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Spiritus December 2015 Monthly news magazine of Church of the Holy Spirit, Harleysville, Pa
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Spiritus December 2015
Monthly news magazine of Church of the Holy Spirit, Harleysville, Pa
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CONTENTSRECTOR’S CORNER 3. A message from The Rev. Kathryn Andonian4. St. Nicholas and Advent5. Christmas Flowers and Angel Trees, Epiphany6. Special Services for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany
ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION 7. Adult Forums and Genesis Bible Studie MUSIC 8. Youth Choir at Peter Becker Community9. Lessons and Carols
NURSES CORNER 10. Stress and Stress Relief
PASTORAL CARE 11. Stork Ministry & Prayer Chain12. New Co-ordinator for Pastoral Care Services OUTREACH13. Adopt-a-Family, Gingerbread Tea, & Seaman’s Mission Clothing Drive14. IHN & St. Augustine Breakfasts in 201615. International Outreach Ministry
CHILDREN AND YOUTH 16. Spruce Lake Rretreat
AROUND THE CHURCH17. COHS Giving Tree: A Sign of the times18. Getting to Know You: Karen Work19. Colonial Dinners, Brown Bag bible Studies, First Friday Faith Forum (December), Spiritual Friends Meditation Group.20. ENCORE Christmas Gathering, First Friday Faith Forum (January), & COHS Endowment Fund21. Christmas Pageant22. Education for Ministry (EfM)
LINKS 24. Links for COHS information & Weekly Events
CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT STAFFThe Rev. Kathryn Andonian, Rector
Ms. Sue Ellen Echard, Director of Music
Ms. Gillian Lancaster, Communications Coordinator
Ms. Karen Work, Administrative Coordinator
Seth Trumbore, Assistant Musician
Angela Bartholomew, Choral Assistant
Mr. Barry Norris, Verger
Mr. Ken Patrick, Verger
Ms. Megan Sloss, Nursery Staff
Mr. Steve Thacker, Sexton
Spiritus is the monthly magazine of Church of the Holy Spirit, Harleysville, PA. If you wish to reproduce an article, please first email Gillian LancasterAll content © 2015 Church of the Holy Spirit
Please submit all articles and photos via this link: http://goo.gl/forms/1pG7EjZkgM
WELCOME TO SPIRITUS!Spiritus is now an online magazine in glorious technicolor, and with interactive elements! Whenever you see blue text that is underlined (e.g. Gillian Lancaster) simply click on the text and it will either open up an email so you can send an email to that person, or take you to the website that is mentioned.
On a computer or tablet you can navigate through the pages using the arrows to the left and right of the screen, and you also have the option to download and/or print a copy to read offline.
Spiritus is an extension of the material found on the COHS website, but contains longer stories and articles to enhance your understanding of life at Church of the Holy Spirit, Harleysville.
For anyone viewing this as a print magazine, please go to www.churchoftheholyspirit.us/spiritus/ to view the interactive edition.
NEW OFFICE HOURSMonday & Thursday: 8:00 AM-Noon
Tuesday & Wednesday: 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Friday: Office Closed
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RECTOR’S CORNERThe Rev. Kathryn Andonian
We praise and thank you Creator God, for you have not left us alone.
Each year you come to us, Emmanuel, God with us in a manger.
Each time you come to us in the broken bread and the cup we share.
In time or out of time you will be revealed and we shall see you face to face.
From “A New Zealand Prayer Book”
Advent is a time of joyous anticipation as we await the arrival of Jesus Christ. However, for many of us, this time of hopeful expectation quickly dissi-pates into a rush of frenetic activity as we under-take the myriad activities of the season. Too often, much-needed quietude is shattered by the chaotic pressures of shopping, wrapping, decorating and entertaining. And, our high hopes for the holidays are met by the continuing realities of economic volatility, violence in the world, and the posturing of political candidates. Whew! This conflagration of expectations and events could put a damper on anyone’s celebration of the season!
Each year, I write a list of “to do’s” for the season of Advent; it includes everything from a long list of gifts to purchase (which I usually don’t get around to until after January 1…), to completing the lit-urgies, to the date that 24-hour Christmas music begins on the radio, to the unfinished quilts that were to be given as presents…last year. Nearly ev-ery year, when I review the list in early December, I break out in a cold sweat because the only thing marked “accomplished” is changing my radio dial. Every year, every year, this happens and, every year, at about the same time, I take out of my nightstand drawer a small packet of poems and reflections about Advent and Christmas that were kept in my grandmother’s nightstand drawer until her death nearly 30 years ago. And, every year since, they have helped me put everything back into some sort of perspective.
One of my favorites is the following poem about the season by the renowned writer named “Anonymous”:
It’s sharing your gifts, not purchasing gifts;
It’s not wrapping presents, its being present and wrapping your arms around the ones you love;
It’s not getting Christmas cards out on time, it’s sending any card, anytime, at the right time;
It’s not having the biggest and best Christmas light display, it’s displaying the Christ light that comes from your heart;
It’s not Santa coming down the chimney, it’s Jesus coming down from heaven, and giving us the gift of eternal life.
In the midst of the unrelenting busy-ness and fretful uncertainty of Advent, maybe many of us need to let go of the conviction that our frenzied preparations are what it takes to turn Advent into Christmas.
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Advent asks us to truly believe that no matter what we do, or don’t do, Jesus is coming and we will be transformed. Advent is about resetting our sights on what is important and worthy of our time, loving attention, and hopes. Advent calls us to open our days and our hearts to accept God’s gracious gift of Jesus and allow the season to work its transformation on us.
ST. NICHOLAS AND THE GIFTS OF THE SEASON
On Sunday, December 6, we will celebrate Saint Nicholas Day at Church of the Holy Spirit with a spirited conversation between St. Nicholas and St. John the Baptizer.
Saint Nicholas (15 March 270 – 6 Decem-ber 343), also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop
of Myra (Demre, part of modern-day Turkey) in Ly-cia. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Won-derworker. He had a reputation for secret gift-giv-ing, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus, whose modern name comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas, itself from a series of trans-literations of “Saint Nikolaos”. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, thieves, children, pawnbrokers and students in various cities and countries around Europe.
In many countries gift giving in the Advent/Christ-mas season is centered on the Feast Day of St. Nicholas. His feast day is December 6, which falls early in Advent. In some places he arrives in the middle of November and moves about the coun-tryside visiting schools and homes to find out if children have been good. In other places he comes in the night and finds carrots and hay for his horse or donkey along with children’s wish lists. Small treats are left in shoes or stockings so the chil-dren will know he has come. In some Caribbean countries children put a bucket of water and a shoe filled with hay or carrots for the saint’s big
white horse. During the evening, gifts wrapped in elaborate disguises with humorous poems about the recipient are exchanged. St. Nicholas, Sviatyij Mykolai, comes to the Ukraine on December 6th (or December 19 in the Orthodox Julian calendar). It is a happy day of visits and sleigh rides. Schools have plays dramatizing Nicholas stories and the saint visits local churches.
To learn more about St. Nicholas customs around the world, go to: www.stnicholascenter.org. Also at the site are activities, games, crafts and stories.
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS “TRADITIONS” AT CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRITJust as does every family, Church of the Holy Spirit has some “traditions” that mark the journey from Advent to Christmas. Some of these “traditions” are common to many Episcopal Churches and some are our own!
WHAT IS ADVENT? It is the first season of the church year, beginning with the fourth Sunday before Christmas and con-tinuing through the day before Christmas. The name is derived from a Latin word for “coming.” The sea-son is a time of preparation and expectation for the coming celebration of our Lord’s nativity, and for the final coming of Christ “in power and glory.” It has its own music, prayers, and traditions that separate it from Christmas.
WHY ARE THE VESTMENTS AND CANDLES BLUE? The liturgical year is marked by the use of different colors that symbolize the meaning of the season. The usual liturgical color in Western Christianity for Advent is purple or blue (purple is also the color used for Lent). We use blue to clearly separate the hopefulness of Advent from the more penitential mood of Lent, a custom traced to the medieval Sa-rum (Salisbury) Rite in England.
WHAT IS THE ADVENT WREATH?
It is a Christian tradition that symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent. It is usually a horizon-tal evergreen wreath with four candles and often, a fifth, white candle in the center. Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent, the lighting of a candle can be accompanied by a Bible reading and prayers. An addi-tional candle is lit during each subsequent week until, by the last Sunday before Christmas, all four candles
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are lit. Many Advent wreaths include a fifth, Christ candle which is lit at Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The custom is observed both in family settings and at public church services.
WHAT IS THE JESSE TREE?
The Jesse Tree is a symbol of Jesus’ family tree that extends all the way back to the time of Creation. It reminds us that God’s plan for salvation did not start with the birth of Jesus, but has always been a part of God’s intentions for humanity and all of creation. The Jesse Tree tells the story of God’s redemptive plan through 25 symbols from the Old Testament and New Testament as they lead to the birth of Jesus. Each symbol is explained through a Scripture story, opportunity for prayer, and a reflection.
WHAT IS THE “GREENING OF THE CHURCH”?
A long-time Episcopal tradition is an event called the “greening of the church.” Since we honor the season of Advent
we wait to decorate the church for Christmas until after we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent. This is the time when we set up the Christmas tree, the flowers, and the nativity set as well. This is all done to the sound of Christmas carols and lots of laughter. After we decorate, we share a potluck soup lunch.
WHY DO WE SET OUT LUMINARIES ON CHRISTMAS EVE? This was a tradition instituted by our founding priest, the Rev. Anne Ritchings, which has continued to this day. Hundreds of paper bags filled with sand and a single candle are set out as a symbolic way of welcoming the Christ child on Christmas.
The tradition has its roots in the culture of the American Southwest, particularly New Mexico. It is a beautiful sight to arrive at COHS on Christmas Eve with the luminaries glowing all around!
CHRISTMAS FLOWERS & ANGELS
One of the ways that we celebrate Christ-mas is through the beautiful seasonal decorations, which are purchased with funds donated by members of the con-gregation in thanks-giving or memory of a loved one. If you would like to con-
tribute for Christmas flowers to help beautify our sanctuary, please fill out one of the forms in your weekly Sunday bulletin and put it in Karen Work’s COHS mailbox or use the form on the COHS web-site. The cost is $25 and you may list on the form if you want them in memory of someone or as a thanksgiving.
We will also be decorating the Church’s Christmas trees with angels. Please consider contributing a purchased or homemade angel. A box will be placed in the narthex to receive the angels.
THE SEASON OF EPIPHANYJANUARY 6-FEBRUARY 9
The title Epiphany is from the Greek word for “showing forth” or “manifestation.” The day of Epiph-any (January 6) and the season which follows, cele-brates the events by which Jesus was shown forth as the Son of God. The coming of the Wise Men at his birth reflects the recognition of him by the Gentiles. Thus, he is the Savior of all people, not only of his own people. We celebrate not only an event in Jesus’ life, but also—and more importantly—the manifestation of Christ in our lives. He is shown forth in Word and Sacrament in our liturgical cele-brations, and through our lives he is shown forth to the world as the Savior of all people. Epiphany offers us the opportunity to more intentionally seek and see Christ in the world around us, and in our own ministries that serve God in the church and in our communities.
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COME CELEBRATE ADVENT, CHRISTMAS AND EPIPHANY WITH WORSHIP AND MUSIC!
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6A Conversation Between St. John the Baptizer and St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra8:00 and 10:15 AM servicesAs we celebrate the season of Advent, we will dis-cover some new ways to embrace the season in the context of Scriptural and seasonal traditions. Our annual visit from the saint that we know as “Santa Claus” will be on the very day that is celebrated as the feast day for St. Nicholas!
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 Christmas Lessons and Carols, 7:00 PMPotluck cookie and hot chocolate reception after the service
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a service of Christian worship celebrating the birth of Jesus. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings from Genesis, the prophetic books and the Gospels, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols, hymns and choir music.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 20The Fourth Sunday of Advent Advent Lessons and Carols with Holy Eucharist, 8:00 AM ServiceA beautiful service of our favorite Advent hymns interspersed with readings from the Holy Scriptures.
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT FOR ALL AGES10:15 AM ServiceThis year’s pageant will once again tell the story of Christmas from the Old Testament prophets through the birth of Jesus with readings, carols, choirs and characters in costumes! All children—and many adults—are welcome to participate in this informal, fun celebration of Advent and Christmas!
GREENING OF THE CHURCHAfter the 10:15 AM serviceJoin us for this annual event of preparing the church for Christmas—hanging garlands, decorating the Christmas trees, arranging the poinsettias and pre-
paring over 400 luminaries which will be set outside and lit on Christmas Eve to welcome the Christ Child. There are fun preparations for every mem-ber of the family. We will also enjoy a potluck soup lunch together!
CHRISTMAS EVETHURSDAY, DECEMBER 24Holy Eucharist with Hymns, 11:00 AMThe Rev. Robert Coble will preside and the Rev. Richard Miller will provide the music—perhaps with a surprise soloist, as well!
Lighting of the Luminaries, 4:00 PMJoin us to set out and light over 400 luminaries that will extend through our parking lot all the way to Sumneytown Pike to welcome the Christ Child—and those who seek him—to our Christmas Eve services.
Festive Holy Eucharist for Families, 5:30 PMThis service is geared toward families with young children. Our children’s choirs will sing, we will sing our favorite Christmas Carols, hear a special Godly Play re-telling of the story of the Nativity and light the Christ Candle in the center of the Advent wreath.
Traditional Holy Eucharist with Choirs and Candlelight, 9 PMGreeted by the flickering lights of the luminaries, this service evokes the wonderful mystery and joy of Christmas with beautiful music, candlelight and a special message of hope for all people.
FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMASSUNDAY, DECEMBER 27Holy Eucharist with Christmas Music8 AM and 10:15 AMWe will continue our celebration of Christmas with familiar Scripture readings and hymns.
THE SUNDAY OF EPIPHANYSUNDAY, JANUARY 3, 2016Celebration of EpiphanyWith the Journey of the Three Kings8 and 10:15 AM ServicesJoin us for this much-anticipated service that follows the journey of the Three Kings (or magi) with dra-matic readings of Scripture and hymns.
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ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION
ADULT FORUMSSundays, 9:00-10:00 AMWhere: Parish Hall
DECEMBER 6 Advent Series, Session 2 “Called & Sent: Challenged to Grow”This series includes three passages from Luke and three images, by internationally renowned artist He Qi, guide congregations in exploring what it means to be “Called to Follow” (Lk. 5:1-11), “Challenged to Grow” (Lk. 7:36-8:3), and “Sent to Serve” (Lk. 22:24-27—8:3) This week in Challenged to Grow, we will read about the woman who anointed Jesus and the women who supported His ministry out of their own resources. When we consider all that God has given to us, it is easy to give freely back.
13 Advent Series, Session 3 “Called & Sent: Sent to Serve”In this final week, we will join Jesus and the disciples in the upper room where He calls them to humble service. We too are summoned to serve Christ by serving others in our church members, in our communities and beyond.
20 No Adult Forum Christmas Pageant and Greening of the Church
27 No Adult Forum: Holiday
JANUARY 3 No Adult Forum—Holiday10 Update on Interfaith Hospitality Jacque Wolfgang
17-31 Women of the Bible, Parts 1-3 Jan Boggess
Over the next four weeks, we will be showing part of a series by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine. This series on the great figures of the New Testament, we will be watching and discussing four lectures on notablewomen in the New Testament. Dr. Levine presents gives an interesting and intellectual approach to understanding the situations and people of the early first century. She also gives a scholarly view of thesituations that at first seem familiar, but from a
perspective that will guarantee to make you see things in a new light. This series will discuss the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, the Samaritan woman andmore. Dr. Levine is the E. Rhodes and Leona B Carpenter Professor of New Testament Studies at the Vanderbilt University Divinity School.
FEBRUARY 7 Women of the Bible, Part 4 Jan Boggess
BIBLE STUDIESGENESIS STUDYWhen: January 15, 22, 29; February 12, 19, 26; March 11, 18, April 8, 15 (and April 22 if necessary)
Time: Start time is 6:30 PM SHARP; each segment will conclude at or near 9:00 PM.
You are invited to join a ten-episode study of the book of Genesis, beginning on Friday, January 15 in the Fellowship Hall of COHS.
Led by Rev. Marge Dean, the study will focus on Bill Moyers’ Genesis: a Living Conversation series presented initially on PBS. The series will be on the dates listed, and will also be posted on the church’s calendar. You are welcome to bring a brown-bag supper with you.
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MUSIC The Youth Choir sang at Peter Becker Community on November 11, during a worship service. Rev. Kathy presided and presented.
Submitted by Sue Ellen Echard
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING ON YOUR MIND? If so, please buy your gifts through the
Amazon search box on the COHS website so the church earns 3-4% commission - but
it won’t cost you a penny more!It’s easy - just go to the COHS website
and use the search box at the bottom of the home page to look for gift ideas.
(If you can’t see it, you may have ad blocking software installed on your browser, which
you will need to turn off.)
Whatever you buy from Amazon will provide the church with
cash back to support our ministries!
Thank you for buying through our Amazon link!
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A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
in the tradition of King’s College, Cambridge
Choral music includes works by: Willcocks, Todd, Rutter, and Howells Handbell Music includes works by: Eithun, Gramann and Moklebust
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2015 AT 7:00 PM
Sung by the Adult Choir of the Church of the Holy SpiritFeaturing the Handbell Choir
Directed by Sue Ellen Echard
CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT2871 Barndt RoadHarleysville, PA
Freewill offering Reception to follow
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NURSE’S CORNER
FEELING STRESSED? STRESS RELIEF MIGHT HELP YOUR HEALTH Excerpts from NIH News in Health, December, 2014 (https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/issue/dec2014/feature1) A monthly news-letter from the National Institutes of Health, part of the US Department of Health and Human Services
“Winter holidays—do they fill you with joy or with worries about gift-giving and family gatherings? Do summer vacations leave you relaxed or fretful over travel and money? If you’re feeling stressed out over supposedly fun things, it might be time to reassess. Take a few moments to learn how stress affects your health and what you can do about it.
Everyone feels stressed from time to time. Stress can give you a rush of energy when it’s needed most-for instance, competing in sports, working on an im-portant project, or facing a dangerous situation. The hormones and other chemicals released when under stress prepare you for action. You breathe faster, your heartbeat quickens, blood sugar rises to give you energy, and your brain uses more oxygen as it shifts into high alert. But if stress lasts a long time-a condition known as chronic stress-those “high-alert” changes become harmful rather than helpful. “Stress clearly promotes higher levels of inflammation, which is thought to contribute to many diseases of aging. Inflammation has been linked to cardiovascular dis-ease, diabetes, arthritis, frailty, and functional de-cline,” says Dr. Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, a leading stress researcher at Ohio State University. She and other researchers have found that stress affects the body’s immune system, which then weakens your response to vaccines and impairs wound healing. Research has linked chronic stress to digestive disorders, urinary problems, headaches, sleep difficulties, depression, and anxiety.
TO REDUCE STRESSGet enough sleep. Exercise regularly. Just 30 minutes a day of walking can boost mood and reduce stress. Build a social support network. Set priorities. De-cide what must get done and what can wait. Say no to new tasks if they are putting you into overload. Think positive. Note what you’ve accomplished at the end of the day, not what you’ve failed to do. Try relaxation methods. Mindfulness, meditation, yoga, or tai chi may help. Seek help. Talk to a mental health professional if you feel unable to cope, have suicidal thoughts, or use drugs or alcohol to cope.
