Posts from September 2015

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Help Manakin’s Outreach Efforts: Join us for the Reach for the Stars Gala and Auction

by Church Staff

By the Gala Committee

Once again it is time for Manakin’s Annual Reach for the Stars Gala and Auction. This year this fine event will be held at Salisbury Country Club on Saturday, September 26 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Do not miss this opportunity for a fun evening with delicious food and drinks, exciting items to bid on (in both silent and live auctions), and the chance to support all of Manakin’s worthwhile Outreach causes. Bring your friends, and invite members of the community. All are welcome! Tickets are on sale now. Contact the Church Office for details.

Manakin’s Sunday School Prepares to Launch Clean Water Project

by Church Staff

It’s that time of year – time to plan for Sunday School. Sunday School begins on September 13 at 9:45 a.m. We will kick off the year with a Rally Day. This is an all-inclusive event for children and youth, ages 3 years old – 12th graders (nursery available). Special guests will come to Manakin to help us kick off our outreach project with Stop Hunger Now – “The Year of Clean Water,” an adventure in ecology of our natural resources.

Our project, which will run from September – December 2015, will be to provide 10 clean water systems to be used in areas where water currently causes disease and death to children and adults. To reach our goal, we need to raise $100 for each system – $1,000 total. Information about this Sunday School project and how you can support it may be found in Denny Hall.

Join us for Book Club

by Church Staff

By Birdie Lighthiser

Our next Book Club will be on Tuesday, September 15, at 5:00 p.m. We will be discussing The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. This is the moving and fascinating story of how Frenchwomen endured and contributed during the Nazi occupation of France during World War II. Please join us for a great discussion. Feel free to bring a bag supper. Dessert will be served.

In October, the Book Club welcomes a special guest. Mark your calendars now! We are very excited to again be welcoming a Virginia author to our Book Club. It is so special when we get the opportunity to meet and visit with the writer of the book that we are reading. On Friday, October 16, we will welcome Beth Macy, author of Factory Man. We will met at 6:00 p.m. (this time is different from our usual meeting time.) Macy is a writer for the Roanoke Times. Factory Man emerged from her Roanoke Times reporting on Virginia’s Bassett family and John Bassett III, who, in her words, “gave cheap imports from China the middle finger and kept his Galax factory workers employed!” Factory Man has garnered many awards and much recognition. Please take advantage of this great opportunity to spend an evening with Beth Macy. A Virginian since 1989 and a journalist since the age of four, Macy is an engaging speaker, as well as a stellar writer. Everyone is invited to attend and participate in this discussion. Refreshments will be served.

Book Club Schedule for 2015-2016:
September 15 – The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
October 16 – Factory Man by Beth Macy
January 19 – The Faith Club by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, Priscilla Warner
March 15 – Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
May 17 – All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Providing Meals to the Hungry

by Church Staff

Greater Mount Moriah

By Birdie Lighthiser

On July 29, 13 volunteers from Manakin (plus family and friends of Manakin) served a “summer cookout” menu to over 200 guests at Greaer Mount Moriah Baptist Church, one of three sites offering hot lunches by Richmond Friends of the Homeless. These hot lunches are provided to many of Richmond’s most underserved – the homeless and working poor who do not other resources. Thank you to all who prepared and served out July meal. We had many happy guests that day.

Our next feeding at Greater Mount Moriah is Wednesday, September 30, and we will be serving our regular menu again. We need volunteers to serve on September 30, and we need volunteers to prepare casseroles. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in Denny Hall. Mount Moriah Baptist Church is located at   913 N. 1st Street, Richmond, adjacent to Gilpin Court. Please consider signing up to help with this outreach ministry.

 

Feeding Program

By Bryn Davis

Our next feeding program will take place on Saturday, September 26 at 9:00 a.m. in Denny Hall. We will be packing and delivering 100 lunches for three homeless shelters. A sign-up sheet is located in Denny Hall. All ages are welcome to participate.

Please mark your calendars for the rest of the 2015 feeding program dates (all will be at 9:00 a.m. in Denny Hall):

  • October 31 (this is an additional date)
  • November 28

 

The Gathering Place

By Bryn Davis

Manakin continues to support the Rev. Becki Dean’s ministry, The Gathering, by providing 30 lunches on alternating second Sundays and all fifth Sundays. All are welcome to attend the service, which begins at 2:00 p.m. at the corner of Decatur and Jefferson-Davis Highway. Please sign up to help or attend.

