DECEMBER 2017 THE VICARS PRESS Happy New Year! December 3rd is the first Sunday of Advent, and is also the very beginning of our liturgical calendar! And it is with great joy that Patrick and I wish you all a happy new church year! As a child, Advent and Lent were my favorite times of the year. I loved the Wednesday evening potlucks and worship services. Every season I looked forward to sharing a soup supper with our church family as something special; and gathering in the church when it was dark outside made everything feel even more sacred. The season of Advent is a time of anticipation. It s easy to start thinking of people eagerly awaiting the festivities of Christmas, especially kids waiting to receive presents that they ll find under the tree. But that isn t the kind of waiting this season was set aside for. What we are waiting for isn t a national holiday, but rather we re waiting for the coming of our Lord. The word Advent is Latin for coming. We are getting ready to celebrate the first coming of Jesus. Some of our scripture readings are going to be hinting to us of the future coming of Jesus, the one that hasn t even happened yet! While we honor the first coming of Christ and look forward towards the second coming of our Lord, I pray that this season of anticipation is one that gives us rest while the world around us hustles and bustles. While companies everywhere are trying to convince you to buy this or spend money on that, I pray that this season of hope fills you in a way that money, gifts, and capitalism never could. The very image of our God incarnate, having come to be with us as a newborn child is one that I find comforting. Our God was willing to humble Godself and submit to vulnerability, in order to show us love in person. For the past few years, I ve taken to collecting images of Mary and the infant Jesus that show the great humanness of Christ. Seeing these portrayals of how God chose to enter our world, invoke a great love for humanity as a whole and for each one of us as individuals. Sitting next to the office computer I have a small copy of John Giuliani s Hopi Madonna and Child, which is by far my favorite. This icon of God among us is one I treasured throughout my journey of seminary. I pray that as we await the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay, and I pray this Advent brings you tidings of comfort and joy. In the Love of Christ - Vicar Katie
ANNOUCNCEMENTS No Bible study during Advent, see you in January! This year, The idea is to have an evening with activities that are fun for the young as well as the young-at-heart. We are looking for volunteers to help with a scavenger hunt and the pageant. - We're having mid-week services on Wednesday evenings at 6:00PM. There'll be a covered dish dinner followed by Holden Evening Prayer. (Dec. 6 at Saint Matthew; Dec. 13 at Saint Stephen; Dec. 20 at Saint Peter) - the "All Girls Christmas Party" held by St. Stephens will be Dec. 9 at 1PM - St. Peter's congregational meeting will be after church on Dec.10 - St. Matthew council meeting will be Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7:00 PM - St. Stephen council meeting will be Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 7:00 PM (Following evening prayer) - St. Peter's council meeting will be after church on Dec. 17 - Christmas Festival! This year we are trying something just a little bit new! We're having a Christmas festival that is open to all, so invite anyone and everyone you can from your communities. We'll have games and crafts for both kids and for adults too! And don't worry, there will be a "No Rehearsal Christmas Pageant" that anyone is welcome to participate in. Come join us as we sing Christmas hymns, make Christmas cards and have refreshments. The Christmas Festival will be December 17th from 5:30-7:30 at St. Matthew. - The fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve fall on the same day this year! December 24th Services will be: 4th Sunday of Advent Service - 11:00 AM at St. Matthew Christmas Eve - 9:00 PM at St. Stephen Christmas Eve - 11:00 PM at St. Peter (if you want to just call all three "Christmas eve" services that's fine too, they'll have different readings but I doubt if anyone would actually notice.) - December 31st is gong to be a 5th Sunday, and we will have lessons and carols at each of the three churches at their normal worship times. - Caroline Furnace will be hosting a group from Family Promise during the week between Christmas and New Year. We will be asking for volunteers to spend the night and to help with preparing or serving meals. Please let the vicars know if you are interested in helping. St Stephen Church Council Special thanks to Granville Dellinger, Dale Ryman & Deryl Tucker for giving their time, dedication and service as St Stephen council members the past two years. Take the time to let them know that their service was appreciated. New council members elected at St Stephen s annual meeting on Nov 12 th and will be installed on January 7, 2018 are Jeremy Pangle, Ann Pollard & Gary Ryman.
