The Epistle. December, The Value of Advent. St. Paul s Holiday Bazaar Saturday, December 7

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1 The Epistle Newsletter of St. Paul s Church A Parish in the Diocese of San Joaquin The Anglican Church in North America December, 2013 The Value of Advent The beginning of Advent is the beginning of a new church year, but unlike the new calendar year which begins on January 1, Advent is not so much a time of celebration as it is a time of preparation. There is not only the preparation for Christmas with such things as shopping for presents and sending greeting cards, but also a spiritual preparation for the coming of Christ. During Advent, Christians focus on being ready for Jesus when he comes as King of kings and Lord of lords to judge the living and the dead. And Christians also focus on being prepared to renew their welcome of Jesus into their hearts and into their lives in the celebration of his coming into the world at his birth. In other words, there is a spiritual dimension to Advent that has great value to us as we seek to grow in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ. This dimension is enhanced by our Advent worship and by other Advent devotions, such as using an Advent wreath. The Advent Wreath This year, Advent begins on Sunday, December 1. In addition to the usual times of worship at 8:00 and 10:30, at 9:30 there will be a special presentation in Rivera Hall on using the Advent wreath as a personal or family devotion. Wreaths and candles will be available for sale, although a wreath and a set of candles will be given free of charge to each family with children in the home. St. Paul s Holiday Bazaar Saturday, December 7 The parish s annual Holiday Bazaar, featuring homemade crafts, will be held in Rivera Hall on Saturday, December 7, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The bazaar is also a time to relax during a hectic time of year at the St. Paul s Café, where shoppers can enjoy food and drink. All items purchased at the bazaar and the café will benefit the needy in our community. Sale of the African items benefit the work of African Team Ministries in Kenya. Parishioners may contact Cathy Guadagni with any questions, or for her to pick up items to be donated. Friendship and Fellowship Christmas Ornament Exchange Party All adult members of the parish, newcomers, visitors and their friends are invited to a party at the home of Chuck and Leeni Mitchell, 4217 W. Elowin in Visalia. The party will be at 6:30 pm on Saturday, December 7. Those attending the party are invited to bring a wrapped ornament of any type to be exchanged, an appetizer to share with others, and their favorite beverage for themselves. Coffee and dessert will be provided.

2 Page 2 December, 2013 St. Paul s Anglican Church 120 North Hall Street Visalia, CA Church Office: Rivera Hall: spvisalia@sjoaquin.net internet website: spvisalia.com social media: facebook.com/spvisalia Office Hours Monday-Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Communion Services Sundays at 8:00 and 10:30 AM Wednesdays at 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM Clergy and Staff The Very Rev. Richard I. James, Rector The Rev. Charles Paul Gibbons, Curate The Venerable Donald Seeks, Assisting Elaine McKinney, Parish Secretary Antoinette Horsting, Bookkeeper Melvin Morris, Sexton William Johnson, Organist Churchill Cooke, Music Director Cindy Sanders, Bell Choir Director Susan Robinson, Nursery Attendant Members of the Vestry 2014 Kris Bratton, Don Ford, Suzette Peters 2015 Franco Bernardi, Reuben Garcia, Greg Romanazzi 2016 Monica Norton, Kim Robinson, Jim Siebenaler, Larry Wilds Delegates to Diocesan Convention Franco Bernardi, Betty Blackmon, Jim Doe, Wendy Johns, Kim Robinson, Chet Smeds Coffee Hour Schedule for December 8:00 AM 10:30 AM 1 Cathy Guadagni John Higgins Jim & Betsy Gates 8 Dave & Catherine Francis Carol Whiteside Noreen Siebenaler Lou Price 15 Anne MacDonald Peggy Johnson Pam Hubbard Greg & Amy Gunn Joseph and Camron Serpa 22 Lawrence & Bonnie Chan Dennis & Brooke Mack Bill Roach Millie Moody Tom & Jennifer Logan 29 Chet & Cheril Smeds Tom & Monica Norton Maureen Martin Alex & Jennifer Peltzer Additional volunteers would be very helpful, especially for the 8:00 service. Anyone who would like to be a part of a coffee hour team is asked to speak with Fr. James. Christmas Flowers and Decorations As in years past, the church will be specially decorated for Christmas services, beginning with Christmas Eve and continuing throughout the twelve days of Christmas. Those who would like to contribute toward the cost of providing the Christmas flowers and decorations are invited to use the special envelope enclosed with this newsletter. Donations may be in any amount. Envelopes may be placed in the offering basins on Sunday, or sent to the church office.

3 December, 2013 Page 3 Anglican Church Women Monthly Luncheon Members of the parish, both men and women, are invited to the ACW s December luncheon, to be held in Rivera Hall on Monday, December 2, beginning at 11:45. The choir from Central Valley Christian High School will be performing. Cost of the luncheon is $10. Bazaar Cafe The ACW will be providing a Cafe at the Holiday Bazaar being held in Rivera Hall on Saturday, December 7. The Cafe will be open from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Help is needed serving the shoppers who would like some refreshments. We will serve coffee, tea, cider and baked goods. Donations of baked goods are also needed. The money raised will be combined with the bazaar proceeds and given to various community outreach programs. Anyone with questions is asked to contact Betty Blackmon. St. Anne s Guild Christmas Party St. Anne s Guild meets monthly for devotions and fellowship, and is open to all women of the parish. This month the guild will meet at 12:30 on Monday, December 16, at the home of Millie Moody, 1123 W. Mary, Visalia. Those attending are asked to bring a favorite dish to share for lunch and an unwrapped children s book for the needy in Visalia. Maggie King is the leader of the guild, and she may be contacted for more information. Daughters of the Holy Cross The Daughters of the Holy Cross will meet in the Guild Room at 10:00, Thursday, December 12. Any woman who is interested in joining this group dedicated to prayer and service is welcome at any meeting. Questions about the Daughters and their ministry can be addressed to Betty Blackmon. Parish Prayer Chain The Daughters of the Holy Cross provides prayers to those in need on a short term basis whether church members or not. Anyone who wishes to have prayers offered for themselves or someone else is invited to contact Betty Blackmon, Betty Peters, Cheril Smeds or Allene Wilson. Grief Recovery Group St. Paul s grief recovery group meets each month at Kashy Rowland-Smith s home, 2743 W. Harvard Avenue. The next meeting will be at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 17. Newcomers are always welcome, and additional information is available by calling Kashy. From the Parish Records Deaths Bertie Jacquelyn Meadville Raymond Melikian

