Advent & Christmas at St. Gabriel the Archangel

DECEMBER 2014 Advent & Christmas at St. Gabriel the Archangel INCLUDED HERE: Worship Opportunities Outreach Invitations Children, Youth and Family Music Notes And more! BELOVED IN CHRIST! BELOVED IN CHRIST, be it this Christmas Eve our care and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the angels; in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger. INSIDE: HOLIDAY OUTREACH 2 HANGING OF THE CHRISMONS ADVENT WREATH MAKING ST. NICHOLAS VISIT 3 CHRISTMAS MARKETPLACE BAKE SALE 4 DOK ADVENT QUIET MORNING HANGING OF THE GREENS HOLIDAY PHOTO OPPORTUNITY MUSIC & WORSHIP SERVICES 2 2 3 4 4 5 5-6 Let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought us by this Holy Child; and let us make this Chapel, dedicated to Mary, his most blessed Mother, glad with our carols of praise: But first let us pray for the needs of his whole world; for peace and goodwill over all the earth; for unity and brotherhood within the Church he came to build ith these words the bidding prayer from the traditional Christmas Eve W service of nine lessons and carols summons the faithful to an evening of prayer and praise. Advent allows us to prepare ourselves for the Lord s coming. For his coming in humility, as a baby lying in his mother s embrace, and for his coming again, in glory, to bring to fulfillment God s purposes for the cosmos. In these pages you will find a witness to the passion with which we at Saint Gabriel undertake to prepare our hearts for Christ s nativity. You are invited to the observation of a blessed Advent and a most holy Christmastide. Do so within your community of friends here at Saint Gabriel the Archangel! CALENDAR 7

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS DAVE DOTY CHRISTMAS MINISTRIES ur Dave Doty Christmas O Ministries will be underway shortly! As in the past there will be two choices for anyone who would like to support local families/seniors this Christmas. If you wish to adopt a specific family or senior you may do so by contacting Megan Crowley at Interfaith Community Services (303-789-0501) or by email Megan at enrichment@ifcs.org. The second option involves our very successful partnership with Mile High Ministries. We look forward to continuing to support their Christmas Store event in Denver. All monetary contributions go directly toward purchasing children's gifts at huge discounts so parents can then shop at the Christmas Store with their own money. Informational cards for Christmas Store contributions will be in the pews on two Sundays, November 23rd and 30th. A $50 contribution will buy one child's toys. In addition ten volunteer positions will be available to St. Gabriel parishioners, ages 15 and older, interested in working at their downtown Denver location on Saturday, December 6th from 7:30 am - 2:30 pm. A sign-up sheet will be posted on the outreach bulletin board in the parish hall. Contact Joan Kuntz (303-721-8142) or email Joan at jekuntz@gmail.com if you have any questions. Thank you for your support! PAGE 2 HANGING OF THE CHRISMONS ~ NOVEMBER 30 ach family has its own tradition for decorating a tree in E the home. At St. Gabriel, our tradition is to decorate our tree with Chrismons, or Christ Monograms. Each Chrismon represents a symbol of our Christian faith. On November 30, children will hang the Old Testament Chrismons on the tree; then, on Christmas Eve, parishioners will add Chrismons from the New Testament. Take a moment to look at the descriptions of the Chrismons found on the back of each A Chrismon (Christ Monogram) is one of a number of Christian symbols... ornament. St. Gabriel s Chrismons were the gift of a group of needleworkers from the church many years ago. ADVENT WREATH MAKING ~ NOVEMBER 30 n November 30 the O Parish Hall will be filled with the scent of fresh greens as we gather to make Advent wreaths for our homes. The Advent wreath is a symbolic way of preparing for Christ s coming among us. The circle reminds us of God s eternity and the everlasting life found in Christ, while evergreens symbolize continuous life. There is one candle for each week of Advent: three candles that are purple, reminding us that this is a season of prayer and penitence; and one rosecolored candle reminding us that even in the midst of preparing ourselves, we need to stop and rejoice. The Anglican church often uses the color blue in lieu of purple, as blue is a color of hope and expresses the hopefulness we experience in the Nativity. Advent wreaths are typically lit after the blessing of food, the candlelight reminding us of Christ, the Light of the World.

