St. Peter s Episcopal Church FRIDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS December 8, 2017

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1 St. Peter s Episcopal Church FRIDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS December 8, 2017 Serving this Sunday at 7:30 am Lay Eucharistic Minister: John Joralemon Sound: Frank Pinchak Serving this Sunday at 9:00 am Lay Eucharistic Minister: Steve Hunt Serving this Sunday at 11:00 am Acolytes: Jenny Hannah, Duncan Harris, Emmalea Rogers Element Bearers: James Bell & William Nelson Fellowship: Rachelle Parman; Healing Altar: Joani Koch Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Joani Koch, Susan Self Lector: Bob Brant; Intercessor: Connie Trieber; Sound: John Trieber Tellers: Harriet Hamilton, Mary Alice Northern, Chip Stansbury Ushers: Ron Abston, Scott Gossett, Mitchell Harwell

2 We pray for the healing and comfort of: Anita Morris, Bo Brown, Bob Poole, Carlise Paris, Caroline Johnson, Chuck Lattimore, David Oroma, Doris Ledbetter, Esther Glazier, Gail Ellis, Gary Frederick, Greg Rogers, Jamie Alday, Jim & Barbara Northcutt, Karin Gilstrap, Kirby Murray, Krista Johnson, Leah Jonson, LeighAnne, Leland Arnsdorff, Leon Webb, Mark Northern, Mark Warren, Martha Warren, Melanie Smith, Melissa Wolford, Nancy Beckham, Paul Aughtry, Peggy Gentry, Philip Morris, Rhonda Boocock, Richard Rogers, Ron Kazmier, Sandra Jackson, Scott Steele, Steve Arnsdorff, Wallace Uptain, William Rogers The Open Offering is for Episcopal Mission Work. Last week s Open Offering collected $168 for the Rector s Discretionary Fund. LOOKING AHEAD December 10: Deadline to return gifts for the Maclellan Shelter for Families. December 14: Primetimers Lunch in the Bracewell Room at 11:30 am. December 16: Christmas Pageant Rehearsal at 10:00 am in the Nave, followed by Gingerbread Houses at 10:30 am in the Bracewell Room. You do not have to be in the pageant to make a gingerbread house! All are welcome. December 18: Deadline to order poinsettia plants for the altar. Vestry Meeting at 6:30 pm in the Bracewell Room. All members of the parish are welcome to attend. December 21: Deadline for clergy and staff Christmas gift donations. December 25-26: Church Office Closed

3 Christmas Service Schedule Sunday, December 24 4 th Sunday of Advent, 10:00 am in the Bracewell Room Christmas Eve Children s Service with Christmas Pageant (no incense), 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Traditional Service (with incense), 10:00 pm Monday, December 25 Christmas Day Service, 10:00 am (no other service on this day) Sunday, December 31 Lessons & Carols, 10:00 am (no other service on this day) Dear Friends, A NOTE FROM OUR RECTOR Some anonymous saint has given my children a real treat this Advent. They put together an Advent calendar, where each day is represented by a stocking stuffed with some combination of chocolate, candy, holiday decorations, and a slip of paper with some deed for them to do that day. I wish I knew who has given them this, because I'd love to say "thank you" for the chance they've given me to watch the kids eagerly head to the calendar each morning to see the task for the day. Today, they received a task along with one of their favorite treats hollow chocolate. That's what they said: "I love the hollow chocolate."

