St. Paul's Episcopal Church Volume 12, Issue 9 December, 2013 HOW FAR IS IT TO CHRISTMAS How far is it to Christmas day? The journey s just as long As taking time to listen To a joyful angel song. It s just as far as one can go In doing a loving deed That helps someone feel better Or that meets their special need. For Christmas is a journey That the heart makes every year. It starts right with your family And those you hold so dear. It travels on to strangers, Round the world to everyone With the message that God loves us And that s why he s sent his Son! by Peggy Ferrell Put my Original Question Another Way Why should people come to Church? What are we offering them as an incentive to turn up? Are we offering fellowship? Jolly music? Possibly a feel good experience? If that s the best we can do, then it s time to pack up, because those things can be found elsewhere. We might say that we offer the teachings of the Christian faith, and that s vital. But by itself it won t get people into the Church. The only answer which will do is that we offer them an environment in which they may be brought to a conscious awareness of that infinite and adorable Mystery whom we call God. Everything else follows from that. Without some sense of God, who is the living source of all reality, words and explanations and teaching will have only limited effect. Inside this issue: Call All Candidates 2 Where Love and Charity Prevail The Rev. Dr. E. Allen Coffey Eugene Rivara Lindeve Hostavedt A.W. Lewis John Haile Elizabeth Miller Linda Minor David Sutton Bin Trice Jerry Walker Gloria Blanton Howard Schmidt Rector Senior Warden Junior Warden Register Vestry Members Office Administrator Published by St. Paul s Episcopal Church 7924 Richmond - Tappahannock Hwy Millers Tavern, VA 23115 Phone: (804) 443-2341 Treasurer Rose Mary Zellner Newsletter Editor Contact info: (804) 310-6980 or rose@rainbowacrescampground.com Publication deadline: the 15th of the prior month Jane Durvin Photographer 2 The Chosen Hymns 3 Birthdays 4 Service Assistants 5
Page 2 Call All Candidates On Sunday, January 9, 2014, the Right Reverend Susan E. Goff will visit St. Paul s Millers Tavern. We are looking for any candidates for confirmation so we can set up classes with Rev. Hetherington. Most of our young adults have been confirmed (a young adult is defined as any boy or girl aged 12 or older), but adult candidates are also welcomed. Bishop Goff will also reaffirm any individual on that Sunday or receive into the Episcopal Church any individual wishing to do so. Please contact either Eugene or Lindeve if you wish to be a candidate so we can coordinate with Rev. Hetherington the class time and place. 2012 Candidates with Rev. Dr. Coffey and Bishop Shannon Johnston A MESSAGE FROM THE STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE Where Love and Charity Prevail The stewardship committee would like to thank all the members who have returned their pledge cards. We are pleased with the response. The finance committee will meet soon with the task of formulating a budget for 2014, a year of transition for St. Paul s. For those of you who have yet to return your pledge cards or have misplaced or lost them, we have more printed and available, so let s make the finance committee s job easier and please return your pledge cards as soon as possible. We thank all the members for the versatility of their of ministries which exhibit that St. Paul s is truly a place where love and charity prevail.
