Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Service Bulletin for the First Sunday after Christmas

Download 010117 Christmas I Lessons and Carols

Feast of Francis Joseph Gaudet

The Collect -

Merciful God, who raised up your servant Frances Joseph Gaudet to work for prison reform and the education of her people: Grant that we, encouraged by the example of her life, may work for those who are denied the fullness of life by reasons of incarceration and lack of access to education; through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Click here to learn more about Francis Joseph Gaudet, Educator and Prison Reformer, 1934.

 

Feast of Thomas Becket

The Collect -

O God, our strength and our salvation, you called your servant Thomas Becket to be a shepherd of your people and a defender of your Church: Keep your household from all evil and raise up among us faithful pastors and leaders who are wise in the ways of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ the shepherd of our souls, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Click here to learn more about Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1170.

Service Bulletin for Christmas Eve

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Bishop Hollerith's Christmas Reflection 2016

Bishop Hollerith's Christmas Reflection 2016

 

"In the birth of Jesus, joy joins with human pain and overcomes it with love. And the very realities that we are unable to bear, God is willing to bear with us."

 

Lately I’ve caught myself thinking about a lady named Sarah, a parishioner of mine back when I was the rector of a small church in the Low Country of South Carolina. That Sarah would come to mind now may be due, in large part, to the fact that I will always and forever associate her with Christmas Eve.

Click here to continue reading Bishop Hollerith's Christmas reflection.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's Christmas Message

News from The Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's Christmas message "This child came to show us how to change the world," Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry said in his Christmas Message 2016. "So this Christmas, make room for Him to change us. This Christmas help us change the world." Click here to watch Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's Christmas message. Click here to read his message (available in English and Spanish).

Please join us for the Greening of the Church, Thursday, December 22, 4 p.m.

Please join us for the Greening of the Church at Emmanuel this coming Thursday,

December 22 beginning at 4 p.m.

A soup and bread supper will be provided.

Christmas Worship Services

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Service Bulletin for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Download 121816 Advent 4

Blue Christmas Service, Dec. 14

The Rev. Jon Woodburn, UMC, in a meditative moment at the lighting of the candles.

Rector’s Charge, Annual Meeting 2016

Download Rector's Annual Report 2016-1

The Reverend Dr. Regina Christianson

It is the privilege of the rector to stand atop the mountain, search for glimpses of the Promised Land, witness to its reality, discern the patterns that will lead fellow pilgrims in the right direction, and exhort the company to rise up in joy to follow the Way. That is what a Charge is.

My charge to you is that we pay especial attention to four focuses in this next year. During my Rector’s Report, I quoted the Canon on Ministry of All Baptized Persons. The four focuses actually arise from it.   Allow me to repeat it:

Sec. 1. Each Diocese shall make provision for the affirmation and development of the ministry of all baptized persons, including: (a) Assistance in understanding that all baptized persons are called to minister in Christ's name, to identify their gifts with the help of the Church and to serve Christ's mission at all times and in all places. (b) Assistance in understanding that all baptized persons are called to sustain their ministries through commitment to life-long Christian formation.

The first is communication. While it may not be evident that this has anything to do with the Ministry of All Baptized, without it, the rest will fail. We have reinstituted the telephone tree because you have a good history with it. We will also recommit to regular communications through weekly mail announcements, monthly newsletters, and regular communications from the vestry. Exactly how each one of you individually receives these communications will be up to you. You will need to communicate to the church office how you wish to receive written communication. It may take us a while to get this all in place and working smoothly, but with your ongoing help and participation, we can accomplish timely, content-worthy communication.

The second is stewardship. Stewardship covers a lot of ground – everything from maintaining the church property to making sure money, energy, and gifts are used wisely. As we learned through the Creation story, we are created to be stewards. We are entrusted with God’s precious and beloved creation. In our context, being stewards means that we are entrusted with the legacy of Episcopal worship and values, the care for our parish family, our fellowship with other parishes and civic groups, and our responsibilities towards the larger community. We are gifted with stewardship so that we might follow Jesus, so that we might use these opportunities to find and be found in Christ. Walter Coles has written a document for us to help us identify our call to stewardship of time and talent. As part of our stewardship drive, For Emmanuel: Illustrative Goals and Committees for Discussion, is meant to inspire us, giving us concrete examples, inviting us into the process of creating meaningful ministries. To be Emmanuel Church in Chatham, Virginia, in 2017: where in this do you find God? Where in this is your stewardship? Those two questions are the heart of the next area of focus, holy discernment.

Service Bulletin for the Third Sunday of Advent

Download 121116 Advent 3

Feast of Ambrose

The Collect -

O God, you gave your servant Ambrose grace eloquently to proclaim your righteousness in the great congregation, and fearlessly to bear reproach for the honor of your Name: Mercifully grant to all bishops and pastors such excellence in preaching and faithfulness in ministering your Word, that your people may be partakers with them of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Click here to learn more about Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, 397.

Feast of Nicholas

The Collect -

Almighty God, in your love you gave your servant Nicholas of Myra a perpetual name for deeds of kindness both on land and sea: Grant, we pray, that your Church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Click here to learn more about Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.342.

Feast of Clement of Alexandria

The Collect -

O God of unsearchable wisdom, you gave your servant Clement grace to understand and teach the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, the source of all truth: Grant to your church the same grace to discern your Word wherever truth is found; through Jesus Christ our unfailing light, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Click here to learn more about Clement of Alexandria, Priest, c.210.

Service Bulletin for the Second Sunday of Advent

Download 120416 Advent 2

Feast of Channing Moore Williams

The Collect -

Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for your servant Channing Moore Williams, whom you called to preach the Gospel to the people of China and Japan. Raise up in this and every land evangelists and heralds of you kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Click here to learn more about Channing Moore Williams, Missionary Bishop in China and Japan, 1910.

Chatham Concert Series - Holiday Favorites: The Rainier Trio with Soprano Leslie Mabe, Sunday, December 4, 3 p.m.

As the grand finale of Christmas in Historic Chatham, the Rainier Trio with soprano Leslie Mabe present a program of Holiday Favorites.

The program includes new arrangements of “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “A Celtic Silent Night,” Tchaikovsky’s “Pax de deux” from Nutcracker, and favorites:  “O Holy Night,” “White Christmas,” “Ave Maria” and concludes with a sing-along of carols.

Join the musicians and fellow concert goers afterwards for a reception provided by Chatham First.

If you aren’t able to make this concert, you have two more opportunities to hear this enjoyable program in the area!

Thursday, December 8, 7:00 p.m. Reynolds Homestead, 463 Homestead Ln, Critz, VA 24082

Wednesday, December 14, 3:45 p.m. The Wednesday Club, Danville, VA

 

Feast of Nicholas Ferrar

The Collect -

Lord God, make us worthy of your perfect love; that, with your deacon Nicholas Ferrar and his household, we may rule ourselves according to your Word, and serve you with our whole heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Click here to learn more about Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, 1637.