Welcoming everyone to walk through our doors on the journey to Christ
Christmas

3 That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, *
and the little hills bring righteousness.
4 He shall defend the needy among the people; *
he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.
5 He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure, *
from one generation to another.

Psalms 72: 3-5
Worship at St. David's Services:

Sunday Services
will be streaming
online for
the near future


Please find the service at the following link.


 
Please see link below on left of page


St. David's Episcopal Church

Where have we come?

Like many, I watched in shock as the events of this past Wednesday unfolded on national television. During what has been until now a formal process of accepting the states’ certified electoral ballots, Senators and Representatives objected to the votes from Arizona, and called for a national commission to investigate irregularities. While the separate houses were debating the question, rioters stormed the Capitol Building. Members of Congress were rushed from the two chambers into secure locations, as police and national guards assembled to evict the rioters from the Capitol.

I found many things about these events truly appalling, but perhaps most so was the restraint with which police met the rioters. Had this been the Federal Courthouse in Portland, OR this summer, the rioters would have been met with tear gas and rubber bullets, before they reached the steps of the building. This “protest” had been organized on social media, so law enforcement certainly could have had plenty of notice. Instead, the Capitol Police were left on their own without sufficient numbers to face down a tumultuous crowd.

Once deliberations resumed, a number of Senators and Representatives said in their speeches something to the effect of “This is not what American is; this is not who we are as Americans.” It is perhaps true that we have never seen anything like this before, but I can only think that in fact, this is who we have been all along. The difference between Wednesday’s events, and other protests, over the death of Mike Brown in Ferguson, of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and the Black Lives Matter protests around the country this summer is race. Almost all of the rioters on Wednesday were white.

Wednesday happened to be the Feast of the Epiphany, when we celebrate the wisemen’s adoration of Jesus, the revelation of the Christ to the nations. Over the events of recent years, we have seen the fault lines in our society exposed to view. COVID-19 disproportionately affects communities of color, not because people of color are more susceptible to the virus by nature, but because health care is much better in some Zip Codes than others. Underlying comorbidities affect some Zip Codes much worse than others. We have seen the disparate effects of policing in different communities. Wednesday, the Epiphany, only revealed these fault lines all the more clearly.

Herod did not like the news that the magi brought, of a new king born to Israel, and responded with violence. When the magi found the child, they presented their gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. The Old Testament prophecies often imagined the nations streaming to Jerusalem with gold and frankincense for the worship of God, but nowhere is myrrh mentioned. Myrrh was used in embalming, and the magi are showing that the incarnation of God is to the end. The power of God is displayed, not in might, but in the divine love that accepts the human condition to its limit. Matthew draws a sharp distinction between the power of Herod, and the power of divine love.

For America to become what it dreams it is, we will have to face this divine, and face it truthfully. Wounds are not healed by ignoring them, or pretending they aren’t there. It is only after Thomas has touched the wounds of Christ, that he cries out, “My Lord and my God.” We have seen the worst of who we are, and so can now begin to face our sin. The Epiphany shows us a God who accepts the human condition at its worst into the divine self, and in doing so, redeems its and reconciles humanity to the divine life. We need the courage of the magi to accept and embrace our brokenness, so that we can be reconciled to one another.



 Position Open

St. David’s is looking for a treasurer
Easy hours (8 to 10 hours per MONTH)
Great Pay (satisfaction)
Will Train

Speak to Rev. Dan if you are interested. Denise has been doing it for nearly a decade and is ready for a well-deserved break.


So far, we have received 28 pledges out of an expected 42 for the year 2021. The total pledged so far is $83,374; if outstanding pledges come in as expected, we will reach a pledged amount of $119,000 – an increase of 4% over last year. If you haven’t turned in your pledge card for 2021, please get it in soon, so the Vestry can plan next year’s budget. If you have turned yours in, Thank you, thank you!!
Our St. David's family wishes to send heartfelt love an support to Terry Garwood and her family on the passing of David her son.

