July 2018 A note from the Rector…

In my recent trip to New York City, my grandson Logan, his friend Luke, and I walked the High Line. It is a park above the

street from 14th Street to 34th street where trains used to travel. In places you can still see the tracks. On our walk, we

saw this piece of art:

I explained to the boys that the words were from a

sonnet called The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus. They

are the last lines and appear on a bronze tablet at the

Statue of Liberty. The sonnet was used to raise money

for a pedestal for the statue.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Colossus

I have relatives who immigrated from the Italian islands

through Ellis Island, and relatives from Sicily who came

here illegally and relatives who came here nearly 300

years ago from Germany. What was it that compelled

them to leave their families and the place they knew to

come here? Something spoke to them of wider

possibilities for this one life God gives us.

As I thought about the 4th of July, I pondered what it means to be a patriot, to love one’s country and to be a Christian,

loving God first. I remembered that the pastor of my youth, whom I knew as Uncle Ray, preached a series of sermons in

the fall of 1971 on “Speaking Truth to Power.” I read these sermons at least once each year. I still remember hearing

them as a 14-year old. I believe they have shaped my life.

The sermons speak to what it means to be a patriot and a Christian. They speak to the importance of the prophetic voice

in service of the nation. The true patriot loves their country, deeply, and it is out of that love that the patriot is a critical

observer of the country. The patriot also stays with the people, experiencing the punishment exacted when the nation

fails to live according to God’s commands.

And the patriot holds out God’s dream for the nation. The patriot holds out God’s vision for us to live together and to

love God, love our neighbor and love ourselves. It’s that vision and dream of freedom and the ability to be the best that

God has created us to be, that drew, and may still draw, people to this nation. May we more fully live into and exemplify

God’s vision for our nation.

Love, Rebecca+

NATIVITY NEWS

The newsletter of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen

Newport and Thompsontown, PA

159 South Second Street, Newport PA 17074

Phone: 717-567-6514 E-mail: chnatss@pa.net

Parish Website: www.nativityandststephen.diocpa.org

Vestry Meeting June 13, 2018

Our Life Together – Addressing conflict

In our recent mutual ministry review, we agreed to explore how we handle conflict as a Vestry and as a parish. At our

meeting, vestry reviewed the Virginia Theological Seminary graduation address by The Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor. The

theme was about how to think about and live with conflict.

Taylor emphasizes that conflict is inevitable and we need to start seeing it as normal. She notes that Jesus stirred up

plenty of conflict in his ministry. Rather than trying to resolve all conflict, we need to engage in productive conflict…the

kind that allows us to continue to engage with each other and to be in community with each other. In working for

reconciliation, she says one of the major ideas is to “not leave the room.”

The video is available here at minute 41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O2568WgDIw

Rebecca will reach out to Canon Morrow for some resources he suggested we use.

Our Finances

Income through April was $91,063.02. Expenses through the same period were $86,746.11. The mortgage

principle is $96,514.03. We paid an extra $500 on the mortgage from the bonus we receive from using our

church credit cards. We also donated $180 to the Diocese’s Operation Understanding and $164.08 to the

Episcopal Church Women United Thank Offering.

The 2017 audit was approved and will be submitted to the Diocese. The Audit Committee of Suzanne Beamer,

John Cramer and Glenn Holliman inspected the financial statements for 2017 in accordance with the guidelines

of the Episcopal Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs. The Committee said the financial statements

present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Congregation at the end of 2017.

The Committee recommended reviewing the flood insurance and property insurance policies. The Property

Committee will look into this. They also wanted to be sure that all passwords were kept in a safe place. Vital

papers will be scanned and copies stored off-site. Wendy, Rebecca and Michele are working on this.

Stewardship of our Property

Vestry agreed to spend up to $600 on new statues of the nativity that are in the flower bed in the front of the

church.

Bill Day also reported that an air conditioner repair was done on one of the units in the nave of Nativity. It is

covered under warranty. In repairing that unit, there was some plaster damage done, which Tuckey will repair

for us.

The air conditioning unit for the second floor of the parish house has a leak. A variety of options are being

explored regarding how best to handle this issue. For now, the unit is charged. Options include repair of the

unit, which should last another five years or looking at total replacement with a unit that can provide heating

and cooling.

The stucco on the church front is in bad repair. Mr. Peters recommended using a process whereby the stucco is

covered up by boards and then painted. Some Vestry members said they’d dealt with a similar process and it

hadn’t worked well. The property committee and Russ Hoover will keep working on this project.

The Property Committee will also look into the maintenance of the stamped concrete sidewalks and the

masonry of the church building.

Kyle Weller Scholarships Awarded

Vestry approved the recommendation of the Program and Mission Committee to award $500 scholarships to

Grace Klauer, Luke Klauer and Madison Murphy.

Are you Called to be a Leader? Nominations Committee seeking church leadership for 2019

Bill Day, Tootser Davis and Becky Gephart-Crup are the nominating committee for 2019 leadership positions.

Three people are needed for Vestry; a delegate and alternate for Diocesan Convention, and at least one

representative to the Harrisburg Convocation.

No Vestry Meeting in July.

The next Vestry meeting will be August 8.

Parlor People, Godly Play

and Choir Practice will all

resume in the fall.

Volunteers and Donations needed

for St. Barnabas Program.

*Note date change.

Nativity will once again be providing

breakfast and lunch for 100 children

and staff at the St. Barnabas program,

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Hbg.,

on Tuesday, July 3.

