NEWSLETTER Advent

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1 ST. PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 112 E. Main Street (P.O. Box 206) NEWSLETTER Advent stpaulslockhaven@gmail.com MINISTRY AT ST. PAUL S The Rt. Rev d Nathan D. Baxter Bishop of Central Pennsylvania The Ven. Canon Daniel L. Selvage Priest-in-Charge danselvage2@comcast.net Telephone: (814) MUSIC Neil Kim Feerrar Organist/Choir Director ALTAR GUILD & FLOWERS Phyllis Durost Telephone: (570) VESTRY Claudia Horner, Senior Warden Charles Conway, Treasurer claudiahorner@yahoo.com cconway 946@aol.com Telephone: (814) Telephone: (570) Scott Horner, Junior Warden Thomas Smithgall, Elected Member Schorner133@gmail.com n/a Telephone: (814) Telephone: (570)

2 From Canon Selvage Dear Friends in Christ, On Sunday, December 1 the First Sunday of Advent we begin a new Church Year. As the church moves through the liturgical year, we strive to see the saving action of God that was once present to the world in Jesus of Nazareth present today in the Holy Spirit. Thus, the liturgical year is not for remembering something that happened a long time ago, but for recognizing what is happening now. The liturgical year is not meant to give us a history lesson, but to facilitate an experience. Accordingly, there emerged in the life of the early church, a pre-christmas season, a season to make ready for the anniversary of the Lord s birth. Initially, this season was not penitential in tone. Gradually, however, some penitential customs seeped into the observance of Advent, leaving us with a somewhat conflicted liturgy. For example, the Gloria is not sung during Advent, just as it is not sung during Lent; however, Alleluia is sung in Advent, while in Lent it is not. And now, many parishes including St. Paul s use blue vestments in Advent rather than purple (the color of Lent) to distinguish these two seasons and, especially to deemphasize the penitential quality of Advent. Thus, in Advent we experience a blended liturgical season: a season with a slight penitential tone, and yet a season of joyful anticipatory preparation for the birth of the Christ Child. Having shared Advent s rather complex history, I would now like to take this opportunity to urge you to make use of this spiritual time to prepare for Christmas. Not only as a time for shopping, decorating, baking, and so forth; but as a time for prayer and the reading of Holy Scripture.* If we do not do this, there is a strong possibility that we shall arrive at the day after Christmas feeling exhausted and drained, promising ourselves never to do it again. Finally, as we approach year s end, I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve as your priest. Thank you for all of the hard work that you do to support the mission and ministry of St. Paul s parish. Thank you for your support in time, talent, and treasure that permit us to be a light shining in the darkness of this world. Canon Dan+ *NOTE: To assist you in preparing for Christmas by keeping a Holy Advent, I encourage you to pick up a copy of Living the Gospel Life The Advent Season a free Advent devotional booklet available in the vestibule of the church. 2

3 Help Our Sisters & Brothers in the Philippines Our Diocese is gathering donations to send to Episcopal Relief & Development for their work in The Philippines. Every cent given to ERD is put to excellent and direct use. To support this work please make out a check to St. Paul's, marked "Philippines". Stewardship Campaign 2014 Have You Made Your Pledge? Our 2014 Stewardship Campaign has officially ended, but you can still make your pledge! If you have not done so, please prayerfully consider your offerings of time, talent and treasure. Pledge cards can be found on the table at the rear of the church where you pick up your Sunday worship bulletin. Pledges and other similar donations provide a significant amount of our income - we have no other significant source of funding. Our work and our ministry at St. Paul's, our bills and our enormous property costs, are all met in this way. As expenses continue to rise, we need new pledges, and we need existing pledges to increase in order to continue "as is". If we come together as a community, this goal is attainable. Pledging is one crucial way in which we show our thankfulness to God and our commitment to our church. If you have not done so, please return your pledge card as soon as possible - and remember that no pledge is too small. From the Parish Register We welcome into the fellowship of Christ s Church those who received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism during Bishop Baxter s recent parish visit. They include: Aurora Leigh Fromille, infant daughter of Theresa Johnson and Corey Fromille, Talyn Fredericks, and Benjamin Raudabaugh. 3

4 Advent/Christmas Schedule 10:30 AM Sunday, December 1 Advent I Holy Eucharist 10:30 AM Sunday, December 8 Advent II Holy Eucharist 10:30 AM Sunday, December 15 Advent III Holy Eucharist/Vestry Meeting 10:30 AM Sunday, December 23 Advent IV Morning Prayer 5:00 PM Wednesday, December 25 - Christmas Eve Festive Choral Eucharist 10:30 AM Sunday, December 29 Christmas I TBA Note: All are invited and encouraged to share in our weekly services of worship during Advent, Christmas and the Holiday season. Join with us to be nourished in Word and Sacrament. The seasons of Advent and Christmas offer an excellent opportunity for inviting others to join you in attending church. Accordingly, we encourage you to do so! Concerning Christmas Worship St. Paul s celebration of the Christ Mass has been scheduled for 5:00 PM on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 25. This festive liturgy will include beloved carols of the season, special musical offerings, and Canon Selvage s Christmas sermon. Please plan to join us for this very special service of worship: come and enjoy our beautifully decorated church, come and be nourished in God s Word and Holy Sacrament; come and celebrate the birth of the Christ Child! Vestry Notes Members of St. Paul s Vestry are reminded that December s meeting has been scheduled for Sunday, December 15. We shall convene following the 10:30 AM worship service. 4

5 Called to Vestry Service? In the Episcopal Church, vestries and clergy work together in partnership with the Bishop, to provide parish leadership. Each has distinctive areas of responsibility: for example, the vestry sets the annual budget and exercises responsibility for parish finances, in consultation with the priest; the priest is in charge of the liturgy and personnel matters; in all areas we are ultimately accountable to Bishop Baxter. St. Paul s parish by-laws allow for a vestry of six members, each elected for a 3-year term. Sadly, for the past few years, we have been operating with a vestry numbering only 4 members. It is our fervent prayer to be able to expand that number in The tasks of the vestry are neither difficult nor extremely time consuming. Meetings are held on a monthly basis, usually following our 10:30 a.m. morning worship, and last for approximately one hour. Vestry members are elected at the Annual Parish meeting. The 2014 meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 19. Our by-laws stipulate that those eligible to serve shall be confirmed communicant members of the Episcopal Church, of the age of eighteen years and upward. Further, two such persons are to be elected each year. In addition to the above requirements, it is expected that those seeking election to the vestry will be regular in their attendance at worship, and will support the mission and ministry of the parish through the giving of their time and talent. Finally, their stewardship of reassure should be an example to others shown by having made and a financial commitment to the church, regardless of the amount. If you are eligible for election to the vestry and would like to be considered for nomination, please contact our Senior Warden, Claudia Horner, or any other vestry member as soon as possible. Annual Meeting Announced The vestry has announced that the Annual Meeting of St. Paul s parish will be held on Sunday, January 19, The meeting will be convened immediately following the 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist. Per requirements of our by-laws, reports will be received, budgets will be reviewed, and elections will be held for the Vestry. Accordingly, anyone interested in serving on the Vestry should make his or her wish know to our Senior Warden, Claudia Horner, at their earliest convenience. Following the meeting, a pot-luck luncheon will be served. Please plan to attend this important gathering. A Special Note of Thanks We wish to extend a special note of thanks to Ben Blascovich, proprietor of the Helt Funeral Chapel, Mill Hall, for his generous gift of 2014 Episcopal Church Ordo Calendars. These calendars assist church members in following the liturgical year, including both Sunday and weekday lectionary readings. The calendars are available at no charge on a table in the Narthex of the church. 5

6 Concerning Christmas Poinsettias Donations are now being received for the Christmas Poinsettias that will be used to grace our church and altar for the Christmas liturgies. The cost is $11.00 per plant. Should you wish to order one or more plants, please complete this order form and return it to the church or mail it to: Phyllis Durost, 219 Kennedy Ave., Mill Hall, PA NOTE: Checks should be made payable to: St. Paul s Episcopal Church with the memo line marked: Poinsettias. Thank you Poinsettia Order Form Christmas 2013 FROM: Please order Christmas $11.00/plant. I have enclosed my check made payable to St. Paul s Episcopal Church in the amount of $. These plants are being offering to the Glory of God and in loving memory of: And/or in thanksgiving for: 6