Terry and her family are long time friends of St. David's having been integral members of our community for years. Unfortunately Dave passed suddenly December 29th. He was a long time resident of Manlius working tirelessly in his community as a lawyer, with the Manlius Fire Department , as advocate for first responders, working with Syracuse University, and many other community programs.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Terry, Dave' wife Emily and their 3 children.
January 10 ,2021

1st Sunday after the Epiphany

Streamed service available at 10 am


See link below


To get The Book of Common Prayer:


Contact St. David's

 
Contact information for, Parish Office
St. David's Episcopal Church-14 Jamar Drive DeWitt, NY 13214
(315)446-2112
Office hours Monday -Thursdays 9:00am-12:00pm or by appointment


Email:

Website:


Dan's Blog:  


St. Davids Dewitt:


CNY Episcopal Diocese:


Episcopal Church:

Keep in your prayers:

James Palumbo
Lisa Richards
Dick Fields
Sue Fields
Debbie Menter
Judy McCumber
Marilyn Cleary
Susan Meyer
Roberta Heirath
Josh Echols
Maureen Kimber
Frank Beadel
Isabella Songco
Daniel Healey
Hall Orcutt
Frank Cinque
James McDermott
Françoise Boulanger
Renate Seel
Lois Shaffer
Rose Demagio
Tim Orcutt
Yvonne Shaw
Diana Smith
Judy Finlayson
Colleen Bain 
Miggs Coleman
Lisa Smith
Msr. Robert Yeazel

Everyone is invited to participate in bringing our newsletter to life. If you have an opinion, article, idea, event, organization or any other relevant topic of interest, please let us know. This is everyone's newsletter, we welcome your participation.

Email either Kristen, Dan, or Cherie if there is something you would like to see posted.
Prayer List

We are trying to be sure that our prayer list is as updated as possible and certainly don't want to remove someone that should be on it. If you know of someone who should be removed please let the office know. Thank you.



Becoming who we are Called to Be


Yesterday was a day when we teetered on the brink of deep waters—waters that, if they were to close over our heads, threaten to overwhelm us and all that we hold dear. Since there has already been too much of that kind of loss during these last nine months of pandemic, the events many of us watched unfold yesterday felt almost too intense to be borne. I went from working on exegesis on the readings assigned for this Sunday on the baptism of Jesus, to being glued to my television and twitter for much of the afternoon. I went from contemplating the beauty of the opening words of Genesis to seeing the ugliest impulses generated in our political life play out before my horrified eyes. Unbidden, the opening words of Psalm 130 echoed through my head and heart as I watched the chaos in our national capitol unfold: “Out of the depths have I called to You O Lord: Lord hear my voice!” 

As I watched the forces of chaos, conspiracy, and division rampage through the halls of democracy, all I could think of was the depth of the waters into which our nation was treading. Sometimes, though, profound shocks can lead to a shaking off of the willingness to accept the banal, everyday evils that creep and infiltrate into our moral framework.

Deep waters, which in Genesis are the canvas upon which creation springs forth, became a murky symbol of loss of control and danger. From my TV screen, I heard person after person, on both sides of the aisle as the events of the day spiraled more and more out of control, protest that “this is not who we are.”

Continue Reading: Click Hear 

Written By Rev. Leslie Scoopmire

Virtual Bible Study

Tuesday, January 12th at 7:00pm


Please join us Tuesdays at 7pm. Our normal Bible Study continues this week by virtual meeting because of the limitations the Covid-19 virus has put on all of us.

A zoom link with be emailed to anyone who has expressed an interest.

Join by Zoom:

Meeting ID: 393 321 833




Please email the Church Office to request a Zoom invitation to our weekly Bible Study, which resumes next Tuesday at 7 pm.
COVID-19

Return to Virtual Worship:

As the infection rates continue to rise in our region and around the US, Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe has announced updates to the Diocesan COVID-19 response for all parishes.

