Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Emmanuel Sponsors Blood Drive

On Friday, February 22, Emmanuel's Parish Hall resembled a M.A.S.H. unit as we worked with the Red Cross to sponsor a community blood drive.

Many Emmanuel hands were on deck -- before during and after -- to get the word out, move furniture, prepare food to restore the strength of donors, register those who came to give the gift of life, and put the place back in order when the drive ended.

Parishioners also generously donated blood, giving the gift of life, and the Red Cross representative was pleased with the number of blood donations made.

Many thanks to all who chipped in to help those undergoing surgical operations, cancer and other disease treatment, and those suffering traumatic injuries.

This was a significant manifestation of the Lenten spirit!

Chatham Concert Series Continues March 2 with a Recital by Kathleen O'Hare

The Chatham Concert Series Presents

 

A Piano Recital
featuring
Kathleen Hurt O'Hare

 

 

Music of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin & Granados

 

Saturday, March 2nd at 7:00 pm

 Emmanuel Episcopal Church
66 N. Main St.
Chatham, VA

directions

Admission by Donation for the Artist
Kevin Matheson, Artistic Director kstrings1@hotmail.com

Homily for the Second Sunday of Lent - The Lord is my light and my salvation

Luke 13:31-35 

Homily by Fr R Christopher Heying

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid? —Psalm 27.1

While I was working yesterday on this morning’s sermon, Mary Grace called to say that we had received a letter from Grandpa Bob, my father. 

Apparently when I spoke to him last week I happened to be working on a sermon, so he proffered this advice:

“The secret to a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending, and then to keep the two as close together as possible.”

While he has apparently retained his sense of humor at 92, I have to confess that I have not always followed my father’s sagacious counsel, sometimes to my regret and perhaps now to yours.

As I reflected on today’s gospel reading, a story came to mind that ironically had all the makings of a good joke: there was a rabbi, a priest, and two Protestant pastors.¹

But when these four men came together for the first time it was anything but a joke.  When they met at the Army Chaplains School at Harvard in 1942, each was responding out of love of country and fellowman, just as my own father did that summer when he joined the Navy immediately after his college graduation.

Service Bulletin for the Second Sunday in Lent

Download the Service Bulletin for the Second Sunday in Lent

121st Annual Council marked by hope for the future

Bishop's Address

Our 121st Annual Council opened with Bishop Hollerith's Address. "Today, I find that I am especially thankful and feeling more joyous about our common life in Southern Virginia than ever before," said Bishop Hollerith. "Something is different in our diocese.  We seem to be turning a corner!  And for that I give God thanks and praise.  All of my remarks this morning will be framed by a deep sense of hope that is developing in my heart about our future." 

Click here for the full text of Bishop Hollerith's address. Click below to watch the video of Bishop Hollerith's address.

Blood Drive - Friday, February 22, 1 - 6 pm at Emmanuel

Service Bulletin for the First Sunday in Lent

Download the Service Bulletin for the First Sunday in Lent

Service Bulletin for Ash Wednesday

Download the Service Bulletin for Ash Wednesday

January 11th Concert a Big Draw at Emmanuel

Kevin & Bryan Matheson, Helen Rifas at rehearsal

(More photos above right under Photo Galleries)

By Susan Paynter

On Friday evening, January 11, Emmanuel drew a large crowd from around the county for Music for Flute, Harp and Strings: Celtic to French Impressionism, the second of five chamber music concerts in the Chatham Concert Series.

The evening featured Helen Rifas, principal harpist of the Greensboro Symphony and Flutist Julee Hickcox of the Roanoke Symphony along with the Classic Strings Duo of the Matheson brothers: Kevin on violin and Bryan on viola.

In a concert series tradition, one piece was performed by a young music student.  This evening’s young artist was Monifa Williams of Danville.  Ms Williams is a music student at Old Dominion University and play’s in the university’s wind ensemble and symphony orchestra.

Harpist Rifas alternated between a concert harp and a folk harp.  The first had a set of pedals; the second was equipped with keys that required setting in.  She began the program with traditional solo Celtic pieces and was later joined by Flutist Hickcox for the enduring favorites “I Saw Three Ships” and “Danny Boy.”

Before intermission the two were joined by Bryan Matheson and his viola for the three-movement Debussy “Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp.”  The light and lyrical French Impressionist sonata reflected the unusual Spring-like weather outside.

Homily for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany - the Transfiguration

Luke 9:28-36

Homily by Fr R Christopher Heying

Today we celebrate the Transfiguration of Jesus.  Over the course of the church year, we actually celebrate the transfiguration at least twice, and sometimes, three times.

We celebrate it on the Feast Day of August 6th. And then we celebrate it again on the Last Sunday after the Epiphany.  A third time may occur if the church is named for the Transfiguration and then uses the propers (lessons) for the Patronal Festival.

Remember the context of the Transfiguration story in the three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  It occurs a week after Peter confesses Jesus as the “Messiah.” Jesus has made the first of the three predictions of his passion.  And in Mark, Peter rebukes Jesus, and Jesus says, “Get thee behind me, Satan.”

As Luke tells the story,

Service Bulletin for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany

Download the Service Bulletin for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany

Emmanuel Installs Vestry for 2013

The Reverend R Christopher Heying installed Emmanuel's Vestry for 2013 during the service of Holy Eucharist on Sunday, February 3th. Returning members Janice Chaney, Walter Coles, Sr., and Billy Simpson were joined by newly elected members Richard Camp, Carol Ann Fletcher, John Geyer, and Charles Williams.

The Vestry oversees parish finances and buildings, chooses individuals for leadership positions including the rector, and serves as an advisory council to the rector. Vestry members are elected for staggered three-year terms with at least two new members joining the Vestry each year.

Prayer for the Vestry

O Eternal God, the foundation of all wisdom and the source of all courage: Enlighten with your grace the Vestry of this congregation, and so rule their minds, and guide their counsels, that in all things they may seek your glory and promote the mission of your church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Homily for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany - Stop and Listen

Jeremiah 1:4-10 ● Psalm 71:1-6 ● 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ● Luke 4:21-30

Homily by Fr R Christopher Heying

The Sunday before last, our five-year-old son Patrick dutifully carried in the Gospel Book and then went to sit with his mom, where apparently a quiet conversation began. 

His mom asked him what he would be when he grew up.  I’ll be a papa (which is what he calls me).  So you’re going to have children?  I’ll have a son.  What will you name your son?  I will name him Patrick, but then paused and added, “But then I’ll have to get a new name for me.”  

“What do papas do?” his mom went on.  They love their babies and give them things.  How will you do that?  I’ll get a job.  Where will you work?  At church.  What will you do at church?  I’ll be the priest.  The priest?  What will you do as the priest?  I’ll make money so I can buy my son Skylander Giants (video game characters for his first real obsession). 

Like Jeremiah, Patrick is only a boy yet has a clear mission.  Granted, his is not to be “set this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow,” but giving good gifts to your child cannot be undervalued . . . and rarely is by the child who receives it.

Actually, I was exactly Patrick’s age—five years and two months—when Neil Armstrong on July 21, 1969, took “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” and I told my mom that I was going to be the first priest on the moon.