The Episcopal Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen

To Contact Us

The Church of the Nativity

159 S. 2nd Street

Newport, PA  17074

 

Telephone:  717-567-6514

Fax:  717-567-2227

 

Church email:  chnatss@pa.net

Rector’s email:  daphne@pa.net

Newsletter

Sign in front garden of the church.

June 2010

 

The Episcopal Church Welcomes You

From the Rector

 

Text Box: Four things have crossed my path in the last couple of days. The weird thing is that I have taken note. For some reason, I've wanted to remember them, imagining, perhaps, that there might be some meaning in the encounters, brief and surprising as they all were. The first was a teeny, gray and fuzzy little vole in a great hurry to visit someone or run from another. Then, a waddling groundhog, tummy scraping the road surface, moving as fast as someone in that shape can move. Then an old human male in a beat-up burgundy mini van who was in such a hurry he didn't bother to look before pulling out from 3rd Street. And last, a fine old turkey running like the cartoon roadrunner, legs practically spinning as he realized his big directional mistake too late. All these creatures made it safely across, but not without my adrenaline level surging. Those things that come into our path, that drop in unexpected and uninvited...how do we usually react? With what baggage, with what values, with what attitude do we meet up with surprise or threat or challenge? I always hope that anger, fear or irritation will turn quickly to delight or at least good humor. I always hope that maturity and wisdom will win out as the adrenaline disperses and my breathing evens out. After the Big Surprise of Jesus' resurrection and the second Big Surprise of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we should learn that God is never boring. May this season of Pentecost, (which lasts all the way into November!), be a time of practice for us to have confidence in the face of all we meet. May it be a time to practice trusting in the promise of God's presence with us no matter what happens. And may we practice together noticing Grace in all our encounters with this crazy world which is beloved of God. Peace, Daphne Text Box: