The JOY TO THE WORLD! BY THE VERY REV. MARY HUDAK THE NEWSLETTER OF ST. MICHAEL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH JANUARY 2016 VOL. 46 ISSUE 1

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1 The MESSENGER THE NEWSLETTER OF ST. MICHAEL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH JANUARY 2016 VOL. 46 ISSUE MISSION AVE. CARMICHAEL, CA STMICHAELSCARMICHAEL.ORG JOY TO THE WORLD! BY THE VERY REV. MARY HUDAK The Lord is come, Let earth receive her King! The next line of this popular Christmas Carol reads: Let every heart prepare him room. Have you prepared room for Jesus in your heart and in your lives? Making room for Jesus in our contemporary lives is a continuous challenge. Even with the best of intentions it is difficult because we can be easily distracted by outside priorities that seem urgent and important. When we pause and reflect on what gives meaning in our lives, we can identify the driving force that can guide and motivate our most challenging decisions. Theologian Thomas Aquinas premise is that all behavior can be traced to cause and effect. However, nothing can be its own cause. There must be a first cause that stands alone. This is what we call God. The driving force I am suggesting we look to for guidance in all our decisions is God. Many understand God as a rational and intellectual pursuit. Believing it is another matter entirely. Believing that there is an Ultimate Cause, God, and that through the birth of Jesus Christ, we continue to be in relationship with this Great Cause, should have an effect on our culture, worldviews, and actions. But often, there is a disconnection between what we intellectualize and how we live. This is what is at the essence of the Christmas Carol we sing, Joy to the World Let every heart prepare him room. For me, this means making space, clearing out emotional and material clutter. It can mean not doing things that distract us. Sometimes it means continuing to do what we do but with a new awareness, intention, and attention. Human beings are like huge containers that get filled up with stuff, stuff we bring with us whenever we make conscious or unconscious decisions on how we will act. Think about all the emotional space and time spent running around trying to fill Christmas expectations, which for most of us can only be filled spiritually anyway. Perhaps it is time to stop running around buying material goods to fill emotional space and letting outside priorities distract us. Perhaps it is time to start making room for Jesus to transform our emotional space into Spiritual fulfillment. St. Michael s offers opportunities for everyone to have a place to encounter Jesus so that our hearts can be engaged as well as our intellect. The goals we have set for the next three years reflect such opportunities. Our overarching goal is to offer JOYFUL WELCOMING to all who come through the doors of our church, whether it is the existing members or visitors who are looking for a meaningful encounter with God that will change the way we engage with the world. Knowing that God exists and having God live in your heart takes space and practice. Please consider getting involved in something meaningful to you at St. Michael s. This will not only fill your heart but also make it grow Maybe in the same way that the heart of the Grinch grew three sizes that day! Faithfully, Rev. Mary

2 Rev. Mary M-Th 9am-5pm PARISH OFFICE ST. MICHAEL S STAFF & OFFICE HOURS The office is open M-F 9am-4pm Mari M, T & Th, F 11am-3pm Glenn M-F 8am 4pm Father Rod W, F 9am-12pm Deacon Cindy M, W Ellen T-F 9am-5pm Treasurer M 9am-12pm page 2

3 DATES TO REMEMBER FRIDAY, JANUARY 1 PARISH OFFICE CLOSED FOR NEW YEARS DAY SUNDAY, JANUARY 3 FEAST OF THE HOLY NAME MONDAY, JANUARY 4 MERCY & SOCIAL JUSTICE MEETING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6 MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SALLY FREITAG SATURDAY, JANUARY 9 MEN S BREAKFAST SUNDAY, JANUARY 10 THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 GOD S HELPING HANDS LAUNDRY MONDAY, JANUARY 18 PARISH OFFICE CLOSED FOR DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR DAY WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20 MESSENGER DEADLINE LOAVES & FISHES THURSDAY, JANUARY 21 R.O.M.E.O.S SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 FAMILY EUCHARIST SOUP POT SUNDAY ANNUAL MEETING MONDAY, JANUARY 25 DAUGHTERS OF THE KING Epiphany JANUARY 10 Join us as we celebrate Epiphany on Sunday, January 10! We will have a special reading of the Tale of the Three Trees and a festive Coffee Hour with the Three Kings and delicious treats! page 3

