July/August 2010

MINISTRY AREA NEWS

COMMUNICATION

PARISH-TO-PARISH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
This is a new resource from the diocese, intended to keep the churches in the diocese “in touch” with one another.  They are available on the table in the narthex. Please pick up a copy and read what is happening with fellow congregations.
A series of articles about Advent’s Summer Soul Food will be included in Parish-to-Parish over the next couple of weeks.
ADVENT HERALD     The Herald is available in the Narthex for members the last two Sundays of the month. Copies are available in the narthex and chapel to visitors throughout the month. It is also posted on the website. 
You can receive your Herald via email. Send your email address to   secretary@advent-hatboro.org.  
 
Articles are due in the church office no later than the 10th of each month.  This includes information for the parish calendar. Articles submitted after the deadline cannot be published.  ALL information about parish activities should be written on the calendar sheets posted in the Parish Hall.  Your cooperation is appreciated in making sure that nothing is “missing” from the parish calendar.

WEBSITE  “READING” Sermons and Lessons are posted on the website on a weekly basis by our web-mistress, Laurie Ulrich Fuller.  You can access this information at:  “Sermons & Readings” by clicking here. You can also find ROTA information and reminders about special worship services posted there, too.

Large print Heralds and worship materials are available for those interested.  Contact me at the parish office.

Kathleen Breuer, Parish Secretary

EDUCATION

VIDEO AND DISCUSSION   
On Sunday, July 11 we will gather to watch a video discussion of the use of torture and the moral, ethical and political implications of employing such tactics.  The video was prepared by a group seeking to end the use of torture by the United States because they believe it betrays some of our core values as a nation.  There is no graphic violence, but there is a lot of thoughtful discussion from various points of view, including theologians and a retired military officer.  After the video which is only about 20 minutes long, there will be a chance to respond to and discuss what we have heard in the video.  I invite you to join me and others who want to delve deeper into a pressing issue of our time, and try to discern what God is calling us to.  It would also be appropriate to bring youth as a way to help them engage in ethical discussion about the world they live in.  We will gather at 7:00 PM and be finished no later than 8:30 PM.  Questions or comments to Robin.

You might want to consider doing the following using the link below.

Dear Friends,
We have just learned that later this week the House of Representatives is very likely to vote on an amendment to the FY 2011 National Defense Authorization Act that would require government agencies to provide the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with access to all detainees.  As you know, this will be an important step toward codifying a crucial piece of the President's executive order on interrogations. The ICRC plays a critical role in monitoring the treatment of detainees and thereby helps to prevent torture.

While we are optimistic, a positive vote on this amendment is not guaranteed.  Please contact your Representative immediately to ask him or her to vote for the ICRC amendment.  We have prepared a model email for your use which is available on our website at: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2162/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2647. Please feel free to personalize the email.

Thank you so much for your help!
Sincerely,
Rev. Richard Killmer
Executive Director, NRCAT

LIBRARY

If you are looking for something light to read this summer, why not visit the church library and pick up one of Beverly Lewis’ Amish stories? According to a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, they are part of a best-selling genre of fiction books right now. Another author to look for is Jan Karon, whose stories about Father Tim, an Episcopal priest in the fictional town of Mitford  NC, were best-sellers a few years ago.

If you haven’t read Red Letter Christians yet, you might want to pick it up and check out Tony Campolo’s take on some political issues. Another book of interest is, The Trouble with Islam Today, by Irshad Manj.

Summer might be a good time to re-read some of C.S. Lewis’ classic works, or choose one of the many books of devotional literature. Since the theme of Summer Soul Food this year is “peace”, you may want to read some of Mother Theresa’s book, Come Be My Light.

Come check out the library.  There’s lots there to see and read!

Judy Murphy

OUTREACH

AID FOR FRIENDS MEALS Aid for Friends is an organization dedicated to the delivery of frozen meals to homebound individuals in southeast Pennsylvania. Marge Burns from Advent as well as some residents of Hatboro deliver meals weekly to shut-ins in the immediate community. The supply of meals becomes critically low in the summer as potential donors are often on vacation.  Please consider bringing meals from home.  An easy way to support this ministry is to donate leftovers from home cooked meals.  If you have leftovers, even from only one meal, please consider filling an Aid for Friends meal tray and bringing it to Advent’s freezer in the basement off the choir room.  Even one meal from a household each week is a significant donation and provides diversity in the meal selection.  The trays are available on the Outreach Table in the narthex.  If you have questions, please contact Ellen Kavash.  All contributions are gratefully appreciated!

