Thoughts from Lori+
My aunt died last week. Most of you have heard this already, but bear with me. She was the last of my father’s siblings; a truly great Southern lady in the very best sense of the word. I will never forget the words of her son, my cousin, when he said in his eulogy, “All the women want to be like her, and all the men wanted her to be proud of them.” What a legacy! That, and this vast and wonderful family. Her funeral was more a reunion than anything else, and she would have loved that. She was 93 and had lived a full and fruitful life, so we did not mourn her death as much as we grieved our loss of her.
Her death has, as death tends to do, made me mindful of the reminder we all hear on Ash Wednesday: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” For me, this isn’t a fearful thought; not that I’m ready to die, you understand! But because it puts so many things in perspective. Like Christmas.
How many of us are frantic right about now? There’s some big event we don’t feel ready for, or all the gifts aren’t purchased or mailed yet. The house isn’t all clean and shiny. (Not to mention those who are lonely or depressed or grieving.) I understand how important those things can be to our idea of the perfect Christmas. But I’m here to remind you (and myself) that the most important things about Christmas are the people: your family, your friends, your fellow parishioners, and YOUR SELF. And, of course, let us all remember “the reason for the season,” as the saying goes. This is all about the birth of Jesus and about the people in our lives.
So take a deep breath… and remember what is truly important. And then, I hope to see you in church!
Peace and blessings,
Lori +
Christmas Eve – Feast of the Nativity
Festival Eucharist at 9:00 p.m.
Christmas Day – Feast of the Incarnation
Holy Eucharist at 10:00 a.m.
(no music)
PLEDGES AND YEAR-END GIVING
If you have not yet turned in your pledge card, please do so as soon as possible. If you’ve mislaid it, there are extras in the tract rack in the narthex, or we’ll be glad to mail one to you. If you’ve never pledged, try it. It will be good for your spiritual life. Guaranteed.
And remember that any year-end gifts must be received at the church by December 31st if you intend to claim them as charitable deductions on this year’s taxes.
Opportunities for Special Christmas Giving
There are many organizations that are providing much needed and very effective ministries directly to the people who need it the most. Here are a few recommendations for your Christmas giving:
Thistle Farms – an industry that provides jobs and training to women from Magdalene House, which is a ministry to help women escape from prostitution and sex trafficking. Thistle Farm products such as lotions, soaps, candles, essential oils (and much more) are natural and of the highest quality. www.thistlefarms.org
Episcopal Relief and Development – an agency of The Episcopal Church which provides a wide range of assistance and relief for people here and around the world. Their online catalog is full of ideas. So much better than another pair of gloves! www.episcopalrelief.org
Heifer International – also providing life-changing to people through programs that provide farm animals to families in developing parts of the world. Give a goat or a flock of chickens to your adult children. They won’t even have to clean up after them! www.heifer.org
Look for “Fair Trade” products. If you can’t find a local Fair Trade shop (there is one in Lake Geneva, but probably one closer, too), you can find out more at www.fairtradefederation.org
These and similar gift-giving will bless those who provide them, those who receive them, and you!
Christmas Open House at “The Rectory” (aka the home of Lori and Bill)
January 4th from 4 to 6 in the afternoon.
5116 W. Malibu Court, McHenry
Call or email for directions: 815-322-2972 / wmclemore37@gmail.com
Coffee & Conversation for Advent
Come for the fellowship and refreshments. Join us as we continue our series on The Christmas Story in Word and Art.
Poinsettias for Christmas – Last chance!
Please take part in the beautification of the church for Christmas by donating $25 (each) for Poinsettias. Your donation may be given “in memory of” or “in thanksgiving for” someone in your life, or simply for this parish. A sign-up sheet is available in the narthex.
New Mothers Baskets
Goodies are coming in!
Our Advent outreach project will be in the form of filling “Moses baskets” with items needed for new mothers who are without extended resources for all those many baby products that most of us took for granted. Can we fill FOUR of these! We will have them in the narthex all four Sundays in Advent, after which we will ask the Diaper Bank to distribute them to participants in their New Mothers program. In addition to the list below, we would love to include a handmade (knitted, crocheted, or otherwise) blanket in each basket. Here is the list of items needed:
Onesies
Burp cloths
Changing pads
Receiving blankets
Soft toys for newborns
Baby bottles for water, juice, formula
Wet wipes
Baby lotion
Diaper rash ointment
Etc., etc.!
The Angel Tree
It’s time for what has now become our “traditional” Angel Tree. The tree will be set up in the narthex, and we’ll decorate it with the angels that you have contributed. If you have not added yours to the tree yet, it’s never too late. If you’ve never brought one, or if you’d like to add another, angels of all sorts and sizes are welcome. Bring them with you to church or drop them off at the church office (Tuesdays through Fridays, 9am to 1pm).
