Monthly Newsletter

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MAY 2021 HARBINGER

Volume 8, Issue 5

NEWS FROM OUR RECTOR

Dear Beloved in Christ,

Hildegard of Bingen was a twelfth century Benedictine abbess, healer, musician, theologian, and spiritual guide. Among her glorious and wise writings, St. Hildegard has left us teachings about the energy of viriditas, or the "greening power of God." (Viriditas is related to the words viridity and verdant= greenness, as of young leaves or blades of grass; liveliness; freshness.)

When life dramatically changes, when transition happens, when profound loss occurs, when a long held dream fizzles out, when the very thing we dreaded has come to pass, we may not be able to recognize or take enthusiastic hold of viriditas. Yet, as Mary Magdalene encounters the risen Jesus at the empty tomb, the Gospel of John recalls to us how God meets us in the depths of grief and invites us to rebirth. Not exactly a return to the life we knew before. But nevertheless, a life of healing and abundance that far exceeds our expectation or imagination.

For years I've been captivated by the image of the tree of life, with deep roots touching the well of life and with graceful branches lifted to the sky. I see the tree of life as a symbol of the resurrection. It manifests viriditas, the healing, life-giving power of God embodied by Christ as he overcomes the forces of destruction. It speaks to me of the life-giving presence of Resurrecting Love revealed here and now.

Of course God extends the promise of newness and rebirth throughout the calendar year, but during this Easter season we are especially mindful of the magnitude of this gift.

As we explore the spiritual terrain before us, how will you harness the power of resurrection? Where do you need it most?

Dear Ones, may the blessing of viriditas embrace you and lift you up, at Easter and always..

Gratefully Yours,

Kay+

GREETINGS FROM OUR SENIOR WARDEN

I don't like to sound like a broken record but this pandemic is getting old. At least we are back into re-entry mode Phase-2. This allowed us to officially celebrate Palm Sunday and Easter in person at church with other members of the parish. We will continue in this phase as the covid protocols allow. Please remember to call ahead or reserve space on our new website, as we are limited to 25% or 50 people in the sanctuary. If we get over that number we can set up the Wood Fellowship Hall (undercroft) as we can live-stream to that TV.

Speaking on behalf of the Vestry, I would like to thank everyone for keeping up with your pledge. The last figures I heard, we are slightly over what was budgeted. THANK YOU. Thanks to the facilities group we are keeping on top of any issues that prop up, be they small or large. (This old building is a job to maintain.)

Back to worship, the staff and choir are preparing for Pentecost Sunday, May 23. Please make plans to attend and remember to wear red. Hopefully, soon we will all be back in church and able to visit during coffee hour. Please pray, be safe and get vaccinated when you can.

As always, you can call Rev. Kay, Leah of me if you have any questions or concerns.

Peace,

Bruce Turner, Sr. Warden

JUNIOR WARDEN REPORT - MAY 2021

1. Stewardship

a. Final tally, $306,031 (2020 was $330,348). Considering the pandemic, we are immensely proud of the support by the EEC parishioners.

b. Planning the 2022 Stewardship Campaign for August.

2. Facility Management

a. Working with the city of Petoskey and a local paving company to repave the exit drive, expand the opening onto Mitchell street and redo the curb.

b. Scheduling a building leak evaluation to identify causes and address possible repairs.

3. Recently completed projects.

a. Three new toilets installed.

b. Two new pumps installed completing the boiler repairs.

4. IT Update

a. New website up and running. Please make it your portal to EEC.

b. New laptops have arrived and are being loaded with appropriate software.

Submitted by Hal Lawrence, Junior Warden

“The Good News” for Emmanuel’s

Youth Pantries

In January 2017, Emmanuel Episcopal Church opened the Northmen Den Youth Pantry at the Petoskey Middle School, with eight students attending. Before COVID-19 hit, we had over 120 students visiting our four youth pantries – Northmen Dens MS & HS, Harbor Hut MS, and Lakeview Locker HS – each Friday.

