Eastern Shore Episcopalian - Christmas 2019
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CHRISTMAS EDITION <strong>2019</strong><br />
In Your Light<br />
We See Light<br />
Psalm 36:9<br />
a publication of the Episcopal Diocese of Easton<br />
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Contents:<br />
Advent Clergy Luncheon<br />
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND<br />
Nine counties, 42 worshiping<br />
communities, and more than<br />
5,000 people engaged in living<br />
out our call to welcome all, share<br />
Jesus’ love, and serve the world.<br />
BISHOP<br />
The Rt. Rev. Santosh Marray<br />
Welcome All<br />
Share Jesus’ Love<br />
Serve the World<br />
02<br />
04<br />
04<br />
Bishop’s <strong>Christmas</strong><br />
Message<br />
“Christ’s birth is the bridging of<br />
two realities that shows that God<br />
is not just the God of heaven but<br />
Lord and Creator of the universe.”<br />
Why Bother?<br />
“Can I make a difference that<br />
just might get me and my family a<br />
little closer to the vision?”<br />
Advent Light from<br />
Christ Church<br />
Parish<br />
”As the oldest Christian<br />
Community in Maryland, we rely<br />
on the Light of Christ to guide our<br />
steps. “<br />
In This Issue:<br />
01 Pictures from the Advent<br />
Clergy Luncheon<br />
02 Bishop’s <strong>Christmas</strong> Message<br />
God’s Divine Love Permeates<br />
for a Broken World<br />
04 Why Bother?<br />
Reflections on past, present,<br />
and going to church.<br />
06 Advent Light from Christ<br />
Church Parish, Stevensville<br />
A peek into the life of our<br />
2020 Convention host church.<br />
08 Bishop’s Institute Launch<br />
Join us on January 4th.<br />
Cover Photo:<br />
Courtesy of Scott Law Photography.<br />
www.scottlawphotography.com/<br />
PUBLICATION INFORMATION<br />
A publication of the Bishop and Diocese of Easton<br />
Copyright <strong>2019</strong> The Bishop and Diocese of Easton<br />
Published Quarterly<br />
SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO:<br />
<strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> Episcoplian (ESE)<br />
314 North St., Easton, MD 21601<br />
OFFICE AND MAILING ADDRESS<br />
314 North St., Easton, MD 21601<br />
410-822-1919 dioceseofeaston.org<br />
joanne@dioceseofeaston.org<br />
The Right Reverend Santosh Marray<br />
Bishop of Easton<br />
Joanne Fisher<br />
Director of Communications,<br />
Senior Editor & Creative Designer<br />
The Reverend Loretta Collins<br />
Deacon, Editor<br />
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Bishop’s <strong>Christmas</strong> Message<br />
2<br />
God’s<br />
Divine Love<br />
Permeates for a Broken World<br />
By Bishop Santosh Marray<br />
“They shall name Him Emmanuel”<br />
which means, “God is with us”.<br />
(St. Matthew 1:23)<br />
PHOTO: Bishop San & Lynn’s new grandson, Jace, is ready to celebrate <strong>Christmas</strong>.<br />
<strong>Christmas</strong> is the solemn gathering of the faithful to<br />
celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus and the world’s<br />
Messiah or Anointed One. As we commemorate his<br />
birthday, I feel compelled to remind the diocesan<br />
family that God became human like us so that we might<br />
become God. The Lord of the angels became one of us so<br />
that we could eat the bread of angels. What a stunningly<br />
beautiful and awesome way to sum up the <strong>Christmas</strong><br />
message.<br />
The center of attraction is the manger, the child Jesus,<br />
by coming among us offers God’s healing and love<br />
to our broken and hostile world. As I reminded our<br />
family some years ago, believing and receiving him<br />
means putting him first, far ahead of the fading glory<br />
and shifting hopes offered by this world. Also, Jesus<br />
offers humanity a personal way of knowing, loving and<br />
relating to God our Father in heaven, and our fellow<br />
neighbors.<br />
Christ’s birth is the bridging of two realities that shows<br />
that God is not just the God of heaven but Lord and<br />
Creator of the universe. <strong>Christmas</strong> is God’s incarnation,<br />
that is, God taking human flesh and becoming one like<br />
us. God became human, not just to save the world, but to<br />
bless the world, to bless being human, to endorse being<br />
