Volume 2015, Issue 12 Come. Journey Together December 2015
Page 2
Page 3 The Spiral of a New Year in Advent Amid the confusion of too-early Christmas decorations this year, I got a chuckle considering the one feast that we get to celebrate before the rest of society. What feast is that? you say. It s New Year s! The New Year in the traditional Christian calendar begins the first Sunday of Advent, which falls early this year on the last Sunday of November. Happy New Year! The New Year in any tradition is a moment when we think about time. During the New Year when the calendar will move from 2015 to 2016, many will reflect on the past year and make New Year s resolutions. In the Chinese New Year many will usher out one animal and welcome in a new animal, each emblematic in a 12 year cycle. We often think about it as something that is linear. We pass by one event and carry on to the next, without returning. But the New Year in all traditions points to a circular nature of time. All humans see that some things repeat, even if they are slightly different some time later. Every year has a winter, a spring, a summer or a time of planting and a time of harvest. We revisit certain kinds of time. The same is true for the Christian year. We revisit certain seasons in a circular cycle of a year. These seasons remind us of the essential truths of our faith and invite us to experience these truths for ourselves. The seasons of the Church year are seasons of: waiting, hope and prophecy (Advent), Incarnation (Christmas), revelation (Epiphany), repentance (Lent), Resurrection (Easter), the Holy Spirit (Pentecost), growth (ordinary season or the season after Pentecost). Our seasons also come in a 3 year cycle, wherein we read most of the Holy Scriptures. This year we will usher out Year B (where we read a lot from the Gospels of Mark and John) and usher in Year C (where we will read a lot of the Gospel of Luke). Sometimes this calendar is represented in a circle, which we travel over year after year, learning and absorbing the meaning of each season. The visual concept of the church year as a circle, adorned with colors is one which children respond to readily. We have one of these calendars made of felt material in the Sunday School room if you would like to take a look. It has been said that time is both linear (passing), circular (repeating) and finally spiral (deepening, ascending). The spiral suggests that in embracing the circle of seasonal time fully we deepen our understanding of the meaning of each season for our own spiritual lives, and ascend to higher understanding, simultaneously. You will see many spirals this advent (in labyrinths and other artwork) representing this spiritual journey. These are a personal invitation to carry on with your spiritual journey in the coming year, allowing the mystery and meaning of the seasons of life to carry you through changes and chances, and drawing you closer to God. May we take a look back and a step forward and Blessings for a Holy New Year! Bonnie
Page 4 Invite a Friend to Blue Christmas For many Christmas is a time of sadness as much as joy. The season can be challenging for many reasons: the death of a loved one, life transitions such as divorce or empty nest, coping with the loss of a job, living with an illness or struggling with memories of loss. For those who are grieving or sad, or feeling down this Christmas season, for any reason, Saint George will be having a special service, called Blue Christmas or The Longest Night Vigil. The service offers sacred space, comfort and healing for those living through dark times. Each year, the Longest Night service at Saint George, falls near the winter solstice, which is literally the longest night of darkness during the year. The service also falls on the Eve of the Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle, who struggles to believe the tale of Jesus resurrection, and whose own life story offers perspective for those of us who are struggling with the darkness and grief that we face in loss. If you are grieving or sad this Christmas, or if you want to support those who are feeling sad, you are invited to come to a special service on Sunday December 20 th at 4 pm at Saint George. This year I especially encourage you to invite and sit with a friend who may need the comfort of this service. Cold and flu reminder: If you are feeling sick this winter please remember that we have some folks with frail immune systems, particularly who attend the earlier service. If you are ill it is okay to call in backup for a Sunday responsibility. Everyone will thank you for not sharing germs. Remember, I stayed home when I was sick and everyone survived that Sunday. Lots of love, Vicar Bonnie
Upcoming Events & Updates Page 5
Page 6
Page 7 Sunday, January 10, 2016 Bishop Greg Rickel will be at St. George presiding over baptisms, confirmations, and the receiving of new members into the Episcopal faith. If you or a member of your family is interested in being baptized, confirmed, or received in the Episcopal church, please contact Rev. Bonnie Malone now at: bonniemalone73@gmail.com
Page 8 Altar Flowers The Worship Team has formed a new committee the Ladies and Gentleman Flower Committee to make sure we have fresh flowers each Sunday for church. Each member has offered to be in charge of one month, making sure that flowers are supplied for the alter for that particular month. Since the current flower fund is 0, they have each offered to pay for the flowers on their own. However, we would like to encourage everyone to contribute to the flower fund when you can so we can build the fund back up again. There are envelopes out on the counter in the Narthex just put your contribution in the envelope and put it in the offering plate. Make checks payable to St George but be sure to write on the check that it is intended for the Flower Fund. We have also ordered a new Flower Chart to hang in Litras Hall so those who wish to sign up to give flowers on a particular Sunday in memory of someone, or in celebration of a birthday or anniversary, or any event in life can do so. Nona will announce as soon as the chart arrives but in the meantime you can contact her if you want to get your name on the chart for a particular date. For now, these are the volunteers who are in charge of flowers for the up-coming months: November -- Mell and Bev Stephensen December --- Susan Carr and Linda January ------ Moussa and Nona Azizeh If anyone is willing to be a part of this caring committee, contact Tony Ceccato.