We will also provide snacks for the

entire week. Donations of food and

snacks are needed, either items or

money to purchase the food. Please see

Wendy Day if you can help out.

We will be celebrating

baptism on November 4. Let Rebecca know if you or

someone you know would like to

be baptized on this day.

Notecards of Nativity for sale.

$2 each or 5 for $8.

The photo on the 4X5½“ cards is of the

pews and was taken by Irene VanBuskirk.

They are in the undercroft.

Baking needs and

chocolate items available

through Equal Exchange.

See the cart in the

parish hall. We are now a wholesaler for Equal

Exchange, a company that supports

small farmers who use sustainable

practices for chocolate, cocoa,

coffee, tea, nuts, olive oil and other

baking items. A price list and

basket are available to pay for the

items you choose to buy. Also, be

sure to write down what you’ve

purchased to help us maintain our

inventory. A catalogue is also

available. If there’s an item you’d

like us to order, please see

Jane Hoover.

We are starting our

prayer list over again. If you have a name you’d like for

the list, let Michele know at

717-567-6514 or chnatss@pa.net.

Saturday, August 11,

11am - 4pm,

Acolyte Festival,

St. Andrew's In the Valley,

4620 Linglestown Rd.,

Harrisburg. Shepherd:

The Rev. Susan Claytor,

rev.claytor@gmail.com

All Acolytes - youth and adult -

are invited to this day of worship

and fun. Service with acolyte

procession at 11am. Bring banners

and all acolytes should vest.

Lunch after the service, followed

by lots of games, including

bouncy house/blow-up fun and

some acolyte olympics.

End with worship by 4pm.

Honor or Remember a loved one

or a special occasion with

flowers on the altar! Flowers help make our worship space

more beautiful and remind us of the

blossoming life we have in Christ.

Please consider sponsoring the flowers

in memory of a loved one, or to

celebrate your thanksgivings.

Flowers are $30.

Let Michele know by email

chnatss@pa.net or phone,

717-567-6514.

Human Trafficking

Hands-on Event,

Saturday, August 25,

10am – 2pm,

St. Andrew's in the Valley,

4620 Linglestown Road,

Harrisburg. Help place labels on bars of soap

which will be delivered to local

hotels and truck stops at the second

Human Trafficking Awareness

Day on October 13. Bring a brown

bag lunch, beverages and dessert

will be provided. Please RSVP to

Cathy Rippeon at

cathyww93@aol.com.

July Episcopal Commons

1 Carley McGrady 21 Barabara Hary 14 Doris Hadley

Ben Michelson Kevin Hortens

6 Jane Benner 23 Sean Day

7 Emily Gainor Andrea Jezewski

Kimberly Nye 25 Pat Keilhofer

9 Miles Jezewski 27 Jill Brownfield Honaman House 11 Gail Frohnert Amanda Dungan

Mary Miller Larkin Todd Saner 5 Stephanie Matt

13 Dale Lesperance 28 Madison Murphy 20 Tracy Knouse

15 MaryJeanne Emerson 29 Jake Roman

17 Jodi Hoover 30 William Rohm

Elizabeth Place Kenny Weaver

20 Julia Rohm 31 Karen Kern

Service Participants Schedule **Thompsontown

Counters: July 1 – Tootser and John July 22 – Becky and Darlene

July 8 – Bill R. and Shannon July 29 – Gail and John

July 15 – Bill D. and Jill

Date Greeters Lector Prayers Acolyte Euch. Min. Coffee Hour

**July 1 (A.G. 1) Burns/ Davis Joanne P. Susan R. Lillian H. Saner Pat/Gail

July 8 (A.G. 2) Bakers Connie Y. Jane H. Sophia J. Rohm Joanne/Tootser

Morning Prayer - Bill Rohm

July 15 (A.G. 3) Mitchell/ ? Wendy D. Shannon B. Elizabeth H. Rohm Becky/Julie

John Sivley preaching

July 22 (A.G. 4) Cramers Kay C. John C. Ethan J. Davis Susan R./Jean

July 29 (A.G. 2) Rolands Ann R. Jan Y. Alivia H. Amsler Lynne/Jill

July 2018 ►

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Worship - 9:30am St. Stephen’s Special Offering

2

3 Taize’ Tuesday, 4:45pm

4 Independence

Day Church Office Closed

5

6

7

8 Worship - 9:30am Morning Prayer – Bill Rohm

9

10 Taize’ Tuesday, 4:45pm

11 Men’s Breakfast

(Espresso Yourself)

Women’s Breakfast

(Bitting’s) - 9am

12

13

14

15 Worship - 9:30am John Sivley preaching

16

17 Taize’ Tuesday, 4:45pm

18 Men’s Breakfast

(Espresso Yourself)

Women’s Breakfast

(Bitting’s) - 9am

19

20

21

22 Worship - 9:30am

23

24 Taize’ Tuesday, 4:45pm

25 Men’s Breakfast

(Espresso Yourself)

Women’s Breakfast

(Bitting’s) - 9am

26

27

28

29 Worship - 9:30am Special Offering

30

31 Taize’ Tuesday, 4:45pm

Notes: Rebecca will be away Monday, July 2 – Monday, July 16 and Monday, July 30 – Friday, August 10. Special Offerings – July 1- Caring for Nativity’s Neighbors and Flower Offering July 29 – Building Fund