CROSS KEYS. From the Senior Warden:

Transcription

1 CROSS KEYS ST. PETER S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, OSTERVILLE MA December 2015 Inside: Outreach... p. 4 Lessons & Carols... p. 5 SPNS & Christmas Services... p. 6 Fr. Russ... p. 7-9 UTO Update... p. 10 Calendar... p. 11 From the Senior Warden: This past month has been a busy one for St. Peter's. Attendance at services is up and we are so pleased to have Bill Eddy with us. His insights are very helpful as we work to understand the best way forward. Outreach is working on a variety of projects. The Thanksgiving Dinner and Program were a great success and enjoyed by all who attended. It was nice to see some St. Peter s Nursery School families present. The Thanksgiving food boxes will be delivered on November 24th. I have been away for two weeks on business for the Order of the Eastern Star working with members from Brazil. It has been very rewarding. A Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas to all. May God continue to richly bless you. Judy Important Dates to Remember December 1... Outreach Meeting December Christmas Evensong December Lesson & Carols

2 2 Bridge Rector... The Rev. William Eddy Associate... The Rev. Russell H. Allen Secretary... Maureen Jagodowski Director of Music... Karen Crosby Sexton...Brian Boley St. Peter s Nursery School...Charlene Krig Vestry Sr. Warden... Judy Fenner Jr. Warden... Guy McKenzie Treasurer... Jenn McDevitt Clerk... Carole Dwyer Wayne Schmidt... Ghislaine Lacerte Susan Soares... Sue Curran Greg Winkler... George Jessop Will Beebe... Bill Stocker Lillian Woo Parish Ministry Contacts Acolyte Warden... TBD Altar Guild... Cynthia Seidner Meg Perkins, Emeritus Finance... Noel Spillane Friendship Ministry... Barbara Spillane Hospitality Guild... Marilyn Wright Lay Eucharist Visitors... TBD Newsletter... Nancy Mumford Outreach... Fr. Russ Prayer Group... Mary Beebe Property... Mark Thomas Stewardship... TBD Women s Association... Meredith David Newsletter Deadline December 15th for the January edition of the Cross Keys St. Peter s Episcopal Church 421 Wianno Avenue PO Box 437 Osterville MA (office) officestpeterscapecod@verizon.net The deadline for the Cross Keys is the 15 th of the month. Submissions may be ed (MOST preferred by the editor!) to nancyjanemumford@gmail.com Please note: I can only accept MS WORD documents (Not Word Perfect) by

3 3 Knitting Again many thanks to SPWA for your supplying the postage for our shipments to the Seamen s Church Institute. This year our total knitted and crocheted items for the Christmas at Sea Program was 165. Each year the amount increases, which makes me very proud of our group! A special thanks to Ellen Merlesena for donating yarn. Just a reminder that our next meeting will be January 21, All are welcome to join us. Blessed and Safe Holidays, Nancy Dwarnick Chair December Birthdays 3-Katie Meyer, Sophie Macallister 4-Ellen Merlesena, Don Treimann, Jon Matel 8-Tom Horan 9-Katie Armstrong 10-Tara Bedenkop, Kathy Holcombe 11-Melissa Tavilla 16-Bob Frazee, Charlie Spilsbury 18-Pat Ingraham 19-Sally Webb, Chris Perrone, Sr. 22-Jane Gunnery, Geoffrey Stanney 24-Katherine Levinson 23-Meredith Carlton, Arlene Johnson, Samira Schumann 25- Carolyn George 26-Carol Seidler 31-Molly DeMello Anniversaries 8-Paul & Brenda Mazzeo 18-Jack & Pat Ingraham 19-Bob & Rebecca McClenahan 31-Daniel & Laura O Neill

4 4 Festival Of Nine Lessons and Carols will be presented on December 20, 2015, at 4:00 pm. The English tradition of lessons during Christmas was established in the late l870's at the Cathedral at Truro. The dean of the cathedral continued this tradition when he became the Archbishop of Cantebury in the early 1880's, and it has become a standard and much anticipated part of the Christmas season ever since. The carols portion of the service was added about 100 years ago. That tradition remains strong, and here on the Cape the original English service is honored with its continuation. We at St. Peter's celebrate Advent season with this wonderful service of lessons that relate that loving purposes of God seen through passages of the Bible and carols that uplift our spirits and help reaffirm our faith. Our service is identical to the one used by King's College Chapel at Cambridge University. Christmas Outreach Ministries The money received from the free will offering at Lessons and Carols will be donated to The Children's Center at Safe Harbor. The Children's Center provides a safe playtime area for the infants and toddlers in the families who are currently seeking shelter there. It allows the mothers to have time to keep appointments, take classes, etc. The center is very much in need of educational toys. There will be a "Toys for Tots" collection box in the Narthex starting around Thanksgiving. The Prayer Group's drive for hats and gloves for the women and children at Independence House will be extended into the third week in December. These families often have to leave their homes with very little other than the clothing on their backs. We can, at the very least, see to it that their heads and hands are warm for Christmas. Please put any donations in the baskets on the window seat in the hallway. This celebratory service is an opportunity to take a breather from the hectic holiday preparations and to remember the true purpose of the Christmas season. Our choir under the capable direction of Karen Crosby will fill every inch of the church with glorious music. A string quartet, which includes members of the Cape Cod Symphony, will accompany the choir. The proceeds from the goodwill offering will be contributed to Safe Harbor's Child Center. Safe Harbor provides housing for displaced mothers and their children here on the Cape. Please come.

