Advent and Christmas Service Times
Lessons and Carols
December 16 at 5:00 pm
4th Sunday in Advent, December 23
Saturday, 6:00 pm Vigil
Sunday, 8:00 am and 10:00 am
Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24
4:30 pm Rite II w/Children’s Sermon
8:00 pm 1928 BCP Holy Eucharist
10:30 pm Carol-Sing
11:00 pm Rite I Midnight Mass
Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25
10:00 am 1928 BCP
First Sunday of Christmas, December 30
Saturday, 6:00 pm Vigil
Sunday, 8:00 am and 10:00 am
Teen Confirmation Class : The Teen Confirmation Class is underway! Classes will be held in Guild Parlor from 10:15-11:10 on the following dates: Jan. 6, Feb. 3, Mar. 3, Apr. 7.
Adult Formation: Letter to the Hebrews : Father Klein’s Letter to the Hebrews class will NOT meet on the following dates due to Teen Confirmation: Jan. 6, Feb. 3, Mar. 3, Apr. 7.
DHC/DOK December Gathering, Today: St. John’s Daughters of the Holy Cross and Daughters of the King will hold their December meeting Sunday, Dec. 9th, at 3:00 pm at the home of Dorothy Gregory. Program: Advent Meditation followed by a social. For more information, see Dorothy.
Lessons and Carols: The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will be presented by St. John’s Chancel Choirs, Handbell Choir, and Children’s Choir on Sunday, Dec. 16th at 5:00 pm. This beautiful service was first held at Kings College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve 1918 and has become a traditional Christmas favorite in Anglican churches around the world. Childcare will be provided. Come, “Let us look forward to the yearly remembrance of His birth with hymns and songs of praise.”
Christmas Flower Memorials: If you would like to contribute to the Christmas Flowers this year in memory or in honor of a loved one, or in thanks-giving, please fill out the form found in your bulletin and return it to the parish office by Tuesday, Dec 18.
Ryan Tour a Success!: The Ryan Place Tour was a success! We had around 800 people come through the doors with 600 of those touring the church. The AYM Tea Room grossed $3725! Thank you to Trish Williamson, Dorothy Gregory, Georgette Lopez-Aguado, Cameron and Angela Crum, and Doug White for their efforts in making this event so wonderful! We’d also like to thank all who set up, decorated, served as docents, worked the Tea Room, and provided desserts. It couldn’t have happened without all of you!
The Season of Advent: The Season of Advent is a period that reflects both a time of anticipation and penitence in our preparation for Christ’s return and His reign. The color changes from green to blue to signify the solemn change in our liturgical life. Greenery adorns the altar instead of flowers, and the alleluias are dispensed with in the Liturgy. The Advent wreath counts the weeks until Christmas. Reflecting on our lives in the light of God’s Word, we recognize the direction in which our present values and habits are leading us, and discern where those values and ways of living should be changed. We also recognize that only the grace of God can effect lasting change in us. It is God who enables us “to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light.” Advent is a time to take on added spiritual discipline to prepare our hearts to receive Christ into our lives in a deeper way. Make some extra time for Him this season. He is waiting for you.
Holiday Office Closings: The parish office will be closed for the Christmas Holidays, Mon-Wed, Dec 24-26. It will be open from 9-noon Thurs and Fri, Dec 27-28. It will be closed again Dec. 31-Jan 1.
Vestry Nominations 2019: Four vestry member terms expire at our Annual Meeting on January 27th: Jorge Lopez-Aguado, Cameron Crum, Olga Fry, and Gerald Gregory. As usual, the outgoing members form the nominating committee for recruiting their replacements. The Diocesan Customary lists basic criteria for vestry members. The nominee should —
1) be regular in attendance at Sunday and special services
2) have a faithful stewardship record of pledging
3) model the Christian life and believe in the faith
4) be actively involved in parish life
5) be hopeful about the life and direction of the parish, Diocese, and the ministry of the bishop
6) support the rector’s ministry and be willing and able to work with him
If you know of someone who may be willing to serve on the vestry, or would like to serve yourself, please speak with the committee head, Gerald Gregory, or one of the other committee members.
