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March 2nd 2013

 

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Greetings!,

 

At the vestry meeting Tuesday night, your vestry approved an expenditure of a bit north of $17,000 to replace all of the furnaces at Nativity (we have three, if you didn't know!)

 

Our building was consecrated in 1964 and the heaters are original.  We figure 49 years is pretty good. As you know, one of the furnaces recently died, and after two very competent heating contractors came and consulted with us, we came to realize that it makes sense to replace the whole system now rather than repairing ancient machines.  The new system will modify the church heating such that offices, upstairs, sanctuary and kitchen will all be able to be controlled separately. Your rector is happy because after 14 years, I will have "real heat" rather than a space heater in her office! And our parish volunteers are happy for the very same reason.

 

The money for this expenditure is coming out of our reserves. After very careful budgeting and frugality on the part of all of us, we have been able, over the past several years, to sock away about $50,000 of our pledge income for the very purpose of things like antique furnaces.

 

I expect that it will take the better part of a week to get the work done, and I am hoping to get things started as soon as possible.

 

Please let me or any vestry member know if you have any questions, and see you in church!

 

Love, Stacey

 

 

 

WONDERFUL NEW TELEVISION MINI-SERIES BEGINNING MARCH 3
                                    
Finally some decent television coming to a set near you.

This mini-series does not begin until March 3rd, but this will give all of us a chance to tell as many people as possible about this series.
Let's use this series to reach as many people as possible. 

The Bible is an epic five-week, 10 hour television mini-series premiering March  3, 2013 on the History Channel from Emmy Award winning husband and wife team, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey.

For two hours each Sunday night millions of viewers will see the Bible come to life in a way never before seen.

The final episode of the series will air on Easter Sunday and will feature the death and resurrection of Jesus.

To help insure the accuracy of the miniseries, many Christian scholars served as advisors and hundreds of Christian leaders have given their endorsement. - (Outreach Magazine)
"It is also a project close to Mr. Burnett's heart. In the past couple of years the 52-year-old former paratrooper says he has become deeply religious, a transition he credits to Roma Downey, his wife since 2007.
"It wasn't until I met Roma that I truly understood my faith and it's been a dynamic shift for me," Mr. Burnett said. - (Wall Street Journal)
 
"Famed television producer Mark Burnett tackles his projects with passion, but The Bible is a special labor of love. 
The 10-hour, five-part docudrama, which premieres March 3 on the History Channel, will span the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, presenting some of its best-known stories, including Noah's Ark, the Exodus, Daniel in the lions' den and the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. 
Former Touched By an Angel star Roma Downey, Burnett's wife and fellow executive producer, heads a large international cast in the role of Mother Mary.
Keith David, an Emmy winner for voice-over performances, will narrate with a musical score by Oscar- and Grammy-winning composer Hans Zimmer. 
"In terms of importance, nothing we've ever done, not Touched
By an Angel, not Survivor, not TheVoice, not The Apprentice, none of this could possibly compare to The Bible." 
"To us, as a family, we love the Bible. This is not a TV show to us. It is images and sound and sacred text that people will still watch, way after our grandchildren are old people,"  Burnett says.
Since the entire Bible can't be covered in 10 hours, the miniseries, which was filmed in Morocco, focuses on a select group of stories and features such compelling figures as Abraham, Moses and David.
Some stories had to be compressed for artistic purposes.
"In the end, what we've done is a meta-narrative, a grand narrative of emotionally connected stories.
We know we're not qualified to teach the Bible. We're qualified to be good television producers and storytellers.
By telling these emotionally connected, big stories, hopefully millions of people will reopen their Bibles," Burnett says.
Downey came up with the idea for the miniseries a few years ago.
"It is our obligation to tell the stories as written.
"The stories are so brilliant and compelling.
The project will have broad appeal," he says.
"If you know the Bible, you'll enjoy seeing the stories come
to life. If you've never read the Bible, I think you'll love the
stories.There's a reason the Bible is the most widely read
book in the world." - (USA Today)
Contact Us:

 

Episcopal Church
of the NativIty 

 

333 Ellen Drive

San Rafael, 94903

nativitychurch@att.net 

www.NativityOnTheHill.org  

415.479.7023
News and Events                                                                        Nativity Calendar

 

Parish Announcements

 

 

Youth Group:                   BBQ and Camp Information  - 5:30 pm

The Marin Episcopal Youth Group meets on Sundays from 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm except for Movie Night (usually the last Sunday of the month) when we meet from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm.   Anyone in grades 6 - 12 are invited to attend. 

 

Sock Project:  During Lent, donations of new socks will be coordinated by Hannah Wellesley-Winter.  They will be distributed to Ritter House and other local shelters in our diocese.  The campaign runs from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday.  Please join this effort to share Christ's love.

 

Summer Camp Sunday:  On March 3rd we will celebrate Camp Sunday.  There will be folks from St. Dorothy's Rest available to explain their summer camp program.  There will be a BBQ, s'mores, games and camp songs.  Anyone age 8 and over is invited to attend.  Time is 5:30 pm-7:30 pm here at Nativity.

 

Stations of the Cross:  During Lent on Wednesday evenings we will be walking the Stations of the Cross.  Share this walk with other parishioners at 7:00pm.

 

Bible Challenge:  Stacey will host any questions regarding the Bible Challenge at 9:15 am on Sundays in the Owl Room.  If you have not started this challenge and would like to participate, the readings are on the back table.  Also, send an email to Stacey so she can include you in the weekly email.

 

Book Club & Knitters:  We will meet on Tuesday, March 5 at 7:00 pm.  All are welcome.

 

Coming Events:

Mar 3:  Bible Challenge recap - 9:15 am

Mar 3:  Camp Sunday - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Mar 5:  Book Club & Knitters - 7:00 pm

Mar 6:  Stations of the Cross - 7 pm
Volunteering and Outreach

E-scrip

March is Merchant Appreciation Month.

