January 2016 - Holy Trinity Episcopal Church

The Vine
…
Connecting the Body of Christ
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Essex, 1131 Mace Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21221
1. (410) 687-5531
www.holytrinityessex.org/
htessex@verizon.net
2. January 2016
From3.the Rector
brought to shepherds abiding in the fields, watching
over their sheep by night.
The angel delivered a short sermon to the shepherds
and then broke out in song along with the heavenly
hosts. A sermon and a hymn… the first Christmas
Service was held in the fields with a rag tag bunch of
shepherds.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Merry Christmas
and may God bring you a blessed New Year.
The message began, “Fear not.” The message of
Christ’s coming could not be received in fear. As the
King James Bible relates, “they were sore afraid.”
The shepherds were not alone in their fear. By this
point, the beginning of the second chapter of Luke,
“Fear not,” has been uttered three times by angels,
first to Zachariah when he was told that his wife
Elizabeth would give birth in her old age, then to
Mary who was to conceive and bear Christ, and now
to the shepherds. It is quite possible that all of us
would be struck with fear by the presence of an
angel.
As I write this, we are still a week away from the
Nativity of Our Lord and to tell you the truth it
hasn’t felt very “Christmasy” with the temperature
feeling more like spring than the end of December.
I’d like to have snow on Christmas Eve after we all
get home and have it disappear by January 6th. And
then, as far as I am concerned, the temperature could
head right back into the 70’s. Oh for wishes!
Like Bishop Lancelot Andrewes in 1610 who
preached before King James I at Whitehall I believe
their fear and ours has nothing to do with they or us
doing something wrong or evil. I believe the fear
comes from the fact that angels are messengers from
heaven. Angels are messengers and upon first glance
we do not know whether they bring glad tidings or
not.
Speaking of longing and of wishes, by now, the
people who walked in darkness have seen the great
light which is Christ the Lord. According to Luke,
the first persons to hear this Gospel or Good News
were shepherds and that message was brought to
them by an Angel. How fitting it was that the
yeaning (the birth of a lamb) of the Lamb of God
was told unto shepherds. And how fitting it was that
the birth of the Great and Good Shepherd should be
Here comes an angel from heaven; what news it
brings, we know not, and therefore we fear, because
we just do not know. I believe this unknowing and
fear demonstrates that all is not well between heaven
and earth. Intellectually we may be able to reason
that angels bring good news, but in our state of
being, separated from God and heaven, we fear.
Dear Friends in Christ,
There was no reason for the shepherds to fear and
there is no reason for us to live in fear. “For unto you
is born this day, in the City of David, a Savior which
is Christ the Lord.”
Unfortunately, these days, the media seems to wish
for us to live in fear and trembling. Look at the news
coverage of the mistrial of Officer Porter. It is almost
as if they had hoped for another riot. Look at the
shootings in California and Paris. We hear that
Americans are living in fear. I just don’t understand
it. Yes fourteen Americans were shot to death and
more were severely wounded; however, that means
over 310 million were unharmed. It’s not the world
trade center, it’s not Pearl Harbor, nor is it Antietam.
We can wipe away fear by truly listening to the
angel’s message, that today (that is everyday), Christ
is born. We have the opportunity to receive not just
good news or the Good News, but good tidings of
great joy. Fear is the expectation of evil, while joy is
a feeling of great exuberance and happiness. Fear
and joy do not mix! Joy wins out … if we want it to.
birth to a child. There is no greater joy than this day
(except Easter) because the benefit of this day is that
God has chosen to save us all, body and soul. The
benefit of Jesus’ birth is worthy, not of simple joy
like a lamb or a child, but great joy, the greatest of
all joys.
Jesus came into the world to save us from our sins.
One of the greatest sins is to live in fear. Therefore,
if we live knowing that God came into the world in
human form, and lived, died and rose again for us,
how can we let fear win out?
My brothers and sisters, it is my Christmas prayer
that we and all humankind will ponder the words
spoken to Zachariah, Mary, and the shepherds…,”
Fear not!”
We have received good tidings of great joy, not bad
tidings of evil or calamity. Jesus is the anointed one
of God, the Christ, the King of Kings and the Lord of
Lords and he will save us from our sin death and
fear. Praise God from who all blessings flow this
Christmastide and forever.
