jstambaugh A Note from the Rector

A Note from the Rector – 10/11/20

Next Wednesday our own Jeremiah Mustered will be ordained a transitional deacon.  The “transitional” part simply means that Jeremiah will also be ordained a priest (God-willing and the people consenting) in another 6 months or so.  The practice of ordaining minsters as a deacon first, regardless if they are called to the priesthood, diaconate, or bishopric is an ancient one.  In the early church, there are several examples of folks who were extremely reluctant to be ordained but were nevertheless forcibly seized, ordained a deacon, and then immediately made a bishop all in the same day.  Jeremiah’s process has been far more extended, deliberate, and—importantly—done with his consent.  

The reason to ordain Jeremiah a deacon first even though he will one day become a priest is found in the meaning and calling of a deacon.  A deacon is one whose primary orientation is a particular kind of service toward God’s people and God’s world.  In Acts 6, the first deacons were chosen by the people.  The apostles laid hands on them and commissioned them to lead the Church in the service of those in need: to take care of the early Church’s distribution of food and other administrative tasks.  This division of labor was made so that the apostles could do the things they were called to do, teach, preach, and administer the sacraments and worship of the Church.  So, from New Testament times there were two orders of clergy, bishops/apostles and deacons.  As the Church grew it became necessary to appoint sacramental intermediaries for the bishop, stand-ins who would teach and administer the sacraments for a community when the bishop could not be present.  This is what we call priests or presbyters.  

The reason all ordained people are made a deacon first is to remind them (us) that we ours is a life of service.  The starting place for ordained ministry is always the imperative to serve others. Our first job is to decrease so that Christ can increase. Of course, lay people are not off the hook here.  Your (our) ordination happened a long time ago when we were baptized into Christ’s Church.  At your baptism you were empowered to be a disciple, to serve God and love your neighbor.  Scripture calls all Christians members of “a nation of priests to serve our God.”  We are all called and all gifted to serve God in particular and unique ways.  We are all called to be faithful in our daily lives, our occupations, our families, our neighborhoods, and our church community.  This week, we can all rejoice with Jeremiah as he enters a new chapter of his life’s vocation serving God and God’s people.  Congratulations, Jeremiah!

The ordination service will be live streamed this Wednesday, October 14 at 6:30PM.  You can watch at https://episcopalpa.online.church

holyapostlespa Announcements

Announcements – 4/28/19

Worship

† Healing Prayers will be offered today after Holy Communion

† Morning Prayer is offered at 8:30AM on Sunday mornings and at 9:15AM Tuesdays through Fridays.  Anyone can pray the service privately using the Book of Common Prayer or one of a number of smart phone apps!  See the last section of the digital edition of the “Acts of the Apostles” for details.

Outreach

† We will continue non-perishable food items for the food pantry of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia.  Look for the collection box in the hallway outside the parish hall.

† Our next all-church Darby Mission Meal: 9/17/19.

Good News

† April 28th, Montgomery County will be using the back portion of our parking lot on Sunday, April 28th for a Bike Safety Rodeo in conjunction with the Penn Wynne Civic Association Earth Day Celebration (in the park).  The event will be from 1PM – 4PM.

† Save the Date: Haverford Heritage Festival – Sunday, June 2.  The church will have a booth.

Children and Youth

† Nursery Childcare is available during the 10:00AM Sunday service for children ages 3 and younger in the Godly Play Room.

† Sunday School: Children Preschool – 2nd grade and 3rd – 8th grade attend Sunday classes at 10:00AM, the same time as the church service starts; children join their parents in the church in time for communion. Classes are held on the 1st, 3rd, & 4th Sundays of the month. On 2nd Sundays children attend church with their parents, either the 10:00PM Holy Eucharist service or the 5:30PM Family Worship Service. When there is a 5th Sunday, children attend church with their parents, with some of the children taking part in leading the service.

† The Holy Apostles Choir School is looking toward it’s grand opening in the Fall of 2019.  If you have a potential student, apply today.  More information is available at holyapostlespa.org/choir-school/. Please forward this information to friends and neighbors who may be interested. Contact Deb Stambaugh if you have any questions.

Parish Life

† James will be the Diocese of Pennsylvania Clergy Conference this week from Monday – Wednesday. 

