Christ Church Chronicle December 2017 January 2018 Love wholeheartedly, be surprised, give thanks and praise then you will discover the fullness of your life. Br. David Steindl-Rast [Gratefulness] Word for the Day Monday, 20 November 2017 I am joyfully thankful for my well-being. God grants me health, passion, energy, enthusiasm, and strength to love and serve God and neighbor, near and far. For your reading, I recommend the following books: Her Story: A Timeline of the Women Who Changed America by Charlotte S. Waisman and Jill S. Tietjen American Street by Ibi Zoboi The Radius of Us by Marie Marquardt Natural disasters constantly occur throughout the world and drastically change the lives of those affected. Let us remember these companions on our earthly pilgrimage and their responders in our hearts, prayers, and gift-giving. Let us strive, in thought, word, and deed, to be good to each other. Let us put into action the words of Saint Paul the Apostle: Encourage anyone who feels left out, help all who are weak, and be patient with everyone. Don t be hateful to people, because they are hateful to you. Rather, be good to each other and to everyone else. Always be joyful and never stop praying. Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 5:14b-18a (CEV) In closing, I ask God to bless you, guide you, and protect you always. Merry Christmas, with my love
Sun December 2017 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 Morning Prayer 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Festive 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve 31 Morning Prayer 10:30 a.m. 25 Christmas Day 26 27 28 29 30 December Birthdays December 15 Phiz Olson December 18 Sophia Paulson December 19 Alicia Erickson December 20 Tanner Shaft CHRISTMAS EVE CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE At 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Sunday, 24 December 2017, we will have the celebration of the at Christ Church. I invite you the parishioners, your guests (relatives, friends, and neighbors), visitors to Albert Lea and the surrounding region, the interested and inquisitive to the festive liturgy. I very much look forward to our worship on the 24 th. Page 1
Sun January 2018 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 New Year s Day 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Morning Prayer 22 23 24 25 26 27 Women s Retreat 28 29 30 31 January Birthdays January 10 Taylor Shaft END OF THE YEAR DONATIONS If you intend to make a financial contribution to the church before the end of the year, please put it in the offering plate no later than Sunday, 31 December 2017, so that it is credited to your 2017 statement. If you mail in your contribution, please make sure that the postal service has postmarked the envelope by the date of 31 December 2017. We must adhere to government regulations, in order to maintain our non-profit status. Thank you very much. Page 2
SUNDAYS AT CHRIST CHURCH December 3 (Advent I) December 10 (Advent II) December 17 (Advent III) December 24 (Advent IV) December 24 (Christmas Eve) December 31 (Christmas I) January 7 (Baptism of Our Lord) January 14 January 21 January 28 February 4 February 11 February 18 (Lent I) February 25 (Lent II) March 4 (Lent III) March 11 (Lent IV) March 18 (Lent V) March 25 April 1 (Easter Day) April 8 (Easter II) April 15 (Easter III) April 22 (Easter IV) April 29 (Easter V) No morning service Festive @ 6:00 p.m. (Annual Meeting) The Great Litany & Liturgy of the Palms & Festive ****************************************************************************************** New Revised Common Lectionary December 2017: Sun. Dec. 3 MP - 1 st Reading: Isaiah 64: 1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18; 2 nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9; Gospel: Mark 13:24-37. Sun. Dec. 10 HE 1 st Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 nd Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Gospel: Mark 1:1-8. Sun. Dec. 17 HE Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; 2 nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; Gospel: John 20:24-29. Sun. Dec. 24 Festive @ 6:00 p.m. 1 st Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; 2 nd Reading: Titus 2:11-14; Gospel: Luke 2:1-14 (15-20). New Revised Common Lectionary January 2018: Sun. Jan. 7 HE Baptism of our Lord 1 st Reading: Genesis 1:1-5; psalm 29; 2 nd Reading: Acts 19:1-7; Gospel: Mark 1:4-11. Sun. Jan. 14 HE 1 st Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20); Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17; 2 nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; Gospel: John 1:43-51. Sun. Jan. 21 MP 1 st Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:6-14; 2 nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Gospel: Mark 1:14-20. Page 3
Sun. Jan. 28 HE 1 st Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111; 2 nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Gospel: Mark 1:21-28. PLEDGES With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow. Don t ever think that you are wise enough, but respect the Lord and stay away from evil. This will make you healthy, and you will feel strong. Honor the Lord by giving him your money and the first part of all your crops. Then you will have more grain and grapes than you will ever need. Proverbs 3:5-10 (CEV) This year 2017, as well as in past years, the Vestry, Wardens, and Treasurer have acted fiscally responsible. Much has been done to stick to the budget. Essential and important work has been done in and around the church at reasonable cost and paid in full. Thank you for faithfully fulfilling your pledges for the year. If you have fallen behind in making your pledge and if you are able to fulfill it, please do so by Sunday, December 31, 2017. We welcome pledges for 2018 to help us with our planning. Let the Spirit continue to guide, inspire, and strengthen you. DEADLINES Please submit all reports for the Annual Meeting Booklet no later than 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. Thank you. The annual meeting is scheduled for Sunday, February 4, 2018. Please submit all articles for the February 2018 issue of the newsletter no later than Thursday, January 25, 2018. Thank you. Page 4
Community Events Cookie Walk and Holiday Bazaar Dec. 9 at the First Presbyterian Church, 308 Water Street 8:00 a.m. 12:00 Noon All proceeds of this event will benefit our 2018 church teen mission trip to Accompong, Jamaica Christmas Benefit Concert Sunday, December 10, 2017 The Harmony Junction Chorus annual benefit concert, featuring the Albert Lea Community Band and including the Women s chorus Faith Tones will be held at 3:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church and at at Grace Lutheran Church. A free-will offering will be received in support of the ministry of the local Salvation Army. Please keep me in the loop - Far too often, you might hesitate to inform me of your desire/need for pastoral care, because you do not want to bother me. On the contrary, you are not bothering me when you inform me of a major illness, yours or a loved one s illness. Because of privacy issues and regulations, staff at hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities will not contact me. You, a family member, or a close friend must contact me, if you have a pastoral need. 507-334-3742 (home) - 507-491-2695 (personal cell) (no reception in the office at school; leave a message) 507-333-1651 (office at SSM School) Messages go to my e-mail account.) Henry.Doyle@s-sm.org Thank you. Be blessed and strengthened **For security reasons, the door, which leads to hallway where the offices are located, must be closed when no authorized person is in the building. If you are the last person in the building, please close the door. The reason is that if an unauthorized person enters the church through the outside door that leads directly to the offices, he or she would not gain access to the parish hall or worship space upstairs. Thank you for helping us keep the church safe for all involved in the life of our beloved parish. Please try to inform Cindi when there are prayer needs so she can include them in the weekly bulletins. Contact the church office on T-TH, 9 a.m. 1 p.m. 507-373-3188, or you can send an email to: christch@q.com Our Vision Where All Are Welcomed and Fed at the Table CELEBRANT: The Rev. Henry Doyle DEACON EMERITUS: The Rev. Jerald Loper SENIOR WARDEN: Savile Lord JUNIOR WARDEN: TREASURER: Joy Shaft VESTRY CLERK: VESTRY: Peggy Havener s Contact Information 507-334-3742 home 507-491-2695 cell 507-333-1651 office E-mail address: Henry.Doyle@s-sm.org Mailing address: Shattuck-Saint Mary s School 1000 Shumway Ave. P.O. Box 218 Faribault, MN 55021 Page 5