Volume 1, Issue 1

Emmanuel Messenger Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Don’t Forget!

• September 9: Return to regular Sunday Schedule 8 and 11 a.m.

• September 16: Children’s Sunday School resumes

• September 23: Adult Sunday School resumes

• October 7: Bishop’s Visit

• November 19: Deadline for Win-ter Newsletter

Jr. Warden Report 2

Vestry Notes 2

Calendar 3

Announcements 4, 5

Sunday School 8, 9

Fellowship 11

History Page 14

Inside this issue:

If you read the papers you know that the Common-wealth of Virginia is proudly celebrating its 400th birthday. That also means that the Episcopal Church in Virginia is 400 years old since the Jamestown settlers brought their church with them.

During August a group met weekly in the Guild Room studying our unique history. We began as an official state church that was disestablished after 1776. Then we were a great force for evangelism but could not come to one mind on the issue of slav-ery. After the Civil War, we pored ourselves into mission and became one of the largest diocese in

the American church.

The current issue of the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography is devoted to this history and is well worth reading.

Well worth the time is a trip to Richmond to see a splen-did exhibit, ”The Episcopal Church in Virginia, 1607-2007". This was developed by the Virginia Historical Society and will be up until January 13, 2008. The His-torical Society is located on the Boulevard in Richmond adjacent to the Virginia Mu-seum of Fine Art.

Since 1776, Episcopalians have been a minority church in Virginia but our influence in the state has been much greater than our

numbers would suggest. We truly have a unique history and it continues today as we live through another time of conflict and disagreement. After re-studying our past, I am convinced that we have always emerged both different and stronger from all of our conflicts. See for your-selves!

- The Rev. Ed Covert

From the Rector

Fall 2007

Senior Warden’s Corner In the spring, Emmanuel con-ducted a parish census and survey that sought to elicit who we are as a church family and what improvements could be made. At the top of the list was communications, and the Ves-try soon set to work to institute some changes in the way we communicate.

You might notice that this edition of the newsletter looks a little different. We have changed to a quarterly format, which means this newsletter covers the fall, through November, and you’ll receive the Winter newsletter in December for the next three months. You’ll notice that we no longer have the prayer list in the newsletter, but you can still find it

each week in the bulletin and soon it will be on our revised and updated website. For more in-formation about the website, don’t miss the article on page 10.

I hope you like the new format and find it easy and enjoyable to read. I welcome your feedback and hope to continuously im-prove the newsletter over the coming year. - Emily Cox

Thanks to Mary Rebekah Hadfield for proofing this

first issue!

I knew before I read the Strategic Planning Report that I was not the only person at Emmanuel that wants to main-tain, preserve and protect our building. The report showed an overwhelming majority of parishioners value the historic nature of our building and want to keep it in top condition. Our property commission is growing and interest in our activities is also on the rise. We are fortu-nate to have so many people who can and do devote their time and resources to the tremendous task of up keep and special projects in the church. A lot of work happens be-hind the scenes here but it does not go unnoticed. Thanks to all of you who have and continue to make this building safe, clean, and a comfortable home to enjoy. This fall will be an exciting time to be involved in property issues. Emmanuel is holding together but needs some special attention. We all have a great opportunity to leave a positive mark here and I hope we all can. - Allan Hadfield

● The Worship Committee reports overwhelming support for

Sarah Groves-Humphries as our new music director and

organist. Sarah intends to ensure that our worship music has

both integrity and variety ... ● Building on the success of last

year’s fall Holiday Bazaar, the Outreach Commission plans to

sponsor a similar event this year. ● Emmanuel’s Annual Au-dit was completed, as required, in August.

Vestry N●tes

From the Bell Tower Junior Warden’s Report

● In an active year for the parish population, there have

been both rising numbers and a few significant losses, includ-

ing the Knitters and the Pees who’ve moved away …

● Additional social activities are being planned for various

“subgroups” within the congregation (i.e., singles, young fami-

lies with children, long-timers, etc.) … ● Due to increased fees

and surcharges, Emmanuel’s bank accounts have been moved from BB&T to Community Bank, where our deposits

are now earning somewhat better rates … ● Sarah Martin and

Sam Johnson are this year’s award recipients of the Gibbs Scholarship Fund … ● Inspecting the church building and

grounds, the Junior Warden proposed necessary repairs, replacements, renovations and maintenance including such

items as the roof, outside mortar, dining room sound absorp-

tion, exterior painting, elevator, and bats in the tower … ● New outdoor playground equipment is being considered …

● A bit of “formal training for volunteers (ushers, elements

bearers, lay readers, intercessors, etc.) is being considered …

Page 2 Emmanuel Messen ger Volume 1, I ssue 1

Current Vestry Members:

Allan Hadfield (Jr. Warden)

Bev Coffman

Tidge Roller (Secretary)

Emily Cox (Sr. Warden)

Jeff Gaines

Jim Kivlighan

Kathy Eastham

Bruce Joffe

Matt Poteat

Sunday Schedule

• 8:00 a.m.

