This is a free publication for members and friends

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1 St. George s Episcopal Church December 2012 This is a free publication for members and friends Volume 18, No. 12 WAIT. by Father Paul Allick For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3 Waiting is such a big part of our lives. We spend a lot of time waiting: waiting for dinner, waiting for a response to an , waiting for someone who is running late, waiting in line at the store, waiting for the end of a really good book. I have never been good at waiting. Over the years I have prayed and thought about why waiting is hard for me. In that exploration I have learned ways to make waiting a gift instead of a burden. I m waiting in the doctor s office getting impatient and then I remind myself, What a great opportunity to just sit still for a while, appreciating the breath of life and to talk with God. I am waiting in line at the store getting anxious and judgmental of the people in front of me and then remind myself, What a great chance to people watch, to read these tabloid headlines, and to thank God for this cart full of daily bread. In the season of Advent we are waiting for Christ. As we remember his first appearance in Bethlehem we also look forward to his second coming at the consummation of all time. We will hear this theme in the prayers, scriptures and songs of Advent. We do not wait in dread of the Day of the Lord. We wait with gratitude knowing that when he shall come again he will fill all in all. Jesus is coming again and we are glad. He comes not only to judge but also to heal the universe. How we wait for the Lord is important. We may get impatient, It s been two thousand years! When will he come to us? What is taking so long? We forget that time means little to God. One day is like a thousand years to him. We wait in faith and hope. When we wait in this way we learn how to wait on others and ourselves in a more loving way. In fact, we learn how to do all of our waiting in better ways. While we wait we pray, we repent, we serve, and we love. Every second of every day we are preparing to meet our Lord. As we pray in the collect on the Fourth of Advent, Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself. (BCP, p.212) Waiting can be productive. I have learned to wait in my response to thorny situations. If I feel myself reacting strongly to something, it is a sure sign for me to wait. I need to step back and wait in prayer before I respond. Often the questions or situations work themselves out all their own. December 2012 Page 1

2 ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SUNDAYS IN DECEMBER :15-10:00 a.m. Parish Hall The Revelation to Saint John In the readings during the season of Advent we hear a lot about Christ s Second Coming. Our culture is rife with end times jargon, books, and movies. In this class we will study the last book of the New Testament and try to discover what it is saying to us in this place and time. We will review a book put out by the Anglican Association of Biblical Scholars called Conversations with Scripture: Revelation. December 2: Revelation as Roadmap December 9: Revelation as Myth December 16: Revelation as History December 23: A Deeper Reality, a Different Kind of Time, and a Choice of Two Cities WARDEN S CORNER by Jane Jacobson, Rector s Warden St. George s Annual Meeting in February is quickly approaching. Each year we gather as a united body of Christ to conduct the business of the church. One important order of business on that day will be to elect new Vestry members. There will be 5 vacancies to fill; 4 two-year terms and 1 one-year term. In accordance with the by-laws of our parish, the Vestry appoints a nominating committee to select and propose a slate of eligible candidates. In addition, we extend an open invitation to members of our congregation to submit names to be considered by the nominating committee. Any adult communicant in good standing with St. George s Church is eligible to serve on the Vestry. Besides the temporal activities, such as responsibility for overseeing the property and finances of the church, there is a ministry to serving on the Vestry. Fr. Stephen Edmondson puts it this way, Our primary ministry as a Vestry is to listen to God, to hear where God is leading us and then to discern what steps we need to move toward the future. If you are interested in submitting your name for nomination to next year s Vestry, or if you have any questions, please contact me. EDUCATION UPDATE by Heather Whitesell School/Children s Chapel The children have been continuing to discuss the weekly Gospel in Children's Chapel with much participation and thought-provoking conversation. Our once-a-month focus has been a continuation of the topic of Baptism with an introduction into learning about the Creeds. Following the second service on Second, the children helped to package the donated toilet paper rolls into bags of two. The children were surprised to find out that each family who comes to STEP receives only two rolls of paper to last for two weeks! Youth News The young people continue to help with acolyting and reading during the service and for special events. Our Friday-night project for November involved making a shopping trip to the grocery store. The youth were given $25 for buying a meal for a family to be donated to STEP. The kids talked together about what to buy and realized how much food items can cost. Jacob Carlson spent the third weekend in November participating as a leader at TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) in St. Paul. He says it is a powerful experience and encourages other youth to attend! EPIPHANY PAGEANT January 6, 2013 St. George's will be performing an Epiphany pageant this year on, January 6. We need performers of all ages and abilities to make it great. Please consider being a part of this wonderful event. Talk to Heather Whitesell or if interested. December 2012 Page 2

