Activities for All. Children & Youth Activities. Keeping Advent at Home

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1 Seasons Advent and Christmas :: St. Simon s Episcopal Church The First Sunday of Advent Sunday, November 27 Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection save us from the threatening dangers of our sins, and enlighten our walk in the way of your salvation, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. The Second Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 4 Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming nurture our growth as people of repentance and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Children s Chapel & St. Nicholas Day Sunday, December 4, 10am We will have Children's Chapel for children in preschool through 3rd grade. We will learn about St. Nicholas Day! Going Deeper: Mindfulness During Advent Sunday, December 4, 11:30am The weeks before Christmas can often bog us down with preparations for the busy Christmas holiday. This season, take a moment to remind yourself of the true meaning and significance of Advent. Elizabeth will be leading an exercise to help us be intentional about living into what is most important during this season. Christmas Gift Ingathering Sunday, December 4 Remember to bring your Christmas Basket gifts to church no later than Sunday, December 4. Please place wrapped and tagged gifts in a box in the hallway by the office. The Third Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 11 Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming, that, transformed by grace, we may walk in your way; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Going Deeper: Exploring the Gospel of Matthew Sunday, December 11, 11:30am For much of the past year we have been hearing Gospel lessons read from the Gospel according Luke during our Sunday worship services. On the 1st Sunday of Advent, the lessons will transition to the Gospel according to Matthew. On December 11, Larry will be facilitating a Going Deeper session where we will begin to explore Matthew s perspective of Jesus and what that might mean to our community of faith. The Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 18 Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that hinders our faith, that eagerly we may receive your promises, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Telling Our Christmas Story and Parish Party Sunday, December 18 10:00am Join together for a very special service combining Lessons & Carols with the Pageant as people old and young, long time members and new, share together in the retelling of the Christmas story our story on one of the shortest days of the year. We will continue the celebration with a parish festival Christmas party.

2 Activities for All Advent Walk In Wednesday Wednesdays, 6-7pm Join folks from St. Simon s on Wednesday evenings beginning at 6:00pm for a potluck meal. Bring a side dish to share and spend some time laughing with and getting to know the wonderful people in our community. During Advent we will be ending each meal with a short and informal prayer service. All are welcome! Regrounding in Advent 9:30am Breathing Meditation 10am Seasons of the Spirit 9:30am Lectio Divina 8:30am Centering Prayer Sing with us for a Season Wednesday, November 30, 7:15pm We ll be singing plenty of fun music throughout Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, so come join us! The Senior Choir will rehearse on Wednesday, November 30, and then on Sunday mornings at 8:30am. Salvation Army Kettling Saturday, December 3, 12 1pm Come join the fun singing holiday carols and ringing bells for the Salvation Army at Water Town Place on North Michigan Avenue. The group will gather for a bite and a hot drink at a nearby restaurant afterward. Singles, couples, families... make an afternoon of it! Contact Katie Suprenuk at ksuprenuk@gmail.com or (847) if you can join us or would like further information. Blue Christmas Liturgy Wednesday, December 21, 7:00 pm Christmas is a time filled with joy. But it can also be a time of sadness, depression, and pain as the result of the loss of a loved one, broken relationships, unemployment, health concerns, anxiety, or other struggles. December 21, the winter solstice, is the longest night of the year. It is a time when we especially sense the darkness in our lives and in our world. On this night we will gather for a time of music and prayers, scripture and Eucharist to lift up the burdens of the season and enter into God s promised hope, peace, joy, and love. We gather as broken people in a broken world, praying Come, Lord Jesus. Children & Youth Activities Youth Night at PADS Thursday, December 1, 5:45pm The youth will be helping to set up the PADS shelter at Congregational UCC on Kirchhoff Rd on the first Thursday of every month. Cookies at the Stompers Sunday, December 4, 5-7pm Youth night will be held at the Stomper residence for a cookie decorating party. Don t forget your pastry bag! Preparing for the Pageant There will be a short meeting for parents and children interested in being part of the Children's Christmas pageant following the 10 am service on December 4th. We will meet downstairs in the St. Phoebe Room. Children will rehearse for the pageant during church school time on December 4th and December 11th. The final rehearsal will be Saturday December 17th from 9:30 to 11:00 am in the church. It is very important for all participants to be at this rehearsal! The children will present their pageant as part of the "Telling our Christmas Story" service on December 18th at the 10:00 service. We hope you will all join us for this! Keeping Advent at Home What does Advent mean for you and your family? How can we all deepen our experience of this special season? There a number of resources available for children and families available in the Narthex. We have several copies of Richard Rohr s Preparing for Christmas as well. From the Living Compass Practicing simplicity is always challenging, but especially so this time of year. Practicing Simplicity With All Your Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind is a timely resource to help us slow down and simplify the choices we make at a time when the world around us is often doing just the opposite. Designed for daily individual reflection or for group study, this 56-page guide provides a foundation for seeking a deeper experience of the Advent season, an experience that will help prepare us for the true meaning of Christmas. It is available as a PDF on our web site or as an e-book from Amazon. 2 : St. Simon s Seasons : Advent Christmas 2016

