Warm thoughts on a bitter cold day
It will be two years since our beloved family member Flash died. A beautiful golden retriever who invited us into the simple wonder of uncomplicated and unconditional love.
At my feet now are Apollo and Luna. Black lab mix siblings who sprung onto our scene a year ago. Siblings we were fortunate to adopt from a rescue shelter. Apollo is strong, proud, laser focused on his daily routine of chasing, fetching, and returning his tennis ball. Luna is beyond smart. Strategizing always her place in the order of things, smartly arranging herself just one step ahead of her proud brother. At night, they have taken now to cuddling with their family, it almost seems as if they spend their whole days thinking of that moment, or maybe it us who do so. These black flashes of love have brought again the simple wonder of uncomplicated and unconditional love.
On a bitter cold day, I am graced this day with an awareness of the narrow but safe place I sit. A chair in the corner of a warm living room made warmer by the presence of simple wonder-uncomplicated and unconditional love.
John O ’Donahue, the Irish poet writes, “You know that if you are graced with creative and compassionate and awareness you are going to have an incredible life. You are going to have sufferings as well, but you will always return to that place of warmth and fire within yourself.”
My friends are at my feet. Apollo laser focused on a bone, working diligently toward some sort of end. Luna, pacing as she does, exploring her options for my affections. The two of them being who they were born to be, wonders of uncomplicated and unconditional love. This is warmth and this is fire on a bitter cold day.
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Adult Forums:
Feb. 3 - 10
Rev. Dr. Craig Atwood:
Mysticism & Julian of Norwich
Feb. 17
Marcella Kraybill-Greggo:
Wisdom Way of Knowing as Spiritual Practice
. This gathering will introduce the rhythm and tools of a ‘Wisdom way of knowing’, or an ‘integral way of knowing’ which engages and harmonizes our three intelligence centers: heart, mind and movement. This will be an experiential gathering with a balance of centering, teaching, and gentle body prayer. Together we will explore ways to weave the different components of Wisdom into our daily life and spiritual practice.
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Sunday Bulletin
For those of you worshiping with us via Livestream, below please find the Sunday bulletin.
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Thrift Shop Donations Needed
The Better Buy Thrift Shop is in need of men’s winter coats.
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Calling all Girl Scouts!
The first and second grades of the Sunday School are ready to order cookies for our Cookie Party. Bring your Cookie order forms to Sunday School Room 6. We will fill out an order.
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Souper Bowl
The J2A class will once again be participating in the Souper Bowl on Sunday, February 3
rd
. Students and mentors will be present at all three Sunday services with their soup pots in tow. Please consider supporting our youth as they begin to prepare for their pilgrimage next summer. Cash and check donations are most welcome. Please include “J2A Pilgrimage” on the memo line of any checks. Thank you!
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Night Songs
Join us Wednesday, February 6 at 9 p.m. in the Cathedral for Night Songs Compline, a sung choral night prayer. Candlelight, beauty, rest – a peaceful end to our day.
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SAVE THE DATE
ANNUAL EVENSONG AND SPAGHETTI SUPPER
Sunday, February 17
th
5:00 p.m. Evensong – Supper to follow
A night of fun and fellowship in support of Nativity Youth Camp
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WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHRISTIANITY? YOUR FAITH? COME JOIN
THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE BOOK CLUB
We meet the Third Wednesday of the month at 1:30 to 3:00 PM in the Goodwin Room. The next meeting will be February 20, 2019. We will be discussing
Explorer’s Guide to Julian of Norwich
by Veronica Rolf.
Didn’t finish the book! Come anyway.
Didn’t read the book! Come anyway.
You never know what you will learn.
Book Choices for the rest of the term:
March:
The Hebrew Bible—Feminist and Intersectional Perspectives
Edited by Gale Yee
April:
Living Into God’s Dream
Edited by Catherine Meeks
May:
Faithful Neighbors
Edited by Robert Heaney ...
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St. John A.M.E. Zion Church
is proud to celebrate 125 years of serving God within the Lehigh Valley community as the area’s oldest African-American Church. Part of continuing this legacy is sharing the African- American experience with others as often as we can.
Our Christian Education Department is offering a lecture, "Blacks in Bethlehem:A History," with Dr. Wandalyn Enix, on the long history of African Americans in Bethlehem.
It will be held on Saturday February 2, 2019 at 2pm at St. John A.M.E. Zion Church 718 Pawnee St. Bethlehem, PA 18015.
For information or any questions, please feel free to contact Bro. Winston Alozie at (610)625-0749, (484) 635-0918, email at
walozie87@hotmail.com
, or call the church at(610)868-8688.
