| a weekly e-newsletter from Saint Martin's Church |
December 14, 2017
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This Week
at
St. Martin's
Rite I
Quiet Worship
8 a.m.
Choir & Pageant Rehearsal
9:00 a.m.
Christmas Dinner Drive
9-10:30 a.m.
Rite II St. Nicholas Celebration
& Worship
with music
10 a.m.
Wednesday
AA Meeting
7 p.m.
Thursday
Vestry Meeting at Christ Church Ithan
6 p.m.
Friday
Greening of the Church
3:30 p.m.
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Greeting
"Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
~ St. Thomas
On Dec. 21 the church celebrates the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, also called" Didymus, "the twin. " His declaration of wanting to "see" the miracle of Jesus' resurrection for himself is often interpreted as doubt. But I think Thomas is just actually speaking for all of us who didn't happen to be in the room when Jesus appeared to the disciples just after his physical death. The things of Advent suggests a similar need for many, as we seek all sorts of physical reminders of the Christ-event this season. Church, concerts, crèches, mangers, parties, pageant dramas, cards to loved ones, beloved family rituals, even a pudgy secularized spirit in red who we never actually see but who leaves traces of his presence (no pun intended) for us all around, hint at our need to "see" what God is trying to convey to us. Likewise, Thomas' declaration when he finally sees Jesus, "My Lord and my God!" are hopefully something like the thoughts we have at the moment of God's nativity among us on Dec. 24.
However we experience this "coming among us," though, Jesus reassures Thomas, and us. "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed!" Whether we see the embodied Christ all around us every day, once or twice a year, or only in our inmost hopes, we are assured that God is and always remains close by.
Peace & blessings,
Chris+
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St. Nicholas Celebration
THIS SUNDAY!
This postponed event from 12/9 will be incorporated into this Sunday's 10 a.m. service.
We ask families to bring non-perishable food items and/or toys to donate this Sunday (and thanks to those who have already stored toys in the small Sunday School room). During the announcements, children will be invited up to put the donations on a large red cloth in front of the pulpit. St. Nicholas will collect the donations for needy families.
There is no Sunday School separate from the pageant practice. Therefore, after the pageant dress rehearsal children and youth will hang their costumes on the rack in the large Sunday School room then join their parents for this seasonally-oriented worship service. Ms. Deb is happy to answer any questions ([email protected]). The nursery will be open downstairs for young children, who will be brought upstairs during the peace to see St. Nicholas.
Extended family and other visiting church members are welcome to come for the rehearsal and St. Nicholas celebration on the 17th.
Please join in the spirit and song on this special morning!
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Outreach in Advent
Please support our Christmas Dinner Drive which is the final outreach program for 2017. We truly need your help to make Christmas special for the residents of St. Barnabas.
Christmas Dinner Drive
 This Sunday, December 17th, volunteers will be in the church parking lot from 9am - 10:30am to collect Christmas dinner makings for ECS/St. Barnabas. Please donate FROZEN turkeys or hams plus all the fixings such as mashed potato mix, stuffing, canned sweet potatoes, gravy, canned vegetables and fruit, cranberry sauce, etc. We will deliver all the donations that morning. If you are not going to be in church on the 17th and would still like to donate, please call the office at 610-688-4830 to make arrangements for a convenient drop-off.
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Sunday School
During the Sunday School time last Sunday the children and youth set just the right combination of wonder, praise, excitement...and a little trepidation as they read through the pageant. Doesn't that all fit, given the enormity of what we anticipate with the birth of our savior?
Thanks to all who made the run through run smoothly. I look forward to the pageant dress rehearsal this Sunday, December 17th. The youth are asked to arrive by 8:45 a.m., and the children should be up in the church by 9 a.m. We will run through the pageant from beginning to end with Emily and the choir. If your children have not been fitted for costumes, please still attend rehearsal. We can fit costumes after the 10 a.m. service.