3 Christmas at St. Simon s Saturday, December 24 Christmas Eve 3:40pm String Prelude 4:00pm Eucharist and Blessing of the Crèche A service especially for families with young children. Please bring a stuffed animal to be blessed. Child care available. 9:30pm 10:00pm Choral Prelude & Hymn Sing Festival Choral Eucharist (incense used) Sunday, December 25 Christmas Day 10:00am Christmas Festival Eucharist Sunday, January 1 The Feast of the Holy Name 8am 10am During the twelve days of Christmas, we celebrate the gift of the Incarnation, that God becomes human in Jesus. On this Sunday, parishioners are invited to come in their PJ's to church, if they so desire, as a concrete reminder that God enters into our everyday lives, just as we are. Friday, January 6 The Feast of the Epiphany 6:30pm All Parish Epiphany Celebration and Potluck Just as the wise men brought gifts to the Christ Child, we will bring the gifts of food to each other at our Epiphany potluck gathering. After dinner, we will stay and play some games!! So, bring your favorite dish to share and a game you like to play and it will be a great evening of fun and fellowship for everyone! Sunday, January 8 First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of our Lord 8:00am 9:45am 10:00am Church School Holy Baptism with Eucharist St. Simon s Seasons : Advent Christmas 2016 : 3

4 Wheat and tares together sown: The Gospel according to Matthew The First Sunday of Advent begins the series of scripture lessons for the year centering on the Gospel according to Matthew. As Advent begins we hear Matthew s perspective tell us that Christ is coming but we don't know when this royal visitor is going to arrive. It may be tomorrow, not for years, or is already present. We are called to live in a state of watchfulness. Matthew will show us a community in internal and external turmoil. We learn of the internal strife of the Jewish community as they come to grips with the events of Jesus' life, and the destruction of Jerusalem, the Temple and the priesthood. We will see how the religious issues of Matthew's community interfaced with the current events of both political and cultural history. We will hear of external realities which shaped the community and therefore the community's story of the Crucified and Risen one. In the midst of such an exploration we might even come to resemble that community ourselves, to look at our own issues through their eyes, to perceive life in this culture and in this church through the lens of Matthew's theology. In the midst of this stands Jesus. His presence will be a continuing theme for Matthew. From the lips of his Christ will come the gracious words, Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the ages. He will tell of the patience needed in living the prepared life. Matthew's community's most formative story is the parable of the wheat and the tares. The tares weeds have been sown by some enemy in the field of good wheat. The community is to allow the wheat and weeds to grow side by side until the harvest. Patient watchfulness will be the key to their shall we say our survival. As we deal with our own conflicts in the coming year, may Matthew s theology light a path for us to servanthood, mission, and watchfulness. Our worship at St. Simon s will reflect in music and prayer and color this path to spiritual renewal and maturity. There will be the Advent wreath, lit each Sunday by a family, reminding us of the growing light from Hope, to Preparation, to Joy and finally the Love that came to dwell among us. Strong well-known Advent hymns reinforce the hope that is always present; ancient Psalms sung in meditative simplicity; prayers that ask God to stir up in us the hope and presence of the Christ; and chants that clear internal space so that we might be watchful. At St. Simon s, blue is the color for altar hangings and vestments. Some say it is the blue of the predawn sky which heralds the coming of a new day and age. Be awake; be ready for the new day that is always Christ in our midst. 717 W. Kirchhoff Road Arlington Heights, Illinois Parish Office Hours M-F, 9am-3pm The Rev. Elizabeth Jameson Rector elizabeth@saintsimons.org The Rev. Stephen Smith Associate Rector stephen@saintsimons.org The Rev. Larry Handwerk, Associate for Worship larry@saintsimons.org The Rev. Dianne Shields Pastoral Care Coordinator dianne@saintsimons.org Carl Raezer Associate for Music & Youth carl@saintsimons.org Martin Pazdioch Parish Administrator office@saintsimons.org Sara Lewandowski Church School Head sara@saintsimons.org Chelsie Coran, Accompanist Charles Duncan, Senior Warden charles_m_duncan@yahoo.com Dave Zuehlke, Junior Warden dezuehlke@outlook.com Vestry Members Beth Carter Tom Fitzgerald Mike Krause Rick Lussenhop Louise Retzer Kate Rickard Kris Schurtz Charlotte Weber Julie Wood 4 : St. Simon s Seasons: Advent Christmas Epiphany 2016

5 Sharing the Journey Together First Sunday of Advent Sunday, November 29 8:00am 10:00am Choral Eucharist Second Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 6 First Sunday 9:30am & Children s Chapel, followed by All Parish Forum & Faith in Action Third Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 13 8:00am 10:00am Choral Eucharist 5:00pm Youth Night Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 20 10:00am Telling the Christmas Story & Parish Party Christmas Eve Thursday, December 24 4:00pm Sung Eucharist and Blessing of the Crèche A service especially for families with young children. Please bring a stuffed animal to be blessed. A string prelude begins at 3:40 pm 10:00pm Festival Choral Eucharist A choral prelude begins at 9:30pm Incense Used Christmas Day Friday, December 25 10am Christmas Festival Eucharist First Sunday after Christmas Sunday, December 27 8am 10am with hymn singing Pajamas encouraged! Second Sunday after Christmas Sunday, January 3 9:30am, Children s Chapel & Potluck Brunch First Sunday after the Epiphany The Baptism of our Lord Sunday, January 10 8:00am 10:00am Holy Baptism with Eucharist Long term dates Annual Meeting 2/12 Diocesan St. Simon s 5/6 717 W. Kirchhoff Road Arlington Heights, Illinois Parish Office Hours M-F, 9am-3pm The Rev. Elizabeth Jameson Rector stsimonrector@gmail.com The Rev. Larry Handwerk, Associate for Worship & Adult Formation lhandwerk@earthlink.net Carl Raezer Associate for Music & Youth music.stsimon@gmail.com Kieta Wheeler Parish Administrator Sara Lewandowski Church School Head saraalewandowski@gmail.com Judith Trosen, Accompanist Becky Hume, Senior Warden becky.a.hume@gmail.com Charles Duncan, Junior Warden charles_m_duncan@yahoo.com Vestry Members Russ Gruber Janet Jensen Rick Lussenhop Kate Rickard Kris Schurtz Charlotte Weber Julie Wood Dave Zuehlke 4 : St. Simon s Seasons: Advent Christmas Epiphany EPIPHANY POT LUCK