Parish Caroling ATTENTION ALL GIRLS! Men, women & little ones all invited to go caroling on Saturday, December 23 rd. We ll be going to Skyline and Greenfield in Woodstock, plus a couple of homes. If anyone knows of someone who would enjoy a Christmas carol, please let Vicar Katie or Patrick know. Meet at St Stephen at 1:30 pm for carpooling or meet at Skyline @ 2 pm. Refreshments following caroling. Place TBA. You re invited to an All Girls Christmas Party Saturday, December 9 th @ 1 pm at St Stephen. Mothers, grandmothers, daughters & granddaughters are all welcome. Meat will be provided. Bring a covered dish to share. We ll have a Yankee Swap, so bring a small gift to swap (cookies, candy, a Christmas decoration, whatever). Come help us celebrate Christmas as a community of women created in the image of God. NURSES CORNER Greetings to all, Tis a gift to be simple, the words run through my head and I know there is a message in those words. We are entering the holiday season, which takes on a speed and complexity all its own. Be simple, I hear it; knowing that for many the season will be simple not by choice but by circumstances. Even Jesus birth was simple, born in a manager. Here too the circumstances dictated the simplicity. So as we approach the holiday try to remember to be simple; take time to enjoy each day with friends and family. Wishing you a blessed Christmas, Jeannie But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 FYI: Christmas Wrap will again come to ST. Paul s Strasburg When: Wednesday, December 13.2017 Check your bulletin for more details
SS - St. Stephen SP - St. Peter SM - St. Matthew DECEMBER 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 3 SM - COMMUNION 4 5 SS -10AM QUILTING 6 SM - 6PM HOLDEN EVENING PRAYER / COVERED DISH DINNER 10 SP - COUNCIL MEETING FOLLOWING SERVICE 17 SM - COMMUNION SP - COUNCIL MEETING FOLLOWING SERVICE SM - CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 5:30-7:30 PM 24 SM - 11 AM SERVICE SS - 9PM CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE SP - 11PM CHRISTMAS EVE 31 5TH SUNDAY - EACH CHURCH WILL HAVE LESSONS AND CAROLS - NORMAL WORSHIIP TIMES 11 12 SM - 7PM COUNCIL MEETING 18 19 SS 11:30AM KATIE S LADIES LUNCHEON 13 SS - 7PM COUNCIL MEETING SS - 6PM HOLDEN EVENING PRAYER / COVERED DISH DINNER 20 SP - 6PM HOLDEN EVENING PRAYER / COVERED DISH DINNER 1 2 7 8 9 SS -1PM ALL GIRLS XMAS PARTY 14 15 16 21 22 23 2PM PARISH CHRISTMAS CAROLING 25 26 27 28 29 30 SUNDAY SCHEDULES St. Stephen: 9am Worship St. Peter: 9:45am Sunday School 11am Worship St. Matthew: 10am Adult Sunday School 11am Worship (Children s Sunday School)
St Stephens December Birthdays 3 Jean Bauserman 7 Joe Franklin Elbon Joshua Whittington 27 Andrea Doehler. December Anniveraries 14 Tracey & Ray Heishman St Matthews December Birthdays 21 Jeffrey Ellis Keene 28 Alex Turrill December Anniversaries 29 Scott & Amelia Mowery St Peters December Birthdays 15 Josie Reynolds 16 Charles Whittington December Anniveraries 16 Charles & BJ Whittington
JANUARY 2018 Newsletter Deadline January Newsletter deadline is December 22nd. Please send all articles and information to Connie Baker at bakerconnie05@gmail.com. www.northmountainlutheranparish.com North Mountain Lutheran Parish