Services for this
coming Sunday, December 8th, the Second Sunday of Advent and will be at 8
and 10, followed by coffee hour hosted by the Bunkers.
A message from the
Food Pantry: The Food Pantry is always grateful for your contributions of
food, but at this time of year, as preparations are being made for the
Christmas baskets, please know that cash
contributions are especially helpful, since Food Pantry purchasers are able
to buy items at much reduced prices, so your contribution dollars go almost
four times further than if you purchase yourself at the supermarket! Thank you.
St. Andrew’s Boughs &
Bonbons Holiday Fair is this Saturday!
e Our cookie plates have become a signature item. So we need a wide variety of interesting Christmas cookies and small bars. Please deliver to the church kitchen anytime on Thursday or by 9 am on Friday. (No tins this year; we’ll do them on plates.)
eWe’d would love breads, coffee cakes, candies, but cookies take precedence if you don't have time to do both. Jellies, jams, conserves, and curds are also very welcome, but no pickles or relish for legal, food-code reasons.
eWe will have the table of pre-owned Christmas items again this year – in good condition please.
eThere will also be a table of new Christmas décor items.
Please have all items to the church by Friday morning for pricing and set-up. If you can lend on hand on Saturday for a three-hour time block or more, we could use your help from 8 a.m. set-up through 2 p.m. clean up.
Please contact co-chairs Lynne Clough (323-7046) or Patti Rau
(367-8223) with questions or offers of help.
Let’s make this Boughs &
Bonbons a continued success!
Our Advent Quiet Day is on Saturday,
December 14th, 9-1, led by the Rev. Susan Ackley. So what is a “Quiet Day” you ask? Think of it as a short retreat – an opportunity to gather under the gentle direction of a leader who will guide the group in brief presentations, prayer, and quiet activity time. No one will be put on the spot! No previous experience is necessary! It is a time to step away from the business of the pre-Christmas season and to be attentive to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst. Susan has chosen a passage from Isaiah as the focus: “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.” [Isa 35:1-2] This will gently inform our reflections, prayer, and creativity. It will conclude with an informal Eucharist and a simple soup lunch.
Please register by calling or emailing the church office or Rev. Heidi by Tuesday, Dec. 10. Pre-registration is necessary, because we need to provide appropriate food and supplies. Also, we are looking for an additional volunteer to make a pot of soup.
December Women’s Lunch Bunch will meet at noon on Wednesday, December 11th, at the home of Carolyn Boldt. Directions will be available at church on Sunday. This will be a shared meal, so please bring something for the meal. All women welcome (even if you’ve never come before and don’t know Carolyn).
Last Sunday’s outreach
discussion was
well attended and fruitful. The suggested distribution of funds will be
presented to the Vestry at their December 18th meeting for their deliberation
and vote. In addition, at the urging of the group, a complete listing of all
the organizations with their contact information will be available on Sunday so
that folks who might like to make individual contributions may do so.
Thank you to all our
Eucharistic ministers, visitors, and lay worship leaders! Your service is a blessing to
all of us. They are licensed by the bishop, and renewed every three years in
time for the First Sunday of Advent – hence last Sunday as our commissioning
Sunday. Newly licensed this year are:
Dale and David as eucharistic ministers and Gretchen as a lay worship leader. Other
LEMS: Carol, Gretchen, Lynne, Ginger, Bruce, Judy, Cathie, Kaitlyn, Val,
Lisa, Sammie, and George; other worship leaders are Lisa and Cathie;
eucharistic visitors are Gretchen, Bruce, Cathie, and Val. These are all roles open to
any baptized person who has the necessary training and appropriate gifts.
Food for thought, reflection
and prayer For Saint Nicholas Day,
December 6th…Saint Nicholas, Patron Saint of children, sailors, innocents, and others in need
Nicholas was born in the 3rd century in Asia Minor. After his wealthy Christian parents died, he used his entire inheritance to help the poor, the sick, and children in need. Nicholas gave in secret, expecting nothing in return. He became bishop of Myra while still as young man, and was later imprisoned for his faith. He attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. Greatly loved for his compassion and care, he died on December 6, in the year 342. Stories tell of Nicholas saving three young women from slavery, protecting sailors, sparing innocents from execution, providing grain during a famine, and rescuing a kidnapped boy.
Gracious God, send your spirit upon us that we may follow in the steps of St. Nicholas, loving you and generously caring for others; we ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
See you at the Fair … and in church!
Blessings,
Heidi+
