The Vine Newsletter (Current & Past Editions)

Dear People of Emmanuel Church,

The past week seems to have been a gracious time of hopes and opportunities coming together. Bishop Klusmeyer had talked with me about Emmanuel Church, asking if I might be interested in working with the church community in Keyser. He spoke of you with affection and understanding. I talked with Kim Pifer and sent her my resume. She arranged for me to meet with the Vestry on Saturday, April 5th. After an energized two hours, we had formed a shared hope for the opportunities ahead. Shortly, on behalf of the Vestry, your Senior Warden called me to ask if I could come to Emmanuel as your priest and pastor. Both humbled and excited, I have accepted the Vestry’s invitation to become your Priest in Charge.

That is what has happened recently. Let me go back to when the groundwork for our meeting was laid. In 1972 I was the rector of a parish in the Maryland suburbs of Washington. Barbara, my wife, had grown up in a small town as had I. We needed an escape from the beltway, so we bought some land in the hills just east of Fort Ashby. The next year, with the help of lots of friends, we built a vacation home on the land. Ever since, we have been adding to that house, growing it in stages and calling it Shepherd’s Croft. Most of the work we have done with our own hands, learning how to be carpenters, plumbers (not very good ones), stone masons, painters, and all the other things you have to be as a home builder. We have so loved being here and have enjoyed our neighbors that Mineral County has become home.

Over the years I have served as Rector of St. Christopher’s Church in New Carrollton, MD, Trinity Church in St. Mary’s City, MD, Christ Church in Blacksburg, VA, and Bishop of The Diocese of Easton on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. After retiring from Easton I served for two years as the Interim Rector of the Church of the Redeemer in Cincinnati, OH, Assisting Bishop in Newark, NJ, and then for two years as the Interim Rector at Trinity Church, Upperville, VA.

Thank you for inviting me into your lives, allowing Barbara’s and my path to join with yours. I believe the Holy Spirit is at work in this coming together. It continues to amaze and delight me that after being a deacon, priest, and bishop, I still get excited as God guides me into new stages of my life.

Your wardens and Vestry described something of the challenges that you have recently faced and what some of your dreams and strengths are. I liked what I heard and I greatly look forward to knowing all of you. My first Sunday at Emmanuel will be May 11^th, which is the Feast of Pentecost, also Mother’s Day. It is an auspicious day for giving thanks and for new beginnings. Winter and late frosts are past. It is a time for planting our gardens with a confidence that they will yield fruit. “Now the green blade riseth… Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.”

You have bid farewell to The Rev’d Joyce Wilkinson, and elsewhere in this newsletter she bids you peace in her own farewell. May God bless our partings and our meetings.

See you on May 11^th.

In Christ,

+Martin G. Townsend

The Search Begins…

On the evening of Tuesday, June 12, 2007, the first meeting of the Rector Search Committee was held in the Parish Hall at Emmanuel Church, under the direction of the Venerable Faith Perrizo, Archdeacon of the Diocese of West Virginia.

Now that the Church Assessment Tools (CATs) – those special surveys that the members of Emmanuel Church were asked to fill out earlier this year – Venerable Faith will be assisting the Search Committee in its very important and detailed work of selecting candidates for consideration as the next rector of our church. The next step in the process will be for the Committee to create special profiles, one which will be sent to prospective priests, and the other will be uploaded to the deployment database at the Church Offices in New York City. Once the profile has been submitted to the database, priests who have qualifications that match the needs and vision of the church (as determined by the CATs) will be selected for consideration and provided to the Committee. Additionally, inquiries and resumes will be accepted by the Search Committee from all Episcopalian priests who might be interested in serving our community in Keyser.

The members of the Rector Search Committee are: Beverly Davis (Prayer Chaplain), Kenneth Dyche (Chairperson), Spring Fertig, Andrew Rankin, Sue Riley (Recording Secretary), Francine Shanahan, Ralph Smith, Michael Summers (Correspondence Secretary).

Emmanuel Episcopal Schedules Weekday Services

Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Keyser, in addition to its regular Sunday worship services at 8:00 and 10:00 AM, has scheduled special services of praise and healing during the week so that the spiritual needs of the community can be more readily met.

On Tuesday evenings throughout the year Emmanuel Church opens its doors at 7:00 PM to members of the congregation and the entire community to join together for the Taizé Prayer Service. This form of prayer and praise was developed and made popular by the ecumenical religious order established in Taizé, France, where youth throughout the world have gathered and brought the songs and worship style with them to their local congregations. Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Lutherans and other Christian groups have incorporated the Taizé Prayer Service into their spiritual lives, and have benefited greatly from the increased sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their midst.

