Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Dinner Clubs Host Winter Cocktail Party

Approximately 40 parishioners and friends attended  a parish-wide Dinner Clubs' Winter Cocktail Party on Saturday, January 31^st  at Eldon co-hosted by Mary Hicks Heitzler and Alice and Wayne Wilson. 

Enjoying the fellowship are: Pete, Susan, Joe & Mary Hicks.

Emmanuel’s Dinner Clubs Program allows groups of 8 to 10 adults, singles and couples, to meet on a monthly rotating basis for an evening of potluck, fun and fellowship.

New groups are forming for the coming season, and several events are currently being planned. Please call Mary Hicks Heitzler for more information.

We give thanks for the baptism of Andrew James Coles

Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and the Holy Spirit you have bestowed upon Andrew the forgiveness of sin, and have raised him to the new life of grace. Sustain him, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give him an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. Amen.

Homily for the Third Sunday after Epiphany - What's in a Name?

The Gospel - Mark 1:14-20

Homily by the Rev. Dr. David Smith

What's in a Name?

Today’s Gospel continues the story of the calling of the twelve to be Jesus’ disciples. And it seems appropriate and fitting that as we prepare this morning to baptize Andrew James Coles that two of the disciples in today’s lesson should be named Andrew and James.

Jesus first sees Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets as he walks along the Sea of Galilee. Later, he comes upon James and his brother John. In both instances Jesus invites these fishermen to follow him and they immediately leave their nets to do so.

These invitations and their resulting ready acceptances did not just happen out of the blue. Andrew and James had been following John the Baptist and they had been watching and listening to John as he preached about “the one who will come after me, whose shoes I am not worthy to untie.” So, their response to Jesus’ invitation was a logical next step for them.

In the Bible, names mean something about the people who bear them. Abraham meant “father of many nations.” Jacob, you may recall, meant “trickster, conniver, cheater, thief.”

Andrew means “a man of great value.”

Homily for the Second Sunday after Epiphany - I am what you have been looking for.

The Gospel - John 1:43-51

Homily by the Rev. Dr. David Smith

I am what you have been looking for.

I am what you have been looking for all of your life.

Today’s Gospel tells the story of the calling of Nathaniel to be a disciple. Philip, who had accepted Jesus’ call on the previous day, found Nathaniel and said to him, “we have found him of whom Moses in the law and all of the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

When Nathaniel asks Philip, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip replies, “Come and see.” Philip’s question is the one asked by everyone who first hears a message they do not believe, or do not wish to believe: “Can anything good possibly come from that dirty little town or place or person?” Philip’s response is the one offered continuously by Jesus: “Come and see for yourself.”

Upon seeing Nathaniel and Philip approaching, Jesus said, “ Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathaniel was the opposite of deceitful – he said what he thought and thought what he said. Today’s Gospel ties together two stories – one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. The Old Testament story is the one about Jacob wrestling with God.

The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical

Shane Claiborne was a young Methodist who grew up in the Bible Belt, became a Jesus freak, and moved to Philadelphia despite his family's misgivings, helping the homeless there. Then in his early twenties he boldly requested an internship with Mother Teresa in Calcutta. She simply responded, "Come."

Besides illuminating his own faith journey, Claiborne is insightful on the huge U.S. cultural and economic divide: the problem isn't that wealthy Christians don't care about the poor, he says, it's that they simply don't know the poor.

Read the reviews. Order the book.

Emmanuel Installs Vestry for 2009

New members of the Vestry of Emmanuel for 2009, Jayne DePaulo and Ron Irby, were formally installed by the Rev. Dr. David Smith, Vicar, on Sunday, January 18th. As part of their installation, vestry members pledged to "faithfully and reverently execute the duties of [their] ministry to the honor of God, and the benefit of the members of [the] congregation."

Front row:  Jayne DePaulo, Linda Swanberg, Mary Hicks Heitzler, and Sharon Taylor (Registrar)

Second Row: John Geyer (Treasurer), Ron Irby, and Richard Camp (Senior Warden).

The Vestry is the lay governing body of the parish responsible for the financial and administrative business of the parish.

Chatham Concert Series Opens with High Strung

Pictured (left to right): Kevin Matheson, Rebecca Oh, Brian Matheson, Kevin Zakresky

The Chatham Concert Series opened its first season on January 16^th at Emmanuel with High Strung featuring The Classic Strings Duo Kevin Matheson, Violin, and Brian Matheson, Viola.

Hailed as “two perfect virtuosos” at their international performance debut, and as winners of the Ibla International Competition in Italy, Kevin and Bryan Matheson performed works by Milhaud, Beethoven, Schickele, Ryden, Handel and Sibelius, closing with Mozart’s Trio for Violin, Viola and Piano in E-flat Major K. 498 “Kegelstatt,” with Kevin Zakresky at the piano.

Rebecca Oh, a promising young musician from Korea and a freshman at Chatham Hall, opened the second half of the Programme with Bach’s Concerto for Violin in A Minor.

Approximately 75 people attended this evening's performance.

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Please join us on Sunday, February 22^nd beginning at 8 pm here at Emmanuel for the second performance in the Chatham Concert Series, There’s Always Room for Cello, featuring Ben Wyatt, cello, and Ariana Wyatt, soprano. Admission is by donation.

Click here to view this evening’s Programme.

Click here to learn more about the Chatham Concert Series.