4 PARISH LIFE SATURDAY, JANUARY 9 JANUARY 3 Still Available JANUARY 10 Epiphany JANUARY 17 Greeters JANUARY 24 Annual Meeting JANUARY 31 Still Available R.O.M.E.O.s will meet for lunch on Thursday, January 21 at 12pm at Serritella s (6346 Fair Oaks Blvd). Daughters of the King will meet on Monday, January 25 in the Friendship Center. All women in the congregation are most welcome to join us. Any questions, please call Edie Decker at or A NEW WAY TO GIVE AT ST. MICHAEL S Check out our new online giving at www. stmichaelscarmichael.org/donate! You can make a pledge, make a one-time donation, or set up recurring donations with just one click. Questions? Please contact the office or Jim Sargent. page 4

5 PARISH LIFE THE DIRECTION AND GOALS OF ST. MICHAEL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH BY THE VERY REV. MARY HUDAK JOYFUL WELCOMING: St. Michael s will work together to become a community that offers a Joyful Welcoming of all people into a relationship with Jesus. This effort is integrated into all St. Michael s activities and the personal lives of the parish members, with the purpose of making people feel loved and wanted. We do this through opportunities to demonstrate to others and ourselves, the value of allowing Jesus to be our guide, our friend, and the one who will always take care of us. By living the way of Jesus, individually and as a community, we will become stronger and more resilient to the challenges of today s world. Create a new Member Ministry Recognized as an important resource to the neighborhood Offer spiritual opportunities that draw us into a relationship with Jesus no matter where we are on your spiritual journey Provide focused and balanced outreach in the 4 areas identified within the structure of Mercy and Social Justice: fundraising/check writing, in kind donations, doing to and for, partnerships/doing with Create an Advocacy Ministry Determine the best use of our campus space Offer a regular casual worship service In order to accomplish the objectives that will help us reach these goals, we need the participation of all members of the church. We do most of our ministry work through committees. Here are the committees that are seeking new members: Buildings and Grounds - Contact Glenn Croy Campus Space - Contact Doug Davy douglasmdavy@gmail.com Mercy and Social Justice Sue Gaston jgaston@surewest.net Scholarship, Sue Corbin esuecorbin@gmail.com Communications, Rick Larkey ricklarkey@yahoo.com Family Ministries, Ellen Coleman ellen@stmichaelscarmichael.org Pastoral Care, Deacon Cindy - deaconcindy@stmichaelscarmichael.org Spiritual Formation, Tina Ferriot etferriot@gmail.com Member Committee, Tammy Murray -- murray1609@gmail.com New Worship Committee, Michael Patrick sacpatricks@gmail.com Neighborhood Committee, Michael Patrick sacpatricks@gmail.com Finance Committee, Elizabeth Ridinger -- elizabeth.ridinger@comcast.net Please let the contact person know if you are excited about joining that area of ministry of our church! We would love to have you get more involved! page 5

6 PARISH LIFE SERVING THE GREATER CHURCH BY JIM SARGENT St. Michael s has been my church home for nearly 30 years. As members of a congregation, we often find ourselves embedded in our ministries and activities so deeply that we overlook the structure of the Episcopal Church and that we are part of a much larger church. St. Michael s is one of 69 congregations in the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California. Our diocese is in Province XIII, one of 9 provinces in the Episcopal Church which consists of 110 dioceses around the world. The Episcopal Church structure requires work from many elected and appointed individuals. St. Michael s has always been a reliable source for dedicated individuals who have been willing to serve in important roles on boards, committees, commissions, and deputies to General Convention. Currently we have 14 St. Michael s members (lay and clergy) who serve our deanery, diocese, Province XIII, or the Episcopal Church as deputies to convention. This ranks among the highest number of any congregation in our diocese but not a new phenomenon, as St. Michael s has long been a provider of leaders in our diocese. I have had the honor to serve in many diocesan positions over the past 20 years. It has allowed me to see different perspectives in regards to how our church evolves and functions which has enable me to bring valuable resources back to St. Michael s; an added benefit to serving beyond our congregation. Currently I serve on the Diocesan Property Committee, Convention Planning Committee and I am in the fourth year of a four year term on Standing Committee. In November I was elected President of the Standing Committee which serves an as advisory committee to the Bishop along with other important roles. It is an honor for me to serve as president and to represent St. Michael s Church within our diocese. I write this to encourage others to seek positions beyond St. Michael s as you feel called to serve our church. It can provide one with a much broader perspective of our church; and we need leadership in many areas of diocesan and broader church life. Talk with Rev. Mary about the opportunities that might interest you and consider serving the greater Episcopal Church. It has been a rewarding and valuable part of my church life. God s Helping Hands Laundry day is Saturday, January 16! If you d like to volunteer, please contact Mary Groesbeck (maryg32@sbcglobal.net). page 6