4 I laughed. "Do you like that it's chocolate, or that it's hollow?" "Both!" they replied. My son explained, "If they're hollow that means every next bite might have something else in it. So you don't know what to expect." I guess they think that there might be nougat or caramel or some other filling at any moment in those hollow chocolates. I haven't told them that that's not quite how it works. But he has a point about hollow places. They can surprise you. I took a quick, overnight retreat to St. Mary's, Sewanee, this past Sunday evening. I know that sounds really pious and spiritual of me, but there was a very practical reason. I needed to spend some time thinking about the parts of the Bible I'll be preaching on over the next few months, and it seems like getting away from a good Wi-Fi connection is the best way for me to hollow some space out for that kind of thing. My first hour, I decided just to lay down on the bluff at St. Mary's, a gorgeous overlook of the valley, and listen. The presence of God in that hour was rich and palpable. This wasn't because of some heroic, saintly effort on my part. It was simply my willingness to hollow some time out, my willingness to be surprised. We live in a world that is constantly calling us to fill every moment, to say "yes" to every possibility, to leave no room for the surprising presence of God.

5 Advent invites us to hollow things out a bit. This doesn't have to look like an overnight retreat or even an hour lazing on a bluff. There are ways to create that space in your ordinary, everyday life. I encourage you, especially in this season that will tempt you to fill every moment with a party, shopping, event attending, or whatever else the season offers make some hollow time. Make some time where God might surprise you. Grace and Peace, Fr. Quinn+ PARISH NEWS Gingerbread Houses On Saturday, December 16, at 10:30 am, all children are invited to gather in the Bracewell Room to make Gingerbread Houses. All supplies will be provided. RSVP to Linda Cooper at or lindacooper@stpeters.org. Those participating in the pageant will meet at 10:00 am in the Nave for a short rehearsal. Poinsettias Poinsettia forms are available in the Narthex. To purchase a plant to display at the altar in memory of/honor of/ thanksgiving for a loved one, please fill out the form and drop it in the collection basket with your cash or check for $10 per plant. Your form must be received by the church office by Monday, December 18. This year, you are encouraged to take your plants home following the 10:00 pm service on Christmas Eve. Staff Christmas Gift Letters went out recently regarding the yearly clergy and staff Christmas gift. This

6 is an opportunity for you to express your appreciation to our parish clergy and staff, but please do not feel any obligation to make a contribution. If you wish to participate in this custom, designate your cash or check as Christmas Gift and place it in the collection basket or send it to the church office. Please make your gift by Thursday, December 21, so that the funds may be presented before the Christmas Eve services. Basic Anglicanism Our new Bishop, Brian Cole, will visit St. Peter's on Sunday, February 25. His visit will give us a chance to meet and greet our new bishop for the first time. It will also give us the opportunity to confirm and receive new members, as well as for current members to reaffirm their baptismal vows in a formal way. Fr. Quinn will offer a class beginning January 7 that will fulfill the formation requirements for those seeking confirmation, reception, or reaffirmation. However, it will also be a good class for anyone interested in deepening their own understanding of being a Christian in the Anglican tradition at St. Peter's Episcopal Church. If you have questions about the class, please get in touch with Fr. Quinn. "Share" St. Peter's! We love our parish, and that means we want other people to know the joy and life we find by meeting Christ here. One of the best ways to do this right now is online, particularly on social media. So, if you haven't followed us yet on Facebook - follow us! If you have followed us - give us a review and tell us what you love about St. Peter's. If we post something that you find meaningful, share it with your friends. We want to spread the love of Christ far and wide, and our social media presence is a great way to do that. Prayer List Thanks to all who have placed a loved one on the church prayer list in In order to make sure that the list accurately reflects current needs, we are going to

7 start a fresh parish prayer list for Please call or the church office with your prayer request if you would like a name to remain on the list or want to add a new name. St. Peter s Annual Christmas Pageant This year s pageant will be presented at the 5:00 pm service on Sunday, December 24. If your child would like to participate, please contact Linda Cooper at or lindacooper@stpeters.org. Christmas Giving Update CREATE has chosen the Maclellan Shelter for Families to be the recipient of our parish Christmas outreach program. And stocking tags are still available from the round table in the downstairs foyer. To participate: Please select a stocking tag and write your name and phone number on the list corresponding to the stocking you selected. Attach the stocking tag to the outside of your wrapped gift and put an X by your name on the list. Place your gift under the same round table or on the pew beside the Giving Pantry in the Bracewell Room by Sunday, December 10. St. Peter's Youth Important Dates: Dec. 10 ChattEY at Christ Church (Downtown) from 5:00 to 8:00 pm Dec. 17 Training for new Acolytes Dec. 20 Youth Group Christmas party (bring a small gift--$5 or less) Dec. 27 No Youth Group