human, to join us in our humanness. In this holy and<br />
joyful season Jesus invites us to come to him as a child<br />
embodying all the characteristics manifested in children<br />
- from the purity of innocence to the openness toward<br />
people of different cultures, ethnicities, nationalities,<br />
social or economic status and skin color.<br />
Second, when we look around, and see the children in<br />
their many <strong>Christmas</strong> presentations, that excitement<br />
and thrill go a long way in helping to lay aside, even for a<br />
moment, the realities of daily struggle. For children, all<br />
the experiences of life are new and thrilling adventures.<br />
They take them in and take them on willingly and<br />
eagerly. Adults will do well to adopt this attitude of<br />
childlike innocence at <strong>Christmas</strong>, and for once give the<br />
gift of this sacred birth we celebrate a chance to fill us<br />
with PEACE! JOY! LOVE!<br />
The timeless incarnational truth in this message is<br />
God’s invitation for us to participate in the holy work<br />
of salvation. We are co-responsible for our salvation by<br />
embracing and incarnating Jesus’ call to ‘come unto me’<br />
and ‘live in me as I live in you’.<br />
My beloved, the birthday of Jesus marks our own<br />
birthday. Our baptism into Christ fundamentally draws<br />
us into a shared intimate relationship with him. This<br />
accounts for the reason why over the centuries the<br />
practice of gift sharing had become so popular. In truth,<br />
we are all celebrating this birthday with Jesus which<br />
gives us every reason to exchange gifts during this<br />
happy season.<br />
In the spirit of the season, I wish to personally thank our<br />
generous diocesan family for donating to date $30,000<br />
to the Bahamas Hurricane Relief. The enormous task<br />
of rebuilding and restoring over three hundred years<br />
of livelihood for the Bahamian people on the islands<br />
of Great Abaco and Grand Bahama is a daunting<br />
proposition. Let us continue to be generous and caring<br />
in our support in this <strong>Christmas</strong> tide. My beloved, my<br />
heartfelt gratitude goes out to you for supporting one of<br />
my and Lynn’s adopted countries.<br />
However, as we do so we are reminded to spare some<br />
time in our celebration to invite the Christ child of<br />
Bethlehem stable, Jesus the Lord and Savior, into our<br />
lives and to give him the freedom to lead us where he<br />
wishes - recommitting our lives to the guiding principles<br />
of love for all, peace, joy and Christian harmony.<br />
Finally, our beloved family, Nalini ‘Lynn’ and I are<br />
conscious of the gift we have received from God in<br />
allowing us to share ministry and companionship with<br />
each and every one of you. You have all made our life in<br />
the diocese a truly remarkable and holy experience. We<br />
love you with our heart, mind and soul! As the angels<br />
remind us, “God is with us”.<br />
Every blessing, joy, happiness, peace and goodwill to you<br />
and your beloved family members on this <strong>Christmas</strong><br />
season!<br />
+San & Lynn<br />
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Church Hill, MD was a thriving town 50 years ago. There was a busy hardware store, sub shop, gas station,<br />
theatre, and more. Now the activity has diminished. Rarely do I see anyone on the sidewalks...<br />
Why Bother?<br />
by Bobby Gallian, Parishioner at St. Luke’s Church Hill<br />
I ask myself “Why are the sidewalks vacant”; “Why don’t I<br />
know the names and stories of my neighbors”; “Where is<br />
everyone”; “Is this really what I want”? I came to this town<br />
because I wanted something better, better for me, better<br />
for my family. I knew I likely would not find the “small<br />
town, America” that Norman Rockwell depicted in his<br />
many illustrations in the Saturday Evening Post so many<br />
years ago. But I did want a better way of life, where the<br />
news of the day was a bit more balanced, and somewhat<br />
more positive. Have I missed something? Did I do all the<br />
things I should have done, so to realize my hopes? Is there<br />
something I can do now? Can I make a difference that just<br />
might get me and my family a little closer to the vision? I<br />
am after all only one person, and surely it will take much<br />
