Trio of Montrose churches host Christmas bazaars on December 3rd.

[From Paul Walker, Rector of St. Paul's, Montrose]

Three churches in Montrose will all hold their Christmas bazaars on Saturday, December 3.

The Montrose United Methodist Church, 526 Church Street, will open the doors of The Christmas Department Store from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Lunch will be available.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 276 Church Street, will open the doors of The Country Store from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Breakfast and lunch will be available in The North Pole Café.

The Altar and Rosary Society of Holy Name of Mary Roman Catholic Church, 278 South Main Street, will hold their annual Christmas Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  A continental breakfast and lunch will be available.

In addition The Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association will be continuing their Christmas book sale at The Inn at Montrose, 26 South Main Street.

The churches of Montrose invite you to come and celebrate the holidays in Montrose!

You know it's almost Christmas when St. Paul's Montrose makes its wreaths

[From Paul Walker, Rector of St. Paul's, Montrose]

Members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Montrose, met recently for an afternoon of making pinecone wreaths for their Christmas bazaar called The Country Store, to be held at the church, located at 276 Church Street, on Saturday, December 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The participants from left to right are Margaret Burgh, Rita Leigh, Lynne Graham, Carol Marker, Jennie Bowen, and Ed and Karen Smith, front.

 

Diocesan Life for November 2011

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True Friends host Blessing of Pets in Montrose on October 15

[From Paul Walker and Randy Webster]

True Friends Animal Welfare Center has announced a Blessings of Pets and Open House for Saturday, October 15 from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M.  Father Paul Walker of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Montrose, and Father Randy Webster of St. Mark’s, New Milford and Christ Episcopal Church, Susquehanna, will be available to offer blessings for pets that come to visit the center.  Visitors may also adopt a new pet and receive a blessing as well!  Refreshments will be provided.  Donations of canned or dry dog or cat food, as well as dog and cat treats, will be welcomed.  True Friends Animal Welfare Center is located at Routes 706 and 29 in Montrose, PA.

True Friends began in December 2010 following the Pennsylvania SPCA decision to close the Montrose Animal Shelter in March.  The organizers contacted the management and negotiated an agreement that allowed for local residents to take over management of the shelter.  In April True Friends was born.  True Friends management is a dedicated team with a driven purpose to keep the shelter open for protecting the lives of our homeless animals.  They strive to be a non-kill shelter, committed to reducing homeless pets by means other than euthanasia.  The center’s success requires a united community, especially through financial donations.  Tax deductible donations can be sent to The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains, 270 Lake Avenue, Montrose, PA 18801.  To volunteer or for further details you may contact Dory Browning at 570-396-6011 or True Friends at 570-278-1228.

St. Paul's, Montrose announces Under a Harvest Moon Dinner and Jazz Performance October 22

[From Paul Walker]

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Montrose has announced “Under the Light of the Harvest Moon,” a program of dinner and live jazz to celebrate the return of autumn to Susquehanna County on Saturday, October 22.  The dinner will benefit The Adventure Club, a free after-school program located at St. Paul’s Church for students in the area .  The doors will open at 6:30 P.M. and dinner begins at 7:00 P.M.  The tickets are $15, and may be purchased by calling the church office at 278-2954.  Joe Welden and his friends will offer jazz music between the main course and dessert.

St. Paul's, Montrose announces Adventure Club after-school program

[From Paul Walker and Randy Webster]

Historic St. Paul’s Church is offering The Adventure Club, a free after-school program.  The program runs from 3:15 to 5:00 P.M. every Wednesday, beginning October 5.  All students in Kindergarten through the 8th grade are welcome to participate.
Each month will have a unique theme for the program. The monthly themes are:

• October— “All things bright and beautiful”
• November— Sharing and Caring
• December— Christmas Crafts
• January— Movement
• February— The Diversity of God’s Family
• March—Making a difference in the world around us
• April— The Fine Arts
• May— Cooking

The year will finish with a big celebration!
Snacks and homework assistance will be provided.

This year the students will have the opportunity to participate in a youth choir which will make public appearances about every six weeks, sometimes singing at the morning service at St. Paul’s, and sometimes singing at various public events.  The choirs will rehearse from 4:00 to 5:00 P.M.

If there is enough interest we will also offer the ability to participate in a handbell choir.
If you wish to register, please call the office at St. Paul’s at 570-278- 2954.

