Baseball, Sanctuary, and Courage
I love baseball. I have known it all my conscious life. I played the game as a little leaguer and then in high school. Many summers were filled playing on the sandlot with neighborhood friends and following the pros with fervor and intent. My very first baseball game in Philadelphia, I saw Juan Marichal, the greats, Willie Mays and Willie McCovey play against a very poor Philadelphia Phillies team. A season later on a September evening I saw Roberto Clemente get his 2,999
th
hit in Veteran’s Stadium. Cy Young award winner Steve Carlton was the pitcher for the Phillies and I believe won his 27
th
ballgame that night. (Lucky me!) Clemente would go on to Pittsburg to pick up his 3,000
th
hit, and then that winter, would die tragically in a plane crash while part of a humanitarian relief team attempting to deliver supplies to Nicaragua where an earthquake had occurred. I love baseball because it connects me to my Father who passed on the passion for the game to me. It never fails that when I am at a game, I feel my Father’s presence. I consider this a great gift.
I realize I find sanctuary in baseball. An idealized escape that reminds me of all that was good in my childhood; the relationships created, the enjoyment of the game and of course my Dad. It connects me also to my friends, male and female, who adore the game and adore engaging in “baseball talk”. I also recognize it is a great escape from the heaviness the world’s struggles sometimes bring. The unsteady and unhealthy political climate in which we live. The pain and destruction of natural disaster that seems to be ever present. The persistent nagging evils so alive in our culture, country, and yes Church (capital C) around race, gender, sexual orientation, and acceptance and inclusion.
Two days this week I slipped off the struggle and into the warm embrace of baseball’s spring training. I found there all of the comfort and escape my lifelong friend could afford me. I found Sanctuary. Even though I knew the hailstorm of life was still blowing out there, I took delight in baseball. It occurred to me many reading this may hope for the same when you come to worship, and God knows I hope sometimes you find it.
But then too, I think of Roberto Clemente. The great one. One who couldn’t himself get lost in the game or in his own greatness in playing the game, to the exclusion of the world’s struggles. I remember as a child hearing on the news when his plane went down and he was lost at sea. I remember being somewhat startled when my consciousness expanded by learning that this great person was not only great because he could play the game like no other. I learned that he was courageous. Courageous enough to risk himself in going to the hardest of places to try to relieve suffering. He paid the ultimate price.
Sanctuary is good! It is very good! I would not trade for a moment the gift that baseball provides for me. Yet too there is courage. I’ll pray for some of that too.
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Adult Forums:
Mar. 3
Pancake Breakfast
Mar. 10
Rebecca Randall:
Cultivating a Forgiving Self
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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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Pancake Breakfast
On Sunday, March 3
rd
, the Cathedral will be holding a Pancake Breakfast from 8:45 – 10:15. (8:45 AM 321 Worship will take place!) Come be filled with food, fellowship and fun as we prepare for the Lenten season. There will be games for young and old alike. Test your knowledge of Lent trivia with a Jeopardy type game displayed on the big screen. You won’t want to miss “Pancaking the Dean”! It’s not just a game for kids…
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You are invited to the Cookie Party on Sunday March 10!
Children will find cookies and milk in the downstairs hall close to Sunday School Room 6 Adults will find cookies in the dining room. Please help yourselves before Sunday education begins.Brought to you by the First and Second grade of the Sunday School
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Wednesdays in Lent!
A Journey with Luke
Featuring E-resident The Rev. Dr. Tim Luckritz Marquis. Join us Wednesday evenings in Lent for a Journey into the good news as told in the Gospel of Luke. We will welcome Dr. Tim Luckritz Marquis, New Testament Biblical Scholar as our e-resident, and presenter for some of our sessions. You come along for the journey as well with a resource book from forwardmovement.org,
A Journey with Luke: The 50 Day Bible Challenge
. A combination of scholarly presentation, personal study and reflection, and group conversation will lead us deeper into the discovery of God’s Love and inspiration for our own lives.
Join us March 13 through April 17.
Wednesday in Lent Format:
5:45 p.m. Holy Eucharist and Simple Chants (Cathedral)
6:15 p.m. Covered Dish Supper (Bring something to share)
7-8 p.m. A journey with Luke.
Book: Order through the office, $15 check payable to the Cathedral. Also available for your own download on Kindle, Nook and iTunes. To register, email
teisenreich@nativitycathedral.org
or call the church office at 610-865-0727.
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Holy Dodgeball!
Nativity will be hosting an evening of dodgeball, pizza, and ice cream on Saturday, March 9 from 6-8:30 pm. All youth are invited to attend. Doors will open at 5:45 pm and pick up is no later than 8:30 pm. Please RSVP through sign up genius or text 570-881-7909 no later than March 8 so we may plan for the food and fun!