Volume 12, Issue 9 Page 3 The Chosen Hymns As we move forward into the season of Advent and this transition period for the parish, we leave behind the "Green" season of Sundays after Pentecost - what the sad Romans call "Ordinary time" and what our Methodist friends call more enthusiastically "Kingdom-tide" - the season ends with the great feast of Christ the King - the final culmination of our lives in faith as we look forward to casting down our golden crowns before the throne of the King of all. In the "green" season we can use many truly familiar hymns and have tried to do so, and have asked for your requests. I have ignored requests shouted from the pews during the "Peace" - sigh. Now in the "purple" of expectation and repentance as we await the coming of the King of Kings we go into seasons where the hymns are chosen for their appropriateness to the liturgy. The 'liturgy' is the work of the people of God. It is not entertainment. It is a sacrificial offering of praise and Thanksgiving. The hymns are an integral part of that. Anecdotally, I have observed many people refusing resolutely to participate in singing the hymns. If you feel that raising your voice is simply not possible or is destructive to the worship of others; it is still quite important to read the texts of the hymns as they are sung. St. Thomas Aquinas and the Wesley brothers all believed that we learn more about the faith and that our faith is strengthened by hymns. All the hymns are important and those who chose to come late often miss a hymn that sets the stage for the liturgy of the day. The Communion hymn is devotional and should be part of your thanksgiving for reception of the Blessed Sacrament, it should not be ignored. Hymns are chosen to compliment the lessons for the day. Not all are going to be familiar, but all will enrich your lives in the faith. Paying attention to them, reading the texts (and often the texts for the anthems, too) is as important as paying attention to the scripture readings. Liturgy/worship is work. But the rewards are priceless. I would pray that for each of you eventually the hymns would become a part of your DNA and a core of your foundation in the faith. In Advent we also replace the familiar Doxology at the Presentation with the last verse of the great hymn " On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's cry". In doing this we try to emphasize the great importance of the Advent season. In all the other seasons of the Church Year we remember the great acts that bring us our salvation - all performed long ago. In Advent we look forward - not to a baby, but to the return in triumph of the King of Kings. Prepare ye the way of the Lord - be watchful! Powell As we move forward into the season of Advent and this transition period for the parish
Page 4 Gwynn & David Litchfield s Invitational Art Exhibit Robinson/Olsson Auditorium November 12 thru December 17 Exhibit available for viewing at 1040 Thompson Avenue, West Point, VA, during regular school hours or during Arts Alive performances. Please enter through West Point High School office during school hours. December 6 Jess Crawford 8 Jack Hutchenson 10 Estie Thomas 11 Cori Rivara 13 Julia Nofsinger 16 Holly Dartez 17 Dot Mahanes 18 John Winston 19 Ligon Brooks 23 Hollie Goodman 26 Mary Stuart Snyder 28 John Page Ball 31 John Canada
Volume 12, Issue 9 Page 5 SERVICE ASSISTANTS - DECEMBER December 1 - First Sunday of Advent Lector - Suzanne Thomas Crucifer Server - Clay Thomas Anna Brooks Thomas Lectors - TBA LEM - Alan Sader Chris Russell Estie Thomas December 8 - Second Sunday of Advent Lector - Joe Farmer Crucifer Server - Ben Brown Lectors - Don Hostvedt Julie Brown LEM - Dave Litchfield December 15 - Third Sunday of Advent Lectors - Jim & Beth Woolford Crucifer Server - Lizzie Schmidt Lectors - Eugene Rivara Hannah Overton LEM - Grace Rhinesmith December 22 - Fourth Sunday of Advent Lectors - John & Holy Dartez Crucifer Server - Lizzie Schmidt Lectors - Cynthia Carter LEM - Ben Owen December 24 - The Eve of the Nativity of our Lord 4:00 p.m. The Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols Officiant, Acolytes and Readers - To be determined by Powell Johann Crucifer Server - Lectors - December 25- Christmas Day Crucifer Server - TBA Lectors - Suzanne Thomas LEM - A. W. Lewis December 29 - First Sunday after Christmas Lectors - Jim & Beth Woolford Crucifer Server - Anna Brooks Thomas Lectors - Radford Compton Pat Fitzgerald LEM - Grace Rhinesmith REMINDERS ANGEL TREE in Parish Hall, return the gifts by Dec. 15 Dec. 7 Wreath Making Workshop, 9 a.m.-4p.m., contact Elizabeth Miller Dec. 16 Community Dinner 5p.m.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church CHRISTMAS BELLS PO Box 278 Millers Tavern, VA 23115 Phone: 804-443-2341 E-mail: rose@rainbowacrescampground.com I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, goodwill to men! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow