Sunday December 6th - Holy Baptism

St. Margaret's Day

St. Margaret's Day

in Emmaus

Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009

[Photos by The Rev. Elizabeth Diely]

The tables were set with care.
People sported tams, tartans and kilts.
We processed around the Church ...

Following the banner, the drummer and the piper

into Church for worship. Dan Charney, our guest leader,

exhorted and invited us to consecrate ourselves again

to the fellowship of St. Margaret's Church and to

our loving God known to us in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Fully 1/3 of the estimate of giving cards received

on Consecration Sunday showed an increase!

And the Haggis,

Chieftain of the Pudding Race, disappeared!!

St. Margaret's Day

Join us for Worship and Lunch on Sunday, November 15 when we celebrate St. Margaret’s Day


Saturday, I pick up the haggis which will be part of our Celebration Lunch on St. Margaret’s Day. It is being made for us by Janet James of Bethlehem.

Her recipe is chopped lamb, steel cut oats, spices and some liver. It is a milder version of the Haggis served in Scotland. Haggis is traditionally served with “neeps” and “tatties” which is mashed turnip and mashed potato.

She makes 30 to 40 pounds of Haggis around January 25 when it is featured at celebrations of the poet Robert Burns’ birthday. Burns wrote a poem called “Address to the Haggis” which is often recited at events. The poem begins:

"Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!"

Those involved in the presentation of the haggis: poet, piper, cook, and chieftain of the clan get a dram of single malt scotch whiskey as the haggis is dished out for the guests.

So, what is “haggis”?
According to one poll, 33% of American visitors to Scotland believe haggis to be an animal.

Haggis is a dish containing sheep's 'pluck' (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally boiled in the animal's stomach for approximately three hours. It belongs to the sausage family. As the 2001 English edition of the Larousse Gastronomique puts it, "Although its description is not immediately appealing, haggis has an excellent nutty texture and delicious savoury flavour".

Most modern commercial haggis is prepared in a casing rather than an actual stomach. There are also meat-free recipes for vegetarians. It is widely available in supermarkets in Scotland and sometimes it is sold in tins.

Haggis may be served in Scottish fast-food establishments deep fried in batter. Together with chips, this comprises a "haggis supper". A "haggis burger" is a patty of fried haggis served on a bun, and a "haggis bhaji" is another deep fried variant, available in some Indian restaurants in Glasgow. Higher class restaurants sometimes serve "Chicken Balmoral" or "Flying Scotsman", which is chicken breast stuffed with haggis and sometimes also wrapped in bacon. Haggis can also be used as a substitute for minced beef in various recipes. In some Scottish butchers, haggis is combined with Lorne sausage into a product colloquially known as "Braveheart" sausage.

Now for some real trivia:

Haggis is used in a sport called haggis hurling, which involves throwing a haggis as far as possible. The present Guinness World Record for Haggis Hurling has been held by Alan Pettigrew for over 25 years. He threw a 1.5 lb Haggis 180 feet, 10 inches on the island of Inchmurrin, Loch Lomond, in August 1984.

And more locally:
On October 8, 2008, competitive eater Eric "Steakbellie" Livingston set a world record by consuming 3 pounds of haggis in 8 minutes on WMMR radio in Philadelphia.

Jesus is the Answer

Sewanee, TN


Last night, five of us met to talk about Martha Grace Reese's book Unbinding the Gospel and to check in with each other about the prayer practices we'd been invited to try in week six of the personal prayer journal in the back of the book.

In the last chapter, "Getting Started", Reese told the story of riding with a friend after a long day during which they had been grilled by their law school professors who threw trick questions at them. They stopped for a traffic light and noted that the car in front of them sported a bumper sticker which read "Jesus is the Answer". Reese's friend muttered, "So what was the question?"

Throughout 2000 years of Church history, Reese wrote that Christians have said, "Jesus saves us." This led her to continue with some emphasis by stating "The question is, 'From what does Jesus save us?'"

We noted her first three answers . . .
1. sin
2. death
3. demonic social conditions


And then added several of our own . . .
Jesus saves us from. . .

4. living swallow lives
5. loneliness
6. addictions
7. being self-centered
8. giving up
9. being lost in fear
10. being our own worst selves
11. needing other people's approval
12. having to have all the answers


So how about you?
What can you add?

Unbinding the Gospel by Martha Grace Reese

This summer, five of us have been reading Martha Grace Reese' s book Unbinding the Gospel. Tonight we held our last by the book meeting. We will get together and check in with each other next month because we have found excitement in sharing our faith journeys and prayer experiences. We recommend the book - please, be sure to get the second edition as the heart of the book is the personal prayer journal in the back. This is a hands on book. It is more than reading. More than talking together. It is trying and striving. It is seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.


