Letter From The Rector - St. Cyprian`s Episcopal Church
Transcription
Letter From The Rector - St. Cyprian`s Episcopal Church
ST. CYPRIAN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH NEWSLETTER November, 2015 Letter From The Rector Stewardship and Evangelism On November 8th, we will celebrate Loyalty Sunday, a time to recommit ourselves to the work of Christ on our Peninsular, in our Diocese and in the world. Stewardship and evangelism are two important themes for the spiritual journey. The two are inextricably bound together. The better we are at stewardship, the more evangelistic we become. The more evangelistic we are, the better stewards we become. The Christian Church is a proselytizing community. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and make disciples. Baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things as I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28: 19-20). We are called to make disciples who in turn make other disciples. We are the result of this disciple making activity. Those who gave birth to this parish understood their responsibility to blaze a trail, to chart the way, to provide for the future of generations yet unborn. We now stand where they stood. We must continue to blaze the trail. We must continue to chart the way. We must continue to provide for the future. As a collective body of believers, we have inherited many wonderful gifts. We have the opportunity, in fact, the obligation to pass these gifts on to the next generations of Christians who will follow us. We can only do so if we follow the example of those who went before us. We must encourage others to follow Christ, to join us in our parish life, and we must be satisfied only when we have given as much, if not more than those who established this community in very difficult times more than a century ago. Those who have died have done their job. They have gone to live with God. It is now our responsibility to continue to invite others, welcome the stranger and develop effective ways of reaching the lost with the Gospel of Christ. Several years ago, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church embraced tithing as the biblical standard for giving to the Church of Christ. The Letter to the Hebrews says, “But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved” (Hebs.10:39). I believe that we must begin to embrace this standard more broadly. We must go forward believing that our faithful stewardship will yield the abundant blessings of God. I encourage you to reflect on the many ways God has blessed your life and then commit to a higher standard of stewardship and a more intentional style of evangelism than you have known in the past. In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul gives us this glowing encouragement: “Glory to God whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever” (Eph. 3:20). The Bible assures us that God is faithful. God will provide. God will supply all our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. There is, however, one “catch.” God is faithful if we are faithful. God is faithful if we are obedient. We must do our part. Our future is in our hands. The stewardship decisions we make individually and collectively will determine how we live into this place of prosperity and abundance. Jesus said, “I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” We must choose this life; this abundant living. Ronald E. Ramsey 2 Around the Parish Loyalty Sunday is on November 8th 18th Annual Margaret Phillips Davis Concert Theme: “Caring, Sharing & Serving” Saturday, November 21, 2015 … 4 p.m. Randall Hall, St. Cyprian’s Theme: MPD Salutes Our Youth Although Stewardship should be observed yearround, our campaign began in earnest on Sunday, October 11th. On that day, a stewardship letter and pledge card were handed out to those present and mailed to those who were not here. The congregation has heard stewardship talks at both services from several parishioners. Our youth are also encouraged to complete a pledge card for year 2016. Please be ready on November 8th to make your commitment to the work of our parish by bringing your completed pledge card. A special celebration Coffee Hour will end the day, hosted by the Men’s Club and the Stewardship Committee. We look forward to your presence and your support . ~ Stewardship Committee Presiding Bishop’s Installation On Sunday, November 1st, our service schedule will be 8:30am and 10:00am. We will gather in the Parish Hall after the 10am service to watch a live stream of the Installation of the 27th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry. The