Schedule for Advent and Christmas

Transcription

1 Volume 22, Number 12 December 2013 Monthly Newsletter of St. Timothy s Episcopal Church, Danville, CA Schedule for Advent and Christmas Advent 3, December 15 Saint Lucy Day The Saint Lucy Girls will once again visit at all three services to hand out the Saint Lucy buns. Welcome The Rev. Deacon Julia McCray Goldsmith will be our preacher as she begins her 6 month internship with us. Saturday, December 21 Christmas Eve Rehearsals Mandatory Rehearsals for our first (3:30pm) and second (5:30pm) services on Christmas eve will take place at 10am and 11am (See the Family Ministries announcement in this edition of the Tidings for more details.) Advent 4, December 22 New Associate Rector Preaching, Greening of the Sanctuary Please join us in welcoming our new associate rector, the Rev. Teri Hobart. Terri joined the staff on December 1, and you will have the opportunity to get to know her better at a Town Hall gathering during Coffee Hour on Sunday, December 22 at 10:10am. Following the 11:00am service we will green the church in preparation for Christmas. Many hands make for light work, so come help as we transform the sanctuary to welcome the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. There will be hot soup and bread for the workers. Christmas Eve Services Tuesday, December 24 3:30pm Whole Family Service with Narrated Christmas 5:30pm Whole Family Service with Walk-On Children s Pageant 9:30pm Traditional Service (with hymns and carols beginning at 9:00pm) Christmas Day Service Wednesday, December 25 at 10:00 am

2 RESOLUTION 4: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS Saint Timothy s is preparing to respond to a resolution passed at this year s Diocesan Convention on disaster preparedness. A team will be formed early in 2014 to work through materials provided by Episcopal Relief and Development in creating our own working plan. We are also working with SF-CARD (San Francisco Community Agencies Responding to Disaster) about how we can coordinate with and assist other local programs and churches in case of a disaster. To see the entire resolution go to the following link: BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS Just like our own homes, the church buildings are constantly in need of maintenance and repairs. Recently several areas of concrete around the church with trip hazards were addressed; either by grinding down or totally replacing the cement. Wooden trim strips in the concrete that were either missing or deteriorated were replaced. Portions of the parish hall where the siding was exposed to the elements were repainted. Our Facilities Manager, Bev Matsunaga, and her team do an excellent job looking after these, and many other projects to care for our facilities. Current projects underway include: repair/replacement of irrigation and plants in the meditation garden; getting bids to replace the broken gutters on the parish hall; and repairing the covered walkway on the north end of the parish hall. You can leave a message for Bev at ext. 11, or via at bkmats@aol.com. ANNUAL MINISTRY REPORTS ARE DUE TO BEA parish@sainttimothysdanville.org BY JANUARY 17 HEALING PRAYER STATIONS We have returned to having a minister for healing prayer available in the back of the church during each worship service on Sundays. During the distribution of communion you are welcome to come for prayers, either for yourself or on behalf of the needs of others. We are taking a team approach for this ministry, so do not be surprised of the scheduled minister asks you to join them as a prayer partner (which you are free to accept or decline). Please know that all prayer requests will be held as strictly confidential. LESSONS AND CAROLS Our worship at all three services on December 29 will be a service of Lessons and Carols, along with Holy Communion. Come and enjoy this beautiful musical liturgy in celebration of the Season of Christmas. SCHEDULE CHANGE Please note that there will be no Wednesday, 10:30am service on January 1 EPIPHANY SERVICE AND CELEBRATION Our celebration of Epiphany will include having one combined worship service on Sunday, January 5, at 10:00am. Following the service there will be food and activities for all ages in the Parish Hall. NEXT DATE FOR BAPTISMS Our next liturgical date for baptisms in on Sunday, January 12, The First Sunday after Epiphany (also know as the Baptism of our Lord). Please contact Fr. Jeff at jfrost@sainttimothysdanville.org or Bea at parish@sainttimothysdanville.org as soon as possible for a pre-baptism visit.

3 SPECIAL THANK YOU S Our thanks to Marie-Claire MacDougall and her team for preparing the delicious Saint Nicholas cookies that were distributed on December 8. Thank you, also, to Arlene Grant, for the hours of single-handed baking that she will provide on Sunday, December 15, to prepare fresh baked Lucy Buns for our upcoming worship services. COMMUNITY OF HOPE Our next meeting of the Community of Hope: Circle of Care will be on Sunday, January 19, at 12:30pm in the Grace House Conference Room. Anyone interested in a ministry of lay pastoral care including Eucharistic Visiting, Healing Prayer, Prayer Team, etc. is welcome and encouraged to attend. St. Timothy s Parish Annual Meeting of the Parish Sunday, January 26, 2014 We will hold the Annual Meeting of the parish on Sunday, January 26, following a combined 10:00am worship service. More details coming soon! This notice is given in accordance with Canon XI, Section of the Diocesan Canons THANK YOU!!! I give thanks and praise to the bulletin stuffing volunteers throughout 2013! Carol Lane, Sharyn Mitzo, Eloise McTigue, Patty Alexanderson and Mae Warren. To Margaret Lubratich for making the Tidings possible. You all are a gift to us. Thank you all for your time and talents and especially for your kindness.

4 SAINT LUCIA VISITATION Sunday, December 15th All church services Throughout Sweden the feast day of Lucia, or Lucy, is celebrated as a festival of lights. In the early hours of the morning of December 13th, a young woman dressed in a white gown and wearing a red sash and a crown of lingonberry twigs and blazing candles, would go from one farm to the next carrying a torch to light her way, bringing baked goods, stopping to visit at each house and returning home by break of day. Lucia symbolizes light and growth as she emerges out of the darkness. Because her name means "light" she very early became the great patron saint for the "light of the body"--the eyes. Many of the ancient light and fire customs of the Yuletide became associated with her day. Thus we find "Lucy candles" lighted in the homes and "Lucy fires" burned in the outdoors. This Sunday December 15 we have our own St. Lucy girls at each church service to hand out special St. Lucy buns made fresh on Sunday morning by our faithful parishioner, Arlene Grant. Arlene arrives at dawn and bakes the Lucy buns for each of the three services. The buns she bakes are authentic St. Lucy buns just like the ones you would get in Sweden! Many thanks to Arlene for her dedication to this special St. Timothy's tradition. BIBLE STUDY GROUPS MONDAYS Enjoy a time of conversation with Scripture and one another. Gil Jardine leads this group, meeting weekly from noon to 1:30pm in the Grace House Conference Room. This week they will continue with the Gospel of Matthew. If you have any questions, Gil can be reached at gil@leadercompetency.com TUESDAYS The Tuesday night Bible study group is on a holiday hiatus. The group will resume meeting on January 7, The Rev. Deacon Patricia Pearson leads this group. If you have any questions, please contact the Patricia at rev.dcn.particia@gmail.com All are welcome to join either group at any time. NOAH'S NEWS The months seem to be whizzing by as we are already enjoying the celebrations of the season and Advent. The children are very busy making music and treats to share with our families at a special chapel service and celebration. It is such a wonderful sound to hear the ringing of the bells and children's singing voices throughout the classrooms. This truly is a magical time of year full of energy, love and making memories. All of us at Noah's Ark wish you a wonderful holiday season!

