| CHIMES Our Newsletter August 2010 |
| 667 Mount Road, Aston, PA 19014 610-459-2013 |
| Our Mission: To worship the Lord To serve the community To grow the church |
Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would
come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful
observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom
of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21
Citizenship, who’s got it and who doesn’t, is a hot button issue. The immigration
debate and the consequences of illegal immigrants living and working in the
United States have made me look hard at what ‘citizenship’ means. My passport
says that by virtue of my residency I am entitled to pass “without delay or
hindrance and in case of need to give all lawful aid and protection.” Those words
give me a great deal of comfort, especially when I am not in the United States.
“Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body, the
Church.” These words in the prayer book are also comforting, especially the
sentence that follows: “The bond which God establishes in baptism is
indissoluble” (BCP, p. 298). Indissoluble, never to be broken, is the citizenship
we have in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Over 144 times Jesus mentions the Kingdom of Heaven. Over and over he would
explain, often in parables, what the Kingdom of Heaven is. The Kingdom of
Heaven is like… a merchant in search of fine pearls, a king who prepared a
wedding banquet for his son, a man who planted good seed in his field, or yeast a
woman took into a large amount of flour until it worked through all of the dough.
In each description of the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus describes a world that is
governed by the grace of God where those at the margins of society have a place
at the table of equity.
As citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, we must recognize that we are under the
rule of God. The Kingdom of Heaven transcends worship preferences,
denomination, and doctrine. The Kingdom of Heaven transcends the United
States. The Kingdom of Heaven transcends Christianity. Through our baptism,
we recognize that God is sovereign over politics, science, and art. God is
sovereign over the totality of life and all of creation. Because everything is under
God’s rule, all of us; yes, every one of us on the planet, God has no religious
preference other than the religion of justice and equality.
As citizens of the Kingdom, we share a common destiny. From the Vatican to
Canterbury, from Jerusalem to Mecca and all the places in between, all of us
share a common humanity that needs each other. The Kingdom of Heaven isn’t
about who’s in and who isn’t. The Kingdom of Heaven is about how all of us are
gifts to one another, how when one suffers we all suffer, how no one looses and
we all win. As citizens of the Kingdom, war is incompatible with the ethics of
Heaven; yet its arsenal is justice and equity, peace and understanding.
Your brother, Chuck+
| Small Parish - Big Heart - Inclusive The little church you've been looking for! All are welcome! |
| Come and worship with us - all are welcome! |
| The CHIMES - August 2010 Calvary Episcopal Church, Rockdale For a PDF version of the Chimes, please click here. |
To contact us: Calvary Episcopal Church 667 Mount Road Aston, PA 19014 610-459-2013 OFFICE The Rev. Charles Messer, Rector Fr. Chuck: frmesser@calvaryepiscopalrockdale.org Website: mail@calvaryepiscopalrockdale.org Office: calvaryoffice1@verizon.net MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 452 Glen Riddle, PA 19037 |
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For what it's worth, here's my two cents...
| Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; Matthew 13:47 |
Sunday School start September 12 - 9:45 AM
Undie Sunday
FISH is Calvary’s program of Free Instruction & Study
Help. This program will be resuming on
Tuesday, September 21. Every Tuesday, volunteers
and former teachers help students of all ages with
homework. There is no fee and no enrollment is
necessary.
Please share this information with your family, friends,
and neighbors.
Volunteers are needed to help with this important
ministry. If you are interested or for more information,
please call Ellie at 610-891-0386.
Help. This program will be resuming on
Tuesday, September 21. Every Tuesday, volunteers
and former teachers help students of all ages with
homework. There is no fee and no enrollment is
necessary.
Please share this information with your family, friends,
and neighbors.
Volunteers are needed to help with this important
ministry. If you are interested or for more information,
please call Ellie at 610-891-0386.
FISH resumes September 21
Other Events Happening this Fall
Fall Fun Fair
The Saint Elizabeth Guild is sponsoring a Fall Fun Fair on
Saturday, November 5.
Mr. Tom is looking for donations.
Please contact Dale or Bridget if you have something you
would like to donate.
Saturday, November 5.
Mr. Tom is looking for donations.
Please contact Dale or Bridget if you have something you
would like to donate.
Calvary Facts and Figures
Attendance:
June 20 - July 25
June 20 8 AM - 11 July 11 8 AM - 13
10 AM - 31 10 AM - 52
June 27 8 AM - 11 July 18 8 AM - 15
10 AM - 35 10 AM - 35
July 4 8 AM - 18 July 25 8 AM - 10
10 AM - 35 10 AM - 36
Finances:
There are no financial figures until the Vestry meetings
resume in September.
June 20 - July 25
June 20 8 AM - 11 July 11 8 AM - 13
10 AM - 31 10 AM - 52
June 27 8 AM - 11 July 18 8 AM - 15
10 AM - 35 10 AM - 35
July 4 8 AM - 18 July 25 8 AM - 10
10 AM - 35 10 AM - 36
Finances:
There are no financial figures until the Vestry meetings
resume in September.