more than just me to make a meaningful difference. Oh<br />
why bother?<br />
The news today told the story of yet another young person<br />
who in an instant, physically hurt several of his peers, and<br />
emotionally hurt exponentially more. And once again,<br />
those who survived the carnage were briefly interviewed<br />
by journalists, and once again the feedback included<br />
comments like “Why?”…”Why here?”…”Why now?”…<br />
and “I never thought something like this could happen<br />
here!” I am not a physician, nor a psychologist, nor a first<br />
responder. I am just one person and surely it will take<br />
far more then me to swing the needle to a more positive<br />
chain of events. But I do have a very modest suggestion<br />
for consideration. I place before myself the notion of<br />
community. Is it possible that empty sidewalks and mass<br />
shootings are tied together? What are the chances that<br />
the Norman Rockwell vision NOT BEING REALIZED is<br />
somehow linked to the frequent terrible news of people<br />
hurting people BEING REALIZED?<br />
may just lose a sense of a real community, while they search<br />
to be part of or gain membership in a virtual community.<br />
Their perception may become their reality. I suggest that<br />
being isolated may lead to depression, and that virtual<br />
reality is a very poor substitute for real community. I<br />
suggest that repetitious overdosing on internet trolling, or<br />
video gaming, or social media, or even television may lead<br />
to empty sidewalks, anonymous neighbors, ghost towns,<br />
and physical harm.<br />
Human kind is nurtured by fellowship, and fellowship<br />
is nurtured by community. And community starts with<br />
individuals, who having each decided to share, come<br />
together. In church there is a practice called “Holy<br />
Communion”, whereby individuals decide to come<br />
together, to be part of something greater than anything<br />
they can do themselves alone, and in this coming together<br />
they hope to be closer to the Creator, the Sustainer, the<br />
Savior, the King, the Comforter, the Alpha, the Omega.<br />
This modest gathering is a community. The effort made<br />
to participate is as simple as making the decision to share.<br />
The practice of stepping away from the virtual world, so to<br />
come together in the real world, may just be the key to make<br />
positive change. To enjoy the smiles, handshakes, hugs,<br />
and good news may just be enough to fill the sidewalks of<br />
small towns, and to rescue young people from isolation,<br />
depression, and explosion.<br />
There is a place, St. Luke’s Parish, which sits upon the high<br />
land of a small town named Church Hill. Indeed the town<br />
is named after the church on the hill. The lovely but modest<br />
structure there was built by craftsmen centuries ago, in<br />
hopes of hosting such a holy communion, and offering<br />
fellowship to those who make the decision to share.<br />
The high ideal of community can be found there. And<br />
so I decide to step away from the screen, stroll along the<br />
sidewalk, meet the neighbors, and join in the community.<br />
Such a place and such a community may help steer those<br />
otherwise isolated, and help nurture young people who<br />
simply wish to belong. This may be a step towards the<br />
vision I had hoped for. Why bother? Because I can make<br />
all the difference, for me, for my family, for my neighbors,<br />
and for my small town in America.<br />
Depression is certainly a very powerful state. When young<br />
people grow up connected to a VIRTUAL reality to such a<br />
degree that they become disconnected from REAL reality,<br />
they may lose a sense of community. And the flesh and<br />
blood people around them may become perceived as fake<br />
holographic images, while the virtual people found on the<br />
internet or video screen may become perceived as more<br />
like themselves. They may become disconnected from<br />
human beings and connected to animated images. They<br />
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Advent Light from Christ Church Parish<br />
by the Rev. Mark Delcuze, Rector of Christ Church Kent Island<br />
Christ Church Parish, Kent Island is<br />
excited to be preparing to host the<br />
152nd Annual Convention of the<br />
