Buff
Margaret
Jamie
Steve
Geoff
Amy
Dear People of St. David’s,
I pray that you and yours are well and that God is touching all of us with a sense of God’s grace
goodness
love. Grace is one of God’s greatest gifts as we are changed by God’s love
become the persons God created us to be.
We are turning to new seasons of the Church year as we walk into the seasons of Advent
seasons of expectation and joy that culminate in our yearly celebration of Jesus’ first coming, even as we look for Him to come again.
This issue of the Dove offers some magnificent insights into these seasons as well as examples of how God’s grace has been and is at work in individual lives and in the life of our community. There are articles about the season, of course, but also articles about the first Christmas in the Church back in 1715 and some of the ways God is gracing us in our community today.
I hope that you will take time to read through this issue of the Dove and remember all the ways God is showing His love for us in ways great and small.
Grace
Peace,
Roe DeRitis
Amy
Diane
Jo-Ann
Emily
Nereida
Matt
Natalee
BY THE REV. ELIZABETH W. COLTON
Growing up, my church was vitally important in my life.
I sang in the choirs, rang handbells, and participated in youth groups, all in addition to worship and Sunday School. In retrospect, it is obvious that the adults who ran these groups were formative for me! They knew my name, they were always welcoming, they showed genuine curiosity by asking me about what was going on in school and extracurricular activities. In short, they took an interest in me. When I went off to college, I continued to sing in a local church choir, and one of the choir members “adopted” me and another student as her surrogate daughters. She gave us rides to church, and she always invited us to any parish event. I remember the Mother-Daughter Banquet with great affection! Sue Roemmelt, of blessed memory, known to us as Mama Sue. When I look back on my church life, the intergenerational connections are the most vivid.
These kinds of connections only flourish in a few places in this fast-moving world. The church is one of those places! Because The Family Service worship is targeted at families with children first grade and younger, I think many people probably consider this “the kids service.”
However, those who lead worship try to make it a holy experience for all, not just children. One of the great delights of our Family Service is that we have several families represented by three generations: children, parents, and grandparents! They are regular worshippers, not just occasional. It’s lovely to see the interaction between these family members.
But what if there was the possibility of adopted adults in the mix? What if some adults who normally attend the 9:15am service worshipped at the Family Service, not just once, out of curiosity, but for a month or two, long enough to form some relationships? When children age out of the Family Service, those families would have friends to sit with in the Chapel! If grandparents live far away, a family might have an adopted grandparent to invite to Grandparents’ Day at school.
Above: Families had fun riding the donkey at Palm Sunday worship in 2022.
Left: The Rev. Elizabeth W. Colton leads the Eucharist. Photos by Emily Given.
How about helping to integrate newer families into life at St. David’s beyond Sunday morning? It might be an invitation to sit together for an All-Parish Breakfast, to make Advent Wreaths together, to attend the Pageant or Shrove Tuesday dinner. This integration might expand to participating in the fellowship groups, outreach projects, even a Bible Study. It is hard to enter a new system for the first time, but if someone invites you, you are a guest, not a pioneer!
This is a radical suggestion, I know, because we are all very fond of our Sunday routine. Few of us love giving up our cherished Sunday patterns, because
they are life-giving and nurturing. But truly, all five of our regular worship services are life-giving and nurturing! One might miss choir, organ, and sermon, but one would never miss out on joyful participation, dynamic prayers, and Holy Eucharist celebrated and shared. There’s another possibility: no need to miss out on the 9:15am worship, one can go home and watch the livestream recording!
We are the Body of Christ, and not only are we are all connected, but we cannot flourish without one another. Families new to St. David’s are “trying it on” at the Family Service, and they can be encouraged by the presence of those who have been long-time members. I learned long ago that one question people want to ask others at a new church is, “Why are you here?”, but it is the one question they will never ask! So, tell them! They would love stories of bringing up your own children at St. David’s. Consider “trying on” the Family Service, and forge connections with our newest worshippers, all three generations!
St. David’s Family Worship service is held weekly at 9:30am in St. David’s Hall, on the first floor of the Chapel building. There are also special Family Worship services held during Holy Week.
St. David’s livestream may be accessed at stdavidschurch.org/livestream or on our YouTube channel.
At right are photos of some of our regular families who attend Family Worship with multiple generations. Photos by Elliot VanHoy.
Outreach at St. David’s is at the core of what we do. The number of outreach partners we are involved with locally and internationally is truly amazing. During my second week at St. David’s, The Rev. W. Frank Allen and I went out to Coatesville to meet with The Rev. Sherry Deets, the rector of the Church of the Trinity. Sherry is also the Founder & President of a group called Thistle Hills. The mission of Thistle Hills is to serve women from the Chester County and Coatesville areas who are survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction who deserve a second chance at life. Thistle Hills provides housing, educational opportunities, referral and support for treatment, transportation, legal support intervention, group sessions, housing & security deposit assistance, healthcare, and prescription medication. It was impressive to hear all that Thistle Hills does for these women. Thistle Hills is a program
modeled off the highly successful Thistle Farms Magdalene House in Nashville, Tennessee that has the same goals in their local area.
After meeting with Sherry and getting a tour of the residence, she expressed to us an immediate need for some landscaping to be done on the property. It matters to these women and the neighborhood in which they live to have a lawn that is well kept. After speaking with Frank, we both agreed that this could be a great opportunity to start a new partnership. This organization is doing great work in our local area, the issue of human trafficking is too big to ignore, and this was a new way that we could play a part in helping these women.
I was able to have an initial conversation with our Outreach Commission & Men’s Fellowship group about the idea and they wanted to get involved. The first step was to head out there to visit the house, meet the residents, and do some work! On September 24th, a group of us from St. David’s went to Thistle Hills and cut the grass, pulled some weeds, and trimmed some hedges. The difference that we all made in only a few hours was truly remarkable. Both Sherry and the residents were happy to see us.
I hope our visit in September was only the beginning of a fruitful partnership with Thistle Hills. I know that our Gift Shop & Art Gallery will be supplying a gift basket for their silent auction at their Annual Dinner on Wednesday,
November 16th. Please contact me (The Rev. Thomas Szczerba) at 610.688.7947 x303 or tszczerba@stdavidschurch.org if you are interested in getting involved with this wonderful organization.
Top: St. David’s volunteers at Thistle Hills in Coatesville.
Above: Men’s Fellowship leaders stand by a St. David’s truck full of plant material removed from the yard at the Thistle Hills home.
Left: St. David’s parishioners help to trim bushes outside the Thistle Hills home in Coatsville. Photos provided by The Rev. Thomas Szczerba.
...continued
Last year our mission dollars helped to build a hospital with our partners in Uganda. The hospital’s name is “The Double Cure Hospital” because they provide a holistic approach for the body and the soul–providing medical care (they vaccinated over 2,500 people!), as well as spiritual counseling and prayer. The hospital was finally inaugurated and opened this summer.
In August, our partners in Uganda received funds from St. David’s for the Third Quarter of their 2022 Food Program. This money was used to purchase maize, flour, and beans to provide for the children in the beginning of the new academic year.
In September we concluded our collection for Ukraine and the urgently needed medicines and medical supplies. Included were greatly-appreciated knit prayer squares in the color of the Ukrainian flag, created by St. David’s Needlepoint Guild. Aid gathered was sent through the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (UNWLA), Branch #10, Philadelphia to a UNWL in Kalush, Ukraine, who delivered aid to Kherson as well as Donetsk regions.
Thank you note at right from the Ukrainian National Women’s League reads: Gratitude Letter
From NGO Kalush Ukrainian National Women League
We are expressing our sincere gratitude to St. David’s Episcopal Church for your help on our volunteer line. You - are our backbone and incredible support! Thank you for continuous aid with supplying medicaments, medical tactical first aid responder backpacks, but mostly for your warmth and love! Together, towards the victory!
