|
|
Immanuel Church, Highlands
January 17, 2021
Volume 18, Number 2
The Second Sunday After The Epiphany
|
|
|
THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY |
|
Please note that if you are viewing this email in Microsoft Outlook, the newsletter image may be stretched out wider than usual. This is a result of some very recent changes made by Microsoft. Our vendor is working with them to resolve this issue.
|
|
“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Mark 12:28 – 31
“How are you?”
These days, this is the most common question I’m asked. I appreciate being asked, though I do not always want to answer truthfully. I want to say, “good,” but that’s not grammatically correct. (You’re supposed to say “well.”) “Fine” is an even bigger trap...I think we all know what FINE stands for. (Flipping out, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional). I am not always at 100%, but I remember sixth grade Spanish class where we learned the response, “así, así.” It translates, “so-so.” It’s a safe and accurate representation of how I’ve felt lately.
Even a week later, the events of the past week, and really these many months have jarred me, and I know it effects many of you. I am angry about it. As a priest. As an American. As a human. My heart cries out for Shalom...for the peace of God that passes all understanding. Across the planet our brothers and sisters are walking through the wilderness. One radio interviewer asked a religious leader, “How do you process this?” The answer was one of resolve, love and might. He said, “The instinct is to hunker down in fear and hate and anger. That is unacceptable. We need to be the light. We are called to be the light. That is how we move forward. It is the only way we move forward. We’ve been through our Hitlers. We’ve suffered the Klan and the hate of our own citizens. We are people of the light, and we will be the light, so that we might stand and walk forward.”
This witness is humbling to say the least. While I still live with anger and fear, I understand better that the way of light – the way of moving forward – is the same as Jesus’ way of love. This attack on Washington, perpetrated by hate, must not shake our love for one another. In the face of such a crisis, and in our current vacuum of national leadership, it is more important than ever that we be the Church; that we choose a Gospel witness of love and charity.
Do we see the reality of things done and left undone? Do we see and act on the needs of our neighbor – the poor and marginalized? Do we see and act on the injustices of the world?
We will not make peace with evil. We must and we should continue our walk toward the love of God for all people through our Lord Jesus Christ. All this we do for the sake of love, and for the freedom and equality and compassion and welcome that this love of God requires of us.
Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief.
Do justly, now.
Love mercy, now.
Walk humbly now.
You are not obligated to complete the work,
but neither are you free to abandon it.
- The Talmud
Faithfully,
Curt+
|
|
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED!
The immediate need is someone to teach/spend time with our older kids (5th – 8th) via ZOOM on Sunday mornings @ 11:00 am.
In the future, we will need others for Children’s Chapel and other activities. This invitation is for any adult in our parish who hears the call to facilitate Christian Education. We will make every attempt to rotate teachers. Curriculum is provided.
Here are the job requirements:
1. A heart for God
2. A heart for children
3. Faith in God’s word
4. Dedication
5. A willingness to grow
God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
|
|
PARISH BUILDINGS CLOSED
Bishop Brown, in line with the state’s guidelines, is encouraging the “stay at home” directive. During this time, our parish office will be officially closed. Office staff members will be in and out as they need to. If anyone has an absolute need to be in the building, i.e. altar guild, flowers, deliveries, etc., contact the Parish Office via phone or email and schedule a time to come in. Please do not “drop by.” This is all an unfortunate matter of safety for all concerned.
You can read Bishop Brown's letter here:
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we all navigate these difficult and ever-changing times.
|
|
Bishop Brown – COVID Response #19 | Choosing a Path of Love
Read Bishop Brown's latest (January 6, 2021) COVID response letter here:
|
|
ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
THE SERMON ON TH MOUNT
MATTHEW CHAPTERS 5-7
LED BY FR. CURTIS KENNINGTON
This Sunday, January 17, 2020, our Adult Sunday School class will discuss Matthew 5:13-20 of the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount text is provided below to download and read. Please note that the text is in the form of a sermon (no verse numbers) with room for notes on each page. Please read these verses before we meet on Sunday.
Some questions to consider from Fr Curt:
- Who is the significance of salt? Why this metaphor? (What does it preserve?)
- “Light” and “darkness” in the context of social justice.
- Jesus, a rabbi, helps interpret the law. Who are we listening to to interpret today’s laws?
- How are these words a call to Social Justice?