As always, thank you for your generous support of this ministry!

SEAMEN’S CHURCH INSTITUTE
“I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Matthew 25:35

These words speak to the mission of the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) in Philadelphia.   This organization ministry was founded in 1843 to welcome and befriend sailors who arrive from far away countries, do not speak English, and can not advocate for themselves.
  
One way SCI helps the seamen who are in Philadelphia in December is to prepare and distribute ditty bags which contain toiletries as well as knitted hats, socks, work gloves, and writing paper.  The goal is to prepare 3,000 ditty bags. To help SCI reach its target, the Outreach Committee is coordinating a collection of shampoo during June-August.  The bottles of shampoo should be regular size (not travel size or extra large) and should have a screw cap or sealed flip top to ensure the contents do not leak.  SCI will collect the bottles from Advent and add them to the ditty bags which will be assembled in November. 

If you would like to know more about SCI, please visit the website at www.sciphiladelphia.org. Contact Ellen Kavash if you have additional questions.  

WORSHIP

“OPEN SEASON” IN CHOIR      Now is your chance to sing with the choir.  I’m inviting all the members of the Congregation to sing an anthem with the choir on Sunday, August 8th at the 10:00 service. No audition required!  No long-term commitments on anyone’s part!  I have chosen a very easy anthem that is very up-beat with piano, drum and finger cymbal accompaniment.  We will have a short rehearsal after the 10:00 service on Sunday, August 1st, and then another short rehearsal on Sunday, August 8th at 9:30 before the service.  I know that there are many of you who are craving to sing with us but can’t commit to every Wednesday night.  Now’s your chance!  Don’t pass it up!

Gary Eslinger

HEALING SERVICE   There will be no Healing Service in July.

EPISCOPAL VISITATION 
Bishop Rodney Michel, Assisting Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, will be with us on Sunday, April 10 for an Episcopal Visitation and to administer the sacrament of confirmation.  There will be more information in the fall about classes for adults and youth who wish to participate.  Young people need to be 15 years of age by June of 2011.

QUESTION OF THE MONTH
“Who Is Bishop William White and why is he remembered on the liturgical Calendar in July?”

William White was born in Philadelphia in April 1748.  He graduated from the College of Philadelphia in 1765.  In 1770, White sailed to England to pursue his theological studies.  He was ordained into the Church of England as a deacon in 1770, then as a priest in 1772.

Returning to Philadelphia, White took up the post of assisting minister to the United Churches of Christ Church and St. Peter’s.  He took over as Rector of those parishes in 1778.

Staunchly patriotic, White found little difficulty in supporting the American cause during our country’s War for Independence.  He was Chaplain to the Continental Congress, preaching and holding prayer services for many of our nation’s founding fathers and mothers. However, White was also aware of the Anglican churches’ struggles in this country.  He believed without Bishops here in the colonies, despite the outcome of the war, the Anglican Church would not survive this new world.

In 1782, before the war was over, White wrote The Case of the Episcopal Churches in the United States Considered, a treatise that would set the stage for the future Episcopal Church in our country.

Once the war was won, it was William White, Samuel Seabury of Connecticut, and Samuel Provoost of New York that began laying the groundwork for a similar, but yet fully independent church here in America.  The work was not easy.  The Northern states wanted the traditional episcopacy with a hierarchical structure; the southern states, wary of the potential powers any bishop could obtain wanted more of a presbytery structure.  Samuel Seabury traveled first to England to seek consecration as a Bishop, but was turned down by those in England.  He instead traveled to Scotland where he was consecrated by a group of non-jurying bishops.

In 1785, the first Convention to establish the Episcopal church in America was held in Philadelphia.  There the members of the clergy hammered out the Constitution of the church, the new American version of the Book of Common Prayer, and devised a plan to have the church in England consecrate American bishops.  Seabury refused to join them, having already begun to organize his church in Connecticut.  At this convention, both William White and Samuel Provoost were selected to travel to England for consecration.  They were consecrated in 1787 after an act of Parliament declared American bishops were not required to take the loyalty oath.

White and Provoost returned to Philadelphia and in 1789 the final convention was held in that city.  Seabury (the conflicts resolved) joined the many others to finalize the Book of Common Prayer.  At this convention, White was elected the first Presiding Bishop in the Episcopal Church, a term he held for three months.  He then stepped aside and out of respect, allowed Seabury to take over.  White was again elected presiding bishop in 1795. Bishop White was also elected as the first Bishop of Pennsylvania and remained Rector of the United Parishes in Philadelphia.  He held all three positions until his death in 1836.

In addition to the legacy he left to the Episcopal Church, White’s contributions to the city of Philadelphia include the founding of the Episcopal Academy in 1785, the Pennsylvania Institute for the Deaf and Dumb (now known as the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf).  He was the first president of the Philadelphia Society for the Alleviation of Miseries of Public Prisons and in 1795, he raised money for a school to be built to educate Native-American and Black children.

Often referred to as the  “Architect of the Episcopal Church in American” , William White’s legacy still lives on in today’s church.  The Constitution he strove so hard to put together in 1785, is, for the most part, the same governing structure used in our church today. 

The many people who knew him described him as a humble, patient man.  He died after a lingering illness in July,1836. He is remembered on the Episcopal Church calendar July 17.

Trish Troilo

SPECIAL INFORMATION

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL IS COMING!
Children of the Bible

This summer we will be holding Vacation Bible School from Sunday August 1 –Thursday August 5.  It will be held in the evening from 6:30-8:30 so that people who work or children who go to camp can still take part in our adventure.

Our VBS is open to preschoolers as young as 3 and elementary age children.  Adults as well as children can take part in this VBS.

There are opportunities for many people to help with this VBS.  Maybe you are a musician or enjoy music and would like to lead one of our songs, or you enjoy working with food and want to help the children with snacks.  Have you always wanted to lead games or make crafts?  Maybe you just enjoy being with the children and would enjoy heading a  group and telling them the stories. 

You can register for VBS by either:
1. Filling out a registration form and returning it to church
2. Calling the church office 215-675-5737 
3. Emailing me at jgilman155@comcast.net. 

Please share the good news of our adventure with all of your friends and family.  There is a sign up form in this issue of the Herald.  Please return it to church as soon as possible or email it to Janet Gilman at jgilman155@comcast.net. 

OUTCOMES
 
A great big “THANK YOU” to all who helped make the Chicken Salad Luncheon in May a success. We made a profit of $1,397.00

The Bake Sale in May, though small, made a profit of $115.00. This money will go toward the support of our sponsored child, Morgan McDonald.

Henrietta Kiel

NEWS FROM THE PARISH

 JULY BIRTHDAYS
7/2 Beth Muller
7/6 Brittany Rygg
7/10 James Raudenbush
7/10 Jeanne Bernosky
7/11 Reiley Pastore
7/12 Sharon Kress
7/12 Holly Romanoli
7/13 Jon Lee
7/13 Avery Romanoli
7/13 Janet Weckerly
7/14 Matthew McConomy
7/15 Rich Johnston
7/16 Heidi New
7/16 Adrienne Jerdan
7/17 Mary Louise James
7/17 Donna McConomy
7/18 Connie Lee
7/19 Peggy Rockhill
7/20 Robert Carver
7/21 Janice Trichtinger
7/21 Drew Dippre
7/22 Kara Bowman
7/23 Judy Murphy
7/24 Jessica White
7/27 Carol Zoller
7/30 Nicole Holmes
7/31 Gina Driver

AUGUST BIRTHDAYS
8/1 Taylor Furness
8/1 Nicholas Krauss   
8/3 Ashley Cannon
8/4 Robert Zimmerman
8/4 Stephen Gilman
8/8 Edward Swiski, Sr.
8/11 Polly Bosch
8/11 Kevin O'Keefe
8/15 Jenna Crispo
8/18 Sydney Stoddart
8/18 Lynda Butcavage
8/19 Jama Knight
8/19  Jeanne Krauss
8/20 Muriel Wehmeyer (Mrs.)
8/21 Doris Coulston
8/26 Jean Scherfcunningham
8/27 Jean Whalen
8/27 Natalie Drinkwater
8/27 Debra Stoddart
8/27 Ruth Pickering
8/27 Donna Lima-Monterio
8/28 Barbara Johnson
8/28 Patricia Egan
8/29 Maryann Cannon
8/29 John Kathrins, Sr.
8/31 Catherine Wehmeyer

If your birthday is “missing” from the monthly birthday list, please be in touch with Kathleen at the parish office:  215-675-5737 or email her at secretary@advent-hatboro.org. Remember to include your name for the birthday party held each month. Sheets are posted in the hallway outside Robin’s office.