7 PARISH LIFE EXCITING THINGS ON THE HORIZON! BY SONYA REICHEL It has been a joy moving into this new church year with you. I m grateful for all those who worked so hard to make our Advent season of expectation so fruitful, our Christmas celebration so meaningful and joyful, and I look forward to seeing what the Lord reveals to us in the season of Epiphany. I m grateful for this beautiful St Michael community that continues to form me for priesthood. As time passes, I feel more deeply drawn into this loving family and am mindful that, in a way, I reap what I did not sow. Many who have come before me rooted this community in the grace and peace and love of Christ, and I am blessed to both rest and labor under the shade of the tree that has grown from that. As you re experiencing new manifestations of God through Epiphany, I want to let you know why you won t be experiencing manifestations of Seminarian Sonya during January! During the first week of January I will be at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, our Episcopal seminary in Berkeley, taking the General Ordination Exams. These exams test knowledge of and application in areas such as Scripture, theology, church history, ethics, worship, and so forth. From the examiners perspective, these exams test fundamental preparation for ministry among potential clergy who have been prepared in widely differing contexts. From the examinees perspective, this is a rite of initiation, an exercise in trusting the One who is calling, and an exercise in trusting the representatives of the church who are partners in discerning calling. I ask for your prayers during this time of rigorous examination. For most of the rest of January I will be on pilgrimage in Israel with our Bishop and seminarians from several dioceses. I am excited about this pilgrimage, but also have a sense of sobriety about it. Many are suffering there, and it will be enlightening to see what it means to live as a Christian under very different circumstances than our own. I look forward to getting a more realistic sense of the scenery from Jesus life, having so far been impressed with images mostly from movies involving Charlton Heston! I also look forward to getting a more realistic sense of the political and social landscape for all the residents of the Holy Land. I ask your prayers for safe travel and enlightenment. Please know that I will hold you in prayer during this time and look forward to joining you again at the end of January. Please continue to give generously to support food programs in our community: St. Matthew s, River City Food Bank, and Loaves & Fishes Please continue to give generously to support food programs in our community: St. Matthew s, River City Food Bank, and Loaves & Fishes page 7

8 COMMUNITY GIFTS FROM THE HEART THANKS YOU! BY PAULA FRINK SAVE THE DATE FOR UPCOMING PERFORMANCES COMING MAY 2016 Mitch Albom s TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom based on the book by Mitch Albom 50% of the proceeds go to the ALS Association Greater Sacramento Chapter St. Michael s Episcopal Church, Johnstone Hall 2140 Mission Avenue, Carmichael CA Stay tuned for further information! Mission Avenue Players would sincerely like to thank the congregation of St. Michael s for their enormous generosity in participating in the Gifts From The Heart program with the Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services. We provided Christmas gifts, beautiful Christmas gifts, and a sense of hope to 110 children, seniors and dependent adults who would have no Christmas without us. The following messages from some of last year s recipients sums up this successful program and your loving concern perfectly. Thank you again. Mission Avenue Players Dear Santa I would like to thank you for all the amazing gifts you left me under my tree. Especially my Legos. Thank you, I always wanted them. --Jesus D. Over the Holiday season I feel like a displaced person. It s very nice to feel like someone out there knows I m here even if you don t know my name. I don t know your names either but I know you took the time to show me you cared enough to get me some wonderful presents. Thank you so very much for making my Christmas a whole lot brighter. I understand there are many people to put this together and I want to thank everyone. ~ Darlene S. Oh my goody goodness, what a blessing you are. Thank you sooo much for the time you took to think about our family. Thank you so much for such thoughtful gifts. We are touched deeply at the kindness and generosity of your presents to us. We are grateful, thankful, and appreciative. You ve made a wonderful difference in our Christmas this year and in our lives as a whole. You make a difference, God bless you and thank you for your kindness. --Mia & Kevin Go to pdf to learn more about the Gifts From the Heart Program! page 8

