Holy Apostles Messenger
Early August 2020
~ While We Wait..Patience
~ Public Worship
~ Fundraising in 2020!?!
~ Parish News & Notes
~ Outreach
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FUNDRAISERS 2020 STYLE!!!
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Dear beloved in Christ,
This year, August seems like Advent. A time of longing, hope and expectation. In some ways that may always be the case, but, this year I feel it more than any other. It seems that we spent a long spring and a longer summer waiting. For some it is a waiting for the return of what was. For some others it is a time for the revelation of the “new normal”. For the remaining it is a waiting for what might come next. It reminds me of the first century and more of the Church. People waiting anxiously for the return of Christ, which they thought imminent. It was a waiting for a return of the hope of the earthly kingdom that generations had longed for. A longing for the “new normal” of the reign of God; a waiting just to see what was coming next. The waiting gave way to a loss of hope, to which Paul and the Evangelists provided words of encouragement. It also called for believers to change their expectations and live everyday as though it was the day, rather than spending life looking for signs.
This August we are in such a place - longing, hoping, expecting. Sometimes we fall into the trap of looking for the signs on the news - balancing the ever-changing
data points, events/activities closing and opening guidelines and on and on - to the point that we forget to live in the moment, looking for God at work in the midst. We can easily forget to be a people preparing ourselves and preparing the world for “kingdom moments” as they appear. As the days of fall approach it will be easy to live in the darkness - physical, spiritual, or emotional. We however are called to be children of light - those looking at the beauty to be found at dusk and the possibilities at the break of dawn. As we move forward, let us pray that we may abound in hope and look for the dawn.
From II Peter 3 for Advent II in year B
But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is a home. Therefore beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found in him at peace, without spot or blemish and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.
Yours in Christ,
Canon Art+
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PUBLIC WORSHIP - SUMMER 2020
Public worship
has restarted at
Holy Apostles
Remember to check our website, Facebook page or look for an email for updates as needed.
MASS/HOLY EUCHARIST SCHEDULE
Saturdays at 5:00 pm
Sundays at 8:00 am and 9:30 am
Wednesdays at 11:00 am*
*
The Wednesday service at 11 am is another option for those looking to participate in worship but nervous about larger services. We normally post this service on
Sundays due to its shorter length.
The Sunday 11:15 am service was dropped as we found no need during the summer. After Labor Day we will see if we have a need for it.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THOSE ATTENDING WORSHIP:
Please click below(
in
blue
) to review/print/download:
These notes are also posted at the entrance and kitchen doors.
Here are some important points for everyone:
1. If you are not feeling well, please stay home
2. If you are not comfortable either come to another, perhaps smaller, service or
stay home
3. One service each weekend will be recorded and the video will be published on
our website and Facebook as we did during the Stay-at-Home period
4. Communion at home will be made available, not only to shut-ins but also to
those who watch the video because they are uncomfortable attending.
Shut-ins will be contacted; others should contact the office
so that agreed upon
arrangements can be made.
Ways you can helpful
1. Additional cleaning supplies, masks, gloves and wipes are always welcome
2. Please vacate the building so that cleaning for the next service can be completed, or stay and help wipe down for the next service
3. Consider ushering at the 9:30 am service
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While We Wait
....
Now more than ever, we must provide the resources needed to continue our mission
of support to our community
and the world
...with hearts to love and hands to serve.
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FUNDRAISING 2020 STYLE!!
JEWELRY SALE
(and items from the BARN)
Saturday, August 15
th
The sale will take place in the parish center, where it will be easier to control flow and distancing. In addition it will be cooler. The time will be shorter 8 am to 12noon.
Tables will be set up the week before and items will be brought up and laid out in a single layer. Tables will be distanced and a person will be stationed at the door to limit numbers, be sure all have masks, etc.
Help will be needed with bringing up items and arranging them before and helpers will be needed on the day for the sale.
If we have space a limited number of other pre-selected barn items may also be available.