News from the Episcopal Church and Diocese
The disaster in the Gulf of Mexico brings into focus our
calling as a church and a people of faith. Besides
advocating for sound environmental policy, one of our
calls is to provide worship, theology, time, openness and
space to nurture and heal. Certainly prayer and liturgy
are central to such healing.
To read more, please click here.
calling as a church and a people of faith. Besides
advocating for sound environmental policy, one of our
calls is to provide worship, theology, time, openness and
space to nurture and heal. Certainly prayer and liturgy
are central to such healing.
To read more, please click here.
Gulf Oil Spill - Prayers and Liturgical Resources
Episcopal Relief & Development - Help with Gulf Oil Spill
Episcopal Community Services of the Diocese of
Louisiana (ECSLA) is providing impacted residents in
the bayous of Terrebonne with critical support
including grocery and gas vouchers, legal assistance,
pastoral care and information referrals. The major
goals are to meet immediate needs, help people work
through their legal claims and increase individual and
community resilience in navigating the current
challenges. Episcopal relief & Development is
supporting this emergency response. Your help is
needed.
To download a form from ER & D, please click here.
Louisiana (ECSLA) is providing impacted residents in
the bayous of Terrebonne with critical support
including grocery and gas vouchers, legal assistance,
pastoral care and information referrals. The major
goals are to meet immediate needs, help people work
through their legal claims and increase individual and
community resilience in navigating the current
challenges. Episcopal relief & Development is
supporting this emergency response. Your help is
needed.
To download a form from ER & D, please click here.
Where it all began… A Quarterly Publication of the
Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania - Summer 2010
This publication is now available on line. For the
summer issue please click here.
Cambridge Choir at Saint Mark's for Transfiguration
St. Mark’s Philadelphia - August 6 - 7 PM
Choral High Mass for the Feast of the
Transfiguration will be sung at Saint Mark’s,
Locust Street on Thursday, 6 August at 7 pm.
The service will be sung by the Choir of Girton
College, Cambridge, a choir of women and men,
directed by Dr. Dana Marsh.
To read more, please click here.
Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania - Summer 2010
This publication is now available on line. For the
summer issue please click here.
Cambridge Choir at Saint Mark's for Transfiguration
St. Mark’s Philadelphia - August 6 - 7 PM
Choral High Mass for the Feast of the
Transfiguration will be sung at Saint Mark’s,
Locust Street on Thursday, 6 August at 7 pm.
The service will be sung by the Choir of Girton
College, Cambridge, a choir of women and men,
directed by Dr. Dana Marsh.
To read more, please click here.
I will need several teachers this year. A
meeting will be held on August 15th
immediately following the
Sunday service for anyone who is able to
help teach Sunday School this year.
Please plan to join us for this very
important ministry for our children.
I must stress the importance of
considering teaching Sunday School. I will
be taking a full class load in
meeting will be held on August 15th
immediately following the
Sunday service for anyone who is able to
help teach Sunday School this year.
Please plan to join us for this very
important ministry for our children.
I must stress the importance of
considering teaching Sunday School. I will
be taking a full class load in
September, along with a full time job and three children, that being said, I will
be unable to continue to teach every Sunday. The curriculum and lessons are
simple and the rewards are many! Our Sunday School has grown and our
children have come a long way in learning the teachings of Christ.
Please join me in planting seeds.
If you are unable to make the meeting please feel free to contact me anytime.
God Bless
Kelly
be unable to continue to teach every Sunday. The curriculum and lessons are
simple and the rewards are many! Our Sunday School has grown and our
children have come a long way in learning the teachings of Christ.
Please join me in planting seeds.
If you are unable to make the meeting please feel free to contact me anytime.
God Bless
Kelly
September is fast approaching, and with it the time
to collect new underwear for NGA. Since underwear
is usually on sale during August, this is a heads-up
in case you would like to shop for the needy while
outfitting your own family. Remember, there are lots
of people right here in Delaware and Chester
counties who would appreciate anything you could
donate, and they come in all ages, genders, and
sizes.
In the words of Matthew 25:
I was naked and you clothed me Matthew 25:36
And the King will answer them, Truly I say to you,
as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren,
you did it to me.
Matthew 25:40
to collect new underwear for NGA. Since underwear
is usually on sale during August, this is a heads-up
in case you would like to shop for the needy while
outfitting your own family. Remember, there are lots
of people right here in Delaware and Chester
counties who would appreciate anything you could
donate, and they come in all ages, genders, and
sizes.
In the words of Matthew 25:
I was naked and you clothed me Matthew 25:36
And the King will answer them, Truly I say to you,
as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren,
you did it to me.
Matthew 25:40
Church of England advances plans for women bishops
Following years of debate, the Church of England July
12 backed legislation that paves the way for women to
become bishops, much to the dismay of traditionalists
who had hoped for more robust provisions for those in
opposition.
To read more, please click here.
12 backed legislation that paves the way for women to
become bishops, much to the dismay of traditionalists
who had hoped for more robust provisions for those in
opposition.
To read more, please click here.
Diocesan News