The heater in the rectory “died” a week ago. It happened on the same day I was informed there would be an additional delay in our endowment proceedings. Oh God no I thought, how will our parish survive these financial challenges? Little did I know all the blessings that would follow. First - the repairman informed us that the heater combustion chamber collapsed and we were very lucky a fire did not ensue. Truth be told I woke up in the middle of the night and heard a humming noise. After investigating and believing it was the heater, Gerry turned it off. What if I didn’t wake up? What if Gerry didn’t shut down the heater? Second - we now had many decisions to make quickly as cold temperatures were upon us – do we repair the heater or replace it, and if we replace it do we stay with oil or convert to gas? Many people pulled together to help us with these decisions and Michele Foley, our administrator, went above and beyond the call of duty to research options. Third – where would our parish get the money we needed? I made a desperate phone call to our bishop. The next day I received a return call that the bishop was giving us a grant to purchase a new propane heater. I believe in miracles and I know God is with us. Gerry and I were not harmed, the rectory has a new and more efficient heater, and the total cost has been covered by our bishop. Bad things can and do happen, but God can and certainly did make a way.

As if all the above wasn’t enough “good news”, we received one more blessing. You have been informed that our parish financial situation is very serious. We are currently behind with several bills and we are struggling to make payroll each month. We have no choice but to utilize our endowment, but the process to gain access to our endowment has hit one snag after another. After receiving the grant for the heater, the vestry and I were informed that the bishop has made a request for the Diocesan Finance Committee to grant us a swing loan until our endowment issues are resolved.

The bishop has stepped in to help us with our current crises because he is grateful for all the hard work and dedication of our vestry, staff and members, and he believes we are an asset to the diocese and our community. He has experienced our friendly spirit, seen the care we put into our buildings and grounds and heard about our hospitality. Our bishop can’t solve our problems for us, but he has clearly sent a message that he cares and he wants us to be around a long time.

One of my favorite movies is, It’s A Wonderful Life. I cry every time I watch the community gather together to help out one of their own. I believe Gerry, I and our parish have been recipients of just such a miracle through the hands of our bishop. I am so grateful. May we as a parish continue to pray and work together. May you generously give, of your time, talent and treasure to support our future. God has a plan for us. Whenever all hope seems lost, God always sends us an angel.

May you personally experience God’s blessings and abiding love as you celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with your family and friends,

Volume 12, Issue 1

Holiday 2013 Special points of interest:

Fundraising Update

Holiday Outreach

Kids Make a Peace Wreath

2014 Concert Series Announced Pa

rish

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Adult Education 2

Bishop Visitation 3

Prayer Chain 4

Outreach 5

Worship Schedule 7

Music Ministry 8

Kid’s Page 9

Inside this issue:

Unabashedly Episcopalian – Sunday mornings 9:45 to 10:15 AM in the undercroft through 11/24, and possibly continuing into Advent (check the Sunday Bulletin for the final Sunday date) What is common prayer, how many sacraments are there, why communion every week, who’s in charge, what do we believe?? These and many more questions will be addressed in this 30 min. Sunday morning forum. Painting The Stars –Wednesday evenings 7:30 to 9:00 PM through 12/18. Celebrating the communion

of science and faith, Painting the Stars is a DVD/discussion program featuring conversations with over a dozen evolutionary theolo-gians. The program helps participants reach back to appreciate the teachings of Genesis while reaching for-ward to imagine the future of Christianity in light of current academic knowledge. New participants always welcome! Spirituality for the Modern Individual - Due to limited participation this monthly program has been discontin-ued.

Are you interested in Bible Study? If so please contact Pastor Kathy. If there is enough interest she would be delighted to begin a Sun-day morning or weekday Bible Study in February. Please plan ahead to join in our Annual Lenten Soup and Salad Series which will run from Wednesdays, March 12 through April 9. More information will be provided in the next newsletter.

development, practical life skills and relationship wisdom needed to become Proverbs 31 women. Each Bloom Club meeting consists of meal preparation (the girls do the cooking with guidance from the women), a practical life skill (last month we canned homemade applesauce, next month we’ll

You might have heard about Bloom Club and are wondering what it is! Our Bloom Club meets once a month, usually the 3rd Sunday of each month at 4:30 in the undercroft. Bloom Club is a gathering of Christian women and girls with the purpose of intentionally teaching the biblical principles, character

Christmas Caroling...

