a day when anyone can be a "hunger-fighting" champion. The youth of St. Martin's will once again be selling soup mixes to benefit the Great Valley and Ardmore Food Cupboards. Purchases may be made on February 4th before or after the church services and during the Chili Cook-Off event in Bolingbroke.
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Thank you to the giver of the Oneida baby utensil set for Emma! She is just beginning to taste some solid foods now, so this is perfect and will be put to very good use! We received this without a name on the card, so we hope this thank you is read by the gracious giver of this gift! You are kind!
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Lord Jesus
may your light shine our way,
as once it guided the steps of the magi:
that we too may be led into your presence
and worship you,
the Child of Mary,
the Word of the Father,
the King of nations,
the Saviour of mankind;
to whom be glory for ever.
~ Frank Colquhoun, Church of England
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Upcoming Events
Bible & Beer
Thursday, 1/18, 7pm at Pietro's Pizza, 236 North Radnor Chester Rd, Radnor
Bishop's Visit & Confirmation
Sunday, 1/21, starting at 9:15 a.m.
(only one service for the day - see details above for the full schedule)
Vestry Meeting
Sunday, 1/21, 1 p.m.
Annual Meeting
Sunday, 1/28, 11:15 a.m.
Super/Souper Bowl Sunday
Sunday, 2/4
Chili Cook-Off
Sunday, 2/4, 11:15 a.m.
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Read and Ponder
this Week's Scriptures
The scripture readings for this Sunday are:
1 Samuel 3:1-10(11-20)
Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
John 1:43-51
The Collect
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Old Testament
1 Samuel 3:1-10(11-20)
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." [Then the Lord said to Samuel, "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever." Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." He said, "Here I am." Eli said, "What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you." So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, "It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him." As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.]
The Response
Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17
1 Lord, you have searched me out and known me; you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
2 You trace my journeys and my resting-places and are acquainted with all my ways.
3 Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, but you, O Lord, know it altogether.
4 You press upon me behind and before and lay your hand upon me.
5 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain to it.
12 For you yourself created my inmost parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
13 I will thank you because I am marvelously made; your works are wonderful, and I know it well.
14 My body was not hidden from you, while I was being made in secret
and woven in the depths of the earth.
15 Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb; all of them were written in your book; they were fashioned day by day, when as yet there was none of them.
16 How deep I find your thoughts, O God! how great is the sum of them!
17 If I were to count them, they would be more in number than the sand; to count them all, my life span would need to be like yours.
The Epistle
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are beneficial. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food," and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, "The two shall be one flesh." But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.
The Gospel
John 1:43-51
Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
Optional parts of the readings are set off in square brackets.
The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.
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| Saint Martin's Episcopal Church of Radnor
400 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087 (610) 688-4830 |
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