3 THANK YOU, ST. GEORGE S STEP TOYSHOP WISH LIST St. George s generosity to the St. Louis Park Emergency Program was shown during the first two weeks in November. We donated 216 rolls of toilet paper, 118 toothbrushes, 149 pounds of food, $ from the Second Offering, $299 towards Thanksgiving food bags, and numerous grocery bags and egg cartons. Each donation makes a great difference to the clients at STEP. Many thanks and let s keep doing it STEP HOLIDAY TOY PROGRAM by Camille Schroeder The St. Louis Park Emergency Program will again be providing a Holiday Toy Store for their clients. New toys and Target gift cards will be given to parents for them to give as Christmas gifts for their children. Approximately 1,000 children will be served by this program. In order to make this happen, STEP needs us to donate new toys and Target gift cards. Gift cards in the amount of $10 are provided for each child ages 11 to 18. New toys are given to children up to age 10. Each child will receive a large toy of $40 in value, or two toys of $15 to $20 value. No stocking stuffers are needed. Your donation of toys, money or Target gift cards will help STEP reach its goal. Please deliver your toys to St. George s no later than, December 17, and hopefully sooner than that. Please refer to the STEP Toyshop Wish List for toy suggestions or use your own good judgment when shopping. Another opportunity to support this program is to volunteer to help sort and distribute the toys. The dates are Friday, December 14, through Thursday, December 20. Please call STEP at , ext.14, to sign up. The project is held at Peace Presbyterian Church on Cedar Lake Road in St. Louis Park. More information can be obtained by asking Camille Schroeder. Infants and Toddlers ($15-$40) Riding toys Baby bouncer seats Learning toys Disney toys Little Tikes toys Large Tonka trucks Multicultural dolls Age 4-7 ($15-$40) Sleeping bags Dolls Dora the Explorer Craft or activity sets Disney Pixar items Scooters Trucks and cars Dress-up clothes Play sets (kitchen sets, matchbox sets) Age 8-10 ($15-$40) Remote-control cars Electronics/dance games CD players Bed-in-a-bag sets Craft kits Moxi Teenz dolls Age $10 Target Gift Cards (given out instead of gifts) Gift cards are needed throughout December to give parents at the time of registration. DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS Al Kotula Olivia Seifert Lou Michelich Paul Allick Glennis Williams Drew Monroe 13 Karen Hurlbert 14 Laura Anderson 16 Pamela Moore WEDDING BELLS FOR CURTIS OLUFSON Congratulations to Curtis and Keri Olufson who were married on November 10, Curtis is the son of St. George s parishioner. Thanks so much for your participation in this project. 17 Mari Mejia 22 Mark Monroe Steve Harvala 24 Loren Dwyer 26 Bob Miller 27 Patricia Janke 29 Blossom Tsang 31 Amelia Smith Ed O Donnell December 2012 Page 3

4 JUSTIN WELBY NAMED AS NEXT ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY from the UK News ADVENT BRUNCH, December 9 by Dawn Bacon Justin Welby, a former oil executive who was made a bishop just over a year ago, has been appointed the next leader of the Church of England, Downing Street confirmed on Friday morning (November 9). Come and celebrate the new liturgical year at St. George s! Bring a dish to share and join us in the parish hall for a potluck brunch on, December 9, immediately following the 10:15 a.m. service. A statement on the website of the prime minister's office said the Queen had nominated Welby. A press conference at Lambeth Palace is taking place to announce that the 56-year-old bishop of Durham will be the 105th man to sit on the throne of Saint Augustine, succeeding Rowan Williams. Welby will be enthroned as archbishop of Canterbury in Canterbury Cathedral on 21 March He said: To be nominated to this post is both astonishing and exciting. It is something I never expected, and the last few weeks have been a very strange experience. It is exciting because we are at one of those rare points where the tide of events is turning, and the church nationally, including the Church of England, has great opportunities to match its very great but often hidden strengths. ST. GEORGE S SUPPER CLUB FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7 St. George s Supper Club will meet on Friday, December 7, 2012, at 7 p.m. at the home of Paul and Camille Schroeder, Lawtonka Dr., Shorewood. Please call them at or them at pacam@mchsi.com to let them know you will be there. This is a potluck, so let them know what you would like to bring. All are welcome and are encouraged to attend. It s a great chance to see your church friends in a social setting as well as a good chance to meet and talk with new people. The brunch is being organized by the Mission Committee. We will recognize those that are new to our parish and strengthen our sense of connection across our entire community as we take time to share in food and fellowship. A CAROL EVERY CHRISTMAS The Minnetonka Choral Society, December 9, p.m. The Minnetonka Choral Society, directed by Jere Lantz, will present A Carol Every Christmas on, December 9, 2012, at 3 p.m. The concert is to be held at The Church of St. Therese of Deephaven, Minnetonka Blvd. (1/2 mile west of County Road 101). Twin Cities composer Abbie Burt Betinis continues today a tradition begun by her great-grandfather Rev. Bates G. Burt in the 1930s: creating a new carol and sending it to friends and family as her Christmas card. The Minnetonka Choral Society brings these generations of Burt carols to life, telling their stories and sharing how new songs bring new light and homespun warmth to our ancient, beloved holiday season. Tickets will be available at the door or from a chorus member. The ticket cost is $18 for adults, $10 for students (17 and under). St. George s parishioner Marion Miller has been a member of this chorus for 40 years. Ask for directions when you respond and we hope to see you there. December 2012 Page 4

