Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Emmanuel Serves as Venue for Concert Series

An estimated 100 music lovers gathered on Sunday afternoon, January 17, to kick off the 2010 Chatham Concert Series, organized by Choirmaster Kevin Zakresky of Chatham Hall.         

The world-class Saturn String Quartet brought us a delightful program of music.  From the opening number -- a Mozart Divertimento -- to the encore -- the prettiest version of Charlie Daniels’ Devil Went Down to Georgia that we’re likely to hear -- the string musicians held the audience in their thrall.

Two of Chatham’s own also performed.  Representing the next generation, ten-year-old violinist Staley Lyle brought us a Vivaldi-esque concertino by Ferdinand Kuchler; and Kevin Zakresky, singing tenor, showed his dramatic flair with songs by Peter Warlock.

 

 

 

Kevin Zakresky (center) enjoying a lighter moment with

the Saturn String Quartet, (l to r) Charles Shafer, violin, Louise Grévin, cello,

 Bryan Matheson, viola, and Kevin Matheson, First Violin.

Emmanuel Hosts Chatham Main Street Churches

On Wednesday, January 13, the house was packed as Emmanuel hosted the Chatham Main Street Churches for Dinner.  We were joined by Watson Memorial Methodist, Chatham Presbyterian and Chatham Baptist Churches for social hour, dinner, and David Smith’s talk on “The Episcopal Church and the New World Order.”

David wrapped up his presentation with an informative and thoughtful riff on Robin Williams’ comedic “Top 10 Reasons for Being an Episcopalian.” Look for more details in the next issue of the Pruden Parish Press coming in March.

 

Did you get the t-shirt?

Tonight: The Episcopal Church in the New World Order

Please join members of the Main Street Chatham Churches for this evening's dinner program - The Episcopal Church in the New World Order - hosted by Emmanuel in the Parish Hall.

The speaker will be the Reverend Dr. David Smith, priest-in-charge at Emmanuel.

5:00 pm Social Hour

5:30 pm Meal

6:15 pm Program

Cost is $5.00

Emmanuel Installs New Vestry Members

New Vestry Members Beth Coles and H. Victor Millner were installed by the Reverend Dr. David Smith during the Sunday morning service on January 10th.

Elected at the Parish Annual Meeting in December, Coles and Millner will serve three-year terms on the Vestry beginning with 2010. They join continuing Vestry members Richard Camp, Ron Irby, Jayne DePaulo and Linda Swanberg.

For more information about the Vestry, click here.

Phyllis Tickle to Lecture at Chatham Hall

Phyllis Tickle, author of The Great Emergence, will lecture at Chatham Hall on Thursday, February 18th.

The following events are open to the public:

4:30-5:30 p.m. - round table Q&A (open to public) (Van Voorhis lecture hall)

5:30 -6:15 - Dinner (Open to Public) (lecture hall)

                         6:30-7:30 - address (open to public) (lecture hall)

Rooted in the observation that massive transitions in the church happen about every 500 years, Tickle shows readers that we live in such a time right now. She compares the Great Emergence to other “Greats” in the history of Christianity, including the Great Transformation (when God walked among us), the time of Gregory the Great, the Great Schism, and the Great Reformation.

Combining history, a look at the causes of social upheaval, and current events, The Great Emergence shows readers what the Great Emergence in church and culture is, how it came to be, and where it is going.

The Pruden Parish Press for January 2010 Is Now Online

The January 2010 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:

• Emmanuel Celebrates 2009;  Elects Coles and Millner to Vestry,

• 2nd Annual Winter Cocktail Party,

• Vestry Notes from the Senior Warden,

• Calling all writers and photographers!

• Calendar of Parish events for Jan.  - Mar. 2010,

• Chatham Concert Series Returns to Emmanuel,

• The Priest's Corner by Dr. Smith,

• The Briar Ridge Ramblers at Oak Grove, and

• Emmanuel's Treasures.

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 of Christmas - Why are they here?

The Gospel – Matthew 2:1-12

Homily by the Rev. Dr. David Smith

Why are they here?

As roles go in the annual Christmas pageant, most girls want to play Mary, and no boy wants to be Joseph; mainly because every girl wants to be Mary. Inevitably whatever boy gets tapped to be Joseph must suffer a torrent of taunts from his buddies….”Joseph and Mary sittin’ in a tree, K.I.S.S.I.N.G. First comes love then comes marriage, then comes Joseph with a baby carriage.” 

Being a shepherd was O.K., but the costumes were always drab and shepherds got relegated to the background, playing third fiddle to the angels, Joseph, Mary and of course the Wise men.  The role every boy really wanted was to be a Wise man.  They had, by far, the coolest costumes, usually some fancy brocade number with a spiffy turban.  They got to carry something too, and their entrance was usually accompanied with much pomp and fanfare.  The taped music would have trumpets blowing and all the shepherds would offer a little genuflect as they approached the manger.

Interestingly enough, we really don’t know how many there were, or who they were.  We have based our assumptions of three on the number of gifts, and their names, Melchior, Gaspar, and Baltasar were more than likely imagined by the Venerable Bede, an 8^th century English monk.

But for the original readers, the story we read today was a shock.  Matthew never intended this sort of royal treatment of the Wise men to emerge.  In fact the presence of the Wise men in the story was scandalous and the first readers would have known that.