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Christmas Decorating
 Church decorating will take place on Friday, December 22nd at 3:30 p.m. Come deck the church with greens and garland. It will be a festive time for everyone!
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Pledge Cards
Thank you to all who have returned their pledge cards for 2018. If you have not yet done so, please give prayerful consideration to making a pledge and return your card as soon as possible. If necessary, you can visit St. Martin's Stewardship webpage to download a copy of the
2018 pledge card.
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Pageant News
St. Martin's Annual Christmas Pageant will be December 24th during the 10 a.m. service. Visitors are invited to attend and join in this special reinactment. Costumes will be provided for any visiting children that would like to participate.
TIMELINE:
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9 to 9:15 a.m. Youth arrive to vest and prepare for the pageant.
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9:15 to 9:30 a.m. Children arrive to put on costumes and prepare for the pageant. Family members proceed to church for seating preferably choosing seating toward the front of the church for a good view of the pageant!
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9:50 a.m. Children (in costume) will join their parents in the sanctuary.
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10 a.m. The Advent IV Worship Service begins. The children will be invited by the youth to come forward for the pageant performance when hearing their cue.
After the 10 a.m. worship, there will be a festive reception in the Gurley Room. Costume drop-off will be in the chapel area.
MUSIC:
Several parents have asked what songs are being sung during the pageant, so they can practice the songs at home. That's the Spirit!
Here is the list:
- Come, O Come, Emmanuel
- Away in a Manger
- Angels We Have Heard on High
- Go Tell it on the Mountain
- Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
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Hurricane Relief - $1 Challenge
$1.00 per week in the hurricane relief collection plate is all it takes. All donations will be sent to Episcopal Relief & Development at the end of the year.
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Pilgrim's Prayer:
Following Mary's Lead
Sometimes our direction changes abruptly, without us having control over the new path. According to the Gospel of Luke, the Angel Gabriel delivered God's message to Mary. What was her response? She said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name." What an amazing way to say "yes" to God's call.
Sometimes Mary is portrayed as meek and mild. But the children and Ms. Deb discussed on Sunday how strong Mary was. She did not know the enormity of what she was saying "yes" to...but God was with her. As adults we can imagine that a young unmarried peasant woman over 2,000 years ago would have been much more likely to say "no." So this Advent we can listen to Mary and say "yes" in our own lives. "Yes" to generosity, appreciation, worship in our Christian community, and listening to our children. They often have the wisdom that extends beyond the toys and the culture of receiving when we make space for them to give. Most of all, each of us can choose to follow the strong, faithful Mary in new directions. What a joyful way to start the new church year.
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Upcoming Events
Confirmation Gatherings
THIS Sunday, 12/17, 8:45 a.m. - Vest in albs for Christmas Pageant rehearsal. Rehearsal from 9-10 a.m.
Christmas Dinner Drive
THIS Sunday, 12/17, 9-10:30 a.m.
St. Nicholas Celebration & Holy Eucharist
THIS Sunday, 12/17, 10 a.m. in Church and the Gurley Room
Greening of the Church
Friday, 12/22, 3:30 p.m.
Christmas Pageant
Sunday, 12/24, 10 a.m.
Lessons & Carols
Sunday, 12/31, 10 a.m. - No Sunday School. Childcare will be available.
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Read and Ponder
this Week's Scriptures
The scripture readings for this Sunday are:
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8,19-28
The Collect
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.
The Old Testament
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
The Response
Psalm 126
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, then were we like those who dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.
3 Then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."
4 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad indeed.
5 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses of the Negev.
6 Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.
7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.
The Epistle
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
The Gospel
John 1:6-8,19-28
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
Optional parts of the readings are set off in square brackets.
The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.
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 Participate in The Cloak
We invite your input into The Cloak. If you would like to contribute your voice to "From the Congregation," or if you would like to share a prayer, an idea, an essay, a photo, or something else, please let us know!
Contribute to The Cloak.
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| Saint Martin's Episcopal Church of Radnor
400 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087 (610) 688-4830 |
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