5 A LETTER FROM EILEEN HARVALA DEACON IN TRAINING ANNUAL MEETING SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2012 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, On December 2, I return to St. George s after spending nine months in an internship at St. Paul s Lake of the Isle, which is just a few short miles down the road. At times that was a short distance as I immersed myself deeply into all that this wonderful parish had to offer me. At times the distance was long because I deeply missed you. Please mark your calendars. The Annual Meeting of St. George s Church is scheduled for, February 24, I wish I could adequately describe how much the past few months have transformed me. I no longer wonder about my sense of call to the diaconate; however, I do continue to discern what it all may mean. I remain open to where the Spirit may lead me, and trust that the details of who, what, where, when, and why will be revealed. WHAT I WANT MY CHURCH TO BE! I have learned much the past few months through the School of Formation (seems like all I do is study, but I love it) and through my internship experiences. All that has simply revealed that I have so much more to learn. I apply a diaconal lens to my faith, which may have been present before, but is now a deep part of me. Deacons are the bridge between the community and the church, responsible for knowing the community and its needs, and bringing those needs to the faith community and then helping it to discern its gifts to respond. You will see me at the services in the role of a subdeacon as Father Paul graciously helps me with continued formation and discernment. It is hoped that I will officially be a candidate for Holy Orders in January, with possible ordination in late June Will I be a deacon at St. George s? We shall see because that has yet to be fully discerned and decided. For now, I look forward to being back at St. George s, listening and learning from you, catching up with friends and those I haven t met yet, helping with mission and outreach, going out on those wonderful LEV visits, serving at the altar, and all other duties as assigned. There will be one service of Holy Eucharist at 9:00 a.m., followed by a brunch and the annual meeting. Copied from St. Bartholomew Catholic Faith Community newsletter My church is composed of people like me. I help to make it what it is. It will be friendly, if I am. Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them. It will do great work, if I work. It will make generous gifts to great cause, if I am a generous giver. It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship, if I invite and bring them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, and a church with a noble spirit, if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these same things. Therefore, with the help of God, I shall dedicate myself to the task of being all the things I want my church to be. SECOND SUNDAY/ SECOND OFFERING December 9 - Juice / 2nd Offering, all-in-one. Peace to all of you. Eileen Harvala December 2012 Page 5

6 Calendar of Events December 2012 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Advent I :00 a.m. Gospel Based Discipleship (CEB) 8:30 am Choir 9:15 am Adult Ed. 10 Advent II 11 8:30 am - Choir 9:15 am Adult Ed. 11:30 am School/Youth Group 2:30 pm Staff meeting 11:30 pm - Brunch 2nd /2nd Offering 7:00 pm - Finance Advent III 12 noon St. Mary s Circle luncheon at Betty Bauer s 8:30 am - Choir 9:15 am Adult Ed. 18 Fr. Allick s day off 7 p.m. Supper Club at Schroeder s :00 a.m. Gospel Based Discipleship (CEB) 12 noon Office closed 15 Fr. Allick s day off Office closed 6:30 pm AA (LL) 6:30 pm Youth Group :00 a.m. Gospel Based Discipleship (CEB) DAYD DAYD 6:00 pm Mission Committee 8 4:00 pm Staff gathering 6:30 pm AA(LL) 7:00 pm Education Committee Fr. Allick s day off 6:30 pm AA (LL) 7:00 pm - Vestry Advent IV Christmas Eve Christmas 4:00 pm Holy Eucharist 10:00 pm Holy Eucharist, Rite II 10:15 am Holy Eucharist, Rite 1 8:30 am Choir 9:15 am Adult Ed. 11:30 am Greening of the Church Office closed :30 am - Choir Key: Fr. Allick s day off Office Closed 6:30 pm AA (LL) Office closes at noon. HE Holy Eucharist CEB Christian Education Building LL Library Lounge 28 December 2012 Page 6 29

