December 12, 2019

Advent Season
(Check out the many pictures 
in the gallery below )

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP                
THIS SUNDAYDecember 15th,  The Third Sunday of Advent there will be two services  at 8:00 & 10:00 a.m.  



* Morning Prayer service on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m.

* Centering  Prayer on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.


*  A Blue Christmas service  will be held on Wednesday, December 18th, at 5:30 p.m.  This service is open to everyone, but is particularly for those who struggle with the holiday season due to some sort of loss: death of a spouse, a child, a sibling, a close friend; loss of a job or a house; a loved one who suffers from addiction; or any loss that is difficult, and makes it hard to be merry. It is a service of remembrance and at the same time, a time to lift up our blessings even as we grieve a loss.

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US FOR WORSHIP
and FELLOWSHIP
READINGS FOR SUNDAY                
Sunday, December 15th
 Third Sunday of Advent
Year A

Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 146:4-9
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11

READERS FOR THIS SUNDAY:
1st Reading: Bob Seston
2nd Reading: Preston Mills
Prayers: Marta von Loewenfeldt

Click below to see the readings: 

FROM THE RECTOR
It is with regret that we have decided to cancel this year’s Christmas Dinner. We simply do not have enough volunteers to host the dinner this year. A huge amount of preparation is necessary, both in the days and weeks leading up to the dinner and on Christmas Day itself and lots of volunteers are needed. We will do our best to host it next year and in the years to come.

Having made this decision, we were thrilled to hear that Lynn and Ed Kearney are hosting a free Christmas dinner at Runnels Hall on Christmas Day. I’ve been in touched with Lynn and offered to make a donation from the budgeted funds for our Christmas dinner.  She will keep me posted on how many people they expect to serve. The details are below. Please spread the word, and we will also make the information available to our Dinner Bell guests this Sunday and next.

Many thanks to those of you who had volunteered to help with our Christmas Dinner, and most especially to the Huckman family!


NOTE: Since we will not be hosting Christmas Dinner, we have changed the time of our Christmas Day Eucharist to 11:00 am. 

Caroline
SAFE CHURCH     

If you are up for Safe Church Renewal
you must do your renewal modules on Armatus
then sign up for one of the following meetings online.

Safe Church Zoom Call
If you have questions, please contact Safe Church Minister, Marty Cloran.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY    
Come join us! Knitting skills not required.
1st and 3rd Wednesday morning at 10:15 a.m.


If you knit or crochet (or would like to learn how to) and are led to engaging in an outreach mission that provides physical and spiritual comfort to those in need, please join us on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month at 10:15 AM in the Prince Room. We are a joyous group that will keep you in stitches! The coffee and tea will be on and new members are always welcome. If you have any questions, please call Lin Frank at 323-0402.
   
CELEBRATE THE SEASON
Celebrate The Season
December 18
 Blue Christmas Service
5:30 pm

December 22
 Fourth Sunday of Advent
8:00 & 10:00 am Service of Holy Eucharist
and the greening of the church
December 24, Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
Family Service with Organ and Choir
4:45 pm Carol Sing
5:00 pm Blessing of the Créche & Holy Eucharist
“Midnight” Service with Organ and Choir
10:45 pm Carol Sing     
11:00 pm Festival Eucharist
December 25, Christmas Day
11:00 am Holy Eucharist

December 29, The First Sunday after Christmas

10:00 am  A Service of Lessons and Carols

 DINNER BELL
  

 Dinner Bell cook teams for the month of December are:
           8  Slader
         15  Three Ladies
         22  Hammond
         29   UUFES
Thank you for your volunteer
work in this special Outreach program!

CHRISTMAS DINNER
Please note that we had to cancel Christmas Dinner at St. Andrew's this year and hope to resume next year. The following is an alternative option if you are looking for a place to have a community dinner.
FREE
CHRISTMAS DINNER
WHEN:     Christmas Day
                   Wednesday, December 25th
                   Provided by Lynn & Ed Kearney

WHERE: Runnells Hall, Chocorua
TIME:       1:00 pm
                   Second seating if needed
RSVP:       Call to reserve your spot by December 20th
323-7234 – Please leave your name, phone number and number attending

Menu: Baked ham, scalloped potatoes, squash, green bean casserole, rolls and dessert

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
In the hurry,
in the rush,
simple things missed,
blessings denied,
beauties ignored.

In the calm,
in the quiet,
simple things received,
mystery unfolds,
happiness blooms.

In the peace,
in the harmony,
I taste with love
all that is good.


~ Joyce Rupp, Rest your Dreams on a Little Twig
FORWARD DAY BY DAY
Thursday, December 12
Matthew 23:25 Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.Do you have the keys? 
My husband and I always double check that we have keys before we leave the apartment. It’s no fun being locked out of your own home, especially if there’s no one else with keys to let you in.We rent our apartment, so you can imagine how silly it would be if we told other people trying to come into the building that they weren’t allowed. 
Our landlord would probably say, “I own this building, and you are not the one who determines who is allowed in.”Jesus is the keeper of the keys of the kingdom of heaven. We faithful are merely tenants. Having the keys to our own spiritual homes—our churches and denominations—can give the illusion that the kingdom is ours. Jesus says, “In my father’s house there are many dwelling places.
MOVING FORWARD: Who are our neighbors? What would happen if we met them?
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
27      Debra Hoyt
30      Gretchen Behr-Svendsen

     Anniversaries
8        Bob & Carolyn Seston
21      Chris & Carolyn Boldt

FROM THE OFFICE
Christmas Flower dedication slips may be found on the bulletin table and the parish hall table. Please complete your dedication slip and return along with your $20.00 donation  in the offering plate or leave in the office for Debra by December 15th.

Bulletin assembly help!
Next Thursday December 19th, I will be assembling 4 services of bulletins. If anyone can come in at 2 p.m. and give a hand that would be wonderful.  Please contact me by email (office@standrewsinthevalley.org) or phone 323-8515 to let me know if you can make it.
Thank you in advance
Debra

PHOTO GALLERY
BISHOP ROB'S VISIT 


Presentation of the Candidates
 Confirmation of Chris Mills
 Confirmation of Preston Mills

John and Joan Marshall receive a blessing from Bishop Rob 
for the Renewal of Marriage Vows 
to celebrate their 30th Anniversary. 



 Chris and Preston with prayer shawls


Advent Quiet Day


Women's Lunch Bunch Christmas at Sally's









LINKS