Beyond recommendations for exercise, healthy diet, social contacts, and getting enough sleep, Green McDonald says, “studies have also shown that mind-fulness (focused attention on one’s own emotions) and other meditative practices can effectively re-lieve stress.” “Mindfulness means staying aware and conscious of your experiences. No matter what we’re doing, we can always make time to bring our attention to our breath and body and stay there for a short period of time,” says NIH psychologist Dr. Rezvan Ameli, who specializes in mindfulness prac-tice. “Recent studies show that even short periods of mindful attention can have a positive impact on health and well-being.” “Mindfulness is a simple and effective tool that anybody can use to reduce stress,” Ameli says. Although the concept is simple, becoming more mindful requires commitment and practice. You can learn more about mindfulness meditation from local resources like yoga or meditation classes, mind-fulness-based stress-reduction programs, or books.
If you feel overwhelmed by stress, talk with a health care provider or mental health professional. Medica-tions or other therapies might help you cope. In the long run, reducing stress may help you to slow down and enjoy your time with the people and activities you really care about.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the toll-free, 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).”
Respectfully submitted by Maureen Higgins, MSN, RN
Permission: “Reprint our articles and illustrations in your own publication. Our material is not copyrighted.”
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PASTORAL CAREJOYOUS MINISTRY NEEDS NEW HELP FOR NEW BABIES
The founders and coordinators of The Stork Ministry, Karin Schwabe and Karen Peterson Saunders, most of all, wanted parents of newborns, who might be unable to attend services for a couple of weeks, to know they are still an important part of the fold and don’t lose contact, or unneccessarily fall under the radar. So began the Stork Ministry in 2011. This lovely ministry acknowledges new births and supports parents, including first-time mothers, during the first few days after the birth of a new baby.
Though Parish Nurse, Maureen “Mo” Higgins, whose specialty is Pediatrics, is always available both during and after pregnan-cies, the Stork Ministry itself needs additional volunteers. Please, consider reviving this lovely outreach to our new babies and parents. The number of births varies but little - four or five a year with a peak year, 2012, when there were six that included a set of twins - so it is not a great deal of work. Volunteers deliver a pre-prepared “baby basket” gift from the congregation. Our Meals Ministry also delivers a meal or two, if needed.
Submitted by Judy Morice
PRAYER CHAIN
Would you like someone to pray for you or for someone else who is special in your life? Or, would you like someone to offer prayers of thanksgiving on your behalf? Or a prayer for grace as you navigate a difficult event? Prayers can make a difference in your life. Members of our Prayer Chain pray daily for people who are experiencing health or other difficulties and offer prayers of thanksgiving and grace as requested.
Our Prayer Chain is a committed group of women and men who offer daily prayers as requested by members of the congregation. All information is kept confidential. No names are read on our Sunday list of intercessions unless requested by the individual who is named.
If you would like to request prayers for yourself or others, or if you would like to join our Prayer Chain, please contact Eleanor Yodis.
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NEW CO-COORDINATOR FOR PASTORAL CARE SERVICES Please join us in welcoming Shirley Zagorski as our new Co-Coordinator for Pastoral Care Services. Shirley joins Co-Coordinator Marge Hanna Zeig in supporting Rev. Kathy in this ministry. The overall program includes many ministries available to our congregation. Brochures detailing these ministries are available in the tract rack in the Narthex.
Shirley shares a bit about herself below:
It is hard for me to pinpoint a time when I began to attend COHS. I was aware of the launch of COHS in the storefront in Harleysville. I watched the progress of the building on Barndt Road as I drove to and from work in Pottstown, where I have worked as for 20 years. Around 2005 or 2006, I participated in Arts and Spirituality gatherings on Friday evenings when the rest of my family was involved in other activities. My husband, Dan, had a Friday evening class; our older daughter, Annie, was involved in one or another orchestra or ensemble; and our younger daughter, Laura, was active in the school’s color guard. I also attended several Taize healing services and Ash Wednesday services.
My home church had gone through a number of pastoral/staff changes and I thought that I simply could not survive another. I had been a member of that church for approximately 40 years: baptized, married, and heavily involved in lay ministry. My family had been part of this (nonlitugical) denomination for generations. Having served in three pastorates with my husband, an ordained minister, having been active in my/our various churches over the years, I realized that for perhaps for the first time in my life, I could choose where I wished to affiliate. At that time, our girls were beginning to disengage spiritually and I wanted them to have a church home. The first time I spoke (very briefly) with Rev. Kathy about the turmoil at my then church, she encouraged me to think of COHS as a second home. Since then, I have sung with the choir, rung with the bell choir, mended and altered choir robes, read as a lector, joined Sacristy, made many batches of communion bread, volunteered at Mardi Gras, and participated on the choirs-in-residence trips to Bristol and Winchester in England. I now consider COHS my home church and have been blessed by the richness of the liturgy, as well as this vibrant and growing community.
My husband, Dan, had worked for a small archaeology firm for 20 years and is now employed at Walmart - first as an associate, then a department manager, and now in Human Resources/Employee Training. He continues to teach Sunday School at my previous church (24 years!) and has begun as a mentor this year with EFM (Education for Ministry or Exploring Faith Matters) at COHS. Dan came as a roadie for the Bristol and Winchester choir trips, as did my widowed mother living in Harrisburg, Marilyn Smith. Our daughters are both married and live out-of-state (sigh): Annie in Illinois with her husband, Peter and with nearly two year old Clara; Laura with her husband, Abe, in Florida. We cherish our times with them. In addition to these various activities, I enjoy walking, reading, making jewelry (sideline business shameless promotion: Stitches and Stylings).
I worked for 16 years at the Pottstown office of Family Services, first as a volunteer coordinator for an elder in-home program and then as clinical supervisor. Beginning in June, 2014, LifeWorks Counseling Center, LLC, opened its doors in Pottstown fulfilling a dream of mine to provide counseling services to children and adults in a small, responsive setting. It is a private practice which I own with my business partner Lorraine Donnelly, LPC (shameless promotion: check us out on Facebook and on our website at www.lifeworkscounselingcenter.net).
I am honored to participate in this ministry for this church I so deeply love.
Submitted by Marge Hanna Zeig, Rev. Kathy Andonian and Shirley Zagorski
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OUTREACHTHE ADOPT-A-FAMILY PROGRAM
NOVEMBER 15 - DECEMBER 6There are changes to the program this year due to changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP) and a budget impasse in Harrisburg. As a result, KOC has had to make changes to their holiday program.
This year KOC is asking for ALL monetary donations to allow families to experience the joy of shopping for their families. Your donations will allow Keystone to distribute appropriate gift cards to families based on their needs and good stewardship decisions.
Tags will be hanging on the tree in church from November 15 until December 6. Any donations will be greatly appreciated! Cash or checks made out to Keystone Opportunity Center with “Holiday Family Giving” in the memo space will be accepted.