Holy Eucharist Rite I

• 9:30 a.m.

Adult Choir (Chancel)

• 10:00 a.m.

Adult Sunday School (Memorial Hall)

Children’s Sun. School (Dining Room)

• 11:00 a.m.

Holy Eucharist Rite II

Nursery Care available (ages 0-5)

Page 3 Emmanuel Messen ger Volume 1, I ssue 1

October 7 - Bishop’s Visit/

Confirmation 7 - Augusta Convocation Fall

Mtg. - R.E. Lee, Lexington 7 - Diocesan Youth Days Augusta Convocation 14 - Second Sunday Soup 15-19 - Secretary on vacation 21 - Emmanuel Youth Sunday 21 - Virginia Day at National

Cathedral, Washington, D.C.

September 9 - Adult Choir resumes

(9:30 in the Chancel) 9 - Children’s Sunday School

Welcome Back Breakfast (10-11 a.m.)

16 - Children’s S. S. resumes 20 - First rehearsal of the new

Multigenerational Choir (6:45-7:30) see p. 10

23 - Adult S. S. resumes 29 - Emmanuel Talent Show

(7 p.m.) see p. 11 30 - Healthy and Wholesome

Youth training for Volunteers

November 11 - Christmas Pageant re-

hearsals begin (10 -11 a.m.) 11 - Harvest Day Breakfast 10 a.m. - dining room 17 - Holiday Bazaar to benefit

Outreach (9-1 Memorial Hall) 19 - Winter Newsletter deadline

Upcoming Events at Emmanuel

Weekly Calendar Mondays: OFFICE CLOSED

3:30-6:15 p.m. Musikgarten (Memorial Hall)

6:30-8:00 p.m. Lyrisa (Sanctuary)

8-9 p.m. AA & AL (Dining Rm.) & ALATEEN (Mem. Hall)

Tuesdays: Secretary in Office

9:15-10:30 a.m. & 2 - 5 p.m. Musikgarten (Mem. Hall)

Wednesdays: The Rev. Ed Covert & Secretary in Office

10-11:15 a.m. Musikgarten (Memorial Hall) Thursdays: OFFICE CLOSED

6:30-7:45 p.m. Multigenerational Choir (Chancel)

6-7 p.m. OA (Smith Room)

8-9 p.m. Al-Anon (Smith Room)

Fridays: The Rev. Ed Covert & Secretary in Office

9:15-11:15 a.m. Musikgarten (Memorial Hall)

Saturdays: OFFICE CLOSED 10-11 a.m. Al-Anon (Smith Room)

8-9 p.m. AA (Dining Room)

Look for more events as they develop on our website:

www.mindspring.com/~emmanuelstaunton

October 15 - Matthew and Katherine Turner Poteat 20 - Daniel and Lida Parrish 28 - Herbert and Eva Winckelmann

November 1 - Norman and Katie Spurlock 19 - Byron and Sarah Grove-Humphries 27 - Madison and Katharine Brown

September 3 - Hobart and Archer Hansen 5 - John and Nicole Rutan 12 - James and Mia Kivlighan 15 - Eric and Marie Sproul

September 1 - Nell Manning, Jason White, Matthew Parrish 4 - Emma Milliman 5 - David Metraux, Nicole Rutan 7 - Elizabeth Terry 9 - Sophie Poteat, Darby Milliman, Ruth Knitter 10 - James Kivlighan, III 12 - Mary Lida Venn 13 - Andrew Biehn 14 - Kathy Eastham 18 - Charlotte Hadfield 19 - Hannah Knitter 20 - Charles Joyce, John Davenport 21 - Race Drake 22 - Gena Adams, Bess Trainum 23 - John Lane, Sally Coleman 24 - Deborah Wilson, David Trainum 25 - Emma Adams 29 - Julie Rutan