Installation will be held at the Washington National Cathedral at 12 noon. Please pray for Bishop Curry, his family and the whole Anglican Communion as we approach this historic moment. Performers will include ...Cellist and Violinist Kearston and Kendall Gonzales, Pianists Te’ah and Tiannah Washington, Violinist Taylor Williamson, Violinist Ayisha Wynne, Classical Vocalist Treasyri Williams and Current Scholarship Recipient, Violinist Promise Paulden, a junior music major at Hampton University. Letters and donor forms are available at church for all parishioners. In order to be listed on the program, all donations must be received by November 14th. Circle #2 hopes you will join them for an evening of beautiful music and fellowship. All Are Invited to St. John’s and St. George’s On Sunday, November 8th at 4 pm, a Service of Repentance, Reconciliation and Healing will be held at St. John’s Church, Hampton. The following churches are sponsoring this event: St. Cyprian’s; St. Augustine’s, Newport News; and Emmanuel and St. John’s, Hampton. Canon Michael Spear-Jones will be the preacher. The four choirs will present a special anthem in addition to a performance by Weyanoke, an a cappella vocal ensemble specializing in the songs and stories of the African Diaspora. St. Cyprian's is being asked to bring the pies for this occasion. Sign-up sheets for donating a pie and for riding the mini-bus are on the hallway table. St. George’s Episcopal Church, 15446 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, will also hold a service of Repentance, Reconciliation and Healing on Thursday, November 5th, with dinner at 6 p.m. and the service at 7 p.m. Fr. Ramsey will participate in St. George’s service as a Co-Celebrant. All are invited to both events. 3 Sunday School is Here !! Enroll in St. Cyprian’s new Sunday School program. Registration and “Open House” will take place on November 8th beginning at 10:30 a.m. for all children from pre-kindergarten to age 12. Sunday School classes will be held on the 2nd and 3rd Sundays of each month from 10:45 am to 11:45 am beginning this month. Don’t miss out on the opportunity for meaningful Christian education for YOUR child. For more information, please contact Juanita Alexander or the Church Office. Adult Bible Study All are invited to join with the group on any Wednesday, 11am— 12 noon. Fill A Stocking Program Circle 1 requests your support of St. Cyprian’s second year of participating in the Salvation Army’s Holiday Drive, " Fill a Stocking Program." This program is for children from newborn to age 12. Some suggested items needed are small toys, toothbrushes, toothpaste, small books, pens/pencils, crayons, combs, brushes, stickers and socks. We will place three large boxes on the Parish Hall stage with a detailed list of items needed for each box. The Salvation Army needs to fill over 3,000 stockings for children who live in the Peninsula area this Christmas. The Fill a Stocking Fund Drive will run from November 1st to December 10th. On December 11th, Circle 1 will stuff the stockings and deliver them to the Salvation Army. We appreciate all contributions to help our Peninsula children have a wonderful and blessed Christmas. Members of Circle #1 Correction to Directory Karen Scales 5132 Goldsboro Dr., #5 Hampton VA 23605 Found Please check the table near the windows in Randall Hall to see if the baking pans, plastic container and tote bags may be yours. Flower Calendar The 2016 Altar Flower Calendar is posted on the hallway bulletin board. If you can donate flowers in memory or thanksgiving for a loved one, please sign up or call the office (7238253). 4 Prayer Requests For our Sick, Shut-Ins, & Those in the Military Will Canty, III Jett Cobb Mary Cooke Connie Daniels Crystal Diggs Olive Ezell Jodie A. James Mary Kelley Nathaniel McMillan Ronald Minor Sylvester & Gwen Newsome Norma Pinkelton Tinea Savage-Otey Cynthia Sutherland Cornelius A. Taylor, III Shut-Ins Minnie Bembry Joyce Lomax Wilbert & Jeannette Lovett Cora Mae Reid Mary Robinson Alice Young Those in the Military….. John “Holland” Watkins (son of John & Maria Watkins, U.S.Navy, on-board the USS James E. Williams. Miles Wilkerson (son of Dorian Wilkerson) United Arab Emirates. Michael Taylor (nephew of Cornelius A Taylor III). LaToya Artis (niece of Dr. Minnie Stiff). Luke Carpenter, III (grandson of Bill & Fannie Walls). Thanks to… Those who supported the ECW’s Fundraising Brunch on October 4th including Co-Chairs Gail Jones and Kim Canty, all who attended, and Kim and Juanita Alexander for donating decorations. All who supported the October 17th Yard