9 OUTREACH ST. MATTHEW S UPDATES BY DEACON CINDY LONG The staff of St. Matthew s would like to sincerely thank you for the grocery gift cards which we have been able to distribute to people in need so they can have an extra special holiday. Your generosity makes a big difference! A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the Dec 7th Community Dinner and present giveaway a success! Shoppers, chefs, cookie bakers, present wrappers and each of you who came to help set up, serve, give presents and Angel Bags and clean up, all helped make it a great evening for all. We had 195 guests and 50+ volunteers! Watch for news coming soon about our upcoming 2016 St. Matthew s Community Dinner dates. ST. MARK S HOSTING WINTER SHELTER St. Mark s Methodist Church will once again be hosting the Winter Shelter for homeless people from February 29-March 4, There will be opportunities to volunteer- details and sign up coming soon. People from St Michael s, who volunteered last Spring, reported this is a great program and a heart opening experience. Come and see! The Mercy and Social Justice Committee meets on the first Monday of the month from 7-8:30pm in the Conference Room. All who are interested in outreach and advocacy are invited to join us. Please see Sue Gaston, Chair or Deacon Cindy Long for more information. page 9

10 PASTORAL CARE MINISTRY UPDATE by Deacon Cindy Long & the Pastoral Care Team: Kate Muris, Bev Reed, Lisa Sargent, & Tina Ferriot Our Vision: Create a culture where the people of St. Michael s Church pastor to one another with open hearts, healthy emotional attitudes, good boundaries, and a sense of God s presence in their work. Good Grief! A new support group is starting. Sunday January 31st at the 8am and 10am coffee hours- Grief is a natural emotion and process which we all experience in our lives. Sometimes traveling this lonely and challenging road with others, who are also experiencing grief, is very helpful. Interested in hearing more? Please join us for an introductory meeting on 1/31/16. Future meeting dates will be set according to group members scheduling needs. Questions? Please contact Deacon Cindy Important Upcoming Dates! Community of Hope Pastoral Ministers- Next check in meeting is Wednesday January 27 6:30-8:30pm Watch for news coming soon about the annual all Pastoral Caregivers Retreat on Sunday February 28, 2016 THE BIG PICTURE: 4 TIERS OF PASTORAL CARE Tier 1- Caring Hearts Volunteers provide meals and rides to appointments/other errands, and Church / Church Events. Please request by ing caringhearts@stmichaelscarmichael.org or by leaving a message on the Caring Hearts extension at the church office ext 12 and we will do our best to help meet your need. Tier 2- Pastoral Partners Offers intentional hospitality and support through regular check ins with members who may be feeling isolated due to illness or other life circumstances. Tier 3- Pastoral Ministers and Bereavement Ministry Offers ongoing spiritually based pastoral care after clergy have attended to initial crisis. Tier 4- Clergy Pastoral Care- Offers pastoral care for those situations that require clergy. (ongoing- please call the church office if you or someone you know are in need) page 10

11 YOUTH & FAMILY SAVE THE DATE CAPITAL EPISCOPAL YOUTH NETWORK WINTER WEEKEND FEB 26-28, 2016 U grades 7-12 U Happy Birthday Brady Hegland Abigaille Gerbitz Camille Enes NuRsery for ages 0-3 is open 9:30am-12pm every Sunday Come meet our new nursery workers! page 11

12 S MICHAEL S 2140 Mission Ave. Carmichael, CA Phone: (916) Fax: (916) The St. Michael s Messenger (USPS ) is published monthly by St. Michael s Episcopal Church at the above address. Postmaster: Please send address changes to St. Michael s Episcopal Church, 2140 Mission Avenue, Carmichael, CA OUR MISSION St. Michael s Episcopal Church, centered in Jesus Christ, welcomes all who desire to grow in their relationship with God. WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday Eucharist 8:00 a.m.... Rite II 10:00 a.m.... Rite II 5:00 p.m.. Music, Prayers, and Eucharist PARISH CLERGY The Rt. Rev. Barry L. Beisner, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Northern California The Very Rev. Mary Hudak, Rector The Rev. Rodney Davis, Associate The Rev. Cindy Long, Deacon Sonya Reichel, Seminarian 2015 VESTRY Tammy Murray, Senior Warden Doug Davy, Junior Warden Mary Ellen Ferguson, Clerk Vestry Members: Bryan Barry, Jim Dodds, Sarah Foley, Susan Johnson, Chris Lee, Kate Muris, Savannah Olivier, Michael Patrick, Huey Tidwell STAFF & VOLUNTEERS Constance Weichert, Music Director Ellen Coleman, Dir. of Communications and Youth & Family Ministries John Cozza, Organist Glenn Croy, Sexton Mari Reddell, Office Manager/Bookkeeper Jim Sargent, Treasurer Utonomy, Accounting Deadline: Submissions for the February issue are due in the office or to ellen@stmichaelscarmichael.org by Wednesday, January 20.