October 1 - Michel Harmon

2 - Parker and Jalen Douglas 4 - Jane Pruett 5 - Marvin Myrtle 6 - Katherine Eastham 7 - Judy Reynolds, Alice Cassada 10 - Marilyn Smallwood 11 - Jo Lotz, Jim Lott 12 - Sharon Sproul 13 - Tidge Roller 15 - Steven Cox 17 - Jamie Hanger, John Lotz 18 - Nancy Carter Crump Emory 19 - Susan Peyton 20 - Willa Hadfield 22 - Jim Kivlighan, Mollie Gaines 23 - Peter Adams 24 - Beth Buerkel 26 - Meredith Manning 27 - Alice Cormier 28 - William Cormier, Amanda Knighting, Jeff

Gaines, John Rutan, Herbert Winckelmann, Hanna Kivlighan, Rob Spurlock

29 - Daniel Metraux 30 - Mildred Smiley 31 - Pat Clough, Sidney Bland

November 1 - Adam Brown 2 - Mary Jane Manning 3 - Mark Eastham, Brendan Fox 4 - Samuel Johnson 5 - Jan Lotz 6 - Becky Engleman, Kathryn Nelson 9 - Frances McAllister, Randall Hamblet 10 - Julian Poteat 11 - David Knitter 16 - Libby Trainum 21 - Norman Spurlock 22 - Olivia Knitter 23 - Robert Godley, Ginger Warrick 25 - James May 28 - Mary LIttle

♦ Katherine and I would like to thank the Emmanuel church family for their many thoughts, prayers, and cards during the bereavement of her father, Henry Turner. Many of you had the opportunity to meet Mr. Turner when he and his wife, Kate, were here from Eng-land last May for the occasion of their grandson Julian's baptism. He commented on how lovely the church and its members were. He would be equally impressed by the sympathy and kindness you've shown to all of us during this difficult time. -- Matthew Poteat

♦ SACRA is in need of volunteers - They are open Tues-days, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9-11:30 a.m. This agency provides relief for local families and individuals who are struggling to pay their bills or meet other needs. If you can give of your time and are interested in becoming a vol-unteer, please call Pam Lott at 885-4834 or Jo Lotz at 886-5594.

Happy Anniversary to . . .

Happy Birthday to . . .

Announcements

Page 4 Emmanuel Messen ger Volume 1, I ssue 1

Continued on p. 5

From the Parish Register Deaths - August 11, 2007 - Louise Gilbreath Robinson. Louise was a beloved parishioner and a faithful member of the eight o’clock congregation. She will be greatly missed. May she have a place in God’s eternal kingdom.

Forest and Helen Fletcher were our very first Lay Eucharistic Ministers. Six years ago on the very first Sunday of our ministry they pitched a double header serving two in separate homes. After serving the Eucharist to handicapped parishioners about 80 times ( by my estimate ) they choose to retire. We thank them for their faithful and dedicated service. The current staff of the LEM and those whom they have served will miss them. They will continue to serve our church unselfishly in other ways as they have for many years.

Our current LEM staff includes Doug and Susan Pey-ton, Daniel Metraux, Dana Cormier and Mary Evans Lott, and Jeanne and Dave Rapp. Robin Boylan and Charlotte Story, Eileen Frueh, and Harrison May will soon join our LEM staff. Others of you who might be interested in serving this ministry may contact any of the incumbents for more information.

We currently serve three ladies once each month : Becky Engleman in her home, Polly White in Kings Daughters Health and Rehab, and Frances McAllister in Brightview. We have three more elderly and/or handicapped parishioners who have difficulty getting to church. We might be serving them soon. Practicing their faith through the Eucharist is very important to them and serving them is truly rewarding.

Thanks, Your LEM staff

♦ Got boxwood? Lilchy Huffman is searching for a source for boxwood to make her beautiful holiday wreaths for sale at our Holiday Bazaar in November. If you have box-woods that she could gently prune, please let her know. Thanks!

♦ Healthy Wholesome Youth training will be held Sunday, Sept. 30 after the 11 o’clock service for any volunteers working with our young people. Please contact Susan Peyton or Mitzi White for more information.

♦ Dear Scholarship Committee and Emmanuel Family, Thank you so much for awarding me the J. Lewis Gibbs Scholarship! I plan on using the money for architectural software that is required for my classes this fall. Emmanuel has been a special part of my life since my baptism in 1989. Thanks again for your generous gift as I pursue a degree from UVA. With love, Sara Martin

Stewardship

Lay Eucharistic Ministry (L.E.M.)