Page 9 Rick Pasko Celebration of Life Wednesday December 9 at 2:00pm St. James Episcopal Church in Kent Beginning in January all members of St. George will have access to our new online member directory. You will be able to view our complete directory on your personal computer or smart phone. We will also have printed copies of the directory available to members as well. Starting in December we will be contacting members to verify current information. And Sandy will be available after both services on Dec. 6 to take photos if you would like to have an updated photograph for the directory. You may also provide your own picture by sending it to Sandy at Journey2joy2@gmail.com.
Page 10 Youth Group Families Holiday Potluck Saturday, December 5th 5:00pm For information contact: marecia00@gmail.com Give me a call today! 425-974-5445 References: Bonnie Malone, Michelle and Tony Ceccato Reliable/Dependable Childcare Hi my name is Bennett Campbell, I am 15, Great with kids of all ages and bring a positive attitude no matter what the challenge. I have worked with many members here on various church projects. I am available weekends, and some weekdays Our new Lost & Found box now has several treasures that have been left behind at Church. If any of these items look familiar, the lost & found box is located in Litras Hall.
Page 11 Here is a look at our 2015 finances through October: Giving: Non Pledged Total Pledges Giving Plate Total Giving Actual: $100,668 $10,046 $2,509 $113,223 Budgeted: $111,850 $14,410 $2,500 $128,760 Expenses: Actual: $153,150 Budgeted: $154,174 Neither the income nor the expenses reflect money that has been received or spent as part of the capital campaign this year. Through October 2015 we have received $60,150 in contributions for the capital campaign. Our total giving in October was within 2% of plan, with receipts of $12,628 vs a plan of $12,876. Finance & Stewardship Committee Meeting Monday, December 14 at 5:00pm Wednesday, December 16th, 7:00pm Anyone is welcome to attend! December Quest Submissions Deadline is: Sunday, December 13 Men of all ages are invited to be part of this amazing Group! For more info, contact Larry Knowles: (206) 265-2774
Page 12 To: The Saints of St. George From : John Rainforth Subject: Pancake Supper Last month I sent an announcement that the annual Pancake Supper is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9, 2016. In that announcement I asked for your consideration in helping with the preparation, clean-up, cooking and other activities associated with the event. Thanks to all who have responded positively thus far. If you haven t yet responded but would like to help, just let me know. We can t have too many helping hands. I would like to now start collecting commitments for items that you can provide to either be raffled or sold during our auction. Some of the items and services that we have had in the past include: Theme Gift Baskets Gift Cards Wood Working Items Paintings Hand Made Jewelry Electrical Work Car Washing Spring Yard Cleaning Pottery Planters Yard Items Other Suggestions: Weekend at Vacation Home or Cabin Catered Meals One Day of Interior or Exterior Painting ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU CAN THINK OF! If you can provide any item or service for this event please let me know. We need to start developing a listing of the items that we will be selling. Please remember that this is the primary means by which the men s group raises money to provide scholarship for our youth to camp Huston. In 2015 we sponsored twenty-eight campers with a total cost of approximately $3,400. We hope to surpass that level for 2016.
The Giving Tree is back! Page 13 In Litras Hall there is a tree decorated with gift tags from the Maple Valley Food Bank and Vine Maple Place. St George has a strong tradition of contributing to these two worthwhile organizations, especially at Christmas. Think of all your blessings and open your hearts to those less fortunate. Last year the Food Bank was able to provide 1046 gifts to local children here in Maple Valley, thanks to all the caring people who contributed. They are asking for new, unwrapped gifts for children 12 years and under and $25 gift certificates for teens 13 15 years. All you need to do is choose a gift tag off the tree for whatever age child touches your heart, buy the gift, and leave it un-wrapped (along with the gift tag) in the box provided. Great opportunity for those of you who have children to let them choose a gift for a child their own age, something they themselves would like to have. Vine Maple Place prefers to have donations in the form of giftcards only. Suggested are cards from Fred Meyer, Safeway, Goodwill, and Walmart. You can place them in the offertory plate or give them to Nona Azizeh by Sunday, December 13 th.
