St. John's e-News for Sunday, December 18, 2011 - 4 Advent

Greening the Church – We will begin our Christmas Greening on Friday Dec. 16 at 10:00 when Ann and John Dickinson will assist members in assembling the Fruit Board for the front door of the church. We need people to come and learn how to assemble the board so we can continue this tradition into the future without Ann and John’s assistance. The Sanctuary will be greened immediately following the service this Sunday. Everyone is welcome to help and lunch will be provided.           If you have any greens, especially Holly with red berries, to help beautify the church please bring them by. For more information please contact Lynn Rose.

Christmas Eve Services – 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.

Parish House Carpet – The Vestry has identified two patterns of carpet to choose from to replace the carpet in the Parish House. The decision between the two options needs to be made this coming Sunday so we can finally move ahead with Cherry Carpet’s installation of the new carpet. If you want to help select between the two proposals stop by the Parish Hall before or after the service to choose between the two samples.
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December 18, 2011, 10:30 am Healing Litany and Holy Eucharist Rite II
Lessons for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
First Lesson: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
Second Lesson: Romans 16:25-27
The Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

Lay Participants for December 18, 2011 - 10:30 am service

Chalicist:  Leone Vigil
Lector:  Bernice Rogers
Prayers:  Terry Jones-Brady
Ushers:  Gary Davidson and Marcella Wittenauer
Nursery Attendant:  Taylor Elliot
Nursery Assistant:  Laura Smith

Refreshments:  Marcella Wittenauer and the Parish Family

Sermon for December 11: http://chirb.it/Ih6CME

Sermon for December 11 at Lake Prince Woods: http://chirb.it/xrqyHw
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Lay Participants – We would like to thank those who volunteer to assist during worship as Nursery Assistant, 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.

Christmas Carol Sing – We will have a carol sing for 30 minutes on Christmas Eve before the service. If you have a favorite carol you would like to sing, let Roger or the Rector know.

Vestry Election – Congratulations to Mr. Joe Fisher and Mr. Fred Stanton who were elected by acclamation to the Vestry on December 11 by the congregation. They will fill the slots vacated by Mr. Jim Tankovich and Mr. David Gardner at the end of 2011.

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. We will sing Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 in unison. The Psalm will be set to Hymn 193 “That Easter day with joy was bright” (Puer Nobis) from the Hymnal 1982. The words and music will be found in a bulletin insert.

Christmas Day and New Years Day Services – We will have worship services on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The service will be delayed 30 minutes until 11:00 am. On New Year’s Day there will be no Nursery Care but we WILL be observing Christmas Lessons and Carols so the children are more than welcome to join us in the Sanctuary. Please join us for one or both the offerings on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Budget Year 2012 $$ Pledge Drive $$ – The Vestry would like to thank all who have made pledges to the church of their time, talent, and treasure. To date we have received 25 pledges (3 more than last year) amounting to just over $69,000. We rejoice in the sacrificial giving this demonstrates and the commitment to the God’s work through the ministry of St. John’s this will facilitate.

          If you have not turned in your pledge we welcome your pledge at any time. You can expect to receive a more detailed financial statement at the Annual meeting in mid-January.

“Women’s” Book Study - Our next book study will be on the book Made for Goodness: And Why This Makes All the Difference by The Most Rev. Desmond Tutu and The Rev. Mpho Tutu. If you would like to participate or have a copy of the book please contact Margaret Tankovich.

Formation Classes – This week’s class will discuss our Old Testament reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, “God’s Covenant with David.” All are invited to join us in the Parish Hall from 9:15-10:15. We will take a break from formation classes until January 8.

Coats for the Needy – St. James of Portsmouth distributes coats for the needy on the 1^st Saturday in December, January, and February.  For more information contact the Rector.

Thought for the week – Welcome: God comes to us in those seeking our help. We sometimes welcome God in the perfect stranger, and sometimes in someone we know well, a family member or friend. When we open our hands this way to others we discover our own need as well. In doing so all are satisfied.

-Br. Eldridge Pendleton, SSJE

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Upcoming Events:
Fri. Dec. 16^th         Assembling the “Fruit Board” for the Greening of the Church
                             10:00 am (Addition and HOT item)
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)
Sun. Jan. 1^st           Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols – 11:00 am (Sanctuary)
Mon. Jan. 9^th          Vestry Meeting – 7:00 pm (Parish Hall)
Sun. Jan 15^th          Annual Meeting – following service
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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: Shawn & Lizzie
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Emmanuel of Glenmore; The Rev. Jess Stribling, Jr.; The Rev. Theodore H. Bailey, III; Trinity of Gretna.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Rt. Rev. John Smylie Diocese of Wyoming.

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             Jim 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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