December 2011 at St. Michael’s
Sunday, December 4 Second Sunday of Advent
9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m Holy Eucharist
Sunday, December 11 Third Sunday of Advent
9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m Holy Eucharist
Pancake breakfast between services
Sunday, December 18 Fourth Sunday of Advent
9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Saturday, December 24 Christmas Eve
4:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant & Holy Eucharist
10:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Service
Includes wedding of Paul Bloom & Kimberly Lombardi
Sunday, December 25 Christmas Day
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Sunday, January 1st First Sunday after Christmas
10:00 a.m. Festival of Lessons & Carols
FROM THE RECTOR
The Rev. Dr. Pamela Redding
Most
of us have Christ-like people in our lives, people we know or know
about, who model Christian virtues in the way they choose live and the
way they relate to others. I admire people at St. Michael’s and look at
each of you admiring your generosity and the way you care about me,
each other and people in your families, your work and your faith. This
Christmas though I am writing about someone I observed in the
documentary “Bill Cunningham New York .” That way I will not risk embarrassing those closest to me by singling you out.
Bill
Cunningham, it turns out, is a famous fashion photographer for a column
called “On the Street” published in The New York Times. For years he
has documented fashion evolution as worn by real people, while at the
same time rubbing elbows with the richest and most famous people in the
fashion industry. At 80+ he has known them for years. People around
him speculate that he must have been born to wealth because he moves
within this high stress industry with such grace and ease.
It
is not too hard to find documentaries or people who are famous and
accomplished, but it turns out Bill Cunningham is so much more. What
people love about him is the way he radiates happiness and genuine joy
and interest in each person he meets. He appears to be absolutely
absorbed in wonder at the world he sees. Surrounded by people of every
age, Bill has friends all around the world.
What
I learned from Bill Cunningham that causes me to reflect this Christmas
is that he is wealthy, but we never really find out if he has any
money. It turns out Bill is a truly dedicated artist who in his private
life has few possessions other than his files of fashion photos and his
camera. He cannot imagine having a kitchen in his apartment and his
few clothes hang on hangers from the handles of file cabinet drawers.
His only furniture is a small bed which is, you guessed it, between file
cabinets. But that is the way he wants his life to be. Very private
about himself, he tells the interviewer that his life centers on going
to church on Sundays
and his art. Juxtaposed between the simplicity of this home life, we
see Bill Cunningham receive fashion’s highest honor in a gala
presentation in Paris
. What we learn is that Bill is a man of integrity and character who
passionately enjoys beauty but has absolutely no interest in
materialism.
As
I write today in the first week of Advent and looking in anticipation
toward the joy and light of the birth of our Savior, I have already seen
more advertisements and shopping than I can take. So knowing there are
people like Bill Cunningham and Jesus, gives me hope. As we had
suspected all along, there is absolutely no reason we need to do what
other people are doing by getting too busy or spending money or thinking
Christmas is anything more than pure fascination and wonder in the
birth of Jesus as God in our midst. Instead we can make our lives
simple and beautiful by thinking of our lives as an art form – a gift
intended to be filled with joy and purpose. What we know from the life
of Jesus is that purposeful life is still challenged by distractions but
carries within it a solid core identity of faith and grace. I believe
it is possible. What I know is that wealth is about having a capacity
for the “gift of wonder and joy” we pray for in baptism. And it is that
wealth that I wish for all of you this Christmas. God bless you all!
Pam+
MUSIC CORNER by Joyce Pricco
ADVENT SEASON
The
new church year started Sunday, November 27. Advent marks the beginning
of church year B (for those of you who wondered). As the season is
usually marked with colder, darker weather, Advent begins with darkness
as Rev. Pam preached and moves toward light as we celebrate Christ’s
birth. The season is very short, four weeks, but it reminds us of the
miraculous story that brought Jesus to earth. It is His life and
ultimate sacrifice that transforms people to walk with God the Father.
Music
is a big part of Advent. I hope you find time in your hectic schedule
to enjoy the beauty of the season through music; in church, at home, and
at musical events. Let the music be an inspiration and renew you as we
begin this most holy of seasons.
JOIN THE CHOIRS
Perhaps
you like to sing, but unable to commit to a weekly rehearsal. Advent is
a wonderful time to participate in the music program at St. Michael’s.
