THE PARISH VISITOR

Come Celebrate Christmas 2016 With Us Saturday ~ December 17 ~ Christmas Pageant 4:30 PM Music & Meditation 5 PM Come and hear the story we love and treasure told by the children of the Cathedral. Sunday ~ December 18 ~ 7 PM Messiah Sing-along Messiah, Soloists, Chamber Orchestra, Audience is chorus ~ bring your score! Tuesday ~ December 20 ~ 7 PM Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Includes music by recent composers sung by the Cathedral Choir accompanied by harpist Andrea Wittchen, flutist Elaine Martin & organist Stephen Williams. Saturday ~ December 24 ~ Christmas Eve  5 PM Festive Eucharist, Special Music, and Children’s Sermon  10 PM Music for Brass & Organ  10:30 PM Candlelight Festival Eucharist Sunday ~ December 25 ~ Christmas Day 10 AM Holy Eucharist with Music 3 PM Organ Noëls with Stephen Williams Saturday ~ December 31 ~ 5 PM Celtic Christmas, Candlelight, Live Christmas Celtic Music Sunday ~ January 1 ~ First Sunday after Christmas 10 AM Holy Eucharist Sunday ~ January 8 ~ Celebration of the Epiphany Services Saturday at 5 PM Sunday at 8 AM, 8:45 AM, 9:15 AM Epiphany Breakfast & 10:30 AM The Parish Visitor

We enter the season of Advent. The contrast of light and darkness become prominent for our seeking God’s promise of hope in what we know to be a broken world. We have already heard from the Scriptures in Luke’s Gospel, painting the life of faith in apocalyptic language. In the Gospel according to Luke we heard recently of the uncertainty of the world we too often live in. Luke 21 has Jesus describing that uncertainty of the world by describing the vulnerability even of the grand and believed permanent presence of the Temple in Jerusalem. A Temple that would of course be destroyed, or probably already had been by the time Luke’s Gospel was put to parchment. Jesus goes on to describe a world of uncertainty and chaos, a world where followers of Jesus will see earthquakes and floods, where turmoil and division exists between people, even family members. In short, Jesus describes accurately the “signs” of the times in which he and his disciples lived, and a time in which we live.

We understand such a biblical narrative as this as being “Apocalyptic” in nature. Imagery that is designed to capture the attention of the listener, to describe with truth the challenging context of “times and worlds” in which followers of Jesus live in, AND to most importantly convey to those leaning into the promise of the Gospel to keep the faith, to pay attention to the context, to find the courage to keep offering justice, peace, hope, and a deep Love to this broken world, AND finally to know that even in the midst of it all, God is with you! Jesus, in the narrative of Luke I reference here (Luke 21), reminds his disciples that even as the world’s challenges, division, and chaos may blow, some in that world will be challenged by followers holding fast to these Kingdom principles: Justice, Peace, Hope, LOVE, may even result in persecution. Interestingly enough, in this passage then, Jesus says, all of this chaos, all of this challenge, “all of these things” taking place is now “The opportunity to witness”. In other words, when the chaos of injustice, violence, despair, and hatred swirl---WE ARE ON! On with the antithesis, the antidote, yes, the answer; Justice, Peace, Hope, Love. None of this comes to pass sugarcoated or polyannic. It comes through discipleship that is Vigilant, Courageous. You all know too well the times we are living in. The light (small l) this political season has brought rightly shows our struggles and fears, but also unfortunately seemingly our divisions. It has brought in the extremes hate-filled acts and words that have played to the darker side of our humanity. Gone seems to be the legitimate and constructive dialogue and debate that comes rightly from our differences in perspectives, whether they be “conservative” or “progressive” and the ability to be in dialogue, to listen to one another’s struggles and hopes for our common good. I pray we can find that place. Pastorally, what we need to know of one another is that regardless of who we “voted” for in this election, many are feeling vulnerable. Some vulnerable because of being overwhelmed and frightened by the chaos, division, and in a few small but disturbing and unacceptable instances of violence (Looting and violence in Portland, Oregon, Hate messages being written on Episcopal Churches , racial slurs brazenly and vocally tossed at people of color, a physical attack on a gentlemen wearing a hat of the President-elect) some vulnerable because of the rhetoric in the campaign that creates and instils a fear of further discrimination toward people they know and love, care for and about, or themselves. (LGBTQ, Hispanics, Muslim Americans) Some vulnerable because they feel they cannot speak to their values (conservative or progressive) for fear of public rebuke or shaming. Advent leads us to look for the LIGHT (Capital L) in the midst of darkness. We begin with Apocalyptic imagery and it startles us to be vigilant, courageous, and purveyors of deep sacrificial love. It reminds us to look for the Light of the promised Christ and to hold fast to it. It reminds us that the work of the Church is the same now as it has been throughout generations of challenge and I believe this Cathedral community can and will take our moment now to give witness to this Light! Jesus who didn’t cast a vote in this election continues to put HIS trust in us that regardless of WHO we voted for in an election, or our political ideology, that we are bound together by our Baptism and Jesus’ vote of confidence in us. This confidence is the truth we all seek to find, that at the end of the day we followers of Jesus know the difference between Justice and Injustice, Peace and Violence, between Despair and Hope, between Hate and Love. We cannot be silent when we see injustice, violence, despairing, acts and words of hatred. We must be loud and clanging symbol as we speak for justice, for peace, for hope, for Love. If at times we seem unsure or confused about this, we have one another to listen to. To listen to one another’s vulnerabilities and fears, and to find in one another the Spirit of Christ to move us forward as witnesses to this world.