8 Reminders: In January, youth group will move to Sunday nights from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. If you want to go on the Mission Trip next summer to the Heifer International Ranch, and you haven t spoken to Kelsey Wofford, please notify her immediately at kelseywofford@stpeters.org. If you are interested in Grace Point Winter Session please see Kelsey Wofford for details or go to Registration is now open for Happening #75 and New Beginnings #3. To register go to: etnyouth.org/registration. Epiphany Celebration Mark your calendars and plan to attend a new celebration of Epiphany at St. Peter s on Saturday, January 6, beginning at 5:00 pm. First we will gather to enjoy a Chili Cook-Off. Vote for your favorite by dropping a dollar in the donation box. All proceeds go to the Youth for their upcoming mission trip. We will then Bless the Chalk and divide into groups based on distance from the church. Each group will go to their own houses that are within 10 minutes of the church and Mark the Door Frames with Chalk as a blessing, reminiscent of the Magi s visit to the Holy Family. To end the evening, we will gather back at the church for dessert. Please let Linda or Lauren know if you would like to compete and make a crockpot of chili. The winner will receive a trophy they can proudly display in their home until the next Chili Cook-Off. Linda Cooper lindacooper@stpeters.org Lauren Abbott laurenabbott@stpeters.org Pledge Cards Needed If you have not submitted your pledge for 2018, please drop your card in the mail, bring it to the church office during the week, or place it in the offering plate as soon as possible. The Treasurer and Finance Committee are in the process of

9 preparing the budget for 2018 and need to know what funds will be available for the ministries and upkeep of the church. St. Peter s School News Help support St. Peter s School when shopping at Food City. Sign up to be a part of their ValuCard Program and watch the School Bucks build up. It s easy to do: at the cash register, have the cashier scan your Food City ValuCard and enter the following: SCHOOL PLU# This will automatically link the two accounts together. Or you can register your ValuCard online by visiting foodcity.com/schoolbucks. From that point, it s simple just use your ValuCard when you shop and earn valuable points for our school. Thanks for your support! Our New Bishop The video, podcast, and text of Bishop Brian Cole s December 3 sermon at the Seating of the Bishop have been posted on the St. John s Cathedral website. They re available here: Video: Podcast: The text can be found here: Being Disciples Now 2018 Convention of the Episcopal Church in East Tennessee Friday, February 9 and Saturday, February 10, 2018 Holiday Inn Knoxville Downtown and St. John s Cathedral Hashtag: #ETConv2017

10 Being Disciples Now is the theme for the 34th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Church in East Tennessee our first convention with Bishop-elect Brian Cole, who will become the 5th bishop of our diocese on Dec. 2. We re preparing for the convention with two short, engaging and thoughtful books written by the Most Rev. Rowan Williams: Being Christian and Being Disciples. We invite you to read these books with us whether you are able to participate in the convention or not. The books are available in bookstores and online. We are ordering ours from the Diocese of Atlanta s Cathedral Bookstore. We think you will enjoy the books! ( The Friday and Saturday morning sessions of convention will be held at the Holiday Inn Downtown Knoxville. A Friday evening banquet and entertainment are open to all; compline with our youth will close out the evening. We ll hold a late morning procession on Saturday from the hotel to St. John s Cathedral for our closing Eucharist. Three transitional deacons will be ordained, and our new bishop will preach. All are welcome to join in the festive procession through downtown Knoxville to the cathedral for an uplifting Eucharist! All the information about the convention and reservations for the banquet are on the convention website at