Our church ministry has become a wholly respected and beloved community program raising over a quarter of a million dollars for these most vulnerable children. We are ready to grow with two new programs this fall by providing after-school tutoring and group mentoring at the Carnegie Building. Reverend Kay and our Vestry realize this ministry needs to become a corporate entity and not-for-profit to expand grant opportunities to fulfill its mission and purpose for these economically disadvantaged youth ages 11 to 18. The IRS application approval will take several months, and, in the meantime, Emmanuel continues to be our donor fiscal agent.

The Northmen Den Youth Pantries, Inc. Board are Kathy Petersen, Executive Director (Volunteer) & President; Joyce Riordan, Secretary; Sue Droste, Treasurer & Emmanuel’s Board Member Liaison; Christine Carpenter; Sierra Hilt; and, Joy McBride.

We still need Emmanuel to be our guiding light by keeping us in your prayers and providing valuable Angels Dressed as Volunteers. We will never forget a young Emmanuel child saying, “I will go home and get more food for the children who are hungry.” Her voice and message will always resonate within us.

Peace & Blessings,

Kathy Petersen

PLANNED GIVING at EMMANUEL

Leaving a Legacy:

How can you support the Emmanuel you love while still caring for yourself and your family? Through planned giving you can achieve both your family stewardship and your estate planning goals while also supporting Emmanuel into the future. Planned Giving can take many different forms depending on your objectives. And without necessarily contributing money today, supporting Emmanuel into the future can be easy and rewarding.

Ways to support Emmanuel through Planned Giving:

Will or Trust. Include Emmanuel Episcopal Church in your will or trust for a certain dollar amount; a percentage; a percentage of the remainder; or as a 'contingent beneficiary' if other beneficiaries in your will or trust do not survive you.

Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts. You can name Emmanuel as a full or partial beneficiary on your IRA or other retirement accounts. Simply contact your financial advisor regarding the beneficiary form.

Beneficiary designation on a life insurance policy. It's easy to name Emmanuel as a full or partial beneficiary on a life insurance policy. Consult your insurance agent.

Charitable Giving as part of your Estate Plan:

Charitable giving as part of our estate planning can be a rewarding process. It is possible to address one's own personal financial objectives, and also have a significant and permanent philanthropic impact on our church and our community.

To get started, and for more information, please contact a member of Emmanuel's finance committee (call Leah at 347-2350) or the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation (348-5820). Our planned giving guide, A Permanent Legacy, can be found here http://bit.ly/37T7Z9g or in hard copy at the church office.

A planned gift often takes into consideration tax and estate analysis and introducing other family members to charitable giving decisions. This information is not legal or tax advice. Be sure to seek the advice of properly qualified legal, tax, and financial advisors before making a planned gift.

MUSIC MINISTRIES NEWS FOR MAY 2021

MAY 2021 OUTREACH MINISTRY NEWS

Outreach will be planting a community garden at the Sheridan Community Victory Garden site on June 13. We ask that you either purchase your plants at Bear Creek Nursery or Coveyou. Water and garden tools are available at the site. The name for the garden site is based on the most popular selection from the choices listed in the Sunday News as follows:

Green Dreams

Grateful Garden

Soul Food

Victory Garden

Victory Vines

The winning name will be announced on Sunday, May 2, 2021.

We will want to have parishioner participation with weeding and harvesting throughout the summer. This should be a fun family event to participate in. Our garden is the newest one at the Sheridan Victory site. We will be having a garden blessing on June 13th at the site. The produce that we harvest can be shared at the Thursday lunch program and/or used to prepare the meals being served in July or September which are our serving months at 1st Presbyterian Church.

This is another reminder about CROP Walk 2021. Mark your calendars for the last Saturday in June,June 26th. If the event ends up being a virtual event, we can try to plan an Emmanuel socially distanced walk and collection. $$ Stay well tuned for more information in the June Harbinger.