As mentioned above, the season is short and a lovely time to celebrate
Christ’s birth.
All
are welcome (as the song states) to join our choirs. If you like to
sing and want to be part of our singing community, join us for
rehearsals. The Contemporary choir meets every other Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 8:15 for the 9 a.m. service, and the Traditional Choir meets Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 10:15 for the 11 a.m. service. We need both females and males and would love to sing with you! Contact Diane Loehr at diane.loehr@gmail.com for the Contemporary Choir or Joyce Pricco at mandjpricco@earthlink.net for the Traditional Choir. Hope to see you!
God bless you during this Advent season,
Joyce
Stewardship Pledge Drive Thank You
As
our Stewardship Pledge Drive for 2012 wraps up I would like to extend a
heartfelt “Thank You!” to everyone at St. Michael’s. Your enthusiasm
and generosity have made this pledge drive a wonderful experience. I was
particularly impressed by the joyful energy present when everyone
turned in their pledge cards, not only during the ingathering, but
throughout the entire season. If you have not turned in your pledge
card for 2012, it is not too late. There are still salmon colored half
sheets in the narthex of the church which can be filled out and placed
in the collection plate or mailed to the office. We will never say no
to a pledge.
Having
the experience of being the pledge drive chairperson has again
demonstrated to me the importance of focusing on God’s blessings and His
generosity in our lives. We are all, individually and collectively,
faced with economic and financial challenges these days. And yet, I had
the pleasure of seeing so many of our parishioners joyfully, faithfully
and purposefully pledge their financial support to our church without
hesitation. When we focus on God’s abundance, we are more open to
allowing Him to create abundant opportunities in our lives.
As
you all know by now, I am a firm believer that stewardship is and all
day, everyday experience. This pledge drive is only one small, but
critical, part of our overall stewardship experience at St. Michael’s.
When we stay focused on being good intentional stewards of our time,
talent and treasure amazing things are possible. Let’s stay focused on
the light of God’s possibilities even in these colder, darker, shorter
days of late Autumn and see what awesome opportunities come up.
Erin Ramey
St. Michael’s Preschool News
We would like to welcome two new teacher aides to our staff: Ms. Tasha and Ms. Heather.
Ms. Tasha works in the mid morning, and Ms. Heather works in the
afternoon. Both are working on their Child Development Permits to
become preschool teachers.
A few Holiday events happening around the preschool
Dec 16th Christmas Pot Luck
Christmas Caroling
Santa Visit
Craft decorating
Dec. 23rd Baby Jesus Birthday Party
Dec 26-30 School Closed for Christmas Break
“Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall”.
Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas
St. Julia’s Guild
St.
Julia's Guild has decided this year in place of our usual Christmas
luncheon, we would instead go out to lunch. We plan to gather in the
Parish Hall on Wednesday, December 14th at 11:30
where we will meet with the pre-school children to exchange gifts and
listen to their Christmas songs. After the children's program, we will
again meet for lunch about 12:30 at the Buttercup Restaurant located at 4301 Clayton Road in Concord. Anyone wishing to attend, please call Alice McMillan @ 685-6367 no later than December 11th. for reservations.
Alice McMillan
St. Julia's President
A View from the Pew
Forrest Billings
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS!
- He walks with you. He talks with you. He tells you that you are His own.
- “And
you shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that bringeth
forth his fruit in his season; his leaf shall not wither; and whatsoever
he doeth shall prosper”
- You
go up to the mountain by yourself to pray alone: You pray without
ceasing. You give thanks in everything: for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you. You rejoice ever more. You persevere in
tribulation.
- “Therefore
I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you
have received them, and they shall be granted you.”
- You
see those who are distressed and downcast and you feel compassion for
them. You come alongside so you can bear one another’s burdens.
- You
are an awesome servant. ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have
been faithful with a few things’ You are allowing God’s Gory to shine
through you.
I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS. I LOVE YOU
WEEKLY AT ST. MICHAEL’S
Mondays—Fridays, 6:15 am—6:00 pm
St. Michael’s Preschool
Wednesday
10:30 a.m. Eucharist (in Chapel)
6:30 p.m. Contemporary Choir Rehearsal
Thursday
12:00 noon Al-Anon
7:30 p.m. Traditional Choir Rehearsal
SUNDAY SERVICES
9:00 a.m. Contemporary Service
11:00 a.m. Traditional Service
