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Be a shining star---
Be a shining star on our Church Family
Christmas Tree. This year we would
like each family in our community to be
represented by a star on our Christmas
tree. On Sundays in December the altar
guild will have silver stars and paint pens available in
the entrance of the church after each service. We
would like each family to write their name and a brief
message or prayer on a star that will be used to
decorate our "Family Tree".
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Dear Friend,
This Sunday we enter the second week of Advent. The
hymns and scriptures are filled with themes of
preparation and getting ready. They speak to us of
sacred journeys. We'll sing, "prepare the way, O Zion,
your Christ is drawing near!" We will hear John the
Baptist crying out in the wilderness, "prepare the way of the
Lord, make his paths straight."
The prophet Baruch uses
powerful imagery to
describe Israel's return from exile, walking safely in
the glory of God. These texts come to us
as we are on a journey toward the feast of the
Incarnation when we will celebrate the first coming of
Jesus Christ. While we will hear the familiar call to
prepare, to make ready for the Christ, to clear the way,
what does it mean for us, today?
This morning I put the electric candles in
all
the windows of the rectory. My daughter, Bella, and I
have begun to work on a gift that we plan to give to her
teachers and friends. As a family we
have gone over the calendar for the month including
all the parties, tree decorating, baking,
visiting, and all the usual meetings, practices
and work commitments. Is this what it means to
prepare? Does this help us to get ready? Yes and
no.
It may help us to celebrate Christmas
more
intentionally and stay organized. Yet preparing for
Christ is more about making ourselves available and
aware of Christ's presence and God's love for us as
we move through our ordinary, busy lives. This kind of
preparation means we let go of some
items on our "to do" list. We may replace some of our
usual obligations with time or service that
leads us to see Christ more clearly or with new
awareness. Our preparation might be more fruitful if
we add more quiet time for reflection, prayer and rest
into our schedules. Preparing for Christ may involve
giving more generously of our time and money in
service to those who are in greatest need. Whatever it
means to each of us, it requires us to take seriously
our relationship with God and making this a priority.
As a community we are inviting you to join
us in this journey and preparation, whether you wish
to experience greater quiet and contemplation or
increased giving and service. Please review the many
offerings this month for both prayer and action. I look
forward to seeing you on Sunday as we celebrate and
prepare together.
Jennifer
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| This Sunday |
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Second Sunday of Advent
December 6, 2009
Holy Eucharist, 8 & 10:30 a.m.
Sermon: The Reverend Jennifer L. Pedrick
Christian Education, 9:15 a.m.
Godly Play-PreK-5: Advent 1 & 2
Adult Forum- The Health Care Debate: Is there
a Christian
response?
Bible Study- Paul's letter to Titus
Pageant Rehearsal, 11:30 a.m.
Scripture readings:
Baruch 5:1-9
Canticle 16
Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6
Read these
lessons
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| Adult Forum: Hot Topics! |
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Hot Topics: They're back! And they're hotter than ever.
December 6 (this Sunday)- The Health Care
Debate:
Is there a Christian response?
13-
Suffering. Why do bad things happen to
good people? Why is there evil in the world?
20- "My
prayer wasn't answered." What is prayer and does it
work?
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| Not By Bread Alone |
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Join us for a bread baking retreat, tomorrow Saturday,
December 5, from 9 - Noon in the church kitchen. We
will bake bread for the Eucharist as well as share a
time of prayer and fellowship. This is an opportunity to
learn to bake bread. All ages, genders and baking
abilities are most welcome.
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| Advent Retreat Day |
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A time of rest, prayer and preparation---
Give yourself the gift of time, in the midst of this busy
season. Join us, Saturday, December 12 as we
prepare spiritually for the coming of Christ.
We will gather at 9 a.m. and be on the
road by 2 p.m. Please bring a bag lunch. Drinks will
be provided. You may also wish to bring a book,
journal, craft-work, or other creative work. Jennifer and
Tim will offer several meditations through the day, and
you will have plenty of quiet time for your own prayer
and reflection. Sign up on the table in the entrance or
call the office to let us know you will join us.
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| Advent Lessons & Carols |
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Join us Sunday, December 13 at 7 p.m. for Advent
Lessons & Carols. On this evening, people will come
together to hear the story, in scripture and in song,
leading up to the birth of Christ. There will be readers
from various groups in the Church, the choir will sing
several anthems and the congregation will sing
hymns of the Advent season. Truly, this is one event
you will not want to miss.
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| Outreach Opportunities |
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- Adopt- A- Family - It's that time of year
again to give
to others. The Christmas Tree,decorated with
ornament gift tags, has been set up in the parish hall.
Pick a tag, purchase that gift,wrap and label it, & place
the gift under the tree by December 13. These gifts will
then be given to those families in need from our local
community. Please contact Maurice Holmes 401-433-
3192 mholmesjr@aol.com with questions.
- 4th Annual Cookie Swap (Please note date
change)- Tins &
containers are being collected now, & we are asking
for all bakers out there to bring in their goodies on
December 20. We will assemble the cookie
bags
during the Sunday school hour. All ages are welcome
to participate in helping with this fun activity. These
homemade treats are then distributed to the Bread of
Life Food Pantry and are very much appreciated.
Contact Diane Madsen 401-435-4887 or
dmadsen1@verizon.net with any questions.
- Grace Church Meal Site- Our next trip is on
Saturday, December 19. We will meet at church at
2:15 p.m. & drive together into Providence to help out
at this soup kitchen. Signup sheets will be in the
entrance of the church. Please contact Brett
Brumbaugh at bbrumbaugh4@cox.net with any
questions.
- Bread of Life Food Pantry- This ongoing
food collection is very important in assisting our
hungry neighbors. Please continue to bring in your
generous food donations every month to help keep
the pantries full. For the month of December the Bread
of Life Steering Committee is requesting these
specific donations:
- December 6 boxed mashed potatoes
- December 20 cold cereal
- December 13 gravy
- December 27 oatmeal
- Hats and Mittens Tree - We will once
again collect hats, mittens, and undergarments to
share with the needy. Please feel free to bring these
items in after December 13 & hang them on our
Christmas tree. These items will be collected until
Epiphany, January 6. Please contact Charlene
Underhill, 401-438-6347 or eric.underhill@gmail.com,
with any questions.
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| Next Sunday |
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Third Sunday of Advent
December 13, 2009
Holy Eucharist, 8 & 10:30 a.m.
Sermon: The Reverend Timothy H. Burger
Christian Education at 9:15 a.m.
Godly Play-PreK-5: Advent 1 & 2
Adult Forum- Suffering. Why do bad things
happen to good
people? Why is there evil in the world?
Bible Study- Paul's letter to Titus
Pageant Rehearsal, 11:30 a.m.
Advent Lessons & Carols, 7 p.m.
Scripture readings:
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Canticle 9
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:7-18
Read these
lessons
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