The Parish Visitor

Of all the Christian seasons, Advent is certainly the most joyful. You can feel it in the air, in the people you meet, and in the music we hear each day as we await the coming of Christmas. Even in the midst of the holiday rush and busyness, people are friendlier and happier as they contemplate the special gift to purchase for that special someone. For Christians, Advent brings with it a sense of anticipation and expectation with the knowledge that Christ will come and we will relive the story of love born among us. But for some people, the joy of the holiday is not felt on the same level as those joyful throngs we encounter. Budgets are sometimes tighter and the joy of shopping for the perfect gift is replaced with anxiety over escalating prices and limited income. Or the illness or death of a loved one leaves us feeling anything but joyful and we long for days past rather than living through present difficulties. In the midst of the hope and joy Advent represents, there may be times when we commiserate with Isaiah as he yelled at the heavens, shaking his fist saying “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence!” People through the centuries have experienced these thoughts and emotions at one time or another. We see our nation divided on both political and social issues. We witness prejudice, war, aggression, misuse of power, and divisiveness in many and varied forms and we wonder as Isaiah did...When will you return and make things right, fix all that is broken and make us whole? The truth is, the society in which our Savior was born was no different than what we experience today. We see oppression and groups on the margins of society, but so did Jesus. We see strong political powers and abuses of authority, no different than the power of Herod that caused Mary and Joseph to flee after Jesus’ birth or no different than the strong Roman government and powerful Jewish leaders who persecuted and killed Jesus. We experience illness and disease and witness hunger and poverty, all of which predated Jesus, and continue through today. And yet despite the chaos in which we live, despite sickness, or loss of income, despite the fear and anxiety we experience, we can enter Advent with hope. We can hope because of who Jesus is. We can hope because of what Jesus has done. Our faith leads us to hope despite the seemingly hopelessness of society. And that is precisely why we should not lose heart or lose hold of hope. The same dismal world into which Jesus was born surrounds us and touches our lives as it did Christ’s. But it is because of who Jesus is that we can dare to hope as did the shepherds who heard the angels. We can dare to hope as did the magi who followed the star. We hope because our incarnate God experienced our struggles as one of us. We hope because in the midst of the anxiety of life, we are not alone because Christ walks with us during all we experience. We hope because we are Christ’s own forever, loved, forgiven, and encouraged to spread God’s kingdom of love and hope. We hope because we know the end of the story, Jesus Christ was born to die for us and has promised to never forsake us. In the midst of the bleakness of our world is the glimmer of light which is the hope of world, the hope of love, the hope of life. Come Lord Jesus, come we are ready, Alleluia.

-Canon Michelle

This year during Advent we ask all participants to purchase the same gift. We are collecting $5.00 Gift Cards for our ‘Room At The Inn’ guests. Please consider purchasing a gift card to one of the following: McDonald’s, CVS, or Dunkin’ Donuts so our guest can visit a local coffee shop for drink, food, and warmth, or purchase needed supplies and medicine. Please return the Gift Cards to either the Cathedral Office, Deacon Rodney, or James Reader. The cards will be added to the Christmas Gift bags and any surplus will be distributed during the winter. The Parish Visitor

Thursday December 8 12:00 noon in Sayre Chapel The holidays can be a struggle for those who have experienced loss. The Service of Solace is a time for those who mourn, feel alone, or are heavy laden to share in prayer and reflection during this holy season.

The Parish Visitor

Last week I shared what I pray was a reconciling post-election message to our church, reminding us that 'we will all live together as fellow Americans, as citizens.' Today I want to remind us that during moments of transition, during moments of tension, it is important to affirm our core identity and values as followers of Jesus in the Episcopal Anglican way. Jesus once declared, in the language of the Hebrew prophets, that God's "house shall be a house of prayer for all nations" (Mk 11:17). He invited and welcomed all who would follow saying, "come to me all who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens" (Mt. 11:28). We therefore assert and we believe that "the Episcopal Church welcomes you" - all of you, not as merely a church slogan, but as a reflection of what we believe Jesus teaches us and at the core of the movement he began in the first century. The Episcopal Church welcomes all. All of us! As the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement today, we Episcopalians are committed, as our Prayer Book teaches to honor the covenant and promises we made in Holy Baptism: To proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ; To seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves; to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being. As Christians, we believe that all humans are created in God's image and equal before God - those who may be rejoicing as well as those who may be in sorrow. As a Church, seeking to follow the way of Jesus, who taught us, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself," (Mt. 22:39) and to "do to others as you would have them do to you" (Mt. 7:12), we maintain our longstanding commitment to support and welcome refugees and immigrants, and to stand with those who live in our midst without documentation. We reaffirm that like all people LGBT persons are entitled to full civil rights and protection under the law. We reaffirm and renew the principles of inclusion and the protection of the civil rights of all persons with disabilities. We commit to the honor and dignity of women and speak out against sexual or gender-based violence. We express solidarity with and honor the Indigenous Peoples of the world. We affirm the right to freedom of religious expression and vibrant presence of different religious communities, especially our Muslim sisters and brothers. We acknowledge our responsibility in stewardship of creation and all that God has given into our hands. We do so because God is the Creator. We are all God's children, created equally in God's image. And if we are God's children we are all brothers and sisters. "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You," is not just a slogan, it's who we seek to be and the witness we seek to make, following the way of Jesus. The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate

The Vestry met November 14, 2016   

We will be starting Room at the Inn shelter ministry December 1st As result of recent changes to Diocesan Canons our annual meeting will be held February 26, 2017. Another change is limiting the vestry to 12 members. There will be a concert December 4th with Craig and Nyke.

Next scheduled meeting December 13, 2016. The Parish Visitor

The Room at the Inn Shelter is one of the largest ministries that the Cathedral supports. Every Thursday night in winter, the Cathedral provides a safe, warm place for the homeless men of Bethlehem to sleep and break bread. Last year, the Cathedral sheltered more than 140 different men during the shelter season, with an average of over 40 men per night. This task is only made possible by the work of many volunteers from the Parish, who help in many ways, from preparing Sayre Hall for the guests, welcoming the guests, providing food, cleaning up after and sheltering overnight with them. If you would like to help this winter, you may sign up at www.signupgenius.com. You will need to register if you have not done so before; if you have already registered, then the link to the Room at the Inn shelter can be found on the Cathedral’s website by clicking on the Ministries tab, then The Room at the Inn Shelter. If the Signup Genius’ link doesn't work, you may find the sign-up by clicking on the find a sign-up link (top right corner) and search by email using Deacon Rodney's email address. If you have problems signing up, please contact either Deacon Rodney (484-225-3493, email: [email protected]) or James Reader (610-417-7418, email: [email protected]) and we will try to sign you up for the dates that you would like to serve. There will also be a physical sign-up sheet in Sayre Hall. We need volunteers for the following roles each night Intercessor - to say prayers and grace before the evening meal Sign-In - to welcome and check in guests, register new guests and help out in the early evening Bedding - to help prepare and hand out bedding to our guests as they arrive Overnight - to stay overnight with the guests and provide help as needed Clean-Up - to help clean up Sayre Hall after the guests leave on Friday mornings Laundry - to launder the blankets once per month There is a Captain for each role who serves to coordinate all the volunteers for each activity. If you would like to learn more about how to help, please contact either Deacon Rodney, James Reader or any of the many veterans from last year's shelter. All offers of help are gratefully appreciated and the Ministry provides a great opportunity to meet more of your fellow Parishioners and provide a valuable service to the local community.