Announcements (continued from p. 4)

enough gifts to get us through the year. If you would like to serve on the stewardship committee, or the budget committee, please call and volunteer. We haven't picked a theme, or planned yet for this important work, so you can get in on the ground floor!

Please call Sue Buerkel, Treasurer, at 885-3449.

Thanks to all of you who have kept your pledges up to date. If you are in this cate-gory, you practice giv-

ing to God first, knowing that through faith, everything else will fall into place.

We will be entering into a new pledging season soon. Please prayerfully consider your pledge to Em-manuel Church. The budget committee always pre-sets a bare-bones budget, and somehow, we have had

Page 5 Emmanuel Messen ger Volume 1, I ssue 1

Huddled masses yearning to breathe free?

Wretched refuse of your teeming shore?

Perhaps.* But here at Emmanuel? After all, we're Episcopalians!

Nonetheless, your parish family and church home do need help:

Please, consider serving on the Vestry! (Yeah, we know how "tired" everyone already is ... and that most of us are especially "poor" in terms of our time.

But Emmanuel is a lay-led parish whose future really does depend on your involvement.)

Know someone -- maybe even you -- who's willing to serve on Emmanuel's Vestry?

Please fill out the form below and return it to the church office by November 12. *Environmental concerns and structural matters are among the Junior Warden's responsibilities.

We especially need someone to serve in this vital capacity!

On December 2, the Annual Congregational Meeting will elect three new Vestry persons to take the places of Allan Hadfield, Bev Coffman, and Tidge Roller whose terms will expire. If you would like to nominate someone for Vestry, please fill in this form and either place it in the offering plate or return to the Church Office by November 12. Please remember, Vestry members need to be Confirmed members of the Church and known to the Treasurer. Vestry mem-bers are the fiduciary body of the Church. Please check with the person/persons you are nominating to be sure they are willing to serve.

Person Nominated ____________________________________________________________________

Person Nominated ____________________________________________________________________

Person Nominated ___________________________________________________________________

Vestry Election - Canon 14

"Give us your tired, your poor ..."

Vestry Nomination Form

Sec. 1 (a) Each parish shall elect a vestry of not less than three nor more than twenty-four members. (b) those persons eligible for election as Vestry members shall be as follows: adult confirmed communicants of the parish, in good standing, who have been regular worshippers in the parish in the year preceding the election and regular contributors to its financial support by pledge, subscription, or some other method by which they shall be known to the Treasurer of the parish, shall determine whether a nominee is eligible for election under this section. (c) The election of members of a Vestry shall be held annually in accordance with the provisions of this canon. Voting shall be by ballot, in such form or by such method as shall be approved by the meeting. No member of a Vestry shall be elected for a term of longer than three years. Having served a three-year term, no member of a Vestry shall be eligible for reelection until the expiration of one year, or such longer period of time not to exceed three years as may be determined by each parish. Sec. 2 All confirmed communicants and adult baptized members belonging to the parish, who for 3 months preceding have been regular wor-shipers in the parish and regular contributors to its financial support by pledge, subscription, or some other method by which they shall be known to the Treasurer of the parish, shall be entitle to vote in the election.

Page 6 Emmanuel Messen ger Volume 1, I ssue 1

When you hear the word outreach, you might think of its use as a noun as in the act of ex-tending services or benefits to a wider sec-tion of the population. Or you might think of its use as a verb as in: beat, best, better, distance, excel, go-beyond, overtake, or rise above. The Noon Lunch Program at Trinity Church strives to utilize both meanings of the word out-reach. By providing nutritious weekday meals to those less fortunate men, women, and children in our community, the program extends a benefit to those in need. By utilizing the help and dona-tions of local food service professionals, the pro-gram also works to maintain a very high standard of quality. (Several continuous food suppliers de-serve special recognition: Frederick Street

Café, Eric Stamer Catering, Stuart Hall School, Food Lion on North Coalter Street, Food Lion on Greenville Avenue, and Martin’s Grocery in Waynesboro.) In addition to these regular gen-erous food donations, we also receive donations of time, food, supplies, and money from church groups and other caring organizations from within the Staunton community and surrounding area. During the month of July, 66 volunteers unselfishly contributed 316 hours of their valuable time ena-bling us to serve 586 meals to 105 different indi-viduals.