5 5 A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols St. Peter s Church 421 Wianno Avenue, Osterville December 20, :00 p.m. Offering donated to Safe Harbor s Children s Care Center For more information Child care available Handicapped accessible

6 6 The Christmas Story Evensong December 19th 4:00 PM Parish Hall Christmas 2015 The Nativity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ This is a beautiful and touching collaborative event between St. Peter s Episcopal Church and St. Peter s Nursery School. Hear the story of Jesus s birth and the singing of hymns and carols. A perfect way for children & adults to experience the true meaning of the season! Please join us! Christmas Eve, December 24th St. Peter s Nursery School 4:00 pm Family Service We had a wonderful turnout for our Gourmet Brunch on Sunday, November 12th! Thank you for your support and fellowship! December Events: OSTERVILLE STROLL Friday, December 11th, 11:00 am Meet us in front of TD Bank for caroling! SAFE HARBOR TOY COLLECTION Please consider purchasing gifts for the children at Safe Harbor, a safe house in Hyannis by WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16th. Please see the bulletin board on the stairwell landing or contact Charlene M. Krig for more information. Thank you! info@stpetersnurseryschool.org :00 pm Choral Eucharist Choral Prelude, 6:30pm 9:00 pm The Holy Eucharist ~ Christmas Day, December 25th 10:00 am Holy Communion with carols

7 7 What Do We Celebrate Each Year in December? Consider these facts: This year the Holiday Shopping Season seems to have begun earlier than in previous years with Veterans Day. Black Friday will begin for many stores Thanksgiving afternoon. Some houses already have their outside lights hung and illuminated; others will soon have their Christmas Trees up and decorated. The USPS target mailing dates have been set as early as December 1 for Christmas, even earlier for Hanukkah. Then there is the question of the dates of the Christmas Season. The tradition for Anglicanism and the Episcopal Church is that it begins on Christmas Day, December 25, and lasts through the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6. Yet many churches will begin observing the season a week or more before the 25 th, and end it soon after New Year s Day. Most denominations, and the vast majority of Episcopal Churches, will hold Christmas Eve services, which are not provided for in the Book of Common Prayer, while many will not offer worship on the 25 th at all. Moreover, the half of Christianity that is Orthodox will not celebrate the Nativity until January 6. If we turn to our contemporary culture there seems to be a rush to complete office parties and other social events before Christmas Day, and to wrap up the holidays with New Year s Day. Factor in a variety of other observances and the calendar becomes even more confused. Hanukkah, Ramadan [which can fall in December some years], Kwanzaa, and Winter Solstice all fall under the general heading of the Holidays. No wonder our culture seems schizophrenic when it comes to deciding what to focus on during this time of year. To this should be added the fact that every nationality, region, neighborhood and family have their own holiday traditions that are observed faithfully year in and year out. Further, many of us carry memories of Christmas Past, often idealized, which we also look to be repeated when Christmas rolls around. How often do we walk away from Christmas Eve service thinking, I remember when the church used to be full? One other thing to be considered. Most of us spend a great deal of time, money, energy, emotional, and other personal resources in an effort to choose the right present or greeting card, arrange for the perfect social event, decorate our houses, trim our trees, and engage in other activities in order to create the perfect holiday. Only to come away wondering if it was all worth it. Nevertheless, we will do the same thing again the next year. Which is why from time to time we may wonder what is the true meaning for us of Christmas? For Christians like you and me, and maybe for all people of faith, or any who have asked a similar question about their own faith tradition or holiday practices, the answers lie deep within the mystery of whatever we are celebrating. It may be necessary to peel away much of what has been added to our holiday -