Wishing you a joyous and Chrstimastide and a fearless
New Year, I am …
Yours in Christ,
And so I say to you that this joy, like the joy of the
birth of any child, is for you, for me, and for all
people. Christ has come to save us, to reconcile us to
God so that things between heaven and earth are put
right.
So, like the angel of the Lord, I say to you, “Fear
not.” This joy is not like a shepherd when his ewe
gives birth to a lamb or like when his wife gives
From the Deacon’s Bench -- A kind
of bench whose hinged seat is also the lid of an
enclosed storage compartment.
In 1998 I left STC and went to work in the Emergency
Department at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. I
completed by Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing at
Notre Dame University in 2004 and in the following fall, I
stopped working, so to speak, and moved to Philadelphia
(Mon-Fri when not on call) to attend anesthesia school at
Villanova University/Crozier Medical Center. In
November of 2006 I received my Master’s Degree in
Nurse Anesthesia and began working at York Hospital in
York, PA in 2007.
After completing my degrees, I felt something was
missing in my life; I attended church regularly, but needed
more. I just happened (yeah right!) to run into a deacon
visiting our church and she sent me information on the
program. The information sat in my email for a couple
years; I was going to get to in sometime!
Then there was a little unrest at my church, I did some
church hopping but didn’t find what I was looking for!
Suddenly, the old email popped up while I was on my
computer, and I realized God was making me
uncomfortable because there was something else He
wanted me to do. So being a lifelong Episcopalian, as well
as a lifelong member of St. Thomas’ in Towson, I made
the decision to enter the deacon program.
It is a 5-year total commitment, the first 2 years are a
discernment period to decide which path you think you are
moved to go (priest vs. deacon). Then after interviews
with the Commission on Ministry; if approved, you are
moved into the Deacon Formation Process. I am now in
my third year and final year of formation. We are required
to do a small internship in our first year, as well as,
attending an 8 month social ministry program.
Dear Friends,
I thought I would share with you a bit about myself and
the deacon program. I was born and raised in northeast
Baltimore City. I have been married 35 years on January
18th to my husband Tom. We lived in Hamilton for 30
years, and moved to Harford County 5 years ago. We
have 2 children, Ryan 33, married to his wife Lauren, they
The second year, I took a pastoral education class that
have twin (not identical) boys Sam and Caleb who are 3,
meet weekly for 36 weeks at the GBMC Spiritual Center;
and a third boy due in February.
and then of course the third year is a 9 month internship at
My other son Doug, 30, also has 2 boys, Landon who is 6 a church, which obviously, is where I am now (and loving
and Hudson who is 5. I have 2 older brothers Bill and Bob it!!).
(yes I am the baby and only girl, but No, I was not
During these 3 years, we are attending monthly overnight
spoiled!!). I graduated what was then Essex Community
Deacon Weekends at the Bishop Claggett Center, reading
College in 1989 with an Associate of Arts degree in
books, writing reflections, meeting with a spiritual director
nursing and began working in the Multi-system Critical
Care Unit of Maryland’s Shock Trauma Center.
and this year also meeting also with a deacon mentor and
lay group here at Holy Trinity.
I am due to take what are called Canonical Exams in
January, preach a sermon to the Commission on Ministry,
and then Lord willing, be ordained on June 11,2016. The
Deacon position is an unpaid position, and our roles differ
from the priestly role. As ordained persons, we can do
everything but Absolutions, Blessings and Communion
(we are allowed to do a communion mass using The
Reserved Sacrament.)
In and Around the Diocese
Forgiven, Healed, Renewed: A Recovery Retreat
Jan. 15-17, 2016
Register for Forgiven, Healed, Renewed
Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God among us, and
manifested the good news through healing those who
had been broken. In the current age, many of us hear
that good news through 12-Step recovery groups or
other programs working to break addiction.
In this retreat we will explore the spirituality of our
recovery. We will ask how our Christian faith
strengthens that recovery and how our recovery
enlivens our faith. In a context of anonymity, we will
share our experience, strength, and hope. We will
recall the miracle of our recovery as well as our
struggles, and leave renewed to share the good news
with others.
