CALVARY SERVICE SCHEDULE AND NEWS (CONT.) NOVEMBER 19: VESTRY MEETING AT 6:00 PM NOVEMBER 24: 10:00 AM MORNING PRAYER LECTOR: SHARON APPLEGARTH GREET & TREAT: TBA
November, 2013
FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN
~~The Vestry has begun preparing for our annual stewardship campaign. Consecration st Sunday will be held on December 1 for our 4:00 pm worship service followed with a soup supper. A double opportunity will present itself to show support not only for Calvary Church, but any other cause you may have. It’s T-shirt Sunday! All are encouraged to wear a t-shirt to show support for an organization, sports team or cause you may have. Share your pride!!
HUNTERS’ HARVEST SUPPER FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH – 5:30 PM CALVARY EPISCOPAL CHURCH, HYANNIS Turkey & Roast Beef, Potatoes, dressing rolls, salads & desserts $7 Adults/ $4 kids 5-10 All you can eat!!
CALVARY SERVICE SCHEDULE AND NEWS NOVEMBER 3: 4:00 PM HOLY EUCHARIST CELEBRANT: THE REV. COKE MCCLURE LECTOR: MARINA GARNER GREET & TREAT: MARINA G ARNER
Calvary 14 – 20 – 22 – 28 – 29 – 29 –
NOVEMBER 5: 2:00 – 9:00 PM PHOTO DAY NOVEMBER 10: 10:00 AM HOLY EUCHARIST CELEBRANT: THE REV. CHERYL HARRIS LECTOR: JOY BOYER GREET & TREAT: JERRY & CHERYL MERRIHEW
Bud Davis Matt Garner Kleo Dredla Chris & Crystal Cover Holly Westemeier Cassidy Roseberry
ST. MATTHEW’S 6 – Nancy Leider 8 – Chris Horsley 9 – Dean Harris 9 – Bill Boysen 17 – Charles Plantz 17 – Jean Lewis 18 – Molly Cover 22 – Coke McClure 25 – Gene & Suzi Lore 25 – Nicholas Anderson 26 – Andy Dietrich 29 – Holly Westemeier 30 – Gregg McCaffrey
NOVEMBER 15: HUNTERS’ HARVEST SUPPER 5:30 PM NOVEMBER 17: 10:00 AM HOLY EUCHARIST CELEBRANT: THE REV. COKE MCCLURE LECTOR: LESLIE ROSEBERRY MEET & GREET: MERLE HAYWARD
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Thanks again to the members of St. Matthews here in Alliance for supporting our Sower’s Fund project this year. For those of you who don’t know about the Sower’s Fund, it is a challenge issued by the Diocesan office each spring. A $2 bill is sent to each Nebraska parish to “invest” in a project that will grow into something larger than the two dollars. The funds raised are presented to the Diocese at annual council with the story of how the funds were raised. The Diocese gives the funds raised to projects in Nebraska one year, and then to our international projects (Dominican Republic and Twic East, South Sudan) the next year. Our project this year was the brainchild of Mike Dietrich…You may or may not know that glass from the chandelier above the altar at St. Matthews broke and fell on the altar floor shortly before one of our funerals. When deciding how to replace the glass panels, we visited with a local stained glass artist and the idea was born to ask parishioners to help replace the broken panels by “underwriting” them panel-by-panel. Then it was decided to take the broken glass pieces and add other glass pieces from the stained glass artist and melt them into crosses we could sell for the Sower’s Fund. We sold 54 crosses and presented a check to the Diocese for $726. It should be noted that only about 15 of the 52 Nebraska parishes even participate in the Sower’s Fund and that we here at St. Matthews raised the highest amount followed by a close second of $700……kudos to all who made it possible!! Kristy Dietrich
SERVICES SCHEDULE FOR ST. MATTHEWS NOVEMBER 3: CELEBRANT: LEADERS: MUSICIAN: ACOLYTE:
10:00 AM HOLY EUCHARIST FR. COKE MCCLURE BILL RENO AND KATHY GRAHAM SUE DIMMITT JAKE MCCAFFREY
NOVEMBER 10: CELEBRANT: LEADERS: MUSICIAN: ACOLYTE:
10:00 AM HOLY EUCHARIST FR. COKE MCCLURE CHARLES PLANTZ AND SUZI LORE CYNTHIA HORN PAT ZOBEL
NOVEMBER 17: CELEBRANT: LEADERS: MUSICIAN: ACOLYTE:
10:00 AM HOLY EUCHARIST DEACON CHERYL HARRIS KATHY WORLEY AND KRISTY DIETRICH SUE DIMMITT ANNE ADAM
NOVEMBER 24: 10:00 AM HOLY EUCHARIST CONSECRATION SUNDAY CELEBRANT: THE REV. COKE MCCLURE LEADERS: DOUG DIETRICH AND PAT ZOBEL MUSICIAN: SUE DIMMITT ACOLYTE: KATHY GRAHAM
JFK MEMORIAL SERVICE Friday, November 22, is the 50th anniversary of the death of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Fr. Coke will hold a memorial service at 5:30 in the Chapel.
