Acts of the Apostles – 05/16/2021

This Sunday

7th Sunday of Easter

10AM Holy Eucharist, Rite II
Limited to 50 in-person attendees
Social distancing and masks required – Sign Up
Watch the broadcast on our YouTube channel
Service Material can be found on our website

Scripture readings
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Psalm 1
1 John 5:9-13
John 17:6-19

A Note from the Rector

In the print May newsletter, I wrote a meditation on our parish conversation about gun violence. I began to map out some next steps. One step was the formation of a Parish Prayer Guild to pray for our neighborhood, wider community, and world. Here’s what I wrote: “Going forward, I want to think about ways that we can integrate this intentional prayer for our community into some of the other things we do including our Sunday worship and Compline. I’d love to formalize our commitment to prayer through the formation of a Parish Prayer Guild, This would present us with an opportunity to make a commitment to God and each toward a particular prayer practice for our neighborhood.” 

Well, we’re taking that step. Without my bidding, members of the Compline group have integrated the Parish Prayer List into daily Compline. And, in the next couple of weeks, we are forming a Parish Prayer Guild as a way to commit to prayer. You can see exactly what this entails below. Next Sunday, the Feast of Pentecost (May 23) seems like an appropriate time to make this real. So, as part of our Parish Eucharist on Pentecost there will be an opportunity to join our Parish Prayer Guild and make the commitments outlined below. If you feel safe and if it’s right for your family, I encourage you to attend in-person, but you may also participate in the formation of this guild online (The online component of our services is not going anywhere). 
 
This is a necessary, really important next step in our path toward discerning what God is up to, and what God wants us to be up to in relation to gun violence and the many other issues surrounding it. It’s a next step, but not the last. Prayer is what got us started on this and prayer is going to sustain us, and move us forward, wherever that might be. But, prayer always leads further and deeper, and it won’t let us be apathetic. So, if you care about the issue of gun violence, if you care about our neighborhood and wider community, if you care about this parish, then I encourage you to consider making this commitment and being part of this prayer guild. If you intend to do so, please let me or Nancy Haas know. And, as always, if you have any questions or thoughts, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.  

The Parish Prayer Guild

The guild exists to facilitate intercessory prayer for this parish, our wider community, partners, diocese, and world. It will seek to bolster the life of prayer in our parish, seeking ways that we can learn and deepen our faith individually and corporately.   
 
Members are asked to: 

1. Commit for a period of time to pray the parish prayer list every single day.  The time period may be 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year (renewable). 
   
2. Endeavor to receive the sacrament of Eucharist on a regular basis.*   
   
3. Participate in other guild activities as able. 

Other guild activities: 

• Compose or adapt Prayers of the People for the Sunday Parish Eucharist on a seasonal or quarterly basis with the aid of the Rector and according to the directions provided in the Book of Common Prayer (p.383)
  
• Help to maintain the Parish Prayer List and see that it is updated and disseminated.
  
• Organize and participate in special services and opportunities for prayer as they arise. 
  
• As there is interest, engage in the study and practice of different types of prayer. 

_____________________________ 

*Notice the nuance of this language: “endeavor” and “regular basis.” This is not about rigid legalism, rather it is about the intrinsic and necessary connection between prayer, Eucharist, and the healing of the world. I know many have been missing receiving the Eucharist (and in both kinds) and I hope that the wording makes clear that I don’t mean to shame anyone or demand that someone does something they are uncomfortable with under current circumstances, while at the same time underscoring the importance and vitality of the Eucharist. 

Services

You can view our live-stream on our YouTube channel.  
A link to this video will be posted to Facebook.
To attend in person, please sign up to reserve your spot.

Sunday, May 16, 2021 – 7th Sunday of Easter
Holy Eucharist, Rite II with Prayers of Spiritual Communion 10AM
Live-streamed, In-person attendance limited to 50
The Rev. James Stambaugh, celebrant & preacher

Sunday, May 23, 2021 – Day of Pentecost, Whitsunday
Holy Eucharist, Rite II with Prayers of Spiritual Communion 10AM
Live-streamed, In-person attendance limited to 50
The Rev. James Stambaugh, celebrant & preacher

Weekday Meetings

Zoom Compline is held every night at 7:30PM
A brief time of prayer and checking in with other members of CHA
“Zoom Compline has been really helped me through this difficult time.  It’s such a great way to close the day.” – CHA Member
Follow this link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/233415613?pwd=dTBDeUhrUUdSak9MS3RUaXdDSDhpUT09
or call into the meeting toll-free 1-888-475-4499 
Callers will be promoted to enter this meeting ID: 233 415 613
and passcode: love

Zoom Bible Studyis held every Thursday at 11AM
We are doing a combined study of the Books of Daniel and Revelation. Please join us as we discover a new view on the never-changing promises of God. No previous experience required.
Follow this link to join:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/788355291?pwd=R2FQRWltZ01LWG92WGtPSm54cXJSUT09
or call 1-888-475-4499 US Toll-free
You will be prompted to enter this meeting ID: 788 355 291
and passcode: love

*note: the passcode for all CHA Zoom meetings is “love”

Outreach – Up Next

Connect by Night

Beginning this week there will be a weather-tight box outside the church main entrance where you can deposit your books for our Beach Bag Book Drive to provide books to the CBN clients. Collection extends through May 30. Box location allows you to drop off your items any time during the week.