Though we often are assigned to a church, we function
under the discretion of the Bishop. He makes our
assignments; which could be in a church, but could be
elsewhere. If assigned to a church, we stay for 3 years,
and then are moved elsewhere. Our goal is to be a bridge
between the church and the community, and vice versus. I
hope this gives you some understanding of the deacon
process. I am asking for your prayers during the month of
January, I will be given my exams on January 9th, and 4
weeks to complete them, please, please pray for me as I
complete my exams.
Peace,
Cindy
This retreat is open to all people in recovery,
whether through 12-Step programs or other formats.
Whether you are recovering from alcoholism, drugs,
compulsive eating or gambling, sexual compulsion,
or the impact of another’s addiction, you are
welcome here.
The Rev. Dr. Shane Phelan, CMA, is a founding
member of the Companions of Mary the Apostle, an
ecumenical community currently located in West
Park, NY. She has thirty years of personal recovery
work, and has worked with addicts and alcoholics in
a variety of settings. She is a retreat leader and
spiritual director.
Staff changes in the Episcopal Diocese of
Maryland
SHARING GROUP
When Diocesan Council and Standing Committee
met in a shared retreat last June (as has been the
recent annual custom) they discerned how we move
forward more deeply into mission, delineating four
foci for the coming year: small congregation support,
social
justice,
Christian
formation,
and
communication.
With that in mind there are several staff changes and
additions to announce for 2016. As was announced
earlier this fall, we are extremely grateful for the
dedication and excellent work and service that the
Rev. Theresa Brion, the Rev. Charles Cloughen and
Ms. Sharon Tillman have provided through their
former positions.
These staff changes are made with the goal of better
serving you, the churches and ministries of this
diocese in your mission and ministry. These changes
take effect Jan. 1 unless otherwise noted. You can
read more about everyone and their roles in the
winter issue of Maryland Episcopalian available this
January.
This group will meet in the church hall on January 8
and 22 at 6:30 pm. Bring your Bible, BCP, libations
and questions.
Ron Mardaga
BOOKKEEPER NEEDED
Please learn more about our staff changes in detail
online
at
http://episcopalmaryland.org/a-newdirection-for-2016/
FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN
I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and the
New Year will bring you good health and much
happiness!
Ron Mardaga
Do you like to do bookkeeping or work with
numbers? The Finance Audit Committee is looking
for someone to help Jason with the parish accounting
system. If you would like to learn more about what
this entails, contact one of the members of the Audit
committee. The members are: Jason, Joanne, Randy
and Ron. Thanks.
OUTREACH NEWS
FROM THE JUNIOR WARDEN
As we begin 2016 I pray everyone had a good
Christmas and will have a Happy New Year. Holy
Trinity’s clergy, officers and vestry has had a rough
2015 with our funds being way off our projections. I
told everyone last month that only the necessities
will be taken care of this coming year and pinching
pennies will be my priority.
I find myself more and more asking for help to get
things done around our campus. I thank those of you
who have have stepped up. There is always a lot of
things to do…clearing leaves, gutters and down
spouts, and snow removal when that time comes.
Taking on the simple tasks such as filling the paper
towels or toilet tissue or replacing a light bulb is
greatly appreciated.
If anyone would like to help, please call me and we
will work on getting everyone something to do. This
is “God’s Church” and each of us has a hand to
play in its maintenance.
John Morrris
OPERATION BACKPACK
Thanks to all of you who have donated items for the
children at Sandalwood, packed the bags, and
delivered them. Your generous use of time and
treasure has helped to provide food for these children
who might otherwise not have anything to eat over
the weekend. We will be adding special items to the
bags for Christmas, so if you would like to bring in
some candy, please do.
PARISH LIFE
PRAYER LIST
THANKSGIVING
PROJECT – 2015
BASKET
OUTREACH
Thank you! Thank You! The kind and generous
people of Holy Trinity assisted the Outreach
Committee once again to provide for 20 families at
Thanksgiving. The deliveries were made to families
of the students at Sandalwood Elementary and other
families that were identified as being in need. In
addition to a turkey, each family received two boxes
filled with canned goods, cereals, pasta, laundry
detergent, hygiene products, fresh potatoes and fresh
fruit, rolls, butter and the “fixins” for a complete
Thanksgiving dinner. All of the families were so
grateful!