Please consider donating to this worthwhile cause so that families may be able to experience the gift of giving to their families. Submitted by Becky Johnson
THE GINGERBREAD TEA SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 3:00-5:30 PMProceeds will benefit local Senior CentersWhat a great way to get the holiday giving season started this year by attending our Annual Holiday Event. Spend a relaxing afternoon sipping your favorite tea or coffee, enjoying great food and lis-tening to live entertainment. Bring your friends and family along. If you would like to get involved there are plenty of opportunities for table decorators, donating basket items, whole baskets for raffle or bringing along your favorite Christmas cookies. The Gingerbread Tea benefits the Church of the Holy Spirit’s Outreach Ministries.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for kids.
Look for our table in the Narthex for tickets and
signups. Contact Cindy O’Connell for more details and information at [email protected] or 610-905-1116. Submitted by Fran Gautreau
SEAMEN’S CHURCH INSTITUTE (SCI) CLOTHES DRIVE IN EARLY 2016
“From far-away lands, ship workers arrive in our Delaware River ports without basic provisions and without the means to advocate for themselves. Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) is an ecumenical
ministry called to welcome and befriend these mariners. As one of the largest, busiest ports in the United States, our service area covers 125 miles of Delaware Riverway in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and accounts for $17 billion in regional commerce.” (www.sciphiladelphia.org).
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These seafarers are often at sea for weeks or months, no contact with their families, no place to worship, often confined to the ship. Working a ship is often their only way to support their family and ship-owners may take advantage by not spending time to prepare them for the conditions they’ll encounter, withholding pay, and providing little or no assistance dealing with problems. SCI helps with these issues and more.
“Clothing is often an issue. Many seafarers come from tropical countries where they cannot even buy cold-weather garments. When they join a ship’s crew they often don’t know where it will go during their six months or more on board. Or they think they’ll be on a warm-weather route and then wind up in Philadelphia on a frigid winter day.” (www.sciphiladelphia.org/the-seafarers-life).
COHS is again helping by collecting clothing for the seafarers. If you have new or good condition cool or cold weather clothing that you would like to pass on to SCI for the seafarers, please place them in the collection “ship” in the narthex between January 10 and January 31.
Thanks and please contact Eric Frankhouser (267-261-3512, [email protected]) with any questions or other ways to help SCI help the seafarers.
INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK SAVE THE DATE: February 15-29, 2016Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) is a collaboration between 32 local faith communities and Keystone Opportunity Center (KOC) provides shelter and social services to sixteen or more homeless families each year from Montgomery and Upper Bucks Counties. The IHN brings us together to help clients regain their housing, their independence, and their dignity when life’s misfortunes happen: job loss, disability, fire, domestic violence, and more.
KOC is one of 185 such organization in 42 states as affiliated with the Family Promise Organization. All year round KOC works with faith communities such as COHS to provide shelter, meals, and transportation to their clients in the program.
COHS will be participating as a buddy church with Grace Methodist in Telford, PA from February 15-29 to provide services. Grace Methodist provides the facility during the month of February and takes the first 2 weeks of overnights, meals, and
transportation, COHS will provide the services the latter half of the month and help move the clients to their next facility on the 29th.
Come join us January 10, 2016 during the Adult Forum to learn more from KOC, clients, and previous COHS volunteers on how COHS participates in filling 81 shifts, approximately 369 hours providing transportation, meals, overnights – sharing in the fellowship of Christ as we have been called to do.
For more information on the Keystone Opportunity Center, go to http://www.keystoneopportunity.org/housing/ihn
Submitted by Jacque Wolfgang
ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO BREAKFASTS2016 dates: 1/31, 5/29, 7/31, 10/30, 11/27If you had no food, were homeless or needy, where could you go for Sunday breakfast (and eat at least one meal for the day)? The word on the street is to trek on down to St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church in Norristown.
St. Augustine of Hippo serves breakfast each Sunday to people who are in this dire situation. Within the Diocese, alternating Episcopal churches participate in purchasing breakfast supplies and volunteers (ideally a team of 12) make and serve breakfast 7-9 AM to 80-100 guests, as well as clean up afterwards. Since 2008, Church of the Holy Spirit has hosted this outreach activity 5 times a year – generally every month with a 5th Sunday - and made the day brighter for these people.
This breakfast is an easy, fun and meaningful experience for both youth and adults. It involves giving only of yourself and your time. The total time commitment is about 2.5 hours on a Sunday morning plus travel. Everyone is back at COHS in plenty of time for the 10:15 service.
The next breakfast is January 31, 2016. Interested in helping out? Contact Dave Douglass or at 484-684-0084. Another important part of the ministry is shopping for breakfast ingredients. If anyone is interested in doing this, advance payment and detailed instructions will be provided.
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INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH MINISTRYOver the last several years, Church of the Holy Spirit has been blessed by our relationship with the Church of Espiritu Santo in Guatemala City. Our visits to Guatemala and Reverend Neli Miranda’s visits from Espiritu Santo have been full of life and energy. The outpouring of love that COHS has shown to Neli and her family during their visits, as well as supporting the congregation of Espiritu Santo with annual monetary donations to help children with education and families to worship, has brought smiles to many people at COHS and in Guatemala. If you were fortunate enough to hear Neli speak at COHS, and present the “Waving Hands” gift to COHS from the congregation of Espiritu Santo, then you know the gratitude that both Espiritu Santo and COHS have for our relationship. If you see the joy and enthusiasm in the young people of COHS as they write and receive letters with their peers in Guatemala, then you know of the pure spiritual energy that young people have such ability to exhibit and that exists in our relationship.
To state the obvious, times change. And as times change, COHS must change. Recent direction from the Episcopal Church, organizational changes in the Pennsylvania Diocese, and the retirement of Reverend Neli from Espiritu Santo, have all had an effect on the COHS Espiritu Santo relationship. As the COHS Guatemala Outreach team has considered how we can maintain our relationship with Espiritu Santo in the midst of these changes, we are finding it increasingly difficult to enable COHS to do what we consider to be best for COHS and Espiritu Santo - to enable COHS to be the loving, caring, compassionate and selfless people we are made to be; and to focus this love and respect for human dignity toward our brothers and sisters of Espiritu Santo.
The ongoing difficulties have caused the Guatemala team to pause and reconsider the fundamental goals and hopes for our relationship with the people of Espiritu Santo. We trust that pausing to reflect is being driven by God to help COHS see ways that we can continue to grow closer to God through our love for other people. Or at a minimum, we trust that these times are being used
by God to provide COHS with an opportunity to nurture goodness in the world. As we consider the characteristics of the COHS International Outreach ministry, ideas surface like helping people who are without basic provisions for life, helping people who are denied the basic dignities of human rights, helping people fend for themselves with tools like education. And perhaps most importantly, helping human to human relationships of love in its many incarnations to form and grow, allowing people to know they are cared about, and to provide hope to people that may be without hope for a better life. This love we believe is shown through COHS members living as God’s love incarnate for the benefit of the world – as God’s hands and heart in the world.