Things to know:

• We are collecting books from all genres – Mystery, Sports, Biography, Humor, History and Inspirational, etc.
• See a book you want to read? Please feel free to borrow it to enjoy and return it to the collection box when you’re through! You are welcome to use the box as a Take one, Leave one resource
• We also welcome donation of reusable bags for the CBN clients to use when borrowing books.
• Donated books will be delivered to CBN periodically over the summer.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Darby Mission 

Next month’s project details will be available soon. The afterschool project will be all about Photosynthesis!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Looking for folks who are willing and able to help with transporting donated items from the church to the mission on an as-needed basis. Cassie would like a team of folks who she can call on to assist with deliveries. Please email or text Cassie if you can help!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Remember if you dislike shopping or can’t get out and about you can still participate in these and any of our outreach opportunities! Make a monetary donation to the cause with a check to Church of the Holy Apostles in any amount and write OUTREACH in the memo. Or use the GIVE button on our website and choose Darby Mission in the drop down list.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Cassie Woestman, Outreach Chairperson, contact info:
Email: grammysqrd@gmail.com
Phone/Text: 610-608-5440

Announcements

+ THIS WEEK IS GOAT WEEK – May 17-21

• Every Day – 6pm Community Goat Walk
• Monday May 17 – 5:45pm The Blessing of the Goats, in person & on our YouTube channel
• Tuesday May 18 – 5:45pm Goat Talk Live, in person & on our YouTube channel
• Wednesday May 19 – 5:45pm “God, Goats & Neighborhood Ecology,” in person & on our YouTube channel
• Thursday May 20 – TBA
• Friday May 21 – TBA

Everyone is welcome. Invite your friends and neighbors! Check out our website for updated information through the week. All events will be outside. Please maintain social distance and wear masks as appropriate in accordance with CDC guidelines.

+ The Sensory Garden in Wynnewood Valley Park is looking for help watering during the summer months.  All equipment is on site.  Anyone interested in helping can reach out to Deb Stambaugh  (505) 980-4300 

+ Red signifies the fire of Pentecost (see Acts 2), and everyone is invited to wear red to church on May 23rd to celebrate the feast (whether you are attending in-person or online). 

+ Michael Poll Concert.  On Pentecost Sunday, May 23rd at 5:30PM, acclaimed classical guitarist Michael Poll will perform two Bach suites on the 7-string guitar.  A Penn Wynne neighbor, Michael is an accomplished musician who has performed in concert halls on 3 continents.  You can find out more about Mr. Poll on his website. Use this link to sign-up for the limited in-person attendance spots. The concert will also be aired on our YouTube channel. The event is free, but we are asking for donations either in-person or online. All donations will benefit the Darby Mission and Michael’s charity that is focused on bringing high quality live music to underserved neighborhoods in Philadelphia and beyond.  

+ Church Service Attendance – Masks and appropriate distancing will continue to be observed. We look forward to seeing you back at church if you feel comfortable there. Please note that you must pre-register to attend service to allow us to continue keeping with our safe practices. If you are serving (organist, reader, cantor, tech, usher, etc.) please remember to sign up as well. Services will also continue to be livestreamed. 

+ Bible Study: Every Thursday at 11AM (currently on Zoom). We are doing a combined study of the Books of Daniel and Revelation. Now is a great time to join us as we discover a new view on the never-changing promises of God. No previous experience required. Join us anytime using this link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/788355291?pwd=R2FQRWltZ01LWG92WGtPSm54cXJSUT09

+ One Love: Our diocese has created an online platform where you can find inspirational videos, sermons by the bishop and other clergy, and online services.  Visit DioPA One Love Online: https://episcopalpa.online.church

+Eucharistic Visits: During this time, the rector and trained Eucharistic ministers may visit others to bring them the Eucharist. Meeting in outdoor spaces of homes will be preferred.  Contact the rector if you would like to schedule a visit. 

+Giving: You can still mail pledge contributions to the church at this time.  The mail is checked regularly.  You can also securely give online.  Go to holyapostlespa.org and click on the “Give” button on the top right hand corner of the webpage.  

+ Online Worship: Online worship continues!  We will be live-streaming each Sunday at 10AM.  We will be calling on our virtual choir to provide music for us, and there will be occasional readings from members at home.  It’s all happening on our YouTube Channel. Be sure to hit the SUBSCRIBE button!

+ Happy Birthday! The following folks have birthdays in the month of May.
1^st      Eric Haas
          Jennifer Lees
2^nd     Nathaniel Russell
4^th      Gregory Smith
5^th      Bryce Henderson
10^th    Porter Forker
12^th    Dan Dugan
14^th    Toni Meiers
16^th    Marianne Neff
19^th    Elliott Brown IV
26^th    Joe Zorc
30^th    Allen Mustered
If your birthday, or the birthday of another parishioner in your family is missing, please notify the Parish Office at holyapostlespa@gmail.com