8 8 some of which we will not miss and some we may hold very dear until we find ourselves in the presence of the mystery itself. For Christians that mystery is the Incarnation of God, Emmanuel, God With Us Made One of Us in the Nativity of Jesus. A singular event that stands by itself as unique in human history. Only then so we know what Christmas means and is, and why we celebrate it year in and year out. The Rev. Russell H. Allen Pastoral Associate. The Adult Forum in Advent The Adult Forum is held every Sunday following the 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist. During the Advent Season, as we prepare for the celebration of the Incarnation of God in the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Adult Forums will explore the history, meaning, and theology of the events leading up to, during, and following the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.! Advent 1: The Biblical Story: What really happened?! Advent 2: What do we celebrate at Christmas: Myth, Legend, Tradition, or Part of the Holiday Season?! Advent 3: The Theological Meaning of the Incarnation of God.! Advent 4: A Contemporary Liturgical Experience of Christmas. Our focus will be on the relevance of the Christmas Season to the lives of contemporary people of faith and the world in which we live. The Adult Forum, the Adult Education program held every Sunday through June, holidays excepted, begins about 11:20 in the Library and concludes sometime after 12 noon, depending on the topic. More to the point the Adult Forum is a weekly gathering of people in a space and at a time designated for open and unstructured consideration, discussion, and sharing on a variety of topics relevant to the lives of those present. It is not a formal Adult Christian Education course or Bible Study; it is not intended to prepare candidates for the Church s sacraments. There is no curriculum, no content intended for dissemination, and no instrument of evaluation. There are no pre-established truths or expectations of doctrinal conformity. Its leader s purpose is to facilitate the discussion in which all present are invited to participate. It is what its name implies: An Adult Forum. There will be no Adult Forums during the Christmas Season. During the winter and spring of 2016, the Adult Forum will offer a series of interesting topics and challenging discussions, including: Where is the Episcopal Church going? Environmental issues facing the Cape. Being a person of faith. Substance and other forms of abuse. Outreach Ministries' projects and programs,

9 9 Pastoral care especially related to medical issues, senior citizen needs, and end of life preparations. Contemporary spirituality. Lenten Seasonal Themes. This I Believe presentations. Detailed schedules and information on the weekly Adult Forums are available throughout the year in the ebulletin and Sunday Bulletin, and on the Church s website. The Rev. Russell H. Allen, Pastoral Associate The Prayers of the People Project in Advent During the Advent Season, as we prepare for the celebration of the Incarnation of God in the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prayers of the People Project, now in its fifth year, is using forms that reflect contemporary expressions of the traditional themes of this season of preparation: I invite you to assume a role in leading the congregation in offering its weekly petitions, intercessions, thanksgivings, and memorials in the Prayers of the People from your place in the pew. Every Sunday opportunity is given for all the members of the congregation to add their own concerns or celebrations to those of the whole worshipping community. No special training is needed for this leadership role. A flexible schedule distributes responsibility throughout the year, and the Prayers of the People for any given Sunday are sent out to the Intercessor well in advance of that date. Everyone wishing to become an Intercessor is asked to contact me. Comments and suggestions made by members of the congregation regarding this project are very valuable and I encourage anyone wishing to share their thoughts to contact me by at capecahd@comcast.net, or by phone at The Rev. Russell H. Allen, Pastoral Associate.! Advent 1: Signs of the Last Days.! Advent 2: Words of the Prophets.! Advent 3: Expectations of God s Action.! Advent 4: Fulfillment of what was spoken by the Lord.

10 10 UNITED THANK OFFERING FALL 2015 Ingathering Report Totaled $ The October 18, 2015 St. Peter s FALL UTO INGATHERING offerings, our giving in gratitude for our many blessings, totaled $ One hundred percent of this collection will be used to support Diocesan grants both at home and around the world as an outreach of The Episcopal Church. You can t say that of many charities! Each household is encouraged to have and use their UTO BLUE BOX throughout the whole year. The size of the offering is not as important as the practice of thanksgiving. In doing so, it is a way to fulfill our baptismal covenant: to serve Christ in all persons, love our neighbors as ourselves, and strive for justice and peace among all people. UTO BLUE BOXES are available in the parish hallway and parking lot narthex. Please note that ingatherings are held twice a year, fall and spring. The SPRING 2016 UTO INGATHERING will be Sunday, APRIL 17, 2016 The UNITED THANK OFFERING is a personal and family devotional program of The Episcopal Church. It is the sum of our daily thanks for the blessings in our everyday lives. It is a way for women, men and children to nurture the habit of giving a daily tangible thanks to God. Your prayers and offerings make it possible for the UTO mission to stretch in unexpected ways. These prayers of thanksgiving start when we recognize and name our many daily blessings. Those who participate in the UTO offering have discovered that thankfulness leads to generosity. Since the Fall of 2010, when the St. Peter's Women's Association voted to sponsor this Episcopal Church Outreach Service Project $ has been gathered. Debbie Gasior, UTO Coordinator St. Peter s Women s Association Service Project

11

12 Sunday Services 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Rite I) 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Rite II) Christmas Services - see page 6 Wednesday Service 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Child care is available during the 10 a.m. Sunday Service downstairs in the Nursery. The doors are always open welcoming you! Cross Keys St. Peter s Episcopal Church 421 Wianno Ave PO Box 437 Osterville MA