Unfortunately, or perhaps opportunistically, we are finding that the effects of the changing times on our relationship with Espiritu Santo are not allowing for many of these characteristics to thrive. And we see no clear path to change the circumstances or our relationship with Espiritu Santo to allow for it. This is where COHS needs your help. We are looking for ways to evolve the COHS International Outreach ministry. One thing we believe that is needed is to grow our International Outreach team by adding people who feel a calling, or an urge, to help COHS share their love in other parts of the world. There are many areas in our country, in our community, in our family, that can benefit from the outreach of COHS, and COHS has several ministries reaching out to these areas. I believe that COHS has the capacity to extend our love to people in other parts of the world that otherwise could easily be forgotten. If you would consider joining us in our effort to provide the people of COHS an opportunity to be who we feel called to be, would just like to explore this ministry further, or would like to express your thoughts and feelings regarding this ministry, please contact Reverend Kathy, myself, or any of our International Outreach team members – Jan Boggess, Karen Mortka or Kip Streiner. Thank You.
Submitted by Eric Frankhouser267-261-3512
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CHILDREN AND YOUTH
ANNUAL WINTER YOUTH RETREAT AT SPRUCE LAKE
JANUARY 1, 2 AND 3, 2016Youth in Grades 6-12 are invited to join us for this much anticipated annual retreat to the Poconos. The weekend will include worship, games, outdoor activities, fellowship and fun!
Friday, January 1Arrive: At COHS no later than 2:30 PM. NOTE: Since January 1 is a holiday, the group is leaving earlier than in prior years.
Departure: 3:00 PM
Transportation: School bus
Dinner: At Spruce Lake
Sunday, January 3Return: Early PM (students need to call their parents as the bus gets closer to COHS)
Cost: $95 per attendee and $80 for each additional sibling
What to bring: Warm clothes, snow boots, extra socks and gloves, PJs, pillow, extra blanket, sleeping bag, toiletries, snacks (all other food provided), games and cards. Talk it over with your friends in Sunday School!
Who’s going: All Grades 6-12 students are invited. College students are also invited. Chaperones: Their teachers and a few other interested adults from COHS.
Why go? Ask anyone who’s been there – it’s a great weekend of fun (possible snow tubing), cooking, eating, group activities, friendship and fellowship.
What will we eat? A sign-up sheet is provided in the Narthex for COHS members to donate food for all meals. Kids will help with cooking and clean up.
Please contact Karin Schwabe for more information.
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AROUND THE CHURCH
COHS GIVING TREE: A SIGN OF THE TIMESWe have often heard from new members and visitors that Church of the Holy Spirit is a welcoming, caring community. And, we are! For, the “church” is the people who nurture and grow it. But, alas, our outdoor signage that first announces who we are and the hours of services, do not look like they have been very well cared for. These first icons of welcome have stood in place for over 20 years, in all types of weather! They are showing their age. One is badly cracked and will most likely not last another winter. The sign listing our services and special events is so cloudy that the words can hardly be read. And, the five “Welcome to the Episcopal Church” signs that dot the roadways in our community are battered and bent from years of wear.
Advent is the season when we look for the signs of the coming of Jesus Christ. Many people in our community are looking for a new spiritual beginning in this season and in all
seasons. The signs that welcome people to our church invite them into a new life of faith and hope. Our Giving Tree focus this year will be to fix our aging signage so it can once again be a welcoming beacon to those who pass by.
Our congregation was so generous during the summer campaign that we were able to renew our parking lot and fix a broken drive-way at the Rectory so now our Sexton and his wife can walk to their door safely. Our Buildings and Grounds team, and many, many volunteers have kept our building and grounds in beautiful shape, welcoming all who come to our Church. Our outside signage must also show our welcome and love for our Church and our community.
Please prayerfully consider taking an envelope from the Giving Tree when it is set up in the Narthex around mid-December. Our goal is to raise at least the $9,000 that it will cost to repair and replace our worn-out signage. Additional funds raised will allow us to meet all of our year-end bills and begin 2016 with no outstanding financial obligations. Your contribution will enable us to let our light shine to all who travel past or come within. Our welcome on the outside should equal our welcome once someone enters our doors.
Thank you all for being part of our Church family.
Most sincerely,The Vestry
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GETTING TO KNOW YOU KAREN WORK
Since the end of August, Karen Work has been seeing to the admin-istrative needs of Church of the Holy Spirit. She is the friendly face and voice that greets you on the phone or when you come to the church office. Besides learning the job, Karen has quickly put her strong organizational skills to good use. Accomplishments to date include completing an inventory of all office supplies, developing a system to trigger ordering replacement quantities, and updating the bulletin board’s appearance. She is also in the process of auditing/reconciling all physical music library contents against the music data base – a huge project.
Like her predecessor, Julie Glass, Karen is furthering her education to pursue a new career direction while working part time at the church. What path was she on and where is she going, you ask? Karen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Furman University. She discovered, unfortunately, that prospective employers sought candidates with a Bachelor of Music (BM) degree, not a BA, and was unable to find employment in this field. She was betwixt and between. Given her love of working with children, she next became a child care provider in a day care facility for 4 and
a half years. When the opportunity presented itself she switched to being a private nanny for 4 children over the next 5 years. This time was used to explore other career directions. While taking courses at Bucks County Community College, she discovered a strong interest in Social Work and graduated with an Asso-ciate’s Degree in Social Services. While at Bucks, she learned about an accelerated program at LaSalle Uni-versity to obtain a Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) in four semesters and was accepted into the program. Starting in January, 2016, over each of the next three semesters, she will be participating in a 12 week in-ternship. (Karen will continue working 24 hours a week at COHS, but the office hours will be slightly modi-fied to support her educational program.) Her target graduation date is May, 2017.
Karen has a challenging schedule. She goes to school, works part time, babysits her niece two afternoons a week, participates in the Adult Choir and Handbell Ensemble, reads and knits. Over the past 9 years, she has also enjoyed working seasonally at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire on weekends in Manheim (Lancaster area). Her job has been a “wench” in period costume in various departments (e.g., selling coffee, souvenirs). (Please note: In Elizabethan times, “wench” was a common term used for women who worked and earned money – similar to how “employee” or “worker” is used today.) Those organizational skills sure come in handy to juggle everything!