One way you can continue to suppor relief in Ukraine is by purchasing one of the Christmas balls, pictured at left, made by Glass By Iness and sourced from a family owned business dating back to 1999, located in L’viv, Ukraine. Locally sourced materials, including paint pigments and glass made in Ukraine are turned into real blown glass ornaments using traditional techniques developed in Europe over centuries. They are then hand painted with love and care. Every 50 ornaments sold results in $300 returned to Ukraine. Stop by the Gift Shop to pick one up today!
Left above: A Ukrainian soldier holds a prayer card and knit flag square. Photo courtesy of UNWL. Left below: Ukrainian Christmas ornaments for sale in the Gift Shop. Photo by Natalee Hill.
This year’s theme at St. David’s is Growing in Grace. On October 1st of this year, Grace was apparent at St. David’s Fair. Hundreds of volunteers united to present our first full Fair since being interrupted by COVID-19. Of course, I’m thinking about the food, since helping at the McDavid’s grill is one of my favorite things to do. We even avoided the rain for most of the afternoon! Unopened food items went to our feeding ministries and 100% of the proceeds went to our Outreach Partners. The Fair was a true success not just because of the money it raised, but because it showed that we as parishioners are united as stewards of the mission of St. David’s.
Reflecting on the Fair leads me to thinking of this year’s Stewardship theme, aptly titled Giving with Grace. You’ll see in our Stewardship mailing that we support over 20 deserving Outreach Partners. St. David’s also offers a broad range of smallgroup ministries. As a parishioner, you can be sure that St. David’s offers a ministry
that will “meet you where you are” and encourage you to grow in your relationship with the church. This has been my experience where I started by attending and leading the Men’s Fellowship group.
Over the past several years, my family and I have grown in fellowship, and this has led me to my current role on the Stewardship Commission. We are all stewards of St. David’s and, as a group, are responsible for the care and management of its partners, grounds, staff, and clergy. With that in mind, the Stewardship Commission asks that you make your annual pledge by Commitment Sunday on November 6, 2022. Your pledge is important as it connects you to the church and, as a practical matter, it allows the church to budget and plan its ministries and outreach.
Here is how your pledge will allow St. David’s to “Grow in Grace” in this upcoming year:
• Strengthen and grow our commitment to outreach partners:
• We are committing to increasing the number of lunches for the homeless at St. John’s Norristown
• We are excited to relaunch our participation with Family Promise of the Main Line (formerly IHN) by providing temporary housing with food, in our Chapel building. Each year we host three families. Montgomery County reports that the number of
homeless families has more than doubled in the past year to more than 70 families seeking shelter. (This does not take into account individuals.)
• New St. David’s Associate Rector, The Rev. Thomas Szczerba is beginning a partnership with Thistle Hills in Coatesville. This organization was started by an Episcopal priest to help women victimized by the horrors of trafficking
• Maintain our beautiful campus while we face pressures from inflation
• Care for our talented staff and clergy as they grow in the mission of the church
We know that each family situation is different but, as your circumstances allow, please prayerfully consider your pledge. Help us plan our year ahead by submitting your pledge early or no later than Commitment Sunday, November 6, 2022, by either returning your pledge card or filling out the online form. Then, join us that morning for an All-Parish breakfast at 10:30am to celebrate our shared commitments.
Thank you for your generosity!
As the story goes, there were fifty families who were hoping to celebrate Christmas with a new rector in a new house of worship they would call Radnor Church, (the original name given to St. David’s). In 1714, as a first step, they petitioned The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (based in London) for a missionary who spoke their Welsh language and honored their customs.
The congregation was delighted when John Clubb decided to give up his school in Philadelphia and go to England to become ordained and accept the offer to serve as its first rector. He arrived on the first Sunday in September, whereupon he was presented with a purse and a promise that the people of Radnor would build him a “handsome stone church.” They promptly fulfilled this commitment within a year. During the winter they worked feverishly to prepare for May 9th, 1715, when a service was held to lay the foundation stones. The hope was that Christmas would be Radnor Church’s first worship service.