Many thanks to all the people who donated, shopped,
sorted, packed, delivered, etc.! A big thank you to
Mitch Kile, Randy Avers, Chris Kinard, Cindy
Christopher, Ruth Doyle. John Morris, Theresa
Ridgeway, Jill Williams, Paula Oronson, Andrew
Shafer and his little helpers, Loretta Gischel, Millie
Reichert, Jen Black, John Morris, Ron Mardaga,
Mary & Mike Lessner, Wes & Denise Thatcher.
Thank you again!
Denise Thatcher
O God of heavenly powers, by the might of your command
you drive away from our bodies all sickness and all infirmity:
Be present in your goodness with your servants, that their
weakness may be banished and their strength restored; and
that, their health being renewed, they may bless your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
MelodyMagin (Mary Bogert’s Daughter)
Charlotte Nicholson (Janice’s Sister)
Diane Leimbach (Teresa’s Daughter)
Debbie Salamone ( “
“
)
Todd Metz (Bob’s Son)
Amy Stevens (Jeannie’s Niece)
Margaret Vollerdt
Bev McCormick
Barbara Jayman (Chris’ Friend)
Marianne & Jay Jayman (Chris’ Friends)
Ruth Mumford (Chris’ Mom)
Brenda Williams (Lorraine’s Friend)
Allen Barr, Jr. (Leah’s Cousin)
Agnes Evans (Leah’s Aunt)
Danetta Riedel (Leah’s Friend)
Heather Hilldebrand(Jeannie’s Friend)
Jeff Bindeman(Joan A. Grandson)
Joe Reichert
Paul Wilson (Joan’s Grandson-in-law)
Mary Bogert
Joann Piper
Victoria Zajdel (Nancy McD’s Friend)
Candace Hendricks (J.Morris)
Sophia Frias (J.Morris)
Jovan Tisma (J.Morris)
Elizabeth Shifflett(Ron)
Noah Businsky(Lessner’s G.Granchild)
Bill Martin (Janice’s Son)
Noah Businsky(Lessner’s G.Granchild)
Bill Martin (Janice’s Son)
DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
Eric & Cindy Zile – 1/10
John & Jeanie Morris – 1/16
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Jean Bowen – 1/1
Gloria Nealis – 1/2
Cayden Black – 1/3
Chris Kinard – 1/9
Cheryl Deese – 1/9
Amiyah Jackson – 1/10
Gary Lessner – 1/11
Teresa Schutte-Regester – 1/12
Joshalyn Dawson – 1/12
Jenny Rorke – 1/13
Michele Alves – 1/14
Jaylen Winston – 1/18
Asa Seay – 1/21
Jacob Miller – 1/21
Janice Barber – 1/26
Nicholas Miller – 1/26
Jessica Laricci – 1/26
Nate Hearn – 1/28
Michele Hagner – 1/30
IF YOUR BIRTHDAY OR ANNIVERSARY IS MISSING OR THE DATE
SHOWN IS INCORRECT PLEASE SEE JANICE BARBER.
ALSO, PLEASE LET JANICE BARBER KNOW WHEN ANYONE IS TO
BE ADDED OR DELETED FROM THE PRAYER LIST
REMINDERS
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
As we enter into winter this month please remember
that if:
Baltimore County Schools are closed, so are we.
If they’re late, so are we.
If the close early, so do we.
On Sunday, if you have doubts about whether or not
we will worship together that morning, please check
the church answering machine (410) 687-5531 after
6 AM and listen to the message.
Flower Memorial/Thanksgiving forms are on the
table in the Narthex. Completed forms should be
given to Teresa Schutte-Regester along with your
check for $30.00 payable to Holy Trinity. Oblations
should also be ordered through Teresa. No flowers
during Lent.
Remember to sign up on the form in the hall to host
a Sunday coffee hour. If you have questions, please
see Millie Reichert.
COMMUNITY GARDEN
PHONE/E-MAIL TREE
Anne Knott coordinates our Holy Trinity Phone Tree
and has asked all parishioners to please make sure
she has your correct e mail address. The phone tree
is an important ministry because it allows us to
notify everyone in our church family of important
issues that affect us all. You can reach Anne by e
mailing her at: annesews@verizon.net Thank you.
