The Big Red Door
OF THE “NORTHERN KINGDOM” OF CHENANGO COUNTY
The Monthly Newsletter of St. Andrew’s, St. Matthew’s, and Emmanuel Episcopal Churches — March, 2019
In this Issue
The Rector’s Desk ............... 1
Easter Flowers .................... 2
Shrove Tuesday/Ash Wednes-
day/Lenten Schedules .......... 2
Reminder from Fr. Steve ..... 3
Serving Schedules ............... 4
News Around the
Kingdom ........................... 5-9
Food and Fellowship ........... 7
Food Pantries ....................... 7
Pastoral Needs and Prayer
Requests .............................. 8
March
Birthdays/Anniversaries ...... 9
Can You Call It By Any Other
Name ................................... 9
Our “Creed” ....................... 10
St. Andrew’s,
St. Matthew’s,
and Emmanuel
faithfully serve God’s
Kingdom in the
Diocese of Central
New York
Walk the Walk
Most of the year, it’s easy to walk
with Jesus. Well, you know what I mean.
It’s never easy to walk with an incarnate
God. I mean we always look a little less
capable in comparison to Jesus. And other
people, ridiculing us or (worse!) ignoring us
— well, that can be a drag. And sometimes
we just want to throw in the towel when we
have a particularly bad day. But most of
the time it’s easy, all things considering.
Most of the year, our Gospel read-
ings give us the pretty mellow, wise Jesus.
You know the one: the Jesus who has inter-
esting stories, hangs out with folks like us,
forgives people. And then there’s always
the spectacle of miracles. Fish by the bas-
kets-full. Blind, sick, lame — all cured!
Even the occasional raising from the dead.
We all want to be associated with this. Sort
of bask in Jesus’ radiated glory.
But now we’re going into Lent.
On Ash Wednesday, things begin to take a
dark turn. We are still going to try to walk
with Jesus, but, man, it’s getting harder.
We are walking with a man who is
going to be hunted like an animal. A man
who has to flee in the dark of night, who
has to sleep with one eye open. A man
who is going to weep for the world, hunger
and thirst. A man who is going to go off
on his own and plead with God, “What’s it
all about? Is any of this necessary? Am I
even making a difference?”
And we will walk further with Jesus
and bear witness to betrayal, beatings, ridi-
cule, crucifixion, and death. Many of us will
have to fight off the urge to turn away, just
ignore this season, and wait for the Resur-
rection. Skip all of this sorrow and darkness
and just fast forward to the end, so we can
revel in our happiness.
Yes, most of the year it’s easy to
walk with Jesus. But this is the time of year
when we must walk with Jesus. This is the
time of year when we discover what being
Christian is really all about.
For ours is not a religion that claims
to be easy. Ours is not a faith that focuses
on maximization of good feelings. Instead,
ours is a faith of hard work. Of going out
and comforting the suffering, of fighting for
the oppressed, of being there for others
when they feel most alone.
Because we weren’t there for Jesus.
Lent is a time for us to reflect on
who we really are and what we need to
change. Lent, for all it’s introspection, asks
us to move. To continue moving, to contin-
ue walking with Jesus. Every step we take is
change — it’s moving from where we were
to where we need to be.
So, welcome to this Lenten season.
Don’t sit still, and don’t be afraid, because
when we walk with Jesus, remember — he’s
also walking with you.
— Fr. Steve
Page 2 The Big Red Door

Easter Flowers for the Church

Easter Lily Request Form
For the nave on Easter as an appreciation of a relative or loved one please fill in this form and re-
turn it to the church indicated by Monday, April 1, 2019. You may also tell us by calling the Parish
Office (607) 334-8801 or email the church at emmanuelchurch@frontiernet.net prior to the date/
time above to make arrangements. A monetary donation of any amount will be appreciated.
Thank You.

These Plants are given by__________________________________

Phone: (___)________________Email:________________________
Please check: ____To Honor ____In Memory ____For Thanksgiving

for the following:

Please Print:
_____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Church Name ____Emmanuel _____St. Matthew’s ______St. Andrew’s

SHROVE TUESDAY/ASH WEDNESDAY/LENTEN SCHEDULE

Shrove Tuesday (March 5th): 6:00 p.m. @ St. Matthew’s

Come and get your pancake on! This year we’re doing something different — an Agape Meal!

“What’s an Agape Meal?” you ask. Well, simple. We will begin supper with prayers, the blessing of bread,
and sharing that bread. When the bread has been shared, we will eat supper in fellowship with one another.
Then, after supper, we will bless the wine and share that, just like in the Gospels: “After supper, he took the
cup. . .”

So come and join in!

Ash Wednesday (March 6th):

You have three opportunities for the imposition of ashes.

1. We understand that not everyone can participate during the day on Ash Wednesday. So, after the Shrove
Tuesday supper, Fr. Steve will move over to the St. Matthew’s nave and will do the traditional Blessing
and Imposition of Ashes. NOTE: this will be Tuesday, March 5

2. 9:00 a.m. @ St. Andrew’s chapel — Ash Wednesday service. (If we pack the chapel out, we’ll move to the
nave.

3. Evening Ash Wednesday service in Norwich sponsored by your Norwich Churches. More info to follow.

Lenten Soup Supper:

We will return to St. Matthew’s this year, for Wednesday evening soup suppers during Lent, followed by
Compline. The plan here is to rotate among the three churches each year. So, watch out, St. Andrew’s and
Emmanuel — your turn is coming!!! Watch your email and Sunday bulletins for more information.
The Big Red Door Page 3

REMINDER FROM FR. STEVE

A few months ago, I wrote an article about planning your funeral and how to obtain the forms we use to do just that. A few of
you responded by filling this out, but, frankly, not enough of you did this. So, I’m reprinting portions of that article to provide a
nudge. — Fr. Steve+

Many of us, as we get older, have managed to form some sort of funeral plan. We have our plot pur-
chased; we’ve arranged things with a funeral home; we’ve paid fees and decided what we want on our tomb-
stones. Some of us have even written our own obituaries! But how many of us have sat down with the clergy
or church staff and worked with them to plan the actual church service?

At the time of a loved one’s death, the family often finds itself in uncharted territory. Often times,
this can be the first time a child or grandchild has had to make the kinds of decisions they are having to make.
And, frankly, often times, these family members are not familiar with an Episcopal funeral service.

It seems like it shouldn’t be a big deal for anyone, but it is, especially for those who aren’t used to
Episcopal funerals. Right when they are having to make all sorts of arrangements and deal with tremendous
loss, they are suddenly being asked all sorts of questions that may seem more annoying than anything else:

Do you know what an Episcopal funeral entails? What is allowed and, especially, what is NOT al-
lowed? Is it held in the church or the funeral home? Do you want to use Rite I or Rite II? Eucharist or not?
Ashes or casket? Which Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel readings? Which psalms? Hymns?
Pall bearers? Readers? Will the family want to speak? Who? Will there be a graveside service? Will there be
food after the funeral?

If each of us were to sit down with clergy while we are alive, it would take less than 30 minutes on
average to answer these questions. And that plan can be kept on file. This is one thing you can do for the
family that will be a tremendous help.

Contact Fran at (607) 334-8801, and she will send you the form and the funeral guide.

The St. Matthew’s Book Club has begun a study of Genesis

and Exodus, led by Fr. Steve.

All you need is a Bible (NRSV, RSV, KJV preferred) and the
time.

10:00 a.m.

This class will is a study of how these books were put

together,
what they are trying to tell their audiences
back then and their audience today.

Come and learn your story!!!

Page 4 The Big Red Door

SERVING SCHEDULES FOR MARCH

St. Andrews Serving Schedule: March 3, 2019—March 31, 2019
Date Usher Lector Chalice Acolyte Hospitality Altar Guild
3/3/2019 Carl Robin Ralph Malloch Maria Robin Rae
11:00 AM Berdzinski Cotter Ackerman Cotter Lennon
3/10/2019 Don Heather Carl Berdzinski Charlie Jeanne Rae
11:00 AM Anderson Anderson Ackerman Westcott Lennon
3/17/2019 Terry Renee Morning Prayer Jill Rae
11:00 AM Thomsen Collum Joan Axtell Bennett Lennon
3/24/2019 Joint Service at Emmanuel
3/31/2019 Joint Service at St. Matthew’s

Emmanuel Serving Schedule: March 3, 2019—March 31, 2019

Date Ushers Lector Eucharistic Acolyte Chalice Altar Guild

Minister
3/3/2019 Jim & Sharon Russell Ketch Russell Ketch Bernie Dye Kisten Giglio Sharon
Everard Everard
3/10/2019 Kai & Dave Nancy Dye Morning Nancy Dye
Loomis Prayer
3/17/2019 Barb & Gary Gary Nancy Dye Pete Smith Bernie Dye Cindy
Tompkins Tompkins Thompson
3/24/2019 Phil Giltner Nancy Dye Russell Ketch Pete Smith Bernie Dye Kisten Giglio
3/31/2019 Joint Service at St. Matthews

St. Matthew's Serving Schedule: March 3, 2019—March 31, 2019

Date Usher Chalice/Lector Officiant Altar Guild Coffee hour

3/3/2019 Harmon TenWol- Bonnie Friedel Teresa Clarke Cheryl Bonnie Friedel
de TenWolde
3/10/2019 Peter North Teresa Clarke Fr. Steve Cheryl Pat Lindau
TenWolde
3/17/2019 Harmon Cheryl TenWolde Fr. Steve Cheryl Helen North
TenWolde TenWolde
3/24/2019 Joint Service at Emmanuel 9:30 AM
3/31/2019 Peter North & Pat Lindau The Rt. Rev. Dr. Cheryl All
Harmon DeDe Duncan- TenWolde
TenWolde Probe, Bishop
The Big Red Door Page 5

NEWS AROUND THE KINGDOM

Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango County

Dear Friends of Hospice,
Hospice was started in the late 1980’s by a group of people with a vision for end of life care in Chenango
County. With the help of our community, we bought our first home at 21 Hayes Street in 1955. Since then we
have been supporting, educating, comforting, and empowering those in the community on their end of life
journey, and we still have a big vision. We’ve long had a desire to create a community center focused around
end of life care and grief support. A place to gain the much needed education about your loved ones ad-
vanced illness. A place where tired caregivers can come to feel comforted and supported. Where our skilled
community volunteers can put their boundless energy to good use, without space restrictions. A place for
you, our beloved community, to feel at peace, no matter where you are in your journey.
We are pleased to announce plans are being finalized and we have purchased 33 Court Street, Norwich. This
new building will provide ample space to better serve our community and allow us to continue being the
leader in end of life and grief services in Chenango County. While the structure is sound, we need your help to
complete the inside renovations and help bring our cherished vision to life.
We invite you to join us, as we make 33-39 Court St. our new home!
WITH GRATITUDE,
Staff & Board of
Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango County

P.S. Did you know Hospice provides free Grief Services to anyone in Chenango County? With your help, our
new Grief Counseling room will provide comfort to the community during their time of need!
YES, I WANT TO HELP HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE OF CHENANGO COUNTY IN THEIR NEXT CHAPTER

I want to help remodel 33-39 Court All donors at the Friend level and above will be
Street at the level indicated below. listed on a plaque. All donors Gold level and above
will have the opportunity to name a room in the
Associate: $5—$99 Hospice Center.
Friend $100-$499
Name:_____________________________
Street:______________________________
Bronze $500—$999 City: _______________________________
Silver $1000—$4,999 Phone: _____________Email____________

Gold $5,000—$9,999 Special Instructions:

Platinum $10,000+

GIVE ONLINE IN ANY AMOUNT: www.hopsicechenango.org/donate

BY MAIL OR IN PERSON TO: 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815
Page 6 The Big Red Door

NEWS CONT.

Ash Wednesday Trivia

1. While Ash Wednesday is not a High Holy Day, all Christians are encouraged to attend a
Service on Wednesday in order to mark the beginning of the Lenten season.

2. The distribution of ashes reminds us of our own mortality and calls us to repentance. In
the early Church, Ash Wednesday was the day on which those who had sinned, and who
wished to be readmitted to the Church, would begin their public penance.

3. As described in the book of Matthew, Lent mirrors Jesus' own 40-day period of fasting.

4. People have ashes placed on their foreheads in the shape of the cross as the words from
Genesis 3:19 are spoken: "You are dust, and to dust you shall return."

