IT'S THE SEASON OF ADVENT - ARE YOU READY?

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1 St. Bartholomew s Anglican Church Our Vision: To see lives transformed through a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Mission: To share Christ s love and His Word with our community and the world through Christ-centered outreach, worship, prayer, and biblical study. VOLUME 59, Number 12 The Chatter DECEMBER 2016 IT'S THE SEASON OF ADVENT - ARE YOU READY? The Christmas holiday season has begun - or should I say the Christmas holiday rush and stampede is upon us! It's what our world would have us believe. But this is the season of Advent - a time of holy preparation for the celebration of both Christmas and the anticipation of Christ's Return! It is supposed to be a quiet time of reflection and introspection of our own spiritual lives; a time to seek the Lord and see where we can get more in tune with His priorities. And yet, it is probably the most difficult thing to do during this season. Isn't it interesting how the world always seems to do the opposite of what Christ desires? In Mt. 3:1, we read that "John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Did you know that Jesus used those same words to begin His ministry? "Repent" means to change your mind or to change direction in your heart. It specifically was used in relation to one's wrong doing. Therefore, when the LORD calls on us to repent, we are not only to change what we are doing wrong but to seek to do what is right. Where are you going wrong in your life? There is only one remedy. Christ says, "Repent!" It is the perfect way to be always ready for Him! In Spirit and Truth, Fr. Ward St. Bart's Web Information Also see our Facebook page for more! St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church 2368 Eggert Road Tonawanda, NY Phone: (716)

2 VESTRY The annual church election for 4 Vestry members will be Saturday, December 3, and Sunday, December 4. The CORE Team is evaluating the surveys that were received from the parishioners. Prayer, outreach, and communication strategy teams are being assembled. The Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas offerings will be sent to Saving Grace Ministries, Buffalo City Mission/Cornerstone Manor, Salvation Army, and Hearts for the Homeless. 2

3 CHRIS WILSON CONCERT On Friday, December 9, beginning at 7:00pm, join us for a night of music by Chris Wilson. Chris will be singing many of your favorite Christmas carols. The concert is FREE and open to the public, so invite your family and friends. There will be a Meet & Greet after the concert, with light refreshments. If you missed his show in January, you will not want to miss this one! Arthur Ward III, Fr. Ward s son, will be opening for Chris. Arthur s new CD s will be available at the concert. 3

4 Over 80 boxes were donated this year for Operation Christmas Child. Thank you to all who supported this wonderful ministry. You have blessed the life of a child in an amazing way. 4

5 PRAY for those in the ARMED FORCES Please keep those from our Parish Family who are serving our country in the Armed Forces in your prayers: Jason Driscoll US Army Jason Duffy US Army Matthew Fildes US Marines James Kerins US Army A.J. Matteliano US Army Anthony Prohaska US Marines Matthew Prohaska US Air Force Andrew Rebl US Army Brandon Schessl US Army Andrew Welkley US Air Force Please let the church office know if there is anyone that needs to be added to or deleted from this prayer list. 5

6 bishop scaife guild The Cookie Ingathering for our shut-in s is December 11. Please bring 3 dozen cookies Saturday, December 10, or early Sunday, December 11. Bring them to the kitchen marked for the SHUT-INS, so they do not get used for coffee hour. Please check the table across from the Gift Shop for filled cookie boxes that you may be able to deliver for us. It would be greatly appreciated. We will NOT be having a Christmas Sale/Baked Good Sale this year. We will have Christmas merchandise in the Gift Shop (that s why we don t want large items!!) The Gift Shop will be open after the 4:30pm Saturday service December 3, 10, & 17. February 25-26: Soup Sale March 11: Lenten Brunch. Speaker will be from the Historical Society April 29: Exercise Class June 1: Spring Banquet BUNDLES FOR BABIES: Please bring new or gently used items to the Gift Shop and label for Cornerstone Manor. We will deliver them. THREADS OF HOPE: Please bring any small household items, linens, etc., to the Gift Shop and mark them for Carol Siock. Please continue to drop your DASH S tapes in the bag on the Gift Shop door. We received $125 last month. 6

7 FOR YOUR INFORMATION December 5: Silent Night The true story behind the most popular Christmas Carol of all time. Pizza at 6:00pm. Movie begins at 6:30pm. All are welcome. St. Bart s Angels We have been very busy again this year. We have made and delivered warm hand made items to the less fortunate brothers and sisters in our community, many of whom would be forgotten if it were not for the generous gifts of time, money, and supplies that has been spent on each item crafted with LOVE. As of this posting, 37 afghans, 14 pairs of slippers, 113 hats, 57 scarves, and 42 pairs of gloves have gone to those in need. If anyone is interested in sewing, crocheting, or knitting items for next year, please contact Diane Heer at We also want to thank all who donated Christmas cards. Over 800 have been delivered to area shelters and nursing homes! Have a blessed Christmas. St. Bart s Angels 7