According to the conditions of appointment, The Rev. Clubb was to share his ministry with both Radnor Church and Holy Trinity Church in Oxford. The two churches were 20 miles apart with only bridle paths through “vast forests” to travel by horseback; faithfully, The Rev. Clubb attended to both parishes.
Among the people supporting this small colonial congregation was Queen Anne of England
who, in 1712, gave to Radnor Church a sterling silver communion set. At that time, people were most likely worshipping in the log building (built first on the same site as the church) before it burned down. Our old Welsh bible is another treasure brought over from Wales in 1710 by Griffith Evans and his wife, Mary, which was likely used for worship in the beginning. There was also a pair of 11th Century brass candlesticks with mahogany bases brought from Wales. We imagine these would all have been used at that first Christmas worship service.
The families would plan to come in their wagons with benches loaded in the back to take inside the church along with warm bricks to warm their feet as there was no heat. The dogs would probably run with the horses and come inside to lie at their masters’ feet for warmth. The church was open to the rafters with a dirt floor. The Welsh are said to have been “music lovers” so perhaps they planned to sing, “Deck the Halls” which is an old Welsh carol.
This vellum scroll in memory of The Rev. John Clubb was created by Beatrice Fox Griffith. The scroll was given, “To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of Lydia Berger Arter and Jane Arter Brown at Christmas, 1940.” It hangs in the vestry room of the Church. Photo by Natalee Hill.
Sadly for the parishioners on that first Christmas at Radnor Church: their Rector, John Clubb, died of exposure due to his traveling just before Christmas during Advent. Our understanding is that the congregation loved this man who spoke their language and worked so hard on their behalf. However, we feel certain that they carried on and rejoiced in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ in their new house of worship, our St. David’s Church.
Since 2001, being a member of the adult choir has given me many opportunities to participate in the joy of sharing music ministry with our St. David's Church community. Over the years the choir has also had the chance to continue our mission abroad. On three separate occasions, we were chosen to be the resident cathedral choir for a week of evensong worship overseas and did our utmost to bring the spirit of St. David's to each service (including two on Sundays!).
Upon reflection, the trips to Wells and Ely Cathedrals in the UK and to St. Patrick's in Dublin, Ireland each had their unique moments. For example, our introduction to the vergers in Wells in 2004, which later became positions in our own worship back home! Despite the unique flavor of each, the steadfast reminder of what we were doing and why we were doing it has always been the same to me: No matter where on earth our congregations may reside, we are all one
community in God.
It could be easy to forget this oneness when you first walk into a space housing awe-inspiring stained-glass windows and jaw-dropping architecture within a structure ages older than our beloved colonial-era Old Church.
Sunday morning gatherings.
For a moment, the sensibilities of a more formatted procession along with ornamented choir seating and surroundings may feel strangely rigid, yet comfortably regal, compared to our familiar family-friendly, open-aired, and lovingly vibrant atmosphere in Radnor. Even our daily regimen of rehearsals and evensongs belies the choir's usual weekly routine of Thursday night and
Amidst these perceived and realized differences, the fact remains that we are all One Body in Christ. The effort to embrace this mantra together as a choir outside our normal confines, experiencing as one the majesty and grace of our faith in sister churches an ocean away, both binds us to each other and to our ancestral origins. We become a larger family in the world and return with renewed vigor (and possibly, some new ideas). After all, we are a church on a mission!
Charles Wagner has been singing in the tenor section of the St. David's Choir for more than 20 years. He lives in Malvern with his wife, Kathy (mezzo-soprano), and daughter, Ella (soprano).
Photo below left: St. David’s Choir at Ely Cathedral in 2009.
St. David’s Adult Choir is preparing for a pilgrimage to England and Wales coming up in July 22- August 1, 2023. They will be the resident choir at Lichfield Cathedral in England and then at our namesake, St. David’s Cathedral in Wales.
Keep an eye on our website and other publications for upcoming music events which will help to fund the trip.
Visit stdavidschurch.org/ music or scan the QR for more information about St. David’s music program.