4 Page 4 December, 2013 Christmas Caroling Wednesday, December 18 Members of the congregation are invited to go Christmas caroling on Wednesday, December 18. The event starts early with a simple dinner in Rivera Hall at 5:30, and continues at 6:00 with caroling to members of the parish who are shut-in. The group then returns to Rivera Hall for hot drinks and dessert at 7:30. This is always a special time when those who cannot get to church are linked with their fellow parishioners in a very visible (and audible) way. No caroling experience is needed, so everyone is encouraged to participate. Christmas Dinner at Town Meadows Saturday, December 21 St. Paul s Church is serving a noon-time Christmas dinner to the residents of Town Meadows and Oak Meadows on Saturday, December 21. The youth of St. Paul s will be the servers, but adult help is needed with providing and preparing the dinner. Homemade pies and desserts are also needed, and can be delivered to Rivera Hall before 10:30 AM on December 21. Anyone able to help in any way is asked to call Judy Ramirez. A sign-up sheet is also located in Rivera Hall. This is a busy time for everyone, but it is so rewarding to see the happiness that is created by bringing this special dinner to the residents. Christmas Tree Decorating Sunday, December 22 Everyone is invited to be a part of the church s annual Christmas tree decorating party, which includes making the decorations to go on the parish s tree which will be in Rivera Hall. The event will be on Sunday, December 22, from 9:15 to 10:15 AM, and again following the 10:30 service. This event is not just for children, but for youth and adults as well. Families are especially encouraged to participate, and everyone is invited to bring some cookies or baked goods to share. Beverages will be provided. Children s Christmas Pageant Sunday, December 22 St. Paul s annual Christmas Pageant will be on Sunday, December 22, during the 10:30 service. All children and youth in the parish are welcome to participate! Questions about the pageant may be addressed to Fr. Paul Gibbons at or Kim Robinson. Prayer Book Lectionary Readings Beginning, Sunday, December 1 Sunday Eucharistic Readings Year A Morning and Evening Prayer Readings Year Two

5 December, 2013 Page 5 Volunteering at the Soup Kitchen Members of St. Paul s Church help prepare and serve meals at the Bethlehem Center on the second and fourth Fridays of every month. Currently additional volunteers are needed from 11:00 to 12:30. No special skills are needed just a willingness to serve the needy. Anyone with questions, or anyone able to help once or twice a month, is asked to call Barbara Melton. To All at St. Paul s, Thank You! Thank you for all your prayers on our behalf. The visits, the encouragement, the flowers, the cards and phone calls made us feel surrounded by love. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful church family. Dear friends at St. Paul s, In His Love, Cyril and Sue Thompson Your thoughts and prayers have given me so much strength during the past few months. As soon as my balance gets better, I ll be great! It is just another bump in the road. Fondly, Annetta Beck 2014 Pledge Drive During the month of November, stewardship and pledging information was presented to the parish, and Pledge Sunday was held on Sunday, November 24. As of Monday, November 25, $264,985 had been pledged for next year s operating budget, which is expected to be around $465,000. Those who have not yet pledged are urged to do so as soon as possible. Selection of Vestry Members At the Annual Congregational Meeting, which will be held Sunday, January 26, five Vestry members will be elected, as will four delegates to the annual diocesan convention. Vestry members have oversight of the church s ministries, and the convention delegates represent the parish in diocesan affairs. Anyone who would like to be considered, or who would like to recommend someone else, is asked to speak to Franco Bernardi or Fr. James. Legal Fund Parking Lot Sale St. Paul s will be holding a Parking Lot Sale on Saturday, January 11, 2014, to raise money for the church s Legal Fund. Parishioners are asked to begin setting aside items that can be sold, and to plan on helping out at the sale. Anyone with questions about the sale can call Glen Blackmon.

6 St. Paul s Advent and Christmas Schedule The First Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 1 9:30 am Advent Wreath Presentation, Rivera Hall The Second Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 8 9:30 am Sunday School Classes The Third Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 15 9:30 am Sunday School Classes The Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 22 9:30 am Tree Decorating Party, Rivera Hall 10:30 am Christmas Pageant and Holy Communion, Rite II 11:30 am Tree Decorating Party, Rivera Hall Christmas Eve Tuesday, December 24 7:00 pm Holy Communion, Rite II (child care provided) 10:30 pm Anthems and Carols 11:00 pm Holy Communion, Rite II Christmas Day Wednesday, December 25 10:00 am Holy Communion, Rite I First Sunday after Christmas Day Sunday, December 29 The Holy Name of our Lord Jesus Wednesday, January 1 9:30 am Holy Communion, Rite II

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