Meeting dates this fall are: Sept. 11 1st Presbyterian Church Sept. 25 Covenant Pres. Church Oct. 9 Christ Lutheran Oct. 23 Marquis Memorial UMC Nov. 13 to be announced Dec. 11 Christ UMC

Friendship Club began about thirty years ago as a ministry to mental health patients who were discharged into the commu-nity from Western State Hospital. Over the years, the num-bers of participants have grown, and the club meets twice a month to enjoy dinner, fellowship and entertainment. New volunteers are always welcome. Call Sue Buerkel at 885-3449 to find out what you can do to help with this important ministry.

How You Can Help . . .

Noon Lunch Program Update

Friendship Club

nator at 886-5995; or Moira Coleman-Leigh, Assistant Coordinator at 887-3301. We will be happy to answer your questions and see how we may best utilize your volunteer time and talents to enrich the Noon Lunch Program. Many thanks to all those who are already hard at work volunteering their time and energy on behalf of the program and may God bless you for all of your help!

Moira Coleman-Leigh, Assistant Coordinator

If you or members of your organization would like to start a team or join an existing team, there is always room for more volunteers. The average time required for each day is approximately 3 hours (10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) and teams of 4-5 work best to effectively and efficiently prepare, serve, and clean up. Reach Out … and join our Outreach! It is a wonderful minis-try!

Please feel free to contact Kay Cracas, Program Coor-dinator, at 886-5923; Beverly Stone, Assistant Coordi-

Page 7 Emmanuel Messen ger Volume 1, I ssue 1

J uly 2007

Children from Preschool to Grade 5 are invited to join us at 10 a.m. every Sunday for Sunday School. Classes begin on September 16 and continue through May. There are three classes for children in preschool, grades K-2, and grades 3-5. This program is a great way for your child or children to learn more about Jesus and the Bible while having fun in a safe, caring environment. Be sure to check our bulletin board on the lower floor of Emmanuel for announcements. If you would like more information about the program, or if you would like to volunteer, please contact Gena Adams at gpadams@ntelos.net.

Welcome Back Breakfast

All children and their families are invited for breakfast on Sunday, September 9 at 10 a.m. in the Dining Room. We will celebrate the return to the classroom! Breakfast will be prepared by our own chef, Martha Philpott (Addison’s mother) and is guaranteed to be delicious. Games and activities will be available after breakfast for all children.

Communication Via Email

We plan on using email more this year to improve our communication to parents regarding our Sunday School and Youth programs. Parents please be sure to send your current email addresses to Gena Adams so you can stay informed and up-to-date on various events and programs. You may contact her at the email above or 885-4457. If you do not have email but would like to be informed, please notify Gena.

The Adult Class will start its Fall season September 23 at 10:00 in Memorial Hall. We will continue our discussion of the Gospel According to Mark. The first day will be a review for returning members of the class and an introduc-tion for new members.

Please join us!

Parish Voices

Children’s Sunday School

Adult Sunday School In a Vestry discussion of what new items should be in-cluded in the newsletter, our rector, Ed Covert, sug-gested, “Really interesting and thoughtful pieces written by members. It is a parish of interesting people. Let the newsletter show that.”

To that end, we have created this space for use by you, the readers and members of Emmanuel. We’d like to hear your thoughts and reflections on the life of the church, spiritual matters, personal journeys, or other items of interest to our church family. Writers of all ages are encouraged to submit pieces 100-150 words in length. You may even find that you have an email wait-ing for you on your computer ask-ing you to reply to a question or questions. We’ll compile the re-plies and publish them here.

This is your newsletter, we hope you’ll be an active participant in its content!

Page 8 Emmanuel Messen ger Volume 1, I ssue 1

SUNDAY SCHOOL CALENDAR DATES:

● September 9, 10-11 a.m.: Welcome Back to Sunday School! Breakfast for children and their families. Activities and games after breakfast. (Dining Rm.)

● September 16, 10 a.m.: Sunday School classes begin

● October 7, 11 a.m.: Bishop’s Visit and Confirmation

● October 21, 11 a.m. Youth Sunday

● November 11: Christmas pageant rehearsals begin for all except preschoolers (see Calendar on Sunday School bulletin board for more details)

● December 23: Christmas Pageant

Speak out!

Dr. Jim Lott, Adult Sunday School Leader

Fall is going to be very busy at Emmanuel with lots of fun ac-tivities for youth in grades 6 to 12. Kathy Eastham (keastham1@aol.com) and Meneta Deaton (mpdeaton@gmail.com) are leading the activities and classes for this group. We will be learning about the Millen-nium Development Goals en-dorsed by the Episcopal Church that outline our com-mitment as a church to taking measures to make the world a safer, better place. We will also discuss current events in the news with links to the lectionary. Check the calendar at right for dates and events.