SPECIAL ISSUE PAGE 3 Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, Visits St. Gabriel the Archangel, December 7 or the past several years, F Saint Nicholas has honored our congregation with a visit on or about St. Nicholas Day (December 6). With a rap on the western door, he appears, inviting children to come forward to hear his story. The following portrayal of the saint was taken from The Story of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra. (Godly Play vol. 7) St. Nicholas was the bishop of Myra, now in southern Turkey. His mother and father died when he was only a child. As a boy, Nicholas always wanted to give a present to the Christ Child, but the Christ Child lived long before Nicholas was born. Still he wondered if the Christ Child was living in every child. Nicholas became a priest. People knew he was a holy person and made him their bishop. Nicholas was also shy. When he began to give gifts to children on Christmas Eve, he did it in secret so no one would know, leaving the delight of the gift to be enjoyed in the morning. When Nicholas died, something amazing happened the gifts people found in their homes continued to appear. When the Emperor of Russia heard this story, he decided to make Nicholas the patron saint of Russia. The story traveled westward to Finland, and Sweden, and Norway where the reindeer lived. Next the story traveled to Holland, and when the Dutch people came to America, they brought the story with them. Presents began to appear here too, and they still do to this day. And this all began with the gifts of the poor bishop of Myra for the children of his town, because he saw the Christ child in every child. Bishop Nicholas died about 343 and was buried in Myra. In 1087 his body was moved to Bari on the East Coast of Italy by Italian sailors. He is sometimes known as St. Nicholas of Bari. CHRISTMAS MARKETPLACE ~ DECEMBER 7 & 14 DURING COFFEE n November 23 families came O together to prepare items for St. Gabriel s fourth annual Christmas Marketplace. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and work, and a chance to use our gifts of time and skill in the service of others. It was also a reminder that using our hands to craft items helps us slow down and impart love and care into the objects we are making. As in past years, we have tried hard to create items that are useful and beautiful with minimal environmental impact. All proceeds from the marketplace will benefit a charitable organization selected by the children and youth. This year we are considering the purchase of animals from Heifer International and projects sponsored by Episcopal Relief and Development.

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS PAGE 4 Bake Sale, December 14 arishioners are invited to P bake items for St. Gabriel s annual celebration of sweet treats. Bring your favorite baked good to sell on the 14 th and be sure to buy someone else s homemade specialty for your home! This year bake sale proceeds will once again supplement Christmas Marketplace earnings, allowing us to make an even more substantial gift. Baked goods may be dropped off 3-5:00 pm on Saturday the 13 th or on Sunday morning. DAUGHTERS OF THE KING ADVENT QUIET MORNING ~ DECEMBER 13 T he St. Gabriel chapter of the Daughters of the King will be attending the Quiet Day at St. Timothy s on Saturday, December 13. The Reverend Sandy Blake will be the presenter at the Quiet Day. She will be asking us the question: What we are yearning for? We are asked to bring an Advent or Christmas item that holds a special place in our heart. A Quiet Day is the perfect way to still our busy lives for a brief moment and begin preparing for the coming of the Christ Child. For more information on the Quiet Day, please contact Lindsay Leaman at lindsayleaman@comcast.net. HANGING OF THE GREENS AT THE CHURCH ~ DECEMBER 14 very Christmas, members of the E Vestry and good-hearted volunteers come together to hang the greens in the Nave, thereby helping prepare the space for Christmas joy and celebration. This year we will decorate the church on December 14 following the 10:15 am service. Many traditions involving greenery originated in Druid, Celt, Norse, and Roman civilizations, which celebrated the winter solstice around December 21. Because the color green represented eternal life, plants that remained green throughout the year played an important role in these celebrations.

SPECIAL ISSUE Holiday Photograph Opportunity ~ December 7 fter the 10 am service, on A Sunday, December 7 we will have group photographs taken of our acolytes, choir, staff and clergy. We are also inviting families in our parish to this picture taking. This will be of no cost to you. Erin Costello, a professional photographer who took pictures of our church artwork, will be taking our group photographs. She will set up and take our photos in front of the altar. After we have taken the church groups' pictures, Erin will take family or individual portraits. Erin plans to be here from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. You can sign up for a picture time in the parish hall. Wear your Christmas best for this picture taking! Thank you to parishioner Armi Earlam for making this opportunity possible. PAGE 5 A CHILDREN S LITURGY FOR CHRISTMAS EVE ~ DECEMBER 24, 4:00 PM I n the season of Advent, we are all on the way to Bethlehem, making the timeless journey to witness the Incarnation. On Christmas Eve, we are ready and waiting. During the family service at St. Gabriel, the children help us make the final steps of our journey. As Fr. Chris tells the story of the Nativity, children bring forth the Holy Family, a shepherd and his sheep, and the three Wise Men, gradually building a crèche before the altar. Together we sing well-known Christmas hymns and all children present are invited forward to place a golden star on the scene just laid. It is a time of expectation and celebration. Please join us! CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE ~ DECEMBER 24, 8:00 PM arols originated in Europe C thousands of years ago. Carol means to dance and there are carols for every season of the year, however, carols are most often associated with celebrating Christmas. (A few years ago we at St. Gabriel had a Lessons and Carols service of Easter hymns the first Sunday after Easter.) In 129AD there was an Angels Hymn being sung in Rome and carols sprung up all over Christendom but were sung in Latin. By the Middle Ages (the 1200s) they lost their popularity. St. Francis revived carol singing with his Nativity Plays. Some of the songs were in Latin but many of the choruses were in the native vernacular which increased their popularity. Interestingly, carols were often sung as entertainment and were not used in church. In England carols were pretty much in disuse with the ascension of Oliver Cromwell until the Victorian era when there was an explosion of carol composing and singing. Carols rightly found their way into formal worship with the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols made most popular with the annual service of King s College. This year s 8:00 Christmas Eve service is strongly modeled on the King s College service of Lessons and Carols and we invite you into this sacred celebration of music and word to retell the miraculous birth of Jesus the Christ. ~ Fritz Anders

