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- Copyright © 2007 - 2013
- Emmanuel Episcopal Church
May 12, 2013
May 10, 2013
May 09, 2013
Ascension Day
Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
May 08, 2013
May 05, 2013
Homily for the Sixth Sunday of Easter - The peace of God it is no peace.
Acts 16:9-15
Psalm 67
Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
John 14:23-29
Homily by Fr R Christopher Heying
I remember when I heard it—maybe not for the first time but for the first time really heard it—this hymn which we sung just before the gospel reading: “They cast their nets in Galilee” (Hymnal 661).
It was at a vocations retreat in summer of 1994 to which Cindy and I had gone as part of the vetting process to become a priest. The priest who gave the talk used the hymn as a guide to the challenges, which can be faced in priestly ministry, but he could just as well have used it as a talk to vet anyone who thought they might want to become a Christian.
The hymn begins with reference to “simple fisher folk” who were happy, contented, and peaceful just the way they were. They no doubt had family, friends, a decent education, and a good job. Life was sweet enough, filled with value and meaning that most of us, if we are at all reflective, desire.
Then along comes this Galilean carpenter who calls out to us and invites us to follow him, to watch with amazement as he teaches with authority, casts out demons, heals the lame, proclaims the God’s favor, bestows peace.
What was pretty darn good now seems to get even better. It’s seems that it is much like Coca-Cola: everything goes better with Jesus.
Continue reading "Homily for the Sixth Sunday of Easter - The peace of God it is no peace." »
May 04, 2013
May 02, 2013
May 01, 2013
The Feast of St Philip and St James
The Collect -
Almighty God, who gave to your apostles Philip and James grace and strength to bear witness to the truth: Grant that we, being mindful of their victory of faith, may glorify in life and death the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Click here to learn more about St Philip and St James, Apostles.
April 29, 2013
The Pruden Parish Press for May 2013 Is Now Online
The May 2013 issue of The Pruden Parish Press, a periodic newsletter containing news and information for parishioners and friends of Emmanuel, is being published this week. The current issue includes:
- Mother's Day Brunch May 12th,
- Greetings from your vestry,
- My Spiritual Journey,
- Calendar Notes for May - July,
- Hall and Gallops Close Chatham Concert Series,
- Easter Season at Emmanuel, and
- Spotlight on the Vestry - Carol Ann Fletcher.
Click here to read the May issue online.
Earlier issues may be viewed at The Pruden Parish Press.
To receive future issues by mail, please call or email the Parish Office.
Feast of Catherine of Siena
The Collect -
Everlasting God, you so kindled the flame of holy love in the heart of blessed Catherine of Siena, as she meditated on the passion of your Son our Savior, that she devoted her life to the poor and the sick, and to the peace and unity of the Church: Grant that we also may share in the mystery of Christ's death, and rejoice in the revelation of his glory; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Click here to learn more about Catherine of Siena, 1380.
April 28, 2013
Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter - Alleluia. Christ is risen.
Acts 11:1-18
Psalm 148
Revelation 21:1-6
John 13:31-35
Homily by Fr R Christopher Heying
Alleluia. Christ is risen. The
Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
On this Day 29 of the Great Fifty Days of Easter, it is a happy thing that our waning emotional fervor has not tempered in the least the church’s bold Easter proclamation this morning: Jesus is risen from the dead and that changes everything.
We see this in the four visions that the church gives us in this morning’s lessons, three that are straightforward and obvious and one that, while more obscure, has within it the very key to resurrection and its transformation of everything.
Our lessons reveal that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead was not only something that happened about two thousand years ago but has ongoing consequences for us and for the whole world. What we once may have imagined as being not only impossible but even undesirable or unacceptable has come to us with the unqualified stamp of God’s acceptance, God’s approval.
What we thought had been written in stone and unalterable has been utterly transformed by the one who never ceases to make all things new. And that all of these amazing, wondrous and transformative things happen through the one thing that you and I arrogantly thought we knew so much about, only to discover we might have been as tone-deaf as those first disciples who heard, who even saw and touched for themselves, and yet had no understanding at all, but, thankfully, it is not that we love God but that God loves us.