Sale, including the Men’s Club. Ele Pritchett and Juanita Alexander for decorating the hallway Stewardship bulletin board. Stewardship speakers Sam Ewell, Henry Russell, Stephanie Kendall, Juanita Alexander, Barbara Savage and Renee Torres. Circle #2 for hosting Coffee Hour during October and for preparing a special table for children on Children’s Sabbath (October 18th), complete with their own special goodies and balloons. Billie Wilson, Audrey Cobb and Lucretia Clayton for donating the items needed for 75 bag lunches the ECW will prepare on October 31st. The Church Growth Task Force for hosting Harvest Fun Night on Friday, October 30th. Continued thanks to Juanita Alexander for keeping our bulletin boards up-to-date and to Delores Minor for getting news of our parish to The Daily Press. We appreciate each of you ! 5 BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES 11/1 Alice Young 11/1 Brittany Barnes 11/3 Dorian Wilkerson 11/4 Gloria Whittico 11/5 Nicole Vinson Jenkins 11/5 Delores Minor 11/6 Broderick Ames 11/9 Donna Davis 11/14 Mary Cooke 11/14 Cynthia Sutherland 11/15 Rudolph Pritchett 11/17 Danielle Jackson 11/19 Deborah Davis 11/20 Kimberly Canty 11/21 Scott Jones 11/24 Mary Robinson 11/26 Minnie Stiff 11/27 Patricia Dixon 11/30 Will Canty, III 11/24 Jett & Audrey Cobb 11/26 Fr. Ronald & Jean Ramsey 11/30 Allen & Gail Jones If we missed your birthday or anniversary, please let us know by calling the Church Office (723-8253). During worship, the week of your birthday or anniversary, you may come to the altar rail for a special blessing. Prayer Requests ...for those who have died and their families: Margot Jordan Williams of Norfolk, VA (10/25/15)sister of Fannie J. Walls Frank James of New York—uncle of Jodie A. James Benjamin Hankins of Carrollton, VA (9/21/15) brother of Marilyn Outlaw Evans, Joan Totten & Rita Tucker Edna Humphrey of Petersburg, VA (10/29/15)—godmother of Dr. Renee Torres. +May the souls of the faithful departed, by the mercy of God, rest in peace and may light perpetual shine upon them+ Remembering Our Saints Those Who Died between November 2014 and November 2015 Carolyn H. Winston – Carolyn departed this life on February 10, 2015. She faithfully attended the 8:30 service with her family and was a member of the Episcopal Church Women. Lenne’ S. Davis – Lenne’ departed this life on March 13, 2015. She had joined the elite ranks of the “50 Year-Plus Group and was a member of the Episcopal Church Women. She enjoyed volunteering with the Girl Scout Troops of the Church. Mae Barbee Pleasant – “Barbee” departed this life on April 14, 2015. A dedicated and active member and had joined the elite ranks of the 50 Year-Plus Group. Her activities included serving with the Eucharistic Ministers, Daughters of the King, Circle One, Episcopal Church Women and Vestry and as Historiographer. She served on many boards and commissions on the Diocesan level. “Barbee” was most proud of her tenue as a lay trustee of the Virginia Theological Seminary. Julia Bassett - Julia departed this life on April 19, 2015. A dedicated member and attendee of the 8:30 service who supported her Church with her time, talent and treasure. Chester E. Dixon, Jr. – Chet departed this life on December 26, 2014. Though not a member, he attended the 8:30 service with his wife, Pat, and gave of his time, talent and treasure in support of St. Cyprian’s. They are gone but not forgotten. Submitted by the Celebrations Committee 6 Servers’ Schedule — November 1 thru 29, 2015 Note: Ushers each Sunday at 8:30 are Henry Russell, L. C. Wyatt, Alberta Reid November 1—All Saints’ Day Acolytes: 8:30 Alberta Reid 10:00 Scott, Lindsey & Lauren Jones; Shane Otey, Simone Griffin EM’s: 8:30 Deborah Davis; 10:00 Ardelle Anderson Services on Lector: 10:00 Connie Daniels Altar Guild Jean Boyd, Maria Watkins November 1st at 8:30 and Ushers: 10:00 Bill Walls, Sam Ewell, Will Canty 10 a.m. Greeter: Maria Watkins November 8— The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost Acolytes: 8:30 DeLaine Headen 11:00 Alexis Canty, Jordyn Hester, Lucretia Clayton, Jenise Blount EM’s: 8:30 DeLaine Headen; 11:00 Dr. Gloria Whittico, Olive Ezell, Connie Daniels Lector: 11:00 Stacey Hester Altar Guild: Lucretia Clayton, Lora Ham, Ele Pritchett, Delores Minor Ushers: 11:00 Connie McCullough, Regal DuBose, Barbara Ward Greeter: Connie Daniels November 15—The Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost Acolytes: 8:30 Dr. Renee Torres 11:00 Scott, Lindsey & Lauren Jones; Shane Otey, Simone Griffin EM’s: 8:30 Sandra Corbin; 11:00 Olive Ezell, Connie Daniels Lector: 11:00 Mary Jackson Altar Guild: Deborah Davis, Stacey Hester, Fannie J. Walls Ushers: 11:00 Sylvester Newsome, Marshal Jackson, Lucretia Clayton, John Watkins Greeter: Laura L. Manigault November 22—The Last Sunday after Pentecost (Christ the King) Acolytes: 8:30 Jerome Sheppard 11:00 Alexis Canty, Jordyn Hester, Lucretia Clayton, Jenise Blount EM’s: 8:30 Deborah Davis; 11:00 Darlene Jackson, Dr. Norma Pinkelton Lector: 11:00 Gail Jones Altar Guild Pat Dixon, Laura L. Manigault, Barbara Ward Ushers: 11:00 Earl Hester, Stacey Hester, Mark Farquharson Greeter: John Watkins November 29—The First Sunday of Advent Acolytes: 8:30 DeLaine Headen 11:00 Scott, Lindsey & Lauren Jones; Shane Otey, Simone Griffin EM’s: 8:30 Dorian Wilkerson; 11:00 Stephanie Kendall Altar Guild Pat Dixon, Laura L. Manigault, Barbara Ward Ushers: 11:00 Connie McCullough, Regal DuBose, Barbara Ward Greeter: Sam Ewell Psalm by the Speech Choir 7 November, 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 All Saints’ Day 8:30– H.E. 11:00-Bible Study 10:00-H.E. 12noon-View Bp. Curry’s Installation in Randall Hall 8 7:00-H.Bells 9 10 11 Loyalty Day 8:30– H.E. 10:45— Sunday School 11:00-H.E. 22 12 13 14 11:00-Bible Study 8:30– H.E. 10:45—Sunday Sch. Begins 11:00-H.E. 4:00– Service at St. John’s Epis. Church 15 6pm-Dinner & Service of Repentance, Reconciliation & Heal- 11:00-Choir Reh ing @ St. George’s, N.N. 7:15—Vestry 16 17 Maryland Trip monies due 7:00-H.Bells 18 11:00-Choir Reh 19 20 11:00-Bible Study 7:00-H.Bells 23 8:30– H.E. 11:00-H.E. 24 25 11:00-Bible Study 11:00-Choir Reh 26 27 10:00-E.C.W. 21 4:00pm-18th Annual Margaret P. Davis Benefit Concert (Randall Hall) 28 Thanksgiving 7:00-H.Bells Office Closed 29 8:30– H.E. 11:00-H.E. 30 Next Month—A Christmas Cantata, “Upon A Midnight Clear,” will be offered on December 27th at the 11 o’clock service, featuring our Celestial Choir and friends. The Liturgical Arts Travel Ministry will sponsor another bus trip to the Evangel Cathedral in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, on Saturday, December 5, 2015, for a 4 p.m. performance of “A Christmas Celebration.” The total cost of $135 will include transportation by motor coach, box lunch and ticket. Featured artists will be Yolanda Adams, Tamela Mann, Mary Mary and Marvin Sapp. The final installment is due on November 15 th. A flier was e-mailed to members last month or you may check the hallway table if you need a printed copy. 8 St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church Diocese of Southern Virginia The Rt. Rev. Herman Hollerith, IV, Bishop The Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Ramsey, Rector The Rev. Earl R. Christian, Deacon-inResidence Worship Sundays 8:30 am and 11:00 am 3rd Sundays Sacrament of Healing Parish Administrator Search St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, Hampton, Virginia, is seeking a Parish Administrator (18 hrs. per week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday). This administrative position oversees and manages the day-to-day operation and functions of the parish under the direct supervision of the Rector. The Parish Administrator supports the work of the Rector and the Vestry. Post-secondary education preferred in Office Administration, including experience and ability to use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point) and Publisher. Excellent written and oral communication skills required in addition to demonstrated administrative, supervisory, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Knowledge of Episcopal liturgy is preferred. Please forward resumes to: office@stcyprianshamptonva.org. Attention: The Reverend Dr. Ronald E. Ramsey. 4th Sundays 10:45 Praise & Worship Service The Vestry (Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month @ 7:15 pm) Mission Statement: To worship, serve the Lord, and provide opportunities for spiritual growth through service, evangelism and Christian formation. St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church P.O Box 65 Hampton VA 23669-0065 Phone: 757-723-8253 Fax: 757-723-8856 E-Mail: Office@stcyprianshamptonva.org Web Site: http://ww. stcyprianshamptonva.org YouTube: St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, Hampton VA Darlene Jackson (2016) Sr. Warden Samuel Ewell, Jr. (2015) Jr. Warden Karen B. McAdoo (2015) Register Jerome Sheppard (2017) Asst. Treas. Renee Barnes (2017) Kimberly Canty (2017) Lora Ham (2017) Connie McCullough (2015) Martha Milo-Avery (2016) Henry P. Russell, Jr. (2016) Minnie Stiff (2015) Brenda K. Vinson (2016) The Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Ramsey, Rector Deborah R. Davis, Treasurer