St. Hubert's Episcopal Church

Thursday Lectionary Study

 at 10:00 a.m. continues via ZOOM. If you would like an invitation, please let Denise know and she will see that you are included! We'd love to see you! denisemiller@sthuberts.net

Dear Parish Family, 

Happy Epiphany!  This is one of the oldest feasts celebrated in the church, first reported as early as 152 AD.  The wise men, guided by a star traveled to the manger to pay Jesus homage and to give him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  The Adoration of The Kings, painted by Giotto who lived from 1266-1377, brings the story to life.  

Kneeling in homage at the feet of the baby Jesus, one of the Magi offers a gift.  The other two are just behind, waiting their turn.  Richard Harries, then bishop of Oxford, notes the V shape in the painting,  One side begins with the camel, leading downward through those gathered, including the young man looking at the camel, down to the kneeling maji.  The other side of the V rises through Jesus, Mary, the manger and up to the mountain top behind.  The eye is drawn to the center of adoration, the kneeling King.  (A Gallery of Reflections The Nativity of Christ:  Devotional Reflections on the Christmas Story in Art, Eerdmans, 1996, p. 50).  The bishop concludes that while, ' our capacity for awe, reverence, even respect is so diminished in the modern world, we need Giotto to remind us what genuine devotion before the Holy One is like.'

Pope Leo, in his writing from the 400's AD, helps us to see how to approach the manger with  fresh eyes:  The gifts the Magi first brought to Bethlehem are still being offered by all who come to Christ in faith.  When we acclaim Christ as King of the universe we bring him gold from the treasury of our hearts; when we believe that the only -begotten has become one with our human nature, we are offering myrrh for his embalming; and when we declare him to be equal in majesty to the Father, we are burning the incense of our worship before him.'  (Celebrating the Spiritual Seasons, p. 72).

May we bring our gifts and adore Christ on this Holy Epiphany in 2021.  May we bring ourselves, body, mind and soul and dedicate ourselves to lives of faith, praise and awe!

Faithfully,

Dan

READERS NEEDED!

Gwynne Young is planning a remote Sunday School for our children this Fall. Part of her dream is for parishioners to record short book readings that will be shared with the kids during each week. If you have the desire to read enthusiastically and the ability to record yourself and follow simple instructions to upload your reading, you are needed. Call Gwynne at 440-488-1322 or email at gwynnesburg@msn.com. Thanks!  

 St. Hubert's Building Continues to be Closed

Although Governor DeWine  has opened the State of Ohio for businesses, the Diocese of Ohio continues to recommend that "in-building staffing be minimal and on a drop-in basis as necessary to maintain essential operations."  Therefore we at St. Hubert's continue to work remotely.  We are in the office only to collect mail and to keep the operations of the church in order.  Voicemail is checked each day, and email works too.  Worship and all gatherings continue to be cancelled or postponed with your health in mind.

 Deacon's Dismissal  

(Musings from The Rev. Josh Butler) 

I’ve driven automobiles for nearly sixty years. I’m getting good at shifting gears, using my turn signals, and planning my route. Sometimes though, plans change. I’d driven my mother-in-law to the doctor’s. For the trip home, I proposed a shortcut but mom had other ideas. She said, “Go right at the light.” I used my turn signal. “Down the hill.” Down we went. “Turn left and slow down.” I wasn’t speeding but I obeyed. My passenger was happy to look around that neighborhood. It was the neighborhood where she had grown up. We took our time getting home. 

 FLOWER FUND

Thanks to all who have made contributions to The Flower Fund.  We have been acknowledging our loved ones, honored or remembered, weekly by listing then in this email. We also acknowledge them in the bulletin for worship online and in-person worship gatherings on the lawn. In the absence of an altar, flowers are being sent to parishioners who are shut in or alone, are celebrating a momentous occasion, or in recognition of a service they may have bestowed upon St. Hubert's or others in the community.

Stewardship Gifts

As our stewardship season progresses, many thanks to 73 who have offered to date, $165,302 for the mission and ministry of St. Hubert's Church in 2021!  Your generosity is integral to our financial health.   If you have not yet offered a gift, please do so, for we need all to be included.  Financial stewardship is one of the oldest of spiritual practices!

ONLINE GIVING

St. Hubert's now offers online giving through its website at  www.sthuberts.net\giving_new. (Please note the underscore  between giving _ new.) The "Give to St. Hubert's" link on this page will take you  to a secure site where you can make a pledge payment, flower donation, Dears Society donation, or a general offering using your debit/credit card, or directly from your bank. 

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