How did Karen find Church of the Holy Spirit? Shortly after moving to Harleysville, she was taking a walk and saw the COHS sign near the intersection of Routes 63/113. Karen was seeking another Episcopal church near to where she lived as the commute to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Huntingdon Valley was now about an hour away. She attended her first service in January, 2013 and has been here ever since. Her first impression was the atmosphere and people were “welcoming” and she liked the openness of the sanctu-ary (as opposed to the confines of traditional fixed rows of pews). Naturally, Kathy Clipp noticed her right away and invited her to hospitality after church. Things then moved fast. At her second service, Dave and Pat Lightfoot invited her to join the Adult Choir, which she was in by her third service at COHS. In early 2014 Karen expanded her participation by joining the Handbell Ensemble.
Karen, we thank you for your contributions to Church of the Holy Spirit and wish you well as you pursue your career dream of providing Social Work services to children and/or the homeless populations.
Submitted by Louise Beebe.
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FOOD AND DRESS: COLONIAL STYLE Ruth and Randy Konrad’s Colonial Re-enactment Din-ners go back to the late ‘90s; the dinner menus and attire go back a couple of cen-turies; and the funds they helped raise for three COHS’s dinner events have been important here in our
church’s 21st Century ministries.The most recent of the three fund-raising dinners was for the COHS choir’s UK trip to Winchester Cathedral, and cele-brated a different era: the Mardi Gras Auction and Dinner. The Konrad’s Colonial Dinners were first held at the Daniel Boone Farmstead—later at Peter Wentz Farmstead. The dinners have since moved to their home, but Ruth continues to volunteer at the farm-steads.
Ruth, Randy and dinner attendees leave behind 21st Century attire to step into Colonial Era clothing that provides a transformative experience as they discover themselves and other dinner guests in new personae, sharing the common experience of a meal together—a participatory experience that is differ-ent than simply watching others re-enact or pose as characters from the past.
Watch for future dinners or events of this nature that will support other COHS fund-raising needs.
Submitted by Judy Morice
AROUND THE CHURCH
ONGOING GROUPSBROWN BAG SCRIPTURE STUDY AND DISCUSSIONWhen: TuesdaysTime: 12–1:30 PMWhere: Parish HallAre you unable to attend an evening Bible study? Consider attending the Brown Bag Bible Study. Bring a bag lunch and join us for a wide-ranging,
and sometimes unpredictable, conversation about the Scripture readings for the upcoming Sunday. This is an easy way to delve into the Bible, share different perspectives and discover how these ancient writings of the Word of God have meaning and relevance in our lives today. Contact Jan Boggess by email or phone (215-679-6806) for information.
FIRST FRIDAY ADULT FAITH FORUMWhen: December 4Time: 6:00 PM Potluck, 6:30 Movie, 8:00 discusssion Where: Parish Hall
Christmas Cottage – Filmed in 2008, this is a true story of famed American artist Thomas Kinkaid as a young man and the influences that inspired his greatness as an artist and as a person. Thomas was greatly influenced by family and friends in his life and a difficult situation he finds his family in. The movie is sad, yet uplifting and heartwarming. It
deals with the struggles and dysfunction in Thomas’ family and the small Northern California town he lives in that shaped and molded him into a kind, sensitive and creative young man.
SPIRITUAL FRIENDS MEDITATION GROUPWhen: December 7Time: 7:00 PM: Please enter in silenceWhere: Hobie Simms’ Office
Join us as we are led in meditation by Tony D’Souza, Jesuit priest and PhD in clinical psychology. D’Souza, who lives in Mumbai, India, combines his roots in Christian and Eastern mystical traditions with his clinical experience to take us to the root of meditation - to know and embrace reality. While there
are many realities, D’Souza will help us explore the reality of ourselves, and false realities that prevent us from knowing our true self and self-worth.
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ENCORE CHRISTMAS GATHERINGWhen: December 27Time: 5:00 PM
The ENCORE group of COHS will make merry with a Christmas gathering at the home of Marge Dean and Jan Eckardt. The event will take place on Sunday, December 27, beginning at 5:00 PM. Those attending are asked to bring an appetizer, finger-foods, or a dessert. A free will offering will be taken to support youth ministry in the parish, especially as our young men and women prepare for their pilgrimage next year. For reservations, please contact Jack Anderson at 215-412-7863 or at [email protected] by December 20.
FIRST FRIDAY ADULT FAITH FORUMWhen: January 8, 2016Time: 6:00 Potluck Dinner 6:30 Rev. Bob’s Presentation: Grieving Personal Loss 7:30 DiscussionWhere: Parish Hall
Join us to hear Rev. Bob Coble, retired (2009) Episcopal priest and member of COHS, share his experience of personal loss and suggest ways Christians can manage loss. In 2007, Rev. Bob and his family experienced a sudden tragic loss of their 3 small grandchildren – Kyle, Emma and Katie. One year after the incident, a miracle happened. Bob’s son Chris and daughter-in-law Lori appeared on Oprah’s show to share their loss and blessings. During FFAFF Bob will also share the miraculous blessings which helped the family heal and we will view Oprah’s interview with Chris and Lori.
THE COHS ENDOWMENT FUND-SHORT TERM VS. LONG TERM
It’s hard to believe that our parish Endowment Fund, which was begun in 2008 with $10,000 in securities from gifts, has now reached in excess of $67,000 in assets. Contributions year-to-date have been $5,097, thanks in large part to the positive response earlier in the year from parish members and friends who gave generously for memorials, and in gratitude for blessings received.
A growing number of parish members and their families have found the Endowment Fund as a worthwhile focus for their occasional donations which might have gone for flowers, or to unfamiliar charities, when a loved one passes on. While the Endowment Fund is likely to benefit most from Planned Giving through wills, trusts, insurance policies, annuities, etc., the “short term” gifts of cash are welcome in any amount, and at any time.
Speaking of long term, have you considered including the Endowment Fund as beneficiary for part of your assets? As an example, one parish member recently informed us that the Endowment Fund will receive 10% of the assets in her investment brokerage account when she passes on. 10% won’t impact her other beneficiaries to a great degree, and she has the assurance of knowing that the parish will benefit, albeit for an unknown amount at this time. Passing a certain percentage may be simpler than trying to state a specific dollar amount, when future values may be uncertain. 10% - It’s worth considering!
If you have any questions concerning the Endowment Fund, or would like any assistance concerning gifts to the Fund, please do not hesitate to contact me (215-721-0624).
Vince Czepukaitis, COHS Endowment Fund
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CHRISTMAS PAGEANT FOR ALL AGESCALLING ALL ANGELS, SHEPHERDS, READERS AND LEADERS!!!
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 AT 10:15 AM SERVICE
PAGEANT REHEARSAL!PLEASE RESERVE THESE TIMES ON DECEMBER 19 AND 20:
Saturday December 19Pageant rehearsal is from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Readers rehearse 9:00-10:00 AM All other participants will rehearse from 10:00-12:00 PM
Refreshments to follow.