† The Rev. Jim Robertson who was our deacon here from 1992-94, is being ordained to the priesthood in Diocese of Central Pennsylvania.  Jim reached out to church with an invitation, and a request for our prayers.  The ordination will be June 15, 2019 at 10:30AM at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral in Harrisburg, PA.  An invitation posted in the parish hall provides more information. 

† Don’t forget to enter the church through the Parish office door and grab a “Church Member” badge from the office during Daycare hours (7:00AM – 6:00PM Mon-Fri)!

† The Cash for Causes Program at Giant Supermarket:

               -Purchase through JT Wertz

               -5% of card value is given to Holy Apostles operating fund.

               -Can be used in store or when ordering Giant groceries through     peapod online delivery service.

Education

† Thank you to all who participated in our Lenten Soup Group series!  Look for more adult education opportunities in the near future!

† Bible Study is held on Thursdays at 11AM.

Diocesan / Community Events

† Mental Health First Aid Training (Youth) – May 4—8:30a-4:30p. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Germantown.

† Community Veteran Culture Training / Healing Ceremony – May 6-7 starting at 8am.  Cranaleith Spiritual Center, Philadelphia. 

holyapostlespa Announcements

Announcements – 11/26/2017

Announcements for Sunday, November 26th, 2017

The Last Sunday after Pentecost/Christ the King

Worship

Welcome to Church of the Holy Apostles! This morning’s service is Holy Eucharist, Rite II, at 10:00 a.m..  Our Guest Celebrant is the Rev. Canon Shawn Wamsley. The Rev. James Stambaugh will serve as Deacon and Preacher.

Morning Prayer: This week, Tuesday through Friday in the church at 9:00 a.m.

Sunday, December 24th is both Advent IV (in the morning) and Christmas Eve (in the late afternoon and evening). There will be Holy Eucharist, Rite II, as usual at 10:00 a.m. (but without choir) on the 24th, observing Advent IV. Christmas Eve services are Holy Eucharist, Rite II, at both 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. There will be Holy Eucharist at 9:00 a.m. on Christmas Day, Monday, December 25th (without choir).

Children & Youth

Childcare is available during the 10:00 service for children ages 3 and younger in the Godly Play Room.

Sunday School classes (preschool – 2nd grade and 3rd – 8th grade) are held on the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Sundays of the month, beginning at 10:00 a.m., the same time as the church service starts; children join their parents in the church in time for communion. On 2nd Sundays children attend church with their parents, either the 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist service or the 5:30 p.m. Family Worship Service. When there is a 5th Sunday, children attend church with their parents, with some of the children taking part in leading the service.

Education

Join us for our next Christian Education Mini-Series: Theological Liner Notes, Wednesdays at 6:30pm on December 6th, 13th, 20th.  Together we will listen to some great music and then discuss how the music relates to the person and work of God as well as questions of meaning and purpose for humans. Some of the artists we will listen to include Bob Dylan, Beyonce, Dave Matthews, Regina Spektor, and Oliver Mtukudzi.  James is open for other suggestions.

Outreach & Service

On Monday December 11th at 6pm the Holy Apostles will hold its annual holiday meal with the East Parkside Resident’s Association. The group will be celebrating members of their community who are cancer survivors.  We will be bringing side dishes and uncooked (frozen or defrosted) turkeys to distribute as gifts.  A sign-up sheet will be posted in the parish hall, and we can travel together from church leaving at 5:30 pm to the Christ Community Baptist Church, 1224 N 41st St , Philadelphia, PA 19104.  If anyone is interested in being part of their entertainment program, or if there are other questions, please contact Joe Zorc at zorc@email.chop.edu .

Parish Life

Seeking volunteers to help with our Pancakes with Santa extrava- ganza on December 2nd from 7:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. There is a sign-up sheet posted in the parish hall. Call or email Drew Meiers (610) 446-8340 or dkmeiers@verizon.net for more information.

Ordination to the Priesthood On December 9 at 4:00 p.m., our deacon-in-charge, James Stambaugh will be ordained to the priesthood by the Rt. Rev. Daniel Gutiérrez.  The special service will take place here at Holy Apostles.  A reception will follow.  An important part of the service is for people to formally present James to the bishop.  James would like to invite any and all willing members of CHA to be his presenters for the service. See BCP, pp. 526-7 to see what this entails.  Look for a sign-up sheet on the table across from the parish office.

The parish office will be open this week on Tuesday, November 28th, and Thursday, November 30th.