8 FOR YOUR INFORMATION Prayer for our Nation: Our next Prayer for Revival will be Monday, December 19 at 7:00pm. Let s not always ask God to Bless America. Let s begin praying for America to Bless God. St. Bart s Annual Christmas Pageant will be Sunday, December 18, at 4:00pm. All youth, ages 3-18, are invited. Rehearsals are Sunday, December 4, at 6:00pm, and Saturday, December 17, at 10:00am. Dress rehearsal is Sunday, December 18, at 1:00pm. See Kate Hillestad ( ) or Lindsay Tobin ( ) for more information. FOOD PANTRY: 78 bags of food and personal products were donated in November. There is always a need, especially this time of year. Please continue to be as generous as you can. Thank You. Articles for the JANUARY Chatter are due by December 20th. Thank you. 8

9 Thanksgiving 9

10 Thanksgiving 10

11 DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS December 1 Marcia Brock, Khloe Kibby December 2 Lucas Fish December 4 Thomas Slayton, Carolee Waite December 5 Richard Herrmann, Lindsay Tobin, Carol Woeppel December 6 Thomas MacLeay December 7 Judith Vine December 8 Audrey Dyrja, Kathleen Ward December 9 Debra Allen, Marilyn Alliger December 10 Dorothy Bamberg, Joan Brown, Patrick Dake, Alexandra Zanni, Karen Zuefle December 11 Russell Ballaro, Amanda Daniele, Susan Tobin December 12 Robert Fish Jr., Catherine Hawthorn, John Hillestad II, Jeremy Merrick December 14 Joan Amend, Jim Hubbard, James Kibby, Peter Passino December 15 Louise Jones December 19 Krista Glownia, Jean Houck, Linda Pollino December 20 Benjamin Henneberger, Joshua Merrick December 21 Justin Dibble, Jennifer Marcinelli, Caitlin Reed December 24 Carol Krieger December 25 Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ December 26 Ann Miller December 27 Janina Heacock, Kristie Kibby, Margaret Wahl December 28 Alexia Salvinski, Sarah Siock, Madeline Wahl December 29 David Buckley, Molly Delisanti, Sarah Delisanti, Nicholas Jones December 30 Anne Karam, Diane Lobdell December 31 Lisa Boyle, Julie Ciccarelli, Marietta Lipomi, Edward Reichard December 16 Ronald Horvath, Patricia Schreier December 17 Kathy George December 18 Frances Ballaro, Jeremy Moyer, Emily Small 11

12 CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICES CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES 4PM FAMILY HOLY EUCHARIST (with incense) There will be a special Sunday School Children s Program for Pre-K through 4th grade upstairs in the Resource Room. 7PM HOLY EUCHARIST (with incense) A SACRED MUSIC RECITAL WILL BE PRESENTED AT 10:30PM ON CHRISTMAS EVE 11PM MIDNIGHT HOLY EUCHARIST (with incense) CHRISTMAS DAY 10am SUNDAY, December 25 No choir or incense. No Saturday service, December 31, 2016!!! BISHOP SCAIFE GUILD COOKIE INGATHERING will be held on December 10 th &11 th. See Chatter for more details. ADVENT MANGER SUNDAY is scheduled for December 11. Children are asked to bring an unwrapped gift for needy children in Western New York. THE HOLY SEASON OF CHRISTMAS LASTS FOR 12 DAYS! - from December 25 - January 5, and is called the Twelve Days of Christmas. As the somber reflection and joyful expectation of the Advent Season ends, the members of Christ s Church are to break out with exuberant rejoicing and celebration in knowing that God has visited us in the Lord Jesus Christ! Remember Christmas does not end on December 25, it only begins! THE ADVENT OFFERING ENVELOPE may be returned at any time during the Advent/Christmas season through any of the Christmas services, 12/24-12/27/16. ARE ALL YOUR PLEDGE ENVELOPES FOR 2016 TURNED IN? Each unused envelope is a loss of anticipated revenue pledged to God, which will have to be made up by someone else. BUDGET FOR Please turn in your pledge card if you haven t already done so. Offering envelopes for 2017 will be mailed directly to the homes of all who turned in a pledge card. Thank you! ***ADULT NEW MEMBER CLASSES*** will begin January 22nd at 1pm on Sundays. Please see Fr. Ward if interested. MANY THANKS TO the soloists and choirs for all the beautiful music throughout the year! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SING WITH US for the Advent and Christmas season, please speak to Mr. Gamble. We would love to have you! SUNDAY SCHOOL WILL RESUME ON SUNDAY, JANU- ARY 8,

13 december 2016 calendar 13

14 PERSECUTED CHURCH CALENDAR 14

15 My Christmas List of Blessings My Christmas list is more than just a way to keep track of the special people God has brought into my life to love. It s like a treasured scrapbook filled with pleasant memories of all the times God s answered prayer through friends and family. Every name s a touchstone that leads to a place and time Where God has used another s heart to reach out and touch mine. It may have happened years age, or even yesterday. But every person on my list has changed my life some way. Through simple conversation, warm hug or a shared meal, Every person on my list has helped me grow or heal, Or laugh or love or learn or smile the blessings never end As God allows our paths to cross as family and friends. So please know that this greeting is more than a Christmas wish. It s a thank you card to God for putting on my list Each and every one whose name I ve come to hold so dear Those who ve shown me Christmas joy each day throughout the year. Blessings for a God-filled Christmas and New Year. 15