Thoughts from Lori
The days are incredibly short as the darkness creeps in by 4:30 in the afternoon. It’s that time of year… in more ways than one. This now prolonged holiday season is one that brings joy and anticipation for some while bringing sadness to others. The sadness could be about the loss of a loved one or about loneliness. Or maybe it’s about the memories of Christmases past and our longing for those days. Whatever the source or sources, this can be a bleak time.
Maybe that’s what draws us out in the night for the Christmas Eve service year after year; drawn to the old hymns, to the reading of the Nativity story from Luke, to the company of others… like moths to a flame. And it is a flame in a manner of speaking. The flame of God’s love: reminding us that hope can overcome grief, peace can dispel anxiety, and love can heal despair.
Meanwhile, as we travel together through these last weeks of Advent, be good to one another and gentle with yourself. Remember that we are tiny creatures living on a blue planet spinning through space; that even this precious earth is a speck in a vast and beautiful universe created by a merciful and gracious God beyond our imagination; who even so, knows us all, knows us each, even the hairs on our heads. Yes, even yours.
May God bless you and yours through this tender season and always.
Faithfully,
Lori +
Christmas Services
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 for 2015
Special thanks to those of you who have already turned in your pledge cards! If you haven’t yet turned in a pledge card for 2015, it’s not too late. It’s never too late, but it certainly helps the vestry plan ahead when we have it by the end of the year. In case you’ve misplaced your card, extras are available in the narthex, or you can call the church office (815-385-0390) and we’ll be happy to send you a new one.
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!
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 ministriesIn 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!
GREAT ATTENDANCE AT THE DECEMBER MEN’S BREAKFAST!
Nine gentlemen from St. Paul’s attended the December 6th, 8 AM Men’s Breakfast at Kim & Patty’s Cafe, 731 Ridgeview Drive, in McHenry. After opening prayers, the group enjoyed a great breakfast and discussion about a myriad of topics. Men attending were: Jim Lukas, Bill McLemore, John Patnaude, Mike Bell, Matthew Bell, Al Robel, Dan Jannotta, Rick Carlstedt, and Bill Lang.
2015 Episcopal Men’s Pre-Lenten Retreat Friday, Feb. 6th – Saturday, Feb. 7th
Dekoven Center, 600 21st St. Racine, WI
Bishop Jeffrey Lee will lead this year’s retreat, titled True Communion-The Divine Feast. The retreat starts with a reception at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:00 p.m. Friday, and concludes at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. This is open to men from all parishes of the Chicago Diocese. Cost is $145. Reservations: Dr. Robert Schenck, rschenckmd@gmail.com, 312-371-1535. Deadline is January 30, 2015.
Coffee & Conversation for Advent
This Sunday we will start our series on The Christmas Story in Word and Art. Please join us!
Poinsettias for Christmas – It’s not too late!
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).
Servants Needed! We still need people to help at these services!
Ushers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and Intercessors are needed for upcoming special services:
Christmas Eve – Wednesday, Dec. 24th, 9:00 p.m. Christmas Day – Thursday, Dec. 25th, 10:00 a.m.Signup sheets are located in the Narthex.
On the Calendar
Vestry – Thursday, Dec. 11th, 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service – 9:00 p.m. Christmas Day service – 10:00 a.m. Men’s Breakfast – Saturday, Jan. 3rd, 8:00 a.m. Women’s Wednesday – Wednesday, Jan. 7th, 7:00 p.m. Vestry – Thursday, Jan. 15th, 7:00 p.m. Annual Parish Meeting – Jan. 25thLessons and Hymns for Sunday, December 14th (Advent III – Year B)
by the Rev. William McLemore
THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
The First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4,8-11. This has the prophet revealing the perimeters of his call and an outline of God’s saving gestures.
The Psalm: Psalm 126. The psalmist hopes for the restoration of the fortunes of God’s people. Canticle 3 (page 50 of the Prayer Book) is the song of Mary after being informed of her divine calling (Luke 1:46-55). Canticle 15 is the contemporary translation of Canticle 3.
The Epistle: I Thessalonians 5:16-24. Paul lays down some guidelines for the church at Thessalonica: rejoice, pray, offer thanks, read the prophets, abstain from evil, and “hold fast to what is good.”
The Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28. This Sunday we have the version of John the Baptist’s appearance as it is written in the so-called “Fourth Gospel.”
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. (First four verses this Sunday.)
Sequence Hymn: No. 635. “If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee.” This hymn is new to the Episcopal 1982 Hymnal (though almost four centuries old). It was written and composed by Georg Neumark (16 March 1621 – 8 July 1681), a German poet and composer of hymns. In 1640 he began law studies, but fearing the tumult of war, he took a position as tutor instead. This particular hymn was written for himself as much as anyone else as he feared war so much, “God will give thee strength whate’er betide thee, and bear thee through the evil days.”
Presentation Hymn: No. 380. “From All That Dwell Below the Skies.” This hymn is one of the compositions of Isaac Watts on Psalm 117 which he first published in his “Psalms of David,” 1719. With few alterations, it has been in the hymnal of the Episcopal Church since 1826. The tune, “Old Hundredth” by Louis Bourgeois, is the only tune which has been preserved intact throughout the entire history of metrical psalmody-a real gem of historic church music. Purists insist on singing this hymn slowly and deliberately!
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. 57. “Lo He Comes with Clouds Descending.” Charles Wesley wrote this hymn which is reminiscent of Daniel 7:13-14, “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man.” The tune, “Helmsley” is a melody composed by Thomas Augustine Arne who is most famous for producing the English anthem, “Rule Britannia!”
December 14th Servants
Usher: Bill Lang Lector: Jill Harrison Intercessor: Terry Jaworski Eucharistic Ministers: Deb Lang, Charlie Boak Vestry Person of the Day: Pam Dietmeyer101 Reasons to be an Episcopalian
Reason 68
“I love our church because we don’t think unity means uniformity.”
Barbara Cawthorne Crafton Diocese of New YorkFrom the cartoons created by the Rev. William P. McLemore
1965 – 2014