Got a catchy name for Emmanuel’s Youth Group? Submit your idea to Kathy Eastham by September 23. The winning name will be announced at church on September 30, and the person who suggests the winning name will receive special recognition and a prize!

Here’s a sampling of what is going on . . . Back to the Grind! Ready to get back to school and busy schedules? Meet in the Vestry Room on Sunday, September 16, at 10AM, and we’ll make a trip to the Daily Grind for some java and to talk about plans for the fall. Mass on the Mountain! Join other youth from our Diocese on September 22 and 23 for a hike to the top of the highest peak in Virginia, Mt. Rogers. This is an overnight camping trip ending with Eucharist at the top of the mountain. Some Emmanuel folks are planning to attend. Please let Kathy or Meneta know by Sept. 14 if you would like to go.

Confirmation: Six students completed Confirmation Preparation and are ready to be Confirmed. Bishop Powell will be at Emmanuel on October 7 at the 11AM service. Confirmation students will have breakfast with the Bishop at 10AM, and a reception for the whole church will follow the service. Diocesan Youth Days: October 7 is the Augusta Convocation Fall Youth Day. Youth from Episcopal churches in our area will get together for fun and to learn about what is happening in our diocese. Virginia Day at the National Cathedral and Youth Sunday at Emmanuel are on October 21. We’ll be dis-

cussing how we can participate in these events. Outreach: We will be planning an Outreach Project to help others who are less fortunate. More information is coming. We’ll need your help with a booth at the Emmanuel Holiday Bazaar on November 18. Youth at Council: Youth are invited to attend the annual meeting of our diocese in Roanoke on January 25 to 27. The theme is “ONE Table of Grace.” There are special activities for youth, and Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori will be speaking on the 26th.

Youth Calendar for Fall 07 What’s Up? Happenings@Emmanuel for Middle and High School Students

♦ Sept. 9-All Sunday School Breakfast, 10 a.m. ♦ Sept. 16-Daily Grind ♦ Sept. 22-23-Hike to Mt. Rogers ♦ Sept. 3 -Confirmands and Mentors meet with

Rev. Covert, 10 a.m. ♦ Oct. 7-Confirmands and Mentors meet with

Bishop Powell, 10 a.m. ♦ Confirmation, 11 a.m. Service ♦ Fall Youth Day for Augusta Convocation

♦ Oct. 14-Sunday School Class, 10 a.m., Vestry Rm ♦ Oct. 21-Virginia Day at National Cathedral, Youth

Sunday at Emmanuel ♦ Oct. 28-Sunday School Class, 10 a.m., Vestry Rm ♦ Nov. 4-All Saints Day, Class, 10 a.m., Vestry Rm ♦ Nov. 17-Holiday Bazaar ♦ Nov. 18-Sunday School Class, 10 a.m., Vestry Rm ♦ Nov. 25-Pageant Rehearsal, 10 a.m. ♦ Dec. 2-Pageant Rehearsal, 10 a.m. ♦ Dec. 9-Pageant Rehearsal, 10 a.m. ♦ Dec. 16-Pageant Rehearsal, 10 a.m. ♦ Dec. 23-Pageant, 11 a.m. ♦ Dec. 30-No plans!

Page 9 Emmanuel Messen ger Volume 1, I ssue 1

Dear friends, It has been a busy and exciting summer planning and preparing Emmanuel's music program for the coming year and I want to share some of these plans with you. Multigenerational choir - I would like to start a choir for anyone age 4 and older of any singing ability. All are welcome and families are strongly encouraged to attend. This choir will sing four Sundays during the year, sing simpler repertoire than the adult choir, and concentrate on developing good singing skills, basic musicianship, and the joy of communal music-making. This choir rehearses Thursday evenings from 6:45-7:30 p.m. beginning September 20. Please let Sarah or the office know if you are interested as soon as possible. Adult choir - The adult choir is open to anyone over age 10 and sings regularly at the 11:00 a.m. service. This choir will sing more challenging music in parts, presenting anthems once a month, and helping to lead the congregation in the service music, hymns, and psalms. We rehearse Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:00 a.m. beginning September 9. Service Music - At the end of September we will begin singing some new service music. We're going to learn the Gloria (S 277) and Sanctus (S 124) to complement the Fraction Anthem (S154) by David Hurd. These settings are not difficult to sing and we'll learn them before we sing them during the service. I hope you will enjoy this change of pace and let me know what you think of the new music. Sarah Grove-Humphries

Many of our members have served for years, and we’re especially seeking younger mem-bers of the congrega-tion to swell the ranks. For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Sharon Sproul (885-2672) or Emily Cox (885-5853).

