Advent and Christmas Offerings

Transcription

1 Lu Otto photo A Monthly Newsletter December 2016 Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Hot Springs Village, Arkansas phone: Advent and Christmas Offerings Advent is upon us, and there are two special offerings this season. One is the Advent Service of Light a worship service set for Sunday, December 11, at 5:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity. I hope you will be sure to join us. The service follows the form of a traditional vespers service. There will be candlelight, music, prayers, and scripture reading, along with poetry by Leonard Cohen, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Ronald Wallace. Poetry, like the Psalms, lays before us the full range of human emotion, brokenness, and hope, all of which we bring before God s presence both as we live and worship, and which is appropriate in Advent. Our other offering is the Daily Morning Prayer booklets we are printing and placing in the church narthex for use by parishioners. The booklets contain the prayers and scripture readings found in the Book of Common Prayer for Monday through Friday in each week of Advent. The daily services are designed with a place for a daily meditation to be read. This is meant to accommodate those who might like to include a meditation from another source like the Forward Day by Day devotionals. Each week a new devotional booklet will be placed on the table in the church narthex for parishioners to pick up. We would very much like your feedback on them. Because Christmas and New Year s days fall on a Sunday, we will be changing our service schedule. On Christmas Eve we will have one service on Saturday, December 24. Special music and carols will begin at 4:30 p.m., with the Holy Eucharist beginning at 5:00 p.m. The service will include incense and chant. Then, on Christmas day, we will have one service only at 10:30 a.m., which will be a simple celebration of the Holy Eucharist, without music. Finally, on New Year s Eve we will have our usual 5:00 p.m. service, and on New Year s Day, we will have only one service at 10:30 a.m. with music and choir. Whew! That s a lot to remember. I hope you have a blessed Advent and Christmas. Peace, Fr. Neil + ~ Theotokos ~

2 Page 2 The Village Episcopalian DECEMBER 2016 From the Senior Warden: Vestry Meeting Minutes The minutes of our monthly Vestry meetings are posted on the neatly designed (thanks to LaVonne Speak and Karan Schlichting) bulletin board in Sifford Hall. The minutes are usually posted by the third Wednesday of the month. They are timely, top quality, extensive and very informative. Reports from various members describe Holy Trinity finances, activities and events. Take a few minutes to read them ~ they re a great way to stay informed. Linda Holt-Monson has been our Clerk of Vestry for the past two years, and she has worked closely with office manager Diane Olson to streamline the process and assure an accurate and timely record of Vestry activities. Thank you Linda and Diane! Landscape Restoration An ad hoc team of Arlene Hodgson, Patty Bridges, LaVonne Speak, Jerry Sheuerman and Ron Devish has been cleaning up our bushes, trees and yards. The team has also been identifying work needed to recover from neglected yard maintenance, especially on the north side between the building and Barcelona Road. The work is just beginning, but we are optimistic that major improvements are possible. More information will be provided when it is available. Thank you all for your dedication and teamwork! Best wishes, Ron Devish To our church family ~ Thank you for all the support, kindness and love that you have shown us with the prayers, cards, food and flowers sent to us. My family and I greatly appreciate how you have lifted us up during this difficult time. Inge Bender NEW SHOES AND A HOLIDAY SMILE FOR NEEDY CHILDREN We believe that every needy child deserves a new pair of shoes for Christmas! Each year, Holy Trinity parishioners have the opportunity to help provide shoe certificates for children in our local Jessieville, Fountain Lake, and Mountain Pine schools. You can be a vital part of this ministry with your year-end contribution to the Shoe Fund. Put new shoes on their feet and a smile on their faces. The children will thank you! Nancy Waldo