5 From the Treasurer... THE END IS NEAR! As December 31 approaches, I am sizing up our deficit situation. Due primarily to the unexpected staff reduction we saw with Rev. Kurt s departure, we will see a significant reduction in the deficit this year. That reduction is a one-time occurrence. We will still end the year in the red. All gifts and pledge payments will continue to help us reduce the deficit. They are especially needed and appreciated at this time. If you have been looking for a way to offset some of your stock market gains this year, a donation of stock to St. Timothy s is an easy way to accomplish that. You can pre-pay your 2014 pledge by donating stock to the church. This will offset your gains with a tax credit based on the appreciated value of the stock. Please contact me for further information if this is something you d like to consider. Carleen Carns, Treasurer@SaintTimothysDanville.org ONLINE GIVING REMINDER If you participate in Online Giving, please remember to login this month. It s time to review your account and make updates to reflect your pledge for next year. LITURGICAL ART FOR ADVENT AND EPIPHANY 2013 The Advent Banner that you see hanging above the altar during this season is a contemporary art piece in the colors of Advent. It is a dark piece meant to evoke feelings of restlessness, inner reflection, preparation of the self, and the sense that something is coming. You see at the top a suggestion of light, perhaps a star that will lead the way to something of great importance. On Epiphany you will see a white banner with an exploding star. It has a sparkling center that leaves no doubt that one of the most significant events in our lives has occurred. We are receiving the light of Christ with all the wonder, glory and love that one can imagine. Kathy Wills and Leslie Firth hope that these works of art will enhance your experience of worship during this holy season.

6 This is a bittersweet good-bye from your Rector s and People s wardens for the last 2 years. We have seen an unprecedented amount of change since we began serving in these positions in early We started with an intense rector search process that resulted in 3 finalists but none of them worked out. So we re-grouped and held search 2.0 which successfully ended in Father Jeff joining our parish in the beginning of this year. We also said good-bye to both our interim rector and our associate rector and we are just in the process of welcoming a new associate rector and a new deacon. And along the way, there have been long-time members who have moved out of the area and new members joining our family; we ve also had funerals, weddings, confirmations and baptisms; all important milestones in the life of a parish. The path has not always been clear and smooth, but we have held stead-fast in our faith that God has a purpose for each of us as well as this parish. And we are all vital members who have been given a purpose here and it s imperative we do all we can to answer God s call. We are grateful for the privilege and honor to have served this parish as wardens, and we wish the next Vestry a successful and fruitful term in the coming year. There are challenges ahead but we are confident that these can be met and conquered with grace and there is an exciting vibrant future for this special parish of St. Timothy s. A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. Shelton Ensley, Rector s Warden Tori Nelson, People s Warden St. Timothy s Episcopal Church Family Ministries Christmas Eve Services - Tuesday, December 24, :30pm; 5:30pm; 9:30pm (Church) The 3:30pm and 5:30pm services are designed for families and children with opportunities for children to participate in each service. The 9:30pm service includes singing Christmas carols at 9:00pm followed by a traditional Christmas Eve service at 9:30pm. Children s Rehearsal; Saturday, December 21 st (Church) Children who have assigned roles in the 3:30pm and 5:30pm services must attend a mandatory rehearsal on Saturday, December 21 st. The 3:30pm service participants will rehearse at 10:00am and the 5:30pm participants will rehearse at 11:00am in the church.

7 Deanery News The Contra Costa Deanery held the last convocation of 2013 at St. Paul s Walnut Creek with dinner, Grant distribution, election of Deanery Officers for 2014 and one representative of Executive Council for the class of The Executive Council acts as the Board of Directors for the Diocese of California. Grants were awarded to Trinity Center Walnut Ceek, St. Luke s Eucharistic Services for Elders, Sandy Taylors feeding program in Martinez. The following were elected to serve as officers for 2014: President- The Rev. Amanda May -Holy Spirit Congregation in East Contra Costa; Vice-President Tabled until the next meeting; Secretary Greer Ryall- St. Timothy s, Danville; Treasurer- Mary-Jane wood- St. Giles, Moraga. We elected The Rev. Patricia Pearson to the Diocesan Executive Council class of During the annual meeting each year, St. Timothy s Community elects Delegates and Alternates. Elected Delegates represent the congregation at the Diocesan convention in October. The number of delegates we may elect is based on the number of communicants in good standing as reported in the parochial Report. In addition to seven delegates St. Timothy s is entitle to an equal number of alternates who can serve to replace delegates who may not be able to attend the convention. Both delegates and alternates are full voting members of the Contra Costa deanery Convocation. After election the names of Lay Delegates and Alternates are sent to the Diocesan office for certification. On January 26, 2014 we will again elect representatives to serve our deanery /diocese for the coming year. Please give your prayerful consideration to the possibility that you might be called to take your place in the councils of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of California to serve as a lay Delegate/ Alternate. Will you represent St. Timothy s in our Diocese during the following year? The diocesan Convention is scheduled for October 17-18, Four Deanery convocations will be scheduled in As soon as the dates are set they will be publicized. I would like to thank St. Timothy s Delegates and Alternates who served our congregation in It is an honor to represent our church to this important position in the governance of the diocese. Mary Louise Gotthold, Alternate 2013.

8 January Birthdays!! Catherine Brown 1 Jack Liddicoat 1 Lauren Mason 2 Charlotte Sutherland 3 Jack Sutherland 3 Key Piyanuluk 4 Craig Dunlap 6 Charlotte Ensley 6 Donna Fernendez 6 Elena Aurlanantham 7 Beth Sitton 7 Jack Stafford 8 Sharyn Mitzo 9 Tyler Cotton 11 Thomas Schultz 11 Benjamin Smiley 12 Connor Kanazawa 13 Corland Cotton 14 Fiona McEvilly 14 Laurell Ingham 15 Sarah Rose Jajeh 15 Olivia Henry 16 David Pinto 18 Scott Sampson 18 James Mills-Lawrence 21 Matthew Keeshen 22 Ben Shaw 22 Katie MacDougall 24 Christopher Bried 25 Stephen Mason 25 Erika Pearsons 27 Katie Barthold 29 Gary Cyr 30 Ben Dunlap 31 Please note - The Parish office will be closed on December 25, 27 and 30. And closed on January 1, 2014 BOOK CLUB NEWS: BOOK CLUB will not be meeting in December. Our January selection is Putting Away Childish Things by Marcus Borg. This book is an engaging way for readers to learn about the important issues dividing Christians today. This is a story that promises to leave us different in the end than when we started, as we learn how even in the twenty-first century, God works in mysterious ways. Books will be available for purchase at the book cart during coffee hour. We hope you will join us for Book Club in January!

9 EPIPHANY TOKENS 2014 True to St. Timothy s tradition, this year s recipients will report at the Epiphany celebration on Sunday January 5, 2014 following the 10am service. Below is a reminder of the person and the task assigned to each token: Manger Baby (1) - You are to show your concern for the youngest in our midst by volunteering to help in the nursery at some time during the year. Doug Speck Shepherd (3) You are to help tend the flock by bringing someone to church who would otherwise have had problems with transportation. Bob Fletcher, Alex Harrington Angel (3) You are to share the Good News of God in Christ, and also invite guests to church. Dick Firth, Richard Torres, Tania DeYoung Apostles (12) Jesus sent out the Apostles to share the good news of God you will participate in one outreach project during the year! Ryan, Megan, Paul, Elaine Marshall, Andersons, Katie Huster, Kate Bried, Patti Farris, Wisemen (.) You are to participate in at least one Christian Education offering during the year. Johnny Mills, Vince & Susan Huster Heart (1) You are to show compassion for others with special acts of kindness and charity during the year. James Mills Paper Clip (1) You are to volunteer to help in the parish office with filing, folding, collating, etc. Anna Horen Quarter (1) You are to invest this money wisely and return it with interest at next year s celebration. Sharyn Mitzo Gold Ring (1) You will guarantee next year s celebration by baking the Epiphany Cake for our festivities. David Jahn Receive your newsletter via instead of on paper, allowing us to reduce expenses and save some trees! It goes out monthly with the weekly Don t worry, we will never sell your address or spam you. We hate spam, too.

10 ADOPT A FAMILY 2013 SUCCESS! On Saturday, December 7 th, with the help of Boy Scout Troop 36, a team from UPS and parish volunteers we transported over 240 boxes of food from St Timothy s to the Monument Crisis Center in Concord. We met and exceeded the goal of filling more boxes than last year (228) and met our very challenging deadline of having boxes at the Center for distribution to their clients on the 2 nd Monday after Thanksgiving. Below you can see the boxes ready to be loaded into the LARGEST UPS truck available in San Ramon and the first of 8 plus pallets of boxes unloaded at the Center. In addition to the boxes, we supplied the Center with $20 worth of grocery script cards to go with each box. We couldn t have done this without the following: Parish, Noah s Ark, Boy Scout and neighborhood families who filled boxes with food The crew that filled boxes for others at the Alamo Safeway UPS and their driver volunteers who loaded and unloaded on their day off Boy Scout Troop 36 who accepted and loaded boxes on Saturday Volunteers who signed up others on Sundays Volunteers who accepted boxes on Sunday, Wednesday - Saturday and added rice and beans and labeled each one with a 5. Sunday School families who filled bags with rice and beans Contributors who helped us buy the rice and beans THANK YOU EVERYONE WELL DONE! YOU ARE AWESOME.

11 Holy Muir Woods National Monument, December 21 Come celebrate the Holy Eucharist with Holy Hikes in the beauty of the outdoors! The next Holy Hikes gathering will be at Muir Woods on Saturday, December 21. The group will meet at 9:45 a.m. right outside the visitor s center / gift shop at the main entrance to the park and will begin hiking at 10 a.m. sharp. Bring layers because in December it can be quite chilly, especially in the morning. The group will hike along the main trails, which are paved and handicap accessible. The entrance fee to Muir Woods National Monument is $7 for those 16 years and older. Parking is free. Children 15 years and younger have free admission. For more details about the park visit muwo/index.htm. See you there! When: Saturday, December 21, 9:45 a.m. (gather), 10 a.m. (hike) Where: Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley RSVP: Click here Contact: the Rev. Justin R. Cannon, holyhikes@gmail.com Link: TYPHOON RELIEF FOR THE PHILLIPINES Typhoon Haiyan has killed more than 4,400 people in the Philippines. Hardest hit is the central Philippine city of Tacloban, which has been flattened and where hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. Only two weeks before the devastating typhoon, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit the central Philippines. Please join the Asian Commission of the Diocese of California and many other congregations to send funds for direct aide through Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) the international outreach organization for the Episcopal Church. Their website for more information and to make a contribution is: EpiscopalRelief.org WEBSITE UPDATES All content must be submitted to Bea electronically via or on CD, in plain text without any pictures, tables, graphs, etc. All contents submitted during the week will be processed on Mondays.

12 ST. TIMOTHY S EPISCOPAL PAL CHURCH 1550 Diablo Road Danville, CA A D D R E S S S E R V I C E R E Q U E S T E D TELEPHONE: (925) FAX: (925) hour access to voice mail (925) address: parish@sainttimothysdanville.org web site: SaintTimothysDanville.org Clergy and Staff Contact Information Rector The Rev. Jeffrey L. Frost x14 JFrost@SaintTimothysDanville.org Associate Rector The Rev. Terri Hobart X13 TLHobart@gmail.com Associate Priest The Rev. Kurt Levensaler kurt.levensaler@gmail.com Associate for Family Ministry Lori Robinson x23 LRobinson@SaintTimothysDanville.org Associate for Music Ministry Pat Parr x15 PatParr@SaintTimothysDanville.org Facilities Bev Matsunaga x11 BKMats@aol.com Noah s Ark Executive Director Sue Enes (925) Noah s Ark Director Cynthia Chavez NoahsArk@SaintTimothysDanville.org Secretary Beatriz Pussman x10 Parish@SaintTimothysDanville.org Treasurer Carleen Carns Treasurer@SaintTimothysDanville.org Intercessory Prayer Prayers@SaintTimothysDanville.org