The Lantern of Saint Christopher

Transcription

1 The Lantern of Saint Christopher Lighting the Way for Christ Volume CXLVI Ruth s Reveries Debbie Macomber, Fern Michael, Nora Roberts, author XYZ, all have Christmas romance novels out this time of year. There was a time I enjoyed reading them. Somewhat schmaltzy and highly predictable, this mindless reading added an escape valve to the holiday hecticness. Most folks like a nice love story. As Christian people, we have the best one to tell. Christina Rossetti ( ) poet wrote Love Came Down at Christmas Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, love divine; Love was born at Christmas, Star and angels gave the sign. Over the years, I have read this on occasion. Sweet, short poem with lovely sentiment, to which I paid little mind. However, this year, I would invite us to pause and reflect on this message. Last year, somehow, I acquired a book entitled The Greatest Gift - Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas. I have no clue as to where it came from. I found it on my shelf at church the other day. However, this year, looking at a Christmas love story with a slightly different twist is what my soul yearns to find. Have you ever looked at Christmas as the greatest love story ever told? 1

2 Advent 1 ushers in Liturgical Year C, with my favorite Gospel writer, Luke. We will hear the story of angels and shepherds and stars and lots of relationships. He will remind us of John the Baptist who paved the way for Jesus, the voice crying out in the wilderness. Mary and Elizabeth replete with the Magnificat. Repeatedly, we are invited to prepare, not only our hearts, but our spirits to receive this love, this gift, so freely given at such a great price. This Advent/Christmastide, may we all unwrap this love story and embrace this Gift that keeps on giving throughout the ages. Jesus came to us on earth, that we might come closer to heaven. From me and mine, to you and yours. May your holidays/holydays be filled with great joy, peace, and love. JUNIOR WARDEN S WORDS Deb Snavely Just a quick note to report on our progress with the pledge in-gathering for 2016: So far we have pledges totaling $104,298. This compares to last year s pledges of around $140,000. There are 10 families who pledged last year who have not yet informed me of their pledge decision for the coming year. If you are one of those 10, please let me know your pledge amount as soon as possible so we can finalize our budget for the new year. One positive aspect of the pledging so far is that 25 families have increased their pledge this time. Thanks to all for their thoughtful consideration of this important decision. Deb Snavely Junior Warden OUTREACH Linda Canas December Tis the Season Christmas Joyful Giving The holidays are a time when we are extra aware of those in need. St. C has the FISH wagon and contributes regularly to the pantry. Perhaps we can do more. This season when you invite friends over for seasonal cheer, suggest that they bring something to contribute to FISH. Non-perishables are always needed. This month we are also suggesting personal care items. How about adding a seasonal treat for holiday cheer. These items are truly gifts to those who are struggling. To you and yours-have a Blessed Christmas 2

3 WORSHIP MINISTRY Toni Olgeaty December it came so quickly, but we so look forward to it. A friend and I were talking about how some things bring tears to our eyes simple songs, memories, etc. We were not talking about Christmas, but oh my there is so much joy to experience wonderful lights, etc. My favorite thing is my crèche. I cannot wait to put it out, and it has to be so perfect, and lit appropriately with candles I am like a little kid. We still hang stockings for our kids who are almost as old as we are now. And then there is church on Christmas Eve. Sundays, throughout December are full of meaning, full of fun, and full of beauty. Each week, we make a special effort to engage our children (yes, we now have children) in the meaning of Christmas. I have very fond memories of the trimming of the Jesse tree (it is very special to me), and the little children balancing on the communion rail in order to place their figurine in the manger. December is a time to leave all our worries behind, and think only of the birth of our Savior, and the joy of the season. This year, we will (as we did last year) have a quiet service for those who have not had the best year, and do not wish all the wonder of our Christmas Eve Service. It is very small, but really meaningful for those who attend. Then in the evening, we will have our traditional Christmas Eve Service full of Christmas music, followed by a joyful service. Since we do not have church on Christmas Day, we hope you all plan on attending Christmas Eve. We normally have a full house, and it is so exciting to see a full house. Many people bring their families, and the traditional Silent Night sung with the lights off, and everyone holding candles is one of those things that brings tears to my eyes. It is so touching, and my Christmas s have become so meaningful because I participate in our Christmas Eve Service. Please join us. HEALING MINISTRY Toni Olgeaty Wow, December already. There are good things about December (lots of them), and some that are not so very good. We all need to concentrate on all the good things. We, at St. Christopher s are one big family one good family. We offer our prayers every Tuesday afternoon and the good thing is that many problems and/or illnesses have been resolved thanks to the sincere belief we all have in prayer. When I offer to pray for someone, I do it with the firm belief that my prayer is going to make a difference and my prayer truly does. We may not get the perfect answer we d hoped for, but we do get an answer that is best for the person we are praying for. Jesus knows what is best. I am totally in his hands, and your prayers are keeping me there, and many others as well. Do not ever doubt that you are making a difference. When I look out at our congregation, there is this one, and then that one who need our prayers. Some are reticent to ask for prayers, or even pray for themselves. This does not mean they do not believe in the power of prayer, it simply means they do not believe their problems are as critical as other s. Please do not feel that way. Your need for prayer is every bit as important as the next person s. Join us on Tuesday s at noon if you can, or come to the back of the church on Sunday s (during Eucharist) for a prayer that just might change your life. No matter is too small, or too big. JESUS HEARS OUR PRAYERS, AND JESUS ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS. 3