One of the great traditions of our faith is that we are offered an opportunity to grow in God’s grace as we learn and re-learn the stories of who God is, how much God loves us, and the life God is calling us to live. It’s a great part of our tradition because it deepens our spiritual lives and reminds us that life has a vision for God’s creation and for each of our lives.
We have a pattern of readings that repeat every three years called the Sunday lectionary. The readings from the Hebrew scriptures, the Psalms, the New Testament, and the Gospels are all woven together Sunday by Sunday through this three-year pattern. Along with this three-year pattern of readings, we have a one-year pattern of colors in church to remind us of the particular season of Christ’s life and the focus of the stories during each season.
The colors of the Church year are shown in detail photos of liturgical fabrics - altar cloths and pulpit falls - from St. David’s. Photos by Natalee Hill for St. David’s.
...we are offered an opportunity to grow in God’s grace as we learn and re-learn the stories...
The first season of the year is Advent. Advent implies that something or someone is coming, and the season presents two visions: one vision is the time when God will restore heaven and earth and the other vision is the coming of the Christ to save the world. St. David’s uses blue as a sign of what is coming as we “look to the sky” for God to appear.
The second season of the Church year is Christmas. The color is white and points to the joy and peace and celebration for Christ coming into the world.
The third season is Epiphany, which starts from the day of Epiphany when the Magi arrive in Bethlehem and continues to Ash Wednesday. Epiphany is the season revealing the manifestation of Christ. The color for Epiphany is green to remind us that we are growing in our faith.
Lent is the fourth season, and the color is purple to reflect the Lordship of Christ and as a sign of our repentance. Maundy Thursday, the day of the Last Supper and Jesus’ arrest is red, reminding us of Jesus’ sacrifice. Good Friday has no color as a stark reminder of Jesus’ death on the cross.
The fifth season of the year is Easter and, again, the church is draped in white for the celebration of Christ’s victory over death and the joy we know in the promise of our salvation.
The Day of Pentecost is red to remind us of the fire of the Holy Spirit who came on Jesus’ first followers and stayed to touch people like us.
The sixth and longest season of the year is the Season after the Day of Pentecost. We return to green as a sign of the season of growing in our faith.
And then we begin again with the season of Advent with a greater knowledge of God’s love for us and the promise of a new year for growing in God’s grace.
Many Christian households set up a nativity display using figures of Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, and other figures. The creche is a Christmas symbol that can take families through the entire Nativity story, from Advent waiting through Epiphany sharing. Furthermore, the creche is a visual way to tell the biblical story of Christ’s birth. But often households only use the nativity creche as a display object. Here are some ideas to use, and yes PLAY, with your creche.
Enlist helpers in setting up your creche. Ask “I wonder” questions as you do, “I wonder where we should put the shepherds as they watch their flocks?” “I wonder if this year the ox will be right beside the manger, or with the sheep?”
Invite family members to make a backdrop, or add items to the scene. In Italy, nativity Presepe are full of symbols of abundance: tiny baskets of food, people selling wares, flowers… Be reverent, but use your imagination and have fun.
Set up your empty manger with a few animals, but place Mary and Joseph further away, clearly on their journey to Bethlehem. The shepherds can be nearby with sheep, waiting for the multitude of angels. The Magi should be the furthest away, following their star.
During the four-week journey through Advent, move each set closer to the manger. Mary and Joseph can arrive on Christmas Eve, the baby Jesus appearing on Christmas Eve or morning. In this manner, you can continue to celebrate the
The word “creche” has its roots in the French word for nursery or childcare while the British and German translations are reborrowed to mean something closer to a pen or feeding trough.
story of Jesus’ birth – from his adoration by lowly shepherds, to the visit of the magi on Epiphany!
When the creche is set up, pause for a moment to thank God for the gift. Write your own, or use the one David B. Batchelder offers:
Faithful God, who blesses us in our waiting, bless, too, this creche, which awaits your Son.