Focused outward, Falls Church parish re-groups

Lay ministry highlights continuing community's growth

By Mary Frances Schjonberg January 14, 2009 [Episcopal News Service] – excerpts:

Just more than two years after the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia parish of the Falls Church split in a theological dispute, the remaining Episcopalians…are learning that a church is more than a building.

"You definitely feel the Holy Spirit moving through the place," said Matt Rhodes, who joined the parish with his wife and two young daughters about six months [ago]…. "There was a tremendous sense of fellowship" and "this overwhelming sense of vitality."

Members of the parish, who now average about 80 in attendance on Sunday, have pledged $250,000 for mission and ministry this year, according to priest-in-charge, the Rev. Michael Pipkin. Ten percent of that budget will go to work with local outreach agencies….

…"the driving focus," as Rhodes called it, is on outreach and how the parishioners can serve the wider community of Falls Church, Virginia.

Read the complete article.

Dinner Clubs' Winter Cocktail Party - Jan. 31st

Please join us for a parish-wide Dinner Clubs’ Winter Cocktail Party on Saturday, January 31^st beginning at 6 pm, co-hosted by Mary Hicks Heitzler and Alice and Wayne Wilson.

All adult parishioners and friends are invited. Just bring a heavy hors d’oeuvre to share. Beverages will be provided. Please call Mary Hicks Heitzler or Alice Wilson to confirm your attendance or to learn more about the Dinner Clubs.

Emmanuel’s Dinner Clubs Program allows groups of 8 to 10 adults, singles and couples, to meet on a monthly rotating basis for an evening of potluck, fun and fellowship.

Outreach Committee Sponsors Linen Drive

The Emmanuel Outreach Committee is sponsoring a Linen Drive to benefit the residents of Oak Grove Assisted Living Lodge. Parishioners and friends may participate by donating blankets, quilts, and sheets for the twin beds at Oak Grove. Collection boxes have been placed in the Narthex and the Parish Hall. The Linen Drive will continue through January after which all donations will be delivered to Oak Grove.

Oak Grove is a non-profit assisted living facility housing approximately 52 men and women from all over Virginia. The facility is staffed 24/7 and supported by residents' Social Security checks and private donations. All donations are greatly appreciated.

Homily for the First Sunday after Epiphany - Where are all the young people?

The Gospel - Mark 1:4-11

Homily by the Rev. Dr. David Smith

Where are all the young people?

New Year’s Resolutions - we have this built in reason to dramatically change behavior, to become something different and not have anyone think we are strange. “Why are you doing that?” we may be asked, and can simply reply, “It’s my new year’s resolution,” and that’s reason enough.

And there is no better Gospel lesson for today than what Jesus had to say…."Repent”.  Because repentance and resolutions are the same thing. 

They are both agreements to change.  To take another road.  Do a 180 and keep going.  Repentance and resolutions are prompted by some sort of new understanding…An EPIPHANY… An “aha” moment that convinces us to turn about.

I love to read parish profiles from churches around the country – these documents that parishes must prepare to describe themselves as they begin the search for a new priest or minister. Churches want two things: More young people (since the typical Episcopalian is 55 years old, single and female) and more money…enough said.

But what’s interesting is that most churches have no idea how Christians and therefore Christian churches are perceived by people between the ages of 16 and 32, and if we did understand it, we would readily see why that age group, for the most part, is not here.

The Pruden Parish Press for January 2009 Is Now Online

The January 2009 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:

• a report on Dr. Smith's ordination,

• invitation to a Winter Cocktail Party - Jan 31st,

• Vestry Notes from the Senior Warden,

• updates from the recent Congregational Meeting,

• a calendar of Parish events for January through March 2009,

• announcement of the Chatham Concert Series

• Around the Parish updates with pictures,

• Starting a New Year by Dr. Smith.

Click here to read the January 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.

Homily for the Second Sunday after Christmas - Following the Sign

The Gospel - Matthew 2:1-12

Homily by the Rev. Dr. David Smith

Following the Sign

Today’s gospel recounts the story of the Wise Men who followed the star to find and worship the baby Jesus.

Many of us are forever waiting for a sign from God as to what we should do with our lives. But too often we are waiting for a big, bold, obvious sign – that rarely happens. We, like the wise men, must be alertly watching for the sign we seek because the signs are all around us if only we will open our eyes to see them.

And once we have seen the sign, we are still free to choose whether we will follow it because our relationship with God is based on freedom of choice. We are always free to choose whether we will follow God or not.

Following the sign also involves overcoming many obstacles.

Chatham Concert Series presents High Strung January 16th

The Chatham Concert Series presents “High Strung,” January 16^th at 7 pm at Emmanuel Episcopal Church.

Join us for an evening of classical music, featuring The Classic Strings Duo Kevin Matheson, Violin, and Brian Matheson, Viola. Hailed as “two perfect virtuosos” at their international performance debut, and as winners of the Ibla International Competition in Italy, Kevin and Bryan Matheson are awakening audiences to music for the violin-viola duo. A combination written for since the 17^th century, and with duos being written today, the repertory is vast and varies, including works by Mozart, Beethoven, Sibelius and Schickle.

Guest musicians include: Rebecca Oh, Violin, and Kevin Zakresky, piano. Admission is by donation.

Click here to learn more about the Chatham Concert Series.

Happy New Year!

Parishioners and friends gathered at the DePaulos' house New Year's Eve to say good bye to the old year and welcome the New Year. The food and fellowship were both excellent and plentiful!