Glebe Episcopal Church
The Glebe
Gazette
October 2021
Thoughts from our Priest: October 1, 2021
So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:21
Dear Glebe Family,
As the first Autumn breeze sets the branches of our oaks to dance, I am reminded of their enduring strength. I am encouraged by their fortitude and ability to weather years of storm and the relentless heat of summers like this one just past.
This Sunday, we will happily return to in-person worship under the covering of those stalwart branches! We will joy in seeing one another! We will raise our voices in praise, even behind a mask, as we continue to care for each other in such ways.
And we will bring our pets! Those furry or furless members of our families are all welcome. On Sunday, October 3, 2021, we will celebrate the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis was an Italian Friar known for his love of the Eucharist, all God’s creatures and nature itself.
Earlier this week, a little multi-colored skink wiggled across the church steps as I came into the church. All God’s creatures reflect the creative imagination of the Holy Creator of us all! I welcomed him in the Spirit of St. Francis, as he ran out into the grass, his blue and purple tail waving all the way.
May we be encouraged by our majestic oaks and allow our spirits to slow down a bit as the days shorten. May we be curious like the beautiful skink, and like St. Francis experience the life-giving, restorative power of God in the beauty of creation. See you Sunday under our Oaks!
Together in Christ’s love,
Reverend Donna+
October CHURCH CALENDAR:
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October 03:10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist and Blessing of the Animals
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Wednesday October 20: 7:00 p.m. Vestry Meeting in the Parish Office Building – Social distance and masks required, please.
To my Glebe Family -
My family and I cannot express how much love and gratitude we send to each and everyone of you that has helped us through this difficult time. Thank you for all the beautiful cards and words of encouragement we have received, for flowers, visits, food and chocolate! We could not have coped with everything without all the support from everyone and our wonderful Rector Donna, who is truly a wonderful blessing to our lovely Glebe church. The memorial service was full of laughter and tears, and I know that Philip was watching over us all and laughing with us. Thank you to all the 'worker bees' in Keener Hall at the reception and for the array of all the delicious food provided for us - we truly are so grateful to you all.
My heartfelt gratitude and love to all my Glebe family - prayers are with you all — Sally and family
SERVING THE PARISH
We have attached an abbreviated ROTA for the Licensed Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs) for October and November 2021. We hope to have a full Serving the Parish ROTA schedule starting in November and welcome those who may be interested in this ministry.
If you are interested in serving during our worship services, please let our leaders know which of the following categories you wish to serve on: Reverend Donna – Liturgical; Debbie Eure - Hospitality; Phyllis Edwards – Altar Guild or let Becky Mahoney know in the parish office (757) 538-8842 email: Glebe@glebechurch.org
Would you like to serve as?
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LEMs (Lay Eucharistic Ministers)
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Lay Readers
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Acolytes
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Ushers
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Coffee Hour Hostess
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Altar Guild Member
Thank you for helping make our services and church the best place of worship!
PARISH ADMINISTRATOR: Rebecca Mahoney
Safe Church Training Update:
Many of us at Glebe who serve in different capacities are required to complete Safe Church Training every three years. Please stay tuned for an email next for those in need of this training.
Safe Church training sessions are currently available via Zoom and Praesidium Academy. If you prefer a more interactive training format, two Zoom-based safe church training workshops are available:
If you prefer to complete training online, Praesidium Academy online safe church training platform, is now up and running and is also an option.
Click here for information about registering for either Zoom-based or Praesidium Academy online safe church training.
We have received requests to host in-person Specialized training workshops. Unfortunately, due to the increasing number of Covid cases and the length of time required to complete a Specialized Training workshop we are not offering Specialized in-person training at this time. However, we will continue to offer Zoom-based Specialized Training sessions which are live and interactive. Universal Training workshops, which are 90 minutes long, can be done safely in person or by Zoom. If a church would like to host an in-person Universal Training workshop, or schedule a Universal Training Zoom workshop, please contact Susan Allen at the diocesan office, 757-423-8287.
We will send out notices when the Diocesan Office will provide the next ZOOM classes.
If you attended either course during the month of September, please let me know.
Rebecca Mahoney, Parish Administrator
Glebe Episcopal Church
Telephone: (757) 538-8842
Fax Phone: (757) 538-0509
Email: Glebe@glebechurch.org
NEWS FROM OUR JUNIOR WARDEN: Brian Champigny
Greetings from your Junior Warden. I am glad to announce the HVAC Replacement/Upgrade to our Sanctuary and old Parish Hall is complete! May we all find strength through prayer and thanksgivings for our many blessings as we move forward as a parish and Christian Family.
DEMONSTRATING GOD’S LOVE:
Hospitality: Aaron Fuchs & Debbie Eure
Philip Ford’s funeral reception:
A huge thank you to Hilary Todd and those that helped her with the reception. I heard it was very nice with lots of food. I am sure the Ford family appreciated all of your efforts.
Thank you all so much!
Take care!
Debbie Eure
Hospitality
Outreach: Steve Turner
HUBS PEANUTS:
Can you believe the Christmas Season is just around the corner! We are once again going to be selling “Virginia’s Famous HUBS PEANUTS.” Tina Bowden has graciously agreed to be contact person for this Outreach Program. Start now to make your order list. Chocolate covered peanuts will not be available until November 1. The campaign will run through December 17th.
We will have order forms ready by the end of October.
Glebe’s Prayer Shawl Ministry:
The Prayer Shawl Ministry is a vitally important part of our Outreach at Glebe. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to those who have lovingly made prayer shawls for this ministry. Thank you so much!
These are blessed and dedicated as God’s love to those in need of prayer, healing, encouragement or the reminder they are loved by God and our church family at Glebe.
If you are interested in making a shawl for this ministry, please do call our Administrator Becky Mahoney to express your willingness to help with this much needed outreach.
Also, if you know someone who needs a prayer shawl, please let Becky or Rev. Donna know and we will be glad to reach out to them.
Thank you in advance!!
covid-19 delta variant UPDATE
Dear People of Glebe and Community Friends,
In light of the current Covid-19 Delta Variant impacting our local and surrounding communities, masks are once again required at the direction of our Diocesan leadership and Church Wardens.
Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to ensure the safety of those most at risk on our campus.
We also share the following information:
Guidance Regarding the Delta Variant Surge from our Diocese:
Church leadership, along with their health equity teams, should be continually assessing safety regarding worship. Because the situation is volatile and changes rapidly, decisions should be reassessed each week. At the very least, the Diocese recommends the following:
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Strong advice, if not mandate, that masks be worn indoors.
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Singing, if done indoors, should be by masked individuals only and congregations should consider limiting the number of verses of each hymn that is sung.
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Service times should be shortened to 30-40 minutes, particularly if singing is part of the service.
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Adequate ventilation should be attended to; and, if possible, outdoor worship is safest.
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Physical distancing should be observed.
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No physical passing of the peace, collection plate, etc.
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Communion should continue to be administered in one kind only or with individually prepared containers.
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Continued efforts to offer technological alternatives to in-person worship (live-stream, pre-recorded, Zoom, etc.)
Please take good care and know you are in our prayers at this time. Donna+
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A psalm. For giving grateful praise.
Psalm 100
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