4 On the Pres dieu in the back of the church, there is a prayer envelope. If you cannot bring yourself to join us, place a paper in the prayer envelope naming someone you feel needs our prayers (make up a name if you need to) we will pray for the person for you. You, however, should consider how important it is for you to be the one praying for yourselves, or others. We meet every Tuesday at noon for a 45 minute Celtic Service. We are there every Sunday at the back of the church. Waiting for you will be Joyce D Allessandris, Cindy Feltz, Rick Incorvati, David Christmas (when he is well), and myself. FELLOWSHIP Mary Donnellan Christmas Concert I hope you saved the date for the incredible Christmas Concert at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Springfield on December 20. We will have dinner after at Carriage Inn. We will carpool and will leave the church at 3:30. I believe you will be amazed at the beautiful music at this concert. Please sign up in Christopher s Corner. Movie 300 is a 2007 cult classic adaptation of a graphic novel about the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. I couldn t imagine I would like this movie, and I loved it. The combination of live actors and graphic characters is amazing. All through the movie, there are little bits of humor such as the assertion that there are no puppies in Sparta and that the supporting army made up of artists and artisans is a mess but necessary in a pinch. I also was a bit amused by the sharpness of the weapons. A little pressure and off goes a head.! Well, this was the age of iron and bronze. They would have needed quite a few people around just to sharpen weapons. There is a bit more to make fun of in this move, but it is really, really good. I promise. Mary Donnellan 4

5 ECW Episcopal Church Women Judy Brainard Tis the holiday season and we hope you will join us as we celebrate two holidays as a church family. On Sunday, December 6, we will have our annual Christmas party. The second annual chili cook-off will be held. If you choose not to provide chili, we could use some toppings such as cheese, green onions, etc. There will be a photo booth, and we will fill bags of toiletries. We ask that you bring small items, particularly items for men since we will make some bags specifically for them. The star of the show, Santa, will be here once again, with a lap accessible to anyone, large or small. Bring the family and enjoy sharing our holiday cheer. We will bring in the New Year with another tradition, our New Year s Eve party. We will have games, food, new party hats and champagne, both alcoholic and not. The party starts at 9 and will be over shortly after midnight. Please bring a snack to share. The cost will be $5 apiece to cover the cost of drinks and party supplies. Please join us. See Darlene s announcement of our January event. She has something special planned. ECW Trip - Darlene Walbroehl The University of Dayton owns thousands of crèches from around the world. Every year they display several hundred in their library. You are invited to join the ECW Saturday Jan. 9 th for lunch followed by a tour of these nativity scenes. We will meet at a restaurant nearby at 12 and go to the library at 1 when they open. There are no students on campus at the time so parking should not be a problem. Snow date is Jan. 16. Sign up will be in Christopher s Corner in early Jan. Restaurant suggestions are welcome. December 28 December 30 December Birthdays 15 Carol Sharp 16 Lauren Faller 17 Rick Roach 27 Colin Turner 29 Robin Jones 29 Toni Olgeaty December Anniversaries Debbie and Dan Snavely Michael and Chasity Haberecht We would like to include everyone in the celebration of Birthdays and Anniversaries. If we have missed your special days, please send your family s dates for birthdays and anniversaries to the office. 5

6 St. Christopher s Prayer List For illness, healing: Nancy, Carol, George, Lynda, Betty, Toni, John, James G, Betty, and Chuck. Sunday Attendance It is important that we are aware of how many people are in attendance on Sunday. So each month we show the attendance numbers. Remember, statistics indicate that to have a thriving and prosperous congregation, we need to shoot for 100 as the average Sunday attendance. Sunday Attendance July August Sept Oct Nov 1 st Sunday 55 n/a nd Sunday rd Sunday th Sunday th Sunday n/a 60 n/a n/a 71 TOTAL A Gentle Reminder: When planning church activities, please check the calendar posted in the church office to avoid scheduling conflicts. And please post upcoming activities. Events and Announcements, Opportunities The December Lantern will be online at stchristophersfairborn.diosohio.org. A printed copy is available upon request. Sunday School Schedule 9:15 Adult Forum, and Sunday School for Third Grade and up. 10:00 a.m. Sunday School for Pre-K to Second Grade. Sundays at 9:15 a.m. Adult Forum: I Pray in Poems - Mediations on Poetry and Faith. Thursday December 3 Youth baking Christmas cookies. Saturday December 5 10 a.m. Youth decorating Christmas cookies. 6