Bloom Club

Sunday service to share lunch, which is being prepared by the Ronca Family, and then following a brief rehearsal with Pastor Kathy on the guitar, hit the road, carpooling to our various locations. Members of our Parish Life Committee prepare bags of cookies for us to take to all those we visit. This event is a ton of fun!!! After several hours we return to St. Jude’s tired

Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly… Our Annual Christmas Caroling Event is scheduled for Sunday, December 15. All parish members and friends are invited to help us spread holiday cheer to homebound members and residents of local nursing homes. Participants gather after the

Learn About your Episcopal Faith - Deepen your relationship with God

Adult Ed

Reminders &

Changes

Page 2 PARISH NEWS

but truly full of Christmas Spirit. This year we are especially delighted that the members of our Bloom Club will be joining us. So…grab your jingle bells, tambourines and other noisemakers, put on your holiday red and green, and share the true meaning of Christmas by offering your time in service to others.

discuss money management), and a character lesson (such as how to choose friends, why gossip is bad, etc). Currently our Bloom Club has 5 girls and 4 women participating. If you would ever like to join us for a meeting, please contact Heather Ronca for upcoming dates...we would love to have you!

Bishop Edward Lee, an assisting bishop in our diocese, will be making a pastoral visit to our church on Sunday, January 26, 2014. Pastor Kathy, the Vestry, and the Worship Committee are beginning to plan this joyous event. We hope all our church members

will be present for our 10:30 service and the reception that follows. Whenever a bishop visits there is an opportunity for baptism, confirmation, reaffirmation, and reception into the church. Any individual who would like to

consider being baptized, confirmed or reaffirmed, or any of our newer members who would like to be received into the Episcopal Church from another Christian tradition should speak with Pastor Kathy by December 1.

The Bishop is Coming...

Fund

Raising

Report

Page 3 VOLUME 12, I SSUE 1

By God’s Grace... Dear St. Jude Family, On behalf of Pastor Kathy and the Vestry, we would like to thank you for your hard work on all of our 2013 fundraising events. As a parish family, we discussed what we needed to do to raise funds then we went out and did it. Thank you for partici-pating in the following events, all of which are now ongoing staples for our church. We have listed the funds that resulted so that you can see the power of your involvement: 2012 Christmas Bazaar:$1975.00 Elvis Concert: $1228.00 Spring Flea Market: $2700.00 Fall Flea Market: $3157.00 Bingo (through Nov ) $2547.00 Boscov’s Friends-helping-Friends: $650.00 Children’s Consignment Sale: $620.00 Please continue to support our 2 remaining fundraisers of the year: Cinderella Cheesecakes and the Christmas Bazaar on 12/14.

Thank you for your gifts of talent and time. God bless you! Jo Ann Fricker, Accounting Warden

Titi Lakeru-Rivers, Communications/ Fundraising

David and Brian Pierce arrived at St. Jude late last September. David is a repair technician for an industrial equipment company. He enjoys camping, exploring and the outdoors. David has two sons; the eldest Sean recently graduated from college and moved from their Conshohocken home to Baltimore for a teaching position, and Brian who just turned twenty-one and has aged-out at school. Brian recently began a full time day program and goes out on community walks, visits to the Mall, restaurants and to bowling excursions. David and Brian love to hop on the train and go into the city for a day of walking and seeing new sites. Brian especially enjoys going to Flea Markets to look for video tapes and he loves to explore with his dad. It was through our Flea Market that David and Brian discovered St. Jude and became acquainted with many members of our congregation. On their first Sunday visit to us they met

everyone and David immediately knew that St. Jude was for them, with our congregational diversity and excellence with persons of special need. David originally assisted with property and now attends Vestry Meetings as a non-elected member. He has taken over responsibilities of the Property Committee and is considering facilitating it on a full time basis. David will be helping out with the clothing sale, has worked at the Flea Market, and has frequently served as a Coffee Hour leader. David grew up in the Episcopal Church. When his mother passed away she was the Managing Editor of the Episcopalian and very active in the church. She has been a spiritual inspiration for David’s continual attending of church. We are extremely happy to have David and Brian as members of the St. Jude Church family!

