December 13, 2012



  
There will be two services this coming Sunday, December 16th,  the 3rd Sunday of Advent, one at 8 and one at 10, each with coffee hour following. Childcare will be available during the 10:00 service. We hope you will join us for worship.

Celebrating the life of Roy Grace: Roy (son of Judy and Larry, husband of Kim Seamans-Grace, dad of Ezra and Asa), died suddenly last Saturday of a pulmonary embolism. His service will be this coming Saturday, December 15, at 2 PM. If you are able, please bring a contribution to the reception table.

Heads Up for the Sunday before Christmas!!! There will be no 8:00 service on December 23rd. Instead, we invite the whole parish to worship and celebrate together at 10:00 for a liturgy that includes the “Greening of the Church.” It’s been a few years since we did the decorating liturgically, rather than informally in the evening. It makes for an engaging and joyful liturgy with broad participation as the garlands get processed, the pew greens get distributed by the children at the Peace, all are invited to bring a poinsettia forward at the offertory, and during the post communion hymn we watch as the blue vestments of Advent miraculously give way to the white and gold of Christmas. And for anyone who has to be away from Saint Andrew’s for Christmas, this will give you a chance to “bring in Christmas” here before you leave us.

Christmas flower envelopes are now in the pews. We welcome contributions made in memory of, in honor of, or in thanksgiving for. Please get the information to Debra in the office by this coming Wednesday, the 19th, since all the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day bulletins need to be completed by Friday the 20th!!! Your contributions support the purchase of poinsettias and laurel roping.

Enliven your week with the Sandwich Singers' annual concert of wonderful Christmas music. This year Saint Andrew's is very well represented by Gabriele Wallace, Carolyn Boldt, Heidi Frantz-Dale, Stephen Hird, Duane Dale, Chris Boldt ... and former St. Andrew-ites Will Cabell and Courtenay Moore.
this Sunday at 7:30 at the Methodist Meeting House in Sandwich and Wednesday at 7:30 at the Tamworth Villiage Congregational Church.

 
GIVE A GIFT IN SOMEONE’S NAME. 
Donate to one of St. Andrew’s Funds:

Rector’s Discretionary Fund
Dinner Bell
Special Gifts for Operating Budget
Building Fund

…on behalf of someone else.  They will receive a note from St. Andrew’s about their gift from you.  Envelopes can be found on the table in the Parish Hall or drop a note in the mail to Debra in the office.  Please designate the fund and in whose name the gift is given.


Investiture Update
The Investiture of the Right Reverend A. Robert Hirschfeld as the Tenth Bishop of New Hampshire will take place at 11 AM on Saturday, January 5th, 2013 at Saint Paul’s Church, 21 Centre Street, Concord NH.

Following the Investiture there will be a reception for all, with light refreshments, in the undercroft of St Paul’s Church.

The Diocesan Election and Transition Committee invites you to join us for this significant moment in the life of our diocese as we welcome Bishop Rob as bishop of our diocese and celebrate the beginning of the next chapter in our life together.  No ticket or advance notice is required for either the Investiture or the reception.

If you would like to write to Fred Jones, his address is:
MGH Respiratory Acute Care
Bigelow 9, Room 906
55 Fruit St
Boston, MA 02114
Cards and notes are most welcome.

 Last Sunday’s Godly Play sermon: Prepare the way of the Lord!!!
We pondered what John the Baptist’s life was like living in the desert wilderness with only God as a companion.

 
  When word got out about John, people wanted to find out what he had discovered from all his time in the desert with God. They went looking for someone who was so connected to God that he might point them in the right direction, so they came by droves from their towns and cities.





John said, “Prepare! Someone truly filled with God is coming.


Who is it that we are preparing for?
Albert’s decisive response: “Jesus!!!”


Food for thought in this Advent season…this poem written by Kathy Bunker last Sunday, her response to setting time aside to listen in the “wilderness” of the woods around her home in South Tamworth. (thank you, Kathy! May this inspire others to do the same.)

December Sunset - Kathy Cloran Bunker

I love a December sunset -
Weak light shining through the trees,
On the way to an early evening.
I take a moment to enjoy as I please.

I love a December sunset -
As I walk through woods scattered with ice,
Brown and white blending together.
Some think more color would be nice.

But I love a December sunset -
I love the simple and unadorned ground;
I love the silence of a forest forsaken
Until Spring comes back around.

I love a December sunset -
So brief, so sweet, so alone…
And knowing that I now have to hurry
To reach the warm light of home.

Treasure these Advent sunsets!
Blessings, Heidi+

From the office at St. Andrew’s:

UPCOMING WEEK’S CALENDAR:

Fri  12/14:
                10a-noon  Food Center
Sat 12/15:            
                8pm AA & Al-Anon(PH,PR)

Sun 12/16:
               8 AM Holy Eucharist Rite I
          10 AM Holy Eucharist Rite II
               5 PM Dinner Bell (Cook Team: Madison)

Mon 12/17:         
               Church office closed

Tue 12/18:
                10am – noon  Food Center
                8pm -AA

 Wed 12/19:
               9 AM Service of Morning Prayer

Thu  12/20: