From the Vicar ~ David Thompson. december Dear People of God:

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1 december 2016 From the Vicar ~ Dear People of God: We are now coming to the Season of Advent in which we prepare for the coming of Jesus the Christ. The secular world around us has already prepared; stores have been filled with Christmas decorations and sparkling gifts for weeks. Once Thanksgiving arrives the race to buy the best presents for the cheapest price will begin! We now call this shopping spree Black Friday with its Black Friday Deals and who doesn t want to get a good deal on something that you need or even just want? But there is something wrong with us and this season if we turn Black Friday into Black Christmas. The Christian seasons of Advent and Christmas exist for more than choosing the best present, at the right price, for the right person. The larger questions for all of us in the midst of the frenetic Christmas activities is this: For whom are we doing all this? Why are we doing all of this? For-- Ourselves? Our Families? God? Voices from the past? Competition? Perfection? I am not going to suggest that you slow down, or mediate, or read the story of Jesus birth found in the Gospels. All these are good ideas. I am asking that you take a good look at yourself and the people around you and ask another question: Where is Christ in all of this? When you have an answer to this question, then you will be on the road to rediscovering the beauty and the mystery of the Advent/Christmas seasons. For Christmas is all about mystery; the mystery of our God who created us and redeemed us and who is forever involved in our lives. I close with a poem Love Alone by Gian Carlo Menotti: The Child we seek doesn t need our gold. On love, on love alone he will build his kingdom. His pierced hand will hold no scepter, his haloed head will wear no crown; his might will not be built on your toil. Swifter than lightning he will soon walk among us. He will bring us new life and receive our death, and the keys to his city belong to the poor. So.Happy Advent, Merry Christmas, and Courageous Questioning. Faithfully, David Thompson

2 Calling All Angels The Church of The Ridge has adopted three families for Christmas. This means we have received a list of wants and needs for children in these families, and we will play Santa and fulfill these wants and needs. On our angel tree in the narthex of each church there are tags with the name of a child and a particular article of clothing or a toy(s) that the child would like for Christmas. Please choose a tag and purchase what is on the tag for the child. Please wrap your gift and attach the tag on the gift. If we do not have a tag we will not know whom the gift is for. On the back of the tags it will say either D.Sch. or AU. One of the families is from Douglas Elementary, and the other two are from Children s Medical Center of Augusta University (MCG). The Douglas Elem. family lives in Trenton, and one of the families from AU lives in Edgefield County and the other in Saluda County. Mt. Calvary Lutheran has received a grant from the Lutheran Synod to feed each of our backpack children s families for the holidays so food will be on their tables for the holidays. The Douglas family is a recipient of our Friday backpacks. If you cannot shop there are tags with dollar signs on them. We will use any money collected to buy a few extra treats for the families or pay a bill as the case may be. Those in charge at Douglas and AU know what is best. Wrapped gifts may be brought to church any Sunday or taken to the church office on days that it is open. We must have everything returned by Sunday, December 11. If you have any questions please feel free to call Father Thompson, JoAnn Amos or Kathie Stallworth. We know you will be generous, and we thank you for that. Christmas Transformation Receipts for November 2016 Actual Budget Difference Plate $ 1, $ 2, $ Pledge $ 9, $ 9, $ Total $ 11, $ 11, $ The earth has grown old with its burden of care, but at Christmas it always is young, the heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair, and its soul full of music breaks the air, when the song of angels is sung. Phillips Brooks 2017 Mission Council Charles Bledsoe Dick Glass Joannah Holmes David Long Jack Schwarz Sarah Schwarz Kathie Stallworth Larry Vann Betsy Willis Page 2