Sunday December 20 9:00-9:45 AM run through
Pageant at 10:15 AM service
Please call Barbara Czepukaitis 215-208-1807 or email [email protected]. Thank you!
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EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY (EFM) (AKA EXPLORING FAITH MATTERS) IS FOR ALL OF US!
It already is the Holiday Season and the New Year is just around the corner. We are over one third through this year’s formal EfM program of “Living as Spiritually Mature Christians”. Not only do we worship, study, discuss, reflect and learn together as three individual communities under the umbrella of the EfM program, we also have fun and socialize together.
Listed below are your friends and “fellow travelers” who are inviting you to join us at our year-end holiday potluck dinner and special presentation on December 29 at 6:30 PM at COHS (see the full invitation in this issue). Even if you are not interested in the formal EfM program, please know you are most welcome to come and have an evening of “merriment” with us.
Participants include the following:Year One: Jack Anderson, Margaret Curry, Barbara Czepukaitis, Chris Detweiler, Jan Eckardt, Eric Frankhouser, Tom Huffer, Joyce Hunsberger, Beatrice Ingham, Edna Stevens, Joan Wismer
Year Two: Louise Beebe, Yvonne Caputo, Geri Duesberry, Amy Ensminger, Jean Fairfield, Jen Hickernell, Judy Morice, Barry Norris, Jen Wager
Year Three: Barb Broadbent, Jane Bucci, Kathy Clipp, Cindy O’Connell, Stella Faust-Folk, Linda Greiser, Barb Neely, Patti Stigliano, Eileen Pugliese, Tom Wolfgang
Certified Mentors: Jan Boggess, Carol Christian, Rev Marge Dean, Tori Greenover, Rev Daniel Zagorski and Reita Detweiler
Your questions regarding this EfM program can be answered by any of the currently six trained and certified mentors. Reita Detweiler is the Managing Mentor for Church of the Holy Spirit. Her contact information includes [email protected] and she can be reached at 267-664-4817 by text or voice. Reita welcomes your questions and encourages you to consider joining this impactful once-in-a-lifetime community experience.
Submitted by Reita Detweiler
WHY I AM IN EFMWhen my family first walked through the doors of Holy Spirit in 2011 we were searching. It was a time of great upheaval in our spiritual lives.
To say that I was “raised Catholic” would be an un-derstatement. Being Catholic was part of my family identity, ideology and traditions. When
I started a family of my own, it was natural that I wanted those same things for my children.
Fast forward a decade or so. My three children are in Catholic school, we’re regular members of a huge congregation and I start to have many more ques-tions than answers. Over the next few years, those questions multiplied. The answers became more elusive and “Church” started to become a place of frustration, not faith.
I have to give my husband, Richard, all of the credit for helping us get through those dark days when I felt like a spiritual orphan. He was the one who pushed on to look for a place where we could again have a spiritual home. Holy Spirit has become that home for all of us.
When I was asked a few years back if I would teach Sunday school I gladly accepted. I was anxious to give the children the things I felt had been so glaringly absent from my own kid’s faith formation.
But, what did I know about being an Episcopalian? In fact, how much did I really know about being a Chris-tian? Was I qualified to teach these kids anything?
Thanks to good curiculuum and an experienced partner (thank you, Jacque Wolfgang) it was a great first year. The kids taught me so much more than I taught them. It also brought many new questions to my own spiritual development. Questions that I heard might be addressed in EfM.
I had no idea how true that was. I started my year one study of the Old Testament in the Fall of 2014. Not only did it open up a whole new world of knowledge about the Hebrew Bible, it gave me a community of like-minded seekers with which to share a journey of discovery like nothing I’ve known before.
EfM has given my faith wings. It’s deepened my understanding of sacred scripture. It has enhanced my
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Everyone is most welcome to join us for this
EfM Sponsored Event
Holiday Social Potluck Dinner and Discussion
Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at 6:30 PM
Church of the Holy Spirit, Parish Hall
Special Presentor – Rev. Jay B. Walton
Jay is the Assistant to the Rector of Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Maple Glen, PA as well as a Mentor and Trainer for the
Education of Ministry Program sponsored by University of the South, Sewanee, TN.
For questions contact Reita Detweiler, EfM Managing Mentor at 267-664-4817 or email her at [email protected]
prayer life. It’s helped me frame my personal walk with Christ in a challenging “Christian” world that so often sanctions hate and discrimination in the name of God.
Perhaps the greatest gift of all is the community. My Wednesday morning group of “Dangerous Women” (a moniker we adopted from a prayer) is like a tonic for the soul. We are all at different life stages with blessings and life challenges that are as diverse as we are. Yet, in the sharing of ourselves there is a grace that defies definition. God is present at the table as we explore the readings, prayers, stories – the very lives – of each one present.
I have heard people say that EfM is “life changing.” I would have to agree.
Submitted by Geri Duesberry
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WEEKLYYoga Monday evenings 7:00 PM
Bible Study and Discussion & Brown bag Lunch Tuesdays 12:00-1:30 PM, Parish Hall
Education for Ministry (EfM, or Exploring Faith Matters) Tuesday Evenings at 6:30 PMWednesdays at 9:30 AM and 6:30 PM
Choirs and HandbellsWednesdays4:30-5:15 PM Cherub Choir Grades K-24:30-5:30 PM St. Nicholas Choir, Grades 3-54:30-6:00 PM St. Cecilia Choir, Grades 6 & up6:00-7:00 PM Adult Handbell Choir7:30-9:00 PM Adult Choir
Girl’s Friendly Society Wednesdays 6:30-7:30 PM
T’ai Chi ClassesSaturdays 8:30 AM-10 AM (Intermediate) 10AM-11:30 AM (Beginners)Parish Hall
MONTHLYSpiritual Friends Meditation Group First Monday evenings: 7:00-9:00 PMHobie Simm’s Office
First Friday Adult Faith ForumFirst Fridays, Pot Luck at 6,:00 Movie at 7:30 PM
Prayer Shawl MinistrySecond Saturdays:10:30 AM-12:00 PM COHS Library
COHS MISSION STATEMENTChurch of the Holy Spirit strives to build a spiritual community that fosters welcome and seeks truth in love. We are committed to acceptance, honesty, joy, and adventure as we follow Jesus Christ. Caring and compas-sion run deep in this church. Through worship, shared ministries and prayer we strive to know and express God’s message in Christ through the Holy Spirit in ourselves, our communities, and our world.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 2871 BARNDT ROAD, PO BOX 575, HARLEYSVILLE, PA 19438 • 215-234-8020
www.churchoftheholyspirit.us
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