5. The ashes are made by burning the blessed palms that were distributed the previous year
on Palm Sunday.

The Norwich City School district continues to

accept food donations that help feed students
on long weekends and holiday breaks. It’s
called the “Backpack Program” and is at all
four schools. We accept both food and mon-
etary donations toward the program. For
more information you many contact Kisten
Giglio, 316-0999 or at Norwich High School
334-1600, ext 1439.

Don't forget crafting night at St. Andrew's Parish

Hall. We bring whatever we are working on—
spinning, knitting, crocheting, quilting, hand
sewing. We meet the first Thursday of the
month at 7 PM.
The Big Red Door Page 7

FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP

Soul Kitchen Dinner (Emmanuel, Norwich) — Thursday, March

14, 2019, Free Meal at 5:30 p.m.

Pot Luck Thursdays— Come join your friends at St. Matthew’s for their
monthly pot luck supper. Pot lucks are held on the fourth Thursday of the month. And the food is always good...so is
the company.

Chit, Chat, and Chew — New Berlin

This community meal is FREE and open to ALL. Located at the St.
Andrew’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall in New Berlin, this meal is
Saturday, March 16, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Please
come and be part of this.

FOOD PANTRIES
Our Food Pantry Outreach Hours
Emmanuel, Norwich: M-W-F, 10:00 a.m.—Noon; M & W, 3:30 p.m.–
5:00 p.m.
St. Andrew’s (at First United Methodist), New Berlin: M, 3:00 p.m.–
5:00 p.m.
St. Matthew’s (at First Baptist), South New Berlin: M, 1:00 p.m.– 4:00
p.m., W, 2:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.

Our Daily Bread Food Pantry located at Emmanuel is in need of some specific items for our
clients. We currently need soups, any kind. Another item on our wish list is instant mashed
potatoes. And lastly, we could use some canned corn. Any donation of non perishable goods
is wonderful, and your monetary support is very generous. Thank you from our clients and
volunteer workers for this generosity.
Barb and Gary Tompkins,
Volunteer Coordinators
Page 8 The Big Red Door

NEWS CONT.

PASTORAL NEEDS & PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray for thesePASTORAL

people as youNEEDS
say your & PRAYER
daily REQUESTS
prayers: Immediate Needs: Florence
Hand, Homer Monroe, Anne Tucker, Tonia Smith, Jeremy Hamilton, Travis, Lara, William,
Mary Frances, Michael, Chris Carnachan, Randy Sheldon, Katherine Mandaro, Brenda,
Carole Carpenter, Christopher Widmark, Susan Adkinson, Frank Giglio, Sharon Fox, Nancy
Nolan Gibbon, Mila Lent, Rebecca Bliss, Betsy Somers, Jean McDowell, Miley Parker,
Sharon D, Joyce Lawrence, Laura Chapin, Lex Supensky, Charlie McMullen, Kay Nearing,
Janice Coleman. Continued Prayers: Jax, Amy, Those in Nursing Homes or Homebound:
Mariba Chmielewski, Jim Haynes, Helen Donahe, Caroline Mason.

Stations of the Cross

Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at
7:00 PM at
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church,
New Berlin, NY

Daylight Savings Time begins

March 10, 2019

As you do your spring cleaning please remember that Emmanuel

Episcopal Church is holding a Tag Sale on July 26 and 27 and would like
to have your gently used items for the sale. No clothes, please. We will be
happy to receive kitchen items, kitchen gadgets, furniture, toys,
electronics, holiday decorations, garden supplies, etc. One of the
upstairs rooms is available if you want to drop off a box or two right now.
Thank you.
The Big Red Door Page 9