Blessings,

Dottie Hawthorne and Shirley Burns

EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL’S NEW WEBSITE

It Is Here!

The all new eecpetoskey.org website just launched on Monday!

This is a wonderful new place for us to grow in community. There are many new features to connect us and sustain us, like:

All parishioners can register and create your own profile with a photo and information about yourself.

Monthly newsletters will be posted here with the information you need to stay connected

Photos of our beautiful church and parish events

You can now livestream services directly from the site and see past services

Online giving. Make a special gift for flowers, music and more or set up your annual pledge

Online sign up for events when we can all be together again!

And so much more!

The vestry and volunteers have worked closely with, and want to thank our consultant for this new site, Kevin Cell.

Click here to take it for a test drive and tell us what you think!

MULCHFEST 2021!

This is a crew you want to be a part of! The annual Mulchfest will take place at Emmanuel on May 22. We have 10 yards of mulch arriving on May 20th and it needs to be put in place before Sunday. Or Rev. Kay will be preaching a "Sermon on the Mulch" while celebrating Pentecost. So please join us at 9 A.M. and see if we can match or set a record of one hour and 20 minutes established a few years ago.

Last year we were not able to work much on the gardens so they have been a bit neglected. No mulch was distributed and no geraniums planted. We could use everyone's help!! If you have an extra wheel barrow, a pitchfork, or a big shovel, bring it along. We do have some tools so don't let that hold you back.

Let's get the mulch in place so we can plant the geraniums. Emmanuel will rise like a Phoenix to grace the Mitchell Street corridor once more. The church grounds will be as welcoming as the congregation.

BOOKS AND BEYOND

Our pick for May’s meeting is The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel. Inspired by an astonishing true story from WWII, the novel tells of the faith and courage of a young woman with a talent for forgery. She steps outside of her comfort zone to help hundreds of Jewish children flee from Nazis in this unforgettable historical novel.

Our meeting will be Monday May 10th at 2pm. Weather permitting we will meet outside on Emmanuel’s lawn, so please bring a lawn chair. IF the weather is looking bad, I’ll be sending out an email that morning with an alternate plan – we will be able to do a zoom meeting. Pray for decent weather!!

PASTORAL CARE MINISTRY - MAY 2021

May is upon us! We have been looking forward to this season when our earth begins to green and the flowers bloom.

Our Ministry continues to ask God to bless our parish family, our community, our nation and our world with health, love, and compassion for each other.

Our Pastoral Care ministry is ready to bring hope and love to anyone who is isolated and in need of support. We continue to reach out to our church family through phone calls and cards; always ready to lend a listening ear and to share conversations that bring us closer together in fellowship.

Pastoral Care continues to meet via Zoom to study the book The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene’ Brown. We are guided in discussion by Reverend Kay. In April we reflected on the topic of “Cultivating Intuition and Trusting Faith”. We will continue to meet monthly to read, discuss and grow together.

At present, our membership includes fifteen active members, and we are always ready to welcome anyone else who feels called to share their time and talent with us.

Our Prayer Shawl Ministry is currently in need of anyone who has the time and talent to knit prayer shawls or scarves. We have received many wonderful letters of thanks from members of our parish family who have been blessed with the sacred comfort that they provide. Please let us know if you are willing to join this Prayer Shawl Ministry. We will provide the yarn if you provide the fingers and skill! Contact Leah.

Pastoral Care is the shared responsibility of both Reverend Kay and the church laity. We continue to support each other and especially those in need. Our ongoing support includes giving rides to appointments, delivering meals, reaching out to our parish members through cards and phone cards, and ongoing prayers to God for peace, , and healing.

If you are in need or know of someone in need, please reach out to Sharyn at 248.909.5862, Nina at 231.881.2630, Rev. Kay at 231.487.2199 or Leah 231.347.2350 ext. 110 in the church office.