Nativity Notes: All Saints and the Thin Veil

Nativity Notes

From the Dean

All Saints and the Thin Veil

I arose early that morning to pack the car, to answer email, and to clear things and prepare a morning drive across the state to be with family. The news of my Father’s sudden death had come to me the day before when I was on retreat with my two best friends, Pat and Todd, near the Massachusetts shore. My two soul mates had guided me home to be with family and they lovingly faded into the background so that our family could do our grieving together.

I was sitting alone that morning in a chair with my coffee when my heart and mind was sorting through the years of relationship with my Father. The earliest memories of Christmas mornings, his sending me off to school with a plastic baseball team ring he must have found somewhere on his business travels. His pride-filled presence at my graduations from high school, college, and seminary. There too were the struggles we sometimes had with one another, or at least the struggles we/I may have had with him, and of course the replay of our final phone conversation where he lovingly reached out to me after my own hospitalization for some strange event we still don’t have language for.

There in that space now, I remembered him in my heart. Then he was there. My Father had a unique scent. Perhaps his aftershave or the soap he may have used, but he had a scent that was distinct. A scent that when he hugged you would rub off a bit and you could a few hours later having left his presence smell it in your own clothes and know that he was with you. He was there that morning. In my living room, the day after he died, he was there because I could smell him!

The Celtic folk speak of the thinnest of veils that separate the living from the dead. All Saints Day, is a time when we with intention are asked to remember those we love or who have been loved in such a way that they can even become present to us. This way of remembering is called “Anamnesis”, it is the Greek word we use to describe the way we remember Jesus in the Eucharist. We remember in such a way with our hearts that we know Jesus is present. So it is I believe the way of remembering that is Love. Love that crosses all boundaries, and over which all obstacles are overcome!

This is the theme our stewardship ministry team prayed its way toward. It warmed our hearts as we shared stories of how this community of faith shares its resources of time, talent, and treasure to be people of Jesus and "Kingdom living people".

We move toward our renewed commitment to God's love for us and for the Kingdom work Jesus calls us to in our annual giving campaign. Let us be reminded of Jesus living in our hearts and in what we do together in his name.

Jesus Lives Here

Please join us as we celebrate

The 156th Anniversary of

The Cathedral Church of the Nativity

Sunday, November 4

9:00 a.m. – Mission Presentation: Youth

Sunday School

Breakfast

10:30 a.m. – Festival Eucharist with Dove Release

(Please note: one Sunday service only)

Adult Forums:

November 4 Mission Focus: Youth Ministry and Anniversary Sunday Breakfast

Please help! The Better Buy Thrift Shop is in need of men’s winter clothing.

The Monday flower group is looking for volunteers for a few months for next year. Each Monday a volunteer from the group produces and delivers a beautiful arrangement from the Sunday altar flowers to our hospitalized parishioners. Please call Angelica Baez for more information at 610-509-0659 or email at angie73@rcn.com .

Take the Bible Challenge! A Journey with Matthew This 50 day study follows the good news of Christ as revealed to us through the Gospel of Matthew. Study book allows for daily reading and reflection. Weekly gathering led by Dean Pompa invites us to discover together major themes of the Gospel and share our discoveries with one another. Tuesdays, October 9 through November 27, 7-8PM at the Cathedral. To register email teisenreich@nativitycathedral.org or call the church office at 610-865-0727. Order your workbook through the office - $15.00 check payable to the Cathedral. Also available for your own download on Kindle, Nook, and iTunes.

Night Songs Join us November 7 and every first Wednesday of the month 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.

Priscilla Payne Hurd Lecture Series on Church and Society Please join us on Saturday, November 10, 11:30AM to 4:30PM, for an afternoon of learning and experiencing Spiritual Healing and Wholeness. Dr. Tricia Kelly, Breast Surgeon, and Rev. Wilma Alvarez, Cancer Counselor, at St Luke’s University Health Network will share their knowledge and practice of going beyond conventional medicine to treat their patients. Conference participants will also experience three small group healing sessions with experts in their fields. Sessions in Guided Meditation, Reiki, Qigong, Yoga, Art Therapy, and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment will be offered. A Celtic Spirituality service will immediately follow the conference. $10 registration fee. Additional $10 charge for optional lunch. For more information and to register.