As the holy family journeys to this manger, prepare our hearts to welcome his presence. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
You might also sing a verse of a favorite Christmas carol. Away
“More than a mere decoration, a creche or nativity scene engages the whole family and makes your Christmas traditions richer.”
The introduction of the nativity scene into Christian practice is credited to St. Francis in the year 1223. To keep the focus of the holiday on the birth of Christ, and not on material goods, Francis encouraged figures of the birth of Jesus to be displayed in churches, homes, and other common spaces.
the season, collect your gifts and deliver them. Gifts don’t have to be material. Jeanne Heiberg proposes a wonderful idea: allow young children to place a straw (or piece of yarn or puff of cotton) in the manger whenever they do a kind deed. Their helpful actions will make a softer place for the baby Jesus, a sign of welcome.
Christians around the world build creches that reflect their unique situations. Collecting nativity scenes is a wonderful way to connect with the entire household of God! If your creche is fragile, consider using a second nativity set that children can safely play with. You can make your own, using free prinatables and directions from Catholic Icing. Or purchase a made-for-children nativity from Fisher Price or PlayMobile.
The Christmas season is full of gifts! The Gospels remind us that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were a family in need and became refugees. What better time of year to give to others than Christmas? And what better place to collect those gifts than the creche, where we see the Holy Family’s need and witness their flight into Egypt?
Sybil Macbeth suggests making your creche the gathering place for canned goods for your local food pantry; or hats and mittens for the shelter. Before you put your creche away for
Batchelder, David B., All Through the Day, All Through the Year Augsburg Fortress, 2000
Heiberg, Jeanne, Advent Arts and Christmas Crafts. Paulist Press, 1995
Macbeth, Sybil, Season of the Nativity. Paraclete Press, 2014 Charlotte Hand Greeson shares her passion for formation as a manager, editor, and writer for Building Faith. The Greeson family sets up their creche the first Sunday in Advent, and move each of the groups around the living room during the next several weeks. Baby Jesus can almost always be found in the junk drawer until Christmas Eve.
This article, reprinted with permission of the author, was originally posted to the Building Faith website, a ministry of Virginia Theologicl Seminary, on December 7, 2015. The original article may be located at https://buildfaith.org/ navity-creche-play/. “Did you Knows” by Emily Given.
Would you like to have a nativity set of your very own? We have received the gift of an extensive collection and we would like to share them with you! There will be an “adoption center” staged at the Advent Wreath making event on Sunday, November 27 at 10:30am. For more information, please email Emily Given at egiven@stdavidschurch.org or call 610.688.7947 x216.
Every purchase made at The Gift Shop and Art Gallery makes a positive change for our international Outreach partners in Cuba, Guatemala, and Uganda. Come visit this unique boutique and bring your friends.
Women in Armenia have sewing skills which they are using to support their families by making aprons and other goods. By special request, the Gift Shop got the Mt. Ararat, Armenia aprons also created in children’s sizes and including an ark to represent the story of Noah’s Ark.
The charming banana bark labels are designed and handcrafted by women who grow the tea on small farms in Western Kenya, providing much needed sustainable employment. The company donates 100% of profits to communities in Kenya, funding education for orphaned children.
The artisans in Mexico grow in skills, confidence, and resources by producing their quaint animals and ornaments. As with many of our other partnerships it is these people and their stories that make their products attractive to us.
Global Goods Partners (GGP) supports over 60 artisan groups in more than 20 countries. These growth charts and finger puppets are made in Nepal.
The Gift Shop & Art Gallery are open from 4 to 7pm on the Friday before Thanksgiving so that shoppers can enjoy shopping in a festive atmosphere and receive 10% off their purchases. Food and beverages donated by volunteers are served in the reception area. It is a great opportunity for fellowship as well.
If you would like to make a financial gift in support of St. David’s mission and ministry in Radnor Township, the Greater Philadelphia region, and around the world, please give online by using your smartphone camera to scan the QR code to the left or by visiting stdavidschurch.org/giving. You may also text to give by texting the keyword ‘Worship1715’ and the amount ‘$___’ to 73256.
Thank you for your generosity!