The beauty of the Taizé Service is in its simplicity and the emphasis on holy silence. Basically the Service consists of prayers, intercessions, readings from the Holy Bible, and the heavenly Taizé songs which are sung repeatedly and gently, thus creating an atmosphere of peace and contemplation. At Emmanuel Church, these songs are accompanied by instrumental musicians, and live music enhances the worship experience for all involved.

Following the Taizé Service is the weekly meeting of the Guild of Sts. Peter and Paul, a study group that learns about and discusses Sacred Scripture, doctrine, spirituality, and Church history. The Guild is closely associated with the Order of the Holy Cross, a Benedictine monastery in the Episcopal Church.

The Taizé Services last for approximately 30 minutes, and all people are invited to attend. If you happen to play an acoustic instrument, such as the guitar, violin, harp, dulcimer, woodwinds and brass, Emmanuel Church encourages you to consider playing with the other musicians.

Each Wednesday morning, beginning at 10:30 AM, the Healing Service is held. A ministry of the St. Luke's Guild, a national organization within the Episcopal Church named in honor of the evangelist and physician companion of St. Paul, and dedicated to intense prayer for healing of the sick, this Service has long been a long-standing tradition at Emmanuel Church. One of the Episcopal Church's fundamental beliefs is that physical, mental, and spiritual healings are still manifested by God, and that all Christians are called to join in prayer in this continuation of the compassionate ministry of Jesus Christ.

The Healing Service, like the Taizé Service, is very simple. It consists of traditional hymns, readings from the Holy Bible, and extensive prayer for the ill and all those in need; the St. Luke's Guild maintains a Prayer List which contains the names of all those submitted to the Guild for prayer. At the climax of the Healing Service, the participants gather at the altar to receive the Holy Eucharist. The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is made available on request, and all people are encouraged to join us to receive the Sacraments.

If you or someone you know are in need of special prayer, you are invited to come feel the presence of Jesus Christ and the support of a loving family during your time of need. To have your name or the names of your loved ones added to the Prayer List, just call the Church Office at (304) 788-4475, or log onto www.emmanuelepiscopalchurchwv.org.

Emmanuel Episcopal, located at 301-303 South Mineral Street, Keyser, is a parish of the Diocese of West Virginia, and is a member of the world-wide Anglican Communion.

A Message from Brother Joseph Brown, OHC


My Dear Friends at Emmanuel Church,

I want to thank you for the warm and gracious hospitality. Your personable and heartfelt welcome are an excellent example of the hospitality we Christians are called to extend to all people, at all times. The beauty of the land and the friendliness of the congregation are something that I will hold in my heart for many years to come. I would like to remind you that you are always welcome here at Holy Cross Monastery and I hope you take us up on the offer.

As special thank you to Michael and David for their heroic dedication and hours and hours of "monk moving". Be well, God bless you all, and know that you are all in the prayers of the monks and community here at Holy Cross.

Your Brother in Christ,

Joseph

Throughout the centuries many Christians have desired to escape from the pressures of ordinary life for a brief period of time to gain a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, and so monasteries sprang up all over the world to provide places for prayer and reflection, spiritual oases from the everyday world. However, since there aren’t any monasteries conveniently located near the Keyser area, Emmanuel Episcopal Church will be offering to people the opportunity to spend a little “quality time” with the Lord by hosting a special Quiet Day, directed by an Episcopalian-Benedictine monk of the Order of the Holy Cross.

The Quiet Day, which will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Saturday, March 24, 2007, will be led by Brother Joseph Brown, OHC, from the Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, New York. An accomplished iconographer (icons are sacred art from the Eastern Orthodox tradition and are very popular in the Episcopal Church), Brother Joseph is well versed in Christian spirituality as well as the thought, mysticism and prayer of the apostolic tradition. After a long career in business, Brother Joseph turned toward a calling to the monastic life. Brother Joseph has recently finished icon commissions for many churches and individuals including the icon of St. Julian of Norwich, presented at the installation of Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori, who is the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America and a Primate within the Anglican Communion.

Brother Joseph will be presenting three sessions on Christian spirituality during the Quiet Day. The first session will address centering meditation in a Christian context; the second session will be dedicated to the ancient Christian practice of Lectio Divina, or meditating on the Holy Bible; the third session will focus upon seeing the face of Jesus Christ in everyone. It is hoped that these Gospel-inspired sessions will bring the participants much closer to God during the Lenten season, and will provide all with tools for a deeper life of prayer.

The Order of the Holy Cross, which is one of the oldest religious orders in the Episcopal Church, was founded by Father James Otis Sargent Huntington in New York City in 1884. The monastic community moved from New York City to Maryland before finally settling in West Park, NY, in 1902. At the present time the Order of the Holy Cross consists of five monasteries in the United States, Canada, and South Africa. The primary work of the Holy Cross community is worship and prayer, and its mission is to provide prayerful retreats to all people.

The Quiet Day will begin with Morning Prayer at 10:00 AM, and will include a celebration of the Holy Eucharist (all baptized Christians are invited to receive Holy Communion with us). All participants will have the opportunity to receive the Sacramental Rite of Reconciliation (private confession with spiritual guidance and absolution), and a Lenten-style (meatless) lunch will be served in the Parish Hall. The Quiet Day will conclude at 4:00 PM.

This special day of prayer and contemplation is open to the public at no cost; however, one may give a free-will offering if desired. Those who wish to attend the Quiet Day are requested to register for the event by Friday, March 16, 2007, and you may RSVP by calling the Emmanuel Church office at (304) 788-4475, or by visiting the church website at www.emmanuelepiscopalchurchwv.org and filling out the special on-line form.

"Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me": The Celebration of Lent at Emmanuel Episcopal Church

The season of Lent in the Christian Church is sometimes approached by people with an attitude of discomfort, for "Lent" tends to evoke mental images of that dreary period of time in the early spring when we're expected to give up foods, drinks, and activities that we really enjoy. While it is true that voluntarily abstaining from certain types of food and beverages (commonly meats, rich desserts, candy and alcohol) are traditional elements of the Lenten discipline -- and this discipline is probably healthier for us in the long-run -- this really is not the whole point of the season. In other words, developing self-control through abstinence is the means to a far greater end or goal.

In the Anglican/Episcopalian tradition, Lent is a special time of renewal and repentance dedicated each year to encouraging Christians to focus upon their relationship with God and each other, and our understanding of this holy season is summed up in the Prayer for Ash Wednesday:

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (1979 Book of Common Prayer, page 217.)

Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Keyser, WV will be offering numerous activities and programs throughout the season of Lent in 2007 to assist people who seek to have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer, repentance and study. Beginning on the first day of Lent, which is Ash Wednesday, the Liturgy and traditional imposition of ashes will be celebrated on February 21, 2007.

During the first Sunday of Lent Emmanuel Church will be encouraging the practice of contemplative prayer by holding a mini-workshop where participants will be taught how to make their very own Anglican rosaries (materials will be provided), as well as instructions on how to use this very popular form of prayer developed by the Episcopal Church. The workshop is scheduled for Sunday, February 25, 2007, and will be held after Sunday Brunch following the 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist. The Anglican rosary is a combination of the Roman Catholic rosary and the Eastern Orthodox prayer-rope that is used for the "Jesus Prayer", and consists of 33 beads and a cross or crucifix.

On each Tuesday evening during Lent Emmanuel Church plans to hold traditional Taize prayer services. The service consists of music, scripture, prayers and silence for mediation. Taize songs are simple and repeated again and again so they become prayerful and meditative. This service is not only for the worship of God, but it is also to quiet our busy selves. Taize is an ecumenical French monastic community founded after World War II which draws pilgrims from around the world, and is the inspiration for these special services. Following the Taize service there will be a discussion group formed to reflect upon the text The Practice of Prayer, by Rev. Margaret Guenther, as well as The Benedictine Handbook and St. Benedict's Toolbox, by Rev. Jane Tomaine.

Finally, the main event for the Lenten season at Emmanuel Episcopal Church is a "Quiet Day" on Saturday, March 24, 2007. This Quiet Day will be directed by Brother Joseph Brown, a monk of the Episcopal Order of the Holy Cross from West Park, NY. Bro. Joseph is not only a professed monk in one of the oldest religious orders in the Episcopal Church, but is also an accomplished iconographer who creates works of prayerful art according to the ancient Eastern Orthodox methods. The Quiet Day will begin at 10:00 AM in the sanctuary of Emmanuel Church, with a Lenten-style lunch to be served in the Parish Hall. Sacramental confession will be available to all who might desire it. It is highly encouraged that those interested in participating in the Quiet Day contact the parish office to RSVP.

All of the Lenten events sponsored by Emmanuel Episcopal Church, which is located at 301-303 South Mineral Street, Keyser, are open to the public without charges or fees, although one may give a free-will donation that will be donated to a local charity. For additional information regarding these forthcoming events, people may contact the parish at (304) 788-4475, or by sending an email to withus@verizon.net.