Page 14 Check out our Donation Stations in Litras Hall! There are many ways to help the homeless right here in our own community.
Page 15 PROJECT LINUS UPDATE As usual I'll take a load of blankets to our drop-off place in time for Christmas. Since our last delivery in July, we have finished 45 blankets and 6 scarves. We should be proud of the beautiful work done by our Linus Ladies. Recently I was asked to provide a list of the places that receive our blankets. Specifically there was a question about Valley Hospital. The answers are provided in the following letter from our director. Jean Christenson Hi Jean, I have never had a contact person at Valley General Hospital. If someone would get that information for me, I would gladly see how we can give blankets to those children in need. Where we currently donate our blankets are: Children's Hospital Harborview Hospital Peds & Burn units Swedish Hospital in Seattle & Issaquah Eastside Baby Corner (They work with DSHS and other children agencies) Broadview Shelter for women and children (Sexual assault center) Eastside domestic violence shelter Camp Erin (camp for children who have lost a parent or sibling) Camp Korey (Medical camp) Burn Camp @ North Bend And Individuals as needs arise. All our blanket stay within the King County, unless there is an extreme need in another location such as Marysville Pilchuck High and the Oso landslide victims. Our Chapter averages 4,000-4,500 blankets donated each year since I took over as coordinator 10 years ago. That is a lot blankets and lots of love shared. A HUGE thank you to everyone in your group for their constant support of our chapter. The fleece blankets you create are some of the most requested sizes from all the groups to whom we donate. Sincerely, Linda
Planting Seeds for Our Future Page 16 During our Capital Campaign, the Campaign Committee agreed that our Stewardship should involve not only our Capital Campaign gifts but our annual gifts to support and sustain Saint George as well as legacy gifts that can sustain the future missions and outreach of Saint George in Maple Valley and also the surrounding communities. Planting seeds for future fruit is both an act of hope and an expression of faith. We plant in hope that the small seeds will one day produce a tree whose fruit will bless future generations. We plant in faith by entrusting those who follow us to nurture our tree, harvest the fruit properly and use it for the best purposes. Making a planned gift to Saint George is a similar undertaking. A planned gift is a seed whose promised fruit will support the church well beyond your lifetime. Planned giving is often part of an overall estate plan to distribute your assets and possessions to the people you love as well as to causes most dear to you. Planned gifts come in several forms. The simplest planned gift is to make a bequest to the church in your will and it is very important for you to have a will regardless of your age. Other options, such as charitable gift annuities, provide a guaranteed income for life and substantial tax savings. Planned gifts are funded from accumulated assets of your lifetime. When you make a planned gift to Saint George, it typically does not impact your current income. In fact, there are several types of life-income gifts that can actually supplement your income for the rest of your life.
Page 17 Planned gifts are generally used to foster the long-term health of the church. These gifts empower ministry beyond what is possible through annual operating funds. They provide future parishioners with the means to continue to worship, learn, and serve the community and the world as we have been blessed to do. Planned giving is a powerful opportunity to ensure your most sacred values and commitments are part of your legacy. Your planned gift represents your hope for the future mission of Saint George and your faith in generations to come. By making a planned gift to Saint George you also become a member of the Diocese of Olympia Bishop s Society. Saint George has eight parishioners that are members of that Society. The Society has several planned events during the year for its members. There will be future articles about Legacy giving but if you want to make a gift, have questions or want additional information please contact Mell Stephenson or the Episcopal Church Foundation http://www.episcopalfoundation.org/tools-andprograms/fundraising-tools/planned-giving that provided information of this article and has additional information about planned giving as well as calculators that will let you explore various options for planned giving http://ecf.giftlegacy.com/? pageid=22.
Page 18 Moving Forward in Faith Building our Future Together In Mid October our building design package was submitted to the City of Maple Valley in support of their site development plan review and building permit issue. We expect these reviews to take several months which means our actual ground breaking will not be until first Quarter 2016. Our first step will be to remove about 30 trees that have to be removed either due to the parking lot expansion or our building and sewer footprint. We have received three bids for the tree removal and the building committee has chosen a Company to complete that work. Our recommendation will be presented to the Bishop s Committee this month. The City will not let us remove those trees until they approve the building permit. We have also begun discussions with a number of Plumbing and land excavation companies regarding the excavation of the site, parking lot, sewer, and water supply to support the new building. As I mentioned last month, we are developing a listing of interested contractors based on personal reference and some generated from the King County Master Builders List. If you know of someone you would like us to consider in the competition, please submit the name of the individual or Company to a member of the Building Committee.