JOIN US FOR WORSHIP
THIS SUNDAY, December 23rd, The Fourth Sunday of Advent there will be two services at 8:00 & 10:00 a.m.
Following the 10 am service we will continue our Advent Study, Journeying the Way of Love.
* Morning Prayer service on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m.
* Centering Prayer on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US FOR WORSHIP
and FELLOWSHIP
READINGS FOR SUNDAY
Sunday, December 23rd
4th Sunday of Advent
4th Sunday of Advent
Year C
Micah 5:1-5a
Canticle 15 The Song of Mary, Luke 1:46-55
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-45
Canticle 15 The Song of Mary, Luke 1:46-55
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-45
FROM THE RECTOR
REMEMBER THIS TIME LAST YEAR, when the Fourth Sunday of Advent was also Christmas Eve? That made
for a really busy Sunday! A morning service for 4 Advent, and then Christmas
Eve services at 5:00 and 11:00.
This year Christmas
Eve is the day after the fourth Sunday of Advent, which is a little better for
the Altar Guild, Bernice and the Choir, and those of us who plan liturgy and
run copies of bulletins. But it still compresses things for all of us. We come
to church on Sunday, and then again on Monday for one (or both) of the
Christmas Eve services, and perhaps again on Christmas morning. So once again
this year, we really only have three full weeks of Advent. I much prefer the
years when we have the full four weeks or Advent, or at least three and a half.
As I said earlier
this month, I love Advent and all that it represents: the idea of slowing down,
and the sense of embracing short days and long nights as we prepare for the
coming of our Savior. I appreciate having closer to four weeks of Advent than
three, because it gives me a sense of spaciousness of time, rather than a
feeling of being rushed.
But I love Christmas as much as I love Advent. I love the time we come together to worship, the time to be with family and friends, Christmas baking, wrapping presents – all of it! And I love what is a new tradition for me – the St. Andrew’s Christmas Dinner. I am so grateful to all who make this happen. The Huckman’s have organized it in the past several years, and with the help of numerous volunteers, solicited donations from local restaurants, planned the menu, and prepared and served the meal. It is a delicious feast, and it brings a delightful mix of people from the community to St. Andrew’s.
I will drive to my
sister’s in Canton, New York on December 26 to celebrate Christmas with my
family. With the exception of my adult niece and nephew, we will all be
together until December 30. For years we have all gathered in Mississippi at my
brother’s, and I’m looking forward to being able to drive this year instead of
flying.
I hope that you all
will be able to be with family and friends for Christmas this year as well, and
if you are alone, that you’ll join us at the St. Andrew’s Christmas Dinner!
May you all have a
blessed and joy filled Christmas!
Caroline
Food for Thought:
God, creator of everything, now born of
flesh and blood to be with us
Emmanuel, God with us
Emmanuel, God with us
Hope is ours
Peace is on the way
Sorrow has lost its grip
Love has flooded every heart
Emmanuel, God with us
Peace is on the way
Sorrow has lost its grip
Love has flooded every heart
Emmanuel, God with us
Light has come into the world
And the darkness of despair, and war, and hurt, and hate shall not overcome it
And the darkness of despair, and war, and hurt, and hate shall not overcome it
Tonight you are with us
And we will never be the same
We will be more tender
We will protect the vulnerable
We will stand watch
We will come running to soothe the pain, to befriend the lonely, to lift up the lowly
To live as your people, to walk with you in love
And we will never be the same
We will be more tender
We will protect the vulnerable
We will stand watch
We will come running to soothe the pain, to befriend the lonely, to lift up the lowly
To live as your people, to walk with you in love
We pray all of this in the name of
Emmanuel, God with us
Amen.
From the
editors at SALT .Amen.
CELEBRATE THE SEASON
DINNER BELL
Dinner Bell cook teams for the month of December are:
2nd Rau
9th Adams
16th Slader
23rd Tubman
Tuesday the 25th is a Christmas Dinner – All are welcome!
30th UUFES
Thank you for your volunteer
work in this special Outreach program!
St. Andrew's CHRISTMAS DINNER-December 25th
Open Invitation to all
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
INVITATION FROM THE BOLDTS
COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER
The Food Pantry thanks you for your contributions throughout the year.
The monthly item for December is dish detergent.
FORWARD DAY BY DAY
Thursday, December 20
Isaiah 10:3 What will you do on the day of punishment, in the calamity that will come from far away? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth?
There’s an early episode of Aaron Sorkin’s masterpiece The West Wing in which one of the senior staff members (Josh) receives special instructions for what to do in case of a major emergency, what we’ve come to call continuity of government. When Josh realizes that no one else he works with has these instructions, he gives his special card back to the president.
If things go sideways, he’d rather be with his friends. That is where his deepest wealth is found, and his desire to help and be helped by them when things are at their worst is what motivates him to decline what others might have viewed as a great honor or huge blessing.
MOVING FORWARD: Do a little research on the idea of privilege. What does this word mean or represent in your life?
If things go sideways, he’d rather be with his friends. That is where his deepest wealth is found, and his desire to help and be helped by them when things are at their worst is what motivates him to decline what others might have viewed as a great honor or huge blessing.
MOVING FORWARD: Do a little research on the idea of privilege. What does this word mean or represent in your life?
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
13 Suzanne Morgan
27 Debra Hoyt
30 Gretchen Behr-Svendsen
Anniversaries
8 Bob & Carolyn Seston
21 Carolyn & Chris Boldt
21 Carolyn & Chris Boldt
THIS MONTH AT ST. ANDREW’S
SUNDAY
Every Sunday Dinner Bell 5 p.m.
23……..4th Sunday of Advent
& Greening of the Church 8 & 10 a.m.
30……..1st Sunday after Christmas 9 a.m.
MONDAY
24……..Christmas Eve Services (see seasonal schedule)
TUESDAY
Every Tuesday Food Pantry 10 a.m-Noon
Centering Prayer 5:30 p.m.
Centering Prayer 5:30 p.m.
AA Step Meeting 8 p.m.
25……..Christmas Day Service and Dinner (see seasonal schedule)
OFFICE CLOSED
WEDNESDAY
Every Wednesday Morning Prayer Service 9 a.m.
THURSDAY
20……..CFC Board Meeting 8:30 a.m.
Basket Distribution
FRIDAY
Every Friday Food Pantry 10 a.m.-Noon
SATURDAY
Every Saturday AA & Alanon Meetings 8 p.m.
FROM THE OFFICE
A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
PHOTO GALLERY