Continue reading "Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter - Alleluia. Christ is risen." »
April 25, 2013
April 24, 2013
April 21, 2013
April 19, 2013
April 17, 2013
Mother's Day Brunch at Emmanuel - May 12th
Charles Williams and Michael Rose will host this year's Mother's Day Brunch at Emmanuel on Sunday, May 12th following the morning worship service.
All are welcome but please help us know if you (and any guests) are coming by signing up on the sheet in the hall leading to the parish hall.
April 14, 2013
April 12, 2013
Hall & Gallops Close Chatham Concert Season
By Susan Paynter
Wow. Talk about a grand finale! The April 5 Chatham Concert Series season finale, held at Emmanuel, was nothing short of an all-out love fest.
The concert-goers loved Ashley Hall’s charming engagement
with the audience as she personally introduced each piece she played: relaying
here a story from her own career, there a tale about the composer or a famous
performer of the upcoming number.
More important, we were astounded by Hall’s virtuosity on the cornet. Joe, who in his youth dabbled on the trumpet, kept whispering to me, “How does she do that?”
I couldn’t help but glance from time to time at a friend across the aisle who used to play brass in big bands. He was mesmerized, smiling and shaking his head, and he leapt to his feet with applause after the final note before intermission.
But even those of us who’ve never blown a horn knew we were in the presence of something very special. To say the applause was extended doesn’t do it justice: we were smitten!
Then there was Wayne Gallops on the piano. What pizzazz.
His background in popular and classical music as well as jazz enabled
him to match the temper and style of each piece of the varied program. The two played wonderfully in concert and we
were all astounded to hear this was their first performance together.
Hall and Gallops showed their appreciation for each other in that way musicians do during an ovation. You could tell it was anything but a de rigueur gesture. They were genuinely delighted with one another.
And with us. They say there’s nothing a musician values more than an appreciative audience and we certainly gave them that, to their obvious pleasure.
Hall selected a diverse program, designed to display the many moods and colors the cornet is capable of evoking and representing composers of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries from the U.S., the U.K, and Europe.
Each piece had its charm, but if I had to bet on the audience favorites I’d put my money on Jules Levy’s “Grand Russian Fantasia” and Jean-Baptiste Arban’s variations on “Le Carnaval de Venise.” Both were written to show what the cornet is capable of doing and it was thrilling to hear what that instrument, on the lips and in the hands of a master like Hall, can do.
April 11, 2013
April 10, 2013
April 09, 2013
April 08, 2013
April 07, 2013
Homily for the Second Sunday of Easter - My Lord and my God!
Acts 5:27-32
Psalm 118:14-29
John 20:19-31
Homily by Fr R Christopher Heying
I think it is fair to say that most of us in the course of
our life have had and will have doubts and crises of faith.
At times a certain doctrine or a tightly held opinion may seem to unravel before critical examination or growing indifference. What we once were so dang clear about may grow blurry with shifting values and changing norms. Over a long, protracted period, a belief can fade until it disappears into the darkness.
At other times, a crisis of faith may come crashing through the door like a thief in a home invasion who robs us of things we have held so dear, not the valuables but the values, our sense of security, our trust, our good name and carefully guarded reputation, our carefully constructed self-definition. The peg that we have hung our life on can come loose and in a split second our equilibrium is lost.
Be it subtle and slow or definite and immediate, most of us will at some time be confronted with significant challenge to our belief structure.
Such was the case of course not only with Thomas but each of the twelve. Despite repeated teachings that he must suffer and die and then rise again, no one expected the resurrection. It was only through an encounter with the risen Lord, his bidding peace, his showing them his wounds, that they were able to rejoice at seeing the Lord.
Continue reading "Homily for the Second Sunday of Easter - My Lord and my God!" »
Second Sunday of Easter
The Collect -
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
April 06, 2013
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