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Mark Your Calendars
**August 15, 2020
–
Jewelry Sale
8 am to 12 noon
**September 18 (Fri 4 -6 pm) and
19 (Sat 11 am -1 pm) –
Lobster Sale
**Movie Night/Mini Boutique - TBD
***********************************
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LOBSTER SALE
September 18
th
&
19
th
The Lobster Sale will replace the BBQ Chicken dinner for this year, since the BBQ is labor intensive and hard to do while observing social distancing.
This year's event will benefit the parish rather than the youth program.
Lobsters, fresh and steamed, will be available on Friday (4 - 6pm) and again on Saturday (11am to 1pm).
Lobster rolls will be available on Saturday.
More details will be in the upcoming newsletters.
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MORE FUNDRAISING
for Fall 2020
MOVIE NIGHT/ Mini-BOUTIQUE
A committee is being formed to work on an outdoor Movie Night to replace the Table Party.
It may be combined with a Mini-Boutique or the two events may also be separated.
The Committee will make the final determination in the coming month.
We are going to try to have our fund raising activities completed in October, unless we have a November Barn sale. We are concerned about later fall events in case of an increase of illness once we are inside more and dealing with flu issues.
A sign-up sheet for volunteers for the fund raisers has been set out at the registration station. You may also contact the office or send a quick note via email to the office at
[email protected]
.
Please keep reading our eNewsletters and checking our
Facebook page
for updates.
FALL BARN SALES
We have received several calls requesting a date for the next Barn Sale. The plans for the fall sales have yet to be determined.
Issues of keeping the space clean, staff healthy and safe distancing need to be addressed before moving forward.
Should they begin in the fall we may have fewer, with some tables outside.
To make sales work we will need additional helpers, as some regulars may not feel comfortable with working the barn sales at this time.
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Parish News & Notes
SCHEDULES
The
Subdeacons and Lectors Schedule
for Summer 2020 has been distributed. All participants should have a copy of the schedule by now. However, a schedule is posted on the bulletin board in the narthex and one on the Altar Guild bulletin board. Finally, if you need to view a schedule, please
Click the
RED
button above to view/download the Subdeacons and Lectors Summer Schedule.
VESTRY
The Vestry will meet in person on Tuesday August 11
th
at 7 pm in the nave.
The agenda for the meeting will include:
1. Financial updates
2. Issues related to the fall program
3. Stewardship 2021
4. Property
ACOLYTES:
Acolytes are not scheduled for the summer. Acolytes are welcome to serve. Responsibilities are limited to carrying the cross and ringing the bell or gong. Volunteers are welcome.
SACRAMENTS and Rites
BAPTISMS:
Guidelines for Holy Baptism
have been prepared by the Diocese and we are now able to schedule those following the guidelines.
HOME COMMUNIONS are now being offered for those unable or uncomfortable with attending in person worship. Please contact the office to be placed on the visitation schedule and to review the procedures.
FUNERALS: Services may be held at the church using the same guidelines as weekend worship.
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More Parish News & Notes
OFFICE HOURS
:
Joyce continues to normally work from home, only coming up as needed, about every two weeks.She is always available by church email and personal text message.
Canon Art is normally in the office, following Morning Prayer. It is best to contact the office in the morning, before 1pm in case he has home communions or other meetings. The Office is not open on Fridays.
NEWSLETTERS
We are moving to eNewsletters as the normal way of communication. We currently send out eNewsletters to 96 email addresses. Our current open rate ranges from 63% to 80% which is excellent and shows that this method of communication is valuable to most parishioners.
Feel free to click on any underlined link (
in blue
) or a
RED
button to get more information on that topic. All links are safe!!
Do you have an email address of a fellow parishioner who is not receiving the newsletter or do you want to receive your eNewsletter at a different email address?
Let us know by sending a quick email to
[email protected]
.
All we need is your name, the email address and if we should
add
the new email address or
replace
your current email address.