Nominations for Vestry
The Nominating Committee, which is made up of those members of the vestry who are rotating off this year, will meet soon to discuss nominations for the 2015-2018 class of vestry members. Those on the committee are: Al Robel, Bob Backer, and Deb Lang. Canonical requirements for service on the vestry include the following:
Age 18 or over
Member of St. Paul’s “in good standing,” which means regular in worship and support of the church
Having made and maintained a financial commitment (pledge) to the church for the year prior to election
Support of The Episcopal Church and its mission and ministries
In addition, vestry members should have the following qualities:
A love of God and for this parish rooted in prayer
A positive spirit
Love for the traditions of the church while also being open to the future
A heart for outreach as well as maintaining the church
The ability to work well in a group
A willingness to compromise and to make decisions by consensus whenever possible
The ability to laugh at just about everything!
If you feel called to this ministry, or if you have someone in mind who you would like to nominate, please contact any member of the committee. Meanwhile, pray for your vestry and for this parish – always!
Men’s Breakfast – Sat., Jan. 3rd, 8:00 a.m.
Women’s Wednesday – Wed., Jan. 7th, 7:00 p.m.
Vestry – Thurs., Jan. 15th, 7:00 p.m.
Annual Parish Meeting – Jan. 25th
Lessons and Hymns for Sunday, December 21st
(Advent IV – Year B)
by the Rev. William McLemore
THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
The First Reading: II Samuel 7:1-11, 16. God promises David that there will be a place for God’s people in a new land and that he will serve as king over all.
The Psalm: Psalm 89:1-419-26. “I have found David my servant.” Canticle 3 and Canticle 15, the tradition and contemporary version of the “Magnificat” or “Song of Mary.”
The Epistle: Romans 16:25-27. The mystery of salvation has been kept secret for long ages, but is now disclosed.
The Gospel: Luke 1:26-38. An angel of the Lord announces to Mary that she will conceive a son and name him “Jesus.”
THE HYMNS:
Processional Hymn: No. 56. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” This hymn is based on the seven great Antiphons which were said on successive days before and after Vespers between December 17th and the 23rd inclusive (mostly among Eastern Christians). Each of the Antiphons salutes the coming Messiah under one of the many titles ascribed to him in Holy Scripture, and closes with a petition based upon the salutation. The tune is reputed to be from a French missal and the refrain is almost identical with the opening phrases. The seven titles in this text are: Emmanuel; Wisdom from on High; Lord of Might; Branch of Jesse: Key of David; Dayspring; and Desire of Nations. (The last four verses)
Sequence Hymn: No. 66. “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.” One of many hymns by Charles Wesley, this was Hymn No. 1 in the 1940 Hymnal. The text beautifully describes the basic theology of Advent-the coming of Jesus, human hope, deliverance, and the enthronement of Jesus Christ as King. The tune, “Stuttgart,” is in the 87 87 meter and attributed to Christian Friedrich Witt (1660-1716) a well-known German composer.
Presentation Hymn: No. 54. “Savior of the Nations Come.” As attested by Augustine in 372, as well as by other early writers, Ambrose wrote this hymn in Latin in the fourth century. Martin Luther (1483-1546) translated this text into German in 1523. Consequently “Savior of the Nations” has become possibly the best known of the Lutheran Advent hymns. The tune, “Nun Komm Der Heiland” is a chorale derived from a chant and is among the simplest of the Lutheran repertoire.
Communion Hymn: No. 831 (Wonder, Love, and Praise). “Ubi Caritas.” This will be the communion hymn for the Sundays in Advent. (Pending reproduction permission.)
Recessional Hymn: No. 437. “Tell Out My Soul” is a hymn paraphrasing the “Magnificat” written by Tim Dudley-Smith in 1962. The words also form a spirited plea for evangelism, “Tell out my soul, the greatness of his Name! Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done; his mercy sure, from age to age the same; his holy Name-the Lord the Mighty One.” The tune, “Birmingham,” is from Francis Cunningham’s Selection of Psalm Tunes (1834).
December 21st Servants
Ushers: Donald Jaworski, Rick Carlstedt
Lector: Judy Robel
Intercessor: Ann Byers
Eucharistic Ministers: Deb Lang, Pam Dietmeyer
Vestry Person of the Day: Bev Jannotta
101 Reasons to be an Episcopalian
Reason 101
“Out of habit Episcopalians don’t change anything easily, so they can form ironclad habits. They never stop to compare what others believe or do, but settle comfortably into the habit of being Episcopalian. The thing is that such a habit, followed year after year, immerses us in the biblical language of the Book of Common Prayer and in the story of Jesus–to say nothing of making a life-giving habit of the weekly Eucharist. Such habits make life pretty special.”
Loren B. Mead, Diocese of Washington
From the cartoons created by the Rev. William P. McLemore
1965 – 2014
