JOIN US FOR WORSHIP
THIS SUNDAY, December 24th, The Fourth
Sunday of Advent, there will be One
Service only at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Greening of the Church.
Christmas Eve Services are:
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
Family
Service with Organ, Choir and
Randy Ouellette on Trumpet.
4:45 pm Carol Sing
5:00 pm Blessing of the Créche &
Holy Eucharist
“Midnight”
Service with Organ, Choir and
Randy Ouellette on Trumpet.
10:45 pm Carol Sing 11:00
pm Festival Eucharist
December 25, Christmas Day
11:30 am Holy Eucharist followed by
Christmas Dinner
Free
Traditional Christmas Dinner
At
Saint Andrew’s-in-the-Valley
Christmas
Day, Monday, Dec 25
Gather
at 12:30 * Dinner served at 1:00 pm
For reservations, call the church at 323-8515
December
31st
10:00 am
A Service of Lessons and Carols
with
the Treble Makers
There is a service of Morning Prayer on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday Evening Services:
v January 10th at 5:30 pm we will have an evening prayer service drawing on
the Celtic tradition. More on that to
come.
We hope you will join us for worship and
fellowship.
READINGS FOR SUNDAY
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Fourth Sunday of Advent~Year B
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Canticle 15, The Song of Mary Magnificat
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38
Christmas Day, December 25th
Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 98
Hebrews 1:1-12
John 1:1-14
FROM THE INTERIM RECTOR
As we approach this weekend, both the final weekend in Advent and the
beginning of the Christmas season, I realize I haven't been as focused on
Advent as I usually try to be. The weeks of Advent were filled with important
milestones: the deaths and funerals of two of our beloved St. Andrew's members,
Barbara Lloyd and June Donovan; and the joyous occasion of Betsy Hess'
ordination to the Diaconate. Sometimes
life (or death) intervenes in the midst of our plans. And we realize that there are things much
more important than our plans were.
We tend to make all
kinds of plans at this time of year - gathering with friends and family,
cooking and baking, shopping and wrapping, traveling - and then life (or death)
intervenes. (Aren't you glad you weren't in the Atlanta airport when the power
went out?!) Kidding aside, I think it is often in these times that we may be
taken out of ourselves and our own concerns, and find that we are in God's
presence, simply by being open to and present in the moment.
May your Christmas be
filled with the joy of expectations fulfilled and the blessing of unexpected
encounters with God. And may the love of
God fill your every moment.
Caroline
Caroline will be on
vacation December 26 - January 1. If you have a pastoral emergency please
contact our Sr. Warden, Carol Tubman, at 651-8230.
On Sunday, December
31, there will be no 8:00 service. At 10:00 we will hold our Christmas Lessons
and Carols service, accompanied by both organ and the Treble Makers.
CHRISTMAS DINNER
St Andrew’s Christmas Dinner
Open Invitation to all
Christmas Day
Hors
d’ oeuvres at 12:30pm ~~ Dinner at 1pm.
RSVP
requested to 323-8515 or office@standrewsinthevalley.org
Can
you help with food?
Hors
Douevres:
Seeking finger foods / Or other
ideas/donations welcome
Drinks:
Seeking donation of a case /bottles of
sparkling cider (need a total of 15)
Any other juices or seltzers welcome
Desserts:
Looking for candies, cookies, small dessert
pieces
If you are able to donate items, please let us know about your
generosity,
We would also welcome volunteers to help!
Thank
you!
Jen
& Tom
PLEDGE PROGRESS
Help us
reach our Goals!
Rector
Search Fund
Goal ~ $ 20,000
33 pledges $ 8,959.00
~
2018
Stewardship Pledge
Goal~ $148,215.00
56 pledges $ 143,030.00
DINNER BELL
There is no Dinner Bell on Christmas Eve, December 24th
but
all are invited to the Dinner on Christmas Day
~
Dinner Bell cook team for this Sunday December 31st
HAMMOND
Thank you for your volunteer
work in this special Outreach program!
SEARCH COMMITTEE
UPDATE!
The Search Committee is preparing questions to use
in the interview process. We will also be conducting a practice interview on
Skype with a clergy member chosen from this diocese. This will give us feedback
on the best way to present Saint Andrew's to the candidates and a model for
engaging in meaningful, focused, and productive conversation. We expect to
begin interviewing prospective candidates in January, 2018. We pray for
continuing openness to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the
lives of those walking toward us.
Lisa Thompson,
Search Committee
Prayer for St. Andrew’s
during the search process.
Everliving and everloving Lord,
as we are in the midst of our challenging task to search for our new rector, we
pray that you continue to lead our parish to be in one mind and spirit through
the conclusion of this journey. May we be strong in the assurance that
you are guiding us and carrying us safely to calling the person you have chosen
to be our rector. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Search Committee
Pat Adams, Betsy Hess,
Tom Huckman, Cathie Lewis, George Rau, Lisa Thompson.
Click on “Parish Profile” button to read!
COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER
The Food Pantry thanks you for your contributions throughout the year.
The monthly item
for December is dish detergent.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
You hollow us out, O God,
so that we may carry you,
and you endlessly fill us
only to be emptied again.
Make smooth our inward spaces
and sturdy,
that we may hold you
with less resistance
and bear you
with deeper grace.
FORWARD DAY BY DAY FOR TODAY
THURSDAY, December 21, 2017
Habakkuk 2:3 For there is still a vision for the
appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry,
wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.
Today the Northern
Hemisphere celebrates the winter solstice, when the sun shines the least. And
the church celebrates Saint Thomas. In this season, I leave for work in the
darkness, and I return home in the darkness. My office has a small window, so I
see sunlight occasionally. But it is rare on these days to see the sun
consistently or to feel its warmth on my skin. It seems the world is shrouded
in darkness, when the shadows linger, when the promise of light seems
uncertain.
I imagine Thomas feels
the same way after Jesus’ death, wondering if the light will shine again. After
all, there is no precedent for a resurrection in Thomas’s world. And yet, Jesus
does come back, even allowing Thomas to touch his wounds.
Our God is a faithful
God, even when the promises between us seem impossible to keep. The days will
start to grow a little longer starting today. The Son is coming. Thanks be to
God.
MOVING FORWARD: Go to church today, even if there is no
service. Spend some time praying in the dark and perhaps catch a ray of sun
through a stained glass window.
FROM Deb IN THE OFFICE
Tuesday,December
26th and Wednesday, December 27th
Blessed Christmas wishes
to all!
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
If you do not see your birthday or anniversary listed, please make
sure Deb in the office has an information sheet on file for you.
Birthdays
6 Carolyn Seston
12 Hettie Buck
13 Suzanne Morgan
15 Bob Seston
26 Sarah and James Huckman
27 Debra Hoyt
30 Gretchen Behr-Svendsen
Anniversaries
8 Bob & Carolyn Seston
21 Chris & Carolyn Boldt
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