Jacob Miller is now raising funds for the
construction of 4 raised bed garden plots to be
installed in front of the church (stained glass window
area) which will used to grow food for our neighbors
in need. If you wish to make a contribution toward
that project, please place your gift in one of the “I
want to help envelopes” marking that it is for the
Boy Scout Project. Of the $1500-$1600 needed, we
have raised $816.00
A LITTLE CHURCH HUMOR
SERVING THE
COMMUNITY, THE
NATION AND THE
WORLD!
There were four churches and a synagogue in a small
town; a Presbyterian church, a Baptist church, a
Methodist church, a Catholic church and a Jewish
synagogue. Each church and the synagogue had a
problem with squirrels. The Presbyterian church
called a meeting to decide what to do about their
squirrels. After much prayer and consideration, they
determined the squirrel were predestined to be there
and they shouldn’t interfere with God’s divine will.
At the Baptist church, the squirrels had taken an
interest in the baptistery. The deacons met and
decided to put a water slide on the baptistery and let
the squirrels slide in and drown themselves. The
squirrels liked the slide and, unfortunately, knew
instinctively how to swim. Twice as many squirrels
showed up the following week. The Methodist
church decided that they were not in a position to
harm any of God’s creatures. So, they humanely
trapped their squirrels and let them free near the
Baptist church. Two weeks later, the squirrels were
back when the Baptists took down the water slide.
But the Catholic Church came up with a very
creative strategy. They baptized all of the squirrels
and consecrated them as members of the church.
Now they only see them on Christmas and Easter.
Not much was heard from the Jewish synagogue, but
it’s rumored that they took one squirrel and
circumcised him. They haven’t seen a squirrel on
their property since.
As Holy Trinity continues
to expand, so do our ways
of
communicating
information. In addition to
sending items for the bulletin and newsletter
announcements, please also forward any important
information about ministry drive collections or
upcoming events to Brett Robinson who heads up
our Facebook page at B_moreclean@verizon.net or
by calling or texting to 410-279-0417. Thanks.
THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AT
HOLY TRINITY
An important part of our mission here at Holy
Trinity is to “communicate to the community the
life-changing power of Jesus Christ.”
A later statement in our mission further extends “the
community” to the rest of the nation and world. The
first place to start is by having a great and up-to-date
website. Thanks to much work by Dan Barber, our
website is a model for other churches in the Diocese
and can be found at our web site
http://www.holytrinityessex.org/.
Did you know that our 10:00 am worship service is
currently available to be seen by the entire world?
Dan Barber and Brett Robinson spend hours each
week videotaping, editing, and posting each liturgy
to
our
You-Tube
Channel
located
at
www.youtube.com/user/ TheHtvideos. Each week
anywhere from 30 to over 100 people view our
worship service online. By visiting this site you can
see all of the homilies and worship services going
back to May 13, 2012 when we began this ministry.
You can also find our church on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Holy-TrinityEpiscopal-Church-in-Essex/155883704421696
We also post the weekly liturgies and other items
relevant to our Parish there also. There are so many
GOOD things happening at Holy Trinity and we are
fortunate to have many ways of sharing the GOOD
NEWS
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING
WEDNESDAY NIGHT EUCHARIST
The Wednesday evening Eucharist will be
suspended throughout the month of December and
will resume on The Epiphany, January 6, 2016 at 7
PM and at 6pm thereafter.
70th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Feast of the Holy Name
Jan. 1, 2016 @ 12 noon
Sixty-eight and counting
Plans are underway to celebrate 70 years at Holy
Trinity Episcopal Church/Essex. Even though the
date is not until June, 2017, we would like to know
how many parishioners plan to attend. We are
asking for a commitment fee of $10.00 per person (5
years of age and older) which only covers a portion
of each person’s meal, with the church paying the
reminder of the cost.
A form for this purpose can be found on the table in
the Narthex. A completed form and a check should
be given to Chris Kinard. Check should be made
payable to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church with a
note on the memo line “70th Celebration”.
Questions should be directed to Teresa SchutteRegester or Leah Seay.
The Epiphany
Jan. 6, 2016 @ 7 PM
FINAL WORD FROM THE EDITOR
Items for the February newsletter are due on or
before January 17.
Please e mail them to
jmbarber@netzero.com or place them in my mail
tray or on my desk in the office. Thank you.
Janice Barber, Editor