3 DECEMBER 2016 The Village Episcopalian Page 3 Christmas Baskets: a Holy Trinity Outreach Tradition Christmas baskets, along with all the trimmings, help make Christmas dinner special for our less fortunate friends in the area. Volunteers will make deliveries on Saturday, December 17, starting at 8:30 a.m. There are several ways you can help with this ministry: 1) Volunteer to be part of the delivery team. It doesn t take very long to deliver to two or three families, and it s very rewarding. Delivery volunteers can pick up baskets at the church beginning at 8:30 a.m. to be delivered before noon. To volunteer, call us at or send an to ch9163hsv@sbcglobal.net. 2) Help pay for the ham and other goodies. Your generosity ensures we can continue to provide a bountiful dinner during this time of rising costs. Write your check to Holy Trinity and mark it Holiday Baskets. 3) Purchase a gift for one (or more) of the basket recipients children. A poster will be in Sifford Hall after Thanksgiving with the name, age and sizes of the children. For older children, gift certificates are suggested. The gifts should be wrapped and clearly marked with the child s full name and delivered to the church by December 15, so we can sort the gifts and send them with the baskets. Many thanks for the wonderful response to Holy Trinity s Thanksgiving and Christmas basket ministry. Yours in Christ, Charles and Sue Hood Church Periodical Club and Miles of Pennies The Church Periodical Club (CPC) started back in 1888 to provide church materials to missionaries in the Dakotas. Today it is a world-wide Ministry of the Word. Through the National Books fund, CPC provides free prayer books, textbooks, Bibles and periodicals to deserving recipients throughout the Anglican Communion. In Arkansas, we provide textbooks for seminarians from our state. On the weekend of October 22-23, 2016, Holy Trinity collected $ A total of $ has been collected, so far, for the year. Thank you to all who donated to this special education club, which opens the hearts and minds of many. The familiar blue Miles of Pennies bucket is very close to being full, and I will be counting these pennies in December. Here s a last chance to get your pennies counted before the bucket is put away until spring. As a reminder, these funds goes to the purchase of books and other related material to children, pre-school through high school. Please contact Nancy Holst with any questions:

4 Page 4 The Village Episcopalian DECEMBER 2016 E C W EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN ALL WOMEN OF THE PARISH ARE MEMBERS REMINDER: ECW ADVENT LUNCHEON Thursday, December 2, a.m. to 2 p.m. For those who have already signed up, lunch to celebrate the season will be at the beautiful Diamante Country Club. NEXT ECW MEETING January 24, 2017 Refreshments at 9 a.m. Meeting and program begin at 10 a.m. Daughters of the King will hold their regularly scheduled meeting on Friday, December 2, 2016 in the church library. For more information, contact Karan Schlichting at (501) DAUGHTERS OF THE KING TAKE A DAY TRIP The trip to Camp Mitchell on Friday, November 4, was remarkable, to say the least. The time spent driving was a lively combination of discussion and laughter. After touring the grounds, Juddie Wachtel led a noon prayer service. The chapel setting was beautiful and very conducive to prayer. A delicious lunch at Petit Jean Lodge followed. All in all, it was a wonderful day spent with amazing Daughters, including Gwen Kaminski, Juddie Wachtel, Karan Schlichting, JoAnn Thompson, Linda Shay and Patty Bridges. See photos below and on the next page. It will soon be 2017, and if time goes by any faster, we will all start spinning! However, January is the perfect time to slow down, take a deep breath, and attend the ECW meeting. The speaker will be our own deacon, the Rev. Brenda Kroll. Her topic will be One Person s Road to Ordination. This will be Deacon Brenda s first presentation to us, so let s all be there. This will be the first meeting with the new officers fulfilling their duties, and we want to show our support for them, also. Please join us and invite a new member of the congregation to come with you. Karan Schlichting Publicity Chair

5 DECEMBER 2016 The Village Episcopalian Page 5 THE TIMES & HOLY TRINITY HAPPY TIMES SAD TIMES SOLEMN TIMES PENSIVE TIMES PRAYERFUL TIMES PARTY TIMES Guys, gals, golf and great weather! Susan Read, Nancy Holst and Sharon Swintz host the November ECW meeting. Carol Dyer, incoming ECW president, introduces past presidents as part of the November program honoring their many years of faithful service. Daughters of the King (Linda, Karan, JoAnn, Patty, Juddie, Gwen) enjoy a day of prayer, reflection and fellowship at Camp Mitchell.

6 Page 6 The Village Episcopalian DECEMBER 2016 Thanksgiving Basketeers Coordinators Charles and Sue Hood were joined by Linda and Bill Monson, Jerry Sheuerman, Jan and Rick Ellis, Fr. Neil and Gwen Kaminski, Debbie Masters, Sandy and George Donnelly, Ron and Trish Knocke, Linda and Joe Shay, Nancy Waldo and others who organized, packed and delivered boxes of holiday food to needy families and individuals around the area.