The Altar Guild is al-ways looking for new members! One of our members has resigned this year, and we are frequently in need of substitutes. This is a wonderful way to par-ticipate in the Eucha-ristic feast by preparing the sacraments, altar and linens for the service. Training is always available, along with a hand-book full of direc-tions and resources.

Website Gets New Look

Music News

After years of limp-ing along in fits and spurts of revisions, our church website is finally getting a much-needed make-over. Andrew Clem is volunteering his time and talents to turn our website into a dynamic, attractive space where members and visi-tors can access important information.

Included in the new site will be an archive of Vestry min-utes, photos from church events, our prayer list (first names and last initials only for privacy reasons), and in-formation about the history of our historic church. You’ll also be able to access the church calendar where you can find information on the latest events.

Andrew is working hard to get the new site online later this month. We hope you’ll stop by and check it out.

Page 10 Emmanuel Messen ger Volume 1, I ssue 1

Altar Guild

Updates to our website will be online soon!

Check it out at www.mindspring.com/~emmanuelstaunton

The Fellowship Commission would like to thank everyone who contributed to our summer picnic on June 10. If you missed it, you missed a lot.

The children stocked up on their candy supplies with a piñata and participated in a treasure hunt throughout the church which ended at the upstairs freezer with ice cream sand-wiches for all! Kids and grown-ups alike enjoyed BBQ and delicious food made by (or, at least, brought by) our wonder-ful Emmanuel family! If anyone went away hungry, it was his/her own fault.

The Easthams set up volleyball on the Stuart Hall lawn for all to enjoy, although, we think most picnickers were too full to play! Next year we'll have a volleyball tournament before we eat so we can work up our appetites. Tents provided shade in the side yard where we were lucky to have William Lott, Mat-

thew Poteat, and Randy Hamblet sharing their musical talents with us. Our featured violin soloist, Spencer White, wowed the crowd with his rendition of "Go Tell Aunt Rhody"!

So, thanks to you all for bringing food, set-ting up, cleaning up, playing music, bring-ing and setting up tents, volleyball nets, and chairs, and for volunteering your valuable time in order to make Emmanuel's little summer get-together a big success!

The Fellowship Committee met on Sunday, July 15th, and came up with some exciting plans for the fall.

We will kick off our fall season with a talent night scheduled for Saturday eve-ning, September 29th. The show is open to all ages and talents. If you have a special talent you would like to share - a comedy sketch, musical performance, drama, magic tricks, or anything you'd like to perform with a group or as an in-dividual - please see Matthew Poteat (mpoteat@hotmail.com). This event will be a fun night filled with laughs for the whole church family. Even if you're shy, we still need your help. Audience members will vote for their favorites and we'll of-fer light refreshments and lots of fun.

The Bishop will be visiting October 7th, with a reception following the confirma-tion service; be prepared for an e-mail requesting goodies!

Second Sunday Soup will resume on October 14th (see article above). In the meantime, brush up on your talents and be prepared for a great fall season!

Second Sunday Soup... Picnic a Fun Success

Fall Fellowship - Don’t Miss It!

will resume on October 14. From October to March, on the second Sunday of each month, a pot luck soup and bread meal is served in Memorial Hall. It's a welcomed opportunity for fellowship and to sample some wonderful soup, stew and chili, plus homemade and locally made artisan breads.

The tradition began a couple of years ago through the efforts of Meneta Deaton, who brought the idea with her from a previous congregation. Russ Warren took over Sec-ond Sunday Soup coordination last winter. For the 2007-2008 season, expect some additions, including coffee and iced tea service, along with the regular lemonade. Donations received during Second Sunday Soup go to the Rector's discretionary fund.

There will be no Second Sunday Soup in November, due to the Harvest Day Break-fast.