An Interview with David Pierce

Member

Spotlight

Page 4 PARISH NEWS

Prayer chain: (in alphabetical rotation) Matthew, Rosie and Alexis Sheahan; Matthew, Liz and Julien Sitko; Matthew, Barbie and Emma Smiley; David and Tomasa Stevenson; Stan, Lisa, Tina and Matt Stewart; Audrey Taylor; Don and Babs Zulick.

We remember those for whom our prayers have been requested: Sandra Bilotta, Elsie Borowski, Peggy Boone, Debbie Bouc, Larry Bradley, Felix Castro, Celine Childs, Margaret Clark, Wendy Curran, Joanne Dougherty, Maria Farley, Harry Fricker, Karen K., Tony Kennah, Kimberly Kirby, Donna Koryn, Mariella Livolsi, Patricia Lynn, Mason McDowell, Michael Monza, Dayse Tiberio Morris, Michael Mulvey, Karen Murphy, Michael, Helen Nolan, Barbara Richter, Joe Richter, Titi Lakeru-Rivers, Rose Ronca, Dorothy Rugg, Harold Sager, Dorothy Schafer, Chris Schwenk, Barbie Smiley, Aryeh Stein, Victoria, Michael Warner, Sister Marianne Beatty, and Bishop Franklin Turner.

FROM THE PARISH

REGISTER Baptism: Ava Marie Auernheimer was baptized at St. Jude and the Nativity on September 15, 2013.

We continue to meet on Sunday mornings at 10:15. We have been having a good time learning about some of the more well known stories in the Bible (David and Goliath), as well as some of less well known (Elijah and the Ravens). We have a “one room classroom” style of Sunday School and children ages

4 and over are all welcome! We are hoping to have an “Epiphany Pageant” or event for the children to participate in on Sunday, January 5th during the service. All children are invited to participate and more infor-mation about this will be forthcoming!

Heather Ronca

Church School News

Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others. ~Saint Augustine

I love the winter holiday season and all that comes with it: The pretty snow, the cheeriness that is often passed along, the shopping. I especially love all the festive parties with food, fun and family. There is nothing like visiting family or close friends and walking into a home to be greeted with hearty hugs and delicious food and any kind of dessert. The winter holiday season is magical, blessed. But for many, this holiday season will be neither. We at St. Jude can change that.

Outreach will soon begin our Christmas gift program for Episcopal Community Services. We will sponsor 20 foster children by purchasing a gift of their choice. The children’s other needs are being met by ECS, but with our generosity and love, we

will be giving these children a special gift they might not otherwise get on the most loving holidays: Christmas.

Outreach will continue to collect new and gently used winter clothing items (through mid-November) to support “Warming Philly”. The program donates the items to the homeless throughout Philadelphia and neighboring counties.

We are always collecting non-perishable food donations for Colonial Neighborhood Council , our local food cupboard. Please consider this program when you are doing your food shopping by purchasing an extra item or two and drop it in our basket on Sunday or in the Narthex.

Outreach will also be asking for donations to support the ERD Gifts For Life program, which helps purchase live-stock and other life saving tools to support many impoverished families in third world countries. Purchases with the donations vary from

$25 for a flock of chickens to $635 for a whole cow. What is $25 to people like us, who are willing to spend that on a bottle of wine or a purse, if not more? Please consider contributing to these vital programs. There are so many people who will not enjoy the simple things that many of us at St. Jude will enjoy during this most wonderful time of year. I’m not saying we can help the world but we can help many people at home and throughout the world. Let’s also ring in the New Year with a grateful and generous heart by sharing the blessings God has given us.

As Outreach Coordinator, I would like to thank each and every one of you for all of your love and generosity that make all of our efforts successful. May God continue to pour out his love and blessings on all of us and especially those in need.