Our major donors are Paradise Market and Safeway.

We received over $600 from each of them.

If you have the chance, please thank the managers for their support.

Please remember to update new or updated debit and credit cards.

This is a good way to boost our Church budget.

If you need help, see me. I can give you your member number

but not your password. Only your member number is needed to update.

Margaret Jackson 479-0227 or maggiej613@gmail.com

 

Church Office

We are currently without a regular Friday volunteer.

We have several people who will go in on certain days.

If you can help, either as a regular or an occasional, please let me know.

Margaret Jackson maggiej613@gmail.com 479-0227

Coffee Hour at 10:00 AM Sundays

 

   

The sign-up sheet is now on the table in the church.

 

Please look for future dates when you may be able to help.     

 

Mar. 3: Kim Bromley

Mar. 10: Susan Pick

Mar. 17: ?

Mar. 24:?

Mar. 31: Easter Day - Ruth Baney

 

 

Our neighbor Carlos is providing the coffee at the moment so all that you need are goodies and half & half, and occasionally juice. (We often have that in the fridge.)


Please note:
The coffee pots need to be emptied and rinsed out so that they can be taken back to Carlos.
 
Margaret      maggiej613@gmail.com
In Our Prayers

 

Remember in Prayer

 

                             

Our church: Pray for Katharine, our Presiding Bishop; Marc, our Bishop: the clergy, staff, and members of this parish.

 

The Ministries of our Parishioners:  Kairos Inside Prison Ministry, Kairos Outside Prison Ministry, Cursillo, Sojourn - the Multifaith Chaplaincy at San Francisco General Hospital, San Quentin Prison, the Marin Interfaith Street Chaplaincy, Ohlhoff Recovery Board: the Elders Ministry of Grace Cathedral, Hospice by the Bay, West Coast Post Trauma Retreat, Alano Club and Buckelew Services.

 

In our Nativity Parish cycle of prayer, pray for Ava Jean Brumbaum; the Bulkley-Armas family - Honor, Wynanda, Caroline and Peter; John and Ann Busterud.

 

Our world: pray for our country, for our President Barack and Governor Jerry.  Pray peace into being especially in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Darfur, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Haiti, Pakistan, Chile, Palestine, the Middle East, Japan and Honduras.

 

Our parish members for special grace and healing: 

Carissa Betts, Bob Brandt, Alice Goss, David Wade, Virginia Gerhart,  Marion Slusser, Bill Schlegel, and Juliette Anthony.

 

 

Prayers are asked for the following family and friends:

Polly Essinger, friend of Marian Marsh

Rod Robinson, brother of Ruth Baney

 

Mike Antill, friend of the Wades

Gerry Studier, friend of Gail Sanfilippo and Fusae Miller

 

Brooks Parker, friend of David Wade

Steve Graham, father of Samantha Ehlen

 

Colton James, great grandson of Marge Cole

Winnie Coleman, friend of Gail & Jean

 

Jim Bell, son of Fleet and Nancy Bell

 

 

David Love, husband of Mary Love

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pray for the soul of Marilyn MacDonald, aunt of Dee Dee Nelson, and comfort for her family.

 

 

 


World News This Week in Prayer

 

O God, you are our God. Eagerly we seek you.

 

We look for signs of your presence in the midst of the troubles of this world. We look for answers and assurances. We realize that in our eagerness we may miss the very thing we seek. We sit in the wilderness of Lent and are tempted to leave for the promise of answers. Help us and be with us and forgive us. Forgive us when we do not notice your awesome presence as we continue our daily tasks. Forgive us when we assign reasons and blame where none belongs. Forgive us when in our impatience for answers we no longer remember the questions. Enlighten our hearts, our minds, our spirits to see you in the midst of life and in one another.

 

O God, you are our God. Eagerly we seek you throughout your world.

 

We seek you in your church.

            --We pray for the Roman Catholic Church as Pope Benedict XVI steps down and the church enters an uncertain future.

            --We pray for those observing the World Day of Prayer on March 1, that all may experience your gracious presence.

We seek you in places where there is conflict.

            --We pray especially for places experiencing armed conflict: Mali, Syria, Darfur, Afghanistan, and others.

            --We pray for mineworkers in Colombia striking for better conditions and pay, and for workers at the Kusaselethu Mine in South Africa who are unhappy with union settlements.

            --We pray for homes where abuse and conflict divide and damage children and all family members.

We seek you in times of confusion.

            --We pray for Italy as it experiences deadlock in creating a new coalition of leadership.

            --We pray for the United States as potential budget cuts may affect many lives in ways that are as yet unclear.

We seek you in sickness and in health.

            --We pray for Brazil as they experience an increase in reports of Dengue Fever.

            --We pray for those suffering from malaria, and for those working for its eradication.

            --We pray for all those suffering from pain or illness.

We seek you in the world you have made.

            --We pray for Australia where Cyclone Rusty has made landfall in the North West.

            --We pray for wisdom and humility as we examine our conflicting desire for sources of energy coupled with the desire to care for your creation.

 

We seek you day by day and through the night watches. We seek you in every tribe and nation, in heaven and on earth. Guide us in our seeking that we may find you and be found by you, through your son who dwelled among us, Jesus the Christ, who promised that those who seek shall find.

 

Amen

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

World in Prayer is a ministry of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist

Lodi, California, USA, and is written by a team of writers representing different denominations throughout the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom.

Write to us atworldinprayer@aol.com  

 

 

TTO Publishing Team
Episcopal Church of the Nativity
(415) 479-7023
Dee Dee Nelson, Circulation Manager       Jean Walker, Reporter     Trish Shurtz, Editor
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