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(The traveling trophy is proudly displayed on the back counter in the Narthex. This is the second time St. Matthews has been the home of the trophy!)
NEW PICTURE DIRECTORY FOR CALVARY AND ST. MATTHEWS Dear Members and friends, I am grateful to you all for your previous generosity in supporting our ministry here in the Panhandle. I am so impressed with the way the leaders of our parishes take seriously our role as “stewards of God’s grace” in this place at this time. In the coming weeks, you will receive a few brief messages urging you to participate on Consecration Sunday on November 24th at St. Matthew’s Church (and on December 1st at Calvary Church in Hyannis!). Our stewardship campaign is rooted in “faith asking” as budgets are dependent upon the success of this initiative. My prayer is that you and your family will participate in Consecration Sunday as a result of your experience of God’s grace and the blessings that follow when we follow our Living Lord, Jesus Christ. May God bless us all!
Plans are being made and appointments are being scheduled for the pictorial directory for Calvary and St. Matthews. If you haven’t made your appointment, call Deb Cover at 7625666 or Sandi Reno at 760-3734 to set up an appointment on November 6 or 7 from 2:00 to 9:00 pm. The directory and one 8x10 photo are free. One of the discounts that will be given if members choose to purchase photos is $5.00 off with a food item donation. Calvary came up with the idea that they would like to donate their food items to the back pack program. Cheryl indicated that items that would be appreciated would be a jar of peanut butter or any Chef Boyardee item.
When Tamara and I were just learning about the parishes of Alliance and Hyannis, your impressive record of increasing stewardship in recent years was one of several positive signals that you are serious about “growing” the Episcopal Church here. We are so pleased that church leaders are so responsive to new initiatives in sponsoring a church pictorials, expanded study opportunities and a thirst for regular experiences of Holy Communion. Much work needs to be done in future months, but your faithful stewardship has made all the difference in helping sustain the health of our parishes. Thank you so much for your generosity. In closing, I want to highlight our church’s mission statement that we are pledged to support through our gifts of time, talent and treasure: “We are a loving, Christian community of faith. The celebration of the Eucharist, the heart and foundation of our faith, is open to all. We grow together in the knowledge and love of Christ through worship, prayer and education. Gathering in fellowship and ministering to community and beyond, we care for one another and serve with compassion. See you in church! Blessings and peace, Father Coke Page 3
RECYCLING SUNDAY, November 10th at St. Matthew’s Church: Have you noticed our recycling bins in the undercroft at church? Bring your bottles, cans, aluminum, office paper (shredded or unshredded), cardboard to church on Sunday, November 10th. All contributions will be delivered to the recycling bins in the parking lot adjacent to Martin’s Restaurant, Alliance.
BRUNCH WITH BUDDIES SCHEDULE:
PRAYER GROUP The Prayer Group consists of a number of St. Matthew’s parishioners who meet to share a meal, fellowship and a short prayer service. We pray for St. Matthew’s, our rector, the church, our community and the world. We meet on the last Wednesday of the month after the Chapel service. The meal consists of something light (ie. Sandwich makings, soup, pizza, etc. ) We take turns being responsible for the meal. Usually two of us work together. We welcome anyone who would like to join us. Beginning Nov. 20 (the last Wed. is Thanksgiving), Fr. Coke will be incorporating a Healing Service into the regular Sanctuary service on the last Wednesday of the month. OUTREACH COMMITTEE NOTES St. Matthew’s is known for its involvement and outreach in the community. What a great thing to be known for!! This year the Outreach Committee has helped an individual who needed immediate surgery and had no insurance and paid the postage for the Operation Christmas Child boxes – with the help of a generous donor. They have also bought the Backpack Program half of the fresh fruit for the 2012-2013 school year, no small investment. Outreach receives 10% of any fundraising program at St. Matt’s and we hold Breakfast with Friends (or as it’s now known, Brunch with Buddies) for our fundraiser. After our meeting on Sunday, we decided that we are kind of like the Energizer Bunny that’s running on one battery instead of two. The group is getting smaller and older. We need a few new members to add both some energy and some new ideas. Please consider prayerfully becoming a part of the Outreach Committee. Let Pat Zobel know if you’re interested and she’ll welcome you with open arms – we all will.
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Join us November 3 for Baked French Toast Casserole and Fruit at 11:15 am. December 8 for Buddy’s Egg Casserole, Bacon and Ham at 11:15 am. CHRISTMAS BASKETS This year we are reviving a tradition that was discontinued for a few years – Christmas Baskets. This year, however, the project will have a new look. St. Matthew’s will fix baskets for 10 families in Alliance who could use a little extra help. Beginning December 1, we are asking the parishioners of St. Matthew’s to bring food articles that you would incorporate into your Christmas dinner. Instead of turkeys, we would like to include canned hams. Some don’t have the ability or the facilities to cook a turkey and receiving a frozen turkey a day or two before Christmas just doesn’t work. If you would like to make a monetary donation rather than bring a food item, envelopes will be available in the Narthex each Sunday during December During Fellowship time, after the service on Dec. 22, we will put the baskets or boxes together so be sure to come join in the fun. If you include rolls, fresh fruit, etc. , bring them on the 22. They will be delivered on Dec. 22 (Sun. ) or the 23 (Mon). Please be a part of this program. We are all so blessed to have what we need. What a blessing it would be to share with those who don’t. AND – if that’s not enough excitement – we would love to have volunteers to help deliver these baskets. I’m sure Jesus loves a cheerful giver – or in this case - deliverer.