God Bless, Natalie Castro/Outreach

begin in September. Unfortunately the vestry was denied access to our Sunday School endowment fund when a request was made to purchase the building sup-plies. The vestry is now working with our bishop so that this project can become a reality. Jean will soon be inviting all the families with children in the 3 to 5 year age range to attend a meeting so to experience a sample lesson and help set the schedule of classes. Be on the look-out for our new opening date.

It was hoped we would be able to introduce Godly Play to our pre-school children in Advent. Jean MacKenzie has been making preparations to teach this wonderful program by attending training sessions and ordering books and supplies. In order for a Godly Play Program to begin though, there needs to be dedicated classroom space. Plans were made to convert the present Sunday School out cove in the undercroft into a classroom, and con-struction was scheduled to

Godly Play Update

Happy Holidays from Outreach

Holiday

Outreach

Programs

Page 5 VOLUME 12, I SSUE 1

Christmas Flowers Offering envelopes for the

poinsettias that will adorn the church at Christmas will be available at the back of the church beginning on the 1st Sunday of Advent, 12/1/13.

Envelopes can be placed in the Sunday collection basket or you can mail a donation to the church

office. Please remember to write your dedication

on the envelope.

WOW the Holiday Season is upon us already!! As we do every year we will be going out Christmas Caroling to church members who are in nursing homes or home- bound on December 15th and we like to bring cookie platters. We need two things: 1) some Parish members to bake cookies and drop them off at Church before noon Tuesday 12/10 and 2) a few women to meet at the Guild Room at Noon on 12/10 to prepare the cookie trays. Bring a sandwich - we always have a good time. Contact me please and let me know if you can help: 484-231-8874 or by e-mail: djirishma@aol.com. On December 22nd after the service we will all get together to transform our Church for Christmas. Ruth Nevergole and the children will put out the manger and the rest of us will put up wreathes and the

tree and all sorts of decora-tions. Then everyone goes downstairs for the event we have all been waiting for -SANTA will be here. You don't want to miss this and bring your cameras for this photo op. Kids and adults alike get in on these pictures. Oh yeah... and there will be PIZZA for all. What a fun day for the whole family! Can you believe it is almost 2014? Bishop Lee is visiting St. Jude and the Nativity on 1/26. This event is in the early planning stages and if we need any help we will be sure to let you know. We are trying to fit in the Chili Cook-Off. Let me know if you think having it after service on a Sunday would work, I am really looking for some input on this idea . One the most popular events of the year (at least with the ladies) will be happening on March 2nd.

The men of the parish will be putting on the Pancake Breakfast and last year they out did themselves, and, contrary to public belief, men do pick up the kitchen after themselves. Thank you Dan Ronca and team. Another event you won't want to miss is the Heritage Day Luncheon planned for April 6, 2014. You will get to sample foods from many different ethnic backgrounds. This is really an exciting and fun way to experience new tastes and visit with our friends. Our Annual Meeting will be on May 4th and a tentative date for the Progressive Dinner will be May 17th.

Parish Life Wishes Everyone a Holy and Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Happy New Year. Donna Koryn djirishms@aol.com Parish Life

Events

NOVEMBER 11/27 Ministerium Interfaith

Thanksgiving Service (at St. Philip’s Church)

*Note: 11/30 Shopping Event has been cancelled

DECEMBER 12/10 Pack cookies

12/14 Christmas Bazaar

12/15 Caroling Visits

12/22 Church Decorating & Santa Pizza Party

12/24 Carol sing-a-long 4:45

Service 5:00 PM

12/25 Service 8:30 AM * no 12:15 PM service

IMPORTANT DATES AT ST. JUDE’S

ONGOING EVENTS:

MEETINGS

COMMUNICATIONS - 2nd Sundays PARISH LIFE - 3rd Sundays EXECUTIVE - Sunday before Vestry Mtg BLOOM CLUB - 3rd Sundays VESTRY - 4th Tuesdays* 7:00 PM PARISH FORUMS - 4th Sundays (all parishioners are encouraged to attend)

HEALING PRAYER - 1st Sundays

CRAFTERS - Tues 1:00 PM & 6:00 PM

MID-WEEK EUCHARIST – Weds 12:15 PM

EVENING PRAYER - Weds 7:00 PM

BINGO – 3rd Fridays* 6:30 PM

*unless noted otherwise

JANUARY 1/5 Lessons & Carols 10:30 1/11 St. Jude’s Community

Concert Series 2:00 PM 1/26 Bishop Lee visit -

reception after service

FEBRUARY 2/2 Souper Bowl Sunday

2/8 St. Jude’s Community Concert Series 2:00 PM

MARCH 3/5 Lent begins 3/8 St. Jude’s Community

Concert Series 2:00 PM 3/14 Pancake Breakfast

Wonderful and numerous worship opportunities abound over the next several months. Please mark your calendars now so you don’t forget! Wednesdays @ St. Jude’s - Every Wednesday through-out the year (unless a change is noted in the weekly announcements), a Healing Eucharist with Bible reflec-tion is celebrated at 12:15 pm and a Candlelight Evening Prayer Service is held at 7:00 pm. Just drop in as you are whenever you are able! During Advent Pastor Kathy will offer special reflections to help us prepare our hearts for Christmas. Stewardship Celebration – Sunday, November 24 During our 10:30 am service we will close our Stewardship Drive with prayer. A “Coffee Hour” forum will follow the service celebrating the many ministries that exist at our church. At the forum all members will have the opportunity to ask questions about our ministries and also to sign up to participate in a ministry for 2014. Thanksgiving Ministerium Service – Wednesday, November 27, 7:30 pm @ St. Philip Neri R.C. Church, Lafayette Hill Join Pastor Kathy and members of our choir in this wonderful community event. Take time to reflect on and give thanks for all the blessings God has bestowed on us before the busy holiday season begins. A reception will follow the interfaith service. Ask a friend or neighbor to come with you!

Greening of the Church and Lunch with Santa – Sunday, December 22 Following our 10:30 am service we will participate in our annual greening of the church. All hands are needed!!! While the adults hang the wreaths and bows, the children will decorate the Christmas tree and set-up our beautiful crèche. Once the work is done Santa will arrive, and we will spend time together singing carols and sharing good food. Oh by the way – invite a friend and bring your cameras!!!

Christmas Services – Tuesday, Christmas Eve at 5:00 pm (Carols begin at 4:45 pm) and Wednesday, Christmas Day at 8:30 am Christmas Eve at St. Jude and the Nativity is always a joyous event. Our family oriented service will include our traditional candle lit singing of Silent Night and gathering of children for the Christmas Story. Additionally our amazing music director and choir, along with our own Ajibola Rivers on the cello, will lead us in singing all the well beloved Christmas Carols and offer a beautiful anthem. The service will last about an hour and a half. For those who prefer a

simpler celebration, join us on Christmas morning. Our music director will lead us in the singing of a few carols but this service will be much more contemplative. It is a wonderful and reflective way to begin Christmas Day. Epiphany Lessons and Carols – Sunday, January 5 We will close the Christmas season with our own adapted version of lessons and carols. What a great way to remem-ber all that God has done for us and get one last chance to sing all our well beloved Christmas Carols! Many of our members, adults and chil-dren, will be invited to participate in the service as readers and gift bearers, and our younger children will be offered the change to create jeweled crowns to wear. After we share communion we will gather for coffee hour and cut the “King Cake”.

Bishop’s Visit – Sunday, January 26 Let’s all welcome The Rt. Rev. Edward Lee to St. Jude and the Nativity at our 10:30 am service. A Bishop’s visit is a great opportunity to share the love of our church com-munity and also to demon-strate our church pride. Bishop Lee will preside and preach at the service, and baptize, confirm, reaffirm, or receive those who are preparing for these sacramen-tal rites. A joyous reception with plenty of food will follow.

Mark your calendars – Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on March 5, 2014.

‘Tis the Season to Give Thanks and Praise to God...

Upcoming

Worship

Schedules

Page 7 VOLUME 12, I SSUE 1

First, I would like to thank everyone for the piano. The monetary contributions, search ideas, and attendance at the dedication recital were all a huge help. I am grateful to use that instrument every Sunday to make music for God.

St. Jude’s choir has been hard at work preparing a variety of anthems for each Sunday. Soon we will start polishing music for Christmas Eve 5:00 PM and Lessons and Carols. As in past years, the music on Christmas Eve will begin fifteen minutes before the service as we prepare to worship God. Also, please note that Lessons and Carols

will take the place of our regular service on Sunday January 5th.

There are two other projects that I am pretty excited to start with our music ministry. The first is a youtube channel that I am still compiling at the moment that can share our music with the world. My hope is to have videos, recitals, and our amazing choir on it. The second is a regular concert series. I am in the process of booking second Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 2014. In the past, I have heard from people, “Oh this concert was fantastic, I just wish there were more people here!”

I truly believe that regular recitals will ease the task of promoting and increase attendance.

Please watch your email and our web site for updates on both projects.

Patrick Fink

Welcome to our new Property Chair...

one that needs an individual with knowledge and skills to assess property needs, make minor repairs, work with contractors and review maintenance contracts. We are very blessed that God sent us David and his son Brian last year, and that David has the time, energy, background, and most of all the willingness, to take on this responsibility. Please thank David when you see him, and let him know if you notice something that needs to be repaired. Also please give your support to property work days and projects whenever you can. For now, David will serve as an “adjunct” member of the vestry. We hope he will consider running for vestry in May, 2014.

With great delight, the vestry wishes to announce that David Pierce has volunteered to take over the position of property chair. Andrea Mumper, who served on the vestry for many years, agreed to fill in as property chair for a one year time period since we had a vacancy in this position. Thanks to her generosity along with assistance from her husband George, David Pierce, David Nypower, Kyle Castro and Gerry Boone, we were able to handle many of our property needs in-house over the past year. We owe Andrea a debt of gratitude for taking on this difficult responsibility at a time when no one else was available. Maintaining our buildings and grounds is an ongoing and time consuming task, and

Music Ministry

Property

Management

Update

Page 8 PARISH NEWS

Reminder... Our 2014 Stewardship Campaign closes November 24th. For those who have not

turned in your pledge card, please do so asap. Thank you for your

generosity!

The January through March 2014 schedule for Service Assistants will be published by mid-December. In the mean-time, parishioners are encour-aged to consider joining one of these or any of our ministries for the upcoming year. Plan to attend the parish forum on 11/24 to learn more about how your talent and time can help your church or contact the church office to sign-up for next year’s schedules.

We will soon be asking for volunteers for our Christmas services.

SERVICE ASSISTANTS NOTICE

Our bingo family continues to grow...and so does the progressive jackpot !

Third Fridays (unless noted otherwise*). Doors open at 6:00, games start at 6:30. Only $20 for a book of 20 games. The more players we have, the bigger the prizes.

Upcoming Dates: December *13th, January 17th, February 21st

THE CHURCH OF ST. JUDE AND THE NATIVITY (in the Episcopal Diocese of PA)

203 Germantown Pike Lafayette Hill, PA 19444-1323

Office Telephone: 610-941-6666 Fax ( & Event Hotline): 610-828-3927

E-mail: stjude19444@gmail.com www.stjudeandthenativity.org

The Rev. Kathleen M. Walter, Rector Cell: 215-694-0185 E-mail: stjuderector@gmail.com

Mrs. Michele Foley, Parish Administrator Mr. Patrick Fink, Music Director

Mr. And Mrs. Gene Awot, Editors

The Church of St. Jude and the Nativity 203 Germantown Pike Lafayette Hill, PA 19444-1323

Reminder(s): Christmas Eve Service @ 5:00 PM with carol sing-a-long @ 4:45 PM

Christmas Day Service @ 8:30 AM

Sunday Worship Service:

10:30 AM-Holy Eucharist, Rite II

Sunday School 10:15 AM

Wednesday: 12:15 PM Eucharist 7:00 PM Evening Prayer