7 Sunday December 6 5:00 pm ECW Family Christmas Party. Thursday December 10 6:30 p.m. Youth Commission Meeting. Friday December p.m. Girl Scout Movie Night. Sunday December 13 St. Vincent s Volunteers (Next: Dec. 27) Sunday December 20 Discretionary Fund offering Sunday December 20 ECW used book sale Sunday December 20 11:30 Vestry meeting Sunday December 20 Christmas Concert at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Springfield Monday December 21 Deadline for January 2016 Lantern articles and info. Thursday December 24 Christmas Eve Service: 4:30 Gentle Service Evening - music at 7:00 p.m., Service at 7:30 p.m. Friday December 25 CHRISTMAS DAY Holiday. Sunday December 27 Lessons and Carols Service Sunday December 27 St. Vincent s Volunteers (next January 10). Monday December 28 Fairborn Mayor s Citizen Forum, Time: 7 p.m., (Place: tba). Thursday December 31 9 p.m. ECW New Year s Eve Party! Friday January 1 NEW YEAR S DAY Holiday. Saint Clare s Creature Comforts Needleworkers Group: Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m. Weekly Healing Service Tuesdays at noon a Healing Service with Holy Communion is held in the church proper. The service is open to anyone who wants to attend. Thursdays 7:00 pm Choir Practice Check sign-up sheets On the counter in Christopher s Corner there are sign-up sheets for altar flowers, sanctuary candles, fellowship, St. Vincent s, ECW activities, Prayer Chain, etc. Outreach Remember Box Tops for Education. Please continue with donations for FISH, and continue to support: with Bars of soap and other toiletry items, Food items for FISH, and 2 cents a meal feed our bank your change Prayer Concerns: Please call or Joyce D'Allessandris to activate the Prayer Chain. dallessa@aol.com, phone: We are still collecting used printer cartridges. They can be recycled at the office supply stores. There is a plastic container in Christopher's corner for you to fill!! Thursday Dec 3 and Saturday Dec 5 Youth baking and decorating Christmas cookies. 7

8 Sign up for Christmas Poinsettias: There is a sign-up sheet for Christmas Poinsettias in St. Christopher s Corner. Donations for the flowers will be $12 each. Please sign up "in memory of" or "in thanksgiving for". If you desire to take the plant home, indicate that on the sign up sheet. Poinsettias will then be distributed after Epiphany. Please order and pay for the plants by Sunday December 13. We will only purchase the number of plants that have been pre-paid. Girl Scout Movie night! Scouts and non-scouts are welcome! Next: Friday Dec 11 th 6-10pm. For $10, your child gets two movies, popcorn and punch and you have four hours to yourself! RSVP to Andrea Wintrow! (January movie night will be Friday Jan 15 th.) ECW Family Christmas Party December 6, at 5:00 pm ECW Family Christmas Party 2 nd Annual Chili Cook-off Visit from Santa Photo Booth Service Project: we will be making treat bags for some men and women in Fairborn who need something special for Christmas Christmas Concert at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Springfield on December 20. We will have dinner after at Carriage Inn. We will carpool and will leave the church at 3:30. I believe you will be amazed at the beautiful music at this concert. Please sign up in Christopher s Corner. Mary D. ECW New Year s Eve party. We will have games, food, new party hats and champagne, both alcoholic and not. The party starts at 9 and will be over shortly after midnight. Please bring a snack to share. The cost will be $5 apiece to cover the cost of drinks and party supplies. Please join us. 8

9 Coming in January 2015 Sunday January 6 Epiphany Celebration Sunday January 17 Annual meeting and Potluck. ECW Trip Join the ECW Saturday Jan. 9th for lunch followed by a tour of the nativity scenes at the University of Dayton. See details in the ECW article in this Lantern. Darlene W. St. Christopher Episcopal Church Po Box N. Broad St, Fairborn, Ohio (937) (Office) Website: stchristophersfairborn.diosohio.org office@stchristophersfairborn.org 9