Speak to Canon Shallcross if you'd like to form a small group and want one of us to help start. We're only six weeks and a few steps ahead of you but are willing to share what we've learned.


The book is easy to read and full of remarkable passages like these:

"Prayer is the way to stay in love with God." p. 46

"Prayer isn't some sweet, nice, safe, naive little activity to do in your flowery hat. It is crash helmet action for people who flip kayaks in raging spring rivers. " p. 53

"Faith has to be real. Faith has to go as deeply into the holy mystery of life with God as we can stand. We are invited into give-it-all-away, bet-the-farm, choreographed-by-the-Spirit, life-walking-by-Christ's-side in minute-by-minute miraculous glory." p. 1106

"A Bishop's Locker Room Pep Talk:
'All right! Get out there and try stuff!" p. 117

"...safety lies in God, not in our habits." p. 122

"God is the North Star, the fixed point by which we can navigate while the church sails, while the world swirls and buffets us." p. 124

"Christ is the calmer of waves, the master of the storm. God holds the untamable chaos of our lives in God's hands and can calm it. Don't stop. Keep going. Step up communication with your team members. Step up communication with God." p. 125

"God is always in the new place." p. 125

"The point of evangelism is sharing the life with God you know. A tragedy opens up a much deeper life with God. Whatever we learn, we can share with others later.... God is alive and working throughout our most painful time. If we allow ourselves to feel the hardest feelings, ask the painful questions, God will be able to reveal Godself to us in more powerful ways than before. p. 132

We commend this book to you all.

Peace be with you all.

General Convention Wrap-up

Here's a six minute video from YouTube that gives a very brief summary of the Episcopal Church in Convention. Cut and paste this address in your browser.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6fjYB42txc

You can travel in cyberspace to the National Church site, to the Episcopal Cafe or Nick Knisley's blog: Entangled States to explore our common life in Christ. See links offered on this blog.

Like a Mighty Wind. . . .

In Church School on Pentecost Sunday,
kites were made, carried in procession and flown!

Eagle Court of Honor - Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Last Wednesday night, I attended the Scout ceremony that conferred upon Chris Hersh the rank of Eagle Scout. Chris completed his Eagle Scout project here at St. Margaret's last December by painting several rooms off our Parish Hall - the Nursery, Conference Room and the Kiosk area near the elevette. He stripped and repainted a large wooden book case which he then anchored into the wall so that it would not tip.

It was a good event. Many of the Hersh Family's neighbors and friends from Mediator Church were there. The Rev. Maria Tjeltvelt gave the Invocation and spoke about Chris. The Mayor presented a proclamation. Other dignitaries included Craig Neely, Emmaus Borough Manager and Jacob Brown, Legistlative Assistant to Representative Reichley.

Here's two fun things I learned. First, Dan Reinert, who was baptized at St. Margaret's, will be Troop 70's next Eagle Scout. He lives and did his Eagle Scout project in Alburtis.

Second, Shane Victorino is an Eagle Scout and was recently honored at the Eagle Scout Hall of Fame which is in Philadelphia.

Less than one percent of boys who enter scouting will go on to become an Eagle Scout...
"Congratulations, Chris."

Photo by Joanne R.

Family Fun - Fund raiser

Don't miss this pirate themed fun family event.
Saturday, May 30th at St. Margaret's Church,
Keystone and Elm in Emmaus. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.


Fund raiser to help
"Jackson Make
Brain Tumors Walk the Plank".
Auction. Food. Face painting.
And more.

I Think That I Shall Never See. . .

Usually big number and statistics go over my head.
But yesterday, I began to get it.


I went to the Emmaus Community Park to view first hand the damage from Sunday afternoon's wild winds. At least 6 tall pines and oaks had been toppled. They lay on their sides with their roots exposed. I wanted to right them. It was sad.


Other people were there. Teens climbing along the trunks. And families who put their children in the holes left by the exposed roots. Elementary school children stood up to their chests in the ground at the foot of the grounded trees.


The Arts Pavilion, the snack bar, the rest rooms and the three pavilions were undamaged.
I shook my head trying to picture this spot in the park with out the tall trees shading the ground.
<>
I left. Came home. Went online and a collection of "green facts" was waiting for me in my email.
Here's one that captured my attention.


Americans use 50 million tons of paper annually -- consuming more than 850 million trees.


And I began to get it.

I think that I shall never see
a poem lovely as a tree...

You can google "Toppled Trees in Emmaus, PA" and tab on images to see some of what I saw.
There is a video featuring Craig Neely, Borough Manager.