THE LONG-TERM PRAYER LIST

The quarterly Long-Term Prayer List sheets are posted in the hallway outside Robin’s office.  Be sure to list the names of those you want included in this prayer ministry. Names appear in the weekly leaflet on a rotating basis each month, and these persons are prayed for at the monthly Healing Service.  Forms are also available in the Narthex for prayer requests; or call the church office at 215-675-5737, or email Kathleen at Secretary@Advent-Hatboro.org. 

PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER 

Bill Baird – Marge Burns’ request
Irene Barger – parish member
Dorothy Betik – Vicky Peterson’s mother
Dennis Bolich – Sandra Waddell’s sister
Joan Branston – Tony Lawson’s cousin
June & Rudy Brett – Laurie Dorman’s request
Glen Bruner – Marge Burns’ request
Bonnie Callaghen – Alex Rodemich’s cousin
Louise Coletti – Teri O’Shea’s request
Doris Coulston – parish member
Phyllis Curtis & Family – Bob Fuggiti’s request
Irene Cuzzone – Cathy Wehmeyer’s sister
Elizabeth Davis – parish member
Robyn DiDonato – parish member
Alaica Donahue – Eileen Wetzel’s niece
William Donahue – Barbara Pitt’s request
Patsy Egan – Patti Egan’s mother
Michelina Finn – Crystal Finn’s mother-in-law
Jackie Fox – Laurie Ulrich-Fuller’s request
Lorraine Geissler – Bobbi DiDeo’s mother
Paul George – Susan Capinas’ request
Robert Gibson – Cathy Wehmeyer’s request
Mary & Ted Gilligan – Scott Moschett’s request
Cass Gilman – Stephen Gilman’s mother
Ryan Glenwright – Jackie Freeman’s request
Olga and Joseph Gordon – parish members
Shoshona Green – Trish Troilo’s request
Walter Hahn – Jackie Freeman’s request
John Harrison – Carolyn Smith’s grandson
Havers Family – Jeanne Bernosky’s request
Carol Hill – Louise Zimmerman’s request
Ella Hoesch – Jackie Freeman’s request
Dorothy Ilvento – Cathy Wehmeyer’s sister
Jeanette Kauffman – Crystal Finn’s request
Sandy Keegan – Sinclair’s request
Kristen Kiel – Marge Burns’ request
Dennis Kreisher – Sandra Waddell’s cousin
Jim Lamb – Gilman’s request
Julia Lapinski – friend of the parish
Harry Link – Teri O’Shea’s request
Dorothy Lynch – parish member
Steve Mahnke – Marilyn Zembower’s request
Cathy Mattern – Magill’s request
Jack Matthews – Marilyn Zembower’s request
Gordon McCrea – Barbara Johnson’s uncle
Patricia McGann – Carolyn Smith’s extended family
Charles McGuigan – Linda McGuigan-Miller’s father
Nancy Meehl – parish member
Joey Messina – Vicky Peterson’s brother
Peter Michaelski – Evelyn Engelhardt
Joanne Mills – parish member
Stephanie Moore – Vicki Peterson’s daughter
Paul C. Moschette – Scott Moschette’s father
Sabrina Neudecker – Alex Rodemich’s sister
Joseph Nevin – Trish Troilo’s request
Carol Nicolais – parish member
Matthew Niedrist – Karen Snyder’s nephew
Christopher Niedrist – Cheryl Kelly’s nephew
Sergio Ortiz-Cataldi – Barbara Pitt’s request
Tom O’Shea – Terri O’Shea’s brother
Carol Peniston – Marge Burns’ request
Frances Peterson – Gina Driver’s aunt
Ramos Family – Elaine Kemp’s request
Nancy & Alex Rodemich – parish members
Shirley Rodemich – Alex Rodemich’s mother
Brenda Sanders – Barbara Pitt’s request
John Joe Schlissak – Gina Driver’s cousin
Steve Senderoff – Barbara Johnson’s request
Paul Shawaluk – Barbara Johnson’s brother-in-law
Lynn Silver – Sinclair’s request
Roy Smith – parish member
Raymond Waite – Marge Burns’ request
Janet Weckerly – friend of the parish
Muriel Wehmeyer – parish member
Wheelin Family – Trish Troilo’s request
Doris Wonderly - parish member

 HIGHLIGHTS:  UPCOMING EVENTS

July
   4 Independence Day
   5 OFFICE CLOSED
   6 Summer Office Hours Begin
   7 Summer Soul Food
  11 Bless Peace Pole and Video/Discussion

August
 1-5 Vacation Bible School
  10  September Herald articles due
  19 Healing Service

September
   7 Regular Office Hours Resume
  10 October Herald articles due

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