Mark your calendars now for The Gathering dates for the rest of 2015:

  • Sunday, September 13
  • Sunday, November 8

Pastoral Care: Looking out for one Another

by Church Staff

By Birdie Lighthiser

Manakin is a community of believers. We are also a family. When one of our church-family members is in distress or crisis, we are there to help. Every member of Manakin is a member of our Pastoral Care Committee. Thank you for the many acts of kindness and support that you performed throughout the summer. Interested in getting involved? There are many ways you can help a member of our parish, including meals (Gracious Gourmets), transportation, visits, cards, e-mails, help with yard work, and phone calls. If you or someone you know needs help. Please contact us. If you are willing to help in some of these organized ways, please contact the church office.

In addition, Manakin’s six Stephen Ministers have been caring for individuals in a different way. Stephen Ministry is a lay-led ministry that involves caregiving on a regular basis – usually weekly visits. We will be training additional Stephen Ministers beginning this fall. If you hare interested in being a Stephen Minister, please contact the church office

Don’t forget our Prayer Vine. Prayer requests can be made at any time. If you would like to be part of our Prayer Vine, please contact the church office.

Manakin Participates in Habitat for Humanity

by Church Staff

By Don Marsh

Many Thanks to the Manakin work crew who put up siding on two sides of the house under construction for the Powhatan Habitat for Humanity Program on Saturday, August 8.

We believe this is the 14th home we have worked on since Manakin joined Habitat in 2002. During that time, Manakin has donated over $33,000 to build these homes.

Third Sunday Collection

by Church Staff

By Bryn Davis

Our next Third Sunday Collection will be Sunday, September 20. Donations of non-perishables for the Food Pantry and Backpacks for Love, bedding for the Richmond Animal Clinic, and magazines for the Chesterfield County Jail* are welcome, as well as ties for Hope Aglow Ministry. Thank you so much for your generosity.

* Note: If bringing magazines, please remove your address label.

Eucharist Ministers Needed

by Church Staff

By Martha Steger

Before going on his sabbitcal, Michael+ made us aware of the need to expand lay-ministry services to Manakin members unable to get to church for the Eucharist. At present, our lay-ministry group of five administers the Eucharist as a vital part of the services we provide on the first Sunday of each month at Brookdale and Southerland Place assisted-living centers.

Anyone interested in becoming part of an expanded group to take the Eucharist to Manakin members unable to get to church can contact the church office. This is a very important ministry, and the training would only take an hour of anyone’s time. I am hoping to set up a convenient training session before the end of September and will be back in touch with those who express interest.

I confess that I did not realize what a spiritual experience administering the Eucharist could be for a server until I became involved in this outreach program. I have come to see it as part of salvation – one day at a time. As the Rev. Robert D. Flanagan, priest in the Diocese of New York, author and educator, has written, “…for Episcopalians it is the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist that bring us into salvation and return us to relation- ship with God, respectively.”

Choir Corner: Voices Needed

by Church Staff

By Rita Gulliksen

Do you like to sing in the shower or at Karaoke events? If you do, then please consider joining the Chancel Choir. Rehearsals will begin on September 9 and will run from 7:30–9:15 p.m. in the Choir Room. We welcome all voice parts, and you do not have to read music.

The Choristers (Ages 7-16 unchanged voices) Choir will begin rehearsals on September 27 after the 10:00 a.m. service. We will rehearse until noon. Please encourage your children and grandchildren to join us. They will learn about singing and liturgy. At this time, the Choristers plan to sing as part of the 4:00 p.m. Family Liturgy on Christmas Eve. If there is more participation and interest, the children may sing more often.

If you have any questions or need more information, e-mail Rita Gulliksen.

Men of the Church Breakfast

by Church Staff

By Don Marsh

The next Men of the Church breakfast meeting is Saturday, September 12, at 8:00 a.m. (the second Saturday of September because of the Labor Day holiday). Our speaker will be our own Greg Lee. Greg will present highlights of his spring trip back to Vietnam, where he served during the Vietnam War. Please come for a hearty breakfast and a great program.

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