Triple Play

We are in for a rare treat this Sunday, March 15th.

Jan and Jim McGinnis, from Covenant Players, will be with us all morning long.
In a triple play, they will be performing the Lenten themed liturgical play "Attacks and Temptations" at both 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. worship. In between, they will visit our One Room Church School at 9 a.m. to talk about the ministry of drama.

The Church School hopes to present an Easter pageant on Sunday, April 19th. We are hoping to get some acting tips and brainstorm a story line.

An offering will be taken to help pay for their travel and lodging.

Covenant Players was established over 40 years ago. Teams of players have traveled the globe to teach and perform in churches, schools, hospitals and for the military. For more information log on to http://www.covenantplayers.org

Don't Miss This Winter Break....

3rd Annual WOSM Winter Retreat

The Women of St. Margaret's are holding their third annual
winter retreat at Kalmbach Memorial Park on Saturday, Jan.
24, 2009. The guest presentor is The Rev. Anne Kitch, author
of several books on spritual formation for adults and
children. She will be speaking on:

"Praying with the Desert Mothers:
Finding Wisdom in the Wilderness of our Lives."

This retreat is designed for women who hunger and thirst for
rest for the body, solace for the soul, and relief from
frenetic activity. The Desert Mothers were holy women of
the 4th Centruy who went into the wilderness to give
themselves completely to prayer. Meditating on the words of
these "ammas", we will be invited to discover how their
wisdom can enliven our spiritual practices today.

The day begins at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. Beverages,
snacks and a light lunch are provided. There is no charge
but reservations are necessary. Phone the Parish Office at
610 967 1450.

Women of faith from other denominations or neighboring
Episcopal parishes are welcome. There is room for another 12.
Save the date and your spot today!

The grounds at Kalmbach are great for walking. We suggest
that you bring cameras, journals or sketch books. The snow
date is the following Saturday--Jan. 30.

Photo was taken by Sue Schaffner at Kalmbach
during previous WOSM Winter Retreat.

Earlier tonight, around 4:30 p.m., I walked the Labyrinth. Bundled in a winter jacket, with the collar up around my ears, I set out. There was no "spiritual" intent in my mind. I really just wanted some fresh air.

After a few circuits, I began saying the "Jesus Prayer" in step with my breath and my pace. I breathed in "Jesus, Son of God" and breathed out "Have mercy on me, a sinner." Then the pattern stretched to breathing in "Jesus"; breathing out "Son of God"; breathing in "Have mercy on me"; breathing out "a sinner".

Just as I reached the center, I remember being thankful for my woolen gloves. It was 32 degrees F. Fortunately, there was no wind. So there was no wind chill factor to increase the chill to something unpleasant.

I sat for awhile on the center stump. I looked at St. Margaret’s building. A wintery sky with some white clouds were framed in the rings of the Celtic Cross on top of the Church. Around me were the dark skeletons of trees that recently lost all their leaves.

I told myself it was too early to pine for Spring; after all, it is not really even winter yet.
We are in the last weeks of autumn.
(Yes, there is an editorial bias in which seasons get capitalized.)

As I sat, I scanned to my right and to my left. I did not look behind me.
I offered some intercessions.

When I was ready, I stood up and walked out. It felt like the Labyrinth popped me out. Intellectually, I know it’s the same distance in and out. But, my experience is that going in often seems slower or longer or more deliberate.

So, I walked "The Emmaus Walk" and then walked up to Keystone Avenue where my car was parked. And I wondered what the result or benefit was for having done it.
A short drive home. I parked the car. Walked in my home and realized...
There was a hymn moving through my mind...

"What does the Lord require for praise and offering?
What sacrifice desire, or tribute bid you bring?
Do justly; love mercy; walk humbly with your God."
Hymn 605 based on Micah 6:8.

A gift. A boon. My earlier question was certainly answered.

Peace be with you.

P.S. Photo by Pam H.; taken during our Centennial Homecoming Celebration.

Centennial Homecoming - October 5, 2008

Photo by Pam Hunter

Fun News! Two from Emmaus take titles. . .

Kim Geist won a gold medal at the USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships out in Carson, California. If you remember, Kim had a terrible accident just a year ago when she was run over by a tractor trailor truck while out on a training run. All of you who prayed for her recovery - it's time to offer a prayer of thanksgiving. She is one of the best female riders in the world.

And lets not forget Mary Costello who recently took a Junior Women's biking title.

Andy W. says that St. Margaret's does female bikers well. Both of these young women worship at St. Margaret's. Kim's Mother has been on the teaching staff of St. Margaret's Nursery School since it opened over 25 years ago. And Mary's Mom? Evelyn says, "Just don't ask me to cook!"