7 Ministers of the Eucharistic Assembly December 2012, December 2 First of Advent, December 9 Second of Advent, December 16 Third of Advent, December 23 Fourth of Advent Monday, December 24 Christmas Eve Tuesday, December 25 Christmas Day, December 30 First after Christmas Readings Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:1-9 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36 Malachi 3:1-4 Canticle 16 Philippians 1:3-11 Luke 3:1-6 Zephaniah 3:1420 Canticle 9 Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:7-18 Micah 5:2-5a Psalm 80:1-7 Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-45 Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14 Isaiah 52:7-10 Psalm 98 Hebrews 1:1-4 John 1:1-14 Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Psalm 147:13-21 Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 John 1:1-18 Chalice Mary Kuhfeld Steve Harvala Eileen Harvala Karen Hurlbert Cyprian Troyer Kathie Brown Kris Kelley Kris Kelley Cyprian Troyer Carole Leonard Mary Kuhfeld Steve Harvala Eileen Harvala Karen Hurlbert Carole Leonard Paul Schroeder Kathie Brown CyprianTroyer Marion Miller Gloria MonroeJohnson Mary Weekes Caryl Eschweiler Cyprian Troyer Mary Poulsen Greeters Brad Heil Margaret Heil Alan Poulsen Mary Poulsen Milt Hill Harry Kelley Kris Kelley Ushers 8 a.m. Bob Miller Bruce Becker Bruce Becker Bob Miller Bob Miller Bruce Becker 10:15 a.m. Kitty Reese Bill Stromberg Tom Zaun Milt Hill Jane Jacobson Bob Jones Tom Zaun Milt Hill Kitty Reese Bill Stromberg Acolyte Nathan Harmon Sydney Norman Korpo Yeakehson Jade Carlson 4 pm: Korpo Yeakehson Lectors 4 pm & 10 pm 10:15 am Maraline Keeling Maraline Keeling Sydney Norman Tom Harmon Nathan Harmon 10 pm: Jade Carlson Lay Eucharistic Visitors Alan Poulsen Mary Poulsen Heather Whitesell Mary Kuhfeld Carol Peterson NO LEV VISIT NO LEV VISIT Coffee Hour: 8:00 a.m. Karen Hurlbert Holbach Family Betty Bauer Carole Leonard Geri Alberg Karen Hurlbert 10:15 a.m. Bob Jones Bonnie Jones Gloria MonroeJohnson Iris Alexander Milt Hill Gladys Williamson John Carlson Jane Carlson Alan Poulsen Mary Poulsen December 2012 Page 7

8 About St. George s 5224 Minnetonka Boulevard St. Louis Park, MN Office hours Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m. 3 p.m. Parish staff: Paul Allick, Rector paula@stgeorgesonline.org Patty Dittrich, Parish Administrator pattyd@stgeorgesonline.org Heather Whitesell, Children and Youth Coordinator heatherw@stgeorgesonline.org Randy Egan, Organist/Choirmaster eganmusic@earthlink.net ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Priests in Residence: Mildred Cox Anne Scheible Deacon in Training: Eileen Harvala Vestry: Wardens: Jane Jacobson, Rector s Warden; Harry Kelley, Parish Warden Parish Treasurer: Vestry: Iris Alexander, Ryan Anderson, Tom Boe, Milt Hill, Mark Kraabel, Mary Kuhfeld, and Bill Seely Clerk of the Vestry: Bill Stromberg GREENING OF THE CHURCH SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 PLEASE JOIN US The annual Greening of the Church will be held on, December 23, following the 10:15 a.m. service. Everyone is welcome to join us in making St. George s beautiful as we prepare for Christmas. CHRISTMAS SERVICES: Please plan to join us for Christmas services at St. George s: December 24 Christmas Eve: 4:00 p.m. Family service with Praise Group There s plenty to do; a tree to put up, roping and lights, boughs and swags, and lots of poinsettias. Many hands make light work and a fun time. 10:00 p.m. Festival Eucharist with choir and organ. ST. MARY S CIRCLE CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON December 25 Christmas Day: 10:15 a.m. - Holy Eucharist Rite I St. Mary s Circle will have their annual Christmas luncheon on Monday, December 17, 2012, at 12 noon. Betty Bauer will be the hostess at her home at 115 Lawn Terrace in Golden Valley. Everyone should bring 6 cookies for the dessert. December 2012 Page 8