We hope to do a traditional newsletter at the start of the new Program Year (our traditional Kickoff Newsletter) to also gather additional email addresses.
By the end of the year the eNewsletter will be the prime communication, with small paper mailings being sent out for All Saints, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and the Music program. These mailings would be available for pick up at the church the week before mailing to reduce mailing costs.
A limited number of eNewsletters will be printed for pick up or mailing to those who request them.
Please note
that, due to formatting differences,
eNewsletters do
not print well
and must be reformatted for paper printing
so there may be a brief delay in receiving paper versions of eNewsletters.
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PREPARING FOR FALL
& the New Program Year
While we are anxious for the beginning of the program year we need to wait in hope and patience.
The Program Year newsletter would normally be coming out rather soon. Since we are still uncertain about the answers to many program questions, the newsletter will be arriving later than usual. At this point many parts of the program year will need to be delayed, including the program for Christian formation.
It is my hope that by Dedication Sunday, October 3
rd
and 4
th
we will be able to have the fall program year running in a way that will be unique from Fall 2020 to Summer 2021. Since October 4
th
is the 25
th
anniversary of the Parish Center, this seems like a good day to rededicate ourselves to the next chapter in our live together.
Keep looking for information on Facebook and our website in the coming weeks!
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OUTREACH & ALL-YEAR FUNDRAISING
FOOD PANTRY:
We continue to gather food for distribution through the Allentown Food Pantry. For those who do not have keys there is a large container with lid by the double doors. Each morning Canon Art checks the box and brings in food for pick up on Wednesday.
Thanks to Kim Midgett for delivering the items to the food pantry every week!
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Our meal service with the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen still happens each week on Tuesdays. We distribute meals from the parking lot and continue to serve about 140 meals a week.
Please continue to donate individually packaged store-bought desserts for us to include with the meals. Thanks for your support!
Gleanings and TASK
Back-to-school supplies collection
Many thanks for your donations in support
of local children Grades K‐12
!
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GIFT CARDS FUNDRAISER
(and current retailers list)
O
RDER
Gift Cards for:
~~
Grads, Anniversaries, Baby Showers, Baptisms, Birthdays, etc.
~~
DONATE
to HELPING HANDS FUND
***Order Dates:
August 30, September 27, October 25
(November & December - TBD)
Contact:
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Many Thanks
We would like to thank all those who assisted with the food appeal for the Allentown Food Pantry since the last newsletter.
If you can, please keep the assistance coming for the food pantry as well as pre-packaged and store-bought desserts for Gleanings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clergy and Volunteers
Our thanks to the deacons and other volunteers who have been assisting with the liturgies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many thanks for remembering the
Poor Box Ministry
as we begin to gather again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks for the cleaning supplies, masks, gloves and wipes. We've only just begun!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HELPING HANDS:
We would like to thank those who purchased gift cards for the Helping Hands Program. Your donations enable us to make additional assistance available. Parishioners are encouraged to request gift cards should they need them. They may also recommend family and neighbors, etc. that they know for assistance. We continue to limit assistance to those with no connection to the parish at this time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Remembering all those you are sick in mind, body and soul
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHANGES IN OUR COMMUNITY
Deaths:
The following soul(s) passed through death to Life:
Michael P. McGee (1947 - 2020) passed on July 28, 2020. Mike is survived by his beloved partner of many years
Gayle L. McCormack
. May he rest in heavenly peace.
A memorial service will be held in Ohio at a later date.
For those who wish to honor Mike, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Holy Apostles Episcopal Church or Vitas Hospice at Jefferson Stratford Hospital.
Has your contact info (name, address, telephone or email address) changed?
Please send updates
. You can email to
[email protected]
, send by regular mail to the church or put a note in the black box on Tuesdays afternoons when we serve Gleanings.
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August 2020:
...a period of Hope and Patience as we wait and prepare ourselves and the world for "
kingdom moments"
Stay Safe, Stay Well, Stay Cool
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