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Organ Birthday Recital
with Erik and Anna Meyer, organ and flute, offering some recent compositions by Erik, and other brilliant compositions for the combination. Sunday, March 17, 4 p.m. Suggested donation of $10 or more.
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Phila Book Club News
We are reading
The House At Sugar Beach
by Helene Cooper for the month of March. We will be meeting on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 11:00 am in room 23 to discuss it. We hope you can join us. Bring along new book ideas when you come. We are looking forward to seeing you.
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Lenten Quiet Day Retreat with author Barbara Crafton
will provide insights and inspiration at a time when many Christians seek to deepen their understanding of Jesus and what it means to live a Christian life. Saturday, March 30, 2019 from 9 AM - 3 PM at
St. Francis Center for Renewal
395 Bridle Path Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18017.
Seating is limited and cost is $25.00 covering workshop materials and a light lunch. It is sponsored by Trinity Episcopal Church of Easton. Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling the church at 610-253-0792.
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Christophany Youth Retreat
April 26 at 6:30 p.m. to April 28 at noon. An event for middle and high school youth. Learn to overcome obstacles with God's help. Join up with youth from around the diocese at Bear Creek Camp in Wilkes-Barre. Activities will include the high and low ropes courses, a talent show, hiking and campfire. The cost to attend is $125. Scholarships are available. Contact Deacon Michele Causton, Coordinator of Diocesan Youth Programs, at
youth@diobeth.org
or visit
HERE
to learn more.
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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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YOU ARE INVITED TO A SPECIAL ART EXHIBIT!
Hope in Hard Times: Prisoners' Art for Social Justice
March 1-April 7, 2019
ArtsQuest’s Banana Factory Arts Center
23 W. 3rd St., Bethlehem
Mondays – Fridays 8:00am-9:30pm
Saturdays & Sundays 8:30am-7:00pm
The Moravian Church’s Eastern District and the Moravian Seminary in Bethlehem invites you to consider how art might engage us in justice and advocacy questions for our time; how do we see the prisoner, and follow Jesus’s call to see him in the lives of the incarcerated?
In this effort, we have partnered with Art for Justice (
www.artforjustice.org
), a non-profit committed to using thought provoking art from certain prisoners in Pennsylvania to promote public dialogue and find ways to reform the criminal justice system. Our hopes are that this art exhibit will remind us of our shared humanity, incarcerated and free, while asking where our own struggles for reform and justice can be found .
We are proud to also partner with and bring this exhibit to ArtQuest’s Banana Factory for free viewing anytime the Banana Factory is open (
www.bananafactory.org
) March 1 - April 7. You are also invited to attend the following special events:
March 1 and April 5, 6 - 9 p.m., First Fridays at the Banana Factory
. Special speakers, projects, and engagements.
March 19, 7 p.m., Lecture at Moravian College’s Prosser Auditorium
Speaker: Tyrone Werts, Soros Fellow, PA Lifer commuted by Gov. Rendell.
March 24, 2 - 4 p.m., Vigil for Hope in the Criminal Justice System at the Banana Factory
. Our keynote speaker, Chester Hollman, Jr. tells the story of his son Chester Hollman III’s wrongful conviction and sentence of life without parole in PA.
More information? Or if you are interested in
special curriculum
for your small group, youth group or congregation as a way to engage further in the art, please contact the Rev. Janel Rice at
janelrice3616@gmail.com
, 610-435-6881.
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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, March 1
10:00 AM Nativity Staffs the Thrift Shop
Saturday, March 2
9:00 AM Altar Guild Prep – Cathedral
9:00 AM Baptism Rehearsal - Cathedral
10:00 AM Thrift Shop Open Until 1 PM
5:00 PM Holy Eucharist – Cathedral
Sunday, March 3
8:00 AM Holy Eucharist - Cathedral
8:45 AM 321 Contact Worship Service - Sayre Hall
8:45 AM Pancake Breakfast - Sayre Hall
10:30 AM Holy Eucharist - Cathedral
11:45 AM Camp Meeting - Good Shepherd Chapel
Monday, March 4
9:00 AM Flower Arranging for Hospital Visitations - Sacristy
3:45 PM Homework Club - Welcome Place
Tuesday, March 5
9:00 AM Nativity Serves at New Bethany Meal Center
1:00 PM Al-Anon Meeting - Room 21
3:45 PM Homework Club - Welcome Place
7:00 PM BSLV Meeting - Dining Room
Wednesday, March 6
7:30 AM Holy Eucharist & Ashes - Good Shepherd Chapel
9:00 AM Holy Eucharist & Ashes - 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
4:30 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 Holy Eucharist & Ashes - Cathedral
Thursday, March 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, March 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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