Diocese of Easton. We also join with<br />
everyone in Advent Preparations.<br />
Advent is a time for turning towards<br />
the light. This fall the Vestry has<br />
directed our attention to: Forming<br />
Christians, Serving our Community,<br />
and Welcoming our Neighbors.<br />
their year by walking the Stations of<br />
the Nativity. The Christ Episcopal<br />
Church Day School, which will<br />
soon be celebrating its 50th year, has<br />
more than 60 children enrolled.<br />
Serving our Community<br />
More than 800 people move through<br />
our buildings on Kent Island every<br />
week. We host six different scouting<br />
groups for boys and girls, including<br />
Boy Scout Troop 1631 which was<br />
recently honored to lay a wreath at<br />
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier<br />
at Arlington. Recovery Groups<br />
call our parish home three days<br />
a week. We are also delighted to<br />
provide year-round facilities for the<br />
Kent Island Farmer’s Market every<br />
Thursday. Our Backpack Program<br />
sends home healthy weekend meals<br />
to 90 children in local elementary<br />
schools each week. We also donate<br />
non-perishable food twice a week to<br />
the Grasonville Community Center.<br />
Welcoming our Neighbors<br />
Two big annual events serve<br />
as centerpieces for Advent<br />
Preparations. The Westminster<br />
Ringers will join un on December<br />
7, bringing more than 100 hand<br />
bells and a dozen ringers. The<br />
music of this community event<br />
puts everyone in the spirit. Because<br />
we also know that holidays can be<br />
difficult for some people, we will<br />
offer our Seventh Annual Service of<br />
the Longest Night on December 18.<br />
This candle-lit prayer service offers<br />
Scripture, music, and a chance for<br />
personal prayer.<br />
Christ Church Parish generously<br />
feeds all our neighbors. In<br />
November, we hosted our fourth<br />
Free Community Dinner and Game<br />
Night. More than 80 people from<br />
our communities came to share<br />
three kinds of chili and homemade<br />
dessert at no cost.<br />
Minister of Music Gary Van Essen,<br />
provides a diverse program and<br />
directs the Praise Band. He also<br />
welcomes other musicians including<br />
oboe and bassoon! We have prayed<br />
daily Evening Prayer more than<br />
1200 times since Fr. Mark arrived<br />
in 2013 and in this holy season the<br />
daily lighting of the Advent Wreath<br />
guides our steps towards the manger.<br />
are welcome to receive: through<br />
food and fellowship, learning and<br />
recovery, devotion and praise.<br />
We look forward to joining with the<br />
other congregations of the Middle<br />
Convocation to welcome the whole<br />
Diocese to be with us for our 152nd<br />
Annual Convention March 7, 2020.<br />
Forming Christians<br />
Christ Church Parish, Kent Island<br />
is Grounded in Christ. As the<br />
Our new Coordinator for Christian<br />
oldest Christian Community in<br />
Formation, Lisa Pinkham will gather<br />
We Also Worship Regularly<br />
Maryland, we rely on the Light of<br />
children and youth around the<br />
All of this activity happens in the Christ to guide our steps. We are<br />
Godly Play stories during Advent<br />
context of prayer. Our Sunday Growing in Faith. More than four<br />
with the help of St. Nicholas and St.<br />
Choir grows stronger as additional dozen households have joined<br />
Lucy. Our Education for Ministry<br />
“Advent Singers” join in preparation our congregation in <strong>2019</strong>. And<br />
class reaches the halfway point in<br />
for the celebrations of <strong>Christmas</strong>. we are Giving in Community. All<br />
6 7
“Equipping the saints for the work of ministry...”<br />
Ephesians 4:12<br />
Bishop’s Institute<br />
RENEWED MINISTRY.<br />
RENEWED JOURNEY.<br />
RENEWED CHURCH.<br />
Diocese of Easton’s<br />
Bishop’s<br />
Institute<br />
JOIN US FOR OUR<br />
LAUNCH SERVICE<br />
JAN.4<br />
About This Publication<br />
The EASTERN SHORE EPISCOPALIAN (ESE) is the<br />
quarterly news magazine of the Diocese of Easton. It<br />
includes feature articles, columns from the bishop, stories<br />
about ministries and parishes, and information about<br />
upcoming diocesan events.<br />
DEADLINES: The deadline for the ESE is the 20th of<br />
the month preceding release. January *20th, May 20th,<br />
