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| Holy Name Sunday, January 1, 2012 |
Services for this coming Sunday, January 8th, The Baptism of Our Lord, will be at 8 and 10 am with guest preacher, The Rev. Robert Stiefel. This Sunday, Rev. Heidi will be taking her “post-Christmas” leave to spend time with her father as he recovers from hernia surgery. In her absence, the Rev. Robert Stiefel will be presiding and preaching for both services. Robert is an old friend of the parish and is looking forward to being back with all of you again.
This Sunday, in keeping with our calendar, we will celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord, the closing festal day of our Christmas season. After Sunday, we will put away the white and gold and return to the green of the season after the Epiphany
Readings for this Sunday: Genesis 1:1-5, Psalm 29, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11
Happy 12th Day of Christmas! Tonight’s the night for taking down the Christmas tree and having your 12th Night bonfire (but do get a fire permit before you burn) and the last day for sending out your Christmas greetings!
Tomorrow, January 6th, is the Feast of the Epiphany, celebrating the arrival of the Magi to the stable and the offering of their gifts to the Christ child. “Epiphany” is derived from the Greek word meaning “manifestation” or “appearing. We often speak of this event as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles (referring to those “wise guys” from the east with their camels), but originally it had a three-fold focus: the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus, and the 1st Miracle at the Wedding Feast at Cana. Interestingly, the Christian observance on January 6th is found as early as the end of the 2nd century in Egypt, somewhat before the date of December 25th was established in Rome as the celebration of the Nativity. Epiphany (rather than Christmas) is still the primary Feast of the Incarnation in Eastern (Orthodox) Churches, and they still lift up the three-part focus.
Next Wednesday, Jan 11th, the Women’s Lunch Bunch will meet at noon at the Mtn. View Station restaurant in Center Ossipee. If you would like to join the group or have any questions, please contact Dale Appleton at 539-3761.
An invitation from the Pastoral Care Team: Members of the Pastoral Care Team take communion out to members of the parish who are homebound and unable to make it to church. They go out as “representatives” of the congregation and would welcome your companionship. If you would like to accompany a eucharistic visitor on a visit with one of our homebound members, please talk to Peg Reinfuss (367-8498).
Mark your calendar for the Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 5th, at approximately 10:15 am following the single 9:00 am service. Also please check the posted list of members eligible to vote. If your name is not there and you would like to be a voting member of St. Andrew’s, please talk to Rev. Heidi or Gretchen Behr-Svendsen, our clerk.
Reminder: January 17th is the due date for Annual Reports by committee chairs and people with designated responsibilities to the Parish. If you need samples of the reports from last year, Please see Debra in the office. You can submit your reports by emailing to the office or leave them in Debra’s office In-Box. The earlier the better. Thanks.
Open Vestry positions: Elections to be held at the Annual Meeting to fill the following positions:
Junior Warden, Clerk, One Vestry member (1 year term), Two Vestry members (2 year terms), and an Alternate Delegate to Convocation.
The nominating committee will present a slate of nominations at the meeting.
Diocesan News: The Election and Transition Committee of our diocese has just announced the three sites for the Meet and Greet sessions – opportunities for the Convention Delegates, members of congregations, and clergy to meet the candidates for the 10th Bishop of New Hampshire.
All three will be held in the early evening from 6:30 - 8:30pm and each will be followed by a period of fellowship and refreshments. The dates and locations are:
Tuesday May 1, 2012 Exeter High School in Exeter New Hampshire
Wednesday May 2, 2012 The Holderness School in Plymouth, NH
Thursday May 3, 2012 St. Paul's School in Concord, NH
The three sites were selected so that attendees would not have an unreasonable drive to and from the events, that the sites would have sufficient space to comfortably accommodate the number of attendees anticipated.
The site nearest to Saint Andrew’s (and the one for which we have been asked to contribute refreshments) is the Holderness School. Being part of the calling of a Bishop is an exciting opportunity. Our delegates will all be attending this event and extend an invitation to all who might be interested to join us that evening. When the date gets nearer, we will facilitate car-pooling from the church. In the meantime, please block off the evening of Wednesday, May 2nd in your calendars.
ALL ARE WELCOME to join in a Service of Morning Prayer, every Wednesday at 9 AM, led by one of our three licensed worship leaders.
The Collect for the Epiphany
O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see you glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Blessings from The Office at St. Andrew’s
Fri 1/6:
10a-noon Food Center
Sat 1/7:
8pm AA & Al-Anon(PH,PR)
Sun 1/8:
8 AM Holy Eucharist
10 AM Holy Eucharist
Mon 1/9: Church office closed
Tue 1/10:
10a-noon Food Center
8pm AA (PH)
Wed 1/11:
9am Morning Prayer
Noon: Lunch Bunch at Mtn View Station
Thu 1/12:
6:00 PM round table eucharist
6:30 PM brown bag supper
7 PM Vestry meeting
