Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I remember when I was first ordained, the rector I was working with told me how relaxing the summer was, and encouraged me not to do too much, so I would be ready for the busy fall season. I was looking forward to it. But since, among other things, I was working in a soup kitchen where hungry people needed to be fed every
day, I didn’t see much of that relaxed season I had been encouraged to keep. Frankly, I have never found summer all that relaxing. We may not have classes in the summer, but the life of the church does not stop, even while we take turns taking vacations. So many things are happening! I’m going to try to list them in date order so we can all keep track, and not miss anything we want to participate in!
1. Bishop Kevin (DioBeth) and Bishop Audrey (Dio. Central PA) have organized Town Hall Meetings about reunification on zoom: July 9 and July 15, 7:00 p.m. Please consider attending one of them. This is a very important time for the two dioceses as they ponder what their future swill look like. “Frequently Asked Questions and Concerns Around Possible Reunification” have been posted at https://reunificationdiobethdiocpa.org/faq/. Please do read this document! It contains clear answers to a number of the questions we have all had. If you don’t wish to read online, please check with Connie Allport, who has printed a number of them for us. Register at https://diobeth.org/ for the Town Hall zoom link. All are invited and encouraged!
2. In the last letter, I told you about Ellie Escher’s music camp this week. I’m sitting in my office listening to 25 young voices singing in the church. Heaven! They are sending 6 hours a day of their vacation time honing their craft. Come to hear the fruits of their week-long labors Friday, July 12 at 6:30. The show is open to
everyone.
3. On Sunday (July 14) we will be blessing food for the Groceries Plus Emmaus Food Pantry. Please bring in you donations. They say that things are getting pretty skimpy over the summer since people are traveling, so please be generous.
4. On Sunday (July 14) we will be doing a service at Legend of Allentown at 1:30. At the services we primarily sing some of the old-timey hymns. If there’s one of them that you are missing from your childhood, let me know and we might be able to add it in. It’s great fun and the residents always look forward to it.
5. I will be taking vacation a week at a time in July, August and September. I will be away next week, July 15-20. I’ll be back for Sunday, July 21. If you need a priest during that time, please call one of the Wardens and they’ll contact the one who is covering for me.
Second week of vacation will be August 26-31.
September vacation: still TBD.
JOY and enJOY!
Mo. Laura
Coming Up
- July 9 and July 15, 7:00 p.m. Town Hall Meetings with Bishop Kevin and Bishop Audrey (Dio. Central PA) about reunification. Register at https://diobeth.org/ for the zoom link. All are invited!
- July 8-12: Ellie Escher’s music camp at church 6:30 on Friday, July 12: show the students—FREE to
everyone
- July 14 Blessing of food donated to Groceries Plus Food Pantry
- July 14 1:30 Service at Legend
- July 14-20 Mo. Laura on vacation
- Wednesdays, noonday prayer via zoom at 12:00