Diocesan Life for October 2011

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September 11 Services of Remembrance in the diocese

September 11 Services of Remembrance from around the diocese in chronological order

St. Anne's, Trexlertown:  8:00 and 10:15 A.M. During both services on September 11 we will have special prayers and remembrances to commemorate the lives that were lost on this dreadful day and to seek God’s guidance and wisdom as we live with the ramifications and impact of this national tragedy on our country and on the world. Please come to church prepared to stop whatever you are doing when you hear the sound of the drum and the cymbal. It will be a sacred moment of silent prayer. When you arrive at church on September 11, the greeters will remind you about keeping silence at these significant moments of September 11.

Christ Church, Forest City: 9:00 A.M. service with special hymns, prayers, and will host "first responders" from the surrounding communities.

Church of the Good Shepherd and St. John, Milford: 10:00 A.M. "Eucharist in Remembrance of 9/11" Church bells will be rung 10 times each on the times of the four plane crashes - 8:46am, 9:03am, 9:38am, and 10:03am. After a silent processional the service with continue with special prayers, hymns, and anthem. The church will remain open from 12:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. as a sanctuary for those who wish to observe a reverent silence, hosted by the Daughters of the King.

Trinity Church, Carbondale: 11:00 A.M. service with special hymns, prayers of the people and remembrances for the victims and their families.

Providence Place Retirement Home, Drums: 1:00 P.M. Members of a Gospel Quartet will lead the hymns, members of the staff and resident will assist with the readings. Lead by Deacon Marion Meiss of St. Peter's, Hazleton

Trinity Church, Easton: 1:30 P.M. organ voluntary followed by the service at 2:00 P.M. An Interfaith Service of Remembrance and Hope  to be webcast live on Sunday, September 11. The service will be streamed live at live.trinityeaston.org. A Service of Remembrance and Hope will include interfaith prayers and hymns. In addition, music will be provided by: a double quartet of members of the Metropolitan Opera Chorus of New York City, a local Chamber Orchestra and the Easton Area High School Choir. Scheduled selections will include: Faure's "Requiem in d minor, Op 48" (Intoit and Kyrie; Sanctus; Pie Iesu; Agnus Dei and Lux Aeterna; In Paradisum.), Bach's "Cantata 106: Gottes Zeit ist dis Allerbeste Zeit" movement III a & b. Participating congregations include: B'nai Abraham Synagogue, Easton; College Hill Presbyterian Church; 1st Presbyterian Church of Easton; 1st United Church of Christ of Easton; St. John's Lutheran Church of Easton; Temple Covenant of Peace, in Easton; The Muslim Community of Easton/Phillpsburg and Trinity Episcopal Church.  Go to www.trinityeaston.org and click on the link to the webcast.. Read more about it, including compatibilities with your computer, smartphone or tablet here. You may also go to Trinity's UShare page, live.trinityeaston.org. For information, call Trinity Church at 610-253-0792

Grace Church, Honesdale: 2:00 P.M. Service of Remembrance for 9/11 Meditation, inter-faith prayers, music and sharing will all be a part of the service as we remember all who were affected by the tragedies, especially within our community.  A time to remember those who were killed in New York City, southwestern Pennsylvania and Washington DC will be an important part of the service.  Grief counselors will be on hand should anyone need to talk privately.  “It is our hope to move forward bringing God’s peace into our community,” commented Ms. Frances Hlavacek of Grace Church who has been a member of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem’s Peace Commission. The service will be held in the handicap-accessible Parish Hall of Grace Church, located on the corner of Church and Ninth Streets in downtown Honesdale.  For more information, you may call the parish office at (570) 253-2760.  All are welcome to attend.

Trinity, Mt. Pocono: 2:00 P.M. Interfaith Service of Remembrance and Prayer. Representatives and members of our global community, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh, will gather together to speak about our lives as one in community and to pray together as one for a world of peace and community which can only be gained through the gift of open dialogue as sisters and brothers who seek to move forward beyond the smoke and ashes and offer healing in order to embrace a renewed life together. Please contact the Parish Office at 570 839 9376 for information or go to www.tinitymtpocono.org for directions.

Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem: 5:00 P.M.  9/11 Interfaith Service of Remembrance and Reconciliation, Nativity, Bethlehem 5:00 P.M. Clergy participating are: The Rt. Rev. Paul V. Marshall, Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem; The Very Rev. Anthony R. Pompa, Cathedral Dean & Rector; Rabbi Allen Juda,  Congregation Brith Sholom; Metin Bor, Muezzin, Lehigh Dialogue Center; Mohamed Rajmohamed, Al-Ahad Islamic Center; The Rt. Rev. Hopeton Clennon, Bishop of the Moravian Church, Northern Province and Chaplain, Moravian College; The Rev. Canon Mariclair Partee, Cathedral Canon, Ministry of the Baptized; Cantor Ellen Sussman, Temple Shirat Shalom; and The Rev. Canon George Loeffler, Deacon and Bishop's Chaplain. Music provided by the Cathedral Choir under the direction of Canon Russell Jackson will present selections from Faure’s Requiem, with Naoko Cauller as soloist. A reception will follow in Sayre Hall, and all are welcome.

St. Paul's, Montrose: 5:00 P.M. Vesper Service to Remember 9/11will be held at the Second Sunday Vesper Service on Sunday, September 11, 2011 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Church Street Montrose, PA  The solemn service will provide a time of deep spiritual reflection and include scripture readings, prayers, and music prepared especially for the anniversary.  The Rev. Canon Charles Cesaretti will welcome the congregation; the greeters are Linda and George Gardner.  The Lector will be Amy Johnson.  Sarah S. Bertsch will be the organist.  MaryAnn DeWitt will be at the piano.  A buffet supper will be served immediately following the service in the Parish House.  The cooks are Ed and Barbara Schmidt and John and Sharon Siedlecki.  Gail and Doug Overfield will be the servers. All are welcome on this special day to remember the victims and those who miss them, as well as the rescue workers and all responders.

Church of the Epiphany, Clarks Summit: 7:00 P.M. Service of Remembrance with two church joint choir, psalms and prayers

Thomas Gallaudet and Henry Winter Syle

Diocese of Bethlehem Connection ... On Saturday, the Episcopal Church commemorates Thomas Gallaudet and Henry Winter Syle. "Ministry to the deaf in the Episcopal Church begins with Thomas Gallaudet," according to Holy Women Holy Men. "Without his genius and zeal for the spiritual well-being of deaf persons, it is improbable that a history of ministry to the deaf in the Episcopal Church could be written. He has been called “The Apostle to the Deaf.” He died in 1902. ... One fruit of Gallaudet’s ministry was Henry Winter Syle, who had lost his hearing as the result of scarlet fever. Educated at Trinity; St. John’s, Cambridge; and Yale (B.A. and M.A.); Syle was a brilliant student, who persisted in his determination to obtain an education, despite his handicap and fragile health. He was encouraged by Gallaudet to seek Holy Orders, and, having moved to Philadelphia, was supported by Bishop Stevens, against the opposition of many who believed that the impairment of one of the senses was an impediment to ordination. Syle was ordained in 1876, the first deaf person to receive Holy Orders in this Church. In 1888, he built the first Episcopal church constructed especially for deaf persons. He died in 1890.    Henry Winter Syle is the great-grandfather of Herbert D. (Hap) Syle, III. Hap and his wife, Mary Jane Syle, have served the diocese and their home parish (St. Paul's Church, Montrose) in many ways over the years. The Gallaudet connection is through Mt. Pocono where the late Dorothy Jordan and Betty Speicher were parishioners at Trinity Church. I. King Jordan, Ph.D., Dorothy's son and Betty's brother, became the first deaf president of Gallaudet University in 1988.

St. Paul's, Montrose holds birthday party at parish picnic for South Sudan

At the July 10^th parish picnic at St. Paul’s, Montrose, Father Paul Walker, and host/senior warden, Lynn Graham, prepare to cut the cake celebrating the Republic of South Sudan’s birth day.  The South Sudan national anthem was played to a thoughtful group. - Al Leigh

Summer services at Stevensville begin July 9

A news release from The Episcopal Church in Upper Susquehanna County: St. Paul's Montrose (Paul Walker, rector), St. Mark's New Milford and Christ Church Susquehanna (Randy Lee Webster, priest)

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Stevensville has announced the opening of their summer services for Saturday, July 9 at 5:00 P.M.  Services will be held there every Saturday at 5:00 P.M. through September 3.  St. Matthew’s is under the care of St. Paul’s Church in Montrose.  The Rev. Paul Walker, Rector of St. Paul’s, will officiate and preach at the service.

St Matthew's Church, Stevensville, in what is now Bradford County, was established in 1799 by sheep farmers who came from Litchfield, CT, following the Revolutionary War. Along with their sheep, they brought their deep faith and commitment to the Church of England. However, the recent War of Independence meant that church was now reconstituted in the United States as of 1789 as the Episcopal Church. Their first services were held in a room over a store, but soon they moved to a church building.

In 1814 the church building burned and construction was soon underway for a new sanctuary. This new building, which still stands, was built in 1820 and consecrated by Bishop William White, the first Bishop of Pennsylvania, in 1824. This majestic structure has stood fast and faithful for over 185 years. It is reported to be the oldest building in the Diocese of Bethlehem still used as a church.

The sanctuary has been refurbished several times over the years, but the “modernization” was the conversion of the whale-oil lamps to kerosene. The original source of heat was a large pot-bellied stove in the rear of the church, which still stands. It is not disconnected for reasons of safety; charred beams under the floor are reminders of fires past.

The interior of the building has been kept as the original, including a balcony with benches, which winds its way along the rear and sidewalls. The windows are mainly clear glass, although there are several tinted or painted memorial windows. There are many interesting appointments and paintings in the church.

Due to changing demographics, St. Matthew's has become essentially inactive as a parish. Seasonal services and special events, such as weddings, are held in the building; and, it is the site of many pilgrimages. Since the early 1930's the care and oversight of the church was given to St. Paul's, Montrose, which is seventeen miles east of the parish on Route 706.

Christmas Festival, Lessons and Carols, Stevensville

From the Episcopal Church in Susquehanna County
The Rev’d Paul Walker, Rector, St. Paul’s Montrose
The Rev’d Randy Lee Webster, Priest, St. Mark’s New Milford and Christ Church Susquehanna

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Stevensville has announced its annual Christmas Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols which will be held on Saturday, December 11 at 3:00 P.M.  The church is located on Route 706 in Stevensville.  The Rev’d Paul Walker, Rector of St. Paul’s, will officiate at the service.  Refreshments will be served following the program.

Everyone is invited to bring boughs of holly and evergreens to decorate the church prior to the service.  Because of the soft ground around the building, St. Matthew’s invites those attending to park at Frank and Mary’s Restaurant, just west of the church, and ride the wagon up to the church.

St Matthew's Church, Stevensville, in what is now Bradford County, was established in 1799 by sheep farmers who came from Litchfield, CT, following the Revolutionary War. Along with their sheep, they brought their deep faith and commitment to the Church of England. However, the recent War of Independence meant that church was now reconstituted in the United States as of 1789 as the Episcopal Church. Their first services were held in a room over a store, but soon they moved to a church building.

In 1814 the church building burned and construction was soon underway for a new sanctuary. This new building, which still stands, was built in 1820 and consecrated by Bishop William White, the first Bishop of Pennsylvania, in 1824. This majestic structure has stood fast and faithful for over 185 years. It is reported to be the oldest building in the Diocese of Bethlehem still used as a church.

The sanctuary has been refurbished several times over the years, but the “modernization” was the conversion of the whale-oil lamps to kerosene. The original source of heat was a large pot-bellied stove in the rear of the church, which still stands. It is not disconnected for reasons of safety; charred beams under the floor are reminders of fires past.

The interior of the building has been kept as the original, including a balcony with benches, which winds its way along the rear and sidewalls. The windows are mainly clear glass, although there are several tinted or painted memorial windows. There are many interesting appointments and paintings in the church.

Due to changing demographics, St. Matthew's has become essentially inactive as a parish. Seasonal services and special events, such as weddings, are held in the building; and, it is the site of many pilgrimages. Since the early 1930's the care and oversight of the church was given to St. Paul's, Montrose, which is seventeen miles east of the parish on Route 706.

Seven-Day Prayer Vigil for Sudan in Montrose

Two parishioners at St. Paul's Montrose are organizing a prayer vigil to pray for our sisters and brothers in Sudan during the seven days preceding the Jan. 8 referendum concerning their future form of government, one nation or two.

Download below the schedule and an article by parishioner Ed Stark.

Download Vigil Schedule.doc

Download Vigil Article

Montrose Crafters Corner

[News Release from St. Paul's Montrose]

St. Paul’s Crafters Corner is back for another season with a move to the first Saturday of October, November and December. The event offers unique shopping opportunities through the original creations of area crafters and will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., commencing on October 2nd and returning on November 6th and December 4th.

New crafters will be joining some of the long standing favorites to further expand the variety of merchandise, with the list of participants growing each month.