December 4 December 11 December 18 December 25 January 1 January 8 January 15

The Hope of Advent The Hope of Advent The Hope of Advent No Adult Forum No Adult Forum Epiphany Celebration Laura Drum, Barbara Iannelli, & Patricia Gaukler on the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross

The Parish Visitor

January 19, 2017 at 11 AM We are taking a break in December. We are reading My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout. We will meet on Thursday, January 19 at 11:00 am in room 23 for discussion. Come and Join us!

Back by popular demand...[well, and by the occasion of Christmas, since it is December] we are planning our Christmas Pageant. Last year we added some of our talented parishioner-musicians to the energetic churchschoolers and all of us who were involved liked it so much [and heard you did too] that we are hoping to do that again. Here are the dates and times so that you can work it into your schedules: PAGEANT REHEARSAL: Saturday morning, December 17th @ 10:00 AM PAGEANT: Saturday evening, December 17th Music & Meditation @ 4:30 PM, Pageant @ 5:00 PM Because we know how crowded everyone's already busy lives are at Christmas, we try to keep the time commitment down to a few hours that one day. Families with children and musicians/ singers of all ages please consider becoming part of the 'reason for the season'. Help us to tell the story. We do have fun.

To join in, or if you have questions please call: Pam Bayliss 610.798.7671 Stephen Williams 610.865.0727

Becky Berkenstock 610.349.5051

The Diocesan canons were changed at our last Diocesan Convention to create more uniformity in the governance of our parishes. One of the actions taken that constructively creates uniformity is the work of vestries. The canons now dictate that annual parish meetings take place in January of each year. (Our typically takes place in the Spring.) The number of vestry members dictated by canon is now 7-12. Our vestry has been 15. As we transition with the Bishop’s permission to align ourselves with the new Canons we will hold our Annual meeting in February and be presenting a formula to get the membership of vestry to 12 persons. The 26th of February is also the last Sunday of Epiphany and therefore a particularly great opportunity to get our feasting in before our Lenten fast. A shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper which has over the past few years either been snowed out or poorly attended will be held the morning of our Annual meeting. More information to come about this. Mark your calendars now.

Baptisms 11/06/2016 – Niall David Randall, son of John and Rebecca Randall 11/12/2016 – Tate Christopher Guyer, son of Courtney Guyer Deaths 11/02/2016 – June Durnin

December 4 Isaiah 11:1-10 Romans 15:4-13 Matthew 3:1-12 Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 December 11 Isaiah 35:1-10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11 Psalm 146:4-9 or Canticle 15 [or Canticle 3] The Parish Visitor

December 18 Isaiah 7:10-16 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-25 Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 Christmas Eve, December 24 Isaiah 62:6-12 Titus 3:4-7 Luke 2:(1-7)8-20 Psalm 97 Christmas Day, December 25 Isaiah 52:7-10 Hebrews 1:1-4,(5-12) John 1:1-14 Psalm 98

The dynamics & energy of Craig Thatcher & Nyke Can Wyck's performance captivate in the beauty of this candlelit Cathedral. No Ticket Required. Free will offering taken to benefit church

The family Nativity Cathedral has worked so hard to resettle is adjusting well. The six children are enrolled in school and are extremely happy to be attending. Both children and parents are being immersed in English and as might be expected, the younger children are learning the fastest. Mr. M has been working with a temporary employer, and now that he has experience, the resettlement agency will begin to help him find permanent employment. Here is a photo of three of the daughters participating in their first Halloween parade at school.

by the Moravian College Celtic Ensemble under the direction of Alison Gillespie. Featuring fiddles, flutes, whistles, pipes, banjos, piano, mandolins, guitars and lovely voices presenting songs and tunes from the Celtic Lands. Tickets are $15 and include afternoon Christmas Tea & refreshments. Sunday, December 11 th at 1:30 PM – Cathedral

The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, Bishop Provisional The Very Rev. Anthony R. Pompa, Dean and Rector [email protected] The Rev. Canon Michelle Moyer, [email protected] Richard Guyer, Sr. Warden [email protected] Kris Warner, Jr. Warden [email protected]