Thanksgiving Basket Donations

On Sunday, November 18th as part of our annual in-gathering, you are invited to share in thanksgiving by bringing a food item for Thanksgiving basket distribution by New Bethany Ministries. Please bring canned vegetables, canned pumpkin, boxed jello, canned cranberry sauce, canned gravy, turkey, boxed stuffing, and boxed mashed potatoes.

You can bring the items at any time before the day and place them in the basket in the Narthex or bring them that day. If you are donating a turkey, please do not bring it before November 18 ^th . Turkeys may be put in the freezer on November 18 ^th .

We will prepare the boxes during “Forum Time” while enjoying a light breakfast together on our annual in-gathering Sunday.

November 18 Evensong The Evensong originally scheduled for Sunday, November 18 at 5 p.m. has been canceled.

Want to learn more about Christianity? Your faith? Come join the Exploring Christian Literature Book Club! We meet the third Wednesday of the month at 1:30 to 3:00 in the Goodwin Room. The next meeting will be December 19. We will be discussing A Man Called Mark: The Biography of Bishop Mark Dyer by Tom Linthicum. Didn’t finish the book? Come anyway. Didn’t read the book? Come anyway. Interested in one of the books? Come anyway. You never know what you will learn. Book choices for the rest of the term: JAN- The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, FEB- Explorer’s Guide to Julian of Norwich by Veronica Mary Rolf, MAR- The Hebrew Bible-Feminist and Intersectional Perspectives edited by Gale Yee, APR- Lving Into God’s Dream edited by Catherine Meeks, MAY- Faithful Neighbors edited by Robert Heaney, et al.

53rd Community Advent Breakfast Saturday, December 1, 8:30AM (doors open at 8AM) at Moravian Village of Bethlehem, Main Dining Room. Speaker: Alan Jennings, Executive Director of Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley. Full served breakfast, beeswax candle service, Moravian Trombone Choir, Moravian Men’s Singers, Broughal Southside Singers. $15/person, $9 for children 16 and under. Advance tickets only. Cathedral deadline: November 20. Checks payable to “GLVCC Foundation”. To purchase tickets call the Church office (610-865-0727) or email teisenreich@nativitycathedral.org .

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.

Cathedral Schedule

Friday, November 2

10:00 AM Nativity Staffs the Thrift Shop

7:00 PM Perfect Pairings - Cathedral (Tickets Required)

Saturday, November 3

9:00 AM Altar Guild Prep – Cathedral

10:00 AM Thrift Shop open until 1 PM

5:00 PM Holy Eucharist – Cathedral

Sunday, November 4

9:00 AM Anniversary Breakfast | Sunday School | Adult Formation

10:30 AM Holy Eucharist - Cathedral

2:00 PM Private Recording - Cathedral

Monday, November 5

9:00 AM Flower Arranging for Hospital Visitation - Sacristy

3:45 PM Homework Club - Welcome Place

Tuesday, November 6

Polling Place

9:30 AM Nativity Serves at New Bethany Meal Center

1:00 PM History Group - History Room

1:00 PM Al-Anon Meeting - Room 21

7:00 PM Daughters of the King - Good Shepherd Chapel

7:00 PM Journey with Matthew - Dining Room

Wednesday, November 7

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 - Good Shepherd Chapel

3:45 PM Homework Club - Welcome Place

4:30 PM Cathedral Choristers Rehearsal - Choir Room

6:30 PM Campus Planning Meeting - Dining 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 Prayer - Good Shepherd Chapel

9:00 PM Night Songs Compline - Cathedral

Thursday, November 8

10:00 AM Nativity Staffs the Thrift Shop

3:45 PM Homework Club - Welcome Place

6:30 PM Discover Islam Program - Dining Room

7:00 PM Cathedral Handbell Choir Rehearsal - Bishop Gray Room

7:00 PM S-Anon - Room 21

Friday, November 9

10:00 AM Nativity Staffs the Thrift Shop

Cathedral Calendar

Cathedral Church of the Nativity

321 Wyandotte Street | Bethlehem PA 18015

NativityCathedral.org

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