Community updates (10/26/22)
ECA’s Annual Pledge Campaign has begun. Last Sunday we considered the importance of gratitude, how it adds to our own joy and opens our eyes to blessings. We considered the question, “Who taught you to be generous?” Several folks at Sunday’s service offered their stories (check out last Sunday’s videotaped service on YouTube here. in the announcement time.) Generosity is learned through observation and practice. I invite you to consider this question for yourself this week, thinking about how gratitude and generosity enrich your life. And I invite you to think about gratitude and generosity in your annual estimate of giving (pledge) to the mission and ministries of ECA. How has being a member of ECA enriched your life?
Pledge cards will be sent out next week in a letter. Please plan to return your pledge card to church on Sunday, Nov 6th – All Saints Day and the 55th Birthday of ECA. Any Questions? Contact Us
All Saints Day – November 6 – and ECA’s Birthday as well as Ingathering of Pledges for 2023
The Feast of All Saints, November 1st is a major feast of the Church, when we recognize the Communion of Saints – that unbreakable bond of love and presence among all God’s people who have gone before us, live now, or will someday be born. It is also ECA’s birthday; we turn 55 this year! We will be celebrating both – so please put Sunday November 6th on your calendar as a day to be sure you attend church. That Sunday is also our Ingathering of Pledges for 2023.
THREE MORE WEEKS: Wednesday Night Discussion Class continues on Zoom as a book study “The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing Worldby His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, et al. Oct 26, Nov 2, and Nov 9
This lovely and inspiring book will lift your heart and soul. We will watch two great spiritual leaders of our time: one Anglican and one Buddhist, spend time together teaching and showing us what joy is and how it is cultivated, and we will be touched by their stories, deep friendship, good humor, and humble humanity. Open to all.
Find the Zoom link in the wednesday message email or Contact Us with any questions.
PLEASE MARK SUNDAY, DEC 4TH ON YOUR CALENDARS FOR ECA’S ANNUAL MEETING #1. As we did last year, we are splitting the 2023 Annual Meeting into two parts.
Part 1 will be after church on Sun, Dec 4th.
Part 2 will be after church on Sun, Feb 5 (Neither the play-offs nor the Super Bowl).
The Dec. meeting will focus on 2023 budget and elections for Vestry Members and Convention Delegates/Alternate. Part 2 will focus on where ECA is and the year ahead.
Can you help with the Church profile?
Ready for a walk? One aspect of the Church profile that needs to be completed is an observational review of our local church neighborhood. We would like to meet at the Church Saturday Nov 12 at 9:30 am. We will split into a few small groups of parishioners and each group will go out on different paths to observe and collect notes by using prompts that will be provided to you. We will meet back at the church for a “bring your own sack lunch” if you like and share your observations.
Another option is for small groups to take the neighborhood walks at a more convenient time for them and provide their notes.
Please contact us and ask for Todd Lukanc if interested or want more info on how to get involved.
Here is a direct link to our weekly “An Episcopal Sermon” podcast.
Each weekly podcast episode is a live recording of the Gospel reading followed by the sermon based on that reading from our Sunday services. A new episode is posted on our website every Monday. This podcast provides thought provoking messages that can be listened to anywhere at anytime.
Enjoy!
Link for this week:
https://www.churchinalmaden.org/news/oct23-2022-an-episcopal-sermon
We hope it goes without saying – but we’ll say it here – as the Joint Venture Churches move ahead together with the Church of the Future project, ECA will continue to meet as an Episcopal Church, celebrating the Episcopal liturgy, as we always have. Our Christian Education and spiritual growth opportunities will continue, as well as our pastoral care, love of diverse church music, fellowship, and outreach work. Learning to be church in a new way does not mean leaving behind our faith community culture or Episcopal ethos and affiliation.
-Shelley
Please save the DATE for the next Parish Transition Meeting with the Bishop
*** NOTE this is a DATE CHANGE FROM EARLIER COMMUNICATIONS
Please save the date for the 4th Parish Meeting with the Bishop. This Parish meeting will be reviewing Roles and Responsibilities of ECA through the Transition AND Discussing "Who ECA Is" This critical information will feed into the church's profile as part of the rector search
Event: Transition Parish Meeting #4 and Lunch Potluck
Date: Sunday November 20th
Time: Lunch Potluck (12-2pm) after church
Watch for a new sign ups for the potluck lunch on the ECA bulletin board!
Your attendance at this Parish Meeting is critical to the success of the transition! We need your inputs and participation as we walk together in our new path for the future. Contact Us if you have any questions or concerns.