This Week at St Timothy's
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
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This Week
Today is an Advent Ember Day
Today is the first of the Winter Ember Days. Ember Days are traditional times for ordinations and we celebrate with Fr John Roberts on his ordination to the Sacred Order of Priests tonight in Flat Rock, North Carolina.
Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed various orders in thy Church: Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all who are now called to any office and ministry for thy people; and so fill 
them with the truth of thy doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name and for the benefit of thy holy 
Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Liturgical Kalendar
Wednesday, December 20
Ember Day
Intention: for the ordination of John Roberts

Thursday, December 21
St Thomas
Intention: for those estranged from the Church

Friday, December 22
Ember Day
Intention: for a holy preparation for the Nativity

Saturday, December 23
Ember Day
Intention: in thanksgiving for the holy season of Lent

Sunday, December 24
The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Monday, December 25
Christmas Day
Intention: thanksgiving for the Birth of the Lord

Tuesday, December 26
St Stephen
Intention: for those persecuted for their faith
Words defined:

Intention: In the Holy Eucharist we receive remission of our sins and "all other benefits of his passion." In the celebration of the Eucharist, we apply those benefits to a particular intention. You can see examples of masses for particular intentions on pages 199-210 in the Prayer Book. 17th century Anglican divine Jeremy Taylor wrote, " "It follows then that the celebration of this sacrifice be, in its proportion, an instrument of applying the proper sacrifice to all the purposes for which it was first designed. It is ministerially, and by application, an instrument propitiatory; it is eucharistical; it is an hommage and an act of adoration, and it is impetratory, and obtains for us and for the whole church, all the benefits of the sacrifice, which is now celebrated and applied; that is, as this rite is the remembrance and ministerial celebration of Christ's sacrifice, so it is destined to do honour to God... to beg pardon, blessings, and supply of all our needs" (Discourse XlX, 4).
Priest and a Rabbi this Thursday | 6 & 8:30pm
The final Priest and a Rabbi for 2017 will be tomorrow night at Finnigan's Wake Pub downtown. There are two seatings, 6pm and 8:30pm. The 6pm seating typically fills up fast, so you are encouraged to come early.

This month's topic will center on Hanukkah, Christmas, belief, and all, of course, whatever is on the mind of the crowd.

Stewardship & Giving
Thank you! We are getting close...
Thank you for your fidelity and generosity! We hope to have between 180-200 pledges. We had 182 last year. If you haven't had the opportunity to pledge, you can do so by clicking the button below.
More Than Enough
Click here to read Amy McFerrin's article on More Than Enough.
Click here to read Becky Johnston's article.
Click here to read Andy Blair's article.
Click here to read Megan Farrell's article.
End of Year Giving | Stocks & Non-Traditional Gifts
As the Stewardship Campaign comes to a close and we begin to consider the future needs of the church, did you know that St. Timothy's can receive non-traditional gifts from your brokerage and retirement accounts? Often, making these types of gifts offers tax advantages and allows you to accomplish your charitable goals with minimal effort.  

With the stock market at an all-time high, you might consider supporting St. Timothy's with a gift of appreciated securities, which allows you to avoid capital gains taxes on the appreciated portion of the stock's value while at the same time deducting the full fair market value.  

If you are 70 1/2 or older with an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), you can support St. Timothy's with a qualified charitable distribution directly from your plan administrator to the church without having to count the distribution as income.  

If you are interested in supporting St. Timothy's with a non-traditional gift, please consult with your financial advisor first (we aren't qualified to give tax advice) and then communicate with Chris Ervin (336-765-0294 or chris@sttimothys.ws).
Adoration
The Final Sunday of Advent & Christmas Eve
Sunday is the final Sunday of Advent and in the evening, we celebrate the first masses of Christmas.
Formation
Keeping Christmas | Father DJ
We’re finally here. We’re at the tail end of Advent and we’re on the cusp of Christmas. For many of us, the weeks leading up to Christmas will have already been full of Christmas – decorations, parties, Christmas movies, Christmas music everywhere, not to mention the rush to get all the shopping and preparation done. For many of us, December 25th will feel like the culmination and conclusion of a long holiday season that began the day after Thanksgiving. The coming of Christmas Day may indeed bring a sigh of relief that it’s all over. In general, our culture decks the halls long before Christmas Day, and then, when it comes, un-decks them pretty quickly.

But maybe, as Christians – especially as Christians who keep to the ancient calendar of the liturgical year – we can do something different. Because, of course, Christmas Day is not the end, but the beginning. After all, the song isn’t called “The Twelve Days of Christmas” for nothing. Christmas is really a festival lasting twelve days, from December 25th (Christmas Eve included) to January 5th, the “Twelfth Night.”

But we can go beyond even that. In the climax of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, the miser Ebenezer Scrooge repents of his greed and selfishness with these words, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” We should all strive to be like Scrooge in that regard. The Incarnation – God made one of us in Jesus Christ and born of the Virgin Mary – is the central event of our redemption, for all things before lead up to it, and all things after, including the Cross and Resurrection, depend on it. An event so central to our faith and to the history of the human race deserves more than just one day of commemoration, or even twelve. Such an event – such a mystery – demands that we live each and every day of our lives differently than we would otherwise. How, then, will you keep Christmas in your heart, every day of your life?

