  Erin's Epistlettes ~ July 10, 2025 Some Notes on Camp Canterbury I'm away at DioNeb's Camp Canterbury next week (July 13-20). Please include us in your prayers for uneventful travel and an enjoyable, safe and spirit-filled week for both campers and staff. This year's theme is Living Water. Central to our discussion and activities is the prayer of Thanksgiving Over the Water from the Baptismal rite. I've included those words below to refresh your memory and invite reflection. Our time at camp (hosted by Calvin Crest in Fremont) will include activities typical of this ministry: faith learning, prayer time with songs both silly and serious, crafts (my personal favorite), games, hanging out in the hammocks, gaga ball, pool time and the end-of-week talent show. (If you've never heard of gaga ball, I can explain -- sort of.) Community and friendship creation and building remain the hallmarks and cement on which the this unique and formative time is built. We eagerly anticipate another appearance by Moses himself, played by the ever-delightful and creative Rev. Robert Magoola of Saint Marks' on the Campus, Lincoln. Monday through Friday, I'm supervising campers and want to be fully present with them. Because of this, I'll have limited access to calls and texts and no access to email. On travel days, I'll pass through remote areas of our beautiful state which have spotty cell coverage. If I don't answer my cell phone, please leave a message and I'll call back as soon as I can. I wish to thank our friend the Rev. Chris Plantz+ of Rushville for celebrating and preaching in my absence July 13 and the intrepid Monica Shambaugh for agreeing to lead morning prayer on July 20. Thanksgiving Over the Water (BCP 306-7) We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water. Over it the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through it you led the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt into the land of promise. In it your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life. We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit. Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son, we bring into his fellowship those who come to him in faith, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. At the following words, the Celebrant touches the water Now sanctify this water, we pray you, by the power of your Holy Spirit, that those who here are cleansed from sin and born again may continue forever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Savior. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen. Youth Fellowship Adult Leaders In a few weeks, I'll begin working with the leadership (both lay and ordained) at First Presbyterian church to plan our upcoming program year for Youth Fellowship. We saw wonderful growth last school year with seven Episcopal youth participating. (One of these youth attends church at Holy Apostles; the other six are connected here.) If you're interested in serving as a youth group leader, let me know so we can include you in these discussions. You needn't be present every Sunday evening and you won't be required to lead any activities (unless, of course, you want to!). Simply being a warm and open presence helps to build the unique community so precious to the formation of our teens and preteens. ____________________________________________________________ Those who serve, Sunday, July 13, 9am Musician Barb Becker Media Team Steve Trickler Ushers Alena Kennedy, Charlie Kennedy Acolyte Master Clark Wisniewski Acolytes Madi Collins, Ella Iron Shell, Monica Shambaugh Lector/Intercessor Monica Shambaugh Eucharistic Minister Nancy Kepler Altar Guild Judi Widmaier, Connie Schingle, Jeane Anderson Coffee Hosts Cindy Dickinson, Connie Schingle Flowers: Artie & Jan Johnson For the birthday of grandson, Oliver John Clark Greg & Collette Suhr In memory of Greg’s father, Dean Suhr Upcoming Events at St. Francis: Wednesday 07/09 Evening Prayer on Zoom 6p Thursday 07/10 Men's Bible Study 8a Library Sunday Eucharist 07/13 St. Francis 9a and Joyful Noise Collection Guest Celebrant & Preacher: the Rev. Chris Plantz DioNeb's Camp Canterbury, Fremont, NE, July 14-18 _______________________________________________________________ From the Office—Ann’s Announcements Joyful Noise Collection, this Sunday July 13!  Our ECW “Christmas in July Bazaar” is coming up on Saturday, July 26th from 8:00am- 2: 00 pm in the Parish Hall. This event features Christmas Treasures, Flea Market items
and Bakery Treats! Please start looking through your closets and drawers for items you could donate to be sold at this event, and bakery items you could donate. NO Clothes please. We need volunteers who would like to help with pricing starting on Monday, July 21st, 9:00am- 12:00, throughout the week before the Sale. Even if you can only help for a short time it will be appreciated. We also need volunteers to help on July 26th at the sale. Sign up on the sheet in the Narthex, for a two hour block of time and give us your phone number. Your donations are welcomed starting Saturday, July 19th on the long table on the East wall of the Parish Hall, thru Friday, July 25th. Your generosity has always made this event a success and we hope you can help us again. Please call Barb Manasek 436-7767 or 672-9654 if you have any questions. Prayer Requests Prayer requests need to be received by Tuesday, if you’d like them to be printed in the bulletin. You may call (308) 632-4626 (leave a message) or email. The Forward Day by Day’s for August-October are available in regular and large print. If you’d like either of these mailed to you, please email us or call the church office. Comments are closed.
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