We meet via zoom with class beginning at 11:00am and ending at noon. Our discussions include the Bible in today’s word with a focus on Social Justice. We welcome you to join us. To receive a zoom invite please email your email address to lynnewsom@gmail.com by Saturday evening to be added to the list. If you do not have a smartphone or computer, please call Lyn at 302-584-2596. You will be able to call a class member on the phone just before 11:00am on Sunday to listen to and participate in our discussion.
|
|
CAMP ARROWHEAD SUMMER 2021 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! |
|
Lessons & Readings for Sunday, January 17, 2021
- Venite, Psalm 95:1-7
-
Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17, Domine, probasti
- The First Lesson: 1 Samuel 3:1-10
- The Gospel: John 1:43-51
|
|
Parish Intercessions
This week we pray especially for:
- The Anglican Church of Australia
- Daughters Of The King & Anamchara Fellowship
- AIDS Delaware
- Our Wardens and Vestry
- All serving the needs of the world during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Those in need of our prayers for strength, guidance or healing
- Those who actively serve in our armed forces throughout the world
- Those who have died, and for the comfort of their families and all who have died from the COVID-19 virus
|
|
WORSHIP WITH US EVERY SUNDAY ON FACEBOOK LIVE!
Immanuel Church, Highlands LIVESTREAMS Sunday Services each week at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome to join with us in worship by going to the Immanuel Church Highlands Facebook Page around 9:20 a.m. and the service will come to you without anything else needed!
When you get to our page there is a link to the weeks worship bulletin with which you can follow the service.
Just use the following link and you are ready to join in our virtual worship service.
|
|
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES!
Birthdays
January 9 Amanda [Mandy] Taylor
January 11 Maria duPont
January 13 Alison Bennett
January 13 Barb Volko
January 16 Melissa Molter
January 19 Alexis Jeynes
January 19 Bonnie Swan
January 20 Alan Dages
January 21 Julie Donohue
January 22 Kay Kennedy-Wack
January 23 Katelyn Hendrix
January 31 William Hendrix
|
|
"FEED MY SHEEP." JOHN 21:15-17
EPIPHANY HOUSE DINNERS
Meals for Friendship House Phase 1 Women's Epiphany House Shelter will now be on the 4th Sunday of the month. Currently we are preparing home cooked meals for approximately 2-8 residents., including staff, and dropping off curbside to their location on Union Street. Call (302) 428-0151 when dropping off for curbside assistance. Currently, the COVID-19 restrictions are still in place, which will not allow us to share meals with the residents.
The residents and staff are grateful for the ongoing meals. Our next date is January 24th, 2021.
Please contact Connie Shultz at connieshultz@hotmail.com or (302) 737-1032 / (302) 373-1281 for opportunities to serve. You may also contact Kristen Reisor, Friendship House Meals Coordinator at kristenreisor@friendship house.org
EMMANUEL DINING ROOM
The next dinner at Emmanuel Dining Room will be on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. We will prepare the meal that day at 8:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall Kitchen.
ANDREW'S PLACE
The next dinner for Andrew's Place will be on Saturday, February 6, 2021. Please contact Alex Lehr-Maunder if you would like to participate in creating the meal.
|
|
IMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH, HIGHLANDS, WELCOMES ALL. IT IS OUR PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US. WE JOYFULLY GATHER TO PRAY, WORSHIP, LEARN AND SERVE AS WE SEEK TO FOLLOW JESUS. WE WELCOME SEEKERS AND DOUBTERS. WE INVITE ALL PEOPLE ON A JOURNEY OF HOPE AND TRANSFORMATION. EMBRACING THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS, OUR WELCOME KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES OF RACE, AGE, ETHNICITY, SEXUAL IDENTITY, EDUCATION, SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS, RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND, OR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ABILITY.
JOIN US FOR WORSHIP ON SUNDAYS AT 9:30 AM, AND ON WEDNESDAYS AT 12:15 PM.
|
|
Diocese of Delaware, Online News & Delaware Communion
The Anglican Communion
Highlands Voice Deadline: 4:00 p.m. each Tuesday for the next week’s issue.
Jon Barrett, Parish Administrator and Highlands Voice Editor
Office hours: 8:30 – 1:30, Monday through Friday.
Phone: 302.658.7326
|
|
2400 West 17th Street
Wilmington, DE 19806
Phone: (302) 658-7326
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