Looking for a place to serve?
Children's Formation is looking for a few more volunteers for Sunday mornings during the 9am mass and during the formation "hour". Please let Katie Bryant know if you are willing to help in a Godly Play or Catchesis of the Good Shepherd group (no training necessary--we will tell you all you need to know to assist.) ​katie@sttimothys.ws
Transformation
Shelter Updates
Thanks to each person who make shelter possible each and every night at St.Timothy's! We are now hosting between 18-23 guests each night and that number seems to be growing as more women are coming out of the cold. I can hardly contain my excitement at the wonderful team of people who come together each night to keep our shelter open. Our "Facility Greeters" are the friendly souls who open the doors, turn on the heat, welcome and train the nightly volunteers, and keep the nights running smoothly until the monitors arrive. Our monitors, Sam, Devon, and Jessica--are top notch in providing structure and care as they keep vigil over our guests and volunteers so that they are safe and warm all night long. Our morning "work-out" volunteers who are helping with check-out are making our mornings go so much smoother. Our check-in and overnight volunteers who share their time to help our guests check in and check out, build relationships and trust, and are essential to opening the doors. All who prepare and serve dinner and snack bags feed the bellies and souls of our guests each and every night. Each night we count on EVERY volunteer to make the night go smoothly. Our TAP interns (Emily, Cassie, and Michelle) have been wonderful to fill in so many spots lately--please sign-up and help them out! Come and be a part of this amazing group of volunteers--there is surely a place for you!  

We especially need new people to sign-up for shifts over the next few weeks as the holidays spread thin our normal volunteer corp. Check the online signup at www.citywithdwellings.org (click on "Our Shelters" and "St.Timothy's") and find an availble spot and sign up. If you have questions, please email shelter@sttimothys.ws or contact Katie Bryant at 828-230-4209.  

Shelter supplies needed:
Pajama pants/sweat pants (sizes M-XXXL)
T-shirts (used and clean are fine)  
​Underwear (mens & womens)
Gloves
Clorox/Lysol wipes

Thanks & Peace,
Katie​
katie@sttimothys.ws
Gifts that Give More - Update
As you make your own Christmas shopping lists, consider including wishes from our Angel Tree to make the holidays merry for others too. The Angel Tree is in the downstairs hallway of the church by the chalkboard wall. There are tags on the tree to support of our St.Tim's Overflow Shelter and provide a meal for a family through New Communion Mobile Food Pantry (these are ongoing needs for New Communion so even donations after Christmas will help offset their costs--plus we are still collecting pasta too!). There are wonderful handmade mittens on the tree that you can gift to others for Christmas as you make a donation to City with Dwellings in their honor. Checks can be made to City with Dwellings for mitten donations or you can donate online at www.citywithdwellings.org .  

The new red tags on the tree have wishes from the kids of Anthony's Plot that were gathered at Las Posadas. All children's gifts can be returned under the tree wrapped with red tags taped to them--the shelter gifts do not need to be wrapped, but please wrap the children's gifts. The children's gifts need to be returned by January 4th to be delivered by the magi at the Feast of the Epiphany. Thank you for sharing with these important ministries this holy season!
Our Common Life
Vestry Reflection |Megan Farrell
Find joy. Find hope. The message from Father Steve's recent homily resounded with me and I continue to ponder these words.  
This is the first Christmas without my mom. She was an amazing person, a warrior in every sense of the word. I wish that each of you could have known her. She was a disciple of Christ. She changed many lives and her legacy continues to change others. It has been an inspiration to learn how even one small action in her life carries on and moves forward like a ripple. But her physical absence here on earth is painful. Grief is difficult, especially in the holiday season. I wonder, what does it teach us? How do we live through it and beyond it? How do we continue to be disciples and serve God when we are hurting?  
I certainly don't have all the answers, but the simplest answer is Jesus. If we turn our face toward, and give our heart to Jesus we will persevere. No matter what we are going through, we are given all that we need in Jesus. It's not always easy to accept what is ours. Trust me, I know this firsthand. My mind often gets in the way of my heart. I do believe that oftentimes we have to actively seek joy and find hope. And choose to accept the peace that is our birthright in Christ. Choose it. Choose Jesus.  So in this difficult season I find comfort in happy memories. I find joy in my family, in my church and community. I find hope in each of you.

May the Peace of God be with you,
Megan
Write to Graham Green in Iraq
Our own Graham Green is a Lt Col in the Army National Guard and is currently deployed in Iraq. We are proud of Graham, his wife, Shannon, and children Garrison and Julia. We will continue to surround them with prayer. He is able to receive letters at the address below. Please use the address exactly as it is printed.

LTC Graham Green
HHC 449th CAB
Camp Taji
APO, AE
09378
St Timothy's Stickers
We have a limited number of St Timothy's stickers (perfect for car windows). If you would like one, they will be in the office and in the narthex on Sunday. We will reorder to meet the demand.

If you put the sticker on your car, send us a picture!
Mass & Mammon
December 17, 2017

Morning Prayer: 5
7:30 Low Mass: 52
9:00 Low Mass: 177
11:00 Sung Mass: 96
Mass Total: 325
Average Attendance to date: 316

Offering: n/a
Altar Flowers

The altar arrangements are given to the Glory of Almighty God.

Shrine Lamps during December

The Our Lady of Walsingham Lamp is given to the glory of God and for the work of this parish
by Jonathan Williams. 

The Sanctuary Lamp is given to the Glory of God and with special prayers for the visitors to our parish.
 
The St. Timothy Shrine Lamp is given to the Glory of God and in thanksgiving for Abigail, Walker, and Luke Rice by their parents.

The St. Michael the Archangel Lamp is given to the Glory of God and with prayers for the protection of LTC Graham Green and all those in our armed forces by the women of St. Timothy’s.