Notes from Tamara McClure’s report on her experience at Annual Council in Omaha, October 18-20, 2013; Tamara was the delegate representing Calvary Church, Hyannis, NE: 1.
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Bishop Scott delivered a moving and positive address on the state of the diocese. He highlighted a new “curacy” program where successful fundraising will enable us to support recent seminary graduates to serve the diocese over a three year period—18 months in the larger churches in the East and 18 months in the West as priest-in-charge in a smaller parish. The Bishop said “that he hoped they would fall in love with Nebraska and stay!” Also, Bishop Scott delivered an inspired sermon during the 8 a.m. service of Holy Eucharist at our Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Omaha. He reflected on his recent experience in attending the play, “Book of Mormon.” The service included wonderful music, a sung liturgy and “smoke.” The Council amended the diocesan constitution to include Deacons on the Standing Committee and the Board of Trustees. A resolution passed to recommend to General Convention of the Episcopal Church that the Rev. Hiram Kano be included in the list of saints listed in the church’s publication Holy Women, Holy Men. The diocesan staff has done extensive research into how specific gifts to the diocese have either been restricted or not restricted for particular use. Beth shared that she had researched all the records back to 1872 and, in the future, the diocese will be looking to use the available interest money from endowments in order to lower the “faith asking” required from each Page 5
parish. In addition, Beth reported that the diocese successfully completed a “clean audit” of all their financial reports. 6. Bill Reno was elected to the Standing Committee and Charles Plantz was elected a lay deputy to the General Convention that meets in 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 7. The Annual Council was well organized and a host of fun social activities were planned including tours of Downtown Omaha. Friday evening combined two remarkable social events: one on the top floor of the Towers some forty floors above downtown Omaha and then a “soul food” dinner in North Omaha at the Church of the Resurrection. Their parish hall proudly displays a large banner that reads, “We believe in the separation of Church and Hate!” Thank you for the privilege of representing Calvary Church at Annual Council. Tamara McClure
Dear Friends in Christ, It was wonderful to worship and be with you. A special thank you to your congregation for donating $506.50 to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund. With a tight diocesan budget, it’s a great blessing to have this fund to work from to address emergency and pastoral issues. The Bishop’s Discretionary Fund helps clergy, seminarians, diocesan youth….and often parishes just like yours to meet urgent needs of many kinds. It is a powerful tool for doing good in our diocese. Thank you for your generous commitment to the work of Jesus Christ. Together we can further the work that God has given us to do. Faithfully yours in Christ Jesus, The Right Reverend J. Scott Barker
With our church libraries being updated and improved, we thought that a book report in the next several newsletters would be appropriate. Volunteers are needed to read and then write a short report on a book of their choice. Just let Suzi know which month would work for you. This month the book I just completed is “Let Your Life Speak, Listening for the Voice of Vocation”, by Parker J Palmer. As members of the “Listening Hearts” group have progressed through the book “Listening Hearts”, we have read several references to “Let Your Life Speak”. I was delighted to see that someone had donated a copy of the book to our library! The book’s title is a time-honored Quaker admonition, usually taken to mean “Let the highest truths and values guide everything you do.” But in the author’s words, “Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you. Before you tell your life what truths and values you have decided to live up to, let your life tell you what truths you embody, what values you represent.” This is a book which throughout its pages tells the reader to listen to what your life is telling you to do.
Gift-filled shoeboxes are a powerful way to introduce children to God’s greatest gift, salvation through Jesus Christ. Your prayers are essential to the work of Operation Christmas Child, so please join us during National Collection Week Nov. 18-25. Since 1993, more than 100 million boys and girls in over 130 countries have experienced God’s love through the power of simple shoebox gifts from Operation Christmas Child. Samaritan’s Purse works with local churches and ministry partners to deliver the gifts and share the life-changing Good News of Jesus Christ. Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan's Purse has helped victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ. "Go and do likewise"... Luke 10:37d Please fill and return your shoeboxes by Sunday, November 17. Instructions are inside each box with suggestions for items to be included. Please affix the label for “girl or boy” and do not seal the box. St. Matthew’s Outreach Committee has generously offered to provide the $7 donation to ship each box. Boxes will be taken to the Evangelical Free Church for transport to Samaritan’s Purse.
Each chapter in the book except Chapter 1 is an essay written by Mr. Palmer and includes titles such as “Now I Become Myself”; “When Way Closes”;” All the Way Down”; and “There is a Season”, to name a few. This was a very thought provoking book that I feel everyone who reads it will get a new insight into one’s own life and will learn to listen to what is truly in one’s heart.
The time change starts on Sunday, November 3rd.
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