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Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of BES will be held February 5, 2019 at 7:00 pm at Christ UCC. For those interested in hearing more about the program, you are welcome to attend. Reports of various activities as well as plans for the future of this ministry will be presented. If you have any questions, please
contact Dn. Rodney
.
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The Way of Love: Life Transformed
- A Workshop Led by The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining, Saturday, March 2, 9 AM-3 PM, at Episcopal Church of the Mediator, 1620 W. Turner St., Allentown.
Session I
Introduction to
The Way of Love
and Rule of Life
TURN
: Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ (Romans 6:3-11)
Session II
PRAY: Israel’s deliverance at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:10-15:1)
LEARN
: Learn Wisdom and Live (Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21; 9:4b-6)
Midday Worship and Lunch (free will offering)
Session III
BLESS
: A New Heart and a New Spirit (Ezekiel 36:24-28)
REST
: The Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14)
Session IV
WORSHIP
: The Gathering of God’s People (Zephaniah 3:12-20)
GO
: The Empty Tomb (Luke 24:1-12)
Concluding Worship and Commitment Service
The event is free, but registration is required. Register by emailing
mail@episcopalmediator.org
or calling 610-434-0156 by February 22. The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining is Rector of St. Christopher’s Church, Gladwyne, and founder of the online wellness and spirituality community,
The Hive
. She serves on many diocesan and national church ministries, including the Presiding Bishop’s
Way of Love
Committee.
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Emergency Shelter Season 2018-2019
Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering: at Christ UCC Church, 75 E. Market Street. We will be covering the odd numbered Thursdays as we did last year, and will be using SignUp Genius for online registering of volunteers. The dates are December 1 through March 31 as we've done in the past. You can also contact either Deacon Rodney (
rodneyconn@icloud.com
or 484-232-6122) or James Reader (
jim_reader@hotmail.com
or 610-417-7418) should you need assistance in signing up, or if you have any questions.
We need people to help register guests, get them their bunk assignment, prepare and serve meals, chaperone through the night and coordinate clean up in the morning. The shelter will open its doors to guests at 5:00 pm and all guests will be out of the building by 7:00 am. This year there will be at least two paid staff members on site from 4:00 pm until 8:00 am.
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Parishioners in the Hospital
If a family member is hospitalized, please contact either the clergy or leave a message with the parish office (610-865-0727) informing us of who is in the hospital and at which hospital.
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Cathedral Schedule
Friday, February 1
10:00 AM Nativity Staffs the Thrift Shop
Saturday, February 2
9:00 AM Altar Guild Prep – Cathedral
10:00 AM Thrift Shop Open Until 1 PM
5:00 PM Holy Eucharist – Cathedral
Sunday, February 3
8:00 AM Holy Eucharist - Cathedral
8:45 AM 321 Contact Worship Service - Sayre Hall
9:20 AM Sunday School & Adult Forum
10:30 AM Holy Eucharist - Cathedral
Monday, February 4
9:00 AM Flower Arranging for Hospital Visitations - Sacristy
3:45 PM Homework Club - Welcome Place
Tuesday, February 5
9:30 AM Nativity Serves at New Bethany Meal Center
1:00 PM Al-Anon Meeting - Room 21
3:00 PM New Bethany Ministries Staff Meeting - Room 22
3:45 PM Homework Club - Welcome Place
7:00 PM Daughters of the King - Good Shepherd Chapel
Wednesday, February 6
9:00 AM Holy Eucharist | Healing Service - Good Shepherd Chapel
9:30 AM EfM - Room 22
10:00 AM Nativity Staffs the Thrift Shop
3:15 PM Private Tutoring - Dining Room
3:45 PM Homework Club - Welcome Place
5:30 PM Cathedral Choristers Rehearsal - Choir Room
6:30 PM EfM - Goodwin Room
6:30 PM New Bethany Ministries Parenting Class - Good Shepherd Chapel, Nursery
7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal - Choir Room
8:30 PM Centering Prayed - Good Shepherd Chapel
9:00 PM Night Songs Compline - Cathedral
Thursday, February 7
10:00 AM Nativity Staffs the Thrift Shop
3:45 PM Homework Club - Welcome Place
7:00 PM Cathedral Handbell Choir Rehearsal - Bishop Gray Room
7:00 PM S-Anon - Room 21
Friday, February 8
10:00 AM Nativity Staffs the Thrift Shop
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Cathedral Church of the Nativity
321 Wyandotte Street | Bethlehem PA 18015
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