Fellowship & Communications

The ministry of Jesus had three main emphases: preaching the Kingdom of God, teaching, and healing. Jesus commissioned his disciples to continue his ministry of healing. We also affirm and are committed to the ministry of the priest-hood of all believers, and recognize that through our baptism we are all ministers, mutual partners in Christ’s mission to the world.

Church Office Hours

Call Fr. Bob Coniglio 757-787-7258

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Caronavirus Worship Service Guidelines

1. Masks are voluntary (except for the chalice passing the common cup.
2. We may return to using the common cup but Intinction (communicant dipping his/her host in the wine IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. Communion in One Kind (host only) is full and sufficient communion. Alternatively we will continue to offer the separate prepackaged bread/wine for those who do not wish to partake of the common cup or host only.
3. We do not have to keep a contact tracing sheet unless we feel it prudent to do so (those attending church are encouraged to be forthcoming with us should they become ill.
4. It is the Season of Lent so passing the peace without a lot of back and forth between communicants is discouraged anyway. We will work hard on this.
5. Other safety measures will be taken as we see necessary.

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Pennies from Heaven

Each Sunday throughout the year we make small coin and cash contributions to be used to support various local charities.

Total contributions for 2022 were $1,900.00, one of the highest totals on record, and the same as 2021.   2022 Donations:
Bank of Cheer……………………………………………………………………………….. $200
Dos Santos……………………………………………………………………………………. $250
Center for Independent Living………………………………………………………….. $100
Eastern Shore Coalition Against Domestic Violence………………………………. $200
Eastern Shore Habitat for Humanity…………………………………………………… $100
Eastern Shore YMCA……………………………………………………………………….. $150
H&H Pharmacy………………………………………………………………………………. $250
Interfaith Crisis Council…………………………………………………………………… $250
Lighthouse Ministries……………………………………………………………………… $200
Nurse Family Partnership ………………………………………………………………… $200

The total of the 2023 contributions through March 19 is $502.

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— THE MINISTRY OF HEALING AT EMMANUEL —

The ministry of Jesus had three main emphases: preaching the Kingdom of God, teaching, and healing. Jesus commissioned his disciples to continue his ministry of healing. We also affirm and are committed to the ministry of the priest-hood of all believers, and recognize that through our baptism we are all ministers, mutual partners in Christ’s mission to the world. It is in this tradition that we offer a Ministry of Healing here at Emmanuel, Jenkins Bridge.

The healing ministry is a part of our approach to worship and pastoral care and is a vital component of the strong and committed lay ministries that have been part of Emmanuel’s long and proud history. With every Sunday celebration of the Holy Eucharist we offer the opportunity for prayers and the laying on of hands in a Rite of Healing. The physical touch through the laying on of hands is a rich tradition in the Christian faith and transmits the power of the Holy Spirit to those who seek God’s grace in bringing healing and wholeness to their lives. The rite is administered by Lay Healers who are devout members of the parish especially commissioned for this ministry. These “healers” serve as a channel for God’s healing grace, and will pray with you and offer the laying on of hands.

You are welcome to receive a prayer and the laying on of hands in the name of Christ, for whatever reason. Perhaps you may have been ill and desire physical healing or you are facing an operation; you may feel anxious or depressed and come for healing of your mental distress; you may wish to offer Intercessions for someone else for whom you would like to pray; you may wish to come forward for spiritual deepening, of offering yourself to be more available to God; you may wish to come for a blessing or to offer thanksgiving for an occasion of joy in your life; or you may come simply to receive the touch of Christ through a Lay Healer. “Come unto me who, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:8).

PARTICIPATING IN THE RITE OF HEALING

If you wish to participate in the Rite of Healing, as you come forward to receive the Holy Communion, take a purple ribBon from the bowl in the Font close to the organ. Place the ribbon around your wrist and proceed to the Altar Rail. Following your receiving the bread (Christ’s body) and wine (Christ’s blood) from the Priest, a Lay Healer will stand before you and lay his/her hands upon you. Share quietly with the Lay Healer anything special needs to be prayed for. Feel free to say “no” when the Lay Healer asks if you have a special prayer. The Lay Healer will then offer a prayer asking God’s healing and blessing for you. (What you offer in prayer will remain absolutely confidential. The lay healer serves as a channel of God’s healing grace and what you pray for is turned over to God and God only.)

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— COMMUNICATIONS —

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Messages from Bishop Susan Haynes

Bishop’s Lectionary Reflection Second Sunday of Easter, Year C April 24, 2022

Acts 5:27-32 An extraordinary thing has just happened. Just prior to the beginning of this reading, the High Priest and the Sadducees had the apostles arrested and put in prison. During the night an angel of the Lord came and freed them from their cells. When the High Priest asked the prison guards to bring the men before him, they were not found in the prison. Instead, they had returned to the Synagogue and were boldly proclaiming the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. When the High Priest had them apprehended again and brought before him, he demanded why they were continuing to teach in the name of Jesus when they had been forbidden to do so. Peter, spokesperson for the apostles, uttered these words which begin our reading today. His claim, basically, is that the apostles are bound by the mandates of the Holy Spirit and not by earthly authorities. In obedience to God, they proclaim the Good News. To what authority are you bound? Whom do you obey? Do you walk according to how God directs your life, or do you strive to obey the rules of our death-dealing world?   Psalm 118:14-29 This is the day that the Lord has made! This is the day when the rejected stone becomes the foundation. This is the day when the righteous shall walk through the gate of the Lord and become successful. This Psalm is a fitting psalm to praise God for His work of redemption. God has made this day especially for you and bids you to walk in praise of Him for where He is leading you. You, too, are walking through the gate of the Lord on your way to success in Him. The only response is joyful praise! Alleluia!   Revelation 1:4-8 I am the Beginning and the End. All things are contained in me. John reminds the seven churches in Asia that the Lord who will return in glory will gather all things into his redemptive power. Everyone will see His dominion and glory. Everyone will understand that He is raised from the dead and that those who follow Him will also be raised from the dead. This is an Easter proclamation. I am the Alpha and Omega – nothing exists outside of me. All creation is within the circle of Jesus’s eye and care. No situation, however fraught with peril, is outside his influence and charge. What are you struggling to carry on your own as if Jesus did not have anything to do with it?   John 20:19-31 “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Jesus does seem to be gently upbraiding Thomas for needing to see in order to believe, and seems to suggest that those who don’t require sight verification are more blessed. However, I like to cut Thomas a little bit of slack here. It does seem in this lesson that the ability to “see” Jesus as physically raised from the dead plays prominently in the lives of all the disciples. When Jesus first appears to the disciples (when Thomas is not present), He does not ask them to believe without first showing them his hands and side. It is only after seeing these marks that the disciples rejoice. Then at that point, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on them and they are empowered to forgive sins and to proclaim to Thomas that they have seen the Lord. Thomas, who has not had the benefit that the other disciples have enjoyed of seeing the wounds of Jesus or of receiving the Holy Spirit, is understandably doubtful. He longs for sighted verification also. And how gentle and lovely that Jesus gives him exactly what he longs for! He appears to Thomas and shows Thomas what Thomas needs to see. Thomas’s response is immediate: “My Lord and My God.” The author of the Gospel of John then goes on to mention that Jesus does other signs in the presence of the disciples. We do not know what those other signs are, but we assume that they are actions which the disciples can see. Doesn’t Jesus give you exactly what you need? Does He not show you what you need to see in order to be able to proclaim that He is Lord? Like Thomas, we too can count on Jesus meeting us right where we are and giving us exactly what we need! How then can we too proclaim, “My Lord and My God?”   COLLECT Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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