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS PAGE 6 CHRISTMAS EVE MIDNIGHT SERVICE ~ DECEMBER 24, 11:00 PM hristians the world C over celebrate late services on the eve of Christian festivals. St. Gabriel returns again to the 11:00 pm hour with a quiet, candlelight service of sacred music featuring the Hodie Christus natus est and the O magnum mysterium. The shape of this liturgy will include the traditional elements of scripture, proclamation of the Good News, prayer, hymnody, and communion. Added will be candlelight and incense. CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE ~ DECEMBER 25, 10:00 AM Our organist Fritz Anders will present a very special Christmas Organ Concert Joyeux Noël Hodie Christus natus est Today! Today! Christ is born, Noel! The Savior has appeared, Alleluia! On earth the angels sing. The archangels rejoice. Noel, noel, noel. Just people exult, saying, Glory to God in the highest! Alleluia, Noel! O magnum mysterium What a great mystery and wonderful sacrament, Which the animals could see, laid in a cradle, The traditional midnight service is set aside for quiet communion and contemplation. very year we offer a Christmas E Day service, and for many who seek a quiet, peaceful setting in which to celebrate a traditional Holy Communion, this time meets this desire. A wonderful collection of Christmas music celebrating the birth of Christ. 9:30 am on December 25, 2014 (Thirty minutes prior to the Christmas Feast Day Celebration of Holy Eucharist) On Thursday morning on the 25 th, we will come together in a Rite One setting, singing traditional Christmas carols accompanied by a homily, readings and concluding with Eucharist. All services on Christmas Eve and Day are opportunities for us to remember the Word made flesh and reflect on God s love in sending His Son to unite his divinity with our humanity. Soli Deo Gloria!

SPECIAL ISSUE PAGE 7 A NOTE ON DONATING TOWARD OUR CHRISTMAS FLORALS & GREENERY f you would like to donate toward decorating the I church for Christmas, there is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall. Your contribution of $30.00 will go toward poinsettias and greens for the nave and sanctuary. Please note Christmas flowers/greens in the memo line on your check payable to St. Gabriel. December 2014-Special Offerings Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 30 First Sunday of Advent Advent Wreath making 7 Second Sunday of Advent Visit by St. Nicholas Marketplace 14 Third Sunday of Advent/Hanging of the Greens/ Marketplace 1 2 3 4 5 6 Christmas Store (outreach) Mile High Ministries/ Advent Men s Day @ St. Anne s 8 9 10 11 12 13 Daughters of the King Advent Quiet Morning at St. Timothy s 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Fourth Sunday of Advent 22 Saint Thomas the Apostle Christmas Service for the home-bound 23 24 Vigil of the Nativity 4 pm Family 8 and 11 pm HC 25 9:30 am Joyeux Noël The Nativity of Our Lord Christmas Day 10 am Eucharist 26 Saint Stephen Deacon & Martyr 27 Saint John Apostle & Evangelist 28 The Holy Innocents One service at 9:00 am 29 30 31

Proclaiming God's Grace and Life-Changing Love! MISSION The Mission of St. Gabriel the Archangel Episcopal Church is to proclaim and celebrate the Good News of God's grace and life-changing love for all. VISION The Vision of St. Gabriel the Archangel Episcopal Church is to be an increasingly vibrant and loving Christian community, constantly seeking to fulfill its God-given mission, and expanding its capacity to serve its people, neighborhood and the world through the utilization of its many strengths, including: Worship Worshipping in the classical Anglican tradition with biblical and Christ-centered liturgy and music Children, Youth and Family Nurturing children, youth and families Servanthood Serving through outreach programs in our neighborhoods and beyond Discipleship Building relationships within the parish through mutual support, care and encouragement 6190 East Quincy Avenue Cherry Hills Village, Colorado 80111 Phone: 303. 771. 1063