August 20th, and November 20th. *Deadline may vary<br />
for pre-convention issue.<br />
DISTRIBUTION: We try to publish and distribute the<br />
<strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> <strong>Episcopalian</strong> on a quarterly basis. The<br />
magazine is created in Adobe InDesign, saved as a PDF,<br />
and published online via a service called Yumpu. Once<br />
the issue is completed, a link is posted to our website and<br />
the same link is emailed to our Enews distribution list.<br />
We also mail hard copies to churches who requested them<br />
according to a list linked here.<br />
Based on the ebb and flow of the busy seasons we try to<br />
adhere to the following schedule:<br />
February: Pre-Convention Edition<br />
June: Summer Edition<br />
September: Fall Edition<br />
December: Abbreviated <strong>Christmas</strong> Edition<br />
GUEST ARTICLES may be submitted for consideration<br />
but are included only if the following criteria are met:<br />
1. The article is 300-600 words and includes 1-6 photos.<br />
2. There is room for the article in an upcoming magazine.<br />
3. The article is NOT an event synopsis or advertisement.<br />
4. The Bishop approves the content and inclusion of the<br />
article.<br />
NEXT ISSUE<br />
SERVE THE WORLD:<br />
• Hear from some of our Churches<br />
• Convention Preview<br />
• Submit for Consideration to:<br />
joanne@dioceseofeaston.org<br />
NOTABLE DATES<br />
January 4<br />
BISHOP’S INSTITUTE LAUNCH<br />
Join us for a special Eucharist and celebration of the launch<br />
of the Bishop’s Institute.<br />
January 10-12<br />
OCEAN CITY YOUTH RALLY<br />
Join thousands of 6th-12th graders from around the region<br />
at this year’s youth rally “Inseparable” (Romans 8:38-39).<br />
February 10th<br />
NORTHERN CONVOCATION MEETING<br />
Shrewsbury Kennedyville @ 7pm<br />
The second of two business meetings leading up to<br />
Convention.<br />
February 11th<br />
MIDDLE CONVOCATION MEETING<br />
Christ Church Cambridge @ 7pm<br />
8<br />
@11:00AM<br />
with Reception to follow<br />
Installation of the Canon eologian,<br />
the Rev. Dr. Daniel Dunlap, Rector Old Trinity Church Creek<br />
Commissioning of the Advisory Board<br />
Commissioning of the Bishop’s Committee<br />
St. Paul’s Hebron<br />
8700 Memory Gardens Lane<br />
Hebron, MD 21801<br />
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: We encourage the<br />
submission of articles and pictures. We reserve the right to<br />
edit material offered for publication. All submissions must<br />
include name, phone and email address for verification.<br />
• One full page article with pictures = approximately 300-<br />
600 words<br />
• Name of the author should be at the top of the article<br />
• A short tagline should be at the end of the article,<br />
including contact information for author Example: John<br />
Doe serves as music director at St. Swithin’s. Contact him<br />
at jdoe@stswithins.org.<br />
• Include a headshot if possible<br />
• Pictures should be high resolution .jpeg files (min. 300<br />
dpi) to ensure print quality (send as separate attachment,<br />
not in body of the article)<br />
• Please select a significant point in your article (call out)<br />
and highlight this text in the article<br />
Submit stories & photos to joanne@dioceseofeaston.org<br />
February 13th<br />
SOUTHERN CONVOCATION MEETING<br />
Holy Spirit Ocean City @ 7pm<br />
March 7th (Rain Date March 14th)<br />
ANNUAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION<br />
Christ Church Stevensville<br />
The Episcopal Church of the <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Shore</strong> of Maryland<br />
gathers once a year to govern the parishes that make up the<br />
Diocese of Easton. We worship, we celebrate, we listen, we<br />
speak, we debate, and we vote.<br />
SIGN UP FOR THE BI-WEEKLY ENEWS<br />
dioceseofeaston.org<br />
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The Episcopal Diocese of Easton<br />
314 North Street<br />
Easton, MD 21601<br />
410-822-1919<br />
dioceseofeaston.org<br />
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the<br />
world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness<br />
but will have the light of life.’”<br />
John 8:12<br />
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