St. John's e-News for Sunday, December 4, 2011 - 2 Advent

2012 Funding Proposal – The Vestry and Rector has submitted a proposal explaining the need for $103,500 for calendar year 2012. This is only a $2,000 increase over our projected spending for calendar year 2011. Please take a look at the letter from the Vestry and fill in your pledge card for the coming year.

Winter Quiet Day – The clergy from Convocation IV will be holding their Clericus in December at St. John’s. During this meeting the clergy will participate in a Quiet Day led by the Rev. Canon Michael Spear-Jones. The quiet day will be held Tuesday December 6 from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. Please help us observe Holy Silence on this day.

          In addition, the Rector is looking for a couple benches to place in the church yard in case the weather is cooperative and participants desire to spend time outside.

Lay Participants – We would like to thank those who volunteer to assist during worship as Altar Guild, Chalicist, Reader, Lector, and Usher. We would like to have a few more volunteers to assist on Sundays in one of these capacities. The Chalicist is the only person who requires special but simple training. We will provide an overview of the positions in coming weeks but if you have any questions about the duties see one of our current volunteers or the Rector.

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December 4, 2011, 10:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite II

Lessons for the Second Sunday of Advent
First Lesson: Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
Second Lesson: 2 Peter 3:8-15a
The Gospel: Mark 1:1-8

Lay Participants for December 4, 2011 - 10:30 am service

Chalicist:  Leone
Lector:  Fred
Prayers:  Marlene
Ushers:  Marcella and Gary
Nursery Attendant:  Khristina
Nursery Assistant:  To be determined

Refreshments:  Parish Advent Potluck

Sermon for November 27:  http://chirb.it/bNKxNC

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Our Vision – We will continue to develop our awareness regarding our denominational and our Anglican heritage striving for excellence in worship, outreach, and fellowship.

New Music – We will introduce the hymn “People, look East” (see insert) after the service during the next two weeks in preparation for its use during the service.  Please leave the insert in the pew or the Narthex.

Vestry Election – (1) we need at least one more volunteer to stand for election to the Vestry beginning next year.  (2) Elections will be held December 11^th following the service.

This Sunday’s Psalm – We will sing the portion of the Psalter in unison. We will use a metrical version of the Psalter from A New Metrical Psalter by Christopher Webber. Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 will be set to Hymn 43, All praise to thee (Eighth Tune) from the Hymnal 1982. The words and music will be found in a bulletin insert.

Christmas Eve and Day and New Years Day Services – During the Liturgy Team meeting it was decided that our Christmas Eve festivities would begin at 9:00 pm. We will have 30 minutes of Carol singing followed by the celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord beginning at 9:30 pm. We will also celebrate Holy Eucharist the following morning (Sunday) beginning at 11:00 am (note the delayed start time). Please join us for one or both the offerings on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

          We will have service the following Sunday, New Years Day at 11:00 am. On New Year’s Day we will celebrate with Christmas Lessons and Carols. There will be 8 readings and a like number of Carols. Please come and enjoy this celebration of the New Year.

Budget Year 2012 $$ Pledge Drive $$ – Thoughts about pledging: (1) your pledge, while it should be firm, is not cut in stone – you can modify your pledge based on family and financial situations; (2) your pledge includes time, talent, and treasure to help the church achieve its mission and vision; (3) every little bit helps and helps us plan for the coming program year; (4) is something that you should determine based on your prayerful consideration of the thankfulness you have for God’s gracious bounty in your life – not simply in the past year but over the span of your lifetime.

 “Women’s” Book Study - The “Women’s” Book study will be studying The Grand Weaver by Dr. Ravi Zacharias this year. The study is not limited to women alone; the Rector does participate most weeks. The next meeting will be Wednesday December 7^th from 10:00-11:30 am in the Parish Hall. We will discuss “Your Worship Matters; Questions 20, 21, 22, and 23.”

Formation Classes – This week’s class will discuss our Old Testament reading: Isaiah 40:1-11, “God’s People are Comforted”. All are invited to join us in the Parish Hall from 9:15-10:15. Next week we will cover Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, “The Good News of Deliverance.”

Coffee Hour – There is a sign-up sheet for Coffee Hour in the Narthex. Please sign-up for an upcoming Sunday. The goodies can be as extravagant or simple as you would like – you need not be a gourmet chef to volunteer, simply desire to assist the fellowship efforts at the church.

Thought for the week – Thanksgiving: If gratitude is the fullness of our humanity, and if we are made in the image and likeness of God, gratitude itself must have its origins in the heart of God. Just as our love has its source in the being of God, so must our gratitude. Our feeble thanksgiving must be but a pale reflection of something infinitely richer and more powerful in the being of God.

-Br. Mark Brown, SSJE

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Upcoming Events:
Thu. Dec. 1^st          "New Chapter: Your Church in God's Unfolding Story"
                             conference – Williamsburg VA (through Sat. Dec. 3^rd)
Sat. Dec. 3^rd         Greater Chuckatuck Historical Foundation book launching party
                             Chuckatuck Volunteer Fire Department 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Sun. Dec. 4^th         Parish Advent Potluck – following the service (Parish Hall)
                             Greater Chuckatuck Historical Foundation book launching party
                             Chuckatuck Volunteer Fire Department 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Tue. Dec. 6^th            Convocation IV Clericus Quiet Day – 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (Church
                             and Parish House)
Sat. Dec 10^th         Rug Hookers – 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (Parish Hall)
Sun. Dec. 11^th         Pledge cards due
                             Lake Prince Woods Vespers (Rector preaching) – 4:00 pm
Mon. Dec. 12^th        Vestry Meeting – 7:00 pm (Parish House)
Sun. Dec. 18^th        Blessing of the pledges
                             Greening of the Church – following service
Sat. Dec. 24^th        Christmas Carol Sing – 9:00 pm (Sanctuary)
                             Festive Eucharist – 9:30 pm (Sanctuary)
Sun. Dec. 25^th        Holy Eucharist – 11:00 am (Sanctuary)
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PASTORAL CARE
Pray for Katherine, our presiding bishop; Holly, our bishop; and Les our priest.

St. John’s shut-ins, Marianne, Meriwether, Allen, David, Shirley, Suzanne, Janis, Dominique, Virginia, Lon, Luann, David, Evan, Kevin, Peg, Faye and family, Carter and family, Foster family, Jim, Lisa, Terri and Family, Marvin, Bev, Denise, and Jaelyn.

Serving in the Armed Forces and Overseas: Bryan and Susan; Jonathon, David, and Patrick

Parish Cycle of Prayer: Margaret & Jim

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Christ Church, Eastville; Johns Memorial, Farmville; St. James', Emporia.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Rt. Rev. Michael Milliken of Western Kansas.

Anniversaries in December

Don & Marcella 17           Shannon & Dotty 20
John & Elizabeth 28          Steven & Susan 30

Birthdays in December

Marcella 2             Gary 8
Les 8                      John 14
Burr 18                  Nansi 18
Kevin 19               Will 28
Kate 29                  Susan 30
Don 30

If you are in need of Pastoral Care,

Please call Father Ferguson.
Home:  757-484-8409

Contact Music Minister Roger Peyton

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