3 DECEMBER WORSHIP MINISTERS & READINGS December 4 in Trenton Second Sunday in Advent Acolyte......Lee Holmes Eucharistic Minister...Barney Lamar Lector Scotty Scott Intercessor Valerie Holmes Altar Ann Day, Carol Rhoads Usher.... Danny Day, Buddy Miller Greeters.....Liz Kornaus, Betsy Willis Hospitality...Kelly Vann Alms Counter...Liz Kornaus Readings.....Isaiah 11:1-10, Psalm 72:1-19 Romans 15:4-13, Gospel Matthew 3:1-12 December 11 in Ridge Spring Third Sunday in Advent Acolyte......Joannah Holmes Eucharistic Minister...Maynard Watson Lector......Jerrold Watson Intercessor Kelly Vann Altar..Jennie Boatwright Usher..... Phillips Boatwright Greeters...Jack Schwarz, Kelly Vann Hospitality...Sarah Schwarz Alms Counter...Jack Schwarz Readings.....Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146:4-9 James 5:7-10, Gospel Matthew 11:2-11 December 18 in Edgefield Fourth Sunday in Advent Acolyte......Jack Kornaus Eucharistic Minister...Liz Kornaus Lector Haigh Reiniger Intercessor Dick Glass Altar.... Jean Covar, Lady Hodges Usher......Chris Covar, Bob Hodges Greeters...Dick Glass, Kathie Stallworth Hospitality...Liz Kornaus Alms Counter...Kathie Stallworth Readings.. Isaiah 7:10-16, Canticle 15 Romans 1:1-7, Gospel Matthew 1:18-25 December 24 in Trenton Christmas Eve Acolyte......Hollis Holmes Eucharistic Minister...Monti McDaniel Lector Jerry Stallworth Intercessor Peggy Ann Moss Altar... C. Brice, L. Long, P. Moss, K. Stallworth Usher Tom Long, Ric Vann Greeters...Sarah & Jack Schwarz Alms Counter...Larry Vann Reading Isaiah 9:2-7, Psalm 96 Titus 2:11-14, Gospel Luke 2:1-20 INTERCESSORY PRAYER LIST Friends and Family Art Amos Ron Bell Edward Bodie Charlie Brown Haynie Bull Anne Burke June Covar Ann Day Mary Grace Feltham James Maine Gilchrist Richard Gribble Jessica Harris Ted Hoes Jarrett Holmes John Kemp Jr Mayrant Lojewski Carolyn Lovell Willie Mae Matheny Sarah Mills Tommy Minnick Carol Rhoads Rebekkah Robinson Mary Anne Roth Tommy Stone Amy Stozier Billy Williams Roy Williams Military Personnel & Others Serving in Harms Way Lieutenant Junior Grade Kevin Ginn USN Captain Joshua Summer Army ** On January 1st, the Prayer List will start anew. If you or a loved one would like to continue to be on our Prayer List, please Emily Bull at easbull@gmail.com. ** December 25 in Trenton Christmas Day Eucharistic Minister...Larry Vann Altar......L. Posey, Z. Shore, K. Vann Usher Ric Vann Greeters...Kelly Vann Alms Counter...Kelly Vann Page 3

4 December Occurring Regularly in Edgefield Thursday 12:00 noon AA Meeting Thursday 6:00 pm Counseling Group Trenton Children s Sermon Ridge Spring RR Deadline 7:00 pm Mission Council Edgefield Trenton 6:00 pm Wine & Cheese Party 5:30-8:30 pm Boatwright s 6:30 pm DOK Mtg Trenton Ever wonder -----Why we are called the Episcopal Church? How are we related to the Anglican Communion? Why do the clergy wear funny clothes on Sunday? Why a Prayer Book? Where does the Bible come in? If you every wondered and questioned anything about the Episcopal Church, you are invited to Searching Sessions about the Episcopal Church. Why this title? Because we will search for our identity as Episcopalians and as Christians or better yet as Christians who happen to be Episcopalians. The sessions begin on October 30 at 9 a.m. right before the church service and will run through the middle of January. We will take a Christmas break! You can come to one or all of the sessions. I hope to see you on Sunday at 9 a.m. David DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS Art Amos Kathryn Ginn Bailey Pendarvis Allison McDaniel Joannah Holmes Phillips Boatwright Carol Scott Melissa Rainsford Page 4

5 Food Bank Report Thank you for continuing to support the food bank outreach ministry! In October we raised $347 in the collection plate. The collection plate donations are sent to the food banks quarterly to purchase food to distribute to their participants. We have continued distributing food to both Johnston and Saluda food banks. Bring your food donations (non perishable, no glass, please) to church each Sunday! The food banks can also distribute items such as toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrushes, bar soap, etc.) and don't forget spices! We also make a point of including pet food (dog & cat) to help people keep their pet animals, often their only source of companionship. If you would like to participate in this exciting outreach ministry but are unable to attend church, you may make a donation and mail to our church office address! (Make check out to Church of the Ridge with 'food bank' in the subject line) Mary Lou Seymour or libetymls1@gmail.com Hayride Cookout Caroling... Sunday December 11 th 5:30 pm Our Saviour, Trenton The church will host a hayride, cookout and caroling for children of all ages. Please join us at Our Saviour in Trenton after the Tour of Churches in Edgefield. Please RSVP to Sarah Schwarz ( or wjacksarahb@gmail.com) by Friday, December 9. Page 5

6 Post Office Box 206 Trenton, South Carolina Mission Council Members Dick Glass Liz Kornaus Carolyn Lovell , Jack Schwarz Sarah Schwarz Kathie Stallworth Larry Vann Kelly Vann Betsy Willis Senior Warden... Sarah Schwarz Junior Warden... Jack Schwarz Treasurer...Jerrold Watson, Ass t. Treasurer... Dick Glass, Clerk to MC...Leisa Long Publicist...Emily Bull, Church Office phone WEBSITE The Mission Statement To be a welcoming Christian community of worship, learning and outreach empowered by the grace of God. Episcopal Church of the Ridge Annual Wine and Cheese Party Sunday, December 18, :30 until 8:30 pm at the home of Mr & Mrs Phillips Boatwright 214 DuBose Street Ridge Spring SC Invited are family and friends home for the holidays. Please bring your favorite wine and appetizer. Post Office Box 206 Trenton, South Carolina December