Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Service Bulletin for the First Sunday of Advent

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Service Bulletin for the Last Sunday after Pentecost: the Feast of Christ the King

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Chatham Thanksgiving Service, Wed., Nov. 19 at Chatham Baptist

Please join us for the ecumenical Chatham Thanksgiving Service to be held at Chatham Baptist this Wednesday, November 19th. The meal begins at 5:30 (catered by Kim Chumley at $6 per 12 and up and $4 under 12).  The service around the tables is 6:15 to 7, with the Rev. Bill Mackey-Wisor of Watson Memorial UMC preaching and the Chatham Baptist Church providing music. 

The offering will benefit the CHATHAM MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION, which is sorely in need of additional funding to help those who are in need right here in our community. If you are unable to attend, you can still make a donation (payable to Chatham Ministerial Association) and Fr Chris will deliver it to Glen Shelton who serves as treasurer.  You may call Erica, Chatham Baptist (8 a.m. to noon) at 432.8003. Indication of number of adults and children is needed by noon Monday, November 17th.

Service Bulletin for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

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Homily for the Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost - Will you be ready?

Amos 5:18-24

Wisdom of Solomon 6:17-20

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Matthew 25:1-13

Homily by Fr R Christopher Heying

What are we to make of it? 

What are we to make of these lessons the church gives us here at the end of the church year?  Only two Sundays now stand between us and a new year beginning with the First Sunday of Advent on 30 November.

It is increasingly clear that there is no stopping it now!  With each of our lessons this morning we are careening not just to the end of the year but actually to the end of it all—to that very moment when the jig’s finally up, the dance is over, and Elvis has left the building!

Each of the lessons this morning yields a little different flavor of that decisive moment.

Take Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. He gives us a very hopeful picture of that end, doesn’t he? When the Lord comes with the archangel’s call and the sound of the trumpet, the dead in Christ will rise first followed by any of us who may still be alive.  So then we may grieve for those who have died, but we do so not without hope, for eventually we will all be with the Lord, together again, forever! And “forever” is a very long time indeed.

But before we get too attached to these warm fuzzy feelings that may be bubbling up inside as we consider this “forever” with Jesus and those we love, Jesus shares a haunting story about ten bridesmaids, five foolish and five wise. 

Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost

The Collect -

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Service Bulletin for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost

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Homily for All Saints Sunday on the Occasion of the Coles Window Blessing

Revelation 7:9-17,   
Psalm 34:1-10, 22
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon by R Christopher Heying on the Occasion of the Coles Window Blessing, Sunday 2 November 2014.

This All Saints’ Sunday we have John’s vision of “a great multitude no one could count from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,”  who have come through “the great ordeal,” with robes made white in the Lamb’s blood and now sing God’s eternal praise.  (Revelation 7), a vision wholly consonant with the Letter to the Hebrews which refers to a “great a cloud of witnesses” who now watch us “run the race that is set before us” (12.1).

As we give thanks this day “for all the saints, who from their labors rest” we remember those whom we knew and loved but see no longer, who in their day gave to us a glimpse of God’s love.  These are they who have now joined that “great cloud” to encourage us and remind us we are never alone but are part of one great communion and fellowship.

This fellowship includes others, others we may not have known directly but who in their own day and according to their circumstances, were, as the Book of Common Prayer says, “an example of righteousness” and “the lights of the world in their generation.”

We remember their light, ultimately Christ’s own light, light that still shines to overcome the darkness if we but look with the eyes of faith. 

These luminaries include bishops such as William Meade, John Johns, A.M. Randolph; priests such as the Rev. Dr. George Washington Dame and the Rev. Dr. Clevius Orlando Pruden; faithful lay persons such as Walter Coles and Lettice Carrington Coles, who were among the founders of this church and in whose honor and memory we bless and rededicate a stained glass window this morning; and it includes always at least one or two outside “our group,” however we may define it!

Service Bulletin for All Saints Sunday

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