7 DECEMBER 2016 The Village Episcopalian Page 7 For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me in. Matthew 25:35

8 Page 8 The Village Episcopalian DECEMBER 2016 Thanksgiving Parish Potluck Bless, o Lord, these gifts to our use, and us to thy loving service. Give us grateful hearts for all thy mercies, and make us ever mindful of the needs of others. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

9 DECEMBER 2016 The Village Episcopalian Page 9 At left: Fr. Neil and Gwen Kaminski Pictured below: Clif and Betty Haygood Above: Nancy Holst and her brother, Reg Read The Peanut Gallery Susan Read

10 Page 10 The Village Episcopalian DECEMBER 2016 The Holy Trinity family bid farewell to three active and long-term parish couples who are relocating to be closer to family: Puz and Walt McFatridge are heading to Indiana; Barbara Dee and Alton Deville are moving to Alabama; and Karan and Bill Schlichting will live in Louisiana. All of these dear folks have contributed much time and tmany talents to our church, to the village and to neighboring communities. Barbara Dee and Alton Deville They will be deeply missed! Walt and Puz McFatridge Prior to their departure, Karan Schlichting and Barbara Dee Deville were recognized by their ECW peers as having served twice as president of the group. Fr. Neil Kaminski and Care Group 10 gathered for goodbyes with Bill and Karan Schlichting.

11 DECEMBER 2016 The Village Episcopalian Page 11 ADVENT SERVICE OF LIGHT Sunday, December 11, :00 p.m. Join us for a special order of evening prayer, or vespers, to welcome the Advent season. Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light. CALENDAR OF EVENTS December 1 11:00am ECW Advent Diamante December 2 8:30 am Holy Eucharist & Prayer Breakfast 9:30 am Daughters of the Nancy Jorgensen s home December 10/11 SHARING & CARING WEEKEND December 11 5:00 pm Advent Service of Light December 12 1:00 pm Holy Trinity Knitters December 13 10:00 am Christian Formation Committee December 14 11:00 am Holy Good Sam 3:00 pm Vestry December 15 VE DEADLINE Noon Care Group #7 Fred & Sharon Swintz s home December 17 8:30 am Christmas Basket Delivery December 18 11:00 am LOVE LUNCHES 5:00 pm Care Group #8 Jan Hanna s home 5:30 pm Care Group #2 DeSoto Club 5:30 pm Care Group #5 Bill & Linda Monson s home December 20 9:30 am Community of Hope 5:30 pm Care Group #10 Fr. Neil & Gwen Kaminski s home December 24 4:30 pm Christmas Eve Service w/ Music Offering December 25 10:30 am Christmas Day Service (no 8:00 service)/(simple-no music) December 26 OFFICE CLOSED - Christmas Holiday January 1 10:30 am New Year s Day Service (no 8:00 service) FORUM SCHEDULE December 4 Sorting Things Out: A Discussion on Faith and Gender Identity The Rev. Dr. Denise Donnell, Senior Faith Organizer, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) 11 Advent Devotional Meditation - Fr. Neil Kaminski 18 Advent Devotional Meditation - Fr. Neil Kaminski 25 No forum (Christmas Day)

12 Page 12 The Village Episcopalian DECEMBER 2016 HOLY TRINITY BIRTHDAYS December 2016 Jane Henderson (12/1) Chuck Miller (12/1) Catherine Landers (12/3) Mary Grady (12/5) Lynn Petti (12/5) Bonny Smith (12/8) Dave Kinser (12/8) Rebecca Mason (12/16) Bill Thompson (12/17) Spencer Nagode (12/17) Sally Johnson (12/19) Don Scott (12/20) Hilde Cutter (12/21) Kathy Watts (12/22) Marilyn Markell (12/23) Betsy Videan (12/24) George Hollingsworth (12/24) JoAnn Thompson (12/25) Jo-Ann Mikell (12/27) Diane Radcliff (12/27) Irene Keith (12/28) Linda Piette (12/29) HOLY TRINITY ANNIVERSARIES December 2016 Wayne & Carol Dyer (12/4) Beach & Carroll McLean Baker (12/7) Roger & Pat Case (12/15) Roger & Sharon Kunz (12/16) Bob & Catherine Landers (12/17) Craig & Carol Henderson (12/18) John & Susan Schmidt (12/20) Denny & Nancy Holst (12/26) Rick & Marilyn Markell (12/28) Phil & Fiona Visser (12/31) If you have something of interest, photographs, activity or event notices to be included in the monthly Village Episcopalian, please send it by the 15th of each month to Susan Read, Editor, at