MARCH BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES
2 Robyn Uhlig; Sierra Uhlig, Aiden Loomis McGrain 17 Miranda Murphy, Alexis Robinson, Alex Johnson
3 Karen Banks-Lindner 18 Christina Taranto
4 Nola Russell; Curtis Woodard, Thomas 19 Barbara Higley; Elaine Sharki
Lyons 20 Russell Ketch, Dakota Spina
5 Gary Muserallo, Michael Allen 21 Savanna Keator
6 Lynn Murray, Hudson Lyons 22 Lisa Smith, Michael Gualtieri
7 Ann Faulkner 23 David Austin, Betty Palmer, Catherine Ione Acker-
8 Michael Loomis, Carl Berdzinski man-Kipp
9 John Parker 24 Bonnie Carrier; Ethan Hitchcock,
10 Heath Hettig 25 Monica Stone; Jonathan Brummel, Josh Gronwall
12 Cathy Gray 26 Peter Sullivan
13 Jeremy Strauss, Elizabeth Vermeulen 27 Lance Henderson, Hannah Johnson
14 Rachel Ballin, Dawn Tedesco, Dorenda Johnson 28 Frederic Miers, Peter Lennon
15 Talon Schroeder 30 Bernard Dye, Dolores Brown
16 Sierra Conant 31 Sally Miers, Barb Tompkins
16 Mark & Donna Coale

Can You Call It by Any Other Name Than What It Is?

Cheryl TenWolde

The Passion of Saint Perpetua, Saint Felicitas, and their Companions is one of the
oldest and most notable early Christian texts – important because Perpetua is one of the
first female Christian writers before the 4th century whose works survive. It exists in both
Latin and Greek forms and contains a first-person diary of the 22-year-old mother and
martyr Perpetua in the year 203 in Carthage, Africa. She had made the dangerous decision
to become a Christian like her mother. As a catechumen, she received instruction from a
catechist in the Christian faith to be prepared for Baptism. When her pagan father tried to
talk her out of it, she asked him, “See that vessel…that water pot lying over there? Can
you call it by any other name than what it is?” Her father answered, “Of course not.” Per-
petua responded, “Neither can I call myself by any other name than what I am – a Chris-
tian.”

When she would not obey the decree by Emperor Severus that all should sacrifice
to the divinity of the emperor, she was imprisoned along with Felicity, a pregnant slave,
their instructor, and other catechumens. In her diary, Perpetua describes her period of cap-
tivity, “What a day of horror! Terrible heat, owing to the crowds! Rough treatment by the
soldiers! To crown all, I was tormented with anxiety for my baby…Such anxieties I suf-
fered for many days, but I obtained leave for my baby to remain in prison with me, and
being relieved of my trouble and anxiety, I at once recovered my health, and my prison
became a palace to me and I would rather have been there than anywhere else. ” Perpetua
the noblewoman and Felicitas the slave were sent into a gaming arena to be mauled by
wild animals, then executed by sword. They were equals in martyrdom, despite differences
in class, demonstrating Christianity’s ability to transcend social distinctions.

We pray we are vessels worthy to be named Christians, carrying Christ in the

world with the inspiration of witnesses like Saint Perpetua and St. Felicity, whose feast
day is celebrated on March 7.

There is one Body and one Spirit

There is one hope in God’s call to us;
One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism;
One God and Father of all.
Page 10 The Big Red Door

OUR “CREED”
Whatever brought you to experience worship with us, welcome.
If you’ve come searching for a Christian community that manages to be both
joyful and reverent, welcome.
If you’re hoping to find a church that is grounded in tradition but
engaged in the present and open to the future, welcome.
If you’ve been looking for a place where your doubts and questions can be as at home as your
hopes and certainties, welcome.
If you’ve been wondering whether there’s a place for you at all in the Christian church, you are
welcome here. You really are.

IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!!
EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH’S ADDRESS HAS CHANGED!!!!

Please make the following change in your address books!!!

Emmanuel Episcopal Church now receives mail at its street address:
37 West Main Street, Norwich, NY 13815

Got News?

If you have anything you want to share about your church or community, let us know!
We try to go to print at the end of the month, so you need to let us know by mid-month.
You can email your information to: emmanuelchurch@frontiernet.net.

If you no longer wish to receive this Newsletter, please let the church know. You can
email us at emmanuelchurch@frontiernet.net or call 334-8801 and leave a message. Or
if you would prefer to have the Newsletter emailed to you, you can let us know that as
well.
The Big Red Door Page 11

Newsletter offices are located at:

EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH

37 WEST MAIN ST.
NORWICH, NY 13815

If you have news you would like to share, contact us at:

(607) 334-8801

E-mail: emmanuelchurch@frontiernet.net
web site: emmanuelnorwich.org

Follow us on Facebook, Emmanuel Episcopal Church

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