10 St. Christopher s Episcopal Church Fairborn, OH Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Second Sunday of Advent 9:15 am Sunday School 10 am Eucharist, Sunday School St. Nicholas Day 5:00 ECW Family Christmas Party 2nd Annual Chili Cook-off Third Sunday of Advent 9:15 am Sunday School 10 am Eucharist, Sunday School St. Vincent s Volunteers Fourth Sunday of Advent 9:15 am Sunday School 10 am Eucharist, Sunday School Discretionary fund offering ECW used book sale 11:30 Vestry mtg First Sunday after Christmas Day Lessons and Carols 9:15 am Sunday School 10 am Eucharist, Sunday School St. Vincent s Volunteers 10 AM St. Clare s Creature Comforts Noon Healing Service 5:30-7 GS mtg J. Green Youth baking cookies 7:00 Choir 6:30-8:30 GS mtg a.m. Youth decorating cookies Year C :30-8 GS mtg AM St. Clare s Creature Comforts Noon Healing Service 4-8 FEW fell hall Mel Bigi 5:30-7 GS mtg J. Green New moon 6:30 Youth Comm. Meeting 7:00 Choir 6-10 GS Movie Night 10-4 GS Buckeyes :30-8 GS mtg AM St. Clare s Creature Comforts Noon Healing Service 5:30-7 GS mtg J. Green New moon 7:00 Choir 6:30-8:30 GS mtg GS Banquet Lantern Information Deadline 6:30-8 GS mtg AM St. Clare s Creature Comforts Noon Healing Service 5:30-7 GS mtg J. Green 4:30 Gentle Service 7 pm Christmas Eve Service Jan :30-8 GS mtg Fairborn Mayor s Citizen Forum 10 AM St. Clare s Creature Comforts Noon Healing Service 5:30-7 GS mtg J. Green Full moon 9 pm ECW New Year s Eve Party (937) N Broad St., PO Box 1026, Fairborn OH 45324

11 Worship Leader 2015 DECEMBER SCHEDULE 2015 Second Sunday Third Sunday Fourth Sunday Christmas First Sunday of Advent of Advent of Advent Eve After Christmas Day Lessons & Carols December 6 December 13 December 20 December 24 December 27 Ron D Allessandris Diane Cannon Tammy Elliott Toni Olgeaty Rick Incorvati Lessons and Carols readers Chalice Bearer Ed Smith Alan Haberecht Cindy Feltz Rick Incorvati Toni Olgeaty 1 Toni Olgeaty 1 st Reader LECTORS 2 nd Reader Cindy Feltz Baruch 5:1-9 Barry Kelley Philippians 1:3-11 Melody Kelley Zephaniah 3:14-20 Mary Donnellan Philippians 4:4-7 Judy Brainard Micah 5:2-5a Debbie Snavely Hebrews 10:5-10 Theresa Turner Isaiah 9:2-7 Diane Cannon Titus 2:11-14 Lessons & Carols 2 Theresa Turner 3 Danielle Lester 4 Diane Cannon Acolyte Iyabo Eguaroje Rick Incorvati Danielle Lester James Lester Kathy Smith 5 Barry Kelley Ushers Healing Prayers Greeters Altar Guild Tellers Fellowship Telesa and Hayward Learn Ann Foster James Lester Iyabo Eguaroje Gordon Hermann Eleanor and Becky Wood Eleanor and Becky Wood Joyce D Allessandris Toni Olgeaty Rick Incorvati Toni Olgeaty Cindy Feltz Joyce D Allessandris Mary Donnellan Kathy Smith Sierra Lester Gordon Walbroehl Bob Bigi open Judy Brainard Linda Canas Judy Brainard Betty Crichton Millie Roach Ed Smith Donnellan & Olgeaty Andrea and Alan Haberecht Mel Bigi Andrea Haberecht Cindy Manship Gordon Hermann Millie & Rick Roach Iyabo Eguaroje Telesa Learn Mel Bigi Andrea Haberecht Susan Brainard John Stauffer n/a Darlene and Gordon Walbroehl Eleanor and Becky Wood Debbie Snavely Cannon & Turner 6 Tammy Elliott 7 Melody Kelley 8 Alan Haberecht 9 Judy Brainard PLEASE check the schedule and note your assignment(s). If you are not able to serve, notify the person responsible for that assignment and the office ( ). Toni Olgeaty Worship Leaders, Chalicers, Lectors, Acolytes, Ushers Andrea Haberecht Coffee Hour/Fellowship Judy Brainard Greeters Lauren Faller Senior Warden Melody Bigi Altar Guild Melody Kelley (937) Director of Music Rosalie Arnold Tellers Ruth Paulus Prayer Requests CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: 10 AM to 2 PM, Monday through Friday