To contribute soup or bread, contact Russ at 885-0256 or russwarr@comcast.net

Page 11 Emmanuel Messen ger Volume 1, I ssue 1

Spencer plays his solo

Each year, All Saints’ Day is observed on November 1st. This year, we will be cele-brating All Saints’ Sunday on November 4th. All Saint’s Day is rooted in 4th and 5th cen-tury tradition as a day commemorating Christian martyrs, both known and un-known. Over the centuries, the tradition evolved to include all Christians who had passed into the next life. Today, we cele-brate All Saints’ Day as a fellowship of the entire church, those living, and those passed away - all Christians in this life and the next. As the collect for All Saints’ Day states, God has “knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mysti-cal body of thy Son Christ our Lord.”

I would like for you to pray for the following persons who have died since last All Saints’ Sunday:

(Please give full Christian name)

Name ___________________________________________

Name ___________________________________________

Name ___________________________________________

Prayers for All Saints’ Sunday

All Saints’ Sunday - November 4th

We invite you to submit names of friends, family, or loved ones who have died since last All Saints’ Day or in past years to be in-cluded in our prayers on All Saints’ Sunday. Please fill out the form below and put it in the offering plate or return it to the Church Office by Sunday, October 28th.

Page 12 Emmanuel Messen ger Volume 1, I ssue 1

One of the mainstays of our All Saints’ Sun-day service is Hymn 293, Lesbia Scott’s “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God,” sung to John Henry Hopkins’s memorable tune. In this hymn (a favorite of many children, not to mention Kit Carter!) we are reminded not only of saints of old, but that there are saints of God that we meet in our every day lives. I hope you’ll be on the lookout for those saints, and strive to be one, too. - Emily Cox

“You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, in church, or in

trains, or in shops, or at tea, for the saints of God are just folk like me, and I mean to be

one too.”

Hymn 293

I would like you to pray for the following persons who have died in past years:

(Please give full Christian name)

Name ___________________________________________

Name ___________________________________________

Name ___________________________________________

All Saints’ Sunday - November 4, 2007

Page 13 Emmanuel Messen ger Volume 1, I ssue 1

2007 Holiday Bizarre Bazaar

Proceeds benefit Emmanuel’s Outreach Fund, supporting local ministries such as SACRA, Meals on Wheels, and the Food

Bank.

This fall, Emmanuel’s talented craf-ters and bakers will once again team up to raise money for out-reach. You can help! Whether you’re an artist, crafter, baker, or shopper, you have something to contribute!

Vendors who would like to purchase table space can do so for $25 or 10% of sales. Please pay your $25 by Friday, Nov. 9. If your sales exceed $250, we’ll collect the difference at the end of business on the 17th. Please make checks payable to Emmanuel Episcopal Church and note “2007 Bazaar” on your check.

Saturday, Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

We need you!

This year’s bazaar will include:

•Handmade cards

•Original artwork

•Fine antiques

•Pies, cakes, cookies, and breads

•And much, much more!

For more information on donating items for sale or registering as a vendor, please contact:

Mary Evans Lott: 887-7593 or Emily Cox: 885-5853

Find that perfect holiday gift, and fill your freezer with goodies for your holiday guests!

300 West Frederick Street Staunton, VA 24401

(RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED)

Emmanuel Episcopal Church

classrooms, and a kitchen. It made an ideal place for the new parish to meet and worship until they could build their own church. In September of 1893 the rector, the Reverend Robert Carter Jett, arrived in town and began conducting services for the new Emmanuel Parish at the Y.

How many of Emmanuel’s members today know that our congregation held its early worship services in the Clock Tower Building? And why there?

When a group of some eighty members of Trinity Church met in March, 1893, to consider forming a new parish, they petitioned the Diocese of Southern Virginia for permission. (Our Diocese of Southwest-ern Virginia did not yet exist.) The petition received approval in June that year. But where would the members of this new parish meet to elect a vestry, choose a rector, and worship?

The obvious answer at that time was to meet in the handsome new building of the Young Men’s Chris-tian Association at the corner of Main and Water Streets, now known as West Beverley and Central Avenue. This building had just been opened in the fall of 1889, complete with the town clock from the tower of the Lutheran Church that had formerly stood on that lot. The Y had an auditorium seating 325, a library and reading room, and a parlor on its second floor. The third floor had a gymnasium,

A Piece of the Past By Katharine Brown

Phone: 540-886-8172 E-mail: emmanuelstaunton@mindspring.com

We’re on the Web!

www.mindspring.com/~emmanuelstaunton

The Emmanuel Messenger Vol. I, Issue 1

Fall 2007

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Permit No. 88

Staunton, VA 24401