These new guidelines go into effect on Sunday, November 29, 2020. We expect to follow these guidelines through at least January 1, 2021; they may be modified prior to that date.
Please visit the diocesan COVID-19 resource hub at cnyepiscopal.org/covid-19 to:
Key elements of the updated COVID-19 guidelines include:
  • We will no longer be using "steps" or "phases" but will follow a unified response plan that will be updated, as necessary. We will continue to notify parish leaders of updates by email and in clergy and wardens' meetings. 
  • Indoor in-person gatherings are suspended.
  • Live-streaming and recording worship from within the church is permitted.
  • Outdoor and “drive-in” gatherings, with Holy Eucharist, are permitted.
  • Essential community outreach ministries continue.
Services at St. David’s will return to a Virtual format on our Facebook Page (Facebook/StDavids) every Sunday at 10am, with a Virtual Coffee Hour to follow around 10:45am on Zoom.

We are still in need readers and special music. Please contact Pastor Dan or Nick Fields if you’re interested in reading or providing special music.

It’s important to remember your fellow parishioners in your prayers during this difficult period of time. Thank you for keeping our communities safe, and for responding with creativity and love in this difficult time. May God continue to be with us as we learn to love God, one another, and all God has created.

 
 

Pastoral Care:

* If you or a family member is sick or in the hospital.
* You are planning a meeting or scheduling an event so it can be placed on the church calendar.
* A baby is expected in your family.
* You want to arrange a baptism, affirmation of baptism, wedding or house blessing.
* When a family member has died.
* Your telephone, email or address is changed or if you are planning to move locally or out of town.
* You feel the church can help you in any way.



codFISH

(Community of DeWitt Friends in Service Here)
Is a volunteer transport service to medical and dental appointments at no cost for residents of the Town of DeWitt. For more information please visit our website  

Altar Guild

If you'd like to have flowers on the altar in memory of a loved one or to celebrate a special occasion please contact the office (315-446-2112).

Plants at St. David's

Our plants at St. David's are on a set watering and feeding schedule. The flower guild asks that ONLY guild members attend the plants.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
1/10-1/16
 
Birthdays

Eric Petit


No Anniversaries


Departed

Warren Bickerton, Parishioner(2)

Dorothy Schmitt, Mother of Jackie Schmitt (2)

Marjorie Maynard, Mother of Susan Meyer (4)


Office Hours

Rector In Office

M,TH 9-2

Parish Office

M-Th 9-1
(Office Physically open Mondays )







Samaritan Update


The Samaritan Center can our help in other ways:

Donations are needed to service for our Samaritan Center clients
……$100 seems to be the average
……Any amount would be accepted
·       …… Pre-packaged cookies are needed and can be dropped off at the church while Kristen is there

The Samaritan Center is also in need of these items:

  • Prepackaged cookies
  • To go containers
  • Plastic forks & spoons
  • Bottled water
  • Bottled juices
  • Sandwiches or any kind on any bread
  • And the "bad" plastic bags if anyone cares to give them up 
Please contact Linda Williams email: lindaverniwiliiams@gmail.com, 315-637-6952

If you are dropping off something to be picked up please contact Linda ahead of time so she knows wheter to stop to pick up items.

Thank you for all you have done so far. Please be safe yourselves.

St. David's Court



Here are some of the items needed for the End of the Year Drive at St, David's Court. Please have them in by December 8th

Ivory bar soap
Toilet paper
Kleenex
Paper towels
Laundry detergent pods
Canned tuna fish
Canned foods
Dish detergent
Peanut butter
Microwave popcorn
Stamps and envelopes

Thanks so much for your continued support!
January 18 ~ Martin Luther King Day Office Closed

January 25 ~ Vestry

January 31 ~ Annual meeting via Zoom 11:30 am

Good Morning Everyone, 

We're putting together a virtual coffee hour as part of our Sunday Services. Can you please send me either individual pictures of yourselves or you and your spouse if applicable, Click Here to send the pictures to my my email for St. David's projects.

Thanks

David Burgess
(315) 875-3572
January 10, 2021

Genesis 1:1-5

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Acts 19:1-7

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.

Mark 1:4-11

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”