NEWSLETTER Advent/Christmas

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1 ST. PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 112 E. Main Street (P.O. Box 206) NEWSLETTER Advent/Christmas 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 Ben Blascovich claudiahorner@yahoo.com cconway 946@aol.com benblascovich@hotmail.com Telephone: (814) Telephone: (570) Telephone: (570) Scott Horner, Junior Warden Thomas Smithgall, Schorner133@gmail.com blmcb1958@yahoo.com Telephone: (814) Telephone: (570)

2 From Canon Selvage Dear Friends in Christ, On Sunday, November 30 the First Sunday of Advent we began 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. In the Episcopal Church, Advent is a period of preparation, extending over four Sundays, before Christmas. The word Advent comes from the Latin advenio, "to come to," and refers to the coming of Christ. This refers, first of all, to our celebration of Christ's birth at Christmas; but second, to the coming of Christ in our lives through grace and the Sacrament of Holy Communion; and finally, to His Second Coming at the end of time. Our preparations, therefore, should have all three comings in mind. We need to prepare our souls to receive Christ worthily. While Advent shares some liturgical similarities with Lent (dropping the Gloria from the Eucharistic liturgy and the use of purple vestments), Advent is not a little Lent. Advent is a time of preparation. Accordingly, Advent should be marked by increased prayer and good works. Traditionally, all great Christian feasts have been preceded by a time of preparation, which makes the feast itself more joyful. Sadly, Advent today has been supplanted by "the Christmas shopping season," so that by Christmas Day, many people no longer enjoy the feast. We can better enjoy Christmas all 12 days of it, from Christmas Day to Epiphany if we revive Advent as a period of preparation. We can incorporate such customs as the Advent wreath and the Advent Calendar into our daily ritual, and we can set some time aside for special scripture readings for Advent, which remind us of the threefold coming of Christ. The observance of these few simple practices will better prepare us to celebrate the Christmas season to its fullest. 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+ 2

3 Stewardship Campaign 2015 Have You Made Your Pledge? Our 2015 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 The prayers and sympathy of the parish are extended to Gary Goldsmith and the members and friends of the Goldsmith family upon the occasion of the death of Anna Goldsmith. Anna was a longtime, faithful member of St. Paul s parish. A Requiem Eucharist will be celebrated in her memory on Saturday, December 13, at 7:00 pm. Hotel Toiletries Do you have piles of this stuff in your drawers? Why not they come with your hotel room. But how many do you really ever use? The Ronald McDonald House in Danville uses lots! And they would love if we would send ours to them. They ll take full size items, too. A collection box will be available at the rear of the church to receive your donations. Advent Worship Schedule 10:30 AM Sunday, December 7 Advent II Holy Eucharist 10:30 AM Sunday, December 14 Advent III Holy Eucharist 10:30 AM Sunday, December 21 Advent IV Holy Eucharist 5:00 PM Wednesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve Festive Choral Eucharist 10:30 AM Sunday, December 28 Christmas I TBA 3

4 Concerning Christmas Eve Worship St. Paul s celebration of the Christ Mass has been scheduled for 5:00 PM on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, 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! Vestry Notes Members of St. Paul s Vestry are reminded that December s meeting has been scheduled for Sunday, December 14. We shall convene following the 10:30 AM worship service. 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 2015 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. Christmas Offering You will receive a special letter from Senior Warden Claudia Horner about the Christmas Offering. She writes about how the experience of leading Morning Prayer has stretched her spiritually, and asks you to think about the ways that St. Paul's has blessed you. As always our Christmas Offering directly supports the operating budget of St. Paul's, and we are grateful for all donations. We invite you to use a Christmas Offering envelope (in the vestibule and in the mailing). Thank you for your generosity and support. 4

5 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 2014 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: 5