NEWSLETTER Advent/Christmas

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1 ST. PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 112 E. Main Street (P.O. Box 206) Lock Haven, PA Telephone: NEWSLETTER Advent/Christmas stpaulslockhaven@gmail.com MINISTRY AT ST. PAUL S The Rt. Rev d Audrey Scanlan 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 Serena Pfaff Charles Foulsham, Assistant Treasurer claudiahorner@yahoo.com serenapfaff@hotmil.com Foulsham@verizon.net Telephone: (814) Telephone: (570) Telephone: (570) Scott Horner, Junior Warden Lynn Bruner, Secretary Edward Hosler Schorner133@gmail.com brynlune@msn.com edhosler@gmail.com Telephone: (814) Telephone: (570) Telephone: (570)

2 Concerning Advent In the ancient world, various peoples lit fires to mark the turning of the light into winter s season and to pray for the return of the light. The church has Christianized that practice in the lighting of the Advent wreath. To us, these candles are signs of the growing light of Christ who is coming again in all fullness into the darkness of our world. Until the dawning of that Great Day, we watch and wait in Holy Spirit for Christ s coming into the darkness of our world, lighting candles of hope, peace, joy, and love; and remembering the promises of God with prayer. How will you manage the 26 days during the season of Advent? Our Sunday Advent liturgies and special musical offerings will provide a stable resource to sustain your intentions to be thoughtful in the holiday rush, reminders of the true meaning of the season, motivators for slowing down and appreciating the wait for Christmas. Be sure to join us on Sunday, November 27, as we observe the First Sunday of Advent. Community Thanksgiving Service to be Held A Community Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday, November 27 th at the Salvation Army Lock Haven Headquarters located at 119 E. Church Street, Lock Haven. Dessert and fellowship will begin at 6 pm, followed by a 7 pm Service of Worship sponsored by the Southern Clinton County Association of Christian Churches. Please plan to attend. 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 2017 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. Vestry Notes Members for St. Paul s Vestry are reminded that December s meeting will be held on Sunday, December 11. In breaking with our usual tradition, this meeting will be convened in the Lord Room at 9:00 a.m. This accommodation is being made to permit a rehearsal for our Christmas Concert that is scheduled for the evening. Please mark your calendars accordingly. 2

3 Christmas Concert to be Held St. Paul s Second Annual Christmas Concert and Carol Sing will be held on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. This concert, under the direction of Kim Feerrar, will feature our choir with added friends. We shall also have instrumental and vocal solos. Pat Helbley will be assisting at the organ on the various carols. And our own Seth Wollam will offer a saxophone solo, while his wife, Allison, will entertain us with the magic of her flute! The concert will be approximately one hour long, and we ll have refreshments following the program. Please remember this event is free and open to the public. Last year s concert drew a near standing room only crowd! So, please mark your calendar and invite your friends and plan to arrive early. Stewardship Campaign 2016 Have You Offered Your Pledge? Our 2016 Stewardship Campaign has officially ended, but you can still offer 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. Vestry Elections As the end of the calendar year approaches, our thoughts turn to the matter of Vestry Elections. According to The Episcopal Church website, the vestry is the legal representative of the parish with regard to all matters pertaining to its corporate property. The basic responsibilities are to help define and articulate the mission of the congregation; to support the church s mission by word and deed; to select the rector; to ensure effective organization and planning; and to manage resources and finances. To be eligible for vestry service, you must be baptized and be at least 16 years of age. You must also be a confirmed or received member of St. Paul s, who supports the parish through regular financial contributions. The same requirements hold true to vote in the vestry elections. Voting will take place on Sunday, January 29, 2017, at the Annual Meeting. 3

4 Nominations Nominations for vestry are now being received. You may self-nominate or nominate someone else. Please make sure your nominee is both eligible and willing to serve before submitting his/her name to our Senior Warden, Claudia Horner, or Canon Selvage. If you have any questions about serving on vestry or want additional information, please seek out a current or former vestry members or Cn. Dan. Thank you for your continued prayers and support for the vestry. Please don t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. Christmas Eve Worship St. Paul s celebration of the Christ Mass has been scheduled for 5:00 PM on Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24. 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! Special Note: There will be no worship service offered at St. Paul s on Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25. Dear St. Paul s Friends, I literally had a light-bulb moment during our recent parish clean-up day as I noticed Chip and Stacey moving a ladder around the sanctuary to replace lightbulbs in the overhead fixtures. This is St. Paul s, not just the walls and grounds, not just the worship services and hymns. As I look around St Paul s, I see children learning to enjoy a spiritual home. I see recovering men and women learning to live free from the bonds of addiction. I see people who may feel marginalized because of their sexual identification finding a safe place to pray and meet. I see people who seek well-being experiencing the healing effects of mindfulness meditation and yoga. I see generous people coming through the doors to clean, repair, and improve our beautiful grounds and building. I see thoughtful people who read lessons and prayers, 4

5 make uplifting music, prepare the altar, keep our finances in order, organize events, lead Morning Prayer, welcome newcomers, and place greens around the church. We do so much, care so much, pray so much. I think we do these things because St. Paul s provides us with a sacred space to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. I am deeply grateful. Each year we ask you to consider making an extra gift to St. Paul s at Christmas, through the Christmas Offering. The Christmas Offering helps us balance the books at the end of the year, paying the many bills that keep our red doors open. During this time of waiting and preparing, perhaps you will find that there is something extra you can give. There are Christmas offering envelopes at the back of the church you may use, there are envelopes in your weekly Offering Envelope box, or you can write a check to St. Paul s with Christmas Offering on the memo line. Thank you and Happy Advent! Claudia Horner, Senior Warden The Monthly Calendar Sunday, December 4: Advent 2 10:30 a.m., Choral Eucharist Cn. Dan Selvage Monday, December 5: Thursday, December 8: Sunday, December 11: Advent 3 9:30 a.m., Vestry Meeting 10:30 a.m., Blessing of Animals with Choral Eucharist Cn. Dan Selvage 7:00 p.m., Christmas Concert & Reception Monday, December 12: Thursday, December 15: Sunday, December 18: Advent 3 10:30 a.m., Choral Morning Prayer Claudia Horner, Worship Leader Monday, December 19: Thursday, December 22: Saturday, December 24: Christmas Eve 5:00 p.m., Solemn Eucharist of the Christ Child Cn. Dan Selvage 5

6 Sunday, December 25: Christmas Day No Morning Service on this Day Monday, December